NCR's Reaction

As expected, the folks at the National Catholic Reporter are complaining about the Vox Clara committee's involvement in the upcoming new translation of the English Missal. Essentially, they disagree with how the committee has sought to do away with work that had taken dozens of years. But some of their comments indicate to me an overwhelming cluelessness. For example, the editorial states:

Last week, we reported that a new English translation of the Mass was nearing completion. Among the changes are phrases that restore the literal translation of the Latin so that, for instance, the now familiar response, "And also with you," will be rendered in the pre-Vatican II formulation, "And also with your spirit."

Anyone who has studied the mass after the Second Vatican Council knows that "and with your spirit" was never done away with. The official Latin of the liturgy never changed the Latin response et cum spiritu tuo, and most modern translations of the mass, aside from English, are translated to the English equivalent of "and with your spirit." For example, the Spanish translation has "y con tu espiritu" and the French has "et avec ton esprit."

They also complain about the individuals chosen to oversee the translation effort. They call them liturgical revisionists who are attacking the liturgical reform of the Council. To me, it merely looks like these folks are trying to ensure true reform, the type of reform actually envisioned by the Council. Sure, there can be some debate, but who are the real revisionists here? Those who are faithful to Second Vatican Council's Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, Sacrosanctum Concilium, or those whose interpretation of the same document goes far beyond what the document actually suggests?

They end with,

If the prayer of the community is left to the formulation of those who hold power, without consideration for the extensive and long work of a much wider community, what's to stop another liturgical coup in the future, should the people and ideas in power change?

It's a lousy way to do the church's business -- and it doesn't withstand the scrutiny of serious, adult, educated Catholics in the early 21st century.

I have seen serious, adult, educated Catholics in the early 21st century heavily support the new translation. The liturgy isn't merely just the prayer of the community, it is also the prayer of the Church, and in our day and age, some type of regulation is necessary. And in my honest opinion, the proposed changes in the translation are the least of what could, or maybe even should, be done - but I will defer to the legitimate authority.