Catechesis on the New Missal Translation

[change is coming]

As of today there are 458 days until the implementation of the new translation of the Roman Missal. The first day of its official use will be November 27, 2011. Although that may seem like a lot, it really isn't, and something tells me that a lot of parishes are going to go about this process in a painful and harmful way for many faithful.

It isn't that I have a defeatists attitude, instead it is a recognition and observance of how this change has been handled up to this point, and we haven't even had anything tangible to sink our teeth into. Since the approval and implementation date have been finalized, the USCCB has started rolling out the game plan for how the change will occur. From their website:

5. What should be taking place with our catechetical efforts?
Dioceses should have a projected plan of what they intend to do to encourage preparation for implementation of the new translation in their dioceses. Parishes should, if they have not already done so, offer a basic catechesis about the text, especially about the changes in the people’s responses. The Newsletter of the Committee on Divine Worship has already highlighted various catechetical resources which will be valuable tools for the formation process. In September, 2010, the USCCB will offer the Parish Guide to Implementing the Roman Missal. This resource will offer a roadmap to implementing the new translation in the parish. Both the International Commission on English in the Liturgy and USCCB will offer a multi-media DVD resource entitled Become One Body, One Spirit in Christ, an excellent catechetical resource for examining the new translation in the broader context of the history and theology of liturgy. With the final text now available, other publishers will provide catechetical materials which, among other things, will begin to look at the historical and theological aspects of the text.

I know in the local parishes in my area, their has been a discussion about this topic a while back before anything was finalized, and nothing that I would call basic catechesis. What was most troubling was the way in which the priests tried to relate to the faithful by explaining how "hard and difficult change is" and that if "we all band together we can get through this." Not really glowing endorsements of the Missal if you ask me.

[the resistance...why?]

The goal of the new translation is to deepen the meaning of the Mass, not in way that changes the Mass but in a way that ties our prayer to the sacrifice and worship at Mass. The USCCB explains it this way:

The long-term goal of the new translation is to foster a deeper awareness and appreciation of the mysteries being celebrated in the Liturgy. The axiom lex orandi, lex credendi—“what we pray is what we believe”—suggests that there is a direct relationship between the content of our prayers and the substance of our faith. It is hoped that writers will start to provide materials reflecting on the rich content of the text. These contributions might encourage priests to use the content of the prayers as a basis for their homilies or to supplement their homilies on Sundays. Those giving retreats or days of recollection can use the new texts of the missal as a resource for their presentations. All can make use of the texts for deepening their prayer life.

So why the resistance? Well, because this is a sign of the "reform of the reform." Sure, people aren't good at change, and they resist it, that is understandable. In this situation though, the resistance to change is a smoke-screen as to the real resistance: reform. There are Bishops and Priests out there that will explain that the Missal Translation is cumbersome, sloppy, hard, etc... They will use intellectual sounding arguments in an effort to convince you that this is a plot but radical traditionalists to take us one step closer to using Latin. They will talk about how this was a hurried version, and it isn't very accessible or easy to digest.

How do I know what they are going to say? I don't. But I know the philosophy behind those that have already spoken out to oppose it, and it is easy to predict their arguments based on their philosophy. On top of that, they can't come right out and say what they really think, which is that this flies in the face of their philosophical base. Those that view the changes since Vatican II as a progressive change and a disruption to the continuity of the faith will be against this. Even if they don't say it as such, there are those that truly believe that Vatican II somehow mandated a lock-stock-and-barrel change to the faith; it was to be accomplished through changes in the Mass, prayers, and various substantive measures in our liturgical actions.

[What we many of us will see...]

Some of may get a true Catechesis on the changes. The rest of us may suffer. Many who resist the changes see this, although they won't admit it, as an indictment of the bastardization of the way the Mass has been celebrated over the last few decades. In some respects I would say that is exactly what it is, and rightfully so. For other places, that were more obedient to the Missal and the Church, these changes will be a refinement and a measure that will deepen the prayer and liturgical life of the Church.

For those of us that miss out on any substantive Catechesis on this matter, it is upon you to learn the changes... and to learn WHY they are occurring. At some point every parish will have to implement some sort of instruction on the new translation. The question will be to what extent. When the translation is brought up the complaints will start to fly. It is our job as defenders of the faith to address those complaints. We must be our brother's keeper we must practice Spiritual Works of Mercy.

The only way we can do this though, is if we truly understand what the changes are and why they have changed. If a priest complains, ask him individually why he is reluctant to change and whether his attitude towards the change will do anything more than confuse the faithful. Sure, they might like him more because he feels just like them but the role of a priest is much like that of a parent. He is not there to be our friend first and priest second, he is there to be our priest first and in doing so should become our friend.

So study. Prepare yourself. Pray. Read what you can about the changes, understand their purpose and meaning, and be ready to defend the changes. We may not agree with all of them in terms of how they feel... but this isn't about feelings. This is about the essence of our Mass.

lex orandi, lex credendi

~

“what we pray, is what we believe”

Resources:

USCCB Missal Translation Website - (Link)

Guides for Mass - (Link)

Changes to Major Responses - (Link)

Parish Guide for the New Missal Implementation [*Coming Soon*] - (Link)

Articles Explaining the Need and Importance of the New Translation - (Link)

A Reflection on the Vision of the Missal Translation - (Link)