The Roman Missal, continued

The new edition of the Roman Missal as it appears in its Latin original has relatively few changes that the average Catholic would notice. Most of the changes are additions of saints days (Pope John Paul II added 482 saints to the martyrology), more complete mass formularies and the incorporation of ritual texts that have been revised since the last edition (1975) including texts related to the RCIA and funerals. The actual texts of the Mass Ordinary did not change in the Latin original.

However, as noted in the previous post, since the English-language version follows different principles of translation, there will be many changes noticeable to Catholics in our country (and English-speakers throughout the world). Until recently, the process has moved without much speed. But last December, Cardinal Francis George, OMI (president of the US Bishops' Conference) received a letter from the new prefect for the Congregation of Divine Worship and Discipline of the Sacraments in Rome, Cardinal Antonio Cañizares Llovera. According to the website of the US Bishops' Committee on Divine Worship (BCDW):

On December 15, Francis Cardinal George, O.M.I., USCCB President, received a letter from Antonio Cardinal Cañizares Llovera, Prefect of the Congregation, in which he expressed a desire to facilitate a more expeditious completion of the approval process for the English translation of the Missale Romanum, editio typica tertia, and see the publication of the Roman Missal in English by the end of 2010.

In order to accomplish this, the final section of the Missal will be voted on by the US Bishops at their November 2009. The US Bishops have informed Rome that it will take publishers about one year from the Holy See's recognitio (ratification or approval) of the Missal to have a book available and in the hands of American Catholic pastors and liturgical leaders.

So, there could possibly be a new Missal in place by Advent of 2010 (some think that it is likely to come later, such as in Lent or Advent 2011). The BCDW has done a tremendous job posting information (including the approved translation for the Order of Mass) on its website. They are coordinating catechetical efforts with ICEL and the Federation of Diocesan Liturgical Commissions (FDLC). It is hoped that in 2010 there will be material available for dioceses and parishes so that many American Catholics can hear the same message as we prepare to receive the Missal.

One final note: While this Missal is going to require a Herculian effort from nearly everyone in the Church (most especially, the people in the pew), this also provides us with a golden opportunity to teach people about the liturgy. We shouldn't just teach rubrics, new words, new music and all of the other external, yet important, elements. Through the liturgy God offers us the grace to change our hearts! The words and rubrics are but the path we follow, not the ultimate goal.