Roman Missal

• Nov. 20 – Liturgy & Life
• Nov. 13 – Scripture & the Mass
• Nov. 6 – Liturgical Participation
• Oct. 30 – Celebrating the Lord’s Day
• Oct. 23 – Parts of the Mass
• Oct. 16 – Praying with Body, Mind and Voice
• Oct. 9 – Words in the Roman Missal
• Oct. 2 – Ten Questions on the Roman Missal
  
  • Sept. 26 – Embracing Change in the Liturgy
    
    • Check the USCCB web site for additional detail.

Just as the summer days will give way to the shorter days and the changing colors of the fall season, so too will the Church be undergoing some significant changes in the way we pray the Mass beginning on the First Sunday of Advent, November 27.

The liturgical prayers of the English speaking Catholic Church throughout the world for the last forty years have been re-translated. In the coming weeks, we will include further information regarding the new translation of the Roman Missal.

The new English translation of the Roman Missal replaces the Sacramentary that has been in use since 1973. For at least two generations of Catholics, this Sacramentary represents the only Mass they have ever known. Pope John Paul II issued the third edition of the Missale Romanum (the Latin text of the Roman Missal) in the year 2000. The following year, the Congregation for Divine Worship issued a new document that gave guidance to translators.

The style of the new translation follows the style of the original Latin texts more closely. Whereas the first and second editions of the Roman Missal used a translation principle that aimed to translate basic thoughts rather than words, the new third edition of the Roman Missal aims to translate texts exactly and literally, without paraphrases, omissions, or additions. This means that these rules render a more formal style of speech in seeking to communicate traditional theological concepts of our faith.

The structure of the Mass will remain unchanged. However, the translation of the prayers, those spoken by the priest and those spoken by the assembly will change significantly. Prayers that have been recited by memory will need to be relearned.  It means that new musical settings for the various parts of the Mass will have to be changed and learned as well.

It is human nature to want to avoid change. The new translation will present the opportunity to examine our liturgical practices and to look more deeply at the significance of the Eucharistic liturgy for our St. Mary’s Community. It will hopefully create a greater consciousness in Sunday worship. In the end, the Church will adjust through the change under the guidance of the Holy Spirit and through the prayers of her baptized faithful.