Why there's a new translation coming...

Once again, more proof that a new translation to our Roman Missal was waaaaaayyyy overdue. Yesterday at Mass, on the 3rd Sunday of Lent, one of the Gospels' most powerful and enduring stories, Jesus and the woman at the well, took a central place in our Lenten season, as it does each year at this time. The dialogue between Christ and the woman and the plea for "living water" are wonderful allusions to our relationship with the Lord which, during these days and with God's assistance, we are trying to improve.

And in the midst of this symbolic and literary beauty, on this 3rd Sunday of Lent, we heard this prayer after communion:

"Lord, in sharing this sacrament, may we receive your forgiveness and be brought together in unity and peace."

Now, compare this rather anemic prayer with the same prayer from the new translation of the Roman Missal, which we'll begin using at Advent this year(!):

"As we receive the pledge of things yet hidden in heaven and are nourished while still on earth with the Bread that comes from on high, we humbly entreat you, O Lord, that what is being brought about in us in mystery, may come to true completion."

Wow. Stunning. What a poverty of words we've gotten used to over the last forty years in our worship! And to think, there are actually people who are actually unhappy with the fact that this change is coming. Wow. Just, wow.