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Re:- By whose authority? Steven Sunday, September 26, 2004

Question:

Having read this recent posting, I too have experienced a number of priests who make subtle changes to the wording of the Mass.

In particular, I also recall one priest who habitually changed the words "from east to west" in the 3rd. Eucharistic Prayer, but in this case to "from the rising of the sun to its setting", presumably as it is a more accurate translation of the Latin text "A solis ortu usque ad occasum".

There are two points I would like raise in this context, and would be very interested in your comments.

Firstly, I agree with you that the priest does not have authority to alter sacred texts, as these should be identical in all places using a particular language, as an expression of the unity of the Church (a point made so emphatically by the Council of Trent, resulting in Mass being celebrated in EXACTLY the same way throughout the Latin Rite for several centuries). This would apply even if the particular official vernacular translation is a little "loose", since it is the OFFICIAL translation.

Secondly, I know accuracy of translation has been a moot point with the new Roman Missal, which has not yet been promulgated in English. This seems to be one of the difficulties of adapting from a dead language, Latin, where the semantis of texts are fixed to a living vernacular in which subtle nuances of meaning can change over time, and indeed vary from place to place (you will be only too familiar with the differences between British and American English - the subject of much comedy over the years!). Presumably there will be a need in the future for revision of Missal translations from time to time, even if the Latin texts remain substantially the same, just to preserve the meaning of the Mass; or might there be a case for the using an archaic "dead" form of the vernacular (like the Anglicans do with the Book of Common Prayer, fossilised in elegant 17th. Century-isms), or a rather stilted literal translation from Latin?
Question Answered by Mr. Jacob Slavek

Dear Steven,

All I can really say is response is, "we'll see".  Yes there is a new translation being prepared, I don't know exactly when it will become official, and from what I've heard it will be a more faithful translation of the Latin.  Also, I've that it won't be in the distant future..  it's not that far away.

 

Mr. Slavek
Footer Notes: (a) A Eucharistic Minister is clergy (Ordinary Ministers of Holy Communion). Laity are Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion and should never be called Eucharistic Ministers.

(b) There is no such Mass called the Novus Ordo. The Current Mass is the Roman Missal of 2000, or the Oridinary Form of the Mass. The Tridentine Mass is the Roman Missal of 1962, or the Extraordinary Form of the Mass. Please refrain from using the term, Novus Ordo. Thanks.

(c) The titles of Acolyte and Lector belong exclusively to the Installed Offices of Acolyte and Lector, who are men (only) appointed by the Bishop. These roles performed by others are Altar Servers and Readers, respectively.