Sunday 28 August 2011

New Roman Missal - A Catholic BCP?

"I pray that the change will serve as a springboard for a renewal and a deepening of Eucharistic devotion all over the English-speaking world"
Pope Benedict XVI

With these words the new Missal is launched, but it's a long way from the Common Worship of the Church of England for the changes are interesting and light. Some would say theological in fact!

No longer is it 'we' but 'I' when it comes to belief and the subtle changes from 'seen and unseen' to 'visible and invisible' or the subtle change so that Jesus is 'consubtanstial' with the Father rather than 'of one substance with the Father'. Good attempts to change words to make them as they were even if I'm not that sure about some of them.

Now, having had some discussions with a few RC members I was overjoyed to hear that, in the main, the membership is just shrugging and getting on with it. What a great change from the BCP vs the rest lobby that often crops up to scar and divide in the Anglican setting. Just seems, from time-to-time, the Candles get it right with their attitudes and pronouncements in ways that we Anglicans just don't. Mind you, I assume that there will be a faction forming somewhere (Sons of pre-Vatican II?) because of course, there always is!

Their Boss speaks out on things that need speaking out on rather than giving advice to finance houses and engaging in complex witterings about subjects that leave people wondering why the Church doesn't speak out on things that it should (like social, moral and other issues).

Their membership just get on and get on. I'm sure they mumble, mutter and moan behind the scenes, but they are often a more cohesive group than many of the churches, fellowships and weird little gatherings that exist outside.

So, a prize for Bennie and his boys and girls today - doesn't mean I want to swim the Tiber (enough hypocrites, double-talk merchants and funny people already there, don't need me to add my own brand of error to the pile) but it does mean that I recognise a good effort and give praise where it's due.

Mind you, whilst I understand they're trying to get back to the early Church in their liturgy, I'm not sure about the binding the new Missal comes in:


Pax

1 comment:

UKViewer said...

Vic, I'm not so sure that the RC church is taking the changes lying down. Some see it differently. The Irish Bishops have delayed implementation over concerns about the translation.

Bosco Peters over at Liturgy, has been writing about this for some time.
http://www.liturgy.co.nz/blog/english-missal/2750

He has a whole range of feedback on the topic.