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val4u
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| Joined: | Tue Jan 23rd, 2007 |
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| First Name: | bill | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | cradle Catholic |
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Posted: Tue Apr 24th, 2007 04:49 am |
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There are eigth words that brought the church alive to me a few years back and they are not in the Bible. In fact, I don't think they were in the Mass until the Second Vatican counsel. They, for me , made a direct connection from the Last Supper to today's Mass and they are Blessed are You Lord God, King of the universe. Do you know the connection?
Bill
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CajunRick
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| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Houma, Louisiana USA |
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| First Name: | Rick (& Kermie) | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Lifetime Catholic, Latin Rite |
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Posted: Tue Apr 24th, 2007 11:51 am |
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val4u wrote: There are eigth words that brought the church alive to me a few years back and they are not in the Bible. In fact, I don't think they were in the Mass until the Second Vatican counsel. They, for me , made a direct connection from the Last Supper to today's Mass and they are Blessed are You Lord God, King of the universe. Do you know the connection?
Thsi is part of the reflection of our Jewish heritage, and is taken from the Jewish blessing at Passover:
Jews for thousands of years have prayed over bread, “Blessed are you, Lord our God, king of the universe, Who brings forth bread from the earth.” As he begins the Preparation of the Gifts, the priest prays: “Blessed are you, Lord, God of all creation. Through your goodness we have this bread to offer; which earth has given and human hands have made. It will become for us the bread of life.” Jews have prayed over wine for thousands of years and still do today. “Blessed are you, Lord our God, king of the universe, who creates the fruit of the vine.” The priest prepares the wine for consecration by saying, “Blessed are you, Lord, God of all creation. Through your goodness we have this wine to offer, fruit of the vine and work of human hands. It will become our spiritual drink.” After the priest says, “Lord God, we ask you to receive us and be pleased with the sacrifice we offer you with humble and contrite hearts,” he washes his hands, continuing the Jewish tradition, “I wash my hands in innocence, and go about thy altar, O Lord” (Ps 26:6).
From Our Jewish Heritage.
If I remember correctly it was part of the early liturgy but was removed at some point. After Vatican II, as part of the effort to make the liturgy more closely reflect the practices of the first Christians, the prayers of blessing were restored by Pope Paul VI.
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Understanding is the reward of faith. Therefore seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand. - Augustine
Rick Luquette
Luquette Lane
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val4u
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| First Name: | bill | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | cradle Catholic |
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Posted: Wed May 2nd, 2007 07:40 am |
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| Many times I don't hear those words spoken aloud as they are "covered up" by music, but some priests I know make a special effort to say them out loud. In fact, one priest I know says everything the priest says out loud and still in english. I watch EWTN and I am disappointed at the use of Latin and not hearing my favorite words. I'm not sure as to why the church is returning to Latin, but just like " the boss is the boss", the church is the church. Thanks Bill
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japhy
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| Joined: | Thu Apr 26th, 2007 |
| Location: | Princeton, New Jersey USA |
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| First Name: | Jeff (you can call me "japhy" | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Catholic (Latin Rite) |
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Posted: Wed May 2nd, 2007 08:25 am |
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I like the language of the prayers over the gifts too, but the Roman Missal does say that they are spoken in a low voice (secreto) or, if there is no song or chant happening at the time, the priest may (but is not required to) speak them out loud, and the congregation may (but is not required to) respond.
Also, the Liturgy of the Eucharist follows the theme found in Scripture: take, bless, break, give. The taking is the presentation of the gifts. The blessing is the Eucharistic Prayer (which includes a preface, the epiclesis, the words of consecration, etc.). The breaking is the Fraction Rite, done as the congregation sings or chants the Agnus Dei (Lamb of God). The giving is the distribution of the Most Holy Eucharist. The taking, breaking, and giving are actions, not words; thus, anything spoken at those times should not obscure or overwhelm the actions taking place. (cf. How Not to Say Mass, pp. 73-74)
And as for them being said in Latin... Pope Benedict XVI (as did Pope John Paul II and Pope Paul VI) have called for a renewal of the use of Latin in the Mass (since the liturgical reform of Vatican II was never intended to purge it entirely from the Mass). There are some rather poor translations of the Latin into English, at least in the U.S., which is why the USCCB has recently approved a better translation. I would love to chant the Pater Noster. I would love to chant the Agnus Dei. Latin is a part of the heritage of the Church, and deserves more respect than it gets.
Use of Latin also helps avoid people saying the "same" thing differently. Take the Gloria Patri ("Glory to the Father" or "Glory Be"). I've heard it spoken in English at least two different ways, and probably more. In my Liturgy of the Hours book, the prayer in English is: "Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever, amen." When I pray the Rosary in a group, they often say "Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end, amen." That can be really distracting. The group is supposed to be praying in unison. If we just stuck with the Latin (Gloria Patri, et Filio, et Spiritui Sancto. Sicut erat in principio, et nunc, et semper, et in saecula saeculorum.) there wouldn't be a problem. And it's not hard to pronounce, and it's fairly easy to remember. I say several parts of the Liturgy of the Hours in Latin in my private devotions now, to prepare my brain and tongue for it when it returns to the Mass.
It has a beauty that you can't really appreciate until you're engaged in it.
Last edited on Wed May 2nd, 2007 08:34 am by japhy
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[Mary said,] "Do whatever he tells you." - John 2:5
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