Catholics assimilate to Protestant norms

The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass does, now, indeed, have a different translation from the Latin language. But, it is not new. The translation into English, the official version in the Catholic Church since Vatican Council II, was the new one. It should not even be called a ‘translation,’ because a translation shows a correspondence in meaning between the two languages.

For example, the Latin, “et cum spiritu tuo,” does not mean in English “and also with you.” Yet, Catholics had to endure this version since the Council. It means “and with your spirit.” This does not even represent a bad translation; it represents a falsification of the prayer. Even those who know no Latin will recognize the correspondence: et = and; cum = with; spiritu = spirit; tuo = your.

The false translation exposes the problems that the church has experienced in English-speaking countries that have an history of severe anti-Catholicism and persecution.

The Vatican Council did not mandate a corrupt liturgy that includes the priest facing the congregation, the recitation of falsified prayers, the abandonment of Latin and Gregorian chant, and the use of altar girls. These innovations came about because a Protestant spirit of rebellion (the “smoke of Satan,” as Pope Paul VI put it) had entered the church. That is, Catholics have assimilated to Protestant norms that imply men have no obligation to submit to any moral authority except their own.

George Kocan

Warrenville