For a couple of years, now,there has been buzz about changes in the English translation of the Mass to a closer translation of the Latin Roman Missal. Well, it is becoming a reality. In the past couple of days, the official changes have be posted on the USCCB website
Some of the words might seem foreign to our everyday tongue such as “dewfall” and “consubstantial.” There will be other things that we will probably stumble over like the response “And, also, with you,” will be “And, also, with your spirit.” We will start to remember the tough time priest had when they were trying to transition from saying John Paul II to Benedict XVI during the Eucharistic Prayer.
I do not claim to be an expert in this area, so I cannot fully comment on all the changes. I know there has been much debate about whether the looser translations were beneficial or not. Some of the negative ramification of looser translations could have lead to looser theology and less reverent participation in the liturgy. Word have power, especially words that make up the liturgy of the Word of God” As always there are people on both sides upset with change. Some thing there have not been enough changes, others think if “ain’t broke don’t fix it.” (even though it actually could have been broke), some might claim that there should have been different changes, like the use of inclusion language.
The point is that we much side with the Church and not our own opinions. Holy obedience is a good thing! St Benedict put it this way in his Rule, This message of mine is for you, then, if you are ready to give up your own will, once and for all, and armed with the strong and noble weapons of obedience to do battle for the true King, Christ the Lord. To be honest, it is going to be a tough transition. I, myself, will be frustrated with my stumbling over the new translations, but we must commit ourselves to pursuing this new translation with a sporting attitude and letting the words of the Mass permeate our hearts anew!
It might even be a great opportunity for one to commit to going to Mass one more day a week (daily Mass is much shorter than Sunday Mass). It is almost definite that those who go to Mass more often will learn the new translation faster. And finally, what a great opportunity to challenge our hearts out of cold routine and really pray the Mass! Let us know if you have any questions about the new changes in the translation. We will do our best to answer them.
2 responses so far ↓
1 John // Aug 7, 2008 at 9:06 am
Unfortunately, we won’t be seeing these changes in an actual Mass in our parishes for a while, likely 2 years or so, as everyone is catechized (theoretically) about the changes. So it’s not something to get too fired up about yet.
I, for one, cannot wait for these changes. So many other languages’ translations of the Mass were much truer to the definitive Latin that comparing the English to anything else, especially the Latin, was kind of painful. “How do we get ‘And also with you’ from ‘et cum spiritu tuo’”, I asked when I first read the Novus Ordo in Latin.
2 D. Farley // Sep 7, 2008 at 8:22 am
While I do believe the changes are for the better - a more “accurate” translation. These phrases are not new to much of the Church. As a Melkite Catholic, we use “and with your spirit” and “consubstantiation” at every Divine Liturgy. However, if you don’t think that “and with your spirit” and “also with you” are not, basically, English equivalents of the Latin translation/interpretation - not literalizations (your spirit IS you!), then you can rejoice in the change. It would seem to me that those who completed the original translations were faithful people, without political or theological agenda.
I have not met a Catholic soul (and I have daily contact with many, both “liberal” and “conservative” - poor terms) who have reservations or issues with the new translation. IMHO - there is no issue. Liturgy lives - it is constantly undergoing reform and development, from the time of Christ to well beyond our lifetimes on Earth.
As far as this being an issue of “Holy Obedience” - St. Benedict’s Rule is for Benedictine Monks. If you find yourself using this quote help you accept the Church’s teachings on something this mundane, terrific - please don’t use it on others. We are all called to faith in Christ’s Church - to rejoice when we agree and struggle when we don’t.
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