The word "sisters" has been added to
"brothers" in a widely used Catholic prayer book.
The new third Italian edition of the Roman Missal, which will
come into force on November 29, was presented in Rome Tuesday.
It now includes the line "I confess to almighty God and to you
brothers and sisters".
Cardinal Vicar Angelo De Donatis said the introduction of the
new prayer on the First Sunday of Advent "will be an opportunity
to rediscover in the Mass the essential hub, the fundamental
occasion for generating authentic and healthy relations based on
the Gospel."
The addition of "sisters", said the head of the Italian Bishops
Conference liturgy panel chief Bishop Claudio Maniago from
Castellaneta, is "all the more important after Pope Francis's
recent appeal for a greater opening to women in the Church".
The new missal or mass book will also have another significant
change, as "do not lead us into temptation" becomes "do not
abandon us to temptation".
It also urges the faithful to "exchange the gift of peace".
The changes are intended to bring the book into line with more
recent Church teachings.
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