www.byzcath.org Forums Mysteries: The Life of Worship Vespers, Matins & the Divine Liturgy Humor at Liturgy (The New Roman Translation)

After DL this morning I was headed to the store to pick up a few things needed for dinner today and happened by the local RC parish just as people were piling in for Mass. With the hopes of hearing one of my favorites (“O Come, O Come Emmanuel”) and with curiosity about how their new translation was being received I stopped.

All in all, I’m impressed. They had new books and nice, laminated cards with the “people’s text” (this diocese did at least 3 months of education in each parish). The text flowed and, while I’m sure it was still new to everyone, you couldn’t really tell it was new.

But the hilarious moment came at the homily, and it was clear that the clergy were using humor to introduce the next translation. The priest started his homily with an informal greeting: “Happy Advent!” And the whole gathered Church responded with: “And with your spirit!” Of course, a riot of laughter broke out with smiles everywhere and the rest of the Mass was wonderful.

And – a nice bonus! I was leafing through their new missal. The Christmas Carol “God Rest Ye Merry Gentle Friends” is gone!!!! It’s been replaced with an old favorite: “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen”. I pray they likewise took the politics out of all the songs that were like that.

Best wishes to them!

I've never had the misfortune to hear or see "God Rest Ye Merry Gentle Friends", although I have heard "With God as our Father, we are family" during "Let there be Peace on Earth". Ugh.

Just when you thought "liturgical" music couldn't get any worse than "let there be peace on earth"...

All those depictions of the devil as red with a pitchfork and horns have missed his true attributes: aged balding hippy with a ponytail and acoustic guitar, editing hymns.

I was chatting with a friend of mine who is a RC priest. He noted that there is something about all those songs like "Let there be peace on earth". They all continue with "and let it begin me" type lyrics. While there are some good compositions from the past 40 years, quite a number of them all about me, me, me, me, me, when they should be about the Lord. Observant man.

I'm especially fond of the i-am-god-and-i'm-singing-to-you-about-how-super-you-are lyrics. The Liturgy of St. Self Esteem.

I've never been able to top the de-militarized and non-violent version of The Battle Hymn of the Republic, though . . .

Except for the de-militarized and non-violent renderings of "For All the Saints" and "Lift High the Cross" ("all newborn SERVANTS of the Crucified....")

For years, we've listened to the local Catholic Sunday radio program as we get ready for Liturgy- the music is tedious, but the homily is usually wonderful! Let's hope the music improves with the new Missal!

I almost laughed when I heard "God rest ye, merry gentle folk" a good number of years ago in a Roman parish.

The new translation is a nice step in the right direction but we still have altar girls and communion in the hand. Those are bigger problems in my book then the translations. I've gotten to the point where I can't in good conscience go to a parish where I have to receive communion from Suzy Eucharistic Minister or that has ecumenical meetings with Muslims. Also in my opinion there are just too many unhealthy elements in the Latin Mass movement as well. So where does that leave me? Luckily I have a UGCC nearby where God is worshipped in the PROPER way.