USCCB official urges priests to prepare faithful for new Missal translation
On the site of the Diocese of Patterson, NJ, we find this.
USCCB official urges priests to prepare faithful for new Missal translationNice to hear a positive presentation about the new translation.
By MICHAEL WOJCIK
News Editor
PARSIPPANY - Parish priests were told that while the publication date of the English translation of the third edition of the Roman Missal is not yet set, they need to start preparing the faithful for the changes in language of the new English text.
That was the message of Msgr. Anthony Sherman, executive director of the Secretariat of Divine Worship of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), at St. Ann Church here recently, where he led a large gathering of priests and deacons in the diocese through an exploration of the revisions to the English translation of the third edition of the Roman Missal – which promises to give worship "greater richness of spiritual content."
This study day was arraigned by Bishop Serratelli, chairman of the USCCB’s Committee on Divine Worship and a member of the International Commission on English in the Liturgy (ICEL), which in wide consultation with scholars and Church officials, has been engaged in the process of producing these new texts.
"Don’t use the texts now, but start training your people so they will not be surprised," Msgr. Sherman told the local clergy about the English translation of the Order of the Mass, which the U.S. bishops approved in 2006 and the Vatican confirmed last year.
"This is a critical time to make the [faith] community aware – in a low-key manner." [You mean… positively?!? Not in a whiny "the sky is falling!" manner? After all, aren’t these new translations AN ATTACK ON THE COUNCIL?!?] Priests can go a long way to achieving that awareness by starting to print in their parish bulletins portions of the English translation that are available for everyone to peruse at the USCCB Web site at www.usccb.org/romanmissal. Already, the laity, who has visited the site, is giving its feedback on the new texts, Msgr. Sherman said.
"I don’t think it will be major transition for the people in the pew. They will get used to it," Bishop Serratelli said. "The new translation recaptures some of the richness [of the original Latin text]. Some of the doctrine had been lost. It will help people develop a greater appreciation of liturgy," he said.
While the faithful might adjust quickly, the priests might find the unfamiliar text challenging at first. They might have to learn how to breathe [!] while reciting the prayers, some of which are longer, according to Msgr. Sherman. [And some liberals will, no doubt, simply hyperventilate.] Priests also will have to familiarize themselves with the new texts by reading them [yes… by actually reading them...] on the USCCB Web site and eventually by practicing them, Msgr. Sherman said.
[...]
"This new translation plays with metaphors and imagery and is closer to the original texts, which we believe are the vessels that hold the whole tradition," said Msgr. Sherman, who noted that these texts could foster a "new creative period" in Catholic worship, ushered in by composers, who are already at work, writing new pieces the mirror the new language or adapting existing music.
This new translation also marks a historic moment in the Church’s liturgical renewal that began with the Second Vatican Council. It reflects a greater understanding of use of the vernacular in the liturgy since Vatican II, [good point] declares Bishop Serratelli in a video on USCCB’ Web site.
"The new texts are understandable, dignified and accurate. [Unless you are already set against them, that is.] They not only strive to make the meaning of the text accessible to the listener, but they also strive to unearth the biblical and theological richness of the Latin text," Bishop Serratelli states in the video. "The new liturgical texts will lead us into a deeper understanding of the Church’s worship and will make it much easier for all of us to enter into a full, active and conscious participation in the Church’s liturgy," he said. [What the… ?! Hey… WAIT! That’s what the Council said!]
With this new text, translators took on the seemingly "impossible task" of trying to place the new text in the familiar vernacular, while also keeping the translations accurate to the original text – all without paraphrasing. This has challenged translators to consider the complexity of the original vocabulary and, in some instances, devise new words or use different dialects to express certain ideas in the text, Msgr. Sherman said.
"Translations are evolutionary. Each age tackles translations," Msgr. Sherman said. "While translations are imperfect, we should not splinter over them. We should make the transition [to the new translation] as smooth as possible." [Or… we could just use Latin, and let people in the pews use which ever translation they prefer…. ? Yes? No?]
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