By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
Staff Writer
A new Website from the U.S. Conference of Catholic bishops (USCCB) will educate Catholics about the forthcoming English translation of the new Roman Missal.
As the website explains, it has been constructed to help the faithful prepare for the new Missale Romanum (the Roman Missal) which is the ritual text for the celebration of the Mass.
“In the years since Vatican II we have learned a lot about the use of the vernacular in the liturgy and the new texts reflect this new understanding,” said Bishop Arthur Serratelli of Paterson, NJ, in a welcome-to-the-site video.
“The new texts are understandable, dignified and accurate,” said Bishop Serratelli, who chairs the Committee on Divine Worship. “They not only strive to make the meaning of the text accessible for the listener, but they also strive to unearth the biblical and theological richness of the Latin text.”
First promulgated by Pope Paul VI in 1970 as the definitive text of the reformed liturgy of the Second Vatican Council, Pope John Paul II issued a revised version of the Missale Romanum during the Jubilee Year 2000.
In May, 2002, the Vatican published the Latin text of the Missale Romanum. Since 2003, the bishops of the English-speaking world have been working to prepare an English translation of the Latin Roman Missal. This English translation is nearing completion, and the bishops of the United States will vote on the final sections of the text in November.
Among other things, the English translation of the Roman Missal will include updated translations of existing prayers and some of the well–known responses and acclamations of the people during Mass.
For instance, in the new translation, when the priest begins Mass with “The Lord be with you,” instead of answering with “And also with you,” the new response will be “And also with your spirit.”
In the Confiteor, instead of saying, “that I have sinned through my own fault, in my thoughts and in my words . . .” the new translation will be “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 . . .”
Final approval (recognitio) of the text from the Holy See for the complete translation will be the last step before the publication of the texts for use in the liturgy.
Bishop Serratelli sees this time of waiting as an opportunity to learn and prepare.
“We have a great opportunity during this period not only to learn about the changes, not only to learn about the revised texts, but also to deepen our own understanding of the Liturgy itself,” he said. “We encourage priests, deacons, religious, liturgical ministers, all the faithful to avail themselves of the information that we are making available.”
For information visit www.usccb.org/romanmissal
© All Rights Reserved, Living His Life Abundantly®/Women of Grace® http://www.womenofgrace.com
