A church in reverse

I will never forget the joy and hope I felt during the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965 -- I was ordained in 1964.) The first tangible results of the council were felt just before Christmas 1964 when parts of the Mass went from Latin to the people's own languages around the world.

But for decades now there has been a huge effort toward restoration of the "good old days." Many would have us return to distancing ourselves from people of other religions or opposing religious liberty or taking a fundamentalist approach to the bible. Already one US bishop is celebrating Mass in his cathedral with his back to the people.

The US bishops are about to make final decisions this week on changing the words of the Mass. Unless protesting Bishop Donald Trautman of Erie, Pa., is successful in blocking the draft, some strange and antiquated language will soon land on us. Because the Vatican wants the Mass to be a strict translation from Latin (which Jesus surely did not speak), we will be celebrating Mass with archaic words and some really bad grammar. Here are some of the words: consubstantial, ineffable, incarnate, inviolate, oblation, ignominy. precursor, suffused and unvanquished. Even the simple "cup" of the Last Supper is to be called "this precious chalice."

Vatican II called on us to be a "church in the modern world," But the higher-ups who want transcendency above everythng else seem to be winning. It is a sad time.