About the Mass Vol 2 Series: Same Mass, New Words, Deeper Meaning and Greater Love of the Mass Part 2.

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

In my second 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.

The words of the Mass frequently allude to passages from the Bible. The new translation brings more of these allusion to light. It better connect the Missal to the Lectionary for Mass.  As we become more used to hearing the prayers, we will grasp more clearly that the traditional words we use for these prayers arise from expressions in the Word of God.  In other words, since these words are based in biblical roots, it is as though we are praying in Scripture.

The prayers in the New Translation however are different from the previous prayers in the following ways:

1.  More formal style of language is used.
2. Sentences are longer.
3. Vocabularly is broader.
4. biblical roots are the basis for the prayers.

It is important to appreciate that the previous translation broke up the sentences, whilst the New Translation brings back these sentences together so that they express more nuances of meaning. This will benefit us as we hear them more repeatedly and as we reflect upon them through meditation. The texts reflect more clearly why we pray, why we hope and how we present ourselves to God. We are created by God and we are not the Creator.  The new translation helps us to place in perspective ourselves before God in a way that is truthful and real, whereas the previous translation brought God down to our level as if God was an equal with mankind.

The broader vocabularly of the revised translation reflects the extensive vocabularly of the Latin.The translation uses a variety of English words to match and as a result, add freshness of the sound of the Missal while avoiding the needless repeition of some well-worn words. 

Now we can say, what does all this matter whether it is closer to the Latin translation or God does not care whether our prayers have longer or shorter sentences. In a sense, this is true.  However, we need to be offering God our best for our worship.  

I personally look at the New Translation as an opportunity to grow in my faith and love of Jesus through the sacrament of the Mass.  It provides all of us with an opportunity to understand and apprecciate the Mass in a deeper way, if we bother to find out more through our research. This series is about exactly that.. gaining a greater appreciation of the Mass and the New Translation by careful examination and by sharing with you in this series on my blog.

So as you listen to the prayers at Holy Mass this coming week, perhaps you will notice some of these aspects that I have noted in today's post and quench your thirst to find out more.

Next Week: Why be faithful to the Latin texts?