One reason for this revised translation is obviously the additions to the Missal. The second is due to new norms for translating liturgical texts.

The document Liturgiam authenticam (Fifth Instruction for the Right Implementation of the Constitution), from the Holy See, called for a more literal translation of the Latin. A considerable amount of time has been spent trying to accurately translate the Latin texts into English in a literal manner.

After approving the revised English translation of The Roman Missal, the English-speaking bishops’ conferences sent the texts to the Congregation for Divine Worship and Discipline of the Sacraments for review.

Once reviewed, the translation is submitted to the Holy See for recognitio. Basically, recognitio is the Latin term for “recognizing” the translation. After the recognitio was given, the Bishops’ Committee on Divine Worship determined the changes the Congregation has made to the translation. Then the text was sent to publishers. The publishers had to typeset and send proofs to the Bishops’ Committee on Divine Worship for final approval before printing The Roman Missal. This process took more than a year because of the enormous amount of texts included in The Roman Missal.

The new ritual edition will be available in October of 2011.

Although the Holy See approved some of the texts in 2008, they were not to be used at Mass until Rome had given recognitio to the entire translation and provided an implementation date.

The wait for the approval of all of the prayers of the Mass allowed time for the composition of music for the Gloria; the Holy, Holy, Holy; and other parts of the Order of Mass.

It also provided time for pastoral leadership to understand the reasons for the revisions and to begin educating their assemblies.

In this time between the implementation of the revised edition of The Roman Missal and the implementation, parishes will continue to educate their communities.

As your parish studies the revised translation, you will see that many of the priest’s and people’s parts have changed. For example, when the priest celebrant proclaims, “The Lord be with you,” the people will reply, “And with your spirit.” That response is the direct translation of 2 Timothy 4:22.

Other revisions, too, will help assemblies relate the prayers of the Mass to scripture. The response to the Lamb of God, for example, clearly alludes to the Centurion’s request that his servant be healed (see Matthew 8:8 and Luke 7:6).

You may find it helpful to review the information on The Roman Missal at www.RevisedRomanMissal.org .

The revised prayers of the Mass will be implemented on November 27, 2011.

Preparing Your Parish for the Revised Roman Missal: Homilies and Reproducibles for Faith Formation © 2011 Archdiocese of Chicago: Liturgy Training Publications, 3949 South Racine Avenue, Chicago IL 60609; 1-800-933-1800; www.LTP.org. Excerpts from the English translation of The Roman Missal © 2010, International Committee on English in the Liturgy Corporation (ICEL). All rights reserved. Photo © John Zich. This image may be reproduced for personal or parish use. The copyright notice must appear with the text. Published with Ecclesiastical Approval (Canon 823, 1).