Let’s Fix Bad Liturgical Translation

by Letters Editor · Published November 26, 2015 · Updated September 27, 2017

From Fr Ephraim Odhiambo, Kroonstad I write to express my concern on some liturgical aberrations which might have arisen as a result of bad translations or due to liturgical negligence on the texts.

A reader writes of his concern over bad liturgical translations

The 30th Sunday Year B had the gospel concerning the healing of the blind Bartimaeus, son of Timaeus (Mark 10:46-52). In the translation we read Jesus asking Bartimaeus: What do you want me to do for you?, and he responded: Master, let me receive my sight.

I find the response poorly translated and misleading.

The right response in the liturgical translation should have read: Master, let me receive back my sight or Master, let me see again. And his sight was restored.

Proper liturgical translation helps in delivering a relevant homily.

The other aberration is found in a commonly sung Gloria in Sotho parishes.

The Sefela 165 in Lifela Tsa Bakriste lacks Trinitarian ending of the prayer. Seemingly the composer died, I presume, before writing the last verse.

Could some composer help in finishing the composition of this lovely prayer hymn which is so dear to the hearts and souls of the Sotho-speaking/singing parishes before they can continue to sing it?

As priests, at ordination, we are asked to understand what we are doing and to do it well.