Question on Readings at EF Mass

[Dan_Daly]

Greetings,

If the readings are done in English at the EF, is any Catholic Bible translations permitted (the NAB for example) or are only certain ones allowed (Douay Rheims, etc?).

If anyone can answers a reference to the relevant official documents would be great. Thanks and God bless.

 

[ProVobis]

I don’t think there are any strict rules on this. The translations in my missal seldom match the readings given by the priest, if he decides to give them in English at all.

 

[Rich_C]

If you mean when father re-read the epistle and Gospel reading in English right before his sermon, I think that’s extra-liturgical and not subject to the rubrics. If you mean substituting vernacular readings for the Latin readings in the liturgy, I don’t know.

 

[M-Dent]

Art. 6. In Masses celebrated in the presence of the people in accordance with the Missal of Bl. John XXIII, the readings may be given in the vernacular, using editions recognised by the Apostolic See.

zenit.org/rssenglish-20071

 

[ProVobis]

M-Dent:
In subsequent legislation, any vernacular readings WITHIN the Mass were limited to Missa Lecta Masses. (Low)

 

[ServusMariae90]

I know my priest uses the Douay-Rheims. However, the Knox version has just been reprinted, which could be a beautiful alternative.

 

[TrueLight]

In subsequent legislation, any vernacular readings WITHIN the Mass were limited to Missa Lecta Masses. (Low)

But there is usually a re-reading of the Epistle and Gospel in the vernacular at most of the high Masses I’ve attended.

 

[ProVobis]

But there is usually a re-reading of the Epistle and Gospel in the vernacular at most of the high Masses I’ve attended.

Most Masses I’ve attended outside the parish I normally attend have that format. You get to stand twice for the Gospel. And some actually respond, “Praise to you…” though they’re not required.

 

[TrueLight]

Most Masses I’ve attended outside the parish I normally attend have that format. You get to stand twice for the Gospel. And some actually respond, “Praise to you…” though they’re not required.

Yeah. We do that, as the vernacular of “Gloria tibi Domine”.

 

[Chatter163]

Yes, but the other poster was making the point that the vernacular re-readings are not liturgical, i.e., they fall outside of the Mass. The Mass is temporaily halted, so to speak, while these and the sermon take place. (In the OF, the homily is considered a part of the liturgy.) The Holy See has indicated that at Low Mass, the readings may be in the vernacular only, though few EF communities seem to do this. In that case the readings are liturgical.

 

[Rich_C]

But there is usually a re-reading of the Epistle and Gospel in the vernacular at most of the high Masses I’ve attended.

But that doesn’t conflict with the Church’s ruling if it’s done between the Gospel and Creed as part of the “sermon time.” The “sermon time” is technically not “within” the Mass, it’s like an intermission for commentary. As least, so I’m told.

 

[ProVobis]

Yeah. We do that, as the vernacular of “Gloria tibi Domine”.

During the Mass, and the format is the same in the Last Gospel (except there it’s “Initium sancti…”)

P. Dominus vobiscum.
S. Et cum spiritu tuo.
P. Sequentia sancti Evangelii secundum …
S. Gloria tibi, Domine
…

S. Laus tibi, Christe.

When or if the Gospel is reread in the vulgar/vernacular, these versicles and responses aren’t required. “(This is) the Word of the Lord” is optional AFAIK; it’s not even in the missal.

 

[ProVobis]

But that doesn’t conflict with the Church’s ruling if it’s done between the Gospel and Creed as part of the “sermon time.” The “sermon time” is technically not “within” the Mass, it’s like an intermission for commentary. As least, so I’m told.

Well this is interesting too. From the Council of Trent,

Caput VIII. Chapter VIII.
Missa vulgari lingua non celebretur. Ejus mysteria populo explicentur.

Etsi missa magnam contineat populi fidelis eruditionem; non tamen expedire visum est patribus, ut vulgari passim lingua celebraretur. Quamobrem, retento ubique cujusque Ecclesiæ antiquo et a sancta Romana Ecclesia, omnium ecclesiarum matre et magistra, probato ritu, ne oves Christi esuriant, neve parvuli panem petant et non sit qui frangat eis, mandat sancta synodus pastoribus et singulis curam animarum gerentibus, ut frequenter inter missarum celebrationem vel per se vel per alios ex iis, quæ in missa leguntur, aliquid exponant; atque inter cetera sanctissimi hujus sacrificii mysterium aliquod declarent, diebus præsertim dominicis et festis.​

On not celebrating the Mass in the vulgar tongue; the mysteries of the Mass to be explained to the people.

Although the mass contains great instruction for the faithful people, nevertheless, it has not seemed expedient to the Fathers that it should be every where celebrated in the vulgar tongue. Wherefore, the ancient usage of each Church, and the rite approved of by the holy Roman Church, the mother and mistress of all churches, being in each place retained; and, that the sheep of Christ may not suffer hunger, nor the little ones ask for bread, and there be none to break it unto them, the holy Synod charges pastors, and all who have the cure of souls, that they frequently, during the celebration of mass, expound either by themselves, or others, some portion of those things which are read at Mass, and that, amongst the rest, they explain some mystery of this most holy sacrifice, especially on the Lord’s days and festivals.