2004

Thursday 13th May 2004
Old Rites, New Words
Australia's Catholic Bishops have responded to a new draft translation of the Order of Mass prepared by the International Commission for English in the Liturgy (ICEL).

ICEL is a body set up after the Second Vatican Council to translate Latin liturgical texts into English. In January of this year it issued a draft translation of the new edition of the Latin Missal published in 2001.

That draft was then sent to the Bishops of the English-speaking world for their comment and for consultation with the wider Church.

Bishop Kevin Manning, Chairman of the Bishops' Committee for Liturgy, said that the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, meeting in Sydney in May, had voted to resubmit the draft to ICEL with the Bishops' comments and the responses of the many people they had consulted, including experts in Latin, music and pastoral liturgy.

"The Bishops discussed many of the complex issues involved in this task and commended ICEL for the work done so far," Bishop Manning said.

"The draft isn't perfect, but it builds on what we've learnt in the last 30 years and is a step in the right direction.

"We look forward now to giving final approval to an accurate and dignified translation which will enrich the prayer of the whole Church and match the splendour of the mystery we celebrate at Mass."

Source: Australian Catholic Bishops Conference

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