This week is exam week, so I've been the busiest bee, trying to get all of my assignments done by Monday, so I can enjoy the sweet freedom of real life before I leave the safety of my college campus on Thursday.
Something I've been doing to keep sane in this somewhat frightening time is upholding the tradition of and accepting the gym and mass challenge, wherein Sarah and I make an effort to work out and go to mass every day during the exam and reading period. This is particularly interesting this year, when it is my last chance to complete it, and it is coming at such an important liturgical season in the Church.
Just last week, the new mass translation was used liturgically for the first time, on the first Sunday of Advent. All of those phrases that I had memorized from the mass are suddenly gone, and instead there is a mumbling crowd that says something like, "and also with you spirit," whenever the Priest says, "The Lord be with you."
Reflecting on life and faith during that half hour every day has been really meaningful for me, especially with regard to the new translation. When my mind wanders away from the page in front of me, I find myself saying "and..." thinking "also with you," pausing, and with that delay, finishing the phrase, "with your spirit." It's a process, but it is something that I know I will accomplish with time and integrate to my life.
As the English-speaking Catholic Church is making this big transition it gives me comfort in the changing of my own life. The liturgy of the Catholic Church has been unchanging for years, yet, quite suddenly, this new dialogue is thrust upon us, and we are forced to think twice about what we say every time we go to mass, regardless of whether or not we have the words by heart. To see the massive institution of the Church change in such a momentous way makes me feel that this transition in my life, to the "real world," is not actually so big and that I am totally capable of succeeding.
Happy Advent, all!
Something I've been doing to keep sane in this somewhat frightening time is upholding the tradition of and accepting the gym and mass challenge, wherein Sarah and I make an effort to work out and go to mass every day during the exam and reading period. This is particularly interesting this year, when it is my last chance to complete it, and it is coming at such an important liturgical season in the Church.
Just last week, the new mass translation was used liturgically for the first time, on the first Sunday of Advent. All of those phrases that I had memorized from the mass are suddenly gone, and instead there is a mumbling crowd that says something like, "and also with you spirit," whenever the Priest says, "The Lord be with you."
Reflecting on life and faith during that half hour every day has been really meaningful for me, especially with regard to the new translation. When my mind wanders away from the page in front of me, I find myself saying "and..." thinking "also with you," pausing, and with that delay, finishing the phrase, "with your spirit." It's a process, but it is something that I know I will accomplish with time and integrate to my life.
As the English-speaking Catholic Church is making this big transition it gives me comfort in the changing of my own life. The liturgy of the Catholic Church has been unchanging for years, yet, quite suddenly, this new dialogue is thrust upon us, and we are forced to think twice about what we say every time we go to mass, regardless of whether or not we have the words by heart. To see the massive institution of the Church change in such a momentous way makes me feel that this transition in my life, to the "real world," is not actually so big and that I am totally capable of succeeding.
Happy Advent, all!
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