You do understand that for the Professional Liturgists that (following along in the missalette) is a bug - not a feature? That they have been fighting for decades to get people to “listen to the word proclaimed” and *not* follow along?

That you’ve given them one more reason to weep?

Heh.

The “professional liturgists” in some parishes of mine did not have missals available for the congregation. One primary reason: they changed so much of the words and gestures they did not want the faithful to be aware of the deception or of their agenda. I am sure many can remember laity joining in with the words of consecration or the “Through Him, With Him and In Him…,” before the great Amen and other abuses too numerous to recount here…all done without missals in the hands of the faithful.

We don’t have missals at our parish either. We used to, but then they decided it took away from people listening (I think it was probably just cheaper not to get them). That’s why I subscribe to Magnificat (at first, anyway—now I love it because it has fantastic essays and reflections, not cutesy stuff, and great reproductions of all sorts of liturgical art). I have only heard Eucharistic Prayer I once in my entire life. Old translation. I thought it was amazing then, for all the reasons you described. All those saints!

“Before the new translation, most people in my parish never picked up the missal at all and those that did mostly stuck it back in its little cubby right after the Gospel and never touched again.”

So unless we’re following in a missal, we can’t get the richness and depth of the new translation? Uhm, no.

During the 90s, a certain breed of professional liturgists had succeeded in removing missals altogether from many parishes, and had trained their sights on the Gloria, which Had To Go; in many parishes, it was routinely omitted from the liturgy, and ICEL was proposing a new hymn to replace it. Since Advent was a season of expectation and not penance, the “proper” liturgical color was to be blue, not violet. Catholics who needed to build or renovate a church had to put up with “experts” who wielded Art and Environment in Catholic Worship as an infallible, magisterial document that superseded the documents of Vatican II. You were no longer supposed to bow at the waist during the creed, or bow your head when pronouncing the name of Jesus, Mary, or the saint of the day; you were not supposed to strike your breast, or remain still in silent prayer. Instead, you were supposed to dance and hold hands; the liturgy was to be a constant riot of noise and motion. People who disagreed with this were accused of disrespect for “the community” (which, if you interviewed actual parishioners rather than various council members, would often express a nostalgic longing for the sobriety and dignity of years past).

It’s always darkest right before the dawn. The decade ended with Rome’s rejection of an ICEL translation which, in their view, had gone too far. ICEL was reorganized, and this breed of liturgists has steadily lost influence, at least at official levels. At my parish, they’ve even introduced periods of silent reflection after the readings.

CP
What are you talking about?  I think it is fair to say you missed the point.  I didn’t say that at all.

I was extremely frustrated when we visited a parish in Colorado Springs this past Sunday that had missals that did NOT include any text for the readings or the Liturgy of the Eucharist. I guess that parish doesn’t think their parishioners care one way or another about the new translation. (Still working on getting my own copy of the missal, so I don’t have that problem again.)

Our wonderful associate pastor, ordained only 18 months ago, uses Eucharistic Prayer I almost every time he celebrates Mass. I am planning to share with our catechumens and candidates the identities of the names mentioned in this prayer, and communicate the joy of being part of a communion of saints that spans time from the very beginning of the Church.

I remember that as a kid EP1 was always my favorite.  Loved hearing all the unusual names and imagining the saints surrounding our altar.  And I, too, am greatly enjoying the new translation.  Thanks!

The comment about the Missals reveals something that we often see in the liturgy:  the ideal used to eliminate the good.  In the liturgy, the important thing is actual participation, that we attend to the words and actions of the liturgy. 

It is best when we do that without having our noses in a Missal.  When we follow along with words in a book, we cannot follow along (at least as well) with what is happening beyond the words on the page.  And our liturgy is full of meaning and symbolism beyond the words.  So, it is better that we listen rather than read.

However, it is easy to become passive in listening.  It is easy to space out.  It is easy to not give the words full attention.  And this is what many of us do at mass.  Compared to this, following along in a Missal is a great improvement.

So, just because it is better to follow along without reading, it is most important that we follow along.  When it comes to actual participation, the Missals are a crutch.  Sure, it is better to walk without crutches, but it is better to walk with crutches than to not walk at all.

Our priest uses EP1. I love how judgmental people are on here. Some people follow along in the Missal because it helps them focus and hear more of the readings and prayers. Some people need a “crutch” to help center them on the Mass because the people around them are too busy chatting throughout the Liturgy. Stop judging how others pray the Mass and focus on yourself. Good grief! I do not usually comment on these blogs, but this irked me. Pat, I am glad people picked up the Missal. I hope it helped them center more on the Mass just like it does for my husband and me.

In my personal experience, I have been reading from the missal since second grade.

It wasn’t until I started reading I began to appreciate the mass.
I’m seventeen, and I’ve never been able to say the nicene creed by heart, but on the other hand, even when i drop the missal, because I’ve used it for over half my life, I can follow along and recognize the Eucharistic prayer.

It also helps me to recognize what’s changed, and reflect on why. I’ve never found that reading from the missal takes away from the mass- I watch the priest at the consecration, and for the rite of Communion I often don’t use it at all.

And I do believe that the missals are valuable tools in helping young children to grow in understanding of the mass- and adults as well.

If you are looking Missals with the new translation they are available at EWTN and Ignatius Press.  amazon may have them also.  I paid $60 for
mine but it is worth every penny. It has Masses for every day of the week and many prayers and explanations of our faith.  You will not be sorry
for purchasing one

Constance is right! The idea that “everybody” gets more out of hearing the readings than reading them is just silly. Some people do better listening, some reading, and some a combination. And for some, it varies from day to day! Luckily, it’s fairly easy and cheap to get your own missalettes or subscribe to one of the monthly publications with all the readings (“Magnificat” is great but there are also cheaper ones with just the readings).

Dear Gail,

Regarding your first comment…

I heard EP-IV less often than EP-I.  I think now I might hear them both equally, i.e., very rarely.

Some of us who do not hear as well, or who do not process as well aurally as visually, appreciate being able to read with our eyes while we hear the Word proclaimed.  In addition, poor church acoustics may require a visual reinforcement of the readings and prayers.  As we become more familiar with the new translation, we will be able to look up more frequently.  As it is, reading while hearing helps my focus, and I do prayerfully watch the action on the altar when not having to respond verbally.

I think the return of the practice of owning and using a personal hand missal now that we have the new translation of the mass is absolutely fantastic.  Like Catholics from years past who regularly used personal missals at pre-Vatican II masses, I’m happy to see people are coming around again to the idea of using their own missals at home and at mass.  I can’t wait to order my own new missal (waiting for payday tomorrow) so I can use it every day and bring it with me to church.  This can only be a good thing for many who don’t know or understand the meaning of what goes on during mass, plus it serves as an excellent prayer book to spiritually prepare oneself before the mass starts. I hope the use of personal hand missals by today’s Catholics becomes widespread once again like it was during our parents and grandparents time.

What on earth is a Professional Liturgist?  Should I be glad that I don’t know?

Wow, I am surprised.  I thought every regular and faithful Sunday-going Catholic had a Sunday Missal.  And for those of us who attend Weekday Mass, we make a point of buying the Weekday Missal as well.  Yes, it is good to listen devotionally to the Liturgy of Eucharist - especially the Eucharistic Prayer 1. However, in my Catechism Class for the reception of my First Holy Communion -ooh way back in 1944, - we were taught that the Faithful “Listen"to the Gospel being proclaimed - and should have read it earlier before the beginning of the Holy Mass.  I have been faithful to this childhood Catechism Lesson to this day. And yes - I agree absolutely with this comment :  “It is almost like someone meant this to happen.” Yes. Pat, The Holy Spirit!!!!