Documents and Introductory Materials
Part 3 Theological Issues
Chapter 35 Liturgical Language
Preliminary QuestionsBibliography |
Translation GuidelinesOther Issues |
To Think About |
Preliminary Questions
St. Augustine: "Better for you to understand me when I use a 'barbarism,' than for you to return home empty because I was too 'literary'." (Taken from Nathan Mitchell's "The Amen Corner" Worship, 77:3, May 2003, p 250.)
St. Augustine: "Popular language itself is very often a teacher of salvation." (Taken from Nathan Mitchell's "The Amen Corner" Worship, 77:3, May 2003, p 251.)
Pope Paul VI: "The church has sacrificed its native tongue, Latin, a language that is sacred, measured, beautiful, richly expressive, and graceful. The Church has made the sacrifice of an age-old tradition and above all of unity in language among diverse peoples to bow to a higher universality, an outreach to all peoples.." (DOL, 26, p. 114. Taken from Nathan Mitchell's "The Amen Corner" Worship, 77:3, May 2003, p 254.)
Bibliography
“Comme le prevoit: On the Translation of Liturgical Texts for Celebrations with a Congregation (1969),” The Liturgy Documents, volume II, Chapter 8.pp 227-242.
“To Speak as a Christian Community: Pastoral Message on Inclusive Language (1989),” The Liturgy Documents, volume II, Chapter 9. pp 243-248.
“Criteria for the Evaluation of Inclusive Language Translations of Scriptural Texts Proposed for Liturgical Use (1990), The Liturgy Documents, volume II, Chapter 10.” pp249-258.
Donald W. Trautman "Roman and ICEL," America, March 4 2000 (182:7) pp 7-ll. [The Most Rev. Donald W. Trautman, bishop of Erie PA, is a former chairman of the Committee on Liturgy of the USCCB.]
Liturgiam authenticam: The Fifth Instruction for the Right Application of the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy of the Second Vatican Council." March 28, 2001. [This fifth instruction deals with the issue of translations.]
Translation Guidelines
A shift "below the iceberg" has taken place regarding the translation of liturgical texts
1. Comme le prevoit
“Comme le prevoit: On the Translation of Liturgical Texts for Celebrations with a Congregation (1969),” The Liturgy Documents, volume II, Chapter 8.pp 227-242.
Comme le prevoit was approved personally by Pope Paul VI and served as the guide for ICEL translations from the time of the council until the turn of the century.
2. Liturgiam authenticam
Liturgiam authenticam: The Fifth Instruction for the Right Application of the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy of the Second Vatican Council." March 28, 2001. [This fifth instruction deals with the issue of translations.] “Comme le prevoit: On the Translation of Liturgical Texts for Celebrations with a Congregation (1969),” The Liturgy Documents, volume II, Chapter 8.pp 227-242.
3. Change from 1969 to 2001
| 1969 January 25 | 2001 March 28 |
| Comme le Prévoit | Liturgiam Authenticam |
| Translations are to be adapted to the culture based on the principle of "Dynamic Equivalence." E.g. The Holy Spirit is a "refrigerium" (refrigerator / cooling breeze). This is fine for desert countries and cultures. But in Alaska, we don't want a cooling breeze; we want a warming breeze! | Literal Translation; not "dynamic equivalence" E.g. A cooling breeze is a cooling breeze and the people have to adapt the text themselves. |
| Translations from the Latin are the “school” for original compositions. | Translations are to be word for
word. One must be able to go from the English back to the Latin. |
| Bless and approve our offering; make it acceptable to you, an offering in spirit and in truth. Let it become for us the body and blood of Jesus Christ, your only Son, our Lord. |
We pray, O God, deign to make this offering in every way blessed, consecrated, approved, spiritual, and acceptable, that it may become for us the Body and Blood of your most beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. |
| Let us pray with confidence to the Father in the
words our Savior gave us. Our Father... |
Taught by commands that bring
salvation And formed by divine instruction, We have the courage to say: Our Father... |
Other Issues
Other Issues
1. Sacred / Secular. Latin / Vernacular.
2. Theological issues involved in translation.
3. Inclusive language.
4. Bi-lingual / Tri-lingual liturgies ?
To Think About
Compare "Comme le prevoit" with "Liturgiam Authenticam."
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