Milwaukee priests lament more accurate Roman Missal translation; ‘salt in the wounds’

The literal translation -- "born of the Father before all ages" -- is not simply the most accurate translation; it's also the traditional Catholic translation. "Born of the Father before all ages" is the translation used in the Pace-Wynn translation (1916), the English translation of Cabrol's Liturgical Prayer (1921), the Saint Andrew Daily Missal (1945), and the Marian Missal (1955).

I'm surprised by the criticism of the new translation of the Nicene Creed. The Latin reads: “Et in unum Dominum Iesum Christum, Filium Dei unigenitum, et ex Patre natum ante omnia saecula.” The new translation is an accurate, word-for-word translation: “And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God, born of the Father before all ages.” It’s the current translation that’s inaccurate: “We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father.”

Thank you, Rex. I should have guessed editing was the culprit in the dewfall example, because anyone who understands Latin couldn't possibly be that poor in English vocabulary! I'm afraid I still don't see the "heresy" in either of the examples you cite, though. I see a disagreement over the best way to render both the sense and the literal meaning of the Latin text in English in the first, but not heresy; in the second, it's not heresy to use the Apostles' Creed in place of the Nicene, is it?

In Eucharistic Prayer III, the Latin says "ut a solis ortu usque ad occasum..". It is a spacial idiom meaning from east to west, or 'everywhere'. However in the new missal it is translated as "so that from the rising of the sun to its setting..", in English idiom a temporal image. So much for evening Masses!

My my, how yesterday's revolutionaries from the 1960s and 1970s become today's crusty old guard. Their liturgical revolution is dissipating right before their bitter old eyes.

To Rex: Excuse me? Dewfall isn't to be found in any English dictionary? Read your comment, opened a new tab, went to Merriam Webster Online (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dewfall) and there it was. It's in the online edition of the Oxford Dictionary too. It'll be in any authoritive English language dictionary because it's a common word. And I'd like some examples of the heresy that the new translation promotes, please, because that's an absurd assertion.

Let me remind the Milwaukee priests of a phrase might help them adapt: Omnia mutantur nos et mutamur in illis. All things change, and we change with them. BTW, Fathers, that was Latin, the once universal language of the church. Just as we changed from using Latin, you all can change from using the current incorrect version of the Mass. Have a happy Catechism class. And remember to smile! Your next bishop might like you better if you do.

Father Jerkus should stop obsessing about the changes in the translations in the Mass. They won't even be noticed by most of the people in the pews who are physically present but mentally somewhere else. Those who are mentally present will probably like the translations to be more accurate with the Latin.

This is what happens when seminaries stop teaching Latin. Priests lack any appreciation for the beauty of the langauge and its place in our history and tradition.

It is a sad day, indeed, when our own priests fail to appreciate and support the strength of the true and proper translation of the Eucharistic Liturgy and prefer the "babble" which has crept into our Liturgy thanks to "modernists". It would be so much easier to explain to the faithful the reason for the change is to return to the true and proper translations. I firmly believe that we are at the point, in spite of the current shortage of priests, where we should suggest – no, insist – that these rebellious priests retire immediately rather than continue to poison the faithful.

That place is never going to get over Weakland. Ever.

These guys are complaining about a few modified sentences? What a stunning lack of perspective. Forty years ago the entire Mass which had been practiced for untold generations was summarily trashed with less controversy. Honestly, worrying about whether "the people" can handle the word "consubstantial" strikes me as daft. A little more concern about worshipping the Lord and the sanctification of souls is in order. BTW, what's a "priests' alliance"?

I look forward to hearing what this new Roman Missal is like. If it does have the majesty of Latin then it should be helpful. If this priest thinks it isn't English that I question his grasp of the language. I was a Fine Arts major and studied the great music of the Church. I've read the classics including Augustine, St. John of the Cross and Teresa of Avila. As a convert I entered the Church and found mediocre English and junk music. I hope this is an improvement.

I thought these progressive priests loved "change"?