LITURGY NEWSLETTER Vol. 1 No. 4 August 2001 A Quarterly Newsletter prepared for the Liturgy Office of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales

THE EDITOR WRITES: “Any new forms adopted should in some way grow organically from forms already in existence.” This quotation from Vatican II (Sac. Conc. 23) forms the concluding words of the Instruction Comme le prévoit which has governed the project of liturgi- In the mind of the Lord, cal translation since 1969. It also expresses an age-old principle not just of liturgical development the Church is universal by vocation and mis- but of Church teaching and discipline in general, the principle of organic development which sion, but when she puts proceeds not by radical discontinuities but by incorporating and building on previous statements, down her roots in a to establish continuity and consolidate authority (see the footnotes of any encyclical). variety of cultural, social and human terrains, she The new Instruction Liturgiam authenticam is a profoundly untraditional document. In 133 takes on different exter- paragraphs and 86 footnotes it never once mentions the document it supersedes, and in so many nal expressions and respects it appears to repudiate or subvert not only its immediate predecessor but also the project appearances in each part of the world. of Paul VI whereby the people’s prayer becomes the prayer of the Church while at the same time Paul VI, remaining perfectly accessible to them. Evangelii Nuntiandi 1975 This troubling document is, sad to say, rather mean-spirited. Its attitude to the vernacular seems wholly grudging and concessive and is hard to reconcile with the positive openness to other cultures and languages displayed by Vatican II (e.g. Ad Gentes 19, 21) and Paul VI (e.g.Evangelii Nuntiandi 62, 63). It is mistrustful of bishops and bishops’ conferences and claws back the jus liturgicum restored to them by the Council. It claims the right to overrule their choice English-speaking Catho- of collaborators and even to impose the Congregation’s own translations on them. Without lics have an obligation supporting evidence, it imputes serious errors to existing translations which have been approved to offer their own over and again by conferences and confirmed over and again by the selfsame Congregation contributions to the living corpus of prayer in Rome. that they have received. It is authoritarian, not to say totalitarian in tone. It speaks openly in terms of the exercise Our faith experience of Jesus, reflecting our con- of “power”, spurns ecumenical convergence, requires biblical translations to be conformed to temporary culture, is the Latin liturgy and both to be conformed to the Catechism, and sets out to control even just as valid as the faith punctuation, capitalisation and the numbering of paragraphs. experience of those in previous millennia. It is doubtful whether the vitality of local churches and the energy of the Holy Spirit at work in Bishop D.Trautman, America, March 2001 them can be so constrained and controlled. The very attempt smacks of fear and desperation. Chris Walsh At Rest in the Lord 17 June, Cardinal Thomas Winning, Arch- 27 June, Professor Balthasar Fischer of od of mercy bishop of Glasgow, aged 76. Though better Trier, aged 89. A pioneer and giant of the Gand love, known in support of other causes, he was a liturgical movement in Germany and world- grant to Thomas and Balthasar, your servants good friend of the liturgy who sponsored new wide, he held the first chair of liturgy in and priests, in Scotland as well as a number Germany, was a co-founder of the German a glorious place at your of significant church building projects. As a Liturgical Institute at Trier (1947) and a peritus heavenly table, vigorous champion of ICEL, in his last months at Vatican II. Some readers will remember his for you made them here on earth he was deeply and passionately involved address to a conference on liturgical formation faithful ministers of your internationally in defence of the liturgical at Kensington Square in the early eighties. The word and sacrament. responsibilities and prerogatives of bishops’ whole Church is in debt to his work. As a We ask this through conferences. member of the Consilium, he was involved in Christ our Lord. continued on page 2 Amen Order of Christian Funerals Contents The Editor Writes 1 Second Thoughts 3 At Rest in the Lord 1–2 Reading the Reviews 3 Further News 2 Two Roman Instructions on Translation 4 Tried and Tested 2

Liturgy Newsletter — Page 1 Coming Events drawing up the rites of infant land and Wales to the first Tried and Tested baptism (1969) and adult ini- 36 years of ICEL. Archbishop ccording to the General Following the May con- tiation (1972), and chaired the Francis Grimshaw of Birming- Instruction of the Roman ference of the Euro- working parties which produced ham was one of its founding pean Catechumenate AMissal (no 313 in the cur- the Directory on Masses with fathers (along with Archbishops Network, the England rent missal, 352 in the new edi- Children (1973) and the three Paul Hallinan of Atlanta, Denis and Wales RCIA Net- tion), each celebration of eucharistic prayers for children Hurley of Durban and Guilford work is holding its will achieve the greatest effect if (1974). His guiding motto, from Young of Hobart) and hosted its annual conference at it takes account of the “needs, Hinsley Hall, Leeds St Augustine, was “to use the lan- first meeting at the English Col- spiritual preparation and apti- from 5-7 September, guage not of the learned but of lege, Rome in 1963. He was suc- tudes” of the participating congre- entitled ‘New Wine: the simple”. ceeded in turn by Archbishop gation, whose members should be New Wineskins. RCIA George Dwyer, Bishop Gordon and its Challenge to ‘Authentic Liturgy’ involved in its planning and prepa- Wheeler, Bishop Joseph Gray and be Sponsoring On 7 May, a fifth Instruction (for ration. We have a long way still Communities’. For fur- the implementation of the Con- Bishop Thomas McMahon. On to go! Various resources are avail- ther information, con- stitution on the Liturgy) entitled the Advisory Committee which, able to assist such conscientious tact Nicky Stevens at Liturgiam authenticam appeared in under the bishops, organised the preparation. 01932 345753, or Latin on the Vatican website, along work of the commission, England [email protected] Living Liturgy Year A (Liturgical with a lengthy press-release-cum- and Wales normally had two members, including over the years Press, July 2001), a workbook for commentary and an English ver- those planning liturgy for Sundays The SSG Autumn sion described as a “supplement”. Professor HPR Finberg, Fathers Harold Winstone, Tony Boylan, and solemnities, contains the read- School of Liturgy and It prescribes new norms for the ings and suggestions for the psalm Music will take place at Eddie Matthews, Chris Walsh and use of the vernacular and revokes and other music, model texts for Ushaw College, Geoffrey Steel. all previous directives on the sub- the intercessions, catechetical notes Durham, 22-26 ject. It lays down detailed regula- October. The theme is Liturgy Institute for music ministers and liturgy tions concerning which languages ‘Give us this day our Canon Chris Walsh completed his groups, and a two-page reflection are to be allowed into the liturgy daily bread’, and the five-year term as director of the on the spirituality of the day as a at all (nos 12–18), principles and week will include the ecumenical Institute for Liturgy resource for preaching and prayer. norms to be followed in trans- usual lectures, and Mission at Sarum College, Sourcebook for Sundays and workshops, excursions lating liturgical books and pre- Salisbury in June. While the bish- Seasons 2002 (Liturgy Training and liturgies, as well paring lectionaries, with specific ops explore the best means of Publications, September 2001) as events for children. directives concerning vocabulary, providing for continuing litur- continues the long-running series For information and syntax and style (nos. 19–69). It gical formation throughout the with valuable overviews of each booking, contact 01661 then prescribes in detail a process 871513. country, Canon Alan Griffiths of season, background themes, for the preparation, approval and Portsmouth diocese will be rep- resources and suggestions for plan- recognition of translations (nos. resenting the Conference in the ning and celebrating in the parish Liturgy Office 70–108), for the publication of work of the Institute. and at home, with day-by-day new phone numbers liturgical books (nos. 109-125), commentary on the lectionary, Since July the Liturgy and for the preparation of Morning & music and sacramentary sugges- Office has a new tele- local and religious propers (nos. Evening Prayer phone number: tions, notice of forthcoming feasts. 126-130) It concludes with the Two more fascicles of the supple- 020 7901 4850 Beware: both books use the scriptures requirement that all previously mentary resource prepared by the and fax in the NAB translation! 020 7901 4821 approved and confirmed texts Pastoral Liturgy Committee, From now in use be brought into con- the Rising of the Sun to its Setting, Liturgy Planner (Decani Music, formity with the new norms in vols 1 (Advent) and 2 (Christ- three times per year) contains a defined period of time (nos mas), will be available from the liturgical notes and reflections plus Further Information 131–133). Liturgy Office in September. extensive music listings, together Liturgicam authenticam The document was approved and with useful seasonal overviews. www.vatican.va/ Meeting of roman_curia?congregations/ccdds/ confirmed by the Pope on 20 Music and Liturgy (Society of index.htm March and “entered into force” Euro-Catechumenate St Gregory, quarterly) includes Liturgical Press: on 25 April, even though its exist- EuroCat 2001 was an interna- a planner consisting of a brief www.litpress.org tional gathering of around over Distribution in UK — ence was not revealed until 7 thought for the day and extensive Books: 40 people involved in adult ini- 00 353 1 294 2556 May, and then only on the inter- suggestions for psalm, music and www.columba.ie net. It has still, so far as we know, tiation across Europe and the . United States. The title of Liturgy Training Publications not been sent to bishops or bish- Southwark Liturgy Bulletin (LTP): www.ltp.org the Conference was “From the Distribution in UK — ops’ conferences. (quarterly) has a planner with McCrimmons Threshold”. It was a great oppor- 01702 218 956 seasonal overviews, notes on the ICEL tunity to share our different and www.McCrimmons.co.uk readings, suggestions for music and The eleven bishops of ICEL met common experiences of initiation Decani Music choices from the sacramentary. www.decanimusic.o.uk in Washington, 20-22 July. As they practice, to recognise the impor- 01638 716 579 organise themselves and their sec- tance of the welcome that people A word of warning, however. All such Society of St Gregory retariat under a new constitution www.ssg.org.uk need to receive if they are to aids can be invaluable, but they can for the next phase of ICEL’s also become a substitute for pondering Southwark Liturgy Commission move from the threshold into full 020 8643 6116 work, it may be appropriate to communion with the body of and wrestling with the scriptures and record the contribution of Eng- Christ. the liturgical books themselves. Page 2 — Liturgy Newsletter Briefly noted Second Thoughts

Kasper vs Ratzinger: a Liturgical Corollary? No ?! No music?! Our music system pro- efore the reforms of Vati- chapel or a cathedral, but also everyone present should be able vides all popular hymns Bcan II, the liturgy was cel- that the parish 8.30 will quite to find and hear themselves in led by female cantor ebrated ‘ne varietur’ with likely be different from the 10.30. them (see no. 20 on p. 4 below). operated by remote identical words, rubrics and control. Quite rightly, too, because liturgy Liturgiam authenticam, one trusts, actions regardless of the context, Advertisement in Intercom is a dialogue in Christ between is not in disagreement, but its May 2001 the congregation, the circum- God and his people, God and emphasis is certainly very dif- stances. You might say it worked his Church. That Church is the ferent. The liturgy seems to be like clockwork. The post-concil- The use of overhead Body of Christ existing through- regarded more as a timeless and iar liturgy has been altogether projectors instead of out time and space, but it takes transcendent dialogue between more demanding. In pursuance hymnbooks leads to a flesh and becomes actual and God and the Church universal of the objective of “full, con- centralisation of power active wherever two or three in time and space, whose terms in the hands of the scious, active participation” by gather in his name, in every local are fixed in language which tran- few who choose the everyone present as their baptis- congregation. And so the words scends the vagaries, or one might … No sooner has mal right and duty, the revised in which it responds to the Lord, say “the needs, spiritual prepara- the verse been sung rites require the celebration than the words disap- though uttered “in the name tion and aptitudes” of those con- to be adapted “as closely as pear and the worship- of the entire holy people” are crete people actually taking part. possible to the needs, spiritual also the words of “all present” per cannot look back (see no 27 on p. 4 below). Is and muse on what has preparation and aptitudes of the (Sac. Conc. 33). Both the Roman this really what Pope Paul VI been sung… To be able participants” who should be con- Missal (as cited above) and the meant when he declared that the to thumb through a sulted and involved in the prepa- previous instruction on transla- vernacular, the people’s prayer, hymnbook is to have ration (GIRM 352(313)). Simply tion, Comme le prévoit, are quite has become the prayer of the access to a treasury of put, this must mean not just that clear that the words used must spiritual wisdom which Church? a school Mass will be somewhat become the genuine prayer of the might not otherwise be different from Mass in a convent particular congregation, and that Chris Walsh available to the majority of worshippers. report, 2001

Reading the Reviews end up with complex, archaic, LA is a form of western colo- obscure ‘liturgy-speak’. The lit- nialism masquerading as ecclesial urgy will become disconnected unity. It doesn’t reflect thirty Liturgiam authenticam (LA) has five years (of liturgical experi- drawn passionate comment from from life and become part of a ence); it wants to wipe them out. around the world. Herewith is ghetto, inaccessible to those who (Mark Francis, superior-general just a selection: seek spiritual nourishment. (Edi- torial, Liturgy News (Australia), of the Viatorians, National Catho- The general principles the new Further Information June). lic Reporter (USA), May). text sets forth seem to smack Comme le prévoit For more than two years the webelieve.cc/html/issues.htm of good common sense: if Reading LA after reading the or speeches from the pope’s latest bishops appointed to represent webelieve.cc/html/ the Roman Rite is to survive the English-speaking countries commeleprevoit.htm trip (Greece and Syria) presents (note address does not begin with throughout the Latin Church, www) a basic question: is LA a product have tried to meet with the then the prayers of the Rite in all Congregation to discuss these of the same church that speaks their rich doctrine and expres- matters. The various excuses in the person of John Paul II? siveness have to survive… For given for not meeting are an …What is puzzling is that, just as the serenity of the faithful who interesting study in themselves. the pontiff in his role as bridge- look to Rome for sure guidance, They do nothing for collegiality. the Holy See should be involved builder offers the olive branch (Bishop Peter Cullinane, presi- in the process, and not just at the to those whom enmity has long dent of New Zealand Bishops’ end… Moreover, on the juridical separated, the Congregation for Conference, New Zealand Catho- level, when the Holy See gives Divine Worship is busily laying lic, May) a faculty to the Bishops’ Con- the foundations for more alien- I’ve got a summary, which I took ference, it doesn’t mean that ation - this time within the off the internet, but I haven’t got the Holy See loses the ability church… In his trips to the the document. In itself this says to exercise the same faculty. Holy Land, Greece and Syria, there’s something wrong. (Car- (Osservatore Romano, 30 May). John Paul stood before the world dinal Wilfrid Napier, president By definition, a vernacular is the with the courage and the cultural of South Africa Bishops’ Con- language in use in a particular daring of a Paul. The CDW’s ference, National Catholic Reporter, place. A living language is con- document is more reminiscent of May) stantly evolving… It seems to something the disciples, cowering me that what the document calls paralysed in their locked upper a ‘sacral vernacular’ is scarcely room, might have produced. a vernacular at all… If the (Editorial, Celebrate (Canada), norms are applied rigidly, we will June).

Liturgy Newsletter — Page 3 Two Roman Instructions on Translation

Comme le prévoit 1969 Liturgiam authenticam 2001 Sooner or later we shall 6. “Liturgical translations become the voice 27. Even if expressions should be avoided which be faced with the need of the Church” (Paul VI, 10 Nov.1965). To hinder comprehension because of their exces- to create our own litur- achieve this end, it is not sufficient that a litur- sively unusual or awkward nature, the liturgical gical language, a lan- gical translation merely reproduce the expres- texts should be considered as the voice of guage that will express sions and ideas of the original text. Rather it the faith, the religious the Church at prayer, rather than of only par- sentiments, the mental- must faithfully communicate to a given people, ticular congregations or individuals; thus, they ity of English-speaking and in their own language, that which the should be free of an overly servile adherence Christians. It will have Church by means of this given text originally to prevailing modes of expression. If indeed, to be a language that intended to communicate to another people in in the liturgical texts, words or expressions are emerges from our way another time. A faithful translation, therefore, sometimes employed which differ somewhat of thinking and doing cannot be judged on the basis of individual things, as did the Latin from usual and everyday speech, it is often that was the language words: the total context of this specific act of enough by virtue of this very fact that the of the Roman rite for a communication must be kept in mind, as well texts become truly memorable and capable of thousand years. as the literary form proper to the respective expressing heavenly realities. Indeed, it will be J.D.Crichton, language. The Once and Future Liturgy 1977 seen that the observance of the principles set 20. The prayer of the Church is always the prayer forth in this Instruction will contribute to the of some actual community, assembled here and gradual development, in each vernacular, of a Much ink has been spilt now. It is not sufficient that a formula handed sacred style that will come to be recognized recently about the ‘qual- down from some other time or region be as proper to liturgical language. Thus it may ity’, the ‘beauty’ of lit- happen that a certain manner of speech which urgy - and not before translated verbatim, even if accurately, for litur- time. However, we must gical use. The formula translated must become has come to be considered somewhat obsolete not forget that liturgy the genuine prayer of the congregation and in in daily usage may continue to be maintained is beautiful in the same it each of its members should be able to find in the liturgical context… These principles, in way that the Church and express himself or herself. fact, should free the liturgy from the necessity is beautiful - ‘you give of frequent revisions when modes of expres- us grace upon grace to 15. The language should be that in “common” sion may have passed out of popular usage. build the temple of your usage, that is, suited to the greater number Spirit, creating its beauty of the faithful who speak it in everyday use, 47. While the translation must transmit the per- from the holiness of our even “children and persons of small education” ennial treasury of orations by means of lan- lives’ (Roman Missal). A Griffiths, (Paul VI, ibid.) However, the language should guage understandable in the cultural context Priests and People June 2001 not be “common” in the bad sense, but for which it is intended, it should also be “worthy of expressing the highest realities” guided by the conviction that liturgical prayer (ibid). Moreover, the correct biblical or chris- not only is formed by the genius of a culture, tian meaning of certain words and ideas will but itself contributes to the development of Liturgy always need explanation and instruction. Nev- that culture. Consequently it should cause no Newsletter ertheless no special literary training should be surprise that such language differs somewhat www.liturgy.demon.co.uk/ required of the people, liturgical texts should from ordinary speech. Newsletter.html normally be intelligible to all, even to the less educated. Liturgical translation that takes due account of Editorial the authority and integral content of the origi- Canon Chris Walsh 12. The translator must always keep in mind that St Catherine nal texts will facilitate the development of a Birkenhead Road the “unit of meaning” is not the individual sacral vernacular, characterized by a vocabulary, Hoylake word but the whole passage… syntax and grammar that are proper to divine Wirral CH47 5AF 29. It is to be noted that if any particular kind worship, even though it is not to be excluded Management that it may exercise an influence even on eve- Liturgy Office of quality is regarded as essential to a literary 39 Eccleston Square genre (for example, intelligibility of prayers ryday speech, as has occurred in the languages London SW1V 1PL when said aloud), this may take precedence of peoples evangelized long ago. 020 7901 4850 over another quality less significant for com- 107 It is to be borne in mind that the composition 020 7901 4821 (fax) munication (for example, verbal fidelity). [email protected] of new texts of prayers or rubrics is not an end in itself, but must be undertaken for the The views expressed in Liturgy 43. Texts translated from another language are Newsletter are not necessarily clearly not sufficient for the celebration of a purpose of meeting a particular cultural or those of the Bishops’ Confer- ence. fully renewed liturgy. The creation of new texts pastoral need… New texts composed in a ver-

Liturgy Newsletter may be copied will be necessary. But translation of texts trans- nacular language, just as the other adaptations and distributed freely in whole or in part. Permission for any other mitted through the tradition of the Church is legitimately introduced, are to contain nothing use contact the Liturgy Office. the best school and discipline for the creation that is inconsistent with the function, meaning, © 2001 Liturgy Office, of new texts so “that any new forms adopted structure, style, theological content, traditional Bishops’ Conference of should in some way grow organically from vocabulary or other important qualities of the England and Wales forms already in existence” (Sac.Conc. 23). texts found in the editiones typicae. Page 4 — Liturgy Newsletter