Why are the Mass texts being revised?or: The Intent of the New English

Translation

(All explanations taken from: “Understanding the Mass Texts”, by Paul Turner, Author and

Publisher, Liturgy Training Program, Archdiocese of Chicago, 2009)

The explanations are directed more for the lay people.

GENERAL INTRODUCTION:

- 2001: Holy See released new guidelines for translation of liturgical texts; word-for-word translation close to the original Latin in content and syntax;

- 2002: Holy See promulgated the 3rd typical edition of the Roman Missal;

- 2010: Pope approved new English translation produced by ICEL (International Committee on English in the Liturgy), reviewed by the VOX CLARA Committee of the Holy See (this effectively replaces the English

translation used since 1975); ready for use on the First Sunday of Advent of

2011.

- 2011 July: CBCP (Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines) voted to implement new translation using Philippine edition on the First Sunday of Advent of 2012 (December 2, 2012). This will be obligatory by then.

(But in some dioceses and churches in the Philippines this translation is already

gradually introduced with the printing of the Philippine edition.)

• “It’s the first major revision of the English Mass text since 1973.

• After a generation of usage, the translation we know well is changing to reflect the latest Latin edition which was published in 2002.”

What happened with previous translation:

“It did, … take some freedom with the structure and content of the original Latin sentences. This resulted in texts that felt pleasantly idiomatic in the vernacular, but they did sacrifice some of the nuances of the original.”

What the new translation seeks to correct:

“The new translation seeks to reclaim the richness of the original texts. It adheres more closely to the original Latin and employs a more formal style than we use in ordinary conversation.”

“The guiding principle is to achieve a translation that better evokes what the Latin says.”

“You may also notice a difference in attitude. Some of the prayers will sound humbler, a bit more modest in the presence of an awesome God. Other changes have music in mind. Many of the sentences are being drafted so their rhythms and words are easier to sing in English.”

So what will change?

“The revised translation relates to the Roman Missal used at Mass. While most of the texts will stay the same, some language will change – specifically some of the words we speak or sing at every Mass, and the prayers that the priest recites alone from the Missal. There are no changes in the Scripture readings, the Prayer of the Faithful, or hymns.”

The Missal and the Lectionary:

“The words of the Mass frequently refer to passages from the Bible. The new translation will bring more of these allusions to light and better connect the Missal to the Lectionary.”

Who prepared the new translation?

“It has been guided by the International Commission on English in the Liturgy (ICEL), the same organisation that provided the first translations for all English peaking countries a generation ago – though now with new members. Eleven bishops from different countries around the world attended the meetings.”

• “They have relied on teams of experts to propose translations that are faithful to the Latin, constant in style, and consistent in vocabulary.”

• “The ICEL bishops evaluated this work and made some changes to enhance it. They brought the results to the conference of bishops whom they represented from around the world. The conferences sent their suggestions back to ICEL, which made a further round of improvements.”

• “These went back to the conferences for their vote and the submission of the texts to Rome.

There, the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, having consulted with the Vox

Clara Committee, which has its own team of experts, made some final adjustments to the text before approving them for publication.”

The Introductory Rites• “The Lord be with you.” Those words are

not changing. The response, however, is.• Currently you respond, “And also with you,”

but soon you will answer, “And with your spirit.”

• This is a closer translation of the Latin, “Et cum spiritu tuo”.

Intention of the new Translation of the response to the greeting:

• “The revised translation aims to root us more deeply in the Scriptures. In the case of the greeting, it makes use of the language of St Paul.”

The Penitential Act

• “Another popular form of the Penitential Act is the prayer known by its Latin title, the Confiteor. It begins “I confess to almighty God”. There will be a new translation for this prayer, which makes it a little different from the one you know.”

Old ConfiteorI confess to almighty God and to you, my brothers and sisters, that I have sinned through my own fault in my thoughts and in my words, in what I have done, and in what I have failed to do; and I ask blessed Mary, ever virgin, all the angels and saints, and you, my brothers and sisters, to pray for me to the Lord, our God.

New Translation:I confess to almighty God and to you, my brothers and sisters, that I have greatly sinned in my thoughts and in my words, in what I have done and in what I have failed to do, through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault; therefore, I ask blessed Mary ever-Virgin, all the Angels and Saints, and you, my brothers and sisters, to pray for me to the Lord, our God.

Intention of the new Translation of the Confiteor:

• “The new translation expresses more grandly the seriousness of our sin and the sincerity of our contrition. It offers a humbler way to collect ourselves before stepping any further into prayer.”

Another option for the Penitential Act

Present Translation:• Priest: Lord, we have sinned against you.

Lord have mercy.• All: Lord, have mercy.• Priest: Lord, show us your mercy and

love.• All: And grant us your salvation.

New Translation:

• Priest: Have mercy on us, O Lord.• All: For we have sinned against you.• Priest: Show us O Lord, your mercy.• All: And grant us your salvation.

• “Before the Penitential Act concludes, the priest proclaims an absolution, not to be confused with the one he gives in the sacrament of Penance.”

“The translation of this text is slightly different from what you hear today: “May almighty God have mercy on us / and lead us, with our sins forgiven, / to eternal life.” Your response is the same: “Amen.”

The Gloria• “One of the biggest changes you’ll notice

with the Missal revisions is the words of the Gloria.

• The revised text of the Gloria, however, is longer than what is currently in use. It is well suited to song and new music is currently being composed for it.” (But nearer to the original Latin.)

Present Translation

• Glory to God in the highest, and peace to his people on earth. Lord God, heavenly King, almighty God and Father, we worship you, we give you thanks, we praise you for your glory.

Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father, Lord God, Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world: have mercy on us: you are seated at the right hand of the Father: receive our prayer. For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord, you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father. Amen.

New Translation:• Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to people of good will. We praise you, we bless you, we adore you, we glorify you, we give you thanks for your great glory, Lord God, heavenly King, O God, almighty Father. Lord Jesus Christ, Only Begotten Son, Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us;

you take away the sins of the world, receive our prayer; you are seated at the right hand of the Father, have mercy on us. For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord, you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father. Amen.

• The revised translation changes “his people on earth” to “people of good will.”

• Again, the guiding principle for all translations is to let the English express more literally the sentiments of the Latin original and better connects with Luke 2:14.

• “We praise you, / we bless you, / we adore you, / we glorify you, / we give you thanks for your great glory, / Lord God, heavenly King, / O God, almighty Father.”

• This replaces a shorter text in the current version. All the words describing the ways in which we approach God have been restored, with the intention of capturing the overwhelming, wondrous experience of meeting God in prayer.

• The words “Only Begotten Son…Son of the Father” represents a slight change from the previous version, “only Son of the Father.” The earlier version chose an economy of words to express the same dogma, that Jesus is the only Son of God. On paper, there are many more capital letters in this phrasing. Of course, you won’t pronounce those words any differently, but the capitals appear in English because they exist in the Latin original at the words “Fili Unigenite.”

• At the words “you take away the sins of the world,” the phrases appear in a different order in the new translation and “sin” in the singular becomes “sins” in the plural. The new version indicates that Jesus takes away not just generic sin from the world, but individual sin. In Latin, the word for “sins” is in the plural: “peccata”.

Intent of the New Translationof the “GLORIA”:

• On the whole, the revised translation for the Gloria reflects the long tradition of this hymn. It is rooted in Scriptures, gives us words to praise God, and is an opportunity to reflect on the forgiving power of Jesus Christ.

Collect or Opening Prayer

• “The Introductory Rites conclude with the Collect, or the Opening Prayer of Mass. All the Collects are being completely retranslated, and they will sound a little different to you.

• The sentences are longer and more complex. Over time your ear will tune in to the flow of these new prayers.

• “Currently, opening prayers conclude with a formula that usually begins, “We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

• This formula is being revised too in a way that makes the role of the Persons of the Trinity more precise.”

… TO BE CONTINUED…..

… PADAYONON …..