The New Roman Missal
Third Edition
New Words: A Deeper Meaning,
But The Same Mass
What is the Missale Romanum
(Roman Missal)?

The ritual text for the celebration of
Mass

Original version in Latin

Definitive text of the reformed liturgy
Brief History of Roman Missal
Earliest centuries of the Church: no
books
 Collections of prayers developed
gradually (“libelli”--booklets)
 Eventually larger more organized
collections of prayers were
assembled into “sacramentaries”
(liber sacramentorum)—440-461—
Pope Leo the Great

Brief History of Roman Missal
First liturgical books (“missals”) were
found in monasteries (12th/13th
centuries)
 Contained prayers, biblical readings,
chants, rubrics.
 First book bearing the name “Missale
Romanum” appeared in 1474.

Brief History of Roman Missal
Council of Trent (1570): Pope Pius V
promulgated an edition of the
Missale Romanum that was now
obligatory throughout the Latin
Church.
 This was the first official attempt at
uniformity in the celebration of the
Mass.

Brief History of Roman Missal

Other editions of the Missale
Romanum were subsequently
promulgated to accommodate the
ongoing evolution and development
of the Liturgy.
Brief History of Roman Missal
Popes Who Promulgated Revised Editions







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1604
1634
1884
1920
1962
1970
1975
2002
– Pope Clement VIII
– Pope Urban VIII
– Pope Leo XIII
– Pope Benedict XV
– Pope John XXIII
– Pope Paul VI
– Pope Paul VI
– Pope John Paul II
Why A Need For A Revised
Translation?

Third Edition of Roman Missal in
Latin—2002 (Blessed Pope John Paul II)

New/Revised translation is
consequently necessary
Why A Need For A Revised
Translation?

Editio Typica Tertia contains
 Prayers
for celebration of recently
canonized saints
 Additional Prefaces
 Additional Masses and Prayers for
Various Needs and Intentions
 Updated rubrics
Why A Need For A Revised
Translation?

First translation in English (1973)—
used a more dynamic principle of
translation
 Took
some freedom with the structure
and content of the Latin sentences.
 Result? Idiomatic translations that
sacrificed some of the nuances of the
original Latin
Goals of the New Roman Missal

To achieve a greater adherence to the
original Latin than previously

To achieve a more precise theology

To move from “dynamic equivalence” to
“formal correspondence” in translation

To add freshness while avoiding needless
repetition of some well-worn words.
Why Formal Correspondence
Instead of Dynamic Equivalence?

Clearer connections between
Scriptures and texts used at Mass

Time-honored traditional phrasing is
recovered

Church’s faith is given clearer
expression (“Lex orandi, Lex
credendi”)
Value of Previous English
Translation?
Served us well
 Helped communities transition from
praying in Latin to English
 Showed how a good translation
enhances our prayer
 Laid foundation for vernacular
 Church is now building upon that
foundation

The Process
Liturgiam Authenticam
 Document issued by Congregation
for Divine Worship and the Discipline
of the Sacraments, 2001
 Instruction on the vernacular
translation of the Roman Liturgy
 Outlines principles and rules for
translation
The Process
Ratio Translationis

Issued by Congregation of Divine
Worship (2007) outlining the specific
rules for translation in English.
The Process

Highly Consultative
 International
Commission on English in
the Liturgy (ICEL)—chartered to prepare
English translations of liturgical texts on
behalf of the conferences of Bishops of
English speaking countries
 USCCB/Other
conferences: reviewed
drafts and made recommendations
The Process
 Vox
Clara: special consultative
committee of Bishops from English
speaking countries
Approval (Recognitio)-Congregation for Diving Worship and
the Discipline of the Sacraments—
approval (recognitio)
 Final
English-Speaking
Bishops’ Conferences
The
United States
(USCCB)
Canada
England/Wales
Ireland
Scotland
South Africa
Australia
New
Zealand
Philippines
India
Pakistan
Four Parts of the Mass

Introductory Rites

Liturgy of the Word

Liturgy of the Eucharist

Concluding Rites
Four Parts of the Mass
Introductory Rites

Everything that happens from the moment
you stand until you sit down for the first
time.
Entrance Antiphon (new
translation)/Chant/Song
 Sign of the Cross (as usual)
 Greeting: Three options for priest

Four Parts of the Mass
Introductory Rites (continued)
 Greeting:
Current Translation
New Translation
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
The Lord be with you.
And with your spirit.
• Share a common response with Catholics around the world
• This response is ancient in orgin/East and West/Apostolic
Tradition
• Connection to Scripture is clearer (Gal ^:18; 2 Timothy
4:22
Penitential Act Form A
CURRENT TRANSLATION
I confess to almighty God
and to you, my brothers and sisters
that I have sinned through my own
fault
in my thoughts and in my words,
in what I have done,
and in what I have failed to do;
and 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.
NEW TRANSLATION
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 everVirgin
all the Angels and saints
and you, my brothers and sisters,
to pray for me to the Lord our God.
Penitential Act Form A
“Greatly sinned:” better reflects the
Scriptural origins of this text (1 Chron.
21:8)
 “Through my fault, through my fault,
through my most grievous fault.”—
threefold repetition is a way of
clearly taking responsibility when it
comes to our sins.

Penitential Act: Form B
Current Translation

New Translation
Priest: Lord, we have sinned
against you.
Lord, have mercy.
Priest: Have mercy on us, O
Lord.
All:
All:
Priest: Lord, show us your mercy
and love.
For we have sinned
against you.
Priest: Show us , O Lord, your
mercy.
All:
All:
Lord, have mercy.
And grant us your salvation
And grant us your
salvation.
Penitential Act: Form B
The changes in Form B better reflects
the intention of this to be a dialogue
or exchange between priest and
people.
 It also better reflects its origins in
Baruch 3:2 and Psalm 85:8)

GLORIA
CURRENT TRANSLATION
Glory to God in the highest,
and peace to his people on earth.
Lord God, heavenly king,
almighty God and Father,
we worship you, we give you thanks,
we praise you for your glory.
Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the
Father,
Lord God, Lamb of God,
you take away the sin of the world;
have mercy on us.
you are seated at the right hand of the
Father
receive our prayer.
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.
NEW TRANSLATION
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.
GLORIA

The current English translation did a
lot of shortening and simplifying:
dropping verbs, adjectives, and even
entire phrases.

The new translation expands the
hymn back to its fuller form and
more accurately translates the Latin.
Creed Part 1
CURRENT TRANSLATION
NEW TRANSLATION
We believe in one God,
the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is seen and unseen.
I believe in one God,
the Father almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all things visible and invisible.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus
Christ,
the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made, one in Being
with the Father.
Through him all things were made.
For us men and our salvation
he came down from heaven:
by the power of the Holy Spirit
he was born of the Virgin Mary,
and became man.
I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ,
the only Begotten Son of God,
born of the Father before all ages.
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made, consubstantial
with the Father;
through him all things were made.
For us men and for our salvation
he came down from heaven,
and by the Holy Spirit was
incarnate
of the Virgin Mary,
and became man.
Creed Part 2
CURRENT TRANSLATION
NEW TRANSLATION
For our sake he was crucified under
Pontius Pilate;
he suffered, died, and was buried.
On the third day he rose again in
fulfillment of the Scriptures:
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of
the Father.
He will come again in glory to
judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.
For our sake he was crucified under
Pontius Pilate,
he suffered death and was buried,
and rose again on the third day
in accordance with the Scriptures.
He ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of
the Father.
He will come again in glory to
judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.
Creed: Part 3
CURRENT TRANSLATION
NEW TRANSLATION
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the
Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and
the Son.
With the Father and the Son he is
worshipped and glorified.
He has spoken through the
Prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and
apostolic Church
We acknowledge one baptism for
the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the
dead,
and the life of the world to come.
Amen.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the
Lord, the giver of Life,
who proceeds from the Father and
the Son.
who with the Father and the Son is
adored and glorified.
who has spoken through the
prophets.
I believe in one, holy, catholic, and
apostolic Church.
I confess one baptism for the
forgiveness of sins
and I look forward to the
resurrection of the dead
and the life of the world to come.
Amen.
Creed
Revised translation is a more
accurate translation of the Latin.
 The vocabulary changes are more
theologically precise: e.g.

 “consubstantial”—same
substance
 “incarnate”—highlights the fact that
Jesus’ human flesh came from Mary; not
just born but was knit in her womb
The Preface Dialog
CURRENT TRANSLATION
NEW TRANSLATION
Priest: The Lord be with you.
Priest: The Lord be with you.
All:
All:
And also with you.
And with your spirit
Priest: Lift up your hearts.
Priest: Lift up your hearts.
All:
All:
We lift them up to the Lord.
We lift them up to the Lord.
Priest: Let us give thanks to the
Lord
our God.
Priest: Let us give thanks to the
Lord our God.
All:
All:
It is right to give him
thanks and praise.
It is right and just.
The Preface Dialog

“It is right and just”—It is not only right to
praise God but it is our duty (“just”)

This phraseology also will connect the
dialogue to the beginning of the preface:
“it is right and just…”
Sanctus
CURRENT TRANSLATION
Holy, holy, holy Lord,
God of power and might.
Heaven and earth are full of your
glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes I the
name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
NEW TRANSLATION
Holy, holy, holy Lord God of hosts.
Heaven and earth are full of your
glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes I the
name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
Sanctus

The opening line more accurately
reflects the ancient prayer of the
Church and more clearly reflects
Isaiah 6:3 by referring to “Lord God
of hosts.”
Institution Narrative
CURRENT TRANSLATION
NEW TRANSLATION
Take this, all of you, and eat it:
this is my body which will be given
up for you.
Take this, all of you, and eat of it,
for this is my Body,
which will be given up for you.
Take this, all of you, and drink from
it:
this is the cup of my blood,
the blood of the new and
everlasting covenant
It will he shed for you and for all
so that sins may be forgiven.
Do this in memory of me.
Take this, all of you, and drink from
it,
for this is the chalice of my Blood,
the Blood of the new and eternal
covenant,
which will be poured out for you
and for many
for the forgiveness of sins.
Do this in memory of Me.
Institution Narrative

“Pro multis”—why this change?
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

The words in the Eucharistic prayer come
from the Gospels of Matthew (26:28) and
Mark (14:24); the Greek for “many” is used
there and connects to Isaiah 53:11-12
The Roman Rite has always said “pro multis”
(for many) and not “pro omnibus” (for all) at
this point in the Mass.
Theologically it is more correct. While
salvation is offered to all, not all will accept
God’s gift.
Memorial Acclamation
CURRENT TRANSLATION
NEW TRANSLATION
Priest: Let us proclaim the mystery
of faith.
All: Dying your destroyed our
death, rising you restored our life.
Lord Jesus, come in glory.
Priest: The mystery of faith
All: When we eat this bread and
drink this cup, we proclaim your
death, Lord Jesus, until you come
in glory.
All :When we eat this Bread and
drink this Cup, we proclaim your
death, O Lord, until you come
again.
All: Lord, by your cross and
resurrection you have set us free.
You are the Savior of the world.
Save us, Savior of the world,
For, by your Cross and
Resurrection, you have set us
free.
All: We proclaim your death, O
Lord, and profess your
Resurrection until you come
again.
Memorial Acclamation
The change in the priest’s
introduction more accurately shows
that this is a dialogue between the
priest and people.
 The current translation makes it
sound as if what follows is something
that we all do together.

Invitation to Communion
CURRENT TRANSLATION
NEW TRANSLATION
Priest: This is the Lamb of God
who takes away the sins of
the world.
Priest: 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.
Happy are those who are
called to his supper.
All:
Lord, I am not worthy
to receive you, but only say
the word and I shall be
healed.
All:
Lord, I am not worthy
that you should enter
under my roof but only say
the word
and my soul shall be
healed.
Invitation to Communion

The more literal rendering of the
invitation to communion also makes
the various connections t the
Scriptures more clear:
John the Baptist’s identification of
Jesus as the Lamb of God in John 1:29,
 the supper of the Lamb in Revelation
19:9, and
 the healing of the centurion’s servant in
Luke 7:6-7 and Matthew 8:8.

Dismissal
CURRENT TRANSLATION
NEW TRANSLATION
Go in the peace of Christ.
Go forth, the Mass is ended.
The Mass in ended, go in peace.
Go and announce the Gospel of the
Lord.
Go in peace to love and serve the
Lord.
Go in peace, glorifying the Lord by
your life.
Go in peace.
Dismissal

These dismissals emphasize that we
are missionaries sent into the world
to proclaim the Gospel in word and
deed.

The Church, which is all of us, is
missionary in nature.
Resources
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http://www.usccb.org/romanmissal/
http://www.davenportdiocese.org/lit/litromanmissal.htm
http://www.ocp.org/articles/1227
http://www.ltp.org/p-2284-whats-new-about-themass.aspx
http://www.saintagnes.org/parish/liturgy/romanmissal/ro
manmissalresources.html
http://www.romanmissalchanges.com/p/roman-missalresources.html
http://www.dioceseoflansing.org/catechesis_k12/Roman
_Missal_Children_Adolescents.pdf
http://www.dioceseofjoliet.org/reo/RomanMissalChildYou
th.asp
This Session Is Ended
Go
And
Announce
The Gospel
of the Lord!