Letter to the Bishop

(I'd like to share with you a letter I recently sent to Rt Rev Malcolm McMahon, OP; DD, Bishop of Nottingham in light of the implementation of the new English translation of the Roman Missal. For those of you interested to air your concerns to your own bishops regarding the same issue, I hope you find this letter inspiring.)

Your Reverence,

I am writing to you as a matured believer and a parent whose primary duty is to pass on the Catholic faith to his children.

I have always believed that the Church is always undergoing change; however I am very much concerned with the forthcoming implementation of the new English translation of the Roman Missal.

Reading samples of these changes made available in various websites, I find them confusing and archaic which would put off parishioners, especially the youth and the illiterate. I am now worried how I will teach this to my daughter as she grows and learns how to pray and participate in the Mass.

I feel that if the new translation would be implemented now, we will be witnessing more people getting disenchanted with the Mass and treat it as something that is “out of this world”. In effect, people would be detached from Jesus whom we call as Emmanuel ("God-with-us").

If our faith tells us that He is here with us then our prayers as a community (i.e. the Mass) should enhance that belief. The words we use to communicate with each other could either build or weaken relationships. The current translation uses plain, appropriate and sound English so each of us, regardless of our background could relate more with the Lord whom we encounter in the Eucharist.

When Vatican II’s constitution Sacrosanctum Concilium was implemented, the Church was geared for changes ahead. We saw national conferences of bishops sharing a common language collaborating to produce a common translation.

It is unfortunate that Rome (through the Congregation for Divine Worship) is now imposing a uniformity of the English translation when this language, though spoken across the world, varies among countries that speak it. It is sad that Rome is going backward than forward by imposing such changes rather than entrusting these to the people who would be in a better position to introduce and effect changes – the bishops.

I share the observation by Fr Michael Ryan , founder of “What if we just said wait?” that the Congregation for Divine Worship’s move is “one more assault on the (Vatican II) council, and sadly, one more blow to episcopal collegiality.”

The Church has more pressing and important issues to attend to such as the sexual abuse scandal, shortage of priests, low turnout of Mass attendees, national legislation against Church teachings, etc. Introducing the new translation now will make a bad impression of the Church.

As a devoted member of the Church, I am humbly imploring Your Reverence to consider these concerns and allow more time to reflect on and ‘test drive’ these changes.

I believe there is no harm at this point in time to say wait or, if necessary, no.

May Jesus the Good Shepherd, who always sought the good of His flock, bless you.

A Challenging Time

I feel blessed to have been part of the post-Vatican II generation. That council that was convoked 45 years ago steered the Church to what was then ‘unknown sails’. Sacrosanctum Concilium (SC), one of the constitutions promulgated by that council, has been called the ‘Magna Carta of the Church’ for it sought to revise the liturgy aimed at leading all the faithful “to that fully conscious and active participation” which is the faithful’s “…right and duty by reason of their baptism”. (SC 14)

This brought about various changes in the Mass. Apart from the priest facing the people, the Mass was said in the vernacular. Also, the lay faithful could take certain roles like lector/commentator, sacristan, or Special Minister of the Eucharist. Indeed, parishes and other communities flourished because of lay participation and empowerment.

I find it then strange why a new English translation is now being introduced. If it were a much better translation of the Latin text, fine. But reading the samples available in various websites, I find these confusing and would not be in consonance with SC or worse, with Vatican II. Some words in the new translation sound too archaic as well. What’s wrong with the words “one being with the Father” and change it to “consubstantial with the Father”? Pope Paul VI, under whose watch Vatican II's actions were implemented, might be turning in his grave!

I feel that if the new translation would be implemented, we will be going back to the days when people would pray the rosary or any other devotion while Mass is being celebrated. Worse, we might see more people becoming detached from the Mass, becoming detached from God Himself! Come to think of it, isn't He Emmanuel ("God-with-us")? If our faith tells us that He is here with us then our prayers as individuals and as a community should enhance that belief. The words we use to communicate with each other could either build or weaken relationships. The current translation uses plain English so each of us regardless of our background could relate more with the Lord whom we encounter in the Eucharist.

When SC was implemented, national conferences of bishops sharing a common language were tasked to collaborate in producing a common translation. This brought about the International Commission on English in the Liturgy (ICEL). Through ICEL, bishops conferences in the English-speaking world (which includes the Philippines) have been given a kind of autonomy to see what is suitable to the local churches under their care.

ICEL proposed a new translation in 1980s which was completed in 1998. It was a much better edition to the one currently used. Unfortunately, Rome (through the Congregation for Divine Worship) initially ignored it and later rejected it following the issuance of a document called Liturgiam authenticam which calls for a more literal English translation. (Take note that this is only a document and not a constitution like SC!) Indeed, as one fellow Catholic would have observed, I never thought that fundamentalists could also be found in the Church! I share the observation by Fr Michael Ryan that such a move is “one more assault on the (Vatican II) council, and sadly, one more blow to episcopal collegiality.”

This is a challenging time for all of us who love and actively participate in the Mass. Right now, bishops in the English-speaking world are in the middle of two opposing forces. Will they simply bow to the powers-that-be? Or will they assert their role as shepherds of their flock? Alas, some conferences have chosen the former over the latter. Yet nothing is still lost.

Let’s continue to pray for them. (What a coincidence that in the web, we are remembering our bishops in our prayers this month.) Again, if you haven’t done it yet, please join in the signature campaign to ask our bishops to delay this new (and poor) translation via: http://www.whatifwejustsaidwait.org/

St Joseph, Patron of the Universal Church, pray for us.

Tell Me!

I find it very strange how quick we are to tell others about someone else – be it their negative qualities (most of the time!) or their follies. This is prevalent not only within the neighbourhood, but quite sadly, in the workplace. Yes, even in the workplace where you would expect that everything would be treated with professionalism!

I don't know why. Probably it's much easier to tell it to others. Or maybe those negative qualities or follies would have been irresistable to talk about.

Jesus was very clear when he taught His followers to confront an erring person in the first instance. If that doesn’t work, then it’s time to escalate it. But that’s not the case. Like extinguishing a fire, we want someone to deal with it fast which is why we make a complaint against a colleague to the boss.

Some people use this weapon (i.e. complaining straightaway to the boss) to bully or harass others. This is so unfair. People, regardless of their status, deserve to be treated with respect at all times.

I had this experience before and have spent some time reeling from the pains and wounds bullying has caused me. I am resolved now to be on guard and never allow a similar case to happen again!

If we only follow what the Lord tells us, our workplaces, our parishes, our families, and our societies would have been more pleasant and vibrant to live and serve in.

If you have a problem with me, TELL ME!

***
Just to continue with the new English translation of the Roman Missal (new in italics), I just thought of sharing with you some other changes which I got from Fr Michael Ryan's article ("Act in Haste, Repent at Leisure; www.thetablet.co.uk):

GREETING

The Lord be with you.
And also with you.

The Lord be with you.
And with your spirit.

CONFITEOR (I confess)

I have sinned
through my own fault,
in my thoughts and in my words,
in what I have done,
and in what I have failed to do

I have greatly sinned
in my thoughts and in my words,
in what I have done
and in what I have failed to do,
through my fault, through my fault,
through my most grievous fault

FROM EUCHARISTIC PRAYER I

Look with favour on these offerings
and accept them as once you
accepted the gifts of your servant
Abel, the sacrifice of Abraham, our
father in faith, and the bread and
wine offered by your priest
Melchisedech.

Be pleased to look upon them with
serene and kindly countenance,
and to accept them, as you were
pleased to accept the gifts of your
servant Abel the just, the sacrifice
of Abraham, our father in faith,
and the offering of your high
priest Melchizedek, holy sacrifice,
a spotless victim.

FROM EUCHARISTIC PRAYER II

Let your Spirit come upon these
gifts to make them holy, so that
they may become for us the body
and blood of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

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.

ECCE AGNUS DEI (Lamb of God)

Lord, I am not worthy
to receive you,
but only say the word
and I shall be healed.

Lord, I am not worthy
that you should enter under my roof,
but only say the word
and my soul shall be healed.

Fr Ryan is founder of 'What if we just said wait?' which gathers signatures from across the English-speaking world to ask (the word is actually 'implore') our bishops to delay for a year the implementation of the new translation and 'road test' it first. Thanks to Nette Andres, one of our writers in God-speak, I came to know this campaign and have signed the petition.

These changes, I feel, would hinder the faithful's full participation in the Mass which Vatican II has envisioned. Fr Shay Cullen, one of our columnists, agree with me that with such a backward step we would stumble instead of moving forward.

Read the above samples and if you feel that you are not ready for the change, please sign the petition on www.whatifwejustsaidwait.org. You may also wish to talk to priests especially your parish priests (I did!) and other lay faithful. More importantly, let's pray that our bishops would listen to their flock. I believe that it's better to delay than to be sorry.