Dear Editor: Before the new translations of the liturgy, there were three possible responses to “The mystery of faith.”

One of them was a nine-word response: “Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.” Whatever happened to it? In the latest liturgy, there are also three responses: “We proclaim your death, O Lord, and profess your Resurrection, until you come again”; “When we eat this bread and drink this cup, we proclaim your death, O Lord, until you come again”; “Save us, Savior of the world, for by your Cross and Resurrection, you have set us free.”

The second of these is adapted from St. Paul 1 Corinthians. All three are in the explanatory style of doctrinal writing. Paul is developing an argument for the Resurrection, and gets wound up in his logic until in an explosion of faith he cries out, “But Christ is risen from the dead!” A simple declarative sentence.

In this spirit, is there any hope of recovering the nine-word acclamation, at least as an option? Closer to the spoken word, more suitable for liturgy, it is a succinct ovation for the whole story of our salvation, a cheer, much like “Alleluia!”

PETER FARLEY

Bay Ridge