October 6, 2011 – Catechism 1071-1075

The liturgy is our best gateway to God. It is not the only way, because we have private prayer and reflection, but it is the most profound and best source of communication. It is not merely a place to go and be, but an activity that we are suppose to emerge ourselves in. When was the last time you felt like an active participant in the Mass. That is what we are called to.

There are changes coming to the Mass. Many are only in the words that are being said. The motivation behind it is to be closer to the Latin that was used for so many centuries in the Liturgy. When the liturgy was allowed in other languages, the translation was done in a way which took on the spirit of the words used. This new translation is a stricter word for word translation. One reason this is seen as important is because the “spirit” translation has taken away much of the formality in the Mass and made it appear common place. The new translation is suppose to give us a sense that this is a formal and substantial act that is taking place. It is suppose to take us out of a comfortable “ho-hum” attitude and make us sit up straight and be aware of the importance of the Mass. It flows along, and hopefully will change, the slacked attitude in dress, tardiness, quick departing, that have become a plague on the Mass. This is not a concert, a summer picnic, a gathering to watch a movie. This is a Sacrificial offering of Christ to God and Heaven coming to Earth, a participation in the most Holy Trinity in a very real way and needs to be seen in such a way and hopefully the new translation help lead in that direction.