Clergy attended a meeting last month to hear about the work of The International Commission of English in the Liturgy, which is producing a new English translation of the Latin mass which will be used in churches next year.
Priests at the meeting, held in the Diocese of Leeds, were told to question whether it was appropriate to say “good morning” once the priest was on the altar and had made the sign of the cross.
Following the meeting, some priests in the diocese told their congregations that they would no longer greet them in an informal manner at the start of services.
Priests get on the altar?
Adiaphora!
Good idea.
“on the altar” does not mean “on the altar table (mensa)”; the classical concept of altar includes the raise dais on which the altar table is placed.
[i] Driveby comment deleted by elf. [/i]
I prefer the Mass in English. BUT, the quicker we get reverence and a stronger sense of the sacred at Mass, the better. I have been to some Eastern Catholic Masses that are in English and somehow most of them have found a balance we haven’t yet found in the Roman Rite. Getting rid of “Good morning” and “Have a nice Day” is a good start. However, Latin may wind up the best option, although I hope such is not the case.
Good. The NO Mass as it’s been commonly practiced in the US has been far too ‘horizontal’ in its focus. This is a small, but important step towards focusing our attention upwards, where it belongs.
I have barely recovered from a Catholic Mass I attended when visiting Arizona last year. The priest processed down the aisle behind the crucifer, went into the sanctuary, kissed the altar, went to the presidential chair and told two jokes neither of which were related to the readings in any way. I used to like some informality in celebrations of the eucharist, believing it could bring more warmth, and tried for this when I presided myself. But no more. Perhaps it is a sign of being over 60, but I now see that an element of formality in the conduct of worship protects us from the whims and drolleries of the priest.