By Daniel Burke
Religion News Service
WASHINGTON (RNS) The nation’s Catholic bishops have rejected a new translation of Mass prayers, a rare instance of U.S. prelates denying a Vatican-ordered liturgical change.
While ballots are still coming in, it’s clear they won’t add up to the 166 needed to pass the new translation, said Sister Mary Ann Walsh, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. A two-thirds majority of the USCCB’s Latin rite bishops is required for approval.
Walsh said she could not recall another instance in which the U.S. bishops have rejected a full document of Vatican translations, though they have at times tinkered with individual phrases and words.
At the bishops’ semi-annual meeting in June, several prelates said the newly translated prayers, traditionally spoken by priests at Mass, were stilted and incomprehensible. One called them a “linguistic swamp.”
After an inconclusive vote at the bishops’ meeting in Orlando, Fla., the bishops not present at the gathering were asked to vote by mail.
Known as the “Proper of Seasons,” the prayers are said on Sundays, Holy Days and during liturgical seasons such as Lent, and change from day to day. Examples include the opening prayer, prayers said over the bread and wine, and prayer after Communion.
The late Pope John Paul II ordered the new translations to increase fidelity to the original Latin. Some Vatican liturgists say the church moved too quickly — and sloppily — in translating the Mass into local languages after the Second Vatican Council of the 1960s.
The rejected translation will come up again, with amendments, at the USCCB’s next meeting in November, Walsh said.
The bishops have already approved one section of new Mass translations, including many prayers spoken by lay Catholics for a generation, despite the objections of a vocal minority.
Ten more sections of the Mass remain to be approved and implementation is likely several years away, according to USCCB officials.
Copyright 2008 Religion News Service. All rights reserved. No part of this transmission may be distributed or reproduced without written permission.
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posted July 9, 2008 at 3:54 pm
It is so nice to see that American Catholic Bishops can think for themselves….and tell the Vatican we’re not doing everything it says to do. I have a feeling that the Vatican isn’t too crazy about the fact that the U. S. Catholics aren’t as submissive as Benny would like. Hats off to the Amerian Catholic Bishops…and I don’t say that too often.
posted July 9, 2008 at 6:12 pm
I agree. It doesn’t seem like a particularly important topic but any independence is a start.
posted July 9, 2008 at 6:56 pm
Quote: “A Linguistic Swamp”
Good for the Prelates, I wouldn’t want my much loved relatives to have to not be able to comprehend their prayers, and the ‘linguistic swamp’ would worry me for sure.
posted July 10, 2008 at 10:38 am
Such are the dangers or “pure” translation. It may have been an attempt at transliteration. Often the result is like taking German and making an exact word order translation into English. It seems that there was some interpretation of the Latin in order to conform with spoken English. There is no magic to these words – they should not need to be said in a particular order. It is to the hearer’s hearts that they should speak, and not b16′s. It is no surprise that the American Bishops thought better of his – suggestion.
On the lighter side – can you imagine all the Bishops at Universal Theme Park, Islands of Adventure – riding the Hulk with their casssocks flying and holding onto their berets as they plummet down Superman?! Now, which of the 4 Disney Parks do you suppose they preferred? State your answer and why. I wonder if they get Fast Passes for all the rides, or do they have to stumble through the corrals like everyone else.
posted July 10, 2008 at 11:16 am
It might do them a world of good. But so would meeting a payroll, putting food on their family’s table and understanding the need not to have more children.
posted July 10, 2008 at 12:08 pm
You’re right nnmns, but first they would have to be blessed enough to have their very own family.
Jestr, CA! Why? because everything is better in the Golden State!
posted July 10, 2008 at 2:33 pm
Henrietta,
They are all here in Orlando, and I figured they need a distraction fromall the heady discussions. Maybe they will get to that OTHER Orange County next time. So which of the FL parks would they prefer, ecclesiatically, theologically, or any other -ogically?
posted July 10, 2008 at 2:37 pm
jestrfyl:
Did I read there is some sort of Bible World in Orlando now? But I guess if they went there, it would be too much like a “busmans’ holiday, huh?
posted July 10, 2008 at 3:28 pm
p.s.
There is an little theme park (that I have never been to) right next to the Interstate that includes replicas of The “Great” Temple and the church of the Holy Sepulchre (spelling?). It was built by a Messianic Jew and is now run by Trinity Broadcasting (I think). It is over-priced and very conservative thologically. But it is amazing to drive down I-4 and see the Temple rising just past an overpass that has Egyptian style lotus blossoms for the uprights And gold lettering on the wrought Iron works welcoming people to Orlando.
posted July 10, 2008 at 5:07 pm
It is called “The Holy Land Experience” and yes, TBN (Trinity Broadcasting Network) is involved.
Peace!
posted July 10, 2008 at 5:19 pm
In reply to the comment posted by “pagansister”.
I think that it is good that our Bishops can think , but I also think they should follow his Holiness , the Pope Benedict . He is the Highest Bishop on Earth !
Sometimes I disagree with the Pope , but I still think that we should respect him.
posted July 10, 2008 at 6:12 pm
Thanks, jestrfyl and JohnQ,
I moved from Orlando in 1986, so alot has occured since then. I probably wouldn’t recognize the city now…or the very uncontroled growth it has taken. After 1986 it was a once a year visit to my mother-in-law until 2001. Saw some of the changes, but even in the last 7 years more changes have occured.
Sara:
The Pope isn’t infallible. He is just a human who happens to be in the highest office the RCC has…not the highest on earth. To get respect, Benny has to earn it. From what I’ve seen of his little pronouncements, he isn’t progressing the RCC into this century at all. He is taking it very far back. He would really have to do a lot for me to respect him. At least the Bishops in this country seem to have decided for themselves about following Benny’s latest pronouncement. But since he has nothing to do with my life, I don’t have to worry about what he says. I do admire those who think for themselves, however and if he gets it for some folks, so be it.
posted July 11, 2008 at 12:52 pm
Jest,
Messianic “Jews” are not Jewish.
Period.
posted July 11, 2008 at 5:36 pm
ecl I’m loath to disagree with you on your home turf but there’s this whole religion/genetic heritage mixup in the word “Jew”. You seem to be saying to be a Jew you must practice Judaism. But doesn’t that exclude a lot of people who don’t practice it but consider themselves Jews?
How do you define “Jew”?