For the first time since 1970 the Vatican has published a new Roman
Missal—the book that is used by Catholics every Sunday for mass–with
major revisions in its translation.
The Roman Missal, Third Edition also has prayers and guidelines on
how to celebrate Sunday Mass.
It was approved by the Discipline of the
Sacraments and the Congregation for Divine Worship, according to the
Third Edition Roman Missal website.
The original Missale Romanum in Latin was issued by Pope Paul VI in
1970.
In 1973 an English translation was issued, prompted by the Second
Vatican Council of 1962, which ordered that mass be said in a parish’s
local language, CNN said.
Minor revisions were added in 1975 and in 2000 by Pope John Paul II
including prayers for new saints, added prefaces to Communion prayers,
added masses for specific needs and intentions, and updated instructions
on celebrating the mass, the website said.
The Third Edition’s updated translation is expected to lend deeper
meaning to the mass. It will be used on November 27, 2011 to coincide
with the First Sunday of Advent, the website reported.
Benedictine Father Jeremy Driscoll of Mount Angel Abbey was an
adviser to an important committee of English-speaking bishops that was
convened by the Vatican, the Catholic Sentinel reported.
Driscoll told a group of priests in Oregon that the old Missal lacked
the “inner voice” of the Latin version. With the new translation
Driscoll factored in context, time, place where it was written, emotion,
tone and pertinent vocabulary with multiple meanings, the Catholic
Sentinel said.
Driscoll also said that in translating the missal they noted that the
liturgy is mysterious and divine, yet with a concrete manifestation,
particularly the trinity and communion, according to Catholic Sentinel.
Driscoll said while the old missal, for example, calls Jesus God’s
“son” or “only son,” the Latin version is more adequately translated as
“only begotten son,” lending emphasis to the fact that Jesus is
“consubstantial with the Father,” the Catholic Sentinel said.
In terms of tone, Driscoll compared the Easter preface of the former,
which says, “The joy of the resurrection renews the whole world while
the choirs of heaven sing forever to your glory,” which pales to the new
translation, the Catholic Sentinel reported.
The new preface captures the original Latin version’s exuberance,
namely, “Therefore, overcome with paschal joy, every land, every people
exults in your praise. And even the heavenly powers with the angelic
hosts, sing together the unending hymn of your glory,” the Catholic
Sentinel said.
Driscoll said the longer sentences will require that the priests be
more knowledgeable of the text and say it correctly.
Churchgoers will
also have to be more attentive, according to the Catholic Sentinel.
According to CNN it is hoped that in the long term, the new
translation will make churchgoers more appreciative and aware of the
mysteries in the Liturgy.
The website said the translation is important
because what is prayed is directly linked to the substance of one’s
faith, CNN said.
SIC: TU/INT'L