Revised English Missal in India

"Through these sacred texts and the actions that accompany them, 

Christ will be made present and active in the midst of his people."

 (Pope Benedict XVI to Members and Consultors of the Vox Clara Committee, 28 April 2010)

27 November, the First Day of Advent 2011 is finally here, awaited in most parts of the English speaking world as the date on which the revised English translation of the Roman Missal ("new Missal") would be used for the first time. It is but right for us to pause for a moment and thank God for the long labours of all those involved in making this happen.

First and foremost we must be grateful to those bishops who, out of love for the Church and her worship, expressed their dissatisfaction over the previous translations made in the decade following the Second Vatican Council. Their desire for a more faithful translation was blessed with the Holy See's document, Liturgiam Authenticam (2001) that made such an undertaking a necessity, all the more so with the release of the 3rd Edition of the Missale Romanum.

Since then, for almost a decade, there has been the toil of so many bishops, liturgists, translators, reviewers, musicians, composers, various experts, and others across the world, who along with the Holy See have laboured to bring the English language liturgy to this its Vatican II moment. Should we not spend a moment thanking God for all of them and for those who in various capacities saw to its implementation?

Painful moments of polemics have also accompanied the whole process. Unfortunately, some of this still continues, especially among the clergy who overtly or covertly continue to discredit the work, defy legitimate authority, and even instigate the lay faithful against the new Missal.

My thoughts at this moment, turn to those holy and zealous foreign missionary priests of the last century who served the Church in our country. They had all their seminary formation in Latin and knew it like their mother tongue. And yet when holy mother Church decided, at the Second Vatican Council, to permit the introduction of the vernacular in parts of the liturgy, these faithful sons brought up in her Latin tradition, set aside all their personal differences to utter their humble "yes" to the Church. It is that spirit of fidelity to the Church that must be recalled today by those on both sides of the new Missal debate.

Back to the implementation, I cannot say that the revised Missal made a smooth landing here. Even if October was the planned delivery date, the pre-ordered Missals reached parishes too late. One priest informed me that his pre-order copy reached him only at 7pm yesterday, i.e., 26 November. If that is any indicator, I wouldn't be surprised if there are more parishes, and chapels of convents and other Catholic institutions that are yet to receive the new Missal or even order for it. To the best of my knowledge there was no Pastoral Letter from the country's Episcopal Conference nor a 'Decree of Proclamation' announcing the date of implementation of the new Missal; just a simple news announcement that was easy to miss and leave the faithful unaware.

Until about a week ago, hardly any parish had any printed resources ready for its parishioners. A diocesan pew card containing the people's parts highlighting changes, bears an Imprimatur dated 20 November 2011. I doubt if English choirs across the country have received the music for the new mass either. In any case, what one of the choirs sang at Mass today was ‘Praise and Worship’ hymns for the entrance and communion, and a non-Psalm hymn in place of the responsorial Psalm. Such liturgical celebrations hardly reflect the spirit of the new Missal, which unfortunately in many places is seen only as a matter of getting people to say the new prayers and responses. The priest-celebrant today, who cleverly avoided the new Confiteor using the third option in the Penitential Rite, later looking away from his Missal ended up reciting the “old” Sanctus instead.

Elsewhere in the country, I am told, people heard the announcement about the new Missal for the first time today and await its implementation next Sunday. But on the West coast, the Archdiocese of Bombay, seems to have done a better job overall in creating awareness (through a pastoral letter, magazine articles, parish seminars) and preparing for the implementation of the new Missal. So also some of the dioceses in the North East.

For a country that recognizes 18 official regional languages and speaks over a thousand others, English may appear as just one of the other languages. That of course would be a deception since English is the lingua franca for the Church in India and the only language in which seminary and religious formation is offered, at least in the country’s Latin church. Revised Missal translations of other vernaculars too largely need to consult the English Missal in a Latin deficient country. Therefore to downplay or ignore the implementation of new English Missal in India is to downplay the importance of the liturgy itself.

Speaking to the English Bishops last year, Pope Benedict said, "I encourage you now to seize the opportunity that the new translation offers for in-depth catechesis on the Eucharist and renewed devotion in the manner of its celebration" (19 September 2010). That opportunity is for all the English speaking world, India included. The fruits of the new Missal will begin to appear once we move from a mere mechanical implementation to a truly catechetical one. In the meantime we pray, Maranatha! "Our Lord, come!"

UPDATE: 29 November 2011

The Hindustan Times and CathNewsIndia report that the Archdiocese in the Capital missed the implementation date and has set for itself another date, 8 January 2011 (Solemnity of the Epiphany). Unlike other places which allowed the choirs and the people to progressively learn the new musical settings, Delhi will have to be ready for the Gloria and other liturgical music demanded by the Solemnity on day 1 of its new Missal implementation. However Mumbai and Kolkata managed to keep the date with the help pamphlets and pew cards, probably Pune too.

Are you a Catholic reader from India? 

If so, do comment in the space below about when you first heard about the revised translation of the English Missal, when it was implemented in your parish, and how well your parish prepared for it.

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Basic Catholic Prayers in Latin

Latin - English

In Nomine In nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti. Amen.	The Sign of the Cross In the name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Pater Noster Pater noster, qui es in caelis: sanctificetur nomen tuum; adveniat regnum tuum; fiat voluntas tua, sicut in caelo, et in terra. Panem nostrum cotidianum da nobis hodie; et dimitte nobis debita nostra, sicut et nos dimittimus debitoribus nostris; et ne nos inducas in tentationem; sed libera nos a malo. Amen.	The Our Father Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed by Thy name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive s our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation. But deliver us from evil. Amen.
Ave Maria Ave Maria, gratia plena, dominus tecum; benedicta tu in mulieribus, et benedictus fructus ventris tui, Jesus. Sancta Maria, Mater Dei, ora pro nobis peccatoribus, nunc et in hora mortis nostrae. Amen	The Hail Mary Hail Mary full of Grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed are thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb Jesus. Holy Mary Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death Amen.
Gloria Patri Gloria Patri, et Filio, et Spiritui Sancto. Sicut erat in principio et nunc et semper et in saecula saeculorum. Amen	The Glory Be Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Credo	The Nicene Creed
Credo in unum Deum, Patrem omnipotentem, factorem coeli et terrae, visibilium omnium et invisibilium. Et in unum Dominum Jesum Christum, Filium Dei unigenitum. Et ex Patre natum ante omnia saecula. Deum de Deo, lumen de lumine, Deum verum de Deo vero. Genitum, not factum, consubstantialem Patri: per quem omnia facta sunt. Qui propter nos homines, et propter nostram salutem descendit de coelis. Et incarnatus est de Spiritu Sancto ex Maria Virgine, et homo factus est. Crucifixus etiam pro nobis; sub Pontio Pilato passus, et sepultus est. Et resurrexit tertia die, secundum Scripturas. Et ascendit in coelum: sedet ad desteram Patris. Et iterum venturus est com gloria judicare vivos et mortuos. cujus regni non erit finis. Et in Spiritum Sanctum, Dominum et vivificantem: qui ex Patre Filioque procedit. Qui cum Patre, et Filio simul adoratur et conglorificatur: qui locutus est per Prophetas. Et unam, sanctam, catholicam et apostolicam Ecclesiam. Confiteor unum baptisma in remissionem peccatorum. Et exspecto resurrectionem mortuorum. Et vitam ventura saeculi. Amen.	We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen. We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, one in Being With the Father. Through him all things were made. For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven: by the power of the Holy Spirit he was born of the Virgin Mary, and became man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered, died, and was buried. On the third day he rose again in fulfillment of the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son he is worshipped and glorified. He has spoken through the Prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.
The Apostles' Creed
Credo in Deum, Patrem omnipotentem, Creatorem caeli et terrae. Et in Jesum Christum, filium eius unicum, Dominum nostrum: qui conceptus est de Spiritu Sancto, natus ex Maria Virgine, passus sub Pontio Pilato, crucifixus, mortuus, et sepultus; descendit ad inferos; tertia die resurrexit a mortuis; ascendit ad caelos; sedet ad dexteram Dei Patris omnipotentis; inde venturus est iudicare vivos et mortuos. Credo in Spiritum Sanctum, sanctam Ecclesiam Catholicam, Sanctorum communionem, remissionem peccatorum, carnis resurrectionem, vitam aeternam. Amen	I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord: Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary; suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell; the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of Saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.
Salve Regina Salve, Regina, mater misericordiae; Vita, dulcedo et spes nostra, salve. Ad te clamamus, exsules filii Evae. Ad te suspiramus, gementes et flentes in hac lacrimarum valle. Eia ergo, advocata nostra, illos tuos misericordes oculos ad nos converte. Et Iesum, benedictum fructum ventris tui, nobis post hoc exsilium ostende. O clemens, O pia, O dulcis Virgo Maria. V. Ora pro nobis sancta Dei Genetrix. R. Ut digni efficiamur promissionibus Christi	Hail Holy Queen Hail Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, hail our life our sweetness and our hope. To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve; To thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this vale of tears. Turn then, most gracious advocate, thine eyes of mercy toward us and after this our exile show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary! V. Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Laudate Dominum Psalm Chapter 116 (117) Here in Mangalore there is a tradition of singing  this Psalm in Latin as a thanksgiving hymn at functions.
Laudáte Dóminum omnes gentes (laudáte éum) omnes populi Quóniam confirmáta est súper nos misericordia eius et véritas Domini mánet in æternum Glória Pátri et Filio et Spiritui Sáncto. Sicut érat in pricipio et nunc et semper et in sáecula sáeculorum Amen.	O Praise the Lord, all ye nations: praise him, all ye people. For his mercy is confirmed upon us: and the truth of the Lord remaineth for ever. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.