The New Roman Missal: Are You Ready?

by Br. Stephen Fahrig, OMV

"Therefore, keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour." (Matthew 25:13)

As one Church year comes to an end and a new one begins, the readings at Mass become increasingly eschatological in tone, looking toward the end times and the consummation of all things with Christ's return. This Sunday, we will hear St. Paul address the Thessalonians with these words: "You yourselves know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night....But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness, for the day to overtake you like a thief." (1 Thessalonians 5:2, 4). Paul, like Jesus in the above quotation from Matthew's gospel, is emphasizing the fact that we do not know at what time our Lord will return, and that it is useless to devote our time and energy to speculation about this matter. All we need to do is to be prepared, for "we are not in darkness."

The notion of "being prepared" seems especially pertinent as we approach this particular season of Advent, for on November 27, 2011 (the first Sunday of Advent), the Catholic Church throughout the English-speaking world will begin fully implementing a new translation of the Roman Missal, the liturgical book which contains all of the prayers used at the celebration of Mass. Hopefully, parishes have been doing their best to get their people ready for this watershed moment, "lest the day overtake [them] like a thief" (cf. 1 Thess 5:4). One could make the case that the monumental changes that came to the liturgy after Vatican II would have been less traumatic for many Catholics had there been greater catechesis prior to their implementation. Certainly, dioceses throughout the United States have been making a great effort to introduce the new Roman Missal translation and to explain the rationale for the changes. For a basic explanation from the author of this article, go here and here to view a couple of short informative videos. For an excellent annotated version of the new prayers, check out this link to the U.S. bishops' website.

The arrival of a new translation of the prayers we use at Mass offers all of us an opportunity to participate in the liturgy more fully, consciously, and actively, as was the stated desire for liturgical reform at the Second Vatican Council. A more accurate translation of the Latin texts will also enable us to pray more closely with the mind of the Church. Since ancient times, a guiding Catholic theological principle has been that of lex orandi, lex credendi - the rule of prayer establishes the rule of belief. In other words, the words we use in our official liturgical prayers not only give us a clear indication of what the Church teaches, but also shape our own appropriation of these teachings through our continual exposure to the words of the Mass. Thus, it is important that our translations be as exact as possible, lest we be led astray by paraphrased language that does not quite capture the intent of the prayers in their original language.

The recent celebration of All Saint's Day led me to compare the current translation of the Collect (the opening prayer for the Mass and also the concluding prayer for the Liturgy of the Hours) for Nov. 1 with the new version. The present form of the prayer states:

"Father, all-powerful and ever-living God, today we rejoice in the holy men and women of every time and place. May their prayers bring us your forgiveness and love."

One could read this prayer and come to the conclusion that God needs the prayers of the saints in order to be motivated to love us! By way of comparison, the new version of the prayer in the revised Roman Missal reads as follows:

"Almighty, ever-living God, by whose gift we venerate in one celebration the merits of all the Saints, bestow on us, we pray, through the prayers of so many intercessors, an abundance of the reconciliation with you for which we so earnestly long."

Apart from being written in more elegant and poetic language, the new form of the Collect is less open to misunderstanding. It is clear that we are asking God for the gift of reconciliation, a gift dispensed through human mediation but originating with God himself. This is one of many, many examples of the greater theological precision (not to mention poetic beauty) to be found in the new translation of the Missal.

As we approach not only a new liturgical year this Advent but a new phase in our liturgical life as English -speaking Catholics, may we draw new zeal and enthusiasm for our participation in the Mass by attentively reflecting on the new words of the liturgy and by praying them with fervor and devotion.