THE POPE PRAISES THE WORK OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMISSION ON ENGLISH IN THE LITURGY

Vatican City, 18 October 2013 (VIS) – The International Commission on English in the Liturgy celebrates today its fiftieth anniversary. Founded as part of the implementation of the liturgical renewal called for by the Second Vatican Council’s Constitution on the Divine Liturgy, over the past fifty years, the Commission has carried out the enormous task of providing English translations of the texts of the liturgy, and has also contributed to the study, understanding and appropriation of the Church’s sacramental and euchological tradition.

The Pope received the members of the Commission in audience this morning, and remarked that the fruits of their labours “have not only helped to form the prayer of countless Catholics, but have also contributed to the understanding of the faith, the exercise of the common priesthood and the renewal of the Church’s missionary outreach, all themes central to the teaching of the Council”.

The Commission, “by enabling the vast numbers of the Catholic faithful throughout the world to pray in a common language … has helped to foster the Church’s unity in faith and sacramental communion. That unity and communion, which has its origin in the Blessed Trinity, is one which constantly reconciles and enhances the richness of diversity” concluded the Holy Father, imparting his Apostolic Blessing to those present.