To date, the Congregation for Divine Worship and Discipline of the Sacraments [CDWDS] has had control on the creation of liturgical texts in the venacular. However, the Moto Proprio provides a change to this by means of an amendment to Canon Law, specifically Canon 838.
Canon 838 has been re-written, below are the previous and amended texts:
Canon 838 current text §1. The direction of the sacred liturgy depends solely on the authority of the Church which resides in the Apostolic See and, according to the norm of law, the diocesan bishop. §2. It is for the Apostolic See to order the sacred liturgy of the universal Church, publish liturgical books and review their translations in vernacular languages, and exercise vigilance that liturgical regulations are observed faithfully everywhere. §3. It pertains to the conferences of bishops to prepare and publish, after the prior review of the Holy See, translations of liturgical books in vernacular languages, adapted appropriately within the limits defined in the liturgical books themselves. §4. Within the limits of his competence, it pertains to the diocesan bishop in the Church entrusted to him to issue liturgical norms which bind everyone | Canon 838 amended §1. The ordering and guidance of the sacred liturgy depends solely upon the authority of the Church, namely, that of the Apostolic See and, as provided by law, that of the diocesan Bishop. §2. It is for the Apostolic See to order the sacred liturgy of the universal Church, publish liturgical books, recognise adaptations approved by the Episcopal Conference according to the norm of law, and exercise vigilance that liturgical regulations are observed faithfully everywhere. §3. It pertains to the Episcopal Conferences to faithfully prepare versions of the liturgical books in vernacular languages, suitably accommodated within defined limits, and to approve and publish the liturgical books for the regions for which they are responsible after the confirmation of the Apostolic See. §4. Within the limits of his competence, it belongs to the diocesan Bishop to lay down in the Church entrusted to his care, liturgical regulations which are binding on all. |
As Bishops’ conferences are herewith granted the power to choose their own liturgical translations, with Rome only exercising the power to confirm, then one wonders how long it will before those who opposed the 2011 translation of English Missal will send their ideas on the back of the postcard to Rome addressed to Archbishop Arthur Roche, the Secretary of the CDWDS.
Furthermore, where does this leave Liturgiam Authenticam, which clearly set out rules for translating liturgy into the venacular from the authentic original source in Latin?
Predictably, some will be popping the champagne corks at the news. For them it means that they can cock a snook at those interfering Roman Curial officals who are somewhat 'put in their place' by this.
But let us be clear, divesting Rome of control on matters pertaining to the good governance of Holy Mother Church is not good news. If this approach snowballs, and in the current circumstances it will, it will result in a multidude of differing approaches tailored to the concepts of Episcopal Conferences - the notion of unity is somewhat lost. Surely the chaos that the multiple intereprations of Amoris Laetitia by some Bishops Conferences is a lesson learned? Clearly not.
Of course, one can look to the Traditional Liturgy of the Extraordinary Form for solace.
Whilst by 1962, there had been 'tinkering' with the Missal and Breviary, the texts, in latin, were identical in Rome or Rhyl, Florence or Formby, Washington DC or Wimbledon. Pray, especially in this 10th annivesary week since the effective commencement of Summorum Pontificum, that our beloved Latin Mass still acheives the unity of unam sanctam cathólicam et apostólicam Ecclésiam by the very nature of the same liturgy anywhere a celebration takes place.