New translations: Old habits are hard to break

The Viginian Pilot


There was a rustling in the pews Sunday morning at Blessed Sacrament Roman Catholic Church.

It took a moment, but between the missals and hymnals, churchgoers found what they were looking for: cheat sheets to help them get through a Mass they thought they had memorized for life.

"It's going to take some getting used to," altar server Jack Krohn, 12, said of the new words that were used for the first time in American Catholic churches this weekend, on the first Sunday of Advent.

The change was handed down from the Vatican, which decided several years ago to put English-speaking churches on the same page with France, Italy and other countries that use translations closer to the original Latin, said the Rev. Joe Metzger, pastor at Blessed Sacrament.

Now, Masses in America will also more closely follow Scripture, Metzger said. He wasn't crazy about the changes at first, but he said he's come around.

"It really does make a lot of sense. It's much more in line, going right back to sacred Scripture."

Because the Catholic Mass uses many of the same prayers and call-and-response passages every Sunday, some worried that changing the familiar language would alienate Catholics. But those who packed the pews at Blessed Sacrament on Sunday said, overall, they're OK with the changes.

"It'll just be the new thing that we'll learn," James Sullivan said. "The meaning was all there."

Many of the changes are subtle - a word here, a phrase there. For example, the congregation used to say, "Lord, I am not worthy to receive you." Now, they say, "Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof."

Metzger said that change is a good example of the return to Scripture. In the Bible, Luke writes about a centurion whose slave was ill. The centurion wanted Jesus to heal the slave, but he told Jesus, "Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof."

The language invokes the passage, Metzger said, and the more personal idea of what it means to invite someone into your home.

Sarah Krohn, Jack's mother, said she liked the new language better after hearing it used in a full Mass. She agreed it will take some getting used to, but she also agreed it's more personal.

Rae Spruill said she remembers a similar controversy over the Second Vatican Council in the 1960s, when the church switched Mass from Latin to English. It was a big deal at the time, but no one talks about it now, she said.

Pat Baker, another parishioner, said he likes how the language blends a little bit of the old and a little bit of the new.

"It's a nice transition," he said.

At Blessed Sacrament, Metzger said he was impressed that Mass went so smoothly Sunday. He reminded the congregation of the new passages by saying "Another change," before each one.

But at the end, when he said "Peace be with you," he heard a chorus of "And also with you."

There was a ripple of laughter, and Metzger tried again. This time they said, "And with your spirit."