A New Mass Translation Every Generation?

A brother priest pointed out a comment on the editorial over at National Catholic Reporter. My buddy’s reply to the comment was: Everybody stop talking! This guy has said everything that needs to be said. Total win sir. Total win.

I agree. Sometimes caring about clarity and beauty helps. Alternatives are risky even if they are hilarious.

“Raised Eyebrow” wrote:

Here’s a better translation of the Mass that I’m sure we can all support:

Priest: Uhm, like, hey guys, we need to, you know, get started, so let’s do the cross thingy. OK, so now we’re gonna say sorry and stuff to God because, you know
what? Nobody’s perfect.
All: I’m sorry if anything I did was offensive. I didn’t mean to hurt anyone. My bad.
Priest: Ok, let’s, like, talk to God now and listen to the stories in the book.
Lector: [lector reads the day’s selection] This is from that book from God.
All: Thanks God.
Cantor: Now you all are gonna repeat after me, like row row row your boat and I’ll sing some stuff from the book.
Priest: Uhm, This next part is really important so let’s everybody stand up and do the cross thingy on our heads, mouths and chest.
Hey, peace y’all.
All: Right back atcha.
[the priest reads the Gospel of the day]
Priest: Jesus did this.
All: Thanks Jesus.
Priest: [gives pastoral, easily comprehensible homily]
Priest: Hey guys, now let’s say that long thing that talks about what we think about and stuff.
All: We like God. God is cool and really nice because He made me and this whole world – which by the way – we are totally polluting and it’s getting hot. Jesus was born in a little barn and every Christmas we have a play during church but then he died. But you know what? He loves me and wants me to be happy. There’s this spirit that talks to us in a book and he makes things live. I like my church because everyone here is so nice and the priest is nice and we sing nice songs about nice stuff and later when we get old and icky, after we die, we all get to go to heaven with Jesus. He’s really cool by the way. Amen.
Priest: Now let’s pray for a bunch of stuff.
[intentions are prayed]
Priest: hey you guys in the back? Can y’all carry that basket and pitcher up here? That’d help a lot. Thanks.
Priest: Hey y’all, be peaceful and stuff.
All: You too.
Priest: Let’s pray to God and, you know.
All: yeah, that’d be nice.
Priest: You know what? Angels and stuff sing to God so let’s sing along with them.
All: Hey God.
You are way bigger than us.
You make the world happy.
We love you big guy.
YAY!
Jesus liked you and he was cool.
YAY!
Priest: A long time ago, at dinner, Jesus gave His friend’s some bread and wine and stuff.
Because Jesus likes us, He wants us to have bread and wine too.
God wants us to have this snack also.
And you know what?
We really like snacks so let’s tell God and Jesus and that Spirit gal thanks.
All: Yeah…Thanks.
[all present themselves for communion]
Priest: (holding out a wicker basket) Uhm, like, here’s some bread for you from God.
Recipient: Yum, that’s good and nutty, is it whole grain by the way? I like it. Now where’s that dude with the vino?

[Note to Joe: consider “Raised Eyebrow” for co-blogger position]

7 comments

  1. My first post had spelling errors, wish you could edit comments on blogger

    ————

    I will probably not be liked for my comment. I liked the translation that was just abandoned, changed, etc whatever one wants to term it. I am such a bad guy that I like marty haugen songs, guess I’m completely lost 🙁

  2. OTRClassic,

    I don’t dislike you for your comment at all. I’m just glad you stopped by the blog. We all have our own preferences. I hope the current translation doesn’t impede your growth in holiness.

    What I found worth sharing in the comment posted is the fruitless pursuit of designing liturgy to simply be “timely.” Liturgy is the work of God to bring us back to him. It’s not focused first on what we do for God and on trends that will pass (such as “tastes”). I see the current translation as a opportunity and gift. The sentiment in the NCR editorial seems to see it more as an insensitive attack. To choose to view it that way is unfortunate. It is better to follow the sentiment of the Prayer After Communion from this First Week of Advent and attempt see how the current translation brings us closer to that which doesn’t pass away:

    May these mysteries, O Lord,
    in which we have participated,
    profit us, we pray,
    for even now, as we walk amid passing things,
    you teach us by them to love the things of heaven
    and hold fast to what endures.
    Through Christ our Lord.

    Have a blessed Advent!

  3. I made the mistake of reading this post before swallowing and nearly sprayed tea all over my computer.
    Hilarious.
    Especially “now where’s that dude with the vino?”

    Happy New Translation! Deo gratias!

  4. A commenter on Google Plus added:

    I burst out laughing at this comment: Fr Andrew Strobl said…”We were instructed by our archdiocese to burn our Sacramentaries or bury them with people. Anyone have room for one in their casket?”

    It occurred to me that this seems to provide the perfect solution to people who have complains about the new translation. Ask them to go along with the new one in life, but promise you’ll drop in a copy when they pass on. You can even put their names in it, and everything. It would make a good practical joke at the final judgment.

    St. Peter: “You brought what?”

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