And With Your Spirit: The New Roman Missal

Here are three translations of the liturgical dialogue between priest and people. Which one seems out of place?

LATIN
Priest: Dóminus vobíscum.
People: Et cum spiritu tuo.

SPANISH
Priest: El Señor esté con vosotros.
People: Y con tu espíritu.

ENGLISH
Priest: The Lord be with you.
People: And also with you.

Even those who have just a cursory knowledge of foreign languages can see that the English response does not correspond with the Spanish translation or the original Latin. In the very near future, Catholics in English-speaking countries will be responding to their priest’s liturgical greeting with a translation that is more literal to the original Latin. Instead of “And also with you,” we will soon respond, “And with your spirit.”

This is only one of many changes in our liturgical language that are the result of the third edition of the Roman Missal, announced in the Jubilee Year 2000 by Pope John Paul II. In 2001, the Vatican’s Congregation for Divine Worship published Liturgiam Authenticam to help serve as a guideline for translating the new missal. Over the past decade, the Congregation has been working with bishops from the United States and other countries to translate the new Roman Missal into English.

After much dedicated work and dialogue, the US Conference of Catholic Bishops gave final approval of the new Mass texts on November 18, 2009. Just recently, the Vatican gave its recognitio or formal approval of these texts on April 30, 2010. The US Bishops’ Conference has not yet announced when the changes will take place, but many liturgical observers are estimating a possible start date on November 27, 2011, the First Sunday of Advent.

Priests, pastoral musicians, choir directors, liturgists, and youth ministers would do well to be informed about these changes. This is especially true for those who work with young people, who will have many questions about why these changes are happening. The transition to the new translation of the Mass will be challenging, but it is also a marvelous opportunity for liturgical catechesis for Catholics of every generation.

This is the first in a series of Spirit Spots on the new Roman Missal. Why do we need a new translation? What will the changes look like? How will this affect liturgical music? What will this mean for the people in the pews, for musicians and liturgical ministers, and for the priests who lead us in prayer? This series will help you to understand the changes and give suggestions and resources that will assist in your preparation and educational efforts.

“May this process of the implementation of the revised Roman Missal be a time of deepening, nurturing, and celebrating our faith through our worship and the celebration of the Sacred Liturgy.” – the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.