Posted on 06/16/2008 10:26:24 AM PDT by NYer
Who needs DisneyWorld when you've got a showdown on translations?
By the looks of it, yesterday's Orlando debate and vote on the proposed revision of the Proper of Seasons packed even more of a punch than expected.
NCR's John Allen relays:
[O]nly seven bishops out of 250 Latin Rite prelates in the United States even bothered to propose amendments to the text, a clear sign that most felt the handwriting was on the wall. Like it or not, many concluded, Rome has made clear that the new translations must be closer to the Latin, both in structure and word choice, thus producing a more “sacral” language sometimes remote from ordinary English usage.PHOTO: AP/Phelan M. Ebenhack
All that changed this morning, however, when Bishop Victor Galeone of Saint Augustine, Florida, rose to oppose the proposed text -- despite, he said, fear that doing so may be "in vain." A former Latin teacher who still reads Thomas Aquinas in the original language, Galeone made a forceful argument that the new translation is simply too unclear and awkward to be effectively used in American parishes.
Among other things, Galeone cited the text’s use of the phrase “the gibbet of the Cross.”
“The last time I heard that word was back in 1949, during Stations of the Cross in Lent,” Galeone said.
“I challenge anyone to proclaim what’s given here at Mass,” he said. “It’s very difficult.”
“A good translator has to understand not just the original language, but also one’s own into which these texts are being put,” Galeone said. Despite assurances to the contrary, he said, the new texts are “slavish” with respect to the Latin originals.
“I’m an obedient son of the church, and if these texts are passed as they stand, I will pray with them,” Galeone said. “But I feel that the vernacular has been a blessing to our people.” Galeone added that with “all due respect” to the recent ruling from Pope Benedict XVI authorizing wider celebration of the old Latin Mass, he hasn’t celebrated the old rite since 1970. If he were asked to do so today, he said, he would instead celebrate the new rite of the Mass in Latin.
Galeone’s speech seemed to open the floodgates, as other bishops rose to voice reservations about the new translations.
Auxiliary Bishop Richard Sklba of Milwaukee, for example, said, “If I have trouble understanding the text when I read it, I wonder how it’s going to be possible to pray with it in the context of worship.”
Sklba warned that if the proposed text were adopted, “our priests and our people” will press the bishops to come back to it “again and again” to remedy perceived defects. “This is not yet mature,” he said.
Bishop Donald Trautman of Erie, Pennsylvania, a longtime critic of the new translations, said the texts contain a number of “archaic and obscure” terms, pointing to words such as “wrought,” “ineffable,” and “gibbet.” He also said that the text’s preference for mimicking the sentence structure of Latin, featuring long sentences with a large number of dependent clauses, impedes understanding in English. Trautman cited one prayer in the new Proper of Seasons presented as a single 12-line sentence with three separate clauses.
“John and Mary Catholic have a right to have prayer texts that are clear and understandable,” Trautman said. “The document before us needs further work.”
Bishop Robert Lynch of Saint Petersburg, Florida, thanked Galeone for giving him the “courage for this moment.” Lynch then told the bishops that he had recently taken the new Mass texts back to his presbyteral council, composed of 26 priests. Two were in favor of the translation, he said, and 24 were opposed.
He reported their reaction as, “Bishop, do whatever you can, because we can’t pray these texts.”
“It’s a good thing that we’re supposed to pause before the orations,” Lynch joked, “because we’ll have to gather enough breath to pray the prayers.”
Other bishops, however, argued that aditted imperfections in the text don’t justify further delays in the process.
“It’s an imperfect sacramentary for an imperfect people, to be prayed by a celebrant who is also imperfect,” said Archbishop George Niederauer of San Francisco. “I respect those who say let’s move forward and get a new sacramentary, before they all fall apart in the sacristy.”
Archbishop Oscar Lipscomb, the retired archbishop of Mobile who sits on the Vox Clara Commission that advises the Vatican on liturgical translation, said that he doesn’t find the new texts “unacceptable or unproclaimable.”
“Our genius in celebrating,” he said, will make up for any deficiencies. Further, he said, the average Catholic will receive the new texts “with the eyes of faith,” rather than focusing on its problems “like an English teacher or a Latin teacher.”
Cardinal Daniel DiNardo of Galveston-Houston said that “with all its difficulties, the translation should go forward,” adding that he believes the new Mass texts “become stronger after Advent, into Lent and Easter.”
Responding to the “let’s move on” argument, Archbishop Daniel Pilarczyk of Cincinnati warned that it “depends on what you’re moving forward to,” arguing that the new texts would be “a linguistic swamp.”
Archbishop John Vlazny of Portland made another argument in favor of the text, noting that four other English-speaking bishops’ conferences have already approved it. If the Americans reject it, he said, it could jeopardize the goal of a common text.
“Admittedly, we’re the big ones, but that doesn’t allow us a terribly privileged position,” Vlazny said. “We need a measure of humility in this.”
Echoing a point made by others, Vlazny also argued that today’s texts may seem more “proclaimable” simply because they’re familiar. With time, he said, the new texts will also become familiar, and the issues of syntax and word choice cited by critics “will be a non-problem.”
Bishop Arthur Seratelli of Paterson, New Jersey, chair of the U.S. bishops’ Committee for Divine Worship, defended the texts.
“On whole, the translation is a marked improvement,” Seratelli said. “As we use it, as we ourselves and our priests become more familiar with the new language of the liturgy, it will not pose as great a problem as we fear.”
After all that the bishops were unable to reach a decision, largely because of the electoral math.
The rules of the conference require that the text be approved by two-thirds of its members, not just those physically present. Since there are 250 Latin Rite bishops in the United States, 166 “yes” votes are required to approve it, while 83 “no” votes are necessary to reject it.
As it turns out, the Orlando meeting was sparsely attended – one headcount yesterday found just 178 voting members. As a result, this morning’s ballot failed to get enough “yes” votes to approve the text, or enough “no” votes to block it.
As a result, Cardinal Francis George of Chicago, president of the conference, announced that bishops who were not present will receive ballots in the mail in order to settle things one way or the other.
Rocco’s report provides more specifics.
“A former Latin teacher who still reads Thomas Aquinas in the original language, Galeone made a forceful argument that the new translation is simply too unclear and awkward to be effectively used in American parishes.”
Then keep it in Latin or scrap it altogether and go back to the 1962 Roman Missal.
Is the new translation available online anywhere?
How many ordinary Catholics know the difference between the Latin Mass and the Novus Ordo Mass in Latin?
I do sometimes get the feeling that certain bishops treat "John and Mary Catholic" as slightly slow children who cannot possibly understand things as well as their enlightened selves . . . .
This is not about English words like “wrought” and “ineffable,” but rather an attack on Latin.
I didn’t understand words like “wrought” and “ineffable” when I first heard them, either, but I didn’t have any trouble finding out. Are these whiny bishops trying to say that their priests and parishoners are too stupid to ask someboody or look up the terms they don’t know??
Some fear or prefer that Americans can only deal with simple declarative sentences composed of one and two syllable words.
The utter arrogance of their condescending view of the stupidity of the laity is disgusting. What in heaven’s name is wrong with an elevated language that challenges us to ponder and maybe even, gasp, cause us to look something up in a dictionary once in a while?
Galeone is my bishop and he’s a twit. He for some reason says, whenever asked why he refuses to implement the Motu Proprio, “well, I read Aquinas in Latin every day.” He sure must do a very limited reading of Aquinas; but aside from that, what does his reading material have to do with anything?
On top of that, he was downright insulting about the Pope, and I’m sure all the ugly Florida bishops chuckled in satisfaction. (I shouldn’t say that, because we have one or two new ones who are good.) But Galeone’s new best buddy is Lynch of St Pete’s, who was the one who consented to the dehydration of Terri Schiavo and furthermore forbade any priest in his diocese to visit her while she was dying. He has also forbidden Eucharistic adoration.
I’m truly disgusted.
“How many ordinary Catholics know the difference between the Latin Mass and the Novus Ordo Mass in Latin?”
My guess would be a tiny percentage of Catholics. Sort of like the number of Catholics who are familiar with the concept of latae sententiae excommunication, or have even heard the word.
Freegards
He has forbidden Adoration? My gosh, he sounds Protestant!
**Cardinal Daniel DiNardo of Galveston-Houston said that “with all its difficulties, the translation should go forward,” adding that he believes the new Mass texts “become stronger after Advent, into Lent and Easter.”**
Wisdom spoken here.
Go ahead.
Perhaps it’s time we started emailing and phoning our bishops to get on with it.
And the one I like best: Bishops listed by state
Write and call everyone!
Catholic Action Ping!
Please notify me via FReepmail if you would like to be added to or taken off the Catholic Action Ping List.
And if you were ordered, Bishop?
I’ll see your Galeone and raise you Trautman, putative Pope of Erie.
**gack**
I guess that list hasn’t been updated. Bishop Thomas Rodi, who was Bishop of the Biloxi, MS Diocese is now Archbishop of Mobile, having recently succeeded Bishop Oscar Lipscomb. He’s also still Apostolic Administrator of Biloxi.
The attitude of the bishops explains why the English text today is so flat and unmemorable.
No, he is just another guy who doesn’t want anyone to tamper with something his generation put into place.
John Allen tips his hand with his quotation marks.
“I do sometimes get the feeling that certain bishops treat “John and Mary Catholic” as slightly slow children who cannot possibly understand things as well as their enlightened selves . . . .”
Yes, and it seems some of them want to keep it that way.
If he won’t allow Eucharistic Adoration, then it’s a bigger problem than just not wanting to change things from his generation.
“Then keep it in Latin”
Here’s hoping Pope Benedict has similar thoughts about all this squabbling. If we switched back to latin, Catholics might stop some of the “dumbing down” going on around the world.
I would love it If Pope Benedict said “enough then, we all shall say it in Latin from now on.”
Father Zuhlsdorf did what can only be called a "rant" on this decision. To paraphrase, he used this "prayer," as what was desired by those assembled:
Oh, Dear God,
You are so big!
We want to be big like You!
I almost fell off my chair laughing...
Daniel Pilarczyk of Cincinnati,
Bishop Donald Trautman of Erie, Pennsylvania
Bishop Victor Galeone of Saint Augustine, Florida
“Who are Bishops on Vicki Gene Robinsons speed-dial, Alex?”
How can any CATHOLIC bishop forbid Eucharistic adoration? There must be more to this than meets the eye. Have any Catholics in his diocese contacted the Vatican about this?
Florida bishop prayer ping!
There is an email address for the webmaster at the bottom of the page. Guess they need to get their updating in gear, huh?
Well, he was only installed on June 6th, so it’s understandable, I guess, that they haven’t updated it. ;o)
So true. Much of the Mass sounds so pedestrian nowadays. People have forgotten just how beautiful the language of the Liturgy can be. There's nothing wrong with the Mass sounding more elegant. It's not supposed to be everyday speech. It's meant to put us in mind of God and His Heaven.
I love listening to "A Festival of Lessons and Carols" from Kings College Chapel at Christmas, and one of the main reasons is the beauty of the language of the King James Bible. In fact, when those Scripture readings comes up in the Liturgy at Mass, I find myself thinking those more formal and archaic phrases as the lector is reading the ones from the Sacramentary.
To tell the truth, I have no idea how Bishop Lynch holds onto his job. His disgraceful performance during the Terri Schiavo affair, his forbidding of Adoration - and the fact that he had to settle a sexual harrassment lawsuit filed against him by a male diocesan employee a few years ago all make me wonder. In addition, Lynch was involved in a no-bid construction contract for his buddies that cost the diocese millions of dollars, although as usual, the matter was dropped.
Most Florida dioceses are fairly new. St Augustine was the original one, founded in 1870, and included all of Florida for almost 100 years. The Church here was founded in 1565, and we were under Havana for many years. Then as dioceses were created in the US, we were part of various Southern dioceses such as Savannah, and finally became a separate diocese just after the Civil War. The Diocese of St Augustine was broken up into several dioceses in the late 1950s through the 1960s (St. Pete’s was founded in 1969)and Miami became the head diocese of the Archdiocese, and St. Augustine ceased to be particularly important.
Bishop Galeone is not personally corrupt the way Lynch is, and I’m really sorry to see him take these attitudes. Incidentally, to give you an idea of Lynch’s friends, the late Bernardin gave the homily at his installation. So he runs with that circle, and I suppose they protect him. Now our bishop, Galeone, seems to have been granted membership in this club because of his opposition to the TLM and, apparently, his belief that Catholics are stupid.
Catholics DO have recourse, when a bishop engages in very questionable activities. First, one needs to consistently PRAY for such a bishop and then have respectful communication with the prefect of the CONGREGATION FOR THE DOCTRINE OF THE FAITH. The congregation is now headed by Prefect Cardinal William Joseph Levada.
I may not know as much as my bishop or my priest but I would know more if they taught from the pulpit, offered classes etc.
The bad translation of passages directly from scripture is the most troubling to me.
The well-educated 16th and 17th century Englishman spoke and wrote a form of English that is unequalled before or since. The Douay-Rheims from the same period has a similar weight and beauty of language.
The NAB is a very unfortunate translation, because it combines inaccuracy with a flat and awkward style of English. I too find myself 'hearing' in my mind's ear the sweeping cadences of the King James Committee while certain Gospel passages are being read from the lectern . . . .
And it's not like it all changes every day, either -- even if you had to look up every three-syllable word, you'd get through the Ordinary of the Mass pretty quickly, and then you'd know it!
Besides, it would give the bishops and priests something useful and constructive to do in their homilies. That's what the homily is supposed to be for, anyhow -- to explain and comment on the Scriptures. Man up, Most Reverend Sirs!
Fortunately our parish has a very good Sunday School and adult education program. We went all the way through the "Why Catholic?" program and it was quite good, fundamentally (there's some New Agey stuff here and there, but it's superficial, easy to spot and easy to skip.)
Back when we were Episcopalians, my rector used to shudder when he saw me coming with a gleam in my eye -- because I read Greek and he didn't, and I hated the new translation and would pounce whenever it was inaccurate.
I've refrained from vigorously bashing the NAB to our rector because I feel a certain delicacy about having been a Catholic for a relatively short time . . . but he knows where I stand about accuracy!
I know, I have learned more online than I ever learned in CCD or classes at church.
The Church needs to be instructing too, though, because (as we all know) there's a lot of nonsense on the internet.
But I've found (again, that self-help responsibility) that I can just walk up to one of our priests and ASK. They're happy to discuss Scripture or the Catechism -- we have one parochial vicar in particular who is very scholarly and it's always a treat to get his take on things.
LOL! Good for Fr. Z!
“one needs to consistently PRAY for such a bishop”
This is best advice yet. Being Bishop seems easy and we all believe that we could do better, but it is a VERY difficult job. The Lord uses our gifts - and our flaws - to bring about salvation of souls and glorification of God. We get the priests [and Bishops] that we pray for.
What a bunch of whiners! Ooh, it’s just to difficult.
As to this:
Bishop Donald Trautman of Erie, Pennsylvania, a longtime critic of the new translations, said the texts contain a number of “archaic and obscure” terms, pointing to words such as “wrought,” “ineffable,” and “gibbet.” He also said that the text’s preference for mimicking the sentence structure of Latin, featuring long sentences with a large number of dependent clauses, impedes understanding in English.
&&
What a crock! Thanks to the wonderful Sisters who taught me, I had an understanding of the words as an 8-year-old. Are you saying, Your Emminence, that your flock is dumb? How about putting in some time in each parish educating the laity? I, for one, would welcome some religious training from my priest -— and not from the priest wannabe sister who heads religious education.
to difficult = too difficult
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