There will be changes at Mass beginning the First Sunday of Advent, November 27, 2011. These changes have been in process for years and many people throughout the world have had a part in their preparation. You may already be aware of these changes, or you may only now be hearing about them.
It is important to know, however, that this is not a New Mass. Nothing we do at Mass will change. We will stand, kneel, and sit at the same times that we do now. What will change are the words we use in the prayers at Mass. (For more on the explanation underlying these changes, please go to the New Roman Missal icon on our archdiocesan web site: mobilearchdiocese.org. and click on my article on the new translation.)
There will not be many changes regarding the responses of the congregation, but there will be some. The first noticeable change is that whenever the celebrant says “The Lord be with you” the people will respond “and with your spirit.” The reason for the change is to highlight that the people are not merely greeting the priest but are acknowledging the activity of the Spirit through the priest at Mass.
Two other notable changes will occur in the Penitential Act and the Creed. Form A of the Penitential Act will now be (changes in bold):
I confess to Almighty God and to you, my brothers and sister, that I have greatly sinned in my thoughts and in my words, in what I have done and in what I have failed to do, through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault; therefore, I ask blessed Mary ever virgin, all the Angels and Saints, and you, my brothers and sister, to pray for me to the Lord our God.
The repetition of “through my fault” is to express a deep desire of repentance. When we are truly sorry we often say it more than once.
The Creed will now be professed as “I believe” rather than “We believe.” This is to better express that each individual must express their own faith and it cannot be done for us by anyone else. Although our faith is the faith shared by our community, the Church, each individual must profess his or her acceptance of this faith.
Other changes will seek to bring out in a clearer fashion the scriptural connections at Mass. Many of the prayers at Mass are based upon passages from the bible. The Glory to God and the Holy, Holy, Holy are examples of this…(Thanks to the USCCB Liturgy Newsletter for this information):
At Mass we will say (Changes in bold): Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to people of good will.
Taken from the Bible: “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” (Lk 2:14)
At Mass we will say: We praise you, we bless you, we adore you, we glorify you, we give you thanks for your great glory, Lord God, heavenly King, O God, almighty Father.
Taken from the Bible: “All earth’s kings shall thank you, O Lord, when they hear the words of your mouth. They shall sing of the ways of the Lord, ‘How great is the Glory of the Lord!’” (Ps 138:5)
At Mass we will say: Lord Jesus Christ, Only Begotten Son, Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us; you take away the sins of the world, receive our prayer;
Taken from the Bible: The next day John the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.” (Jn 1:29)
At Mass we will say: you are seated at the right hand of the Father, have mercy on us.
Taken from the Bible: “It is Christ who died, rather, was raised, who also is at the right hand of the Father, who indeed intercedes for us.” (Rom 8:34)
At Mass we will say: For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord, you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father. Amen.
Taken from the Bible: “For you alone are holy. (Rev 15:4) Let them know you alone, you whose name is the Lord, are the Most High over all the earth.” (Ps 83:19)
Similarly, the Holy, Holy, Holy:
At Mass we will say: Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of Hosts, Heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest.
Taken from the Bible: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts! they cried one to the other. All the earth is filled with his glory!” (Isaiah 6:2-3)
At Mass we will say: Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.
Taken from the Bible: “Hosanna to the Son of David; blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord; hosanna in the highest. (Mt 21:9)
We will notice these and other changes in the prayers at Mass beginning in Advent. More information will be forthcoming in The Catholic Week and in your parish. I ask you to please acquaint yourself with these changes. It may take a while for each of us to become familiar and comfortable with these changes, but I pray that this will be a time for each of us to grow in a deeper appreciation for the priceless gifts of word and Eucharist that God gives us in the Liturgy.
(excerpted from “And With Your Spirit” by the Most Reverend Thomas J. Rodi, Archbishop of Mobile, originally published in The Catholic Week, Oct. 2011)