‘New Mass translation to be used in PH in 2012 yet’

Even if some countries had already started using it, the new translation of the  Mass will still be implemented in the country on Dec. 2, 2012 yet.

Msgr. Cristobal Garcia, chairman on Worship of the Archdiocese of Cebu, said the clergy of the Roman Catholic Church here would need at least a year to come up with cheaper reproductions of the new translation as well as to insert local liturgical celebrations like the Mass of the Sto. Nino de Cebu and the Misa de Gallo (nine-day dawn Masses before Christmas).

The new Mass translation referred to Roman Catholic Church’s recently released “General Instructions of the Roman Missal,” the book that contains all prayers and responses for celebrating the Mass.

The new translation was made so that words being used during the Mass would be as accurate as possible to the original Latin language of the Mass.

Msgr. Garcia said the new translation was intended for the English translation of the Mass.

He said the English translation of the Mass needs to be “upgraded.”

With regard to the Cebuano translation of the Mass, Msgr. Garcia said it is closer to the Latin language.

“By and large, (the) Cebuano (translation) followed more faithfully the Latin than the English did,” he said.

CHANGES

Garcia said most of the changes in the translation of the Mass will be in the part of the priests.

But the faithful or the congregation should also be ready to adopt some alterations in their responses.

Under the present celebration of the Mass, when the priest will say, “The Lord be with you (dominus vobiscum),” the faithful will respond, “And also with you.”

But in the new translation, the response of the faithful will be, “And with your spirit,” which is the exact translation of the Latin “et cum spiritu tuo.”

More noticeable, Garcia said, is the faithful’s response when the priest will say, “Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.”

Instead of saying, “It is right to give him thanks and praise,” Garcia said the response of the faithful should be, “It is right and just,” which is the exact English translation of the Latin “dignum et iustum est.”

“Do not add what is not there,” the monsignor said.

Before communion, the priest says, “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.”

Under the new translation, the faithful will respond, “Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.”

On the part of priests, Msgr. Garcia said they need to get used to tongue twisters.

During the Eucharistic Prayer, priests presently say, “Lord, you are holy indeed, the fountain of all holiness. Let your spirit come upon these gifts (bread and wine) to make them holy, so that they may become for us the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

In the new translation, priests will say, “You are indeed Holy, O Lord, the fount of all holiness.  Make holy, therefore, these gifts, we pray,  by sending down your Spirit upon them like the dewfall, so that they may become for us the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ.” /Ador Vincent S. Mayol, Reporter