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New Words: A Deeper Meaning, but the Same Mass
(from the United States Catholic Conference of Bishiops)
The Roman Missal, Third Edition, the ritual text containing
prayers and instructions for the celebration of the Mass, is
now being prepared for publication. In the United States,
seven publishers (Catholic Book Publishing Corp., Liturgical
Press, Liturgy Training Publications, Magnificat, Midwest
Theological Forum, USCCB Communications, and World Library
Publications) will publish ritual editions and are now
advertising their plans and will soon accept pre-orders.
The
Roman Missal will be implemented in the United States of
America on the First Sunday of Advent, November 27, 2011.
The ritual editions should start arriving in parishes
around October 1.
Pope John Paul II announced a revised version of the Missale
Romanum during the Jubilee Year 2000. Among other things,
the revised edition of the Missale Romanum contains prayers
for the observances of recently canonized saints, additional
prefaces for the Eucharistic Prayers, additional Votive
Masses and Masses and Prayers for Various Needs and
Occasions, and some updated and revised rubrics
(instructions) for the celebration of the Mass. The English
translation of the Roman Missal will also include updated
translations of existing prayers, including some of the
well-known responses and acclamations of the people.
The entire Church in the United States has been blessed with
this opportunity to deepen its understanding of the Sacred
Liturgy, and to appreciate its meaning and importance in our
lives. Parishes should now be in the planning process
for the implementation, with a goal toward executing that
plan in the coming months. The parish’s leadership and
various sectors of the parish community should be catechized
to receive the new translation. Musicians and
parishioners alike should soon be learning the various new
and revised musical settings of the Order of Mass.
The entire Church in the United States has been blessed with
this opportunity to deepen its understanding of the Sacred
Liturgy, and to appreciate its meaning and importance in our
lives.
This website has been prepared to serve as a reliable
resource for all engaged in the formation process.
Resources can be found here for the faithful, for the
clergy, and for parish and diocesan leaders. As time draws
closer for the implementation, more and more resources are
being made available here. The proper texts for Advent
and Christmas Time are provided so that Priest celebrants
can review the text before the new Missals arrive in Fall
2011. In addition, the Order of Mass – both standalone and
Scripturally annotated versions – can allow Priests and the
faithful alike to be familiar with the change in translation
as well as the cadence of the various prayers. There
is still time for celebrants to undertake some supplemental
reading that will enable them to proclaim the new texts with
a deeper appreciation; resources are provided in the Further
Reading section for this purpose.
Now is the time to seize the opportunity given to us for all
Catholics in the United States to deepen, nurture, and
celebrate our faith through the renewal of our worship and
the celebration of the Sacred Liturgy.
For more information on the new Mass Settings we will be
implementing in September, you are invited to go to the J.S.
Paluch website, and select “Mass of Wisdom”,
http://www.wlp.jspaluch.com/11569.htm.
We ask people to
come 10 minutes early to Mass through November, to learn new
settings.
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