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Scroll down for questions and answers regarding the Roman Missal.
I would like to write a Sunday reflection / submit artwork, music or photography for Living with Christ. What should I do?
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Living with Christ Editor
Novalis
10 Lower Spadina Ave, suite 400
Toronto, ON
M5V 2Z2
How do I order a print of the artwork on the cover of Living with Christ?
Living with Christ does not own the copyright to any artwork. For information on how to contact the artist or the copyright holder, see “Our Cover” at the bottom of the Editorial page (or page 2 of the print version of Living with Christ).
Why are there different liturgical colours?
The colours used for the presider’s vestments, the altar cloth, etc. indicate the liturgical season or the nature of the liturgical celebration. Green is used in Ordinary Time. Violet (or purple) is used during Advent and Lent. Red is used for Passion Sunday, Good Friday, Pentecost Sunday, the sacrament of confirmation, and the feasts of apostles and martyrs. Blue is not an authorized liturgical colour.
White is used for the Christmas and Easter seasons; feasts of the Lord (other than the Passion), the Blessed Virgin and the apostles; saints who are not martyrs; funerals; and the celebration of the sacraments of baptism, matrimony, orders and anointing of the sick. Black was at one time used for the mass of the dead, but white is more commonly used today.
What is the Sacramentary or Roman Missal?
The Sacramentary (or Roman Missal) is the book of mass prayers: entrance antiphons, collects, prayers over the offerings, prefaces, eucharistic prayers, communion antiphons, prayers after communion. It does not contain the readings – these are found in the Lectionary. The Roman Missal is prepared in Latin by the Vatican and then translated into local languages under the authority of the Vatican.
What is the Lectionary?
The Lectionary is the book of Scripture readings for Mass. It is published in two parts: one for Sundays and one for weekdays. In the Catholic Church, there is a single worldwide Lectionary in which the choice of readings is set by the Vatican. Each country may make authorised adaptations that reflect its history and practice. For example, the Canadian Lectionary includes readings for Canada Day and for the feast days of Canadian saints.
How does Living with Christ decide which readings to publish?
Living with Christ provides the readings for weekdays and Sundays from the Lectionary. LWC does not choose which readings to publish. The selection of readings is set by the Vatican and the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops. LWC reproduces them with permission.
The new translation of the Roman Missal
What has changed in the Mass?
On November 27, 2011, First Sunday of Advent, all English-speaking Catholics in the world began using a new English translation of the Roman Missal – that is, a new translation of the prayers said by the priest and the people.
Why have these changes been implemented?
Pope John Paul II approved the 3rd edition of the Roman Missal in 2000, and since then all language groups within the Catholic Church have been working on new translations. The English translation was completed in 2010 and launched in Canada on November 27, 2011.
Our parish uses the Living with Christ Sunday Missal. Are the new texts in the current edition?
Yes. The Living with Christ Sunday Missal contains all the necessary texts from the new English translation of the Roman Missal.
I subscribe to the Living with Christ missalette. Are the new texts in the issues?
Yes. The Living with Christ missalettes contain all the necessary texts from the new English translation of the Roman Missal.
What has Novalis done to get ready for the text changes?
As of November 27, 2011, the Living with Christ Sunday Missal, the Living with Christ Missal for Young Catholics and the regular and large-print Living with Christ missalettes include the new English translation texts from the Roman Missal.
Novalis has partnered with the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops to produce a handy pew card with all the people’s responses for use at Mass.
Novalis published The Mass: Step-by-Step for use in schools (leader’s guide, student booklet and poster) – the new English translation of the Roman Missal is the basis for this resource.
Are there changes to the Mass in French?
No. The revised French translation of the Roman Missal will not be ready for a few years. This means that in bilingual parishes in Canada, for example, English-speakers will be learning and hearing new words but French-speakers will not.
I am a lector. Will these changes affect my part in the Mass?
No, these changes will not affect the lector’s part in the Mass. The readings for the Liturgy of the Word are taken from the Lectionary, not the Roman Missal. (In Canada, the English Lectionary was recently revised and came into use Pentecost Sunday 2009.)
Are all English-language countries using the revised texts?
Yes. The new English translation of the Roman Missal was prepared by the International Commission on English in the Liturgy – a commission made up of representatives from the bishops’ conferences of Canada, the United States, Australia, England and Wales, India, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, the Philippines, Scotland and South Africa.
May I continue to receive the Living with Christ missal/missalette with the old Mass texts?
No. Once the Canadian bishops launched the new English translation of the Roman Missal on November 27, 2011, this became the only official English-language text to be used at Mass.
In the Sunday Missal for Young Catholics, why does the Eucharistic Prayer for Mass with Children have the old words?
The three Eucharistic Prayers for Masses with Children are not part of the newly translated Roman Missal. They are official texts, but are published apart, and have not been revised yet. Until they are revised, the old translation is still in force and is the official text.
Where can I get more information?
The Roman Missal on the website of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops
