I just hope they leave the pew cards around for a looooooooong time! It would be good anyway, for when there are Protestant visitors at the Mass.
I’m sorry you are having problems, but know that you are not alone. My grandmother (who is in her 80s and suffering from slight dementia, so it’s very understandable) and my father, who is in his early 60s are having a hard time getting it down. My mom has to the use the cards as well, but it doesn’t really bother her about having to use them, so I’ve heard no complaints from her. My dad has a very good memory, though, but he, like many of his age group , don’t like change and so I think he is being a little resistant to it. He’s the guy who never used a computer in his life until about two year ago when the hospital system he works for required all physicians to use the database system for their patients in place of paper charts. It was very difficult for him at first and was very resistant, but he realized that they weren’t going to let him use paper charts to practice medicine, so he had to shape up or get out (which he didn’t want to do as he loves his patients and practicing medicine). He has finally gotten the hang of it and now thinks it is much more convenient and better at retrieving information on his patients than the old-fashioned way. Took a while (two years to admit that he likes it more), but he’s there. I think that will be the case for him in regards to the mass translations. It will take a while, but he’ll get there. I also reminded him that they had to go through this back when the mass went from Latin to English. That said, he was a lot younger then, so things like that are easier to transition when you’re younger.
Also, most missalettes will have much of it in their books, so even if they do remove the pew cards, you can at least go to the missalette. For years, I’ve seen older people (even younger ones) rely on the missalettes for the previous translation because they couldn’t remember them. You’re an intelligent lady, Cat, so I’m sure you’ll be able to get it down as well. Maybe it’ll take a couple of years, like it will for my Dad and others of his generation, but you’ll do it. :hug1:
What I do see now, is that the children are really getting it down well. We just had the Catholic Schools Week mass and the kids were sitting in front of me (I was the cantor). They said everything without using the pew cards. I was very impressed. I imagine my little ones will have no problem with memorizing it either and I think back at how easy it was to memorize the prayers and responses when I was in school. So, my thoughts are more towards the next generation and their faith. We “old fogies” may still have some problems, but I remind myself that these changes weren’t just made for us, but also for our future generations of Catholics.
I’ve never been able to remember any of the Latin responses, even though I’ve sung various Masses over the years (as a musician in various choirs). If you ask me right now to quote any portion of the Mass in Latin, I would shake my head. Can’t even remember how any of them start. Sigh.
I guess I need to practice more.