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In another chapter of DISTRACTING events during Mass, the Priest started by saying; “In the name of the Creator, Redeemer, and Sanctifier,” and then proceeded to use inclusive language. Beside the fact that neither the Priest, or Laity is allowed to change or add anything to Sacred Liturgy, what else can be said regarding the phrase he used for the Blessed Trinity?

1. Of course this language may not be used in the Liturgy. Much could be said, I’ll cite three reasons:

a. Changing the words of the liturgy is prohibited (priests must adhere to the words in the liturgical books, and may not ad-lib or change them, see the Code of Canon Law, hereafter CIC, canon 838 §1, and CIC c. 846 §1). It is a great scandal that priests due to pathetic and erroneous liturgical formation in their seminary days, or perhaps for the simple demonic pride of thinking that the Liturgy it the private property of their own, of their parish “Worship Commissions,” or of their parishes, take it upon themselves to perpetrate such scandals.

b. Even if such verbal manipulation were permitted by Church law (it never will be, obviously), the language is heretical. The Trinity is the Creator. The Father did not “create” the Son, but begot him from all eternity, and the Holy Spirit proceeds from both. Likewise, the Trinity is the agent of our Redemption, for when Christ won our redemption on the cross, it was a work of the whole Trinity. Similarly, the entire Trinity, one God in three Persons, sanctifies us in every sacrament.

c. I think the most important reason, however, is this: Jesus Christ, Son of Mary, the Son of God, revealed to us that there was a Trinity, and he himself – who is God! – gave us these terms of Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Unfortunately, there is much theory around by which, to promote the dignity of women, it is mistakenly done by erasing the male half of humanity. The result is that in our day, I mean my generation (“generation X”) and the next have no idea in most of the cases what it means for a male to be a man.

Furthermore, there is very much in Sacred Scripture that needs the man-woman imagery to express the covenant between God and the Church. When this is eliminated, a fundamental (some would argue the fundamental) aspect of the covenant and of the history of salvation is deleted, to the detriment of all.

As for inclusive language, I’ll leave that for another response later.

Jesus asks us to reproach our brother (Mt 18:5-20). Do not only pray for priests and offer sacrifices for them – which is important to do also – but correct him. It could aid him greatly towards the salvation of his soul, if he has the humility to listen to you with a good will, and to give honest consideration to your points.