New Roman Missal – Third Edition
Please take a moment to read the following excerpt from a letter from Most Rev. Arthur J. Serratelli, Chairman of the Committee on Divine Worship – United States Conference of Catholic Bishops….
“It is truly right to give you thanks, truly just to give you glory, Father most holy.” These words from the Preface of the newly translated Eucharistic Prayer IV express what is essential and unchanging about our participation in these sacred mysteries. Nearly forty years have passed since the translation of the first edition of the Missale Romanum. During that time, our liturgical experience has deepened our faith, nurtured our hope, and become an instrument through which we celebrate God’s gift of eternal life to us through the Incarnation, Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. This history and our theological reflection also allow us to acknowledge the inadequacies in the text that is widely used in the English-speaking world. With the fifth instruction Liturgiam Authenticum, His Holiness Pope John Paul II provided a means for us to reclaim the theological richness of the words of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. The same Council that brought us the initial translation of the Mass also called upon the Church to embrace her roles and responsibilities in her participation in these sacred mysteries. With this revised translation of the third edition of the Missale Romanum, we have an opportunity to embrace again the Church’s earnest desire that all the faithful should be led to fully conscious and active participation in the Liturgy.”
We will be using the bulletin and the parish website to give you instruction and information on how the new wording will affect each of us – clergy to parishioner. The style of the translation of the third edition is different. In accord with the rules for translation established by the Holy See, the revised translation follows the style of the original Latin texts more closely, including concrete images, repetition, parallelisms, and rhythm. The English used in the Mass texts is more formal and dignified in style. Where possible, the texts follow the language of Scripture and include many poetic images. In addition, the third edition contains prayers for the celebration of recently canonized saints, additional prefaces for the Eucharistic Prayers, additional Masses and prayers for various needs and intentions, and some updated and revised rubrics (instructions) for the celebration of the Mass.
Since all parishes must use the new translations beginning with Advent of 2011, we will be keeping you up to date on how things will be changing. Implementing the new Missal will give the Church an opportunity to take a fresh look at its liturgical practice and to renew its celebration of the Sacred Liturgy, which is the “source and summit” of Catholic life. The faithful, encountering the Liturgy anew in the next text, can deepen their sharing in Christ’s sacrifice, offering their lives to the Father as they worship “in Spirit and truth”.
