The back-to-Latin English translations of the parts of the Mass now have their own website. Launched by the U.S. bishops in anticipation of their expected approval in 2010, the faithful can now read what they'll be saying on Sunday, beginning with their response to "The Lord be with you": "And with your spirit." And that means?
The entire study text for the "ordinary" of the Mass–the parts that don't change–are available at www.usccb.org/romanmissal. People will surely notice the changes to the Gloria, Confiteor, Holy, Holy, and response to the invitation to Communion–"Lord, I am not worthy that you should come under my roof." I guess some people will be taking the consecrated bread home?
I don't think these changes are necessary at all, and the changes make little sense in modern English. The whole project is basically an expensive attempt to comply with the letter of LIturgiam authenticam, a document on translation aimed squarely at the English translations of the liturgy. (No other language group is revising their texts. As for expensive, every parish will eventually have to buy new hymnals and ritual books, and every publisher is going to have to update scores of books, musical arrangements and worship aids.) For background, check out Peter Nixon's August story on uscatholic.org: Incoming Missal.
