PUBLICATION OF THE INSTRUCTION "LITURGIAM AUTHENTICAM"

VATICAN CITY, MAY 8, 2001 (VIS) - The Fifth Instruction for the Right Implementation of the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy of the Second Vatican Council, "'Liturgiam authenticam', On the Use of Vernacular Languages in the Publication of the Books of the Roman Liturgy" was published today. This was promulgated by the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of Sacraments on March 28.

The 40-page document, which entered into force on April 25, was published in Italian, English, French and Spanish and was signed by Cardinal Jorge A. Medina Estevez and Archbihop Pio Tamburrino, respectively prefect and secretary of the congregation.

Following are extracts from a press release issued today:

"THE GREAT POST-CONCILIAR INSTRUCTIONS

"On 4 December 1963 the Fathers of the Second Vatican Council approved the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, 'Sacrosanctum Concilium.' In order to facilitate the implementation of the liturgical renewal desired by the Council Fathers, the Holy See has subsequently published five documents of special importance, each successively numbered as an "Instruction for the Right Application of the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy of the Second Vatican Council."

"A FIFTH INSTRUCTION

"The Instruction 'Liturgiam authenticam' serves to set forth authoritatively the manner in which the provisions of article 36 of the Liturgy Constitution are to be applied to the vernacular translation of the texts of the Roman Liturgy."

OVERVIEW

"The Instruction takes up the observations made in 1988 by Pope John Paul II calling for progress beyond an initial phase to one of improved translations of liturgical texts. Accordingly, 'Liturgiam authenticam' offers the Latin Church a new formulation of principles of translation with the benefit of more than thirty years' experience in the use of the vernacular in liturgical celebrations."

"It should be noted that the new document substitutes for all previous norms while integrating much of their content, drawing them together in a more unified and systematic way, underpinning them with some careful reflection, and linking them to certain related questions that so far have been treated separately."

Choice of Vernacular Languages

"Only the more commonly spoken languages should be employed in the Liturgy, avoiding the introduction of too many languages for liturgical use, which could prove divisive by fragmenting a people into small groups. A number of factors should be kept in mind when choosing a language for liturgical use, such as the number of priests, deacons and lay collaborators at ease in a given tongue, the availability of translators for each language, and the practical possibility, including cost, of producing and publishing accurate translations of the liturgical books."

THE TRANSLATION OF LITURGICAL TEXTS

Using Other Texts as Aids

"The text of the 'editio typica,' the official modern Latin edition, is always the point of departure for the translation. When the Latin text employs certain words from other ancient languages (e.g. alleluia, Amen or Kyrie eleison), such terms may be retained in their original language."

Vocabulary

"The vocabulary chosen for liturgical translation must be at one and the same time easily comprehensible to ordinary people and also expressive of the dignity and oratorical rhythm of the original. ... Translations must be freed from exaggerated dependence on modern modes of expression and in general from psychologizing language. ... There are in the Liturgy no texts that are intended to promote discriminatory or hostile attitudes to non-Catholic Christians, to the Jewish community or other religions, or which in any way deny universal equality in human dignity."

Gender

"Many languages have nouns and pronouns capable of referring to both the masculine and the feminine in a single term. The abandonment of these terms under pressure of criticism on ideological or other grounds is not always wise or necessary nor is it an inevitable part of linguistic development."

The Translation of a Text

"Translations should try not to extend or to restrict the meaning of the original terms, and terms that recall publicity slogans or those that have political, ideological or similar overtones should be avoided."

THE ORGANIZATION OF TRANSLATION WORK AND COMMISSIONS

"The preparation of translations is a serious charge incumbent in the first place upon the Bishops themselves, even if they naturally often draw on the services of experts. In all work of translation at least some of the Bishops should be closely involved, not only personally checking the final texts, but taking active part in the various stages of preparation."

"The Instruction sets out clearly the procedures (in general those in use until now) for the approval of texts by the Bishops and the forwarding of the texts for review and confirmation by the Congregation for Divine Worship."

"The Instruction concludes with a number of brief technical sections giving guidelines on publication of editions of liturgical books, including copyright, and on procedures for the translation of the liturgical texts proper to individual dioceses and religious communities."

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