USCCB Resources
for Implementation of the
New Roman Missal

* Preparing for the New Roman Missal
* Roman Missal-Prayer & Worship
* General Instruction of the Roman Missal with Table of Contents
* Frequently Asked Questions
* Articles, Documents & Reflections
* History & Timeline
* Glossary
* The Celebrants
* The Assembly
* The New Missal Changes (Printable/Downloadable)

Diocese of Sacramento Resources

* Diocese of Sacramento
* Timeline for Implementation
* Resources for Parish Workshops
* Catholic Herald May/June 2011

Additional Resources
* Chants of the Roman Missal
* National Association of Pastoral Musicians
* Catholic TV.com

Download Resources
Ascension Press Reference Card
New Mass Book
USCCB Mass Card

Weekend of December 3 & 4, 2011

Catechesis on New Roman Missal

LORD, I AM NOT WORTHY

Another line that will cause some confusion comes just before the sharing of communion. We’re used to saying, “Lord, I am not worthy to receive you.” But the new translation will have us say, “Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof.” To a lot of English speakers, this will sound like a reference to the roof of the mouth, as though we are not worthy to swallow communion – even though, immediately after saying these words, we drop everything and enter the communion line.

Once again, a reference to the Bible is behind the new translation. The story in question, of course, is Jesus’ cure of the centurion’s slave. The centurion, a Gentile, has heard of Jesus’ power, so he sends some elders of the Jews humbly to ask Jesus for personal assistance on behalf of a good slave. These advocates also tell Jesus that the centurion is a good guy who loves the Jewish nation and actually built the synagogue for them. Jesus starts off to help, but the centurion’s messengers stop him from traveling any further. They explain this to Jesus by giving him this message from the centurion: “I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof” (Luke 7:6). The centurion knows that Jesus can just say the word and the miracle will happen from afar. Jesus never meets the centurion or the slave in this story. He works the miracle at a distance because he is impressed by the centurion’s faith, and certainly by his humility as well.

Note: Just before Communion, in the new translation, the people will now pray: “Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.” This text quotes Matthew’s Gospel story of the Roman Centurion who appealed to Jesus to heal his servant. When Jesus offered to come to his house, the Centurion told Jesus “Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof; only say the word and my servant will be healed.” (Matthew 8:8) In our prayer, we are not only quoting the Centurion but expressing a faith just like his in the healing power of the Eucharist we are about to receive. It is important that the sign language translation preserve the quotation from the Scripture, but also be clear that that the “roof’ being referred to was not the church roof (or any other building) but ourselves as temples of the Lord about to welcome him.

 Reminder: These changes began the Weekend of The First Sunday of Advent

New Missal Lessons from the Desk of Fr. Arlon
Lesson from the Weekend of October 1 & 2, 2011
Lesson from the Weekend of October 8 & 9, 2011
Lesson from the Weekend of October 15 & 16
Lesson from the Weekend of October 22 & 23
Lesson from the Weekend of October 29 & 30
Lesson from the Weekend of November 5 & 6
Lesson from the Weekend of November 19 & 20
Lesson from the Weekend of November 26 & 27

St. Isidore Parish Workshop Materials
A Guide to the New Mass Translation - Information Session
Session 1: November 1, 2011 Workshop Study Materials (pdf)
Session 2: November 8, 2011 Workshop Study Materials (pdf)
Session 3: November 15, 2011 Workshop Study Materials (pdf format) -- (Word format)
Session 4: November 22, 2011 Workshop Study Materials (pdf format) -- (Word format)