Speak Bible!

In his address today to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, the Most Reverend Arthur Roche, Bishop of Leeds (England), said to the U.S. bishops, "What a shame it would be if the most important tool we have for formation and worship [translations] was reduced to politics, as if the highest or only form of discourse we can manage in the Church (or society) is political discourse."

In reference to the many complaints that have been circulating concerning the proposed translation of the Order of Mass, a translation that is faithful to the principles set forth by the Holy See, Bishop Roche reminded the bishops that "you yourselves approved our statutes when ICEL [the Internation Commission on English in the Liturgy] was reconsituted four years ago."

While Bishop Roche, the current Chairman of ICEL, admitted that the English employed in the United States, Great Britain, and other countries has varrying differences - even within a single country - he affirmed "alongside the regional variations there is an American Standard English by means of which people from all over the country communicate with each other."

The principle behind this uniform language "can be applied internationally," the Bishop noted.

Following these introductory remarks, Bishop Roche proceeded to comment on several particular instances of the proposed translation which have elicted perhaps the greatest controversies.

The translation of the Fourth Eucharistic Prayer which we currently use reads, "...he took the cup filled with wine..." while the proposed translation reads "...he took the cup filled with the fruit of the vine." Some have objected to this, saying that the fruit of the vine is wine; it is, they argue, too wordy.

In response, Bishop Roche pointed out, "we hear the words 'the fruit of the wine' on the lips of the Lord himself in all three synoptic Gospels - which I would consider as being more than enough reason to respect their form."

Taking such issues to the next level, the Chairman remarked that "the more I go through this process the clearer it is to me that very many of us need to revisit the theological reasoning behind the various parts and components of the Mass, as well as considering the theological sources from which the texts of the Mass have been culled. In the main, these are the Sacred Scriptures and the Fathers of the Church."

"The link between the Liturgy and Scripture," he reminded the Conference, "on which Liturgiam authenticam lays emphasis, seems so obvious, important and valuable. I find it quite interesting to note the issues that can arise in this regard.

Continuing in this vein, Bishop Roche pointed out "that scriptural catechesis is central to liturgical catechesis. It was said of St. Bernard that he knew the Sacred Scriptures so well that his language was biblical - he began to, as our young people would say today, 'speak bible.' My point is that in using a translation that is more faithful to Sacred Scripture we are teaching ourselves and our people to speak bible!

Concluding his remarks, the Chairman reflected that there are "so many people with so many ideas, but in the end it is we bishops, in union with our Holy Father, who have the responsibility of faithfully handing on to them [the faithful] what we have received from the Lord."

He further noted, "We are at a very important moment in the whole of this process. If the bishops of the English-speaking countries can agree on a single version of the Mass, what a sign of catholicity that will be. But more than that, it will be a guarantee of catholicity for the future, not only in our own time, and not only in our own countries. Clearly I, and all my brother bishops of ICEL, believe that you, the bishops of the United States, have a most important role of leadership to play in just that."

Well said, your Excellency! Thank you!!!