Card. Arinze’s letter to Card. George with approval of the Ordo Missae translation [Catholic Caucus]

WDTPRS ^ | August 5, 2008 | Fr. Z

[NYer]

As you know, the Holy See granted approval (recognitio) to the translation of significant parts of the 2002 Missale Romanum’s Ordo Missae, the parts that remain the same nearly every day.

Here is the letter from the Prefect of the CDWDS, His Eminence Francis Card. Arinze, to the President of the US Conference, His Eminence Francis Card. George.  You might say the letter is very "frank".

So, we have taken a big step in the right direction.

Here is my transcription of the text with my emphases and comments:

Prot. n. 1464/06/L

23 June 2008

Your Eminence,

The Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments is pleased to enclose the decree by which it has granted recognitio for the territory of your Conference of Bishops for the new English-language translation of significant parts of the Ordo Missae as found in the Missale Romanum, editio typica tertia, including most of those texts used in the every celebration of Holy Mass.  [As we will see later on, there are still some things to be done.]

The Dicastery has no little satisfaction in arriving at this juncture.  [Considering how long they had to wait to get the texts from the Conference…] Nevertheless, the Congregation does not intend that these texts should be put into liturgical use immediately.   [In other words: THEY CANNOT BE USED until WE say they can be used!] Instead, the granting now of the recognitio to this crucial segment of the Roman Missal will provide time for the pastoral preparation of priests, deacons and for appropriate catechesis of the lay faithful. [Notice the difference: preparation and catechesis.  I wonder if that shouldn’t be the other way around, in a sense.]  It will likewise facilitate the divising of musical settings for the parts of the Mass, bearing in mind the criteria set forth in the Instruction Liturgiam authenticam, n. 60, which requires that the musical settings of liturgical texts use only the actual approved texts and never be paraphrased.  [Write new music settings, but the words better adhere to what we have sent.]

As regards the text enclosed, this Dicastery wishes to draw attention to the following points:

1. The attached text is to be considered binding. [Roma locuta est.  You cannot now push for changes.  It’s over.] For its part, this Congregation is confident that the universal use of these texts will greatly contribute to the building up of the Faith throughout the broad and diverse English-speaking world.  [This sentence is an answer to an implict objection, one raised explicitly for a long time before this recognitio came.]

2. It is to be borne in mind that use of this text is restricted by copyright.  Therefore, all pertinent copyright legislation in civil law is to be observed in accordance with the statutes which this Congregation approved for the Mixed Commission known as the [ICEL] International Commission on English in the Liturgy.  [Pretty hard to grasp this.  I have a hard time understanding how the texts of Mass or of Sacred Scripture (Lectionary) can be copyrighted.  Rather, why would they want to?  I suspect it has to do with money.  The production of liturgical books is a source of income for a Conference now gutted by cuts in giving by lay people – for obvious reasons.  Also, the copyright can insure that the texts are reproduced properly, accurately.  Once upon a time there was a license from the Holy See and, way back, an excommunication for those who made illicit changes to texts, again for obvious reasons.]

3. Although the Mixed Commission [ICEL] took the initiative of distributing, along with these Parts of the Order of Mass, an adapted text of Eucharistic Prayer IV, Higher Authority [!] has determined that as regards to either modification of the typical edition of the manner of translating it: non expedire.  [What does this mean?  Briefly, "no".  Latin expedio means a whole raft of things, but eventually in the phrase res expedit, or impersonally expedit, constructed with the dative (e.g., alicui – literally "it helps out, furthers, promotes) it thus means "it is serviceable, profitable, advantageous, useful, expedient".    Note also the word "although".  You know there is a "no" on the way.  So, read this as "It’s not useful to adapt texts of EP IV."  What isn’t clear is precisely who the "Higher Authority" is here.  It is either the Congregation itself or the Holy Father himself: those are the only two options.  But this will be clearer in a moment.]<

4. Likewise, the Holy Father ["Likewise" and "the Holy Father", following the above "Higher Authority" means that the "Higher Authority" was Pope Benedict himself.] has decided that, in response to a recommendation of the Eleventh Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops (October 2-23, 2005), a selection of additional formulae of dismissal for the faithful should be introduced in n. 144 of the Missale Romanum and consequently these materials are included in the attached text.  [I suspect that this will include phrases commonly in use, such as "Go in the peace and love of the Lord!", and will not  include "Have a nice day!  See you ‘round", which would be more in keeping with the older ICEL versions.]

With every prayerful good wish, I remain

Devotedly yours in Christ

+Francis Card. Arinze
Prefect

+A. Malcolm Ranjith
Secret.

Soon, I’ll start looking at some of these texts which were approved.

[NYer]

to freeper Frank Sheed!

[Tax-chick]

I don’t think this will affect me. I wonder who is responsible for our Spanish texts, and whether any changes are planned.

[Straight Vermonter]

This is good news. The Church has been, to put it kindly, very deliberate in making these changes. I suppose, however, that is preferable to the mad rush to make changes post-Vatican II.

[AliVeritas]

Thanks, I was just discussing this subject with a friend.

[NYer]

Complete Text available in pdf format here.

[maryz]

Likewise, the Holy Father

I am so glad he seems to be taking a personal interest in this! This Pope's English is certainly up to the task -- don't be fooled by the accent: his grammar and vocabulary are impeccable!

[Frank Sheed]

You are more than welcome, kind soul!

[Frank Sheed]

That is an excellent question!! I suppose they use the version that arises from the “Hispanic countries” which have their own translation body but I am not certain.

I’ll have to dig into that, Mrs. Tax.

F

[Frank Sheed]

It seems that the USCCB has a Subcommittee on the Liturgy for Hispanics:

Subcommittees of the Committee on the Liturgy

The Hispanic Liturgy Subcommittee met at St. Patrick’s Seminary, Menlo Park, California on September 29-October 1, 2003. Bishop Carlos Sevilla, Chairman, led the group. The bulk of the meeting was spent reviewing a translation into Spanish of the Rite of Baptism for Children (Ritual del Bautismo Para Nines). This translation has been completed and sent for final proofreading. A draft of the Ritual del Matrimonio (Rite of Marriage) has also been completed and is awaiting the final edition of the English text from the International Commission on English in the Liturgy. For its next project, the subcommittee will focus on the completion of the Lectionary texts for the Bendicional (Book of Blessings). Preparations for the Leccionario continue as contracts for copyright permissions are prepared.

http://wdtprs.com/blog/2007/11/new-members-of-the-usccb-committee-on-divine-worship/

This post from WDTPRS indicates that the Most Rev. Octavio Cisneros, Auxiliary Bishop of Brooklyn, not only heads this as Subcommittee Chairman for Hispanics but is also Subcommittee Chairman for the USCCB Committee on Divine Worship. If I read this correctly, the English version is simply translated into Spanish then.

[Lucius Cornelius Sulla]

If I read this correctly, the English version is simply translated into Spanish then.

That would mean that the Spanish Mass in the US would be different from the Spanish Mass in Mexico. That would be an odd result IMHO.

[Salvation]

There will be a few in the Spanish textx. But the Spanish textx have been much better than the English ones!

[Salvation]

**

Instead, the granting now of the recognitio to this crucial segment of the Roman Missal will provide time for the pastoral preparation of priests, deacons and for appropriate catechesis of the lay faithful. [Notice the difference: preparation and catechesis.  I wonder if that shouldn’t be the other way around, in a sense.] 

**

Agree with Father Z here. Catechesis first, then preparation.

Goodnes sakes, even some of the priests will have to be catechized. (Dare I include some Bishops?)

[Tax-chick]

If I read this correctly, the English version is simply translated into Spanish.

I don't think so. Our Spanish liturgy isn't a straight translation of the English. We use "Y con tu espiritu," where the English has "And also with you," as well as other phrases that are more like what I'm hearing about this new English version. On the "consubstantial" translation, the Spanish uses "De la misma naturaleza del Padre," "of the same nature as the Father," which is not anything like either "one in being" or "consubstantial."

We may have gotten our Spanish Sacramentary from Mexico or Puerto Rico, though. I know it's not the version used in Spain. I'll have to ask the Hispanic Ministry coordinator some time.

[Salvation]

How many of us have Music Directors who will NOY like this?

Stick to the words, dummy!

**It will likewise facilitate the divising of musical settings for the parts of the Mass, bearing in mind the criteria set forth in the Instruction Liturgiam authenticam, n. 60, which requires that the musical settings of liturgical texts use only the actual approved texts and never be paraphrased.  [Write new music settings, but the words better adhere to what we have sent.]**

[Salvation]

ICEL] **International Commission on English in the Liturgy.  [Pretty hard to grasp this.  I have a hard time understanding how the texts of Mass or of Sacred Scripture (Lectionary) can be copyrighted.**

Follow the money, Father Z -- it's all about the printing of texts. (Dare I even mention OCP?)

[Salvation]

**4. Likewise, the Holy Father ["Likewise" and "the Holy Father", following the above "Higher Authority" means that the "Higher Authority" was Pope Benedict himself.]**

Bravo, Pope Benedict!! The American Bishops Conference got their marching orders straight from the Pope.

Obedience -- the key word here. We are waiting and watching.

[Salvation]

Oops

How many of us have Music Directors who will NOT like this?

[dangus]

>> Pretty hard to grasp this. I have a hard time understanding how the texts of Mass or of Sacred Scripture (Lectionary) can be copyrighted. Rather, why would they want to? I suspect it has to do with money. <<

What an venial fool. He doesn’t know why or how, but he’ll ascribe an evil motive anyway.

The texts are copyrighted so that they have to be used as is. Permission is granted to valid Catholic churches to use them, but making alterations violates copyright. This (in theory) allows everyone to know that what they are witnessing is a valid, complete Catholic mass, a necessary step since dozens of illicit groups are using the name “Catholic,” and thousands of heretic priests love to add a little improv.

[dangus]

Salvation, you disappoint me.