Missal 6: Scripture and the Mass

Phase Three of the new translation process will see the introduction of the new lectionary with its different translation of the Holy Scriptures. The new lectionary and the new versions of the psalms will be introduced in Lent 2012. The Sunday and daily missals for use by worshippers in the congregation at Mass will also be available in time for Lent 2012.As mentioned previously, the first English translation of the Roman missal and of the lectionary used the Jerusalem Bible as the source for the Old and New Testament readings, and a Grail translation of the psalms. The Jerusalem Bible has served the Church wonderfully well and has brought many Catholics into contact with the Bible for the first time. However, different times, the evolution of the English language and careful evaluation by scripture scholars have led to a decision to change to a more widely-used translation of the scriptures.

After many years of deliberation, the International Commission on English in the Liturgy (ICEL) decided that the Catholic edition of the Revised Standard Version (called the Catholic edition because it includes the few deuterocanonical Old Testament books of the Bible, used since the earliest years by the Catholic Church but excluded by some translations) would be introduced as the new source of lectionary readings.

The Revised Standard Version (commonly referred to as the “RSV”) has been one of the translations of the Bible approved by the Catholic Church for many years. The quality of the language and the scholarly accuracy of the RSV translation have contributed to this. In addition, the RSV has also been gradually adopted by many people in the Anglican, Methodist and Lutheran churches and by a number of other larger Protestant churches.

ICEL decided that the quality of the translation, its wide acceptance by Christians of many denominations (with its consequent contribution to Christian unity) and its scholarly accuracy make it the appropriate translation to use in future.

The English translations of the psalms used during Mass and also in the “Prayer of the Hours” (also known as the Divine Office) have been drawn from a newly revised Grail Edition that has been carefully developed to provide both accuracy and also a rhythmic word pattern that will lend itself to singing, chanting and reciting.

As with the introduction of the new English translation of the Missal, it would be very appropriate for parishes to plan a ceremony to introduce the new lectionary when it is introduced and used from next Ash Wednesday, February 22, 2012.