It's like going from Mono to Stereo, says bishop of switch in Catholic prayers

"From the rising to the setting of the sun," replaces "from East to West."

Monday, November 28, 2011

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Archbishop Thomas Collins of Toronto spoke to the changes that have come to the Roman Missal, the book of prayers used by Roman Catholics in the ritual of the Mass. Catholic liturgists have made small change in the wording of the Mass to more accurately reflect the original language.

According to the Canadian bishop, the changes allow for some of the poetry of the language to emerge. He compared it to the switch audiophiles experienced in the swith from Mono to Stereo phonographic equipment. This was the first Sunday that the new language went into effect universally, while Catholics in the pews were given cards containing the words that are said to more accurately reflect Catholic teaching.

Spero News editor Martin Barillas is a former US diplomat, who also worked as a democracy advocate and election observer in Latin America. He is also a freelance translator.