Shlama Anthony,
The word “Mass” comes from the ending of the ancient Latin liturgy that says “Ite, missa est” which means “Go, it is the dismissal”.
When I speak with Chaldeans in Aramaic, I say “Raza Qadisha”, and in Arabic, I say “Qidas”, but in English, I also simply use the familiar word “Mass” and everyone understands, because if I were to say “Holy Mystery” as literally translated from “Raza Qadisha”, most everyone will stare at me with confusion.
While it is not a literal translation, the term “Mass” has been equated with “Raza Qadisha”, and as far as I know, all Chaldeans use it when speaking in English. I use it because it is what is familiar to my Chaldean audience, but I think eventually, a more literal translation of “Raza Qadisha” should be used in the future. In the new reformed liturgy, the word “Mass” is still employed in the body of the text, but in the title, we have this: “
The Rite of the Divine Mysteries”.
Now, when I speak with Greek Catholics, I say “Divine Liturgy”, because that’s their preference. With Chaldeans, if I were to say “Divine Liturgy”, most of them will just be confused, because the ordinary Chaldean does not call it “Divine Liturgy”.
I was once at a Melkite Divine Liturgy, and the deacon made a slip of the tongue and said something like, a certain “Mass” will be scheduled at such and such a time, and then he quickly changed his terminology to “Divine Liturgy” knowing that he made a slip, while the people started smiling at the mistake. I realized how important it is to them to keep the correct terminology. However, if this was at a Chaldean parish, then nobody would have cared, because most everyone calls it a “Mass” anyways.
Just my thoughts, take care brother,
God bless,
Rony
