Sunday 23 January 2011

Are we about to see the end of "Good morning, everyone" - "Good morning, Father" liturgy?

I ordered a copy of the DVD Become One Body, One Spirit in Christ from the Bishops Conference last week. Online ordering went smoothly, and delivery was prompt - quite comfortably meeting the sort of standard to which the Amazon.com generation has become accustomed. The DVD is the major catechetical resource prepared by ICEL to support the introduction of the new English translation of the Roman Missal.

I have just explored the catechesis contained on the section of the DVD that examines the changes to the texts of the Greeting at the beginning of Mass (and, incidentally, the greeting at the beginning of the Preface). I was very impressed. No, I was extremely impressed! The detail and quality of the explanations of the different formulae taught me a lot.

If you want to look at the catecheses that I have just viewed, follow the following path through the links: Receiving this English Translation (overview video that runs automatically is worth a watch) - Changes to the Text - Review Changes to the Missal Text - Greeting. And then explore each formula.

It is quite beyond my comprehension how a priest can view these catecheses and still think that it is the right thing to interject "Good morning, everyone" and expect the people to dutifully answer "Good morning, Father". Particularly if the people have themselves viewed the same catecheses. Are we about to see the demise of this most appalling of banalities? Oh, well, one can always be optimistic!

3 comments:

Laura said...

The priest who used to say it here has dropped it recently!

Fr John Abberton said...

Since banality is probably one of the effects of original sin I am sure there will be places in the world where the priest says something like, "Buenos noches mi amigos" or, "Bonjour mes amis" or "Howdy y'all". Perish the thought!

Patricius said...

Interestingly, when a bishop begins mass with "Good morning, everyone!" the response "Good morning..." sort of tails off as the congregation can't decide whether to address him as "Father" or "My Lord"!