Tuesday, January 03, 2012

An apologia for the new Missal translation

This from a commentator named "Spero" over at Rorate Caeli, a counter-point to the main post by Adfero:
Yes, the new translation will not fix the way the new Mass is said in most places. Yes, there are problems even in the Latin. However, as a recently ordained diocesan priest, I have to say that the new translation is not nothing. It may be nothing in terms of forcing an real end to the liturgical debacle. However, at our parish's small daily Masses, where we never have extraordinary ministers, where I rarely look up toward the people outside of the homily, where nothing is sung except the hymn I pick for the recessional, and at which I use the Roman Canon daily, omit the general intercessions, and always use the Confiteor and the entrance and communion antiphons, it has made a difference to me.

You are right, it has not changed the way I say Mass. I used the same "options" with the old translation. You are right, it is still the Novus Ordo with all the issues that that entails. However, I have found that sacrificial language of the new translation of the Roman Canon very edifying. I am able to say each day and my parishioners hear at each of my Masses, "and bless these gifts, these offerings the holy and unblemished sacrifices," "bless, acknowledge and approve this offering in every respect," "accept this oblation of our service," "we...offer to your glorious majesty...this pure victim, this holy victim, this spotless victim, the holy Bread of eternal life and the Chalice of everlasting salvation; Be pleased to look upon these offerings with a serene and kindly countenance and accept them...and the offering of your high priest Melchizedek, a holy sacrifice, a spotless victim." In addition, the orations are translated far more accurately. I have many times found orations which are identical to those found in the TLM. With the new translation it is much easier to preach on these texts. The old translation mangled them so badly that even where the Novus Ordo made us of traditional orations, the translation made them unrecognizable and often altered their theology.

So no, the new translation will not fix our liturgical crisis. Yes, most people will find the mess at their parishes to be more or less the same. However, the new translation is still not nothing. I became a diocesan priest, rather than joining the FSSP or another community (which I seriously considered), because I believe that this is where God is asking me to be. Being where I am, I have found the new translation to be a real help in making that best of a bizarre historical situation.
[Hat tip to J.M.]

7 comments:

  1. DEfinitely not nothing, but for years I've been in charge of a Latin Mass Society and it was this translation that has brought me and my brethren back to worship with the bulk of the Church ... quietly without fuss. This Missal is the 'continuation' of the 1962 in a way that the english translations of the Paul VI mass never were. It's reverent, no doubt valid, sacrificial, and restores the priest to his place as the alternative Christ. So I disgaree - it solves the liturgical crisis just nicely.

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  2. Ralph Roister-Doister11:10 AM

    I would agree that the new translation is "not nothing." I regard it as an obfuscation. It deflects attention from the real issue, which is that the NO is NOT a liturgy at all, but an anti-liturgical blotter for soaking up novelty. I sympathize with the plight of this goodhearted priest, but I would encourage him to ask himself the question "the new NO translation is helping me, but to do WHAT?"

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  3. I am glad this comment was left. The original post was, to put it mildly, absurd. I don't know of any reasonable person who thought the introduction of the new translation would "fix" things overnight and why the original poster did is beyond me.

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  4. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  5. My own opinion?...

    This one, which I completely share:

    http://tinyurl.com/7uouf86

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  6. If you read all the comments over at RC, the original poster explains his scenario as purposefully extreme, to make a point.

    As for the new work solving the liturgical crisis nicely, the crisis has metastasized far beyond liturgics, to the point where this trans. may help, but no more solves things than Benedict XVI's "Jesus of Nazareth" books solve the crisis of Biblical scholarship. Consistent leadership, a heart for faithfulness and most of all conversion are what will help heal things.

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  7. Sheldon3:19 PM

    New Catholic, the linked piece with whose opinion you agree is sheer brilliance.

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