Almost a year ago the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments completed the English translation of the Roman Missal and immediately Pope Benedict XVII gathered our attention to a new task; that of “preparing for the reception of the new translation by clergy and lay faithful”. Sources inform me that preparation is currently underway and that the new translation of various elements of the liturgy should begin to be visible soon with the full compliment of new translation in full use by November 2011.
The following is a Vatican Information Service public release from April 29th 2010:
ENGLISH TRANSLATION OF ROMAN MISSAL TO BE PUBLISHED SOON
VATICAN CITY, 29 APR 2010 (VIS) – The Pope had lunch yesterday in the Vatican’s Casina Pio IV with members and consultors of “Vox Clara”, an advisory committee for questions concerning the celebration of the Roman Rite in English.
Following the luncheon the Holy Father, himself speaking English, thanked “Vox Clara” for the work it has done “over the last eight years, assisting and advising the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments in fulfilling its responsibilities with regard to the English translations of liturgical texts. This has been a truly collegial enterprise. Not only are all five continents represented in the membership of the committee, but you have been assiduous in drawing together contributions from bishops’ conferences in English-speaking territories all over the world”.
“I thank the superiors and officials of the congregation for their daily, painstaking work of overseeing the preparation and translation of texts that proclaim the truth of our redemption in Christ, the Incarnate Word of God”, he said.
Benedict XVI went on: “I welcome the news that the English translation of the Roman Missal will soon be ready for publication. … Through these sacred texts and the actions that accompany them, Christ will be made present and active in the midst of His people”.
Going on then to identify a new task, that of “preparing for the reception of the new translation by clergy and lay faithful”, the Pope pointed out that “many will find it hard to adjust to unfamiliar texts after nearly forty years of continuous use of the previous translation. The change will need to be introduced with due sensitivity, and the opportunity for catechesis that it presents will need to be firmly grasped. I pray that in this way any risk of confusion or bewilderment will be averted, and the change will serve instead as a springboard for a renewal and a deepening of Eucharistic devotion all over the English-speaking world”.
“Soon the fruits of your labours will be made available to English-speaking congregations everywhere”, the Holy Father concluded.
AC/ VIS 20100429 (350)