REASONS
When we arrive at Advent it will be more obvious that we are going to be using an elevated form of English, something less colloquial than in the present Missal. There is a reason for this. It seems that the theory of translation has changed in the 44 years since we first began to do Mass in our native language. Then, the theory was that we  should render the Latin into an ‘equivalent’ form of English. This gave us an idiom that was close to our ordinary speech. For example, the Latin, “Et cum spiritu tuo”, came out as “And also with you.” And, I’d say it worked well. But it was still only an equivalent translation and thus imprecise. The words actually mean, “And with your spirit.” Thus the coming translation, as you can see from this example, seeks a more precise rendering of the original Latin.

REFERENCES TO SCRIPTURE
As I keep learning about this new translation I am impressed with the number of sometimes subtle and sometimes obvious scriptural references present in the prayers formed over the centuries. As I have mentioned the Missal of 1967 often understated them in an attempt to be more colloquial. Now, for example, at the presentation of the Lord’s Body and Blood at Communion, there is a lovely return to the scriptural reference in John 1: 29 & 36. There St. John the Baptist says, “Behold, the Lamb of God, behold him who takes away the sins of the world.” And further in the same spot the priest refers to the Eucharistic banquet as “the supper of the Lamb.” Interestingly the Book of Revelation 28 times uses the term, Lamb, for Our Lord. He is of course the Paschal Lamb, without blemish, whose blood saves us. (See I Peter 2:19) Such a frequent usage reminds us that in the early Church the Old Testament sacrificial lamb’s innocence and purity are employed to interpret the meaning of Jesus’ death which we announce and celebrate in every Eucharist. Therefore in the new Missal, Communion is called the “supper of the Lamb,” a lovely way of saying that Heaven and earth meet at our altar table. Even while we live on earth the beatitude from Luke 14:15 comes true, “Blessed is the one who will dine in the Kingdom of God!”

THE POETRY OF THE LATIN RITE
In the reading I have been able to do about the changes I have come to realize that the prayers at the opening of Mass, after the presentation of gifts and after Communion all have a poetic form like, for example, the sonnet does in English poetry. And, surprisingly, even the form which the Eucharist Prayers themselves take, are profoundly poetic and use specific expressions of repetition and emphasis. This will require the celebrant to use care in how he prays: a correct parsing and focus on specific words will be necessary for the people to enjoy and absorb the meaning.

PEACE AND PATIENCE
The Archdiocese has asked that we learn a common form for singing the revised translation. So, we shall begin to learn the chants for the various ordinary parts of the Mass, like the Holy, Holy and the Our Father and the Lamb of God, beginning this weekend.

This is necessary so that when we gather, for example, with other Catholics outside of our parish we shall all be able to sing the parts of the Mass in unison. However, you will perhaps be happy to learn that we shall return in the near future to our usual use of contemporary forms of musical settings for the new translations. All in all, we shall be fine, because we shall enjoy our customary patience with each other as we take these several steps that Holy Church is asking of us. Indeed, I believe that this is actually becoming an enjoyable as well as a significant moment in our lives as we Roman Catholics go forward in the ancient Faith, handing it on preserved in its truth, yet continuing to reform so as to present Christ well to our contemporary world.
God bless us all. JFH