Author: Jimmy Akin
Jimmy was born in Texas, grew up nominally Protestant, but at age 20 experienced a profound conversion to Christ. Planning on becoming a Protestant seminary professor, he started an intensive study of the Bible. But the more he immersed himself in Scripture the more he found to support the Catholic faith, and in 1992 he entered the Catholic Church. His conversion story, "A Triumph and a Tragedy," is published in Surprised by Truth. Besides being an author, Jimmy is the Senior Apologist at Catholic Answers, a contributing editor to Catholic Answers Magazine, and a weekly guest on "Catholic Answers Live." View all posts by Jimmy Akin
Good presentation Mr Akin, or we could go the organically developed Mass which Ordinary parts remain pretty much unchanged since the time of Pope St Gregory the Great: The Traditional Latin Mass.
Thanks Jimmy.
I usually prefer dynamic equivalence as I think this approach generally conveys more of the meaning than literal translations. Translation is more than vocabulary and grammar.
No doubt the current English could be improved, but some of the new phrases sound artificially repetitive rather than richer or more majestic. English can be expressed ‘majestically’ – using Latin forms does not of itself do this.
I’ll probably get used to it, but at present the new translation sounds to me like a forced literal translation from another language rather than native to English. Perhaps my Latin is not good enough – but that is true for almost everyone. So far, this seems me to be more a translation for Latin scholars (who don’t need an English translation) rather than for native English speakers. I don’t want to give examples yet because I don’t want to jump too far ahead.
There is also the principle of inculturation or lack of it. How much variation ought there to be in the Latin Rite? which unlike most other Rites is expressed in many different languages and cultures? Is literal translation and uniformity the best way? My gut feeling says ‘no’.
Anyway, I look forward to the rest of this series and the specific explanations, in the hope that I can be enabled to appreciate the Mass even more in the new translation – rather than the irritation, distraction and nitpicking I fear I will experience.
Leo,
You can always go to a Latin Novus Ordo or a Traditional Latin Mass to avoid the forced non majestic sounds.
As far as inculturation goes the TLM worked in every country for well over a millenium and created millions of converts.
The same cannot be said for the 1970 missal or 2002 version.
Dan, in fairness, neither the 1970 missal nor the 2002 missal has *had* a thousand years to produce converts. Every ecumenical council is followed by a period of disruption that prevents its fruits from being judged quickly. On a historic timescale, it’s still *far* too early to judge. Yes, we’ve been through a bad patch, but that’s par for the course at this stage.
i have been taught by the
holy spirit that the transcendent words in the Nicene creed are to be preserved. From being to con-substantial this to me to be a downgrade. Being, Unity, Truth, goodness are in our theology the primary Name—Beauty of the one. to change these words are to change the logic of our meditations?Ray
why would we want to change something that was handed down from the fathers of the church. they fought so hard for these definitions? what are the motives for these changes? You ca gleen from my comments that they, in my opinion, are power driven. this pope wants us to be his obedient servants and to draw all minds and hearts back to the service of Rome. We, who have found our Freedom in The Christ do not wish this nor will we follow his directives. I will for one will not beat my chest three times for I Glory in the Gift I will raise my arms to God three for His Victory. Nobody is going to beat me back into that ground again..Ray
i was on the bus comin back from mass and i was thinkin about the words of the Nicene creed . Eternally Begotten? then i understood what it meant. god from god light from light true god from true god.This is the generation of truth. We are born of this generation. Mary received this generation of the word in her very womb. The Words of the Generation cannot be changed. HE (and note HE) was”born” of the Virgin Mother. From all generations HE will be called Blessed. HE gives our VERY(truth) our Being. Ray
Yes, as Jimmy says, there is a shift in philosophy, a shift in thinking. Being is a concept,that is in accord with
st. thomas aquinas , why is there this shift in philosophy present in this new translation. Ray
Is it lonely where Dan Hunter (et al) goes? He seems to need company.
What Jimmy said.
Some people are concerned that is being done too hastily without sufficient ‘pew testing’ to see if it actually does what it is designed to do whatifwejustsaidwait.org . Main article in America magazine
on life ,we always have to play different role . in the other word, we are translated from one to another,like what Ray said ,it’s a drift. not only the role in therory ,but also the throught in reality.
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