Explain please - ?? New response - I'm confused

Prairie Rose · #1 Jul 1, '12, 5:01 pm

Hello - I'm sorry if this has been addressed before, but I'm confused about one portion of the new changes to the Roman Missal in the USA.

When the Priest says "Peace Be With You" and the congregation responds "And With Your Spirit" - what does that actually mean really?? The response part I mean, not the Priest's words.

Before, the words were "And Also With You" - which I always assumed was just a nice polite response to the greeting by the Priest. But I'm not sure if that's correct now??
I know the new changes are a way to get back to the orginal Latin translation, so what does this mean??

I'm a new Catholic, so if someone would give me a layperson's translation, or some basic background - I'd appreciate it

Thank You much

~~Prairie Rose

robertericleech · #2 Jul 1, '12, 5:16 pm

You're right, it's a closer translation of the traditional Roman Missal response 'Et cum spiritu tuo'

http://www.firstthings.com/blogs/fir...rit-explained/

oneGODoneCHURCH · #3 Jul 1, '12, 6:02 pm

In effect, the expression et cum spiritu tuo (and with your spirit”) is an acknowledgement by the congregation of the grace and presence of Christ who is present and operative in the spirit or soul of the celebrant. Christ’s Spirit is present in the priest in a unique way in virtue of his ordination.

http://blog.adw.org/2010/05/and-with...hat-you-think/

PeterJohn · #4 Jul 1, '12, 6:04 pm

I believe Jesus himself says to the apostles "peace be with you" in the gospel which is a greeting.
And the priest, acting inpersona-christi(in the person of Christ) says this to us, and we reply and with your spirit(the spirit of Jesus within the priest)

Dorothy · #5 Jul 1, '12, 6:20 pm

I am so mindful of the specialness of the priesthood when I make that response at Mass. And, I pray that the priest continues to grow in the love and service of Our Lord.

Prairie Rose · #6 Jul 1, '12, 6:50 pm

Thank You ALL for taking time to reply - your responses have been most helpful.

A non-Catholic guest at Mass this AM, asked me to explain, and I had to admit I didn't know. Now I can explain in better detail

My heartfelt gratitude!

~~Prairie Rose

Elizium23 · #7 Jul 1, '12, 6:54 pm

The response has been adequately explained above but I would just like to be extremely pedantic and point out that a priest should never be saying "Peace be with you." This option of greeting is reserved to a bishop celebrant. So it is OK if your celebrant is ordained a bishop, but if a mere priest insists on saying this, it is a blatant abuse, and you should be cognizant of that.

lerapt78 · #8 Jul 1, '12, 7:35 pm

Our priest explained the changes to us as an attempt to be more aligned with original translation.

I still mess up, though. Probably everyone around me thinks I'm one of those "Christmas/Easter only" churchgoers.

PacoG · #9 Jul 1, '12, 8:29 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elizium23

The response has been adequately explained above but I would just like to be extremely pedantic and point out that a priest should never be saying "Peace be with you." This option of greeting is reserved to a bishop celebrant. So it is OK if your celebrant is ordained a bishop, but if a mere priest insists on saying this, it is a blatant abuse, and you should be cognizant of that.

I think she meant when the priest says "The peace of the Lord be with you always" after the Our Father and before the Agnus Dei.

Prairie Rose · #10 Jul 1, '12, 8:38 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elizium23

The response has been adequately explained above but I would just like to be extremely pedantic and point out that a priest should never be saying "Peace be with you." This option of greeting is reserved to a bishop celebrant. So it is OK if your celebrant is ordained a bishop, but if a mere priest insists on saying this, it is a blatant abuse, and you should be cognizant of that.

Hmmm, I never knew that! Thanks for clarifying. Now that I think fully on it, I'm not sure if my Priest actuatly says those exact words "Peace be with you", but his phrasing is quite similar - what he says has more than just those 4 words. I'll have to listen more attentively next time. Hmmm.

Ok, here's a question for you - during Mass at the sign of peace (people shaking each others' hands), what is the proper greeting for parishioners to make to each other? I'm quite sure in my Parish that we for the most part say "Peace be with you" when we shake hands. Or more simply, just the word "Peace". Is this wrong also, and if so - what should we be saying instead??

Thanks for the info.....
~~PR

YoungTradCath · #11 Jul 1, '12, 8:41 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prairie Rose

Hmmm, I never knew that! Thanks for clarifying. Now that I think fully on it, I'm not sure if my Priest actuatly says those exact words "Peace be with you", but his phrasing is quite similar - what he says has more than just those 4 words. I'll have to listen more attentively next time. Hmmm.

Ok, here's a question for you - during Mass at the sign of peace (people shaking each others' hands), what is the proper greeting for parishioners to make to each other? I'm quite sure in my Parish that we for the most part say "Peace be with you" when we shake hands. Or more simply, just the word "Peace". Is this wrong also, and if so - what should we be saying instead??

Thanks for the info.....
~~PR

He likely said "The peace of the Lord be with you always," which is indeed something that a priest can say. A bishop's greeting is "Peace be with you," a priest's is "The Lord be with you," but they both say "The peace of the Lord be with you always" at one point in the Mass.

Prairie Rose · #12 Jul 1, '12, 8:41 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by PacoG

I think she meant when the priest says "The peace of the Lord be with you always" after the Our Father and before the Agnus Dei.

YESSS - that's the phrasing!! Thanks for helping me out

I'm a newbie Catholic and I'm still learning!

Prairie Rose · #13 Jul 1, '12, 8:48 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by lerapt78

Our priest explained the changes to us as an attempt to be more aligned with original translation.

I still mess up, though. Probably everyone around me thinks I'm one of those "Christmas/Easter only" churchgoers.

LOL - I attend regularly and I have to stop myself from responding, "Lord, I'm not worthy to receive you, etc.... I have to really concentrate on the new phrase ".....that you should enter under my roof.......etc." Otherwise, I've almost mastered all the other changes in response

Deo Gratias42 · #14 Jul 2, '12, 4:10 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prairie Rose

Hmmm, I never knew that! Thanks for clarifying. Now that I think fully on it, I'm not sure if my Priest actuatly says those exact words "Peace be with you", but his phrasing is quite similar - what he says has more than just those 4 words. I'll have to listen more attentively next time. Hmmm.

Ok, here's a question for you - during Mass at the sign of peace (people shaking each others' hands), what is the proper greeting for parishioners to make to each other? I'm quite sure in my Parish that we for the most part say "Peace be with you" when we shake hands. Or more simply, just the word "Peace". Is this wrong also, and if so - what should we be saying instead??

Thanks for the info.....
~~PR

I've noticed people saying "Peace be with you" but growing up, and my dad still says, "Peace of Christ".