Changes to the Order of the Mass (Advent 2011)
Below you can download a copy of the changes to the Order of the Mass, which took place this past Advent. Please download and study it in order to familiarize yourself with the recent changes. Pew cards similar to the download are additionally available in the church for reference.
New Translation of the Roman Missal
(PDF - click to download / view)
Explanation of "And With Your Spirit":
Below is an explanation of the soon-to-be-new-phrase used in our Mass, "And With Your Spirit," courtesy of AndWithYourSpirit.com.
Five times during Mass—more than any other phrase—the priest says, "The Lord be with you," and the people respond, "And also with you." Soon, though, the people will respond "And with your spirit." Why the change? English is the only major language which does not literally translate the Latin words "et cum spiritu tuo." For instance, during Spanish Masses, the people respond, "Y con tu espíritu." So the new English translation will re-align English speakers with the way the rest of the Church is already praying. What does the phrase mean? It is a recognition by the people of the unique role of the priest. According to a statement by the Unites States bishops: "The expression et cum spiritu tuo is only addressed to an ordained minister. Some scholars have suggested that spiritu refers to the gift of the spirit he received at ordination. In their response, the people assure the priest of the same divine assistance of God's spirit and, more specifically, help for the priest to use the charismatic gifts given to him in ordination and in so doing to fulfill his prophetic function in the Church."
