WASHINGTON — The most sweeping changes to the Catholic Mass in 40 years will be rolled out in 2011, the U.S. bishops announced Aug. 20 after receiving formal approval from the Vatican.
The new English-language translation of the Roman Missal, the official text of prayers and responses used in Mass, will be implemented Nov. 27, 2011, the first Sunday of Advent and the beginning of a new liturgical year. Cardinal Francis George of Chicago, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, said Vatican approval was granted June 23, with additional changes approved July 24. Over the next year, priests and parishioners will work through the changes to the text, such as the prayer “Lord, I am not worthy to receive you,” which will change to “Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof.” Other familiar passages, such as “Christ has died, Christ has risen, Christ will come again” will no longer be used. Changes to the wording of the Nicene and Apostles’ creeds have also been made. Pope John Paul II ordered the new translations to encourage greater fidelity to the original Latin. Translations into local languages after the Second Vatican Council in the 1960s were too hastily and sloppily produced, according to the pope.
Some U.S. bishops have objected to the changes as difficult to understand and pronounce, but the Vatican showed no willingness to keep the current Mass that’s familiar to millions of Catholics.
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