From Mass to Mission

I mentioned in an earlier posting that the Third Edition of the Roman Missal (in its Latin original) has relatively few changes, most of which are the incorporation of feasts, ritual masses and other texts promulgated since the previous publication.

However, the new edition contains three new options--personally approved by Pope Benedict XVI--for the dismissal (in addition to the old standard, Ite, missa est) which highlight the connection between liturgy and life.

In the new missal, the texts offered for the dismissal are:

Ite, missa est.
Go forth, the Mass is ended.

Ite ad Evangelium Domini nuntiandum.
Go and announce the Gospel of the Lord.

Ite in pace, glorificando vita vestra Dominum.
Go in peace, glorifying the Lord by your life.

Ite in pace.
Go in peace.

I have to confess that, when I was a young boy, my statement of "Thanks be to God," was responding to the words of the priest with one addition in my imagination: The Mass is [finally] over!

Apparently, others have felt that its current form lacked a clear message. The idea for these additions came from the proposals given to the Holy Father at the conclusion of the Eleventh Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops (October 2-23, 2005). They gathered to reflect on the theme The Eucharist: Source and Summit of the Life and Mission of the Church. The Congregation for Divine Worship sought suggestions and whittled over 70 proposed texts down to nine, from which the Holy Father picked the three to be included.

Pope Benedict XVI has spoken often and eloquently on the need to revitalize our liturgy not only through a return to "heartfelt participation that is expressed in veneration and in respect for the liturgy" (Homily on May 11, 2009), but also in one that truly acknowledges the mystical communion of all believers:

Christ personally unites himself with each one of us, but Christ himself is also united with the man and the woman who are next to me. And the bread is for me but it is also for the other. Thus Christ unites all of us with himself and all of us with one another. In communion we receive Christ. But Christ is likewise united with my neighbour: Christ and my neighbour are inseparable in the Eucharist. And thus we are all one bread and one body. A Eucharist without solidarity with others is a Eucharist abused. And here we come to the root and, at the same time, the kernel of the doctrine on the Church as the Body of Christ, of the Risen Christ. (General Audience on December 10, 2008)

So, the Mass both calls and enables us to "glorify God by our lives" and to "announce the Gospel" in word and deed, to those with whom we live and work. May we all do so in peace!