Preparing for the Mass using the new Roman Missal

For Catholics, unless you are hiding under a rock, this Sunday was the end of nearly 40 years of celebrating Mass using the current English translation.  The new English translation begins with the liturgy that ushers in Advent starting with the vigil Masses this Saturday.  Everything is in place.  The new Roman Missals are ready to be placed into service, new missalettes and pew prayer cards are ready to be put in the hands of the congregation and all the many classes, bulletin inserts and other materials have been completed.

Today, our pastor, completed his "teaching" Masses and, unlike last weekend, I was able to assist at one of these celebrations today!  It was an awesome and quite detailed explanation of the liturgy.  Fr. Rodney carefully explained everything, from vestments, to movement, to the background of the prayers, to the proper way the faithful are to participate and respond.  Many times during the Mass he would simply stop and explain the words and actions.  For example, he took time to explain why the Deacon proclaims the Gospel, why he asks for a blessing from the Priest, the words the Priest says in the blessing of the Deacon and why the Deacon, or the Priest for that matter, kisses the book of the Gospels after the proclamation. 

This too was an awesome opportunity for Fr. Rodney, especially as Pastor, to explain why we should come to Mass properly attired, the reason we should give of our "firstfruits" in the offetory collection and why we should most defintely not leave Mass right after Communion and before the dismissal.

This was an awesome teaching opportunity and one I have never witnessed before.  I truly believe all Catholics could benefit from this.  The teaching was presented so not to disrupt the Mass, especially the consecration and Eucharistic prayer.

So on this last Sunday of not only the liturgical year but the last one using the old Sacramentary(which is still in force through Saturday morning Mass) we all should be awaiting with great anticipation and joy the new translation in the 3rd edition of the Roman Missal.

Ready or not!