The New Translation Part 1: Getting Acquainted

This is the first installment in a series of short articles I wrote/adapted/edited for my parish bulletin. I will publish the others as they they appear.

Many of you have heard that a new translation of the Mass is coming. You might have questions or concerns about this: why a new translation? What’s new and what’s different? This is the first of a series of articles to introduce you to the new translation.

Some of the differences will be obvious immediately. We will have to learn new musical settings. We will learn new words for common prayers, such as the Creed. Those of us who know the Mass prayers by heart will need to rely on printed texts again, at least for a little while.

Why a new translation?
The Missale Romanum (Roman Missal), the ritual text for the celebration of the Mass, was promulgated by Pope Paul VI in 1970 as the definitive text of the reformed liturgy of the Second Vatican Council. There have been two revisions since, the most recent under Pope John Paul II. Among the changes are added prayers for the celebration of recently canonized saints and some updated and revised rubrics (instructions) for the celebration of the Mass.

To aid the process of translation of the third edition of the Missale Romanum, Rome issued Liturgiam Authenticam in 2001, which outlined principles and rules for translation. In 2007, they issued Ratio Translationis, which outlined specific rules for translation into English.

Who did the translation?
The process was a highly consultative work of several groups. The International Commission on English in the Liturgy (ICEL) prepared English translations of liturgical texts for the English–speaking Bishops’ conferences. The USCCB and the other Conferences received draft translations of each text from ICEL and offered comments and suggestions. A second draft was then prepared by ICEL, which each Bishops Conference approved and submitted to the Vatican for final approval.

What’s new or different about the revised translation?
The texts of the revised translation of the Roman Missal are marked by a heightened style of English speech and a grammatical structure that closely follows the Latin text. In addition, many biblical and poetic images, such as “Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof…” (Communion Rite) and “…from the rising of the sun to its setting” (Eucharistic Prayer III) have been restored.

English-speaking Catholics all over the world will begin using the new translation on the first Sunday of Advent 2011. Participation aids containing the responses of the people will be available. The long-term goal of the new translation is to foster a deeper awareness and appreciation of the mysteries being celebrated in the Liturgy.

Next time, we’ll start looking at the new translation itself!

(Based upon Roman Missal Formational Materials provided by the Secretariat for the Liturgy of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 2010)