(Msgr. Tom is in Rome. Fr. Khanh Hoang is writing in his absence.)

THIRD EDITION OF THE ROMAN MISSAL

The Roman Missal is the ritual text containing prayers and instructions for the celebration of the Mass. By now, most of you are aware that the Third Edition of the Roman Missal will be implemented on November 27, 2011, the First Sunday of Advent and also the beginning of our liturgical year. This Third Edition of the Roman Missal was published in 2002, in Latin, but it took quite a strenuous and lengthy process to have it translated into English for use by all English-speaking Catholics around the world.

The new English translation of the Roman Missal will reflect more of the biblical roots because of the connection between the Missal and the Lectionary for Mass (scriptural readings) and it will adhere more closely to the Latin words and syntax. The new translation will be more accurate, theologically rich, and better connect us linguistically to all Catholics around the world. It is meant to provide for us a more courteous and reverential way of praying in union with the whole Church.

The layout of the Third Edition of the Roman Missal is a little different because some prayers have been revised or added and a number of new canonized saints have been celebrated since the last revision in 1970. The overall way that we celebrate the Mass however, will be the same. The new responses and prayers within the Mass might be clumsy and awkward when we start in November but over time they will become our prayer and more importantly the prayer of the universal Church.

I encourage you to take the time to study and learn more about Third Edition of the Roman Missal because this is a great opportunity for catechesis for ourselves and it will also help us better appreciate the gift of the Eucharist, which is the source and summit of the life and mission of the Church.

Sample of the Penitential Act:

CURRENT TRANSLATION
I confess to almighty God, and to you, my brothers and sisters, that I have sinned through my own fault in my thoughts and in my words, in what I have done, and in what I have failed to do; and I ask blessed Mary, ever virgin, all the angels and saints, and you, my brothers and sisters, to pray for me to the Lord, our God.

NEW TRANSLATION
I confess to almighty God and to you, my brothers and sisters, that I have greatly sinned, in my thoughts and in my words, in what I have done and in what I have failed to do, through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault; therefore I ask blessed Mary ever-Virgin, all the Angels and Saints, and you, my brothers and sisters, to pray for me to the Lord our God.

For more information on the Third Edition of the Roman Missal, please see:
http://www.usccb.org/romanmissal/

Fr. Khanh Hoang