The Roman Missal

St. Francis of Assisi Church

What are the changes?Revised General Instruction

(2000)• New Eucharistic Prayers• New Prayers for Lent• New Saints• New Votive Masses• New dismissals at Mass• New revised translation

New Eucharistic Prayers• The four Prayers for

Various Needs and Occasions (the “Swiss Synod” prayers)

• The two Prayers for Reconciliation

• The Children’s Eucharistic Prayers are to be published separately

New Prayers for Lent

• A special Prayer over the People for each day of Lent

• Ancient texts, simple and striking• Thursday, 2nd week of Lent:

Stay with your servants, O Lord,who implore the help of your grace,that it may bring themthe shelter and guidance of your

protection.Through Christ our Lord.

New Saints

• Many new saints have been canonized since 1969

• Some have been added to the universal calendar

• Greater international representation

New Saints• Josephine Bakhita (Sudan,

Feb.8)• Christopher Magallanes and

Companions (Mexico, May 21)• Augustine Zhao Rong and

companions (China, July 9)• Charbel Malkuf (Lebanon, July

24)• Teresa Benedicta of the Cross

(Edith Stein, Germany, August 9)• Pio of Pietreclina (Italy, Sept.

23)• Laurence Ruiz and

companions (Japan, Sept. 28)• Andrew Dung Lac and

companions (Korea, Nov. 24)

New Feasts

• Most Holy Name of Jesus (Jan. 3)

• Our Lady of Fatima (May 13)

• Most Holy Name of Mary (Sept. 12)

New Masses

VOTIVE MASSES• For Compunction

(profound regret)• For Continence

FEASTDAY MASSES• Vigil of the Epiphany• Vigil of the Ascension

New Dismissals

• In addition to the traditional “Ite, missa est.” (Go forth, the Mass is ended.)

• Added by Benedict XVI to emphasize mission:• Go and announce the Gospel of

the Lord.• Go in peace, glorifying the Lord

by your life.• Go in peace.

A new translation: “noble simplicity”

The process of translation• International Commission for English in

the Liturgy (11 Bishops’ Conferences)• ICEL secretariat• Base translator – literal translation• Editorial Committee – polished translation• Commission - review• Green book• Bishops Conferences - comments• Grey Book• Bishops’ Conferences - vote• Congregation for Divine Worship• “Vox Clara” - consultation• Back to the Commission if needed• Formal recognitio by the Congregation• White Book (final text)

• Translation reviewed at each of these points

Principles of Translation• To have a single English text for the

entire world• To have a rich yet accessible

vocabulary• To be faithful to the Latin

(“formal equivalence”)• To retain the language of prayer• To echo the Scriptures and familiar

sources• To keep the connections• To proclaim well (oral qualities)• To be heard easily (aural qualities)• To retain gender-inclusive language

where possible

Some issues

• Dividing by a common language• “soft drink”, “pop”, “soda”• “boot” “trunk” / “elevator” “lift” • “supper” and “root” problematic

in Australia• Making better connections• “from east to west”• “from the rising of the sun to its

setting” (Malachi 1.11)• Asking God – using fuller

forms• “we pray”• “grant us”

The vernacular in recent times:

• Pre Vatican II:• 1949 - permission was given to

translate the Missal into Mandarin for China

• 1957 – permission was given to use Hebrew in the Mass in Israel

• Vatican II:• “But since the use of the mother

tongue … frequently may be of great advantage to the people, the limits of its employment may be extended. This will apply in the first place to the readings and directives, and to some of the prayers and chants.”

• Post Vatican II – gradual extension to the whole of the Missal.

English prayer forms: Anglican• Based on the Prayer Book

(1549, 1662)• Reaction (1927)

• Lord, raise up, we pray thee, thy power, and come among us, and with great might succor us; that whereas, through our sins and wickedness, we be sore let and hindered, thy bountiful grace and mercy, through the satisfaction of thy son our Lord, may deliver us. (Collect, 4th Sunday of Advent)

English prayer forms:Catholic• No official translations before

Vatican II• Certain devotional style, even

in Missal translations

• Exert, we beseech thee, O Lord, thy power, and come: and succour us by thy great might, that by the assistance of thy grace, thy indulgent mercy may hasten, what is delayed by our sins. (Collect, 4th Sunday of Advent)

The new style of the 1969 Missal• Prepared quickly• Sought brevity• Intended for only five

years

• Father, we need your help. Free us from sin, and bring us to life. Support us by your power. (Friday, 1st Week of Advent)

A look at the Latin:• Excita, • quaesumus, Dómine, • poténtiam tuam,• et veni, • ut, • ab imminéntibus peccatórum nostrórum

perículis, • te mereámur protegénte éripi,

• te liberánte salvári.

• Raise up,• we ask you, Lord,

• your power,• and come,• that,• from the threatening dangers of our sins

• we may be made worthy to be removed by your protecting,

• by your freeing, to be saved.

Compare with 1969:• Father, we need your help.

Free us from sin, and bring us to life. Support us by your power.

• Very abbreviated• Almost every title of God is translated

“Father”, which Latin never uses• Accents the “we” instead of God’s

action• Omits strong expressions, like “Raise

up your might power and come” • Loses the Advent context• Brief sentences miss the connections in

the prayer: it is by God’s coming among us that we are protected and given salvation

New ICEL translation:

Stir up your power, we pray, O Lord, and come,that with you to protect us,we may find rescuefrom the looming dangers of our

sins,and with you to set us free,be found worthy of salvation.Through Christ our Lord.

Some differences:

• Wider use of God’s titles• Single sentences• Connections• quaesumus (“we ask you”)• Richer language• Better scriptural, patristic

and seasonal connotations• Better flow: “aural”

quality• Respecting the structure

Typical structure of the prayers

• Opening prayer or “Collect”:• addresses God: “God of mercy”• speaks of what God has done: “who has

…”• asks God to do something now: “pour

out your grace”• that will lead to something eternal: “we

may rejoice in your glory.”• Prayer over the Offerings (“Gifts”)

• addresses God• accepts the gifts of the people• asks God to transform them and us in

the Eucharist• Prayer after Communion

• addresses God• reminds us of what we have shared

together• asks God to send us forth to live that

out

A richer text (2nd Sunday of Easter):

Latin 1969 NewDeus misericórdiae sempitérnae, qui in ipso paschális festi recúrsu fidem sacrátae tibi plebis accéndis, auge grátiam quam dedísti, ut digna omnes intellegéntia comprehéndant, quo lavácro ablúti, quo spíritu regeneráti, quo sánguine sunt redémpti.

God of mercy,you wash away our sins in water,you give us new birth in the Spirit,and redeem us in the blood of Christ.As we celebrate Christ's resurrection,increase our awareness of these blessings,and renew your gift of life within us.

God of everlasting mercy, who in the return of the Paschal Feast kindle the faith of the people consecrated as your own, increase the grace you have bestowed, that all may grasp and rightly understand in whose font they have been washed, by whose Spirit they have been reborn, and through whose blood they have been redeemed.

Another example (4th Sunday of Lent)

Latin 1969 NewDeus, qui per Verbum tuum humani generis reconciliationem mirabiliter operaris, praesta, quaesumus, ut populus christianus prompta devotione et alacri fide ad ventura sollemnia valeat festinare.

Father of peace, we are joyful in your Word, [your Son Jesus Christ,] who reconciles us to you. Let us hasten towards Easter with the eagerness of faith and love.

O God, who through your Word accomplish in a wonderful way the reconciliation of the human race, give the Christian people strength, we pray, to hasten with keen devotion and eager faith towards the solemn celebrations to come.

Eucharistic Prayers

• Completely re-translated• Acclamations to Christ• Through him, with him• Through him, and with him,

and in him,• to you, O God, almighty Father,• in the unity of the Holy Spirit,• is all honor and glory,• for ever and ever.

An example: Eucharistic Prayer III• Father, calling to mind the death your Son endured for our

salvation, • his glorious resurrection • and ascension into heaven, • and ready to greet him when he comes again, • we offer you in thanksgiving• this holy and living sacrifice.

• Look with favor on your Church's offering, • and see the Victim whose death • has reconciled us to yourself. • Grant that we, who are nourished • by his body and blood, • may be filled with his Holy Spirit, • and become one body, one spirit in Christ.

• Therefore, O Lord, as we celebrate the memorialof the saving Passion of your Son,

• his wondrous Resurrection• and Ascension into heaven,• and as we look forward to his second coming,• we offer you in thanksgiving• this holy and living sacrifice.

• Look, we pray, upon the oblation of your Church• and, recognizing the sacrificial Victim by whose death• you willed to reconcile us to yourself,• grant that we, who are nourished• by the Body and Blood of your Son• and filled with his Holy Spirit,• may become one body, one spirit in Christ.

For presiders:

• Preparation will be needed• All ten Eucharistic prayers

have been re-translated• In the Collects, the qui

(who) and the ut (that) clauses will require attention

• “Sense lines” and prior preparation make them very easy and strong texts

People’s parts …

• And with your Spirit• I confess• Glory to God• Creeds• Preface dialogue and

Holy, Holy• Lord, I am not worthy

Some significant changes …

• Why?• Translation is always an involved process, but there are many strong reasons.

...And with your Spirit.• A response from the ancient

tradition• Scriptural roots: “The Lord be with

your spirit.” (2 Tim. 4.22; also Gal. 6.18, Phil. 4.23, Philemon 25)

• Only languages not to use “Spirit” are English and Portuguese (“He is with us.”) French uses: “Et avec votre Esprit.”

• Whatever the original intent of the phrase, the loss to the tradition would be great.

• The exchange certainly continues to have the sense that what the priest has wished to the assembly, the assembly wishes back to the priest.

I confess …• I confess to almighty God• and to you, my brothers and sisters,• that I have greatly sinned• in my thoughts and in my words,• in what I have done and in what I have

failed to do,• through my fault, through my fault,• through my most grievous fault;• therefore I ask blessed Mary ever-Virgin,• all the Angels and Saints,• and you, my brothers and sisters,• to pray for me to the Lord our God.

• May almighty God have mercy on us• and lead us, with our sins forgiven,• to eternal life.

Glory to God• Glory to God in the highest,• and on earth peace to people of good will.• We praise you,• we bless you,• we adore you,• we glorify you,• we give you thanks for your great glory,• Lord God, heavenly King,• O God, almighty Father.• Lord Jesus Christ, Only Begotten Son,• Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father,• you take away the sins of the world,• have mercy on us;• you take away the sins of the world,• receive our prayer;• you are seated at the right hand of the Father,• have mercy on us.• For you alone are the Holy One,• you alone are the Lord,• you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ,• with the Holy Spirit,• in the glory of God the Father. Amen.

The Apostles’ Creed• I believe in God,• the Father almighty,• Creator of heaven and earth,• and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,• who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,• born of the Virgin Mary,• suffered under Pontius Pilate,• was crucified, died and was buried;• he descended into hell;• on the third day he rose again from the dead;• he ascended into heaven,• and is seated at the right hand of God the Father

almighty;• from there he will come to judge the living and the

dead.• I believe in the Holy Spirit,• the holy catholic Church,• the communion of saints,• the forgiveness of sins,• the resurrection of the body,• and life everlasting. Amen.

Preface dialogue and Holy, holy• No great changes here, but they

are significant, and the will require new music for Holy, holy.

• “It is right to give him thanks and praise.” becomes “It is right and just.” (Thankfully, this avoids the recent inclusive language wars.)

• “God of power and might” disappears to become “Holy, holy, holy Lord God of hosts,” to retain the sense of • our joining the everlasting praise of the

angels• our praise on earth being one with the

praise of heaven.

Lamb of God and response• Behold the Lamb of God,

behold him who takes away the sins of the world. Blessed are those called to the supper of the Lamb.

• Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.

• Awkward, but more Scriptural.

Adaptations for the U.S.A?

• Local feasts• Saints and blessed• Days of prayer

(Independence Day, Thanksgiving, etc.)

• More introductions and acclamations ?• Lord’s Prayer• Act of Penitence• Eucharistic Prayer

acclamations

Words for prayer

Helping us to pray the Mass!