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CHANGES IN THE ROMAN MISSAL, PART 17 (CONCLUSION): New Dismissal Formulas
[EDITOR’S NOTE: This column is the final part of a lengthy 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. All previous columns have been archived at www.coloradocatholicherald.com. Just type “Changes in the Roman Missal” into the search box and the columns should appear. — BH]
New Dismissal Formulas
On Oct. 17, 2008, Nigerian Cardinal Francis Arinze published a communication in the Vatican newspaper L’Osservatore Romano that the Holy Father, Pope Benedict, had approved three new formulas for the dismissal at the end of Mass. The current formula is “Ite, missa est,” (literally, “Go, you are sent forth.”), now translated as “The Mass is ended, go in peace.” The new options are:
— “Ite ad Evangelium Domini annuntiandum” (Go and announce the Gospel of the Lord).
— “Ite in pace, glorificando vita vestra Dominum” (Go in peace, glorifying the Lord by your life).
— “Ite in pace” (Go in peace).
Father Richard Hilgartner, associate director of the Secretariat of Divine Worship for the U.S. Bishops’ Conference, said in an interview with Catholic News Service that, “the Holy Father had a desire to find ways to express more clearly the connection between what’s celebrated in the liturgy and how the faithful live their lives beyond liturgy, that movement from the altar to the world.”
The Holy Father’s action came in response to one of the propositions put forth by the bishops who attended the World Synod of Bishops in 2005 on the Eucharist. At the end of the month-long discussions, the synod participants put together a series of propositions which were presented to the pope. Usually, the pope then publishes a document that sums up and responds to the work of the synod. Proposition 24 of the Synod on the Eucharist recommended new acclamations for the Mass dismissal:
To make more explicit the relationship between Eucharist and mission, which belongs to the heart of this synod, it is suggested that new dismissal formulas be prepared (solemn blessings, prayers over the people or others), which underline the mission in the world of the faithful who have participated in the Eucharist.
There is no official English translation, yet, for these formulas, and they cannot be used in an English language Mass until a translation is approved by the bishops and recognized by Rome. They are a marvelous pastoral response by the Holy Father. And they are a reminder and clear call to our baptismal duty to be missionaries of the Gospel!
(This article was reprinted with permission from The Catholic Missourian, the newspaper of the Diocese of Jefferson City, Mo.)
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