And with your spirit...

By Mary DeTurris Poust

So how did we do? What do we think? The new translation is finally here, after much fanfare and more than enough controversy. Personally, I found my first full Mass experience with the new Roman Missal exciting and beautiful. (Except for the word "consubstantial." Still can't get past that one.)

Most people at our church seemed totally on board, with some saying the new responses extra loud to help guide those who were still on autopilot. Overall, I thought it was a really positive experience. And I've heard the same on Facebook, where some friends said they liked the changes or felt more involved in the Mass because they had to pay closer attention. Which is exactly what the Church was hoping for, that these changes would renew our interest in and excitement for the Mass since it's so easy to let the words roll off our tongue without giving them a whole lot of thought.

Of course, not everyone I'm hearing from is happy. Some people I know say they simply won't use the new language. As I told a group of confirmation candidates at a local parish recently, we can either enter into this new experience with our spiritual arms crossed in anger or we can open ourselves up to what these new words might do to deepen our faith. As with most things on this spiritual journey, the choice is ours: Seek to go deeper or stay stuck right where we are. Change -- even when it takes us back -- can be a good thing for our prayer lives because it wakes us up to what we're professing to believe and forces us to explore how we feel about those beliefs.

So how was your first experience with the new translation? Did you like it? Hate it? Not care? Did the rest of the congregation seem on board? Share with us in the comment section.

HERE is a short article on this topic from my local daily, the Albany Times Union. I'm quoted in a couple of places since my most recent book, The Essential Guide to Catholic Prayer and the Mass, covers all of the changes and the reasons behind them.