Friday, July 13, 2012

cc quickie: the new mass translation

In our parish, we have started to implement (finally) the new English translation of the Mass.  The Vatican deadline for full implementation worldwide is January 1, 2013 (methinks).  So we have roughly 6 months to get used to this translation.

I was initially in disagreement with this move.  Why rock the boat and confuse the churchgoer?  Why enforce such a change when it seemed so 'cosmetic' in nature?  

I have since changed my attitude towards it and have finally recognized its value.  For me, beyond the need to be more 'accurate' to the Latin responses, this new translation makes us Catholics become 'aware' again of the Mass.  We have to be more attentive again so as not to make mistakes.  There is a consciousness to listen and memorize.  And even as we struggle with agreeing with the translation, the mere fact that we are thinking about the words and meaning again is an accomplishment.

3 comments:

RoyCo said...

I beg to disagree on this matter. Many of us who speak English quite well do not use terms like 'oblation', 'consubstantial', 'prevenient', 'beseech', 'implore', 'acclaim', etc. In other words, this translation has made the church more and far distant, oblivious and arrogant above the believing community. This translation is Vatican's decision to bring the church back to pre-Vatican II perspective - thus, dismantling collegiality, no consultation of scholars, ignoring inculturation and ecumenism. This is another blow to ignite the fire of hatred among the faithful, more salt to the wounds of many who at least care to pay attention to what the church does and says, which is a great divide. So pulleeeezee, nothing can be accomplished in this ancient, archaic, convuluted, grammatically atrocious and plain - UGLY - English. "Thinking" a language is an oxymoron.

Anonymous said...

Ang gusto yata ng mga nasa-Vatican ay ang literal na rendering from Latin to English.

Minsan, may issue tayo kung hindi masyadong ginagamit ang ibang words like "oblation," "consubstantial," and others like it in the previous comment. Pero minsan, kailangan ng isang ritualized dialect para sa mga seremonya tulad ng misa. Wala pa namang move dito na i-ayon sa literal translation yung Missal in Filipino, as far as I know.

Buti at hindi pa katunog ni Shakespeare ang translation.

Anonymous said...

I can't wait for the new English translation to be implemented in the Philippines. What is wrong with matching it to the texts in the Bible. To those who hate it, just go to the ones in the native languages. The bible rendition in my mother tongue is atrocious and laughable in its pedestrianism
jany