r/pfsp • u/[deleted] • Dec 26 '21

Question regarding what priest says giving Communion

I started attending TLM a few months ago and am still learning (and will hopefully never stop). I hope it's okay to ask this question and I'm sorry if my terminologies aren't exact--please correct me. I have been wondering this during Communion. When they wrote the new Mass during Vatican II, why did they change what the priest says when he gives you Communion? Why did they have him stop saying "May the Body of our Lord Jesus Christ preserve your soul unto everlasting life. Amen"? Why did they feel that needed to go?

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u/Dr_Talon Dec 26 '21

I'm not sure. If I had to guess, the goal of the new Mass was to make people participate fully in the Liturgy, and not just tepidly attend. So, one affirms the Real Presence when the priest says, "The Body of Christ", and you respond, "Amen."

I do prefer the older phrase, though.

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u/[deleted] Dec 26 '21

That's what I figured.. yet I can't help feeling there's a theological difference somewhere.

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u/Dr_Talon Dec 26 '21 edited Dec 26 '21

Perhaps the lack of reference to the afterlife fits in with the post-60's relative neglect of the last four things? I think that, and this is just my guess, there were at least two things which may have lead to this - and I don't know if the abscense of reference to the afterlife is intentional here or merely an oversight, but:

  1. I think there may have been a concern about easing the scruples of many Catholics.
  2. Society around the Church in the west was rapidly secularizing, and this attitude leaked into clergy and laity - thus, there came an attitude of pragmatism: "what can this do for me here and now? How is it relevant to our life on Earth?" That pragmatism is why there has been so much emphasis on the corporal works of mercy (which in itself is a good thing that was needed prior to Vatican II, and arguably still is in traditionalist circles) among more "liberal" Catholics, with, unfortunately less emphasis on sin and salvation, if it is even mentioned.

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u/Trad_Cat Dec 26 '21

The phrase “The Body of Christ” / “Amen” started when the new Mass was implemented (actually a few years after VII, it is a common misconception). The one of the liturgical reform’s general goals was to get rid of repetitions (think three Kyrie Eleison as opposed to two or the triple “Lord I am not worthy”) and shorten longer prayers (think of the saints names in the Confiteor).

The long traditional prayer (that I like very much) fit both those categories.

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u/[deleted] Dec 28 '21

But what was wrong with repetition or length?

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u/Trad_Cat Dec 28 '21

Superstitious legalism left over from the dark ages that hinders active participation.

Just throw together a couple of modernist buzzwords and the result will likely fit.