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CHANGES IN THE ROMAN MISSAL, PART 13: More Prayers from the Mass
[EDITOR’S NOTE: This column is part of an ongoing series written by Father Daniel Merz highlighting many of the historical and theological bases of the upcoming publication of a revised English translation of the Roman Missal. Father Merz is the chairman of the Liturgical Commission for the Diocese of Jefferson City, Mo.]
This continues the commentary on the changes in the new Mass translation that will affect the assembly’s parts of the Mass. Last column, we examined changes in the Apostles Creed. This issue, we will look at other prayers in the Mass.
Suscipiat Dominus
PRESENT TEXT
May the Lord accept the sacrifice
at your hands
for the praise and glory of his name,
for our good,
and the good of all his Church.
NEW TEXT
May the Lord accept the sacrifice
at your hands
for the praise and glory of his name,
for our good
and the good of all his holy Church.
This is the prayer which the assembly prays at the close of the preparation of the gifts, just before the priest-celebrant begins the preface dialogue. The new translation restores the adjective “holy” to the church. If the church is the body of Christ, and the body of Christ is holy, then the church, too, by all means, is holy.
Preface Dialogue
PRESENT TEXT
Priest: The Lord be with you.
People: And also with you.
Priest: Lift up your hearts.
People: We lift them up to the Lord.
Priest: Let us give thanks
to the Lord our God.
People: It is right to give him
thanks and praise.
NEW TEXT
Priest: The Lord be with you.
People: And with your spirit.
Priest: Lift up your hearts.
People: We lift them up to the Lord.
Priest: Let us give thanks
to the Lord our God.
People: It is right and just.
The first of the two changes made here has received comment in the previous article. The second change is a more accurate rendering of the Latin original. The two adjectives “right” and “just” refer both to the goodness (right) as well as the duty (just) to return thanks to God. These two words also act as prelude to the first words of the prayer which follows (the preface). That prayer begins, “It is truly right and just . . .”
Sanctus
PRESENT TEXT
Holy, holy, holy Lord,
God of power and might.
Heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes
in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
NEW TEXT
Holy, Holy, Holy Lord
God of hosts.
Heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes
in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
The current translation is actually taken from the Anglican Book of Common Prayer. The new version is not only a more accurate account of the original prayer of the church, but also embodies a more precise echo of Is 6:3. “God of hosts” is a translation of the Latin “Deus Sabaoth.” Sabaoth is plural and evokes the image of the angelic armies who serve God night and day.
[NEXT COLUMN: We look at the “Mystery of Faith” prayer.]
(This column was reprinted with permission from The Catholic Missourian, the newspaper of the Diocese of Jefferson City, Mo.)
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