New Saints in Roman Missal 3

The USCCB has an article on their website regarding propers for saints added to the Third Edition of the Roman Missal. Check it out at the link below.

USCCB - Roman Missal New Kids on the Block

Pastoral Companion to the Roman Missal

World Library Publications is preparing to publish a Pastoral Companion to the Roman Missal by popular scholar/author Fr. Paul Turner. While I have not yet seen it, the description looks like this will be a very useful tool as we begin to pray with the newly translated texts. Here is the information from the publisher:

This is the essential companion to the new English translation of the Roman Missal. Father Paul Turner walks you through the newly translated Entrance and Communion Songs, Collects, Prayers over the Gifts, and Postcommunion Prayers for Sundays and Solemnities. Helpful pastoral suggestions and historical background are provided in a clear, concise, accessible manner. This eminently pastoral book is packed with helpful scholarship, making connections between the texts of the Missal and the Lectionary. Special bonus: introductions and conclusions to the Prayer of the Faithful for each Sunday and Solemnity, written in new Missal "style." A must-have!

Click here for more information.

I'll be placing other resources on the blog as time moves forward. If you have any suggestions, let me know.

Here Come the Irish

The University of Notre Dame's Center for Liturgy has an impressive site dedicated to web catechesis on the Roman Missal.

The site includes video presentations from Msgr. Bruce Harbert (the former Executive Director of ICEL who was in charge of the new translation), Fr. Michael Joncas, Fr. Douglas Martis, Msgr. James Moroney (a consultant to the Congregation for Divine Worship and Discipline of the Sacraments), Fr. Anthony Ruff, OSB, Fr. Paul Turner and Sr. Joyce Ann Zimmerman, C.PP.S. The videos vary in length and include solid catechesis.

Topics vary from the theoretical to the practical and address all aspects of the Roman Missal, including the theology, explanation of translation changes and issues surrounding music. This definitely is a site to bookmark.

Roman Missal Workshop Added in Montello

We have added one more location to our diocesan introductory workshops on the Roman Missal. It will be on Wednesday, October 6 at St. John the Baptist Parish in Montello. Go to the Office of Worship's Roman Missal page for more information.

One workshop already has been held in Madison and another will be offered today in Sun Prairie. Future workshops will be held in Lancaster (September 1), Madison (September 1), Beloit (September 8), Spring Green (September 23), and now in Montello (October 6).

More Questions Than Answers

NOTE: After posting the text below on the Roman Missal I noticed that the "art of the day" was a 16th-century depiction of the Tower of Babel. Someone has a sense of humor! I thought that I would include it with the post.

The U. S. Bishops' Committee on Divine Worship has really gotten out ahead of the third edition of the Roman Missal and their website has a lot of good information. Today they issued an updated version of FAQs.

In our own diocese we began our series of introductory workshops today. This morning about 70 pastors, liturgists, musicians, catechists and other parish leaders met at the O'Connor Center to discuss the Roman Missal. We had a lively meeting with some good suggestions and many questions raised. We have a lot of corporate wisdom among the priests, deacons and lay leaders of the diocese. The longer I am here the more I have grown to respect that!

Perhaps the most insightful question was this: What do I say to the parishioner who asks me how this will make him/her a better Catholic?

That's really the heart of the matter. How do we become better Catholics, more Christlike, through our participation in the Sunday Eucharist?

It reminded me a bit of one of my own family stories. Several years ago, when my oldest child was three, we attended Easter Sunday Mass at our (pro)cathedral. The bishop likes to chant the Pater Noster in Latin on many major feasts and we did so that day.

Later that afternoon, while coming off a sugar buzz, my daughter said, "Daddy! We didn't pray the Our Father this morning at church."

"We did," I said and explained that we chanted it in Latin. "Why?" she asked.

I was caught off guard a bit (I am embarrassed to say). I couldn't really say, "Well, dear, article 36.1 of the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy says that Latin is to be preserved in the liturgy." Or even, "Pope Benedict encouraged the use of Latin in the liturgy in his apostolic exhortation, Sacramentum Caritatis (no. 62)."

So I sought, and found, the perfect answer: "Ask your mother."

Anyway, while our congregations are made of adults (who deserve to be treated as adults), it won't fly with too many Americans to say that our translation is changing because of Liturgiam Authenticam, or because we wish to capture the unique structure of the beauty of the Latin or any other such answer. The translation will change...will our hearts? How will this new translation help all of us worship God with a fuller heart, mind and voice?

I have my ideas on the matter and will share as time goes on. Any ideas from you? Post a comment.

An Educational Journey: The Roman Missal and Love

Sr. Mary Ann Walsh, Director of Media Relations for the USCCB, wrote an interesting blog entry regarding the Roman Missal. "We Catholics are about to embark on an educational journey," she writes. The brief entry includes some thoughtful reflections on the use of less common-place words in the new translation. Click here to view her article.

The entry has also sparked a heated exchange on the USCCB Facebook page, with all of the usual accusations being thrown about. There are a lot of angry people out there who either love the new translation or love the old one. Unfortunately, they appear not to love each other.

I keep coming across the phrase that real charity doesn't mean being "nice" but sharing the truth. I heartily disagree! Saint Paul said (I Corinthians 13) that love is, among other things, kind, humble and not rude. The Truth is Love. God is Love. Name-calling and attributing motives to others with whom we differ is neither Truth nor Love. The First Letter of Saint John says: "Whoever is without love does not know God, for God is love" (I John 4:8). Therefore it is important for us always to examine our hearts (and our words and actions) for the presence or absence of love.

Teaching others requires a great deal of love and discipline. Without this, I believe that we are on a slippery slope whereby we become a counter-witness, turning others away. We can plant the seed and live it ourselves, with God's grace. We can nurture it in others through prayer and example, through love and encouragement. As St. Francis of Assisi is said to have instructed others, "Preach the Gospel without ceasing. Use words when necessary."

Love does not require silence, acquiescence, timidity or capitulation. In fact, the opposite is true. Love is bold, zealous and all-conquering. Love makes one vulnerable and yet tenacious. It appears weak but is strong.

Beloved, let us love one another, because love is of God; everyone who loves is begotten by God and knows God. Whoever is without love does not know God, for God is love. In this way the love of God was revealed to us: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might have life through him. In this is love: not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as expiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also must love one another. No one has ever seen God. Yet, if we love one another, God remains in us, and his love is brought to perfection in us. (I John 4:7-12)

Roman Missal is Now Approved

Cardinal Francis George, OMI, president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops [USCCB], announced today the United States Bishops have received the final text of the Roman Missal. While the Order of Mass was approved in 2008, this marks the completion of the entire Roman Missal for the dioceses of the United States.

The approved text, previously available online, has some slight changes, according to a letter from the Bishops' Committee on Divine Worship Secretariat. These changes are:

• the words of absolution in the Penitential Act have been modified (so that the text of the current Sacramentary is maintained);
• the addition of "I believe" at three points in the Profession of faith;
• several slight modifications to the texts of the Eucharistic Prayers;
• the final doxology of the Eucharistic Prayer has been slightly altered.

In addition, it has been announced that the popular Memorial Acclamation, "Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again," is no longer an option in the Order of Mass. This had been an American adaptation to the 1985 Roman Missal and the inclusion of this acclamation had been in doubt since it was not in the Latin typical edition.

The Missal will be available for use in Advent 2011. The study text will be posted on the USCCB website soon at www.usccb.org/romanmissal.

A more complete article from Catholic News Service is available here.

Our own diocesan workshops for priests and parish leaders will begin next week and discuss the Roman Missal in detail. Go to www.madisondiocese.org/romanmissal for more information.

Incoming Missal

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops issued a press release today announcing that the revised Roman Missal has received the required recognitio from the Holy See.

A timeline for implementation has not yet been announced.

Publication of Roman Missal is "Imminent"

The National Catholic Register published an article today saying that the Congregation for Divine Worship and Discipline of the Sacraments would issue the recognitio (approval) of the English-language Roman Missal today. While no official word has been given, Vatican radio reported on the meeting of Pope Benedict XVI and the Vox Clara working group of bishops preparing the final version of the Missal. Vatican Radio referred to the publication as "imminent."

As of noon CT, there is no official report acknowledging the recognitio.

The Roman Missal & Hymnals

Bob Batastini, the long-time managing editor for GIA Publications in Chicago, was recently interviewed by a new blog (Pray Tell) regarding liturgical music resources and the new Roman Missal. It's worth reading (click here to see the full text).

Bob gave an impressive talk in Madison regarding the state of Catholic Church music several years ago. He always maintained a position in parish ministry throughout his many years at GIA. He is an excellent church musician and remains a welcome voice!

U.S. Bishops Approve Final Missal Texts

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops is meeting this week in Baltimore. The Conference has embraced communications' technology and has a webpage dedicated to the meeting and streaming video is available. You can also follow this on Facebook and Twitter. With all of this technology you can follow the latest debate on their discussion of end-of-life issues, the sanctity of marriage, or "Hotel's choice of muzak makes for some odd juxtapositions with the bishops. This morning: Livin' la Vida Loca" (posted this morning on Twitter). If only Twitter had been around during the Second Vatican Council!

In liturgical matters, the bishops approved several components of the translation of the Roman Missal including the Proper of Saints, the Roman Missal Supplement, the Roman Missal Commons, Propers for the USA, and USA adaptations for the Roman Missal. All of these will be sent to Rome and must receive the recognitio (confirmation or ratification) of the Holy See.

Images of God in the Roman Missal

A little over one month ago, the St. John's College Seminary hosted their annual "Godfrey Diekmann, OSB Lecture" on the images of God in the new translation of the Roman Missal.

The major presentation was given by Msgr. Bruce Harbert, Executive Director of the International Commission for English in the Liturgy (ICEL) and the mover and shaker behind much of the new translation. A response was given by Rev. Dr. Carl P. Daw, Jr., best known to many for his wonderful hymn texts and as Executive Director of the Hymn Society. Both talks are available online. Both talks are worth reading.

Msgr. Harbert spoke in detail about the philosophies of the new translation, citing many specific instances. "Retranslating the Missal," he said, "is like cleaning the Sistine Chapel: the work enables us to see riches that have been previously hidden." Examples discussed (the translations of digneris, dignatus, benignus, pius, pietas, etc.) were well-documented and showed a desire to ensure an appropriate attitude toward God--one which acknowledges him as Creator and us as Created; one which confirms his consistent justice and mercy and our need for that mercy.

In general, there is an attempt to "elevate" the language. "Those who claim that the liturgy should follow the patterns of ordinary speech," Harbert said, "overlook the existence of a silent consensus that liturgical language should have a degree of formality."

Rev. Daw's response addressed many of these points. He spoke of the roots of the English language and the influence other languages have had on our own. He expressed concern regarding some conflicting points in Liturgiam Authenticam (the document governing the translation) and addresses inconsistencies in the way some phrases are translated. The issues he cites are not simply nit-picking the work of another. He addresses underlying theological concerns in a very thoughtful matter. In conclusion, he says,

I can fully appreciate the impulse to lend dignity to the language of the liturgy, but I am concerned about the attendant implication that God works only in situations removed from ordinary existence. It seems to me that the language of the liturgy ought to avail itself of every opportunity to affirm that God can make the common holy, can redeem that which seems least promising, can turn persecutors into proclaimers, can transform what seems worthless into something beyond price.

As I stated earlier, these presentations are both interesting and insightful. They show that translation is not a science. Often many words are available and the translator must sort through appropriate words and, ultimately, translate them as best he or she can within the guiding philosophy. However, when all is said and done, regardless of one's praises or critiques of these translations, we will have a Roman Missal that some will love and some will hate--but we all must use! And this prayer is the prayer that expresses and forms our unity as the Body of Christ!

On a final note, the namesake of this lecture, Fr. Godfrey Diekmann, OSB (1908-2002), is a prominent name in the liturgical movement. He was one of a handful of scholars who assisted in preparing liturgical material for the Second Vatican Council and he taught for decades at St. John's in Collegeville. His unswerving confidence in the aims of the reform were infectious.

Fr. Diekmann taught many of my friends and colleagues. I met him (briefly) about ten years ago when I was attending a meeting in Collegeville with other directors of Offices of Worship from the Midwest. I still recall that he waited outside the chapel for us one day after Morning Prayer enthusiastically greeting us and encouraging us to keep working! I was so very impressed that this brilliant and influential man was humble enough that he'd wait around just to say hello to a bunch of diocesan employees! He, like Christ whom he tried to imitate, was greatest because he made himself least of all.

New Roman Missal Webpage

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has unveiled a pretty sharp website to help promote formation on the new Roman Missal at www.usccb.org/romanmissal. Much of the material was on their previous page of Roman Missal material, but there are some helpful additions including a brief historical timeline and separate sections for "Assembly" and "Celebrant."

The information on this page is very good. Still to come are the catechetical pieces that we can put in people's hands. We should start to see those rolling out early in 2010.

From Mass to Mission

I mentioned in an earlier posting that the Third Edition of the Roman Missal (in its Latin original) has relatively few changes, most of which are the incorporation of feasts, ritual masses and other texts promulgated since the previous publication.

However, the new edition contains three new options--personally approved by Pope Benedict XVI--for the dismissal (in addition to the old standard, Ite, missa est) which highlight the connection between liturgy and life.

In the new missal, the texts offered for the dismissal are:

Ite, missa est.
Go forth, the Mass is ended.

Ite ad Evangelium Domini nuntiandum.
Go and announce the Gospel of the Lord.

Ite in pace, glorificando vita vestra Dominum.
Go in peace, glorifying the Lord by your life.

Ite in pace.
Go in peace.

I have to confess that, when I was a young boy, my statement of "Thanks be to God," was responding to the words of the priest with one addition in my imagination: The Mass is [finally] over!

Apparently, others have felt that its current form lacked a clear message. The idea for these additions came from the proposals given to the Holy Father at the conclusion of the Eleventh Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops (October 2-23, 2005). They gathered to reflect on the theme The Eucharist: Source and Summit of the Life and Mission of the Church. The Congregation for Divine Worship sought suggestions and whittled over 70 proposed texts down to nine, from which the Holy Father picked the three to be included.

Pope Benedict XVI has spoken often and eloquently on the need to revitalize our liturgy not only through a return to "heartfelt participation that is expressed in veneration and in respect for the liturgy" (Homily on May 11, 2009), but also in one that truly acknowledges the mystical communion of all believers:

Christ personally unites himself with each one of us, but Christ himself is also united with the man and the woman who are next to me. And the bread is for me but it is also for the other. Thus Christ unites all of us with himself and all of us with one another. In communion we receive Christ. But Christ is likewise united with my neighbour: Christ and my neighbour are inseparable in the Eucharist. And thus we are all one bread and one body. A Eucharist without solidarity with others is a Eucharist abused. And here we come to the root and, at the same time, the kernel of the doctrine on the Church as the Body of Christ, of the Risen Christ. (General Audience on December 10, 2008)

So, the Mass both calls and enables us to "glorify God by our lives" and to "announce the Gospel" in word and deed, to those with whom we live and work. May we all do so in peace!

The Polls Are Closed

Last week I posted two polls on the sidebar of this website. They certainly weren't scientific in any stretch of the imagination, but I was hoping that they would provide us with some idea of what other readers are thinking.

The first poll asked,

To what extent are you aware that we will be using a new Roman Missal in our country within a few years?

87% of readers (14 votes) said that they are very aware; 12% (2 readers) said that they are somewhat aware. No one said that they were not aware at all.

I posted this poll simply out of curiosity. I wanted to get a general sense of where people are and not simply assume. Quite honestly, I expected fewer people to say that they were very aware, so I'm glad I asked.

The other poll asked,

Have you reminded parishioners about the proper manner for receiving Communion over the past year (check all that apply).

Here the vote percentages added up by the polling program reached 113%! Nevertheless, 13 votes said that they had provided some catechesis, either verbal or in the bulletin while 3 votes said that none was provided.

I posed this question based upon my work at our diocesan workshops for Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion. EMs consistently brought up issues about the way people receive Communion. From gum-chewing communicants to those who insist on self-intinction, the EMs sometimes worry that people are not as reverent as they should be and they also are concerned about their role in this situation.

After hearing these very same concerns presented at nearly every workshop (around 70, I think), we developed some material for use in the diocese. I am hoping that this year we can develop more material to assist with the liturgical catechesis of people in the pew. I'm interested to hear if you have any suggestions or thoughts on this issue.

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.