Take a deep breath, because the biggest change in the Catholic Mass is happening this First Sunday of Advent. The new translation from Latin will bring with it much different wording. While you experience that remember what the new liturgy is meant to do and why we needed a new translation.
First of all, the Mass was getting more horizontal and less vertical. Sounds confusing, but it is easy to explain. There was too much "we", "me", "my" and "I" and not enough transcendence, not enough recognition of the God we worship. There needed to be more praise of God and a realization that we are his creation.
Secondly, the angels and the saints had been shunted off to the side. The Letter to the Hebrews talks about us being "surrounded by an invisible cloud of witnesses." That means that when we celebrate Mass, it is not just us who are present. The angels, the saints, all God’s Church living and dead are present at this great Eucharistic celebration. We needed to remember that Mass is where heaven and earth meet and God is present.
Thirdly, a strange idea had arisen that we are not a sinful people in need of God’s redemption. The Mass needs to reflect the humility that people should have, knowing they are sinners in need of a gracious God. This is not a return to the bad type of "Catholic guilt". It is simply a realization that God is God and we are in need of his mercy. Receiving Christ in the Eucharist puts us in touch with the saving act of his death and resurrection.
Lastly, we needed to refocus on the importance of Christ the High Priest. Pope Benedict tells us that the Mass is Christ’s Mass not the individual priest’s. It is Christ acting through a particular priest that allows us to be one with Jesus at the Liturgy. A particular priest’s personality should not make or break the beauty or effectiveness of any Mass.
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