Abp. Schwietz: New Missal Translation has "Dogmatic Clarity"

Archbishop Roger Scwietz

Archbishop Schwietz of Anchorage, Alaska has written a good article that expresses his strong support of the new english translation of the Roman Missal that will be implemented next Advent. He explains that his recent trip to Russia, where he celebrated the Mass in Russian, was formative in helping him realize how "unifying" the new translation will be for us here in the United States with the rest of the world. His excellency explains:

My trip to Magadan, Russia, to be with Father Mike Shields and the people of the Church of the Nativity for the 20th Anniversary celebration of the parish’s founding was eventful in so many ways. The gratitude of the people was expressed in every imaginable way. Their faith was clearly felt in the services we celebrated. I even began to pick up a bit of Russian while I was there.

As we celebrated the Sacred Liturgy of the Mass each day (in Russian) I began to recognize more and more the invocations and responses. After a while it became clear to me that the Russian translation of the Roman Missal which they were using was the same as ours in English: Not what we are currently using, but what we will be starting to use in Advent 2011. Just as I have seen in Spanish, French and German translations of the Roman Missal, we now have a common way of translating the Latin into the vernacular — common for all except the English speaking world. The English has been less tied to the Latin text.

That will soon change as we in the United States and elsewhere begin using the new English translation of the Roman Missal. Having labored over this translation in the U.S. bishops’ conference for years, I am happy to see this day arrive. I am well aware that some people feel the translation could be improved. At the same time, I am delighted that we are joining the rest of the Catholic world in sharing the beauty and simplicity of the Roman Rite with its Scriptural references and dogmatic clarity.

The great part of this article is that he acknowledges that there are those that disagree with the implementation of the translation as it is currently written, but he explains that such opposition is, and should be, in the shadows of the need for unity that comes from joining the rest of the World by sharing the same translation for the Missal. He describes the new translation as the... "beauty and simplicity of the Roman Rite with its Scriptural references and dogmatic clarity."

One of the biggest arguments against the implementation of the new translation comes from those that say that Dioceses are not doing enough in Catechetical formation regarding its use. The Archbishop, the Archdiocese of Anchorage, and the Catholic Anchor have already begun to address this concern. The Archbishop explains:

As this year of 2011 begins, I invite all of us to look into the reasons for the new English translation of the Roman Missal, and to launch into a time of preparation for the reception of this text. It is a text that is more clearly scripturally based and more elevated in its effort to worship God with dignity.

Among the resources which will be made available to us throughout this year of preparation is the series of reflections being presented by Father LeRoy Clementich, CSC. Father Clem has prepared several texts to help us understand the background and value of the new translation. Please read them carefully and, perhaps save them for future reference. They will give us the opportunity to prepare ourselves to adjust to our liturgical language with a trust in the Spirit’s continued guidance of the church. May our spirit of adventure help us receive the New Roman Missal for the greater glory of God.

He explains that the reason we should be so accepting of this translation is because it is, "elevated in its effort to worship God with dignity." In this simple statement, he not only explains why the translation is good for us Catholic and good for the Mass, but the proper role of the text in the Mass, that is: Worship.

On top of his support for the translation, the Archbishop has also implemented a Catechesis program for the new translation inside the pages of the Catholic Anchor. The feature is called Preparing for the New Translation of the Roman Missal. It will be written by Father Leroy Clementich, C.S.C.

We applaud the Archbishop for his support of the new translation, and the beginning efforts of explaining, instructing, and Catechetically forming the faithful in the Archdiocese of Anchorage.

†††