Photo was taken recently at Tooreenbawn, Millstreet, Co.Cork (Irl)

A Hydrangea looking its best with a profusion of pink colour thoughout.

Thought on Sunday – November – 27/11/2011

The following reflection is by Triona Doherty called “Wake up call”

Many of us will have noticed a change in the language used at Mass in recent weeks. Since September we have been getting used to a series of changes to the Mass, and today, the first Sunday of Advent, the new translation of the Missal comes fully into effect. You will be aware that some of the congregation’s responses are changing, such as the use of ‘And with your spirit’ instead of ‘And also with you’. There are also changes to some of the people’s prayers such as the Confiteor, the Gloria, the Creed, and the Sanctus, and to the parts of the Mass spoken by the priest.

Specially produced congregational cards and missalettes are available in our parishes to assist us as we familiarise ourselves with the new wording. We will all need to be on our toes to make sure we are getting the responses and prayers right. Until we get used to the new wording, we will be more alert than usual. We will not be able to rattle off prayers without thinking, as can be so easy to do when the words are so familiar.
What a fitting time, then, to introduce the new translation. In today’s Gospel, Jesus urges his disciples to ‘be on your guard’, to ‘stay awake’. It is very much in the spirit of Advent that we stay alert. When we pray we do more than recite words. Let us use this time to discover anew the meaning of the Mass.