The new English translation of the Roman Missal goes into effect Nov. 27. (CR/Bill McAllen)
It’s no secret that some priests – especially those who were energized by the Second Vatican Council – aren’t very pleased with the pending Nov. 27 implementation of the new English translation of the Roman Missal. They think the new language, which strives to be a more literal translation of the Latin prayer book, is archaic and inaccessible.
Early this week, I e-mailed all the parishes of the Archdiocese of Baltimore to find out if anyone was planning to do anything to mark the last weekend of Masses using the current translation. Archdiocesan leaders had encouraged parishes to find ways of celebrating the decades of service of the current translation. I wanted to see if any parishes were actually planning to ceremoniously retire, bury or burn their old Sacramentaries, as suggested.
The first response I received was from an Anne Arundel County pastor, informing me in just three words how he planned to mark the passage of the old translation.
“Occupy the Vatican,” he wrote.
How are you observing the end of an era?