U.S. bishops launch website on new Mass translation

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Comments: 24

Washington D.C., Aug 21, 2009 / 11:14 am (CNA).- After years in the making, the English translation of the new Roman Missal is nearing its completion and is now awaiting the final approval of the bishops and the Vatican. In an effort to begin educating the faithful and clergy on the new translation, the U.S. bishops have launched a website.

The new website, which was launched on August 21, includes background material on the process of the development of liturgical texts, sample texts from the Missal, a glossary of terms and answers to frequently asked questions.

A press release from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) says that content will be added to the website on a regular basis over the next several months.

Bishop Arthur Serratelli, who chairs the bishops' Committee on Divine Worship, welcomes the faithful to the new site in a video, saying, "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."

Describing the translation, Bishop Serratelli says, "The new texts are understandable, dignified and accurate. … 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."

The process of translating the new Missal began in 2003 and has been ongoing since then.

Now that they have studied, reflected and adjusted the translation for five years, the bishops are expected to conclude their review and approve the final portion of the translated texts at the end of this year, the USCCB says in a press release.

Following the approval of the bishops, the translation will require a final approval (recognitio) from the Holy See before the texts can be published and used in the liturgy.

Speaking in the video, Bishop Serratelli explains that he sees this time of waiting as an opportunity for the faithful 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 says. "We encourage priests, deacons, religious, liturgical ministers, all the faithful to avail themselves of the information that we are making available."

The website dedicated to the new translation can be found at: http://www.usccb.org/romanmissal.

Comments: 24

Subscriber comments:

Published by: Brian Mahan
New York, New York 01/20/2010 12:59 AM EST

I too love the Latin Mass. But I am uneasy with frequent dismissals of Vatican II. It was not a mistake, whatever that might mean. Nor, as some would seem to imply, was the Holy Spirit somehow absent from the proceedings.

Published by: David Staszak
Saranac Lake, NY 12/28/2009 01:32 PM EST

The question shouldn't be how to translate the Latin into English but can modern scholarship give us better translation of the original Aramaic or Greek into English then we get by using the Latin texts? My prime example is "Lead us not into temptation." This may be a fair translation of the Latin, but did we lose something when the translation went from Aramaic to Greek to Latin and then to English? It is my understanding that a better translation (and one that makes a whole lot more sense) of the Greek to English would be "Lord do not let us be led into temptation." I don’t care how the English sounds compared to the Latin. I keep reading “but the Latin is timeless”. I want to say words (and teach my children words) that I know the meaning of, and I want the meaning to be clear and accurate. Is this too much to ask? But for the sake of “timeless” Latin sounding we get “consubstantial” in the Creed. Sure.

Published by: Bill
St. Paul, MN 11/21/2009 12:04 PM EST

Perhaps this change in translation is an opportunity for disengaged Catholics such as my self to leave the church. There is little left for us, so taking away the bit of tradition we remember from childhood should make it easier for us to leave.

Published by: Christian
Frankfort/KY/USA 09/01/2009 09:24 PM EST

Rate: Bad

O Lord, grant us a true Catholic Pope that will null Vatican II and its disastrous aftermath.
Reconvene Vatican I...and open with consecrating Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

Published by: Kain-ke Ronald
Uganda 08/28/2009 07:22 AM EST

It is a wonderful thing to hear or read.
The best thing to do is not only change to latin Mass. but the entire Vatican II to go and bring us back our Vaticn I and rehabilitate the entire Priesthood especially the modernist Priests be thoroughly rehabilitted. Theyhave been brainwashed to the point of not recognizing a priest among the ordinary men. The churches have become party halls. There is hardly any sacred place in the churches. For the time being we say come on hurry up the situation is scary..We need our Holy Catholic Church it its original form...Vatican I

Published by: Charles A. Connell
Wilmington, NC, USA 08/25/2009 10:47 PM EST

Ask our Holy Father to exercise his authority for true reform: Found seminaries that train priests in orthodox Roman Catholicism, abolish the USCCB, appoint new bishops who believe in what the Council of Trent mandated.

Published by: Mercedes Fashingbauer
Chicago, IL 08/25/2009 01:20 PM EST

The bandaid that needs to be applied is the one thing that for a long time separated us from other religions and that is everyone should return to kneeling when receiving Communion for one simple reason because this is the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Lay people should do it on their own! For Bishops and Priests to suggest it has been a long wait.

Published by: Gerri
Brooklyn, NY 08/25/2009 08:54 AM EST

These changes are all well and good, but it is like putting a band-aid on a wound that needs major surgery.

Published by: John Fisher
Washington D.C. 08/24/2009 03:08 PM EST

I know this is not a debate over the Form(s) of the Mass.
But... I Love the "old" Latin Mass!

Published by: Sam
Plantation, FL 08/24/2009 10:31 AM EST

Hopefully the the Novus Ordo will go down in history as an aberration of the true Mass, and the Roman Rite will have one Mass again - the Mass that satisfied Popes, Kings, Emperors, saints, and peasants for nearly 2000 years.

Published by: Christian
Frankfort/KY/USA 08/24/2009 06:53 AM EST

So what? Lutherans and Anglicans have "many" in their translations but that does not mean that they offer valid Masses. Likewise, because of all the heretical theologies fed to seminarians (a steady diet of de Chardin, Kung, et. al.), can we safely assume the Devil is trying to make his baby (the invalid Novus Bogus and its spiritually fornicating religion) look legit...
Say it with me: if you do not have the Catholic Faith, everything is WORTHLESS!!!

ct

Published by: Neil T.
Australia 08/24/2009 04:43 AM EST

Rate: Good

I recently attended a Tridentine Mass at our local parish church and came away with the feeling that this was not the mass that I had served and attended for most of my childhood. It left me totally cold. The new translation as put forward to change the current mass has emasculated the english vernacular mass as we know it and will cause another rush to leave what in some countries can only be seen as a dying religion.

Published by: HAL SCHNEIDER
OKEMOS,MI 08/23/2009 05:20 PM EST

I AM IN LANSING DIOCESE AND TRAVEL TO JACKSON, MI. EVERY SUNDAY TO ATTEND A LATIN MASS 34 MILES FROM LANSING DIOCESE WHICH DOES NOT PROVIDE A LATIN MASS IN THE CITY OF LANSING.JESUS WE PRAY RETURN THE LATIN MASS.

Published by: JT
New Jersey 08/23/2009 05:35 AM EST

Bring it on, quickly! This is wonderful! Now, when will we start on the music? Hymns should lift our hearts towards reverencing God, not towards ourselves.

Published by: Michael G Riley
Brisbane/ Qld /Australia 08/22/2009 04:34 PM EST

The churh at Vatican 2 that put its hand to the plough to move on into the future and now looks back towards the Tridentine Rite in NOT FIT FOR THE KINGDOMOF GOD. Who was it that said something similar ?

Published by: LeonG
Brunei 08/22/2009 04:25 PM EST

The traditionalchurch cannot be reduced to the words "pro multis". While this is a welcome step we need to see a wholesale return to traditional ways very soon before the church becomes an irreparably divided institution that has completely lost its way. The election of a totally immoral presidency by over half of the so-called "catholic" population of the USA demonstrates the point abundantly clearly.

Published by: Tim Morgan
New Zealand 08/22/2009 03:24 PM EST

This is a step in the right direction and is a result of an argument presented to Rome called Res Sacramenti (Google this!)

Published by: Geoffrey K. Mondello
Stoneham, MA US 08/22/2009 08:00 AM EST

A most welcome and long overdue revision that much more accurately accords with the ancient and authoratative Vulgate, rather than the tiresome whims of "liturgical correctitude".

Published by: Ryan
NYC,NY 08/21/2009 07:31 PM EST

The new english translation of the mass is a huge improvement and will greatly change the experience we have when attending mass.Now lets pray that Pope Benedict finally ends communion in the hand,encourages more latin to be used in the Ordinary Form and by his example brings about more reverence in the celebration of masses around the world.Each pastor can bring more reverence and mystery to the liturgy by using more latin in the unchangeable parts of the mass,using incense,restoring the use of the Sanctus Bells,wearing beautiful vestments and making sure the sanctuary is ordered correctly.As for the Tridentine Mass,now that it has been freed we should encourage its use in every parish as an option.Thanks Ryan

Published by: Kmbold
Santa Maria. CA USA 08/21/2009 07:05 PM EST

Praise God! What took so long?? Since anticipation is half the joy, I have been responding "And with your spirit" for five years. In my heart for almost 40.

Published by: Jay
New Orleans, LA, USA 08/21/2009 07:02 PM EST

I think the Mass should be in Aramaic, the same language the Lord Jesus spoke at the Last Supper, and the language used by the Blessed Mother and the Apostles when they celebrated Mass. How beautiful that would be!

Published by: TONY
DELRAY BEACH 08/21/2009 05:38 PM EST

Rate: Good

I love the Mass of Vatican II. I can understand it, and participate better than in the latin mass. If I wanted a mass in a foreign language I could go to a spanish or polish mass.

Published by: Loretta McCullough
Lake George, NY 08/21/2009 03:51 PM EST

Rate: Very Good

I prefer the Tridentine Latin Mass,

Published by: Jack G. Leone
Wantagh, NY 08/21/2009 12:25 PM EST

Rate: Very Good

Will we ever see the Latin Mass come back to our parishes. I hope I see it. I attend the Latin Mass in my area which is only one parish and I get such a feeling when I attend.

I am praying to God for the reutrn of the latin Mass in each parish.

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