c. 2006 Religion News Service

(UNDATED) When the nation’s Catholic bishops convene in Los Angeles next week (June 15-17), they will consider a new translation of the Mass that could usher a legion of changes into prayers spoken by a generation of American Catholics.

“They are very significant changes,” said Bishop Donald Trautman of Erie, Pa., chairman of the bishops’ Committee on the Liturgy.

The bishops will vote on more than 100 amendments to the Mass, Trautman said. A final translation must then be approved by two-thirds of the bishops before it goes to Rome for the Vatican’s blessing.

“It should be very animated,” Trautman said.

Under pressure from the Vatican to more closely reflect the original Latin of the Roman Missal _ the official text that guides the Mass _ the bishops must consider changing aspects that are sung or recited by the congregation.

The new translation was prepared by the Vatican-appointed International Commission on English in the Liturgy, which translates the Mass for English-speaking countries.

Though most of the changes are minor, they alter parts of the daily Mass so familiar to American Catholics that it could lead to a “liturgical disorientation,” said Monsignor Kevin Irwin, an adviser to the bishops’ liturgy committee and professor of liturgy and sacramental theology at Catholic University.

For example, when the priest offers the blessing “The Lord be with you,” the new translation calls for the congregation to respond, “And also with your spirit,” instead of the familiar “And also with you.”

And instead of confessing, “I have sinned through my own fault” during what’s called the penitential rite, Catholics would say, “I have sinned greatly … through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault.”

Other alterations include subtle changes to the Nicene Creed, such as substituting “consubstantial” for “one in being” to explain the bond between Jesus and God the Father, and replacing “I believe” with “we believe.”

In order to become familiar with the new wording, worshippers would read the revised sections of the Mass from laminated cards, said Monsignor Anthony Sherman, associate director for the bishops’ liturgy office.

It could be a while, however, before American Catholics utter the altered prayers. Trautman said the bishops may decide not to introduce the revisions until the entire Roman Missal is translated anew, a project that may take at least two more years.

The American prelates appear divided on the revisions. A poll taken during the summer of 2005 found that 52 percent of bishops favored the changes, while 47 percent judged them “fair or poor.”

Some said the new translation introduces clunky, archaic language into the liturgy and doesn’t resonate with rank-and-file Catholics.

For example, a majority of bishops disliked an early version that called upon the congregation to say, “Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof” before Communion instead of the current “Lord, I am not worthy to receive you.”

Another proposal would replace the familiar “Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again” with something that speaks of the gathered community, such as “Dying, you destroyed our death, Rising you restored our life, Lord Jesus come in glory.”

Sherman said the drive for a new translation of the Mass began under former Pope John Paul II. Touring the world and celebrating Masses, the pontiff noticed that elements of the sacred ceremony differed nation-by-nation and language-by-language.

After the sweeping reforms of the Second Vatican Council of the 1960s _ which included the end of the Mass in Latin _ Irwin said translators have not have had enough time to work on the English Mass, which was introduced in 1970.

“I think there’s a certain sense that when the liturgy was first translated, it was too hastily done and not as accurate as it could be,” he said.

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For a generation of America’s 67 million Catholics, though, that translation has become as familiar as grooves in their favorite pew.

Trautman said the bishops’ liturgical committee, which includes six prelates and numerous advisers, tried to strike a balance between fidelity to the original Latin and pastoral concern for “full, active, conscious participation” by the congregation.

“We need an accurate text, yes,” he said. “But they are meant to be prayer texts. Will they lift up the hearts and minds of our people? Are they proclaimable?”

KRE/PH END BURKE