New Translation of the English Roman Missal: A Comprehensive Guide and Explanation

CatechismClass.com has recently unveiled a new lesson on their website to help explain the New Translation of the Roman Missal. The lesson is available as a 60-page document outlining the changes in the Liturgy from the perspective of the priest and the congregation. The text goes through the changes in the Liturgy over the past 2,000 years to best explain the reasons for the changes in this New Translation.

• Chapter 1: The Source and Summit of the Christian Life
• Chapter 2: A Brief History of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass
• Chapter 3: The Need for a New Translation of the Roman Missal
• Chapter 4: What We Will Say (Changes for the Participants)
• Chapter 5: What We Will Hear (Changes for the Celebrant)

This work is intended for the average Catholic to read and is a great tool for pastors to purchase and share with their congregations, CCD classes, RCIA students, etc, etc.

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USCCB Approves New Translation of Roman Missal

The new Translation of the Novus Ordo Missale will go into effect on the first Sunday of Advent 2011.  It is certainly a step back in the right direction but it certainly does not go far enough to conform with the Latin texts of the Mass.

For information please see The New Translation of the Roman Missal: A Guide and Explanation

A summary of those changes can be found on these past posts:

• Text of new ICEL Translation
• USCCB Approves Changes (2006)
• Video: Novus Ordo Missale Changes

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Text Of The New Icel Translation

Yes, an unofficial version of the New Translation of the Roman Missal is available in English. It appeared over on the blog of Fr. Finigan. Unfortunately, it seems to still be flawed in numerous areas, but it is certainly at least a step in the right direction. See The Hermeneutic of Continuity by Fr. Finigan for more information. There are some good improvements from the current English version. Here is one below:

For information please see The New Translation of the Roman Missal: A Guide and Explanation

Latin text
Supra quae propitio ac sereno vultu respicere digneris; et accepta habere, sicuti accepta habere dignatus es munera pueri tui justi Abel, et sacrificium patriarchae nostri Abrahae, et quod tibi obtulit summus sacerdos tuus Melchisedech, sanctum sacrificium, immaculatam hostiam.

Old ICEL
Look with favor on these offerings and accept them as once you accepted the gifts of your servant Abel, the sacrifice of Abraham, our father in faith, and the bread and wine offered by your priest Melchizedek.

New ICEL
Be pleased to look upon them, with a serene and kindly gaze, and to accept them as you were pleased to accept the gifts of your just servant Abel, the sacrifice of Abraham, our father in faith, and the offering of your high priest Melchizedek, a holy sacrifice, a spotless victim.

Also below:

Latin text
accipens et hunc praeclarum calicem in sanctas ac venerabiles manus suas

Old ICEL
he took the cup

New ICEL
he took this precious chalice into his holy and venerable hands,

For information please see The New Translation of the Roman Missal: A Guide and Explanation

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It's done! USCCB Approves Changes

April 15, 2007 Update: An unofficial Text Of The New Icel Translation is available. Yet, this is all still confusing to me. Why can't the Pope - the Sovereign of the World - simply declare a new translation. He is a monarchical ruler - not an elected official.

For information please see The New Translation of the Roman Missal: A Guide and Explanation 

Original Post (June 16, 2006): The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, by a 173-29 vote, have approved changes in the Order of the Mass. These changes will bring the words of 12 of 19 texts from the Mass closer to the original Latin. On the vote for the translation of the Missale Romanum, the ayes were 173, the nays 29. On the adaptations to the Missale Romanum for the United States, the ayes were 184, the nays 8. Since only 168 votes were needed to pass, the translation has passed.

Some bishops said the changes would deepen lay people's understanding of Catholicism and Scripture. They said priests could use the changes to spark a discussion of the liturgical reasoning behind them, including citing biblical stories and the Latin version.

"All these changes should require ... a certain amount of explanation and allow the people who are using them to grow in faith and not remain where they are," said Archbishop Oscar H. Lipscomb of Mobile, Ala.
Bishops debated for about 20 minutes on a variety of wording changes, some pitting the familiar against the new. A proposal to change the words of the Nicene Creed from "one in being" to "consubstantial," which is closer to the Latin, failed.

Source

Here are some of the changes that will supposedly be made:

1. "The Lord be with you" / "And also with you" will become "The Lord be with you" / "And with your spirit"
2. "Lord, I am not worthy to receive you" will become "Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof"
3. "We believe" will change to "I believe" in the Nicene Creed
4. "He was born of the Virgin Mary" would become "by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary."
5. In the Penitential Rite, "through my own fault'' will change to "through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault.''
6. "Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might'' will become "Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God of hosts.''
7. In the Gloria, “peace to his people on earth” becomes “peace on earth to people of good will.”
8. "You take away the sin of the world" becomes "You take away the sins of the world" because the Latin peccata is plural.
9. People are to be reminded to make a profound bow in the Creed during the words: “and by the Holy Spirit became incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and was made man.”
10. In the Orate Fratres (Pray my brothers and sisters that) will change the next few words from "our sacrifice" to “my sacrifice and yours”.
11. During the Consecration, the priest will say: “Again he gave you thanks and praise, gave the cup to his disciples, and said….” The new translation changes to to more closely follow the Latin: “…taking also this noble cup into his holy and venerable hands, once more giving him thanks, he blessed it and gave it to his disciples, saying…”
12. The Acclamation “Christ has died, Christ has risen, Christ will come again" will become “We proclaim your death, O Lord, and profess your resurrection until you come." This again follows the Latin.
13. “Look with favour upon these offerings and accept them as once you accepted the gifts of your servant Abel…” will become “Be pleased to look on them with a favourable and kindly face and to accept them, as you were pleased to accept the gifts of your servant Abel…”
14. From Eucharistic Prayer III, “From age to age you gather a people to yourself, so that from east to west a perfect offering may be made to the glory of your name" will become “…you never cease to gather a people to yourself, so that from the rising of the sun to its setting a pure oblation may be offered to your name”
15. The introduction to the Our Father currently is “Jesus taught us to call God our Father, and so we have the courage to say." It will become “Taught by commands that bring salvation and formed by the divine instruction, we have the courage to say.”
16. The priest's own words before receiving Holy Communion currently are “Lord Jesus Christ, with faith in your love and mercy I eat your body and drink your blood. Let it not bring me condemnation, but health in mind and body.” It will change to “May receiving your Body and Blood, Lord Jesus Christ, not bring me to judgment and condemnation, but through your love and mercy let it be my protection in mind and body, and a healing remedy.”
17. “This is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Happy are those who are called to his supper" will change slightly to “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Blessed are those who are called to his supper.”

Source

Below is a look at the changes in the Gloria to make it closer to the original in Latin. (Click to enlarge):



For information please see The New Translation of the Roman Missal: A Guide and Explanation

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