By Sarah Stiefvater
The Catholic Church changed the translation of its liturgy a few months ago, and local Catholics are still struggling with the new version.
“I’m still learning the different words of the creed,” the Rev. Joe D’Aurora told a full congregation at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Lexington recently.
The changes went into effect Nov. 27, 10 years after the Vatican first ordered the modifications.
The Vatican published a document called “Liturgiam authenticam” in 2001 that directed countries using their native languages in the liturgy to change the translations to be as close as possible to the Latin version.
Since the Catholic Church allowed the English translation of the Mass 40 years ago, it has used a translation that Burr Datz, the St. Patrick campus minister, sees as “poetic and more colloquial” than the new version.
Datz said in many cases the changes were minor, but they have created an awkward translation, especially for those who had memorized the old liturgy.
Others have noted the change, too.
“It is definitely a challenging transition, and I know it’s challenging for my parents and a lot of my relatives,” said Christine Winschel, faculty adviser to Washington and Lee University’s Catholic Campus Ministry.
Many younger Catholics also are struggling to make the adjustment.
Gregory Oldland, a Virginia Military Institute cadet, said he is having a hard time relearning prayers that he has known since middle school.
“It changes and you’re not sure what the differences mean and why they were changed,” Oldland said.
Because the meanings of the prayers are almost the same, some Catholics are questioning whether a change was even needed.
“If you don’t report me to the Vatican, no, I don’t think that they were necessary,” D’Aurora said. “I think we were doing fine the way the prayers were.”
Virginia Military Institute cadet Elise Reed agreed, adding that her religious experience is not just about the specific prayers.
“I don’t feel that the words should necessarily represent your faith,” Reed said.
Others have accepted the change as part of a natural progression.
“I can’t necessarily say I enjoy it,” said Washington and Lee University first-year student Arthur Stier. “I mean things have to change from time to time, so it’s not that bad.”
Winschel had a similar view.
“Change is inevitable,” she said. “And change is important because people change. And if it makes people more interested in the Mass and learning it right now, then I think it was necessary.”
D’Aurora said St. Patrick parishioners are focused on saying the prayers correctly and even ask him if they are doing it wrong.
“I say, ‘No, I think that the Good Lord understands that it’s going to take a few more months until it is smoothed out completely,’” he said.