Alle-Kiski Valley Catholics take proposed change to Lord's Prayer in stride
While Pope Francis has proposed changes to the Lord’s Prayer, it’s going to be a while before parishioners in the Alle-Kiski Valley change the words they recite.
A new translation endorsed by Francis changes the penultimate petition in the Lord’s Prayer — “and lead us not into temptation” — to “do not abandon us to temptation” or “do not let us enter/fall into temptation.”
U.S. churches are not free to incorporate that change until it’s approved by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, Monsignor Michael Begolly said Sunday before services at Mount St. Peter Roman Catholic Church in New Kensington. The bishops, who are convening this week in Baltimore, would have to vote on the change, he said.
“They don’t make these changes lightly in our prayer books,” he said.
The revised wording might better capture what the faithful believe, Begolly said.
“In praying the Lord’s Prayer, we’re asking God to protect us from trials and evil and all that is dark in the world,” he said. “We don’t really believe that God leads us into temptation.”
Ellen Carabin has lived through other changes in the Mass. She sees it as an insignificant change.
“It’s not going to change how people feel about Christ or their practices or the doctrines of the church,” she said. “It’s something we’ll get through. It’s just minor in the overall stream of things happening.
“The Lord’s Prayer is always going to be the Lord’s Prayer.”
Mike Olar felt similarly.
“It really doesn’t bother me,” he said. “When you say a prayer, it’s all in your mind.”
The revised wording better reflects its original meaning, said Ray Harrington. He doesn’t think it would take him long to adjust.
“You wouldn’t want God to lead you into temptation,” he said.
At St. Margaret Mary in Lower Burrell, Father Ken Zaccagnini said he would withhold his thoughts until he receives official direction.
“It’s going to need to be explained,” he said. “To be understood, it needs to be explained.”
If it’s a better and more accurate translation, Phyllis Spiering said she sees no problem.
Other prayers have been changed in recent years, and people adjusted, she said before services at St. Margaret Mary.
“We had a big change several years ago” to the Nicene Creed, she said. “The people caught on very quickly. Now, it’s the prayer they know.”
Brian C. Rittmeyer, a Pittsburgh native and graduate of Penn State University's Schreyer Honors College, has been with the Trib since December 2000. He can be reached at brittmeyer@triblive.com.
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