“The first thing I recommend to you for advent is to keep yourself in the presence of God deep within your heart, just as the Blessed Virgin before the birth of Our Lord, Adored Him within herself.”
- Ven. Emmanuel D’Alzon
Last week before each Mass, our organist, Ginny Ambrose, gave a talk about the new Roman Missal. She told us that a fellow organist sent her a text before the 4:00 PM Mass that read, “Missal launch in 15 minutes!” I heard a local newscaster say, “The Catholic Church has gotten a complete make-over.” I had been used to the same Mass since my first Communion, which was 41 years ago. In April of 2002, Pope John Paul II established the Vox Clara Committee to assist and advise as to why we need the new translation. This year, on the First Sunday of Advent in the English speaking worlds, the Third Edition of the New Roman Missal was initiated. There are some 12 countries affected including Australia, the Philippines, British Isles, Canada, India, Africa, Ireland and England. But Hong Kong will wait one more year. (So in case you’re traveling to Hong Kong, you can still hear the old version of the Mass.)
I mentioned in my homily that it’s no secret there are 3 groups of Catholics concerning this change: 1) those who embrace it enthusiastically, 2) those who accept it reluctantly, and 3) those who are okay with it as long as it doesn’t make the Mass longer!
We learned as youngsters that “practice makes perfect” and “repetition is the mother of learning” — one just has to practice, practice, practice. As we welcome this New Roman Missal, the familiar parts of the Mass will seem a bit foreign, as we have used the same for the last four decades or so. However, as the American bishops put it, these are “new words, a deeper meaning, but the same Mass.” Let’s not get lost in the translation. Every translation has its critics. And no translation does full justice to the original. Each new translation has its boosters and its detractors, its gloaters and grumblers. However, no text, no translation is perfect. Even the last translation had its critics when it was released.) With the promulgation of the new translation of the Roman Missal, the Church is giving us a new translation that hopes to be more beautiful, more prayerful and more attuned to the scriptural connections of our prayers. The translators felt it was important to stay very close to both the literal meaning and the structure of the Latin prayers. Many of the prayers will sound very different and it will take some getting used to. I found myself tongue-tied, struggling to make sense of some new English phrases which seemed disjointed to my ears. We hope that this new translation will help us pray as one in Christ through the Holy Spirit as we offer praise and thanks to the Father and intercede for the life of the world.
Once priests and people are more familiar in getting to know and pray with the new translation it will give us a great opportunity to reflect more deeply on the Mass itself. Of course these new texts are going to be awkward and clumsy at first. But in time, these words will become second nature to us. A new translation offers a new way of seeing things, hopefully to stretch us and cause new growth of a new beginning as we forge a new path.
One parishioner commented that it would take her a month to master the word “Consubstantial” in the Creed. (“Consubstantial” is a term in the retranslated Nicene Creed that replaces language calling Jesus “one in being with the Father.”) Another noted that it will take him one year before he is familiar with the proper responses. But let us remember that beyond the new words and new changes, we pause, ponder and pray the liturgy. This change allows us the opportunity to pause and slow down, to enter into the Paschal Mystery more deeply, to be more fully aware of what we are and are becoming in Christ — living His life in the events of our own. I find myself suspending my own feelings and needs which must take second place to the needs of our Christian Community. As T.S. Eliot said, “What life have you, if you have not life together? There is no life that is not in community, and no community not lived in praise of God.” We must never underestimate the grace of gathering together as God’s people to hear His Word and receive His Body and Blood. What a gift the Church is. What a gift the liturgy is. What a gift a faith–journey is. What a gift salvation!
There are four Advent banners adorning our sanctuary with the words, hope, peace, joy and love atop each, the major themes of the Advent season. Each banner pictures one lit candle, mirroring those on our Advent Wreath. We are reminded that Christ is always seeking to enter our world and our lives with hope, peace, joy and love. In every generation God raises up prophets who rouse us to a heightened awareness of God’s exciting presence in our world and in our lives. Such a giant was the late Archbishop Dom Helder Camara of Recife, Northeast Brazil (1909-1999) and champion of the poor. He wrote, “God permit the symbol of my life to be like a candle that burns itself, spends itself, consumes itself while there is still wax to burn.” As Christians, we must bear and bring Christ’s light to others.
John the Baptist, the prophet of Advent, cousin of Jesus and precursor and fore-runner has echoed the words that have carried through the corridors of time, our Advent posture: I must decrease while He must increase” (John 3:30). Let us consider in our own Advent journeying, focusing on our increase and decrease during this holy season.
- increase in God’s vision — decrease our will and agenda
- increase in holiness and grace — decrease in giving in to sin
- increase in generosity — decrease in stinginess
- increase in the spiritual life — decrease in a material existence
- increase in gratitude — decrease in taking things for granted
- increase in family togetherness — decrease in sterile isolation
- increase in forgiveness — decrease in holding grudges
- increase in peace — decrease in compulsive drives
- increase in repentance — decrease in hardness of heart
- increase in kindness — decrease in cruelty
- increase in solitude — decrease in noise
- increase in enthusiasm for life — decrease in apathy
- increase in healthy relationships — decrease in dysfunctionality
- increase in self-mastery — decrease in out of control behaviors
- increase in temperance — decrease in covetousnes
- increase in self-examination — decrease in judgment of others
- increase in Eucharistic adoration — decrease in selfish idolatry
In every age we are challenged to “prepare the way of the Lord” (Isaiah 40:3) as we await His Christmas coming. The Church proclaims a major way to prepare His way through the invaluable gift of repentance. In order for Christ to increase in our lives, repentance is absolutely essential. The Advent mantra, “Come Lord Jesus” is the epitome, essence and summary of our Advent season. Jesus truly comes closer to us and we come closer to Him.
