Praying the Mass (The Prayers of the People) is the first of two books by author Jeffrey Pinyan on the new ICEL translation of the Roman Missal; the second book which is not yet released is on the prayers of the priest.

The structure of his first book follows the structure of the Mass with the Latin text accompanying the English text. The English text is marked as to where it differs from the current English translation. There is also a rich scripturally based explanantion of where each piece of the text has come from. For example, when writing about the Sanctus and Benedictus,

“To the song of angels is attached the song of men, the Benedictis, the owrds of Psalm 118, which the people of Jerusalem shouted joyfully when Jesus entered the city on what we now celebrate as Palm Sunday:

Benedictus qui venit in nomine Domini.
Hosanna in excelsis.

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.     Ps. 118:26; Phil. 2:11
Hosanna in the highest.    Ps. 118:25; Matt. 21:9; John 12:13″

Each chapter very usefully ends with questions for reflection that could be used as a basis for reflection during catechesis.

I originally mentioned this book several weeks ago in a comment on an earlier post “And With Your Spirit”. I had seen a review of this book on Fr Tim Finigan’s blog The Hermeneutic of Continuity, and decided to order it as detailed information on the new translation of the Roman Missal is a little scarce. Since that time, the latest Archdiocese of Southwark Ad Clerum has dates for clergy formation to take place in early 2010.

My original feelings about the new translation I have to admit were fairly ambivalent; the last big change in the Mass took place during my childhood and I have no memory of it and this change seemed to me like change for change’s sake. That opinion has changed over time mostly due to the excellent column “Exploring the Word” in The Tablet written by Daniel McCarthy OSB. In this column, each week the Latin text for a particular part of that Sunday’s Mass is compared with the 1974 English version and the orgins of the text explored. Even to my untrained eyes, the Latin text is far richer than the current translation.

Admittedly, there are some clumsy phrases in the new translation, but overall it is closer to the Latin texts and translations in other modern languages. As deacons and those in formation, we will be actively involved in the catechesis in our parishes during the introduction of the new translation. I can highly recommend Jeffrey Pinyan’s book as a useful supplement to the materials that you diocese will provide. You can buy the book direct from the author at http://www.prayingthemass.com/2009/08/buy-book.html.