The Third Edition of the Roman Missal: Promises and Challenges

What have you heard in regard to the Third Edition of the Roman Missal? We’re getting a new Mass We’re getting all new prayers We’re going backwards Why now…with everything going on

in the Church these days?

We’re getting a new Mass….

The Mass is NOT changing THAT was done in 1969 after the call for

renewal of the Liturgy in the Second Vatican Council

The Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, no. 50 The rite of the Mass is to be revised in such a way that the

intrinsic nature and purpose of its several parts, as also the connection between them, may be more clearly manifested, and that devout and active participation by the faithful may be more easily achieved. For this purpose the rites are to be simplified, due care being taken to preserve their substance; elements which, with the passage of time, came to be duplicated, or were added with but little advantage, are now to be discarded; other elements which have suffered injury through accidents of history are now to be restored to the vigor which they had in the days of the holy Fathers, as may seem useful or necessary.

We’re getting all new prayers… ROMAN MISSAL, FIRST EDITION

Promulgated in Latin in 1969, this is the collection of prayers and rubrics as revised under the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy and promulgated by Paul VI.

ROMAN MISSAL, SECOND EDITION

Published completely in English in 1975 It was the FIRST Edition but it was more

complete than the first edition Included rubrics updated since the first edition Reflected parts of the renewal since the First

Edition, e.g. suppression of the sub-deacon

1985: Revisions were made to the Second Edition of the Roman Missal

These revisions reflected the new Code of Canon Law, promulgated in 1983

Included Eucharistic Prayers for Reconciliation and for Masses with Children

But – it was not a new Edition

ROMAN MISSAL, THIRD EDITION In the year 2000 Pope John

Paul II issued a Third Edition

of the Roman Missal

To Commemorate

The New

Millennium

In order to add prayers and

Texts for Saints that had been

Canonized since the last

Edition of the Roman

Missal

It is a THIRD Edition….

Of the same Missal promulgated after the Second Vatican Council

Of the same Missal first promulgated in 1969 Of the same Missal that was the fruit of the

renewal of the Council

So the prayers aren’t new….

Then WHY do they sound so different?

Comme Le Prévoit: On the Translation of Liturgical Texts for Celebrations with a Congregation, 1969.

Translation according to the principle of Dynamic Equivalence

My name is…

Je m’appelle… Me llamo… Mi denomino… Ich heisse…

Comme Le Prévoit, no. 7:

“Thus, in the case of liturgical communication, it is necessary to take into account not only the message to be conveyed, but also the speaker, the audience, and the style. Translations, therefore, must be faithful to the art of communication in all its various aspects, but especially in regard to the message itself, in regard to the audience for which it is intended, and in regard to the manner of expression.”

THUS….

Et cum spiritu tuo

And also with you

The Art of Translation is an organic, developing art…. Already, early in the life of the renewed

Liturgy, methods of translating are evolving

Do you remember: “This is the Word of the Lord”

Latin of that text: Verbum Domini

Literally: “The Word of the Lord”

Liturgiam authenticam: On the Use of the Vernacular Languages in the Publication of the Books of the Roman Liturgy, 2001. Translation according to the principle of

Formal Equivalence

Liturgiam authenticam, no. 20: "While it is permissible to arrange the

wording, the syntax and the style in such a way as to prepare a flowing vernacular text suitable to the rhythm of popular prayer, the original text insofar as possible, must be translated integrally and in the most exact manner, without omissions or additions in terms of their content, and without paraphrases or glosses."

THUS….

Et cum spiritu tuo

And with your spirit

We’re going backwards…

The Second Vatican Council initiated a process of renewal – this is one moment in that renewal.

A Third Edition is evidence that we not find ourselves again with a Missal like that of 1575 that never changed.

Going backwards?

language in not as exclusive – “Father” not used as often - “Pray Brothers and Sisters…” in the text, instead

of in a footnote

Participation of the faithful is still a major aspect of the translation – no responses or acclamation have been “cut”

Why now…with everything going on in the Church these days? 1963: Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy 1969: The First Edition of the Roman Missal

promulgated in Latin 1969: Comme Le Prévoit 1970: Order of Mass in English 1974: Full English translation Confirmed by

Rome 1975: Second Edition of the Roman Missal

issued

Why now…

1985: Second Edition is revised Fall, 1987: ICEL begins a more thorough

revision of the English translation of the Second Edition of the Roman Missal

1996: USCCB approves a completely new translation of the Second Edition

2000: Third Edition of the Roman Missal promulgated in Latin

2001: Liturgiam authenticam

2001 - 2010 Work begins on translating the Latin texts into

English November, 2009: The USCCB approves the

final English Translation Apirl 30, 2010: Rome issues the Recognitio –

or approval – of the English Translation of the Third Edition of the Roman Missal

NOVEMBER 27, 2011

Characteristics of the Third Typical Edition of the Roman Missal New translation recovers much of the

Scriptural references of the Latin Text of the Mass:

Behold the Lamb of God,behold him who takes away the sins of the world.Blessed are those called to the supper of the Lamb.

Lord, I am not worthythat you should enter under my roof,but only say the word,and my soul shall be healed.

Characteristics of the Third Typical Edition of the Roman Missal The style of the prayers and texts are much

more elevated, more formal Follows more closely the Latin style

“In humble prayer we ask you, almighty God: command that these gifts be borne by the hands of your holy Angel to your altar on high in the sight of your divine majesty, ” (EPI)

“There will be no doubt that we are addressing the Almighty Creator of the Universe…”

Characteristics of the Third Typical Edition of the Roman Missal The Vocabulary of the English mirrors that of

the Latin

Consubstantial - Consubstantialis Incarnate - Incarnatus

Much like “Amen,” “Alleluia,” “Hosanna”

Characteristics of the Third Typical Edition of the Roman Missal The syntax, cadence and poetry of the Latin

is more obvious

“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.” (Gloria)

Characteristics of the Third Typical Edition of the Roman Missal The new translation maintains a sense of

unity among all the major languages of the world

And with your spirit Et avec Votre Esprite Y con Tu Espiritu

An opportunity for a deeper, richer understanding of and appreciation for the Liturgy of the Church "The time has come to renew that spirit which inspired the Church at

the moment when the Constitution Sacrosanctum Concilium was prepared, discussed, voted upon and promulgated, and when the first steps were taken to apply it. The seed was sown; it has know[n] the rigors of winter, but the seed has sprouted, and become a tree. It is a matter of the organic growth of a tree becoming ever stronger the deeper it sinks its roots into the soil of tradition. I wish to recall what I said at the Congress of Liturgical Commissions in 1984: in the work of liturgical renewal, desired by the Council, it is necessary to keep in mind ‘with great balance the part of God and the part of man, the hierarchy and the faithful, tradition and progress, the law and adaptation, the individual and the community, silence and choral praise. Thus the Liturgy on earth will fuse with that of heaven where . . . it will form one choir . . . to praise with one voice the Father through Jesus Christ’" (no. 23, Vicesimus Quintus Annus, John Paul II).