About the Mass series Vol 2:Why be faithful to the Latin texts?

Welcome to my new series called ' About the Mass Series Volume 2-New Translation'

In my third section of this series on Same Mass, New Words, Deeper Meaning and Greater Love of the Mass as an overview of why the English speaking world have a new translation of the Mass.

In today's post, I pose the question "' Why be faithful to the Latin texts?"'

Overall,the revised translation achieves a greater adherence to the original Latin than the former did.  At the time, the first rendering in English used a more dynamic principle of translation, one which took considerable liberty and freedom with the structure and content of the Latin sentences.  This resulted in texts that felt pleasantly idiomatic in the vernacular, despite the sacrifices of the nuances of the original texts.

It is important to realize that these texts served a purpose in that they moved us from the Latin to the vernacular, which at that time was a huge shift in liturgy.  However, nothing remains the same and after 40 or so years, it is time to realize that these texts served their purpose. They were never intended to be used as long as they have been.  Originally, the purpose was to get the texts into the vernacular quickly so that they shift from Latin to English could be made, and then, revisit these texts in 2-5 years once things had settled.  

So now, the visitation has at last occurred.  By turning attention to the original Latin texts, some people feared that some of the reforms of the Second Vatican Council would be challenged or compromised. Others feared that with the outreach to those who prefer the 1962 Mass in Latin that it may foreshadow a whole withdrawal of the vernacular. Neither of these fears are founded.

What we have received and are presently using with these changes in the texts of the Mass is something which was intended to occur many years ago but did not.  It is as though we are catching up for something that was intended 35-40 years ago.!!!  These texts will, I am sure, undergo further refinement in time, although I suppose the wait may not be as long.

The positive aspect of these changes is that they are a faithful and accurate translation of the Latin and that as a result, the English speaking world is  now praying in the vernacular what many other countries have been praying for years. It delights me to think that we are in unison again with the universal church as we pray these texts at Mass.  It is also a great opportunity to come to understand these changes and appreciate their richness.

Next week Appreciating the Poetic texts.