Next Bulletin Article on the New Roman Missal

Here is my bulletin article for September 4, 2011 on the new Missal.

Appreciating the New Translations
We do not have to proceed far into the Mass before we come to the first change in the new Translations.  The priest leads us in the Sign of the Cross and then says one of three options, the first being “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.”  This form of greeting is found frequently in Paul’s Letters.  Just one word is changing in the new text.  Fellowship is changing to communion.  Fellowship can speak of people coming together to share.  It isn’t just about being “friends.”  The word communion will be used to indicate the deeper relationship between the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit that we seek to be part of.   Next comes the response from the people “And also with you.”  For our senior citizens, do you remember “Et cum Spiritu?” which translates as “and with your spirit?”  Historical study shows that “and with your spirit” dates back to at least the fourth century.  So this change is simply returning to what has been done for a long time.