Politcally correct Exsultet - can you help me?

[Elzee]

The most beautiful prayer in our Church (in my opinion) was made politically correct tonight in my parish. All references to ‘Father’ were changed to ‘Creator’, “mankind” became “humankind” and ‘fathers’ became ‘ancestors’.

While our parish is very ‘progressive’ this is the first time I’ve seen this approach taken with prayers and readings, and I really feel compelled to speak to our pastor.

Can you help me in finding the right words, and tell me where I can look up the history of the Exsultet? How old is it? Has it changed over the years? I’d like to be able to appeal to its history if possible and find the right words to convey to my priest that God IS our FATHER and it is not only okay to call him that, that is how he wants to be known.

Any thoughts? Am I over-reacting?

 

[THurifer2]

The most beautiful prayer in our Church (in my opinion) was made politically correct tonight in my parish. All references to ‘Father’ were changed to ‘Creator’, “mankind” became “humankind” and ‘fathers’ became ‘ancestors’.
?

I am sorry to hear that…our priest has a beutiful deep voice and the Exsultet was haunting. I would be devastated by such a watering down. If I were you I would do one of the 3 following things…1) Leave the parish and Raise HEck leaving 2) Stay and attempt tactfulness when addressing issues 3) Stay and be a thorn in the sides of all the progressive “liturgists”

I am the type who would be writing the bishop every time it happened…and I would cc the congregation of divine worship with every letter to the bishop. I would not let up either. Its time to fight back people.

 

[Caesar]

The most beautiful prayer in our Church (in my opinion) was made politically correct tonight in my parish. All references to ‘Father’ were changed to ‘Creator’, “mankind” became “humankind” and ‘fathers’ became ‘ancestors’.

While our parish is very ‘progressive’ this is the first time I’ve seen this approach taken with prayers and readings, and I really feel compelled to speak to our pastor.

Can you help me in finding the right words, and tell me where I can look up the history of the Exsultet? How old is it? Has it changed over the years? I’d like to be able to appeal to its history if possible and find the right words to convey to my priest that God IS our FATHER and it is not only okay to call him that, that is how he wants to be known.

Any thoughts? Am I over-reacting?

Same here. We didnt even have a priest sing it, but a female cantor.

 

[Tonks40]

Same here. We didnt even have a priest sing it, but a female cantor.

:bigyikes:

 

[ChemicalBean]

Same here. We didnt even have a priest sing it, but a female cantor.

As far as I know, most of it (minus a lord-be-with-you) is allowed to be sung by a cantor if the priest or deacon can’t cut it. If her voice was better that Father’s, bless God for it.

 

[Larry1700]

…tell me where I can look up the history of the Exsultet? How old is it? Has it changed over the years? I’d like to be able to appeal to its history if possible and find the right words to convey to my priest that God IS our FATHER and it is not only okay to call him that, that is how he wants to be known.

Following reading your post, I looked on the 'net and found this site, which might be helpful with the history, or might be able to point you in the right direction.

thenewliturgicalmovement.blogspot.com/2007/03/exsultet.html

 

[John_Lilburne]

Words from official documents on why it is wrong to change the Exsultet, which is part of the Roman Missal:

“[59.] The reprobated practice by which Priests, Deacons or the faithful here and there alter or vary at will the texts of the Sacred Liturgy that they are charged to pronounce, must cease. For in doing thus, they render the celebration of the Sacred Liturgy unstable, and not infrequently distort the authentic meaning of the Liturgy.”
2004 Instruction Redemptionis Sacramentum

“In celebrating the sacraments the liturgical books approved by competent authority are to be observed faithfully; accordingly, no one is to add, omit, or alter anything in them on one’s own authority.”
1983 Code of Canon Law, canon 846 §1.

 

[Elzee]

Words from official documents on why it is wrong to change the Exsultet, which is part of the Roman Missal:

“[59.] The reprobated practice by which Priests, Deacons or the faithful here and there alter or vary at will the texts of the Sacred Liturgy that they are charged to pronounce, must cease. For in doing thus, they render the celebration of the Sacred Liturgy unstable, and not infrequently distort the authentic meaning of the Liturgy.”
2004 Instruction Redemptionis Sacramentum

“In celebrating the sacraments the liturgical books approved by competent authority are to be observed faithfully; accordingly, no one is to add, omit, or alter anything in them on one’s own authority.”
1983 Code of Canon Law, canon 846 §1.

And again, Rome has the perfect words. Thank you. I will include this.

 

[puzzleannie]

this is far more serious than the regretable recasting of scripture and ritual that replace “man” or “brothers” with “person” or
“brothers and sisters”, which at least are horizontal and not actually incorrect (except in some critical areas, like changing sons to children which alters the meaning in context). Changing the relationship among the members of the Holy Trinity, the relationship revealed by God Himself through the Son: Father, Son and Holy Spirit by reducing relationship to “job title” or aspect is a denial of the Trinity itself, the foundational revealed Truth upon which all other revelation is based and upon which it depends. This is heresy, out and out, deliberate, cultivated, in-your-face heresy. The kind of heresy that had Good St. Nicholas coming to blows with an Arian bishop at a council. The kind for which people were burned at the stake in a less enlightened age. The kind for which people who fought against it willingly died at the hands of their persecutors.

This is the Real liturgical and scriptural abuse, that which denies doctrine itself under the guise of “equality” as if humankind could ever claim equality with God. This gets reported, in detail, accurately, in a signed, certified letter to the bishop’s personal attention, and if no response is received in a reasonable time, to the papal nuncio. This is warfare, folks, and those who deny the Trinity, those who have lit the fire of the smoke of Satan wafting through the Church, have fired the first shots. This is not the end. Whose side are you on? As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

 

[OutinChgoburbs]

How in Heaven can they change this???

What good would life have been to us,
had Christ not come as our Redeemer?
Father, how wonderful your care for us!
How boundless your merciful love!
To ransom a slave you gave away your Son.

Not Your daughter, not Your child, not Your poodle!

 

[Caesar]

As far as I know, most of it (minus a lord-be-with-you) is allowed to be sung by a cantor if the priest or deacon can’t cut it. If her voice was better that Father’s, bless God for it.

Ah yes, after hearing other (thankfully very short) sung parts from the Bishop and the deacon, I’m glad the cantor sung it then

 

[Elzee]

How in Heaven can they change this???

What good would life have been to us,
had Christ not come as our Redeemer?
Father, how wonderful your care for us!
How boundless your merciful love!
To ransom a slave you gave away your Son.

Not Your daughter, not Your child, not Your poodle!

It became this:
What good would life have been to us,
had Christ not come as our Redeemer?
Creator, how wonderful your care for us!
How boundless your merciful love!
To ransom a slave you gave away your Son.

The word ‘Son’ was left in - but ‘Father’ became Creator. I guess they found it pretty hard to deny Jesus was actually male, but unfortunately, there seems to be a question over whether God wants to be known as our ‘Father’. But you can see how the full and intended meaning of the verse changes by using the word “Creator”.

In the verse where it talks about the ransom of our fathers (I think that’s how it goes, I don’t have the prayer in front of me right now for the exact words), but ‘fathers’ became ‘ancestors’.