The New English Translation of the Roman Missal: Exploring the Preface

The New English Translation of the Roman Missal:Exploring the Preface Fr. Jan Michael Joncas Waukee, IA Liturgy Formation Day 29 April 2011

Structure of the Roman Rite Preface • Opening Dialogue • Protocol • Body • Eschatocol • Holy, Holy, Holy

Preface of Eucharistic Prayer IV • V. Dominus vobiscum. • V. [The] Lord [be] with you [pl.]. • R. Et cum spiritutuo [sing.]. • R. And with your spirit. • V. Sursumcorda. • V. Up hearts • R. Habemus ad Dominum. • R. We hold to [the] Lord. • V. Gratiasagamus Domino Deonostro. • V. Let us give thanks to [the] Lord our God. • R. Dignum et iustum est. • R. It is right and just.

Protocol • Vere dignum est tibi gratias agere, • Truly it is right to give thanks to you, • Vere iustum est te glorificare, Pater sancte, • Truly it is just to glorify you, holy Father,

Body • quia unus es Deus vivus et verus, • for you are the one God, living and true, • qui es ante saecula et permanes in aeternum, • who are before the ages and remain unto eternity, • inaccessibilem lucem inhabitans; • dwelling in inaccessible light;

sed et qui unus bonus atque fons vitae cuncta fecisti, • but who, the single good and font of life, have made all things, • ut creaturas tuas benedictionibus adimpleres • so that you might fill your creatures with your blessings • multasque laetificares tui luminis claritate. • and might make many things rejoice with the radiance of your light.

Eschatocol • Et ideocoramteinnumeraeastantturbaeangelorum, • And therefore uncountable companies of angels stand before you, • qui die ac nocteserviunttibi • who day and night offer service to you • et, vultustuigloriamcontemplantes, • and, contemplating the glory of your countenance, • teincessanterglorificant. • glorify you unceasingly.

Cum quibus et nos et, per nostram vocem, • With whom we, too, as well as through our voice(s), • omnis quae sub caelo est creatura, • every creature which is under heaven, • nomen tuum in exsultatione confitemur, canentes: • confess your name in exultation, singing:

Holy, Holy, Holy • Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus Dominus Deus Sabaoth. • Holy, holy, holy Lord God of armies. • Plenisuntcaeli et terra gloriatua. • Full are [the] heavens and [the] earth with your glory. • Hosanna in excelsis. • Hosanna in [the] highest [places]. • Benedictus qui venit in nomine Domini. • Blessed is the one who is coming/has come in the Lord’s name. • Hosanna in excelsis. • Hosanna in [the] highest [places]..

1974 ICEL • V. The Lord be with you. • R. And also with you. • V. Lift up your hearts. • R. We lift them up to the Lord. • V. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. • R. It is right to give him thanks and praise.

Father in heaven, • It is right that we should give you thanks and glory: • you alone are God, living and true. • Through all eternity you live in unapproachable light. • Source of life and goodness, you have created all things, • to fill your creatures with every blessing • and lead all men to the joyful vision of your light.

Countless hosts of angels stand before you to do your will; • they look upon your splendor • and praise you, night and day. • United with them, • and in the name of every creature under heaven, • we too praise your glory as we say:

Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of power and might. • Heaven and earth are full of your glory. • Hosanna in the highest. • Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. • Hosanna in the highest.

2010 ICEL + Vox Clara • V. The Lord be with you. • R. And with your spirit. • V. Lift up your hearts. • R. We lift them up to the Lord. • V. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. • R. It is right and just.

2010 ICEL + Vox Clara • It is truly right to give you thanks, • truly just to give you glory, Father most holy, • for you are the one God living and true, • existing before all ages and abiding for all eternity, • dwelling in unapproachable light; • yet you, who alone are good, the source of life, have made all that is, • so that you might fill your creatures with blessings • and bring joy to many of them by the glory of your light.

And so, in your presence are countless hosts of Angels, • who serve you day and night • and, gazing upon the glory of your face, • glorify you without ceasing. • With them we, too, confess your name in exultation, • giving voice to every creature under heaven • as we acclaim:

Holy, holy, holy Lord God of hosts. • Heaven and earth are full of your glory. • Hosanna in the highest. • Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. • Hosanna in the highest.

Spoken Proclamation • It is truly right to give you thanks, • truly just to give you glory, Father most holy, • [2 parallel phrases taken from dialogue / address as climax] • for you are the one God living and true, • [result connective giving reason for thanksgiving] • existing before all ages and abiding for all eternity, • dwelling in unapproachable light; • [4 parallel phrases as epithets for God / although a complete sentence, punctuation is semi-colon so no complete stop]

yet you, who alone are good, the source of life, have made all that is, • [contrasting connective interrupted by two further parallel clauses as epithets for God] • so that you might fill your creatures with blessings • [result connective giving reason for God’s activity in creating] • and bring joy to many of them by the glory of your light. • [2 clauses articulating the purposes of God’s creative activity / end of sentence = complete stop]

And so, in your presence are countless hosts of Angels, • [new sentence beginning with a result connective / evocation of angels: notice cadence] • who serve you day and night • and, gazing upon the glory of your face, • glorify you without ceasing. • [2 relative clauses describing the angels’ activity, with one interrupting phrase / alliteration / end of sentence = complete stop]

With them we, too, confess your name in exultation, • [new sentence beginning with connective phrase / central idea] • giving voice to every creature under heaven • [modifying phrase articulating humanity’s task / N.B. NO COMMA] • as we acclaim: • [conclusion of Preface leads into Holy, Holy, Holy with a colon, not a period]

Mystagogy • God the Father • Considered “quoad se” (Father, most holy, one, living, true, existing, abiding, dwelling, good, glorious, light) • Considered “quoad nos” (source, creator, giver of blessings, bestower of joy) • Angels • Serve God in time, contemplate God’s face, glorify God eternally

The Church/Humanity • Confess God’s name (= angelic unceasing glorification of God) • Serve as the poets of [non-linguistic] creation

Preface for Eucharistic Prayer II: Protocol • Veredignum et iustumest, aequum et salutare, • Truly it is right and just, proper and healthy, • nostibi, sanct Pater, • for us to you, holy Father, • semper et ubiquegratiasagere • always and everywhere to give thanks • per FiliumdilectionistuaeIesum Christum, • through the Son of your delight, Jesus Christ,

Body • Verbum tuum per quod cunctafecisti: • Your Word through whom you have made all things: • QuemmisistinobisSalvatorem et Redemptorem, • Whom you have sent to us as Savior and Redeemer, • Incarnatum de SpirituSancto et ex Virginenatum. • Incarnate by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin.

Qui voluntatemtuamadimplens • Who, fulfilling your will • et populumtibi sanctum acquirens • and gaining for you a holy people • extenditmanus cum pateretur, • extended his hands when he suffered • ut mortem solveret et resurrectionemmanifestaret. • so that he might conquer death and manifest the resurrection.

Eschatocol • Et ideo cum Angelis et omnibus Sanctis • And therefore with the Angels and all Saints • gloriam tuam praedicamus, una voce dicentes: • we proclaim your glory, saying with one voice:

1974 ICEL • Father, it is our duty and salvation, • always and everywhere • to give you thanks • through your beloved Son, Jesus Christ. • He is the Word through whom you made the universe, • The Savior you sent to redeem us. • By the power of the Holy Spirit • He took flesh and was born of the Virgin Mary.

For our sake he opened his arms on the cross; • he put an end to death • and revealed the resurrection. • In this he fulfilled your will • and won for you a holy people. • And so we join the angels and the saints • in proclaiming your glory • as we say:

2010 ICEL + Vox Clara • It is truly right and just, our duty and salvation, • always and everywhere to give you thanks, Father most holy, • through your beloved Son, Jesus Christ, • your Word through whom you made all things, • whom you sent as our Savior and Redeemer, • incarnate by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin.

Fulfilling your will and gaining for you a holy people, • he stretched out his hands as he endured his Passion, • so as to break the bonds of death and manifest the resurrection. • And so, with the Angels and all the Saints • we declare your glory, • as with one voice we acclaim:

Spoken Proclamation • It is truly right and just, our duty and salvation, • always and everywhere to give you thanks, Father most holy, • through your beloved Son, Jesus Christ, • your Word through whom you made all things, • whom you sent as our Savior and Redeemer, • incarnate by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin.

Fulfilling your will and gaining for you a holy people, • he stretched out his hands as he endured his Passion, • so as to break the bonds of death and manifest the resurrection.

And so, with the Angels and all the Saints • we declare your glory, • as with one voice we acclaim:

Mystagogy • God the Father: • Most holy • Father and missioner of Jesus Christ • Creator of all things (through Jesus Christ) • Has a people through Jesus’ mission • Possesses glory • Jesus the Christ: • Beloved Son of God the Father • Receives mission from God the Father and fulfills the Father’s will • Means by which God the Father creates all things • Savior and Redeemer of the Church (?) of humanity (?) • Enfleshed by the Holy Spirit • Born of the Virgin Mary • Paschal Mystery (endured the Passion, broke bonds of death, manifested the resurrection)

The Holy Spirit: • Means by which God the Son is enfleshed • Angels: • In union with saints and praying Church • Declare God’s glory • The Church/Humanity: • Acquired by Jesus Christ for God the Father • Created by God the Father by means of Jesus Christ • Saved and redeemed by Jesus Christ • Yoked with its perfected members (“saints”) and angels • Declares God’s glory

The New English Translation of the Roman Missal: Exploring the Preface