First to press: Vatican Approves New English Translation for the Order of the Mass

I have just received a copy of today's press release from the USCCB making official what was recently rumored. I believe I'm the first blog to have access to and publish this news.

... and here it is!

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has received approval (recognitio) from the Holy See’s Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments for the new English-language translation of the Order of Mass (Ordo Missae).

This is the first section of the translation of the third edition of the Roman Missal. It includes most of the texts used in every celebration of the Mass, including the responses that will be said by the people.

In its letter, the Congregation pointed out that while the texts are binding, the approval “does not intend that these texts are to be put into use immediately.”

Cardinal Francis Arinze, Prefect of the Congregation, explained the reasons for providing the text at this time. The purpose is to provide “time for the pastoral preparation of priests, deacons and for appropriate catechesis of the lay faithful. It will likewise facilitate the devising of musical settings for parts of the Mass.”

(Now the notable details....)

The more significant changes of the people’s parts are:

1. et cum spiritu tuo is rendered as “And with your spirit”
2. In the Confiteor, the text “through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault” has been added
3. The Gloria has been translated differently and the structure is different from the present text
4. In the Preface dialogue the translation of “Dignum et justum est” is “It is right and just”
5. The first line of the Sanctus now reads “Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of hosts”
6. The response of the people at the Ecce Agnus Dei is “Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.”

At this point, it has not been determined when this new translation of the Roman Missal will be made available (and it's interesting to me, to say the least, that the text is copyrighted by ICEL).

And as for the six points noted above, all of them represent accurate, faithful translations of the Latin text of the Mass, remedying the previous mistranslations (and outright deletions) executed by ICEL.

This is welcome news, to be sure. Hopefully it quickly reaches the faithful who desire and deserve it.

update: Rocco adds details.