|
Translations do not come easily
PRAISED BE JESUS
CHRIST!
(Now and Forever)
Some reflections this week on the most recent meetings of the United
States Conference of Catholic Bishops held in Washington.
If asked, bishop participants undoubtedly would list a variety of topics
that held their attention in a special way. There were 22 items on the
agenda for the public sessions, which were followed by two days of
executive session. I dare say, however, that the discussion on the Roman
Missal led by Bishop Donald Trautman, chair of the bishops’ Committee on
the Liturgy, would find its way to the top of every list.
The Holy See published a General Instruction on the Roman Missal back in
2002. It instructed how Mass is to be celebrated. I have called for its
implementation in our Local Church. Although more comprehensive than
posture, Communion Rite directives are what caught the attention of most
people. Not unexpectedly, since those directives involved change, there
was controversy, some refusing to embrace the mind of the Church as
expressed by the General Instruction (GIRM).
I am most grateful to those pastors who have faithfully catechized their
people on the Communion procedures, especially in view of the fact that
many dioceses have not embraced all aspects of the GIRM-directed
adjustments. What we are asked to do relative to the Holy Sacrifice of
the Mass should be embraced. It is unfortunate that some choose to make
liturgy divisive rather than the celebration of unity it is intended to
be.
However, the discussion in Washington did not focus on the GIRM, whether
one stands throughout the distribution of Communion or on how one
processes to Communion stations, but on a proposed English translation
of the Third Edition of the Roman Missal of Paul VI.
In the United States, we currently use the first edition of the
post-Vatican II missal that dates to 1970. Put together rather quickly,
it has obvious flaws. The Holy See issued a second edition of the missal
several years ago and, as was its duty, the United States Conference of
Catholic Bishops ap-proved with minor changes a translation provided by
the International Committee on English in the Liturgy (ICEL) of that
revised missal. However, the Holy See, supposedly concerned with what
was judged to be a lack of fidelity to a literal translation of the
Latin, did not approve that translation. Now a third edition of the
missal has been issued. The translation of that missal is what was
discussed in Washington. Some time during 2007 is the hoped-for
publication date.
The Roman Missal assigned 19 texts to the assembly (congregation).
Changes in the translation from 2007 are proposed for 12 of these 19.
For example, the current response to “The Lord be with you” is “And also
with you.” The proposed ICEL translation reads: “And with your spirit.”
It is more faithful to the Latin. Yet another example: three lines in
the Confiteor are changed; 12 lines in the Gloria; 17 lines in the
Creed, etc., etc.
Bishop after bishop (myself included) have expressed anxiety that any
change in the wording of Mass prayers long ago committed to memory will
prove to be a challenge. If the provisions of GIRM (the Communion
procedures in particular) have been divisive, changing Mass prayers is,
perhaps, ill advised.
The rules of translation direct that the people’s parts not be
disturbed, if the translation is adequate. Unfortunately, in some
instances, the translation in 1970 is not adequate. Therein lies the
problem.
An excellent example of this is found in the Gloria. The proposed ICEL
translation: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to people
of good will” (versus the current “Glory to God in the highest, and
peace to his people on earth”), corrects major omissions such as: “We
praise you. We bless you. We adore you. We give you thanks for your
great glory.” These powerful acclamations are omitted from the 1970
text.
How to handle the call for a translation that corrects the omissions and
errors obvious in the 1970 missal, while retaining pastoral sensitivity
to the folks in the pews, has divided the bishops. On the one hand,
there is no desire to make the liturgy any more divisive than it is at
present. On the other hand, there is a need to bring the English
translation used in the United States into conformity with the Roman
Missal. Presumably, if that is not done now it will have to be done
eventually.
Having invited all bishops of the United States to provide input through
two consultations, the Committee on the Liturgy found that 12 percent
judged the proposed ICEL translation excellent; 40 percent judged it
good; 40 percent, fair; and 7 percent, poor — an almost evenly divided
house. The response of the bishops’ Committee on the Liturgy has been to
stay with the translation in possession since 1970, for the most part.
The body of bishops was asked in Washington to provide guidance on three
specific points: “The Lord be with you”; the wording of the Gloria, and
the “Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof but only
say the word and my soul shall be healed” (versus the present
translation: “Lord, I am not worthy to receive you, but only say the
word and I shall be healed”) prayed immediately prior to the
distribution of holy Communion. The outcome: Half opted to accept the
ICEL translation and half urged retention of the 1970 translation.
So, what’s the point? In my judgment, all need to prepare themselves to
accept the ultimate wording of the English translation (third edition of
the post-Vatican II missal) approved for the United States, whatever it
turns out to be. Those who have not done so also need to embrace the
directives of the General Instruction. It is not my liturgy nor is it
yours, but the liturgy of the Church. Adjustments have been and will
continue to be required. It’s up to us, priests and laity alike, to make
those adjustments.
To those who would say there are more important things for bishops to
concern ourselves with, I respond that one of the basic responsibilities
of an episcopal conference is approval of liturgical texts. This needs
to be added: If the Eucharist truly is the source and summit of who we
are as Catholics, there is nothing more important than excellence in
liturgy. |
