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Wednesday, July 7, 2010

The New Translation for Mass

On Monday and Tuesday, I traveled to Palmerston North to meet with the priest and bishops of the diocese of Palmerston North and Wellington. (Palmerston North is named as such because a city of Palmerson exists on both the north and south islands.) We gathered to listen to Paul Turner, a priest from Missouri, tell us about the situation with regards to the new translation of the Mass. While I was skeptical of the new translation because of its awkward syntax and unusual choices of words, I can understand the principles used in making the translations.

The New Zealand bishops have taken a sensible approach to the translations. They are preparing themselves to begin sometime this new liturgical year. They are helping their priests understand the changes and to give them an experience of praying with the texts before they are implemented. The process is still in flux and many further changes may be made before, during and after implementation. However, the bishops are committed to pushing the process forward, even if it is not the translation they would have preferred.

After an experience of praying with the new translation, I did not find it too jarring or too much of a change for the person in the pew. The more significant changes are in the texts said by the priest and much of the language clarifies, gives shapes, perfects (and sometimes confuses) the mystery we are celebrating. The relationship between the people and God is brought to a new dimension and we can see a more distinctive relationship between God, the Creator, and Jesus Christ. Even some of the texts are poetic and flowing.

I do wish the translations have a different feel to them, but if we have to, we can live with them just fine.

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