November 27, 2011, the First Sunday of Advent, marked the implementation of the third edition of the Roman Missal, the book used by Catholics throughout the world for the celebration of the Roman Rite of the Mass.

The third edition of the Roman Missal in Latin was promulgated by Pope John Paul II in the year 2000 to celebrate the Millennium Jubilee. The Latin text of the third edition appeared in the year 2002. The English translation of the third edition of the Roman Missal will be published this year and implemented on the First Sunday of Advent 2011.

For centuries, Roman Catholics prayed the Mass only in Latin. After the Second Vatican Council, the liturgical texts were translated for the first time into the vernacular or language of the local people. The groups involved in the translation process used the principles of dynamic equivalence. This approach to translation attempts to convey the overall meaning of the original text (Latin), rather than giving a word-for-word translation, an approach known as formal equivalence. The new English version of the third edition of the Roman Missal is based on the translation principles of formal equivalence, intended to be a better translation of the original Latin texts. In other words, in the new English version, we will encounter a more direct (word-for-word) translation of the original Latin texts. The texts haven't changed, but the rules of translation have changed. The new translation will also reflect a more biblical language, since many of the prayers we use at Mass are biblical in origin. For example, the words in response to the invitation to Communion, "Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed," come directly from the words of the Centurion whose servant Jesus cures in Matthew, Chapter 8: "Lord, I am not worthy for You to come under my roof, but just say the word, and my servant will be healed."  (New American Bible) Furthermore, the new translation will reflect a more poetic use of language.

We look forward to this gift from the Church to enhance our prayer in every celebration of the Eucharist.

Click here for 10 Questions and Answers about the new Missal the from United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.