Of course, many people have been sanctified by their participation in the Mass using this translation but if you have even a rudimentary knowledge of Latin, it is frustrating to know that the people are being denied the richness of the Church's sacred texts. For most ordinary people not involved in ecclesiastical politics, there will be no problems. In a few weeks they will be used to the new translation and beginning to learn it by heart.
For priests it will be a much enhanced text for that catechesis which must, in the present time, form a large part of our preaching. This morning I preached on the word "consubstantial", including some historical background to the Council of Nicea. I promised the children that I would also include an account of a battle, and therefore went briefly into the dispositions of the troops at the battle of the Milvian Bridge. I thought afterwards that I should have set a competition essay on "How should Maxentius have drawn up his troops?" For a few weeks we will have to make do with an interim Missal but that is a small price to pay. I look forward eagerly to the delivery of my new Missals from the CTS.
14 comments:
Father, having written :this, did you ever wonder about Altar Cards with the new translation?
The new translation is a vast improvement.
Deo gratias!
Is CTS selling the new missal then??
My nearest church, and at least one prominent church in London, did not implement the new translation. What say you to that, father? Are they disobedient? Or just being mindful of pastoral concerns, or whatever?
It's great to hear about the translation from a priest's point of view...
Might I be so bold as to give my own thoughts on the experience...?
But what of us old 'uns who, for decades now, have been barking "Domine non sum dignus..." in growling protest to the amusement / bafflement of fellow worshippers and to the profound irritation of Fr Happy Clappimus?
Must we now come in from the cold? We've grown rather fond of our ICEL- rage.
It is disappointing, however, that the CTS people's booklet contains so little music, when this is one of the great riches of this new edition, and so much part of the Holy Father's wish for the sacred liturgy.
The Missal contains so much to inspire us, bilingual settings for the Ordinary, solemn and simple tones for the versicle and prayers, three tones for the Pater Noster, and so much more. What use is it in the altar Missal if the choir and people cannot see it?
See here: ICEL
We have just downloaded the online music and made a simple booklet in inDesign for us to learn the most usual music for a fully sung Mass. How many communities will trouble to do this?
That sounds like my kind of sermon/homily.
I hope that the children will be catechised sufficiently well to understand the significance of the text quoted.
Ttony - I have done a couple of simple altar cards. But with the Novus Ordo if the priest is at the "Chair" he also needs a card or something for the Confiteor, Gloria and Creed. Am producing things ad hoc atm. Can't really publish them because of the ferocious attitude to copyright.
Michelle Therese - yes.
Patricius - possibly disobedient, more likely they just haven't got things sorted out yet.
Father,
Would you be adverse to posting your homily or saying more about it? For example, what did you explain to the children about consubstantial? How did you tie in the detail of the battle and where did you get good, reliable information?
Respectfully in Christ,
Ben of the Bayou
Ben - it wasn't a "children's Mass" so the homily was not simplified for children. But I suppose I had better post it. I have been reading the new book on Constantine by Paul Stephenson but the outline of the battle of the Milvian Bridge is well established and there is a decent account on Wikipedia.
Decades before I had ever studied Latin, I looked at the "Credo" and thought, Wait, why are we saying "we believe"? I had at that time not even taken French in school for more than a couple of years.
How dumb did they think we were?
This is the thing that bugs me most about this whole ICEL thing: they think lay people are stupid.
I grew up with the Italian "translation", "Non sono degno di partecipare alla tua mensa", or "I am not worthy of taking part to your meal".
Only much later did I realise that the original Latin referred to the Roman Centurion. Why the poor chap, with the extremely powerful symbolism of his words, was cut out in that way is to me a mystery to this day.
The worst part of me inclines to think that the words of the new "translation" want to extol the idea of "meal", as in "communal meal"; but I am being mean here, I am sure, and there must have been some other more orthodox reason..
Mundabor
Yes, I would have liked them to use "banquet" instead of "supper" but you really can't quibble with supper as a translation of cena.
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