Catholic Mass - Why did they change so many things?

Question

I just came from Mass after not going since the 60s. When and why did the following things change? No kneeling except after Communion, also they changed the response to (Dominus Vobiscum) "The Lord be with you". It used to be "And with your Spirit" now it's something else. And why didn't anyone genuflect? And why do they now include that tag on the end the of The Lord's Prayer (the power and the glory part, I was not taught that as a youngster in Catholic school)? And I thought women/girls had to wear some kind of head covering. Many other things also seem different. Arbitrarily changing things which were once taught as fundamental goes against the concept of absolute Faith, which demands that you believe in something consistently. "Upon this rock I build my Church" meaning Simon Peter and also meaning a solid unshakeable foundation. No? Thanks for your help with this -

Answer 1

Know what?

You stay away from ANYWHERE for 40 years, and there are bound to be changes.

The changes you mention-with the exception of no genuflecting and no kneeling- are all legitimate under the reforms of the Second Vatican Council.

If there is no tabernacle present in the sanctuary, genuflection is not proper- you ONLY genuflect to the tabernacle.

Kneeling during the casecration of the Mass is still called for in the Dioceses of the United States, unless there is a reason it is impracticle ( lack of space, no kneelers)

None of the changes you listed were arbitrary, but many of them are contentious points for Catholics.

Since you have been away so long, I do hope you have gone to Reconciliation ( Confession) before receiving the Eucharist....THAT much has not changed!

Answer 2

The Mass has developed over it's 2,000 year existence. The fact that changes have been made to the Mass does not mean it's theological foundation has been shaken.

I do a Catholic blog on Yahoo 360. Tonight I am posting the first of 19 entries that detail the development of the Catholic Mass from the time of Jesus to the present day. I am using trascript from the text I used when studying the Mass.

You might want to check it out:

http://360.yahoo.com/catholiccatechism

Answer 3

Find a parish that suits your spiritual needs. Yes, some things have changed after Vatican II, but the Mass is essentially the same. Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

Where I attend mass, the priests are on fire and they give profound homilies, we kneel during the Consecration, and the priest sings the prayers of consecration in latin. I guess it depends on where you attend mass. I don't see where women wearing veils, or not wearing veils, should have any impact on your experience at mass.

I would suggest that you attend mass at a parish staffed by Men Religious, or better still, at a chapel on the grounds of a Men's Religious Community. Religious Orders tend to be more orthodox.

Peace be with you.

Answer 4

Im Catholic. too and dont go to church as much as I should. Yes, many things have changed, Another change is offering everyone the sign of peace, which really is good, I think, Women have not worn hats in church for a long time now. also, alot of people dont get totally dressed up like they used to, Ive seen people in jeans, and yes, Mass is said in Englidh, mostly instead of Latin. Another thing that I have noticed was, I went to a funeral Mass the other day and at the end of the Mass the priest said " Now we will take Dorothy to her final resting place" meaning the cemetary, I have never heard that before, and thatwas a real tear jerker for me.

Answer 5

Vatican 2, did a lot of harm, in the eyes of the fundamentalist, they were brought up to believe that the Catholic service would never change, but it did rather dramatically to many, liberalism can go too far at times, this is a classic example.

Answer 6

Many parishes have made changes in the so-called "spirit of Vatican II" which actually fly in the face of Vatican II. It is a big problem in the Church today. Liberals have infiltrated the Church and are doing all kinds of things that contradict the teachings of the Church.
Find a traditional parish in your area like I did. You can get assistance by emailig http://www.catholic.com
They are the experts on authentic Catholicism If you want you can email me and I may be able to assist you.

You may find this article interesting:
http://www.catholic.com/thisrock/2003/0307fea1.asp

Answer 7

These are the changes from Vatican II.

Nothing in the Church is changed arbitrarily. Everything is hashed over ad infinitum.

Most of the changes just take the Church back closer to the early Christian church of the first couple of centuries.

With love in Christ.

Answer 8

well it is because pope paul the 23 they has been changing it since paul the 6th well your one of the luckiest ones well I was born in 1986 its hard now to learn new things in the church they did not like latin because there are some evil in the vatican the virgin of fatima said that the smoke of the devil is in the vatican already so it hard well im not in the vatican but we only have to pray for the priest and of the ppl and the bishops and also the pope

Answer 9

There are plenty of factors, a lot of them wrapped up in a standard difference in angle within the West to the role of a liturgical amassing. Traditionally, the priest used to be obvious as a member of the congregation, status on the entrance as a form of "spokesman" for the congregation. When the West multiplied the didactic role of the liturgy, it all started to make extra experience to Westerners to constitution their liturgies in a extra "lecture" layout. The minister or priest grew to be a "chief" lecturing the loads. The Orthodox Church nonetheless has the priest dealing with clear of the congregation, however he does face the congregation for the homily--whilst addressing or exhorting us. As for forsaking Latin, this used to be performed to carry the liturgy again to the humans. Traditionally, the Orthodox favored liturgy within the nearby language, that is why the Slavs acquired a Slavonic liturgy alternatively of being required to make use of a Greek liturgy.

Answer 10

Unfortunately, the Vatican chose to "modernize" about 20 years ago and ever since then, Catholics have been abandoning ship like rats.

They wanted to make Mass more understandable and easy on the people. Who ever heard of a religion that was easy?

I prefer the old ways.....the mystery, the powerful latin words that used to make my soul soar with love for God. Now I have to leave before final prayers so I don't have to shake some stranger's hand....YUCK!!!!

I try to go, but fail. I just don't like it anymore the way it is. I was schooled in Catholic school, so went to Church EVERY morning until 8th grade. The ritual was so ingrained that it is hard for me to change it.