Oct
25
Written by:
Todd Williamson
10/25/2010 12:58 PM
Last week, over 1,200 priests who celebrate the liturgy in the Archdiocese of Chicago gathered in Oakbrook, Illinois, for a daylong presentation on the English translation of the third edition of The Roman Missal. Truly, it was amazing to see that many priests gathered together to focus on this most important subject!
Father J. Michael Joncas, professor, liturgist, and composer, led the day for the Chicago priests. The purpose of the day was to set the context of the third edition and then to help them unpack some of the texts of the English translation—notably, Eucharistic Prayers II and III. Father Joncas’s scholarship and pastoral approach was most helpful during the day of study and discussion. His focus was to acquaint the priests with the texts in an attempt to assist them to begin to interiorize the revised translation. He highlighted some characteristics of the translation, hoping that this would help the priests begin to make the texts their own.
This is a major concern for many—priests and laity alike. The priests know the current texts in their very depths. They often pray these texts, literally, by their hearts. The possibility of losing this familiarity and losing the true internal possession of these texts can be unsettling for many priests.
I was—and continue to be—very hopeful that Father Joncas’s presentations will help the priests begin this process of transition. At the end of the day, more than one priest made the comment that “I’m a little more open to [the revised English translation] now.”
That alone, I think, gives testimony not only to the presentations of which the priests were part last week, but it also gives great testimony to the desire on the part of the priests to be able to make this transition in the most positive, healthy way that they can!
Among other resources, each priest that attended the day received two DVDs—one of which was locally produced—showing a demonstration of how the texts of the revised translation might be prayed. Two local pastors were each recorded praying one of the Eucharistic Prayers from the revised translation.
It is no secret that there is anxiety over learning to pray the texts that make up the revised English translation—on both the part of priests and laity. This great gathering of clergy, on Tuesday of last week, was a major step in the process of transition.
If any priests reading this were present last week with Father Joncas, your own comments about the day would be most welcome!
1 comment(s) so far...
Re: A Day of Translation
I found Fr. Joncas’s presentation very interesting. He was very well prepared. He had his own translation from Latin and compared it with what we currently use and what is being changed. I think that introducing the changes on a parish level through catechesis will serve the community in their own understanding and appreciation of the Mass and the prayers involved. Thank you for a wonderful day.
By Fr. Mike Moczko on
11/2/2010 1:52 PM
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