OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, UNIVERSAL KING– 20th November 2011
At a meeting of the Diocesan clergy, one of the brethren said that some people in his parish were disappointed that the new words to “This is the lamb of God” referred specifically to the soul being healed and thus the concept of physical healing was lost.
“Behold the Lamb of God, behold Him who takes away the sins of the world. Blessed are those called to the supper of the Lamb.”
”Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, But only say the word and my soul shall be healed.”
It goes without saying that this is a better translation of the Latin. However, once again, it is also truer to the words of the centurion who begs Christ to heal his servant (Mt8:8). Continuing with the scriptural basis, the previous translation (Happy are those who are called to his supper) allowed us quite easily to consider that we are being called to the Last Supper. While this is true in the sense that that event is re-presented during the Mass, the call by the priest to the people refers rather to the supper of the Lamb which takes place in the new, heavenly Jerusalem which features in the book of the Apocalypse. (Rev 19:9) Thus the healing that is offered is not physical, mental or emotional healing per se but a cleansing from sin so that we might join that banquet with all those who have been washed clean by the blood of the Lamb. Looking at it in this way, we are reminded of the penitential rite at the start of Mass when we ask forgiveness of our sins. We then re-present the entire paschal Mystery – the life, death, resurrection, ascension and glorification of Christ – which happened so that this prayer could be answered. And now, as we prepare to receive our Blessed Lord, our minds and hearts are pointed towards the ultimate fulfillment of that Mystery for humanity.
With that our current catechesis on the new Missal comes to an end. We have looked not just at the way the words have changed but at why they are different and how they will deepen our understanding of the Mass.
I feel that we are all becoming familiar and comfortable with the new texts, and as with the previous words the texts of New Translation will surely become our prayers, in the depths of our bones. We have been given the privilege of being the generation to receive the gift of the new Missal and we should accept it with gratitude, charity and humility. Fr Kevin
“Behold the Lamb of God, behold Him who takes away the sins of the world. Blessed are those called to the supper of the Lamb.”
”Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, But only say the word and my soul shall be healed.”
It goes without saying that this is a better translation of the Latin. However, once again, it is also truer to the words of the centurion who begs Christ to heal his servant (Mt8:8). Continuing with the scriptural basis, the previous translation (Happy are those who are called to his supper) allowed us quite easily to consider that we are being called to the Last Supper. While this is true in the sense that that event is re-presented during the Mass, the call by the priest to the people refers rather to the supper of the Lamb which takes place in the new, heavenly Jerusalem which features in the book of the Apocalypse. (Rev 19:9) Thus the healing that is offered is not physical, mental or emotional healing per se but a cleansing from sin so that we might join that banquet with all those who have been washed clean by the blood of the Lamb. Looking at it in this way, we are reminded of the penitential rite at the start of Mass when we ask forgiveness of our sins. We then re-present the entire paschal Mystery – the life, death, resurrection, ascension and glorification of Christ – which happened so that this prayer could be answered. And now, as we prepare to receive our Blessed Lord, our minds and hearts are pointed towards the ultimate fulfillment of that Mystery for humanity.
With that our current catechesis on the new Missal comes to an end. We have looked not just at the way the words have changed but at why they are different and how they will deepen our understanding of the Mass.
I feel that we are all becoming familiar and comfortable with the new texts, and as with the previous words the texts of New Translation will surely become our prayers, in the depths of our bones. We have been given the privilege of being the generation to receive the gift of the new Missal and we should accept it with gratitude, charity and humility. Fr Kevin
posted by Sinead Reekie at 8:31 am