USCCB Launches New Missal Site

The USCCB has inaugurated a new website on the new translation of the Roman Missal, the book used in the celebration of the Mass.  The website includes background history, relevant documents, FAQs and the like–as an aid to the church’s transition to the new Missal, which may (or may not, depending on the answer below) take effect during Advent of 2011. 

As readers of America know–from articles like  Bishop Victor Galeone’s “Expressing Holy Things” and Bishop Donald Trautman’s “How Accessible are the new Mass Translations?” and his “The Quest for Authentic Liturgy,”–the “new” Missal includes numerous changes, ones that will be immediately evident to both presider and congregation.  Here, for example, is the beginning of the new “Gloria,” with changes in bold:

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to people of good will. We praise you, we bless you, we adore you, we glorify you, we give you thanks for your great glory…

and the Creed, in its entirety:

I believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God, born of the Father before all ages. God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made,consubstantial with the Father; through him all things were made. For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven, and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate, he suffered death and was buried, and rose again on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead and his kingdom will have no end. And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. And one, holy, Catholic and apostolic Church. I confess one baptism for the forgiveness of sins and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen.

The USCCB’s website describes the coming of the new Missal as follows:

The English translation of the revised Roman Missal is nearing completion, and the Bishops of the United States will vote on the final sections of the text this November. Among other things, the revised edition of the Missale Romanum contains prayers for the observances of recently canonized saints, additional prefaces for the Eucharistic Prayers, additional Votive Masses and Masses and Prayers for Various Needs and Intentions, and some updated and revised rubrics (instructions) for the celebration of the Mass. The English translation of the Roman Missal will also include updated translations of existing prayers, including some of the well–known responses and acclamations of the people.

In answer to the FAQ “When will the text be implemented?” they say this:

The text of the Order of Mass (confirmed by the Holy See in June, 2008) has been released as a text for study and formation, but is not intended for liturgical use; that is to say it cannot be used in the celebration of the Mass.  The intention of the Congregation for Divine Worship and of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops is to enable and encourage a process of preparation and catechesis for both priests and the faithful, as well as to make the texts available to composers of liturgical music who can begin to set the texts, especially the acclamations, to music in anticipation of the implementation of the texts for liturgical use.  It is hoped that when the time comes to use the texts in the celebration of the Mass, priests will be properly trained, the faithful will have an understanding and appreciation of what is being prayed, and musical settings of the liturgical texts will be readily available.  The revised translation of the Order of Mass will be permitted only when the complete text of the Roman Missal (third edition) is promulgated.

Check it out for yourself.