Roman Missal
As you may already know, the words we use
in the Mass are scheduled to change within the
next few years. The 2001 Vatican document
Liturgiam Authenticam (“On the Use of Vernacular
Languages in the Publication of the Books
of the Roman Liturgy”) outlined new rules and
principles for translation, requiring that English
and other vernacular versions of the Roman Missal
match the original Latin texts more closely
(or literally). Since then the United States Conference
of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has been
working with the Holy See (and other organizations)
to revise and approve the new English
translation of the Roman Missal (Sacramentary).
The new translations affect the Order of Mass,
including both the presider’s and people’s parts
(responses). Lectionary readings, including responsorial
psalms, are not affected at this time.
The process for approving and implementing the
new translations is long and complex. The USCCB
has not indicated yet when the new Order of
Mass will be promulgated. As soon as the new
Roman Missal is approved and an implementation
date is set, OCP will update its missals to
include the new translation and new musical settings
of the Order of Mass. The US bishops are
calling on all clergy and lay ecclesial ministers
to help parish assemblies learn the new ritual
texts and to support the catechesis that will be
needed before, during, and after the transition.
All of us at OCP and Today’s Liturgy are
pleased to provide the following information as
part of that catechetical effort.
Questions on the Revised
Translation of the Ordo Missae
“And with your spirit”?
One of the more noticeable
changes in the people’s parts of the
Mass is the response to the greeting
“The Lord be with you.” The Latin
response, et cum spiritu tuo, is rendered
literally in English, “and with
your spirit.” Liturgiam Authenticam
calls for the faithful rendering of expressions
that belong to the heritage
of the ancient Church, and cites et
cum spiritu tuo as an example (no.
56). Most modern languages have
translated this phrase literally, so the
English text now more closely parallels
other vernacular translations.
When will this be implemented
for liturgical use?
The approved text of the Order of
Mass has been released as a text for
study and formation, but is not intended
for liturgical use, that is to say
it cannot be used in the celebration of
the Mass. The intention of the Congregation
for Divine Worship and
of the United States Conference of
Catholic Bishops is to enable and encourage
a process of preparation and
catechesis for both priests and the
faithful, as well as to make the texts
available to composers of liturgical
music who can begin to set the texts,
especially the acclamations, to music
in anticipation of the implementation
of the texts for liturgical use. It
is hoped that when the time comes
to use the texts in the celebration of
the Mass, priests will be properly
trained, the faithful will have an understanding
and appreciation of what
is being prayed, and musical settings
of the liturgical texts will be readily
available. The revised translation of
the Order of Mass will be permitted
only when the complete text of the
Roman Missal (Third Edition) is promulgated.
Drawn from “10 Questions on the Revised
Translation of the Ordo Missae,” available
at usccb.org/liturgy/missalformation/
tenquestions.shtml.
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An ancient saying in the Church reads "lex orandi, lex credendi," meaning that the law of prayer is the law of faith. More loosely: as we pray, so we believe. To that we might add lex vivendi, meaning that as we pray, so we believe, and so we live. In the third edition of the Roman Missal, the bishops and translators have taken great care to ensure that the prayers accurately and fully reflect the mysteries of our faith. Thus, the words that we pray in each liturgical celebration will help to form and strengthen our understanding of the faith.
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