Scottish Bishops Confirm Introduction of New Roman Missal

At their meeting in Edinburgh on Monday 11 April 2011, the Roman Catholic Bishops of Scotland agreed to begin the introduction of the new English translation of the Roman Missal from Sunday 4 September 2011. The full Missal will be in use throughout Scotland from the first Sunday of Advent (27 November 2011).

In a Letter to be sent to all clergy, Bishop Joseph Toal, President of the National Liturgy Commission said; “Pope Benedict XVI has described the new English translation of the Missal as “an immense service to Catholics throughout the English-speaking world” Scotland’s bishops welcome the opportunity this offers to renew our faith in the Eucharist and in all aspects of its celebration.”

Bishop Toal added; “With the introduction of the new Missal later this year, some of the words we are familiar with in the present English Mass will change. From September the new wordings will gradually be introduced into our Masses in Scotland so that by the beginning of Advent all our Masses will be celebrated using the new translation. The National Liturgy Commission will provide a number of support resources to help dioceses and parishes prepare for the introduction of the new Missal.”

Some of the changes in common prayers and responses

In the Confiteor we will again say “through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault”, offering a fuller translation of the Latin “mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa”.

  • A very noticeable change will be the response to “The Lord be with you” (Dominus Vobiscum) – it will now be “And with your spirit” (a more literal translation of the Latin “Et cum spiritu tuo”).
  • In the Creed we will say “I believe”, translating the Latin “Credo…” . Parts of the Gloria will change, and in the Sanctus we will begin “Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of hosts…
  • As the priest presents the Body and Blood of Christ to the faithful immediately before Holy Communion he will say this beautiful invitation to the Lord’s Supper:
  • “Behold the Lamb of God, behold him who takes away the sins of the world. Blessed are those who are called to the Supper of the Lamb.”
  • And the response will be: “Lord I am not worthy that you enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed”.
  • Our humble words before receiving the Lord in Holy Communion give a clear example of how the new text tries to honour the scriptural references and metaphors which abound in the ancient Latin prayers of the Roman Missal. In this prayer we repeat the words of the centurion who came to Jesus seeking healing for his servant (Luke 7:6-7), while expressing his own sense of unworthiness that Jesus should even consider “entering under his roof”.