Liturgy Lines

New Words for Worship Part 13: Examples of New Presider’s Texts

The 12 “Liturgy Lines” columns that I wrote last year about the revision of the English-language version of the Roman Missal included several examples of the changes to the people’s prayers and responses of the Mass. The next few columns will look at some of the revised presider’s texts which will lead to a change in the ‘sound’ of the celebration.

Preface of Sundays in Ordinary Time IV

Current version:
By his birth we are reborn.
In his suffering we are freed from sin.
By his rising from the dead we rise to everlasting life.
In his return to you in glory
we enter into your heavenly kingdom.
And so, we join the angels and the saints
as they sing their unending hymn of praise:

New Translation:
For by his birth he brought renewal
to humanity's fallen state,
and by his suffering, cancelled out our sins;
by his rising from the dead,
he has opened the way to eternal life,
and by ascending to you, O Father,
he has unlocked the gates of heaven.
And so, with the company of Angels and Saints,
we sing the hymn of your praise,
as without end we acclaim:

Preface I of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Current Version:
Through the power of the Holy Spirit,
she became the virgin mother of your only Son,
our Lord Jesus Christ,
who is for ever the light of the world.
Through him the choirs of angels
and all the powers of heaven
praise and worship your glory.
May our voices blend with theirs
as we join in their unending hymn:

New Translation:
For by the overshadowing of the Holy Spirit
she conceived your Only Begotten Son,
and without losing the glory of virginity,
brought forth into the world the eternal Light,
Jesus Christ our Lord.
Through him the Angels praise your majesty,
Dominions adore and Powers tremble before you.
Heaven and the Virtues of heaven and the blessed Seraphim
worship together with exultation.
May our voices, we pray, join with theirs
in humble praise as we acclaim:

Common (formerly ‘Weekdays’) Preface VI

Current Version:
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:

New Translation:
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: