I think the priest changed the words of consecration

[SalesianSDB]

This evening I was at the vigil Mass at my grandmother’s parish. During the moment of consecration the priest said, “Whenever you do this, remember me.” Since I’ve never heard it said this way before it left me wondering if the Mass was invalid.

Any help would be great.

 

[ProVobis]

I wouldn’t worry about it. You are okay.

 

[PaulfromIowa]

Those are not the essential words of consecration. It sounds like an honest mistake, it does not change the meaning of Christ’s words.

 

[ServusHumilis]

The words of consecration have been translated several times before. What he said is essentially the same meaning in perhaps a more modern English. Regardless he needs to say the black and do the red.

 

[Ron_Conte]

The Sacraments are not fragile, so minor changes in wording do not affect validity.

 

[ProVobis]

Those are not the essential words of consecration. It sounds like an honest mistake, it does not change the meaning of Christ’s words.

For the record, De Defectibus used to be the standard to follow, that is validity is established when there is no significant change to the meaning although the priest sins by not saying the words verbatim, according to the Latin. In fact, this is printed in the 62 Missal. I’m not exactly sure what the new standard is, now that the changing vernacular has been allowed to be used for the consecration, but I know it has to be approved by the bishops and the Vatican.

 

[SalesianSDB]

Thanks, everyone. I figured that I was overreacting, but wanted to double check just in case. It was a strange Mass: the priest spent a lot of time with the choir playing guitar and the homily was just a recitation of a Leonard Cohen song.