The New Missal

There’s a new Missal coming out. Not like the kind of missile that supervillians try to shoot into space – a new Roman Missal, which is basically the instruction book for the Mass. Starting sometime next year, the USCCB (the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops) will implement a new translation of what we say and hear at Mass.

Maybe it’s just because I’m a Church nerd, but I’m unbelievably excited about this. All the changes are available to look at online (http://www.usccb.org/romanmissal), and I’ve been going over them since they were released.

So why is this exciting? Why am I telling you about some translation changes over a year before they hit your Sunday Mass? Because this is an exciting opportunity for every Catholic to take a look at what they might take for granted (myself included). By the time you turn 18, you’ll probably have been to over one thousand Masses! Now you know why it’s so easy to memorize the responses. When we know what to say and do, we can sometimes end up going through the motions. A quick minute of distraction can turn into missing the first reading or even the Gospel.

I bring it up because I’m guilty of it too; sometimes we can ‘check out’ of Mass for a second. And that’s why I’m so excited about this new Missal. Because now we all have to pay attention, just so we don’t get left behind! From the opening responses to the closing prayer, there are tons of little tweaks and changes coming… maybe that’s why the USCCB released them so early!

Life Teen is all about helping get you closer to Christ, and as we get closer to implementing these changes you know LifeTeen.com will be the place to be for your liturgical 411. In the meantime, get ready this week by taking an extra second during Mass to think about each word you’re saying – and why you’re saying it.

See you in the Eucharist.