The Catholic Bishops of Haiti (CEH), gathered in Ordinary Plenary Assembly at the headquarters of the CEH in Lilavois from November 27 to December 1, 2017 decided the application of new standards including the entry into force of new Our Father this weekend as is the case on a global scale.

1) On December 3rd, 1st Sunday of Advent, the new formula of the "Our Father" (for the Francophone liturgy) will officially enter into force in any form of public liturgy. The Catholic faithful will be invited to say from now on, Ne nous laisse pas entrer en tentation instead of "Ne nous soumets pas à la tentation". The Church believes as it prays. If the old translation of the Our Father questions us because we can understand that God is testing us by asking us for evil, the new is more in keeping with the meaning of the text and especially with the face of the Father that Jesus revealed to us : "Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man" (James 1, 13). It is not God, but the devil who tempts man. What we are actually asking of the Lord is not to let ourselves take the path that leads to sin. We must see in this change of formula an opportunity to explain and to deepen the question of who is God for each of us, a loving and compassionate Father who is always at our side. Temptation is a reality every day and we must stay awake : "Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour." (1 P 5, 8). Our life on this earth is a struggle and prayer is the key to victory. Asking God the strength to fight temptation is a giant step towards a heart decision that says no to evil. The sixth request of the "Our Father" awakens us to the proper vigilance of the man who is in permanent combat. Let us give thanks to Jesus for the prayer of the "Our Father", to the Church our Mother, who teaches us the meaning and who watches over the prayer and the faith of the people of God.

2) The following use, which we expressly disapprove, must stop: here and there, it happens that, during the patron saint festivities or on other occasions, we give the floor to men and women politicians during the Eucharistic celebration. Any instrumentalization of the liturgy is unacceptable. The Eucharistic liturgy or the Mass is the place, the space where only the Word of God must be read, proclaimed, commented upon and proposed. It is not a forum or a political arena. Pope Francis emphasized with force that "Mass is not a spectacle, but a meeting with the Lord". We hope that through the careful application of the liturgical norms recalled in this Note, "The action of the Most Blessed Sacrament of the Eucharist meets fewer obstacles due to human frailty, and that, if we manage to rule out any abuse and banish all illicit use, through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Eucharistic Woman, the salvific presence of Christ shines on all men in the Sacrament of His Body and Blood".

HL/ HaitiLibre