We are less than a week away from the implementation of the Third Edition of the Roman Missal! Hard to believe, isn’t it. To put it another way, we’re at crunch time. Priests throughout the United States and other English-speaking countries should be pretty much well-versed with their new parts (if not, may God help them next weekend). That said, WE, as lay people, should also be getting ready to welcome the changes in the Mass with an open heart and mind.

Another publisher that has produced several resources to help those of us in the pews prepare for this history-making change is Ascension Press. A few weeks ago, they sent me some review materials that some of you may find helpful in the coming weeks as we embark on this new experience.

Ascension offers lay people—and maybe some priests and deacons—the opportunity to embrace the changes in the Mass by highlighting their biblical roots. “A Biblical Walk Through the Mass” was written by Edward Sri who received a doctoral degree from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome. Sri has authored several best-selling Catholic books and is the co-founder of the Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS).

I have really been out of the loop in terms of blogging over the last few days…well, weeks. Life has a way of interfering in the things we want to do in order to accomplish the things we need to do. Over the last couple of weeks, things have been more than a little hectic with school work, family life, and my participation in various groups within the parish.

First things first, I guess I should be thankful I am still alive after dealing with project deadlines, homework assignments, and tests for school. This semester has been the busiest of my entire life–and I am only taking three classes, one of the smallest class loads I have ever taken. For some reason, I wanted to give myself an extra challenge and decided to register for two research classes. One of them is an online course, which was the biggest mistake I have made to date. Trying to teach yourself how to conduct research is not the easiest thing in the world and

Beginning on November 26, 2011 at Vigil Masses across the country, the Catholic Church in the United States will begin utilizing the Third Edition of the Roman Missal for the celebration of the liturgy. As the First Sunday of Advent comes ever closer, individual Catholics are turning to every resource possible to find information on what types of changes they will experience at Mass.

In preparation for this historic moment for the Church, many Catholic publishing companies have begun to release materials that assist those in the pews. As we have discovered over the last few months, many of the changes may pose quite a challenge to some; others, however, may adapt fine to the new translation. No matter what your level of readiness, there is sure to be a publication that will help you make the transition to the new words and understand exactly why the Church has embarked on this unique journey.

One such publishing company, Our Sunday Visitor, has released a collection of materials to help every member of the Catholic family prepare for the implementation of the Third Edition of the Roman Missal.

The company has produced several items that help children understand the new words of the Mass. In “My Mass Book,” the Mass is broken down into a language that allows children to understand what the liturgy is all about. The book also includes the people’s responses and brief explanations of the various parts of the Mass. It also grabs the children’s interest with vibrant illustrations. I would absolutely recommend this book for children in Grades 2-4 so that they are able to recognize the importance and the beauty of the liturgy.

In a letter to U.S. President Barack Obama, Archbishop Timothy Dolan, president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishop, has renewed his commitment to defending the Defense of Marriage Act. The message, dated September 20, 2011, comes in response to recent actions taken by the Obama Administration that threaten the very existence of marriage.

Over the last several months, the United States Justice Department has shifted its attitude toward the Defense of Marriage Act from simply not defending it to challenging its constitutionality altogether. That move, in itself, is unconstitutional, some have argued, because the role of the executive branch of government is to enforce the laws, even those it does not necessarily support.

Within the letter, Archbishop Dolan reaffirms the USCCB’s support for the institution of marriage. Dolan also reiterates the “immeasurable personal dignity and equal worth of all individuals,” including the dignity of those with same-sex attraction, the main supporters of the repeal of DOMA. Furthermore, the archbishop refutes the claim that the support of DOMA is “rooted in prejudice and bias.”

On September 22nd, the Catholic Association of Latino Leaders (CALL) will present a formal response to Pope Benedict XVI’s encyclical Caritas in Veritate. The association has issued a press release for the occasion, which can be found below: