NEW TRANSLATION OF THE ROMAN MISSAL - RESOURCES
Over the course of this fall, St. Tarcissus and all parishes of the Roman Catholic Church in the English-speaking world will begin to use a revised translation of the Mass. This means that some of the words we say in response and song will change.
The words of our Mass are contained in original Latin texts. These texts are translated into the vernacular for the various languages of the worldwide church. Our current translation is from 1973; there were also other translations prior to 1973. Work on this revised translation began well over ten years ago. This revision is not a correction of what are currently doing or what we have done in the past. Rather, it is an evolution in the way we translate the Latin text. The current translation emphasizes the general idea of the Latin text. The approach to the revised translation more literally translates some of the Latin text and vocabulary, with the intent that we more clearly see the connection between the Scriptures and the prayers of the Mass.
Keep in mind that the words we speak are changing: the Scripture readings will remain in their current translation. The ritual remains the same: the structure of the Mass will continue to be in its present form.
No doubt that these new translations will be a challenge for all of us: change can be hard work! However, this is a great opportunity for us as a parish community to renew and deepen our understanding of the Mass.
We will have the following resources available at St. Tarcissus to help us transition to the revised texts:
- New Roman Missal Links
- Bulletin Articles and Inserts
- Prayer cards for the pews that include revised text and musical settings
- Videos addressing the changes and their origins
- Information on workshops available throughout the Archdiocese of Chicago through the Office of Divine Worship - www.odw.org
- Small group sessions to learn more about the changes, as well as the opportunity to pray and learn the revised text and music
We will gradually learn one musical setting of the revised Gloria during the month of September. At first, you will hear the choir, cantor, or a recording of the music before Mass. Toward the end of the month, we will take some time before Mass begins to teach the entire congregation, phrase by phrase. As we become comfortable with the text and music, we will begin singing this Gloria within the Mass. The bulletin articles in the coming weeks will share a more detailed explanation of the specific changes of the people’s parts as well as the reasons behind these decisions. If you have further questions, need help navigating resources, or have additional resources to share, please contact me. I would be happy to hear from you.
Laura Kempa - Director of Liturgy and Music
What is the Roman Missal?
http://revisedromanmissal.org/Roman_Missal.aspx
FAQ’s
http://revisedromanmissal.org/FAQs.aspx
Changes in the people’s parts
http://old.usccb.org/romanmissal/samples-people.shtml
USCCB: Roman Missal, Third Edition: (has revised texts, commentary, and FAQ sections)
http://old.usccb.org/romanmissal/index.shtml
YouTube Video Series of the Roman Missal from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
http://www.youtube.com/user/usccb?feature=mhsn#p/c/0/vc1Z1XV8elY
Liturgy Training Publications (materials available for purchase; free online resources)
http://revisedromanmissal.org/Resources.aspx
Archdiocese of Chicago, Office of Divine Worship (Information about upcoming workshops in the Archdiocese)
www.odw.org
Webcasts from noted scholars and liturgists on the Revised text
http://liturgy.nd.edu/web-catechesis/
PDF and MP3 files of the Ordinary
http://www.npm.org/Chants/order.html
Holy Holy (revised) from The Roman Missal
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6RD4uRSWY_A&feature=player_embedded
Mystery of Faith (known now as “Memorial Acclamation”) from The Roman Missal
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9WOnThJj7k&NR=1
From Bulletin November 20, 2011
“Go and announce the Gospel of the Lord” Bulletin Insert from the USCCB Website in Adobe Reader (pdf - 59 KB)
From Bulletin November 13, 2011
“Lord, I am not Worthy” Bulletin Insert from the USCCB Website in Adobe Reader (pdf - 60 KB)
From Bulletin November 6, 2011
“The Mystery of Faith” Bulletin Insert from the USCCB Website in Adobe Reader (pdf - 59 KB)
From Bulletin October 30, 2011
“Hosanna in the Highest” Bulletin Insert from the USCCB Website in Adobe Reader (pdf - 57 KB)
From Bulletin October 23, 2011
“And with your Spirit” Bulletin Insert from the USCCB Website in Adobe Reader (pdf - 54 KB)
From Bulletin October 16, 2011
"Pray, Brothers and Sisters... ” Bulletin Insert from the USCCB Website in Adobe Reader (pdf - 57 KB)
Dear Friends,
First of all, a word of thanks for your open response as we have introduced the third edition of the Roman Missal. Presiders, musicians, and members of the congregation have remarked how many people are singing the new setting of the Gloria, and I have been very grateful for the positive feedback we have received about the resources and opportunities we are providing to make the transition a smooth one.
As we all take this opportunity to renew and deepen our understanding of the Mass, we are also taking the time to renew our commitment to having good music and liturgy at St. Tarcissus Parish. The Catholic liturgy is a sung liturgy ~ music is an essential part of the way in which we pray!
At times, we join in the prayer of the liturgy by actively listening to the music of choir or instrumentalists. In addition, the sung prayer of the assembly is integral to the liturgy as well. To facilitate the sung and prayerful participation of the assembly, it is most important that we have effective musical leadership. What does that entail? It is a combination of carefully chosen music, supportive instrumentalists, and well-trained cantors and leaders of song.
To do this most successfully, it is important that the instrumentalist (pianist, organist, guitarist) and cantor are two different people. Most of the time, if we do two jobs simultaneously, we do not execute them as well as we would if we focused on one. In addition, there are visual cues that the cantor gives in support. This support gets lost when the cantor is also the keyboard player hiding behind an organ or piano. For example, when we use music that alternates between the assembly and cantor, we sing with more confidence when we watch the cantor breathe with us and give us a subtle gesture, inviting us to join.
Here at St. Tarcissus, we are blessed with many dedicated volunteers who practice weekly to learn and prepare well to serve in these roles. We continue to seek musicians from the parish to join us. However, we also have five Masses a weekend with music. There are times where we need to engage professional musicians to ensure that the liturgies with keyboardist and cantor have the same quality of music as the masses with choir. In addition, musical professionals provide a valuable model for other parishioners who are learning to serve in these roles.
In addition to having cantors and choirs present at Sunday liturgies, we have been working to expand our musical offerings at various feasts throughout the year. Many of you may recall last year, when the choir and organists of the parish shared musical reflections on the Stations of the Cross. Or Christmas, the Triduum, and Easter, when guest singers, trumpet, and string players joined us. Perhaps you were with us at the Children’s Choirs concert, when our young singers collaborated with harp and flute to uplift the hearts of the audience.
This year, the music program will offer other opportunities for prayer and song outside of Mass as well. Singers and instrumentalists will lead us in an inaugural Taize prayer service as a part of the labyrinth at St. Tarcissus. We will share another evening of musical reflections on the Stations of the Cross. We are making plans to have the children’s choir collaborate with brass players at several points throughout the year, giving them the opportunity to make music with some of the finest musicians in the area. We are planning an evening of contemporary Christian praise and worship music. We are looking to both continue and expand these opportunities, so that our music program may best fulfill its purpose of making music for the honor and glory of God while enriching the prayer life of St. Tarcissus Parish.
In order to do this, we need your prayerful and financial support. Sheet music, sound equipment, and instrument maintenance all come with cost. Guest professionals need to be compensated for their services, just as we pay building contractors, maintenance and repair workers, and business advisors for their efforts. Exciting things are already happening with our music program ~ and your prayerful support will enable this to flourish into new possibilities.
If you are willing to contribute, there will be envelopes on the table in the vestibule. These contributions will go towards making sure we have cantors at Saturday and Sunday morning Masses, supporting our program of five choirs and ensembles, and engaging the services of guest musicians to make music for feast days such as Christmas and Easter more beautiful and prayerful. This is your opportunity to help us make these possibilities an integral part of the liturgical and spiritual life of St. Tarcissus Parish.
With gratitude for your support,
Laura Kempa, Director of Music and Liturgy
From Bulletin October 9, 2011
"I Believe in One God” Bulletin Insert from the USCCB Website in Adobe Reader (pdf - 67 KB)
From Bulletin October 2, 2011
“Lord, have mercy” Bulletin Insert from the USCCB Website in Adobe Reader (pdf - 58 KB)
From Bulletin September 25, 2011
“And with your Spirit” Bulletin Insert from the USCCB Website in Adobe Reader (pdf - 57 KB)
From Bulletin September 18, 2011
“Glory to God in the highest” Bulletin Insert from the USCCB Website in Adobe Reader (pdf - 104 KB)
As I mentioned the past few weeks, over the course of September and October we gradually be learning the texts and music for the revised Roman Missal. We will continue to play and sing the recording of the revised Gloria before Mass; next week, we will use the ten minutes before Mass begins to begin learning the text and music together. We will take the next few weeks to become comfortable with the text and music before we start singing it within the Mass.
You will also notice an insert in this week’s bulletin - see linked insert above - that compares the current and revised Gloria texts and offers a commentary about the reasons behind the changes. I would invite you to spend some time reading it over and praying with the revised words.
Another opportunity to learn more about the changes: Todd Williamson, Director of The Office for Divine Worship in the Archdiocese of Chicago, will speak on The New Translation of the Mass. He will present an evening of catechesis and information on the New Roman Missal at St Cornelius Parish on Tuesday, September 20th from 7 to 8 pm at 5430 W Foster Avenue.
Laura Kempa, Director of Music and Liturgy
From Bulletin September 11, 2011
Singing the revised Gloria: The Plan for St. Tarcissus Parish
As I mentioned last week, St. Tarcissus joins all of the English speaking Catholics in transitioning to the Third Edition of the Roman Missal this fall. This means that some of the words which we say and sing in the responses of the Mass will be changing.
Over the course of September and October we will be learning the text of the revised Gloria by singing one of the new musical settings of this text. There are hundreds of revised and newly-composed pieces of music: it was not easy to choose one with which to begin! However, we are beginning with this setting, called the Gloria Simplex, for many reasons. Here at St. Tarcissus, we have some Masses with unaccompanied singing (such as daily Mass and the 7am Sunday Mass); at other Masses, we sing with the support of guitars, piano, organ, or any combination of these instruments. Some of us always attend Mass at the same time; others in our parish are at different Masses. It was important that we choose a Gloria that could be adapted into any of these musical styles and initially used at all of our liturgies.
You will also notice that the music for the Gloria is simple, as its title states. The melody repeats, adapting as needed to the different lines of text. Of all the people’s responses that are changing, the Gloria has the greatest number. The goal of using this type of music is that we will be able to spend our energy becoming comfortable with the text. Once we are well acquainted with the revised texts and first musical setting we learn as a parish, we will gradually introduce other music for these texts. It is hard to predict how much time it will take for us to move to learning another musical setting, but we will do our best to make the process smooth, and ultimately, a prayerful opportunity for worship and spiritual growth.
One of our musicians will share the Gloria with you before Mass this week and next so that you have the opportunity to hear it before we start teaching everyone to sing it. Next week, we will begin teaching it before Mass begins. Next week’s bulletin will have an insert comparing the current Gloria text with the revised text; the other side of the insert will offer a commentary about the reasons for the changes.
There is a helpful resource on the vestibule table from Liturgy Training Publications: “Understanding the Revised Mass Texts.” This booklet gives more information on the background and differences between the current and revised editions of the Roman Missal. If you are interested in learning more about the changes, I would encourage you to pick up a copy of these materials. Watch the bulletin for information on workshops at neighboring parishes. Ask questions, talk with one another: let’s capitalize on this opportunity to learn more about the evolution of the Mass and Catholic worship!
Laura Kempa - Director of Music and Liturgy
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