I was under the impression that the reason we hadn't been given the go-ahead for the new ICEL translation of the Mass was that we needed time to be "instructed," so it wouldn't come as a shock to us.
Given that I was able to read English well before I went to school, and I passed my GCE 'O' Levels in both English Literature and English Language, I am at a loss to understand what further preparation might be required. Admittedly, I will have to keep a close eye on the new responses for the first year or two, but it strikes me as a small price to pay for the change from the banal "And also with you!" to the more accurate (and meaningful) "And with your Spirit!"
It is rather reminiscent of this classic YouTube video...
Being of a rather cynical frame of mind, I did wonder whether the delay was due to the Bishops of England & Wales hoping that, with the delay, people might lose interest, the impetus would be lost, and the whole thing could be brushed firmly under the carpet... rather like the outcry over the loss of our Holy Days of Obligation. And, indeed, calls for the new translation do appear to have died down...
...of course, what their Lordships have failed to realise is that the majority of people who were interested in a more accurate (and, hence, more faithful) translation of the Mass are of a more traditional bent. The reason that the outcry over the Holy Days has died down is that the people who are really bothered by their loss have realised that they can celebrate them in the Extraordinary Form - unhampered by the need to put on extra parish Masses for the Holy Day, there are more and more Extraordinary Form Masses being made available on these days. In the same way, if their Lordships don't get a move on getting the new translation sorted, more and more people might decide that the Extraordinary Form of Mass is the way forward...
Its all very well for you Mac that you can go to blackfen on Holy Days of Obligation; but please spare a thought for people that have to make do with the 'transfered' feast' because of their geographical and fiancial circumstances.
ReplyDeleteSome of us decided that the Extraordinary Form - so called - was the way forward some years ago. God Bless the SSPX!
ReplyDeleteSo far, I haven't heard a peep about the new translation in my diocese, except that one priest has vouchsafed his negative opinions to the public. I submit that if we had stuck to Latin in the first place, this wouldn't be an issue -- proving once again that a sign of our fallen nature is we always make things harder than they need to be.
ReplyDeleteAs for the E.F. Mass, alas, my neck of the woods is still a frozen liberal wasteland. We have just lost the good priest who offered the only accessible TLM in the area (50 miles away), so now the efforts are underway to get it back.
"..... the whole thing could be brushed firmly under the carpet..."
ReplyDeleteSurely not. One wouldn't expect such chicanery from our bishops.
Great video. It reminds me of the first time I tracked down an EF in donkey's years and had forgotten to place the ribbons where needed in the Missal. LOL.
I'm happy to report that Clifton diocese has been rather good in preparing us for the new translation.
ReplyDeleteHaving just been on holiday in New Zealand, I can report that the new words of the Ordinary of the Mass are already in use there: the N.Z. Bishops put out a nice little red booklet some time ago, which is used at Mass by the people.
ReplyDeleteHence, at Sacred Heart Cathedral in Wellington, and SS Patrick & Joseph's Cathedral in Auckland, I and all the congregation said "And with your spirit", etc.
(N.Z. is 13 hrs ahead of G.M.T. - maybe that's why they've already started!)