A man asked if Fr. Zipp and I have given up “one” for Lent. Yes, we have. And not just for Lent, forever!
 
The man was referring to the fact that, as of Ash Wednesday, we have eliminated the word “one” from the opening prayer at Mass. So now we pray, “…who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever. Amen.” 

The US Bishops directed priests to make this change because the prayer has been mistranslated ever since the Mass was originally rendered into English in the 1960s. The original prayer in Latin does not use the word “one.” That’s because the prayer refers to Jesus. Jesus is God, but it is problematic to say that Jesus himself is “one God” who reigns with the Father in the unity of the Holy Spirit. Make sense?

I have been hearing and praying “one God” all my life, so I still might slip up now and then. So, I will put a dollar in a jar for every time I mistakenly say, “one God.” When there are enough dollars in the jar, I will buy you all ice cream – but just “one” scoop for each of you. 

Fr. Dennis Zehren
Pastor

Information on the return to public Mass.