U.S. bishops approve new Mass translation

At their annual spring meeting in June, by a vote of 173 to 29, the United States Council of Catholic Bishops approved a new translation of the Order of the Mass. This will mean some alterations in the prayers of the Mass, including the Creed, the Eucharistic Prayers, and the Greeting. Before the new texts may be used for Mass, they require approval by the Holy See, where they will be reviewed (and amended where necessary).

Much catechesis will be needed in order to prepare for the changes. Initial plans for this essential catechesis have begun on the national level, even though confirmation and publication of the Roman Missal are still distant. Parishes are encouraged not to proceed with any changes until both approval by the Holy See and accurate catechesis takes place.

The reason for adapting liturgical texts is to provide a more accurate translation from the Latin, and a greater sense of sacredness, "dignity, beauty and doctrinal precision" that is expressed in the document, Liturgicum Authenticum (# 25). The document provides the current norms for translating liturgical texts.