Tag Archives: St. Andrew Catholic Church (Milford, Ohio)

And With Your Spirit: the words 1.1

15 Aug

 When you are speaking to someone who knows you well and who is in tune with how you think, you might start to say something, and that person will complete … your sentence. If you are in relationship with that person, you find it to be a bit endearing, “Yes, we are one in what we are and in what we do.” 

The exchange of greetings between the priest and the people at the beginning of Mass can be enjoyed in that context. In writing to Timothy in his second letter, Paul greets his friend, “The Lord be with your spirit.” Knowing Paul well and being in a good relationship with him, Timothy could have completed Paul’s sentence. Paul begins, “The Lord be …” and Timothy continues, “… with your spirit.”

As a priest, I like the feel of thinking that the people and I could say the same thing to each other. Since the Holy Spirit is at work in both of us, I could rightly speak to them, as Paul spoke to his congregations, “The Lord be with your spirit.” And they could rightly respond to me, as Paul spoke to Timothy, “The Lord be with your spirit.” But at Mass, instead of saying it twice, we say it just once, splitting it in two parts, each of us speaking half of it. It is like we are so connected and are so joined in what we are about to do that I begin and they complete … the sentence, “The Lord be [with you] … [and] with your spirit.”

From the very first words spoken at Mass, and at very key places in the Mass when something real important is going to be done, the priest and the people establish clearly that they are dependent on each other, as together, and together with Christ, they offer the sacrifice of the Mass.

This is how it will sound if the dialogue is chanted: And with your spirit. 

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And With Your Spirit: the words 1.0

14 Aug

A woman who had made the transition from the old way to the new way of celebrating Mass back in the late 1960s and early 1970s doesn’t mind the change from “And also with you” to “And with your spirit.” She says, “I like it. It makes it more special.”

It makes it more special, because this is not the way we usually greet each other when we see each other in the morning or when we meet each other during the day. When we are at Mass, though, we are doing something special, and something special is taking place.

It makes it more special, because this new English translation is closer to the actual Latin words that are in the Missal: Et cum spiritu tuo. Even better, it makes it more special because it brings us closer to the translations that many of the other people in the world already use, including those who speak Spanish (Y con tu espíritu), French (Et avec votre espirit), Italian (É con il tuo spirito) and German (Und mit deinem Geiste). When I get back to the Holy Land, I am going to check to see if the Arabic translation of the people’s response has some form of the word “spirit” in it.

It makes it more special, because this translation touches something deep in our Catholic memory. In the presence of anyone who has worshipped at Catholic Mass for longer than forty years say, “Dominus vobiscum,” and they will respond, “Et cum spiritu tuo.” They remember attending Mass when everything was spoken in Latin. And they remember that, when it was first permitted to translate the Mass into English, this response was translated, “And with your spirit,” just like they will say it again now. This “newer” translation is actually an “older” translation. Keeping in touch with our tradition is a big thing for Catholics.

This is how it will sound if the dialogue is chanted: And with your spirit.

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And With Your Spirit: the chant

13 Aug

There are five times in the Mass when the people will respond to the priest or the deacon, “And with your spirit” – (1) as we begin the Mass, (2) as we are about to hear the Gospel, (3) as we enter into the Eucharistic Prayer with the Preface, (4) as we prepare to leave, and (5) at the Sign of Peace. The response of the people used to be, “And also with you.” This change in the English translation of the prayers and responses of the Mass might be the most difficult one, because it comes up so often and will catch the people off guard, at least until they get used to it. If these dialogues between the priest and the people are spoken, the people might remember their new response at the beginning of the Mass, but would probably slip back into the old response, as Mass continues. But if these dialogues are chanted, the people are more likely to be reminded what their response is. Listen to the chant: Sign of the Cross and the Greeting. 

 

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Puppy Under the Table

11 Aug

The readings for Mass on Sunday, August 14, 2011 can be found here: 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time.

Please help God help me. Read the Scriptures for this weekend. Suggest to me a thought from your mind, an emotion from your heart or an example from your life, so that I can speak to the people of St. Andrew something that might connect with their minds, hearts and lives. 

This is what I am thinking thus far … When we buried Kimberly at much too young an age, we noticed something about those who arrived to grieve. They came from all walks of life, from all kinds of places and for all kinds of reasons. Their languages, their skin tones, their ethnic backgrounds, their jobs, their interests and causes were all so different, one from another. Many of them did not know each other. Some had to explain to Kim’s parents how they knew her. One flew in that afternoon, sat on the sidelines at the funeral home for several hours, and when the visitation ended, left directly for the airport to fly back home to Colorado that night. Kim’s father said it best, “Kim collected friends. The only thing that anybody had to do to be her friend was to want to be her friend, and that was it. You were her friend.”

According to Isaiah, all who join themselves to the Lord will be acceptable to him. The apostle Paul worked for the salvation of his own people and for the salvation of those who were not his own. Distracted and convinced by the thought of someone sneaking table food to a puppy under the table, Jesus reached out his healing hand to the outsider (and underdog) who cried out, “Have pity on me. Help me. Please, Lord.” That was enough for her to be his friend.   

Now click on “comments” below, and tell me what stirs in you when read Isaiah, Psalms, Romans and Matthew.

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Between Heaven and Mirth

11 Aug

When I am away from Milford and mention that I am from Milford, I hear, “There’s a Jesuit retreat house there.” I quickly add, “Yes, it’s within the boundaries of my parish, but I claim no responsibility for the Jesuits.”

Often a visitor to the parish, seeing “A.M.D.G.” in stone right under “St. Andrew” over the doors of our church, and knowing that “Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam” is the motto of the Jesuits, asks me, “Are you a Jesuit”? I return, “No, I’m a real priest.”

The Jesuits are known and respected in our city, not only for the retreat house, but also because of St. Xavier parish, St. X. High School and Xavier University.

Somehow I stumbled on “My Life with the Saints” written by Father James Martin, S.J. It was so down to earth and uplifting, and got me believing, as Father Martin suggested, that maybe I was attracted and drawn to know and become devoted to St. Andrew, because Andrew had been praying for me long before I paid any attention to him. Fascinating!

Then comes along Father Jim’s “The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything: A Spirituality for Real Life.” I devoured it. It is so practical and applicable to everyone’s life, yes, even to mine as a diocesan priest. The book begs me to recommend it to anyone who is looking to grow in their relationship with God or their enjoyment of life.

I just left Amazon.com, where I pre-ordered his “Between Heaven and Mirth: Why Joy, Humor, and Laughter Are at the Heart of the Spiritual Life,” which won’t be released until October. I want to be among the first to read it.

Yesterday Father Martin, bravely and in good humor, sat across the desk from the host of the Colbert Nation, explaining God’s job and defending God’s approval rating. That’s brave – and that’s using a pulpit to reach many who might not usually sit near a pulpit.

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That Sinking Feeling

6 Aug

The readings for Mass on Sunday, August 7, 2011 can be found here: 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time.

Please help God help me. Read the Scriptures for this weekend. Suggest to me a thought from your mind, an emotion from your heart or an example from your life, so that I can speak to the people of St. Andrew something that might connect with their minds, hearts and lives. 

This is what I am thinking thus far … Walking on water and sinking in the sea: it’s like the difference between a period and an exclamation point. When we are walking on water – when things are going well, when we are accomplishing, when all (or at least most) is calm and bright – we believe that Jesus is Lord and Savior. That is a statement that ends in a period. When we get that sinking feeling, when we exclaim, “I can’t do this! Lord, save me!” then we really come to know that Jesus is Lord and Savior for me. It was only when St. Peter was sinking that it sunk in who he was in relation to Jesus. He was not the one who could walk on water.

Now click on “comments” below, and tell me what stirs in you when read Kings, Romans and Matthew.   

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Not Unless You Tell Them

5 Aug

Shhh! Don’t tell anyone. I’m beginning today to change some of the words of the Mass.We are not to begin using the new translation of the Mass prayers until the beginning of Advent. But the priest has a lot more adjustments to make than the people do. So, I’m starting today. But I am keeping it quiet, literally, keeping it quiet.

There are a number of prayers that the priest prays either “quietly” or “in a low voice” – twelve of them, to be exact. Those are the ones that I am beginning to use today. I have little note cards that I will place on the altar, ambo and credens table. 

Since my first Mass on June 1, 1975, I have used the present translation of the Roman Missal. The Eucharistic prayers are practically memorized, the prayers for each Sunday of the year require only an occasional glance, and the prayers used everyday are now routine and rote.  

I am practicing the new translations of the Eucharistic prayers, so that, when the time comes, I can pray them reverently and not just slavishly read them. The prayers spoken on each feast or Sunday I can take a year to study. The “quiet” and “in a low voice” private prayers I am beginning today.

Even the people who can read lips will not know, unless you tell them! 

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Side by Side

1 Aug

Visitors to my house sometimes ask, “What’s the other flag?” I enjoy responding, “It’s the flag of Israel.” From them, “No, I know that one. The other one.” From me, “The American flag.” From them, “No, the other one!” 

Many people are not used to seeing or recognizing the Palestinian flag. Over the front door of my home the Palestinian, American and Israeli flags fly side by side. 

Pope Benedict XVI, January 11, 2010: “Once again I call for a universal recognition of the right of the State of Israel to exist and to enjoy peace and security within internationally recognized borders. Likewise, the right of the Palestinian people to a sovereign and independent homeland, to live in dignity and to enjoy freedom of movement, ought to be recognized. I would also like to request the support of everyone for the protection of the identity and sacred character of Jerusalem, and of its cultural and religious heritage, which is of universal value.”

Peace with justice for all who live in the Holy Land! 

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Mini-Vacations with Joe

29 Jul

Ever heard of Joe Paprocki? I hadn’t, until I stumbled on his book, “Practice Makes Catholic.” It looked like an easy read, so I took it with me on vacation. It was an easy read – and a good read. As a doctor practices medicine, and an attorney practices law, so a Catholic practices Catholicism. Joe has another one, “A Well-Built Faith.” Maybe I need another vacation!

He has a “free” webinar on the Loyola Press website, “What you need to know about the Roman Missal changes.” It is in three segments. It’s easy listening, with helpful charts and pretty pictures. You can take these mini-vacations at home at anytime you choose. Click here: Roman Missal Changes Webinar. 

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An Elevator Speech

27 Jul

I imagine pushing the “up” button, and hearing someone ask, “Hey, Father, what’s with this new Mass that’s coming in November?” We get into the elevator. I have less than two minutes, before one of us gets off. I’d better have an elevator speech ready. Maybe this one would work:

It’s the same Mass. It’s still going to be in English. It’s just a new English translation of the Mass that was given to the world in Latin – in Latin because it was given to the whole world – back in 1970. It’s the same Mass, just some new English words.

Some of the new words are really lovely. Some are closer to the words in the Bible. Some will make it more clear about what we believe. Some of the words will help us remember that the Mass is something special: we’ll use some words that we use only at Mass, words that we don’t use when we speak to each other in an elevator.

It is going to be a real good opportunity for us to fall in love with the Mass all over again.

Oops! This is my floor. 

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