A New Missal

Over the past several years, the Congregation for Divine Worship in Rome, and an international committee of bishops and scholars representing all English-speaking countries, have been working to make a new English translation of the latest edition of the Roman Missal. Their work is finally coming to a conclusion, which is to say that before too long the Mass prayers and responses we have known for the past forty years will be changing.

This new translation has many things to recommend it: it is definitely much more faithful to the Latin text it seeks to translate; it employs a more sacral language, helping ensure a dignified and theologically rich liturgy; and it unites all English-speaking churches in use of the same missal.

Still, all change (especially in the liturgy) runs the risk of confusing and alienating those who are comfortable and used to a previous way of doing things. And so our Holy Father's words to the Vox Clara committee are particularly important:

"A new task will then present itself . . . the task of preparing for the reception of the new translation by clergy and lay faithful. Many will find it hard to adjust to unfamiliar texts after nearly forty years of continuous use of the previous translation. The change will need to be introduced with due sensitivity, and the opportunity for catechesis that it presents will need to be firmly grasped. I pray that in this way any risk of confusion or bewilderment will be averted, and the change will serve instead as a springboard for a renewal and a deepening of Eucharistic devotion all over the English-speaking world."

All of us can prepare for the new missal, which is still many months away, by visiting a webpage created by the U.S. Bishop's conference and familiarizing ourselves with the new texts. It would also be appropriate to (politely) ask your pastor, diocesan liturgy office, or bishop about opportunities that will be made available in your area to learn more about the changes.

Let us pray with the Holy Father that this wonderful opportunity for renewal of our Eucharistic devotion will indeed be seized by clergy and laity throughout the country!

UPDATE: My confrere Fr. John Pearson, csc was good enough to direct me to a few more sources of information I can share with you: The Notre Dame Center for Liturgy has audio and video files of theologians explaining elements of the new Missal . . . and the Liturgical Institute at Mundelein Seminary in Chicago has also made catechetical resources available online. Enjoy!