Our parish used the following after Communion this weekend to help explain one of the changes to the translation of the Mass. I thought it fit well with the Gospel of the Wedding Feast of the King's Son. Feel free to use it if it is helpful. I will post more as we do them.
We are beginning to provide information and background on some of the upcoming changes in the translation of the Mass. From time to time we will use the period after Communion to share some of the changes we can expect and why the changes are being made.
The first thing to remember is that it is the same Mass with different words. We are not going back to Latin and you will not see significant changes to the way we celebrate Mass. What you will notice is a more formal, elevated style of speaking and praying. The goals of the new translation are to be more faithful to the Latin original of our prayers and to uncover some of the biblical references that we find throughout the Mass.
One change that will be challenging takes place during the Institution Narrative (the words of Jesus at the Last Supper) during which the bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Christ. For almost 40 years we have been saying: “Take this all of you and drink from it: this is the cup of my blood, the blood of the new and everlasting covenant. It will be shed for you and for all so that sins may be forgiven. Do this in memory of me.” The change to this prayer will replace the phrase, “shed for you and for all” to “poured out for you and for many.” Does this mean that we no longer believe that Jesus came to save all people? No.
The Church has always taught that the saving act of Jesus was open to all. But we find in the Scriptural accounts of the Last Supper the words of Jesus are better translated as “for many” rather than “for all.” Remember that one goal of the new translation is to uncover the Scriptural riches of the Mass and here is one place where a more restrictive word better captures the Biblical sense.
So, how should we understand this? In the Gospel today, the invitation of the king was extended to all, just like the gift of salvation. However, many who were invited refused to receive the gift just as there are many who reject the gift of salvation from Christ. The invitation is universal, the response is not.
When we hear this new translation of the Institution Narrative at Mass we would do well to remember that the gift of salvation is a free gift to us, but that for the gift to be truly effective we must accept it and not turn our back on the invitation.
The first thing to remember is that it is the same Mass with different words. We are not going back to Latin and you will not see significant changes to the way we celebrate Mass. What you will notice is a more formal, elevated style of speaking and praying. The goals of the new translation are to be more faithful to the Latin original of our prayers and to uncover some of the biblical references that we find throughout the Mass.
One change that will be challenging takes place during the Institution Narrative (the words of Jesus at the Last Supper) during which the bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Christ. For almost 40 years we have been saying: “Take this all of you and drink from it: this is the cup of my blood, the blood of the new and everlasting covenant. It will be shed for you and for all so that sins may be forgiven. Do this in memory of me.” The change to this prayer will replace the phrase, “shed for you and for all” to “poured out for you and for many.” Does this mean that we no longer believe that Jesus came to save all people? No.
The Church has always taught that the saving act of Jesus was open to all. But we find in the Scriptural accounts of the Last Supper the words of Jesus are better translated as “for many” rather than “for all.” Remember that one goal of the new translation is to uncover the Scriptural riches of the Mass and here is one place where a more restrictive word better captures the Biblical sense.
So, how should we understand this? In the Gospel today, the invitation of the king was extended to all, just like the gift of salvation. However, many who were invited refused to receive the gift just as there are many who reject the gift of salvation from Christ. The invitation is universal, the response is not.
When we hear this new translation of the Institution Narrative at Mass we would do well to remember that the gift of salvation is a free gift to us, but that for the gift to be truly effective we must accept it and not turn our back on the invitation.
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