For the first time in over 40 years - and only the third time in the 2000 years of the Church's history - the wording of the RC Mass is to change. The reason is not to modernise it, dumb it down, or to make it politically correct but to have wording that is a more accurate translation of the original Latin. So, whereas now, in response to the priest's frequent "the Lord be with you", the congregation says "And also with you", from November 27, when the new wording will come into force - that's the start of Advent - Catholics will say "And with your spirit" instead. This is closer to the original Latin "Et cum spiritu tuo".
"We believe in one God" becomes "I believe in one God". The old "One in being with the Father" becomes "Consubstantial with the Father". The word 'Father' is retained here, but in total there will be fewer references to "Almighty Father" or "God the Father". This, again, is because the original Latin did not use the word Father so much - old translators previously inserted the word in the English at random. There will be more praising God in the new wording, and more humility on the part of worshippers. So, less telling or asking God to do things, and more beseeching, and "be pleased to grant" and "humbly we beg you".
Here is an article giving more changes and explanation.
Thank you, by the way, to those readers who advised me on how to set up an RSS feed and email subscription following my plea yesterday. You should now be able to subscribe to this blog by adding your email address in the box at the top right of this page, or click on what I believe is called a 'chicklet' (the orangey-brown button also at the top of the page).
Sounds very like the Book of Common Prayer, which has "And with thy spirit" and "Being of one substance with the Father"
Posted by: Kate Bunting | November 24, 2011 at 03:35 PM
Yes, you're right, Kate, it does. Thanks for passing that info on, also for reading the post and for your comment.
Posted by: Virtual Linguist | November 24, 2011 at 08:17 PM