New English Translation of the Roman Missal (and Aposte's Creed)

Churchgoers out there, can you still respond right during the mass? Have you noticed the drastic changes?

Well,  Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Tagle recently said that parishes in the archdiocese will begin to gradually implement changes to how Catholics celebrate the Holy Mass on Sunday.

In a circular, Tagle said parishes in the capital will begin to implement the changes under the New English Translation of the Roman Missal, or the liturgical book that contains the texts and rubrics for the celebration of the Mass in the Latin Rite of the Catholic Church.

For example, beginning this month, Catholics in the archdiocese of Manila should reply “And with your spirit” instead of “And also with you” whenever the priest intones “the Lord be with you” during the greeting of peace, the reading of the Gospel, the preface and the final blessing of the Mass.

This July, the changes in the Confiteor (I Confess, the penitential prayer in the Mass) will be implemented.
Instead of saying “I confess that I have sinned through my own fault in what I have done and in what I have failed to do,” churchgoers will say,  “I confess that I have sinned greatly in my thoughts and in my words, in what I have done and in what I have failed to do, through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault.”

The last portion is closer to the original Latin: “Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa.”

Next month, we will begin reciting the new English translation of the Gloria, or the main hymn in the Roman Mass.

It now reads: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men  of good will. We praise you, we bless you, we adore you, we glorify you, we give you thanks for your great glory, Lord God, heavenly King, O God, almighty Father. Lord Jesus Christ, Only-begotten Son, Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us; you take away the sins of the world, receive our prayer. You are seated at the right hand of the Father, have mercy on us. For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord, you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father. Amen.”

This September, the changes in translation of the Apostle’s Creed will be implemented. If before the faithful professed that Jesus is “one in Being with the Father,” now Jesus is “consubstantial with the Father.”

“The implementation of the New English Translation of the Roman Missal is an opportune moment of grace for the Church in the Philippines not only to appreciate the changes but deepen, nurture, and celebrate our faith through the renewal of our worship,” Tagle said.

The new English translation of the Roman missal was issued so that it would reflect more the Latin original