From a reader:
I hung around after Confession today to go to daily Mass at the Cathedral, and when the priest got to the part that’s normally, “Happy are those who are called to His supper,” the priest completely re-wrote it to, “Blessed are we who are brought to communion in this church.”
My understanding is the new translation’s style of language will make it more difficult for priests to ad lib. What can the new translation do to prevent priests who don’t just ad lib or change a word, but literally completely re-write parts?
What is to prevent a priest from ad libbing?
Off the top of my head I can think of a couple things.
First, abolish the use of the vernacular.
Second, and probably more feasible, would be to place a special server, a member of the Liturgical Police, in the sanctuary with a taser gun. Tase the priest when he starts abusing the congregation through his ad-libbing.
Perhaps the taser gun could be black and red, just as a reminder.
After that, we all know what bishops and fellow priests ought to be doing in such a priest’s regard.
Lay people might offer strong expressions of disapprobation together with suggestions that the collection might not be all the priest would desire unless he shuts up and prays, if you get my drift.
What is to prevent ad-libbing?
Who knows.
