Irish bishops on the new Roman Missal

In an introductory note to the new English edition of the Roman Missal, the Irish bishops write, “The style of language we will hear and pray may seem more formal to us and perhaps, in parts, more complex. But over time, with the praying of these texts, the sound of the Mass will again become familiar to us”.

How do the bishops know the future reactions of people?

At the end of the short note of introduction the bishops write, “But when we pray the Mass we do more than recite words – those words are recited in the context of all the actions, symbols and people of the liturgy.”

Do the bishops mean these words? Surely if they meant them they would have played an active and honest role in making sure that the English speaking people of Ireland would have had an input into the new translation.

There is a thread of uncertainty right through the note of introduction. It is a pity the Irish bishops did not have the courage and wisdom to tell the men in the Vatican that the way this new translation has been produced is not the way the church – the people of God should do things.