The New Translation Part 5: The Gloria
This is the latest installment in a series of short articles I wrote/adapted/edited for my parish bulletin. I will publish the others as they they appear.
The new Mass translation is coming in Advent! Back in 2000, Blessed Pope John Paul II issued the third edition of the Roman Missal. After more than ten years of consultation and work, the new English translation is finally ready.
Some parts of the Mass will change very little, some not at all. Other parts, like the Nicene Creed and the Gloria, contain substantial changes. The new English text of the Gloria follows the original Latin very closely. Here’s the first part:
| Original Latin | 2010 Translation |
| Glória in excélsis Deo et in terra pax homínibus bonae voluntátis. Laudámus te, |
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to people of good will. We praise you, |
The Gloria has its origin in the hymn of praise sung by the angels at Jesus’ birth when they appeared to the shepherds in the field at night. The new translation wonderfully restores the traditional wording from the Gospel of Luke. The angels sang, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to people of good will” (Luke 2:14).
The early Christians expanded the angelic hymn. Its present Latin form is first recorded in the 4th Century, though most of it can be traced as far back as the 1st Century. As such, this is one of the oldest prayers of the Mass, and by singing it we unite ourselves with almost the entire history of Christianity – truly joining in the Communion of Saints! It’s not surprising that the new translation seeks to have us return to the original rhythm and structure of this ancient prayer.
Next time: The second half of the Gloria.
(Based on Roman Missal Formational Materials provided by the Secretariat for the Liturgy of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 2010, and materials provided by the Bishop Helmsing Institute)