The New Translation

For the past several months, in the Catholic press anyway, there has been article after article on the new English translation of the Novus Order a/k/a English Mass.  Why was this necessary?  Because the last translation was horrible.  I mean, it's bad enough that the prayers are mostly banal and not uplifting but they even screwed up the translation of the ordinary of the Mass such as the Gloria and Credo.  And why?  Every Latin/English missal had the translation right there.  All they had to do was use it!  But no!  We can't use these old and beautiful translations.  They don't fit with the spirit of Vatican II.

And even when they went back to work on the rotten translation, did they even bother then to use what they already had from the old missals?  No, they did not.  Talk about reinventing the wheel. 

I know some people who are really stoked about this.  A priest I spoke to last Saturday says he "has to get through next week".  Someone else said that she will have to bring glasses with her so she read the new responses. Oh, the humanity!

But I, dear reader, will not be affected by this at all.  Why?  Because I attend the Extraordinary Form of the Mass.  Yes, there have been tweeks over the centuries but nothing dramatic.  This form uses Latin, a dead language so the meanings of the words do not change.  Sad used to mean heavy and now it means unhappy. Don't have that problem with Latin.

Also, the prayers are so much more beautiful. Here is just one Offertory prayer:

Accept, O Holy Father, Almighty and eternal God, this spotless host, which I, your unworthy servant, offer to You, my living and true God, to atone for my numberless sins, offenses and negligences; on behalf of all here present and likewise for all faithful Christians living and dead, that it may profit me and them as a means of salvation to life everlasting.

Compare that to:

Blessed are you, Lord, God of all creation. Through your goodness we have this bread to offer, which earth has given and human hands have made. It will become for us the bread of life.

So, have fun with your new translation.  I'll stick with the more beautiful and reverential Latin.

Pax vobiscum.