Sarah, a 72-year-old Guinean is the prefect of the Vatican's Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, which traditionally has had authority over liturgical translations.

In a letter dated October 15, Pope Francis very directly corrected a commentary by Sarah on the implementation of the motu proprio Magnum Principium (MP)

In his commentary, Sarah argued that the new process for the translation of liturgical texts still follows the rules put into place with the 2001 Instruction Liturgiam Authenticam (LA), which said the vernacular versions must faithfully reflect the language and structure of the Latin texts.

In his letter, Pope Francis said MP "abolished" the process for translating used by the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments after LA was published in 2001.

He said that in the past, it was the task of the Vatican's liturgical office to judge whether or not a translation is faithful to the original Latin.

Now episcopal conferences themselves have been given the faculty of "judging the goodness and consistency of one and the other term in the translations from the original, in dialogue with the Holy See."

Sarah suggested that the words recognition (recognitio) and confirmation (confirmatio) are "interchangeable with respect to the responsibility of the Holy See".

But the Pope said these two words cannot be said to be "strictly synonymous or interchangeable or that they are interchangeable at the level of responsibility of the Holy See."

The distinction between recognition and confirmation he said, emphasises the different responsibility that the Apostolic See and episcopal conferences have in liturgical translations.

He said recognition by the Vatican "no longer supposes a detailed word-by-word examination" except in obvious cases which can be brought to the bishops for further reflection.

Recognition indicates verification and certainty of conformity into law and the communion of the Church.

It is granted after the text confirmed by the local bishops has been submitted to the Apostolic See.

While he conceded that "the recognitio was not a simply formal act", Pope Francis also insisted on "the spirit of dialogue" between Rome and bishops' conferences that his motu proprio required.

Pope Francis closed his letter noting that Sarah's commentary had been published on several websites, and asked that the cardinal transmit his response to the same outlets, as well as to members and consultors of the Congregation for Divine Worship.

Read the full text of the Pope's Letter

Source

• CNA
• NCR
• La Croix
• The Holy Trinity Church
• ICN
• Image: National Catholic Register

They say they will be working in collaboration with English speaking Bishops' Conferences around the world as they seek to explore prudently and patiently the possibility of an alternative translation of the Roman Missal and the review of other liturgical texts.

The following is the statement they released at the conclusion of their meeting.

During our recent meeting in Wellington, we discussed Magnum Principium (the great principle), Pope Francis' September 2017 edict concerning the translations of liturgical texts.

The Holy Father has shifted the responsibility of liturgical translations from a Vatican department back to national Conferences of Bishops.

Thus he has reaffirmed the teaching of the Second Vatican Council which states that it is local groupings of Bishops who oversee then approve translations into the language of the land, before seeking final acceptance of this work by the Holy See.

The New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference (NZCBC) gratefully welcomes this directive from Pope Francis. We appreciate the bold step he has taken to ensure translations of liturgical texts are of the highest standard.

Pope Francis has stated that three principles should guide the work of liturgical translation: fidelity to the original text; fidelity to the particular language into which it is being translated; and, a commitment to the intelligibility of the text. Therefore respect for a language's own syntax, structure, and turns of phrase are to be upheld.

Like many priests and parishioners, we share in the frustration concerning some aspects of the current translation of the Roman Missal and we reiterate our desire for beauty, comprehensibility, and participation in and through the sacred liturgy.

We will be working in collaboration with English-speaking Bishops' Conferences around the world as we seek to explore prudently and patiently the possibility of an alternative translation of the Roman Missal and the review of other liturgical texts.

✠ Patrick Dunn, Bishop of Auckland and NZCBC President
✠ Charles Drennan, Bishop of Palmerston North and NZCBC Secretary
✠ John Dew, Cardinal Archbishop of Wellington
✠ Steve Lowe, Bishop of Hamilton
Rev Michael Dooley, Vicar General, Diocese of Dunedin
Rev Rick Loughnan, Diocesan Administrator, Diocese of Christchurch

Source

• Supplied
• Image: Slideplayer

He says while in may be a simple error of fact, it does seem, that this description of the Mass seems to be made most often by critics of the Mass of Paul VI, so perhaps it is their way of suggesting a contrasting hermeneutic of church and liturgical worship.

The Mass this referred to is in fact what has always been know as Mass of Pope Pius V Read more

The Order for Funerals and the Order for the Celebration of Holy Matrimony were promulgated by the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the sacraments.

They are to be used by the Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham in the United Kingdom; the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St Peter in the United States and Canada; and the Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of the Southern Cross in Australia.

The new liturgies replace existing texts, including those from the Book of Divine Worship. Drawn from the classical Anglican prayer book tradition, the texts incorporate elements of the Anglican patrimony.

"We welcome with gratitude these texts, which bring into Catholic liturgical life some of the most beloved and memorable texts in the Book of Common Prayer," said Monsignor Jeffrey N. Steenson, Ordinary for the Ordinariate of the Chair of St Peter. "These texts have blessed and comforted generations of English-speaking Christians and will be deeply appreciated in the Ordinariate communities."

Monsignor Keith Newton, Ordinary of the Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham, said: "This is an important moment in the development of our distinctive liturgical and ecclesial life. We saw the world stop to watch the Royal Wedding last year, now a very similar and beautiful liturgy is available for use in the ordinariates of the Catholic Church — it is a great privilege for us to be part of that obvious working-out of practical, receptive ecumenism."

The liturgies for the former Anglicans were promulgated on June 22, the feast day of two English saints of the Reformation, John Fisher and Thomas More.

Sources:

Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St Peter

Image: Our Lady of Walsingham parish