{"id":17451,"date":"2012-12-27T08:59:38","date_gmt":"2012-12-27T14:59:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/praytellblog.com\/?p=17451"},"modified":"2013-06-11T12:41:49","modified_gmt":"2013-06-11T18:41:49","slug":"how-the-grinch-mistranslated-christmas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/praytellblog.com\/index.php\/2012\/12\/27\/how-the-grinch-mistranslated-christmas\/","title":{"rendered":"How the Grinch mistranslated Christmas"},"content":{"rendered":"

Some years ago I went to midnight Mass in a small French village. The priest berated the congregation for weak singing, then delivered a scorcher of a homily. All of us, he said, were whited sepulchres; we had no idea what Christmas was about. It had become little more than an excuse for consumption, buying expensive trinkets and gorging on oysters and foie gras. He hadn\u2019t seen most of us for at least a year. \u201cWhat contempt for God,\u201d he shouted, \u201cto put on fancy clothes and turn up at Church this once. Do you think you are fooling God? Why are you wasting your time here?\u201d<\/p>\n

But then, at the very end, something magical happened. Just before the dismissal, the priest stood before the congregation and his voice changed. \u201cI know I berated you for thinking that Christmas is nothing more than new clothes and champagne,\u201d he said, \u201cbut I have nothing against good things, especially the champagne. So on behalf of the mayor it is my honour to invite you to the town square for a glass. A very happy Christmas to all of you.\u201d And, blessed, we went out into the cold clear air to drink champagne, look at the stars and taste the \u201813 desserts\u2019.<\/p>\n

During Advent it is not uncommon for conservative homilists, writers and bloggers to attack a superficial Christmas or to go after sentimental views of \u2018love\u2019. Some stress the need for confession, insisting that Advent is less about Christ\u2019s first arrival as a tiny baby than his second coming, as the terrifying judge of all.<\/p>\n

But, when all is as it should be, Christmas itself, especially the Mass at midnight, becomes a time of welcome and forgiveness. The battle is stilled, at least for a few hours. Even the pugnacious Michael Voris, whose daily programme repeats the slogan \u201cJoin us in combat, like us on Facebook\u201d, paused for a day in his attack on \u201clies and falsehoods.\u201d On this night, good homilists welcome those who are in church for the first time in a year, or even in ten years.<\/p>\n

And this brings us to the new translation. For the prayers at this year\u2019s and last year\u2019s midnight Mass sounded as though they had been translated by that French priest in his angry mode. Like the translators, his English was very shaky.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

COLLECT<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
Latin, MR2002<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/td>\n\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\nICEL<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\nNew translation<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Deus, qui hanc sacratissimam noctem veri luminis fecisti illustratione clarescere, da, quaesumus, ut, cuius in terra mysteria lucis agnovimus, eius quoque gaudiis perfruamur in caelo.<\/td>\n<\/td>\nFather, you make this holy night radiant with the splendour of Jesus Christ our light. We welcome him as Lord, the true light of the world. Bring us to eternal joy in the kingdom of heaven, where he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.<\/td>\n<\/td>\nO God, who have made this most sacred night radiant with the splendor of the true light, grant, we pray, that we, who have known the mysteries of his light on earth, may also delight in his gladness in heaven. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

The bizarre and archaic \u201cO God, who have made\u201d has been discussed elsewhere. Why is it necessary to use the perfect tense in English? Why not \u201cO God, who made\u201d?<\/p>\n

Perhaps we can only be thankful that the translators dodged the Liturgiam Authenticam<\/em> police and refrained from rendering the Agnus Dei<\/em> as \u201cLamb of God, who take away the sins of the world.\u201d And what is going on with \u201cdelight in his gladness\u201d? Yes, I know, perfruor<\/em> takes an ablative object. But if we are going to translate literally, why not \u201cdelight in his gladnesses\u201d?<\/p>\n

The 1973, I think, captures the sense of the Latin prayer. It doesn\u2019t turn it into an unintelligble gabble. If there is one night on which clarity is called for, with a congregation that is largely uncatechised, this is the night.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

PRAYER OVER THE OFFERINGS<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
Latin, MR2002<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/td>\n\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\nICEL<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\nNew translation<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Grata tibi sit, Domine, quaesumus, hodiernae festivitatis oblatio, ut, per haec sacrosancta commercia, in illius inveniamur forma, in quo tecum est nostra substantia. Qui vivit et regnat in saecula saeculorum.<\/td>\n<\/td>\nLord, accept our gifts on this joyful feast of our salvation. By our communion with God made man, may we become more like him who joins our lives to yours, for he is Lord for ever and ever.<\/td>\n<\/td>\nMay the oblation of this day\u2019s feast be pleasing to you, O Lord, we pray, that through this most holy exchange we may be found in the likeness of Christ, in whom our nature is united to you. Who lives and reigns for ever and ever.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

The archaic \u201coblation\u201d is perfectly poised to befuddle those who haven\u2019t been to church in awhile. This prayer introduces the theme of commercium<\/em>, which Whittaker (a decent abridged dictionary) glosses as \u201ctrade, traffic, commerce (right\/privilege); commercial\/sex intercourse\/relations; exchange, trafficking; goods, military supplies; trade routes; use in common.\u201d Christine Mohrmann says that it also refers to an exchange of gifts, which is probably the sense here, and which comes through in the 1973 but not in the new translation. This prayer also contains the complex theme of form and substance. Several learned homilies could be preached on this prayer alone, but those are unlikely to happen at Midnight Mass. The new translation offers neither clarity nor anything like a full rendering of the rich theology packed into this prayer.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

PREFACE OF CHRISTMAS III<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Latin, MR2002<\/strong><\/span><\/span> <\/td>\n\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\nICEL<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\nNew translation<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
De commercio in Incarnatione Verbi<\/em>\u00a0<\/em><\/td>\n<\/td>\nDivine and human exchange in the Incarnation of the Word<\/em>\u00a0<\/em><\/td>\n<\/td>\nThe exchange in the Incarnation of the Word<\/em>\u00a0<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Vere dignum et iustum est, aequum et salutare, nos tibi semper et ubique gratias agere: Domine, sancte Pater, omnipotens aeterne Deus: per Christum Dominum nostrum.
\n<\/em><\/td>\n		<\/td>\nFather, all-powerful and ever-living God, we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks through Jesus Christ our Lord. <\/td>\n<\/td>\nIt is truly right and just, our duty and our salvation, always and everywhere to give you thanks, Lord, holy Father, almighty and eternal God, through Christ our Lord.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Per quem hodie commercium nostrae reparationis effulsit, quia, dum nostra fragilitas a tuo Verbo suscipitur, humana mortalitas non solum in perpetuum transit honorem, sed nos quoque, mirando consortio, reddit aeternos.<\/td>\n<\/td>\nToday in him a new light has dawned upon the world: God has become one with man, and man has become one again with God.Your eternal Word has taken upon himself our human weakness, giving our mortal nature immortal value. So marvellous is this oneness between God and man that in Christ man restores to man the gift of everlasting life.<\/td>\n<\/td>\nFor through him the holy exchange that restores our life has shone forth today in splendour: when our frailty is assumed by your Word not only does human mortality receive unending honor but by this wondrous union we, too, are made eternal.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Here again we have the theme of commercium<\/em>. The 1973 rendering, unusually, is much longer than the new translation because the translators took care to unpack and explain the concept. Once again, the new translators were\u00a0 selective and clumsy in their application of Liturgiam Authenticam<\/em>. Consortium<\/em> is, more literally, \u201csharing\u201d or even \u201cpartnership\u201d. But perhaps that conveyed too much of a sense of the marketplace.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\u00a0The New York stock exchange has shone forth in splendour<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
Latin, MR2002<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/td>\n\u00a0<\/strong><\/td>\nICEL<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n\u00a0<\/strong><\/td>\nNew translation<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Da nobis, quaesumus, Domine Deus noster, ut, qui nativitatem Redemptoris nostri frequentare gaudemus, dignis conversationibus ad eius mereamur pervenire consortium. Qui vivit et regnat in saecula saeculorum.<\/td>\n<\/td>\nGod our Father, we rejoice in the birth of our Saviour. May we share his life completely by living as he has taught. We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord.<\/td>\n<\/td>\nGrant us, we pray, O Lord our God, that we, who are gladdened by participation in the feast of our Redeemer\u2019s Nativity, may through an honourable way of life become worthy of union with him. Who lives and reigns for ever and ever.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Here, the archaism is \u201can honourable way of life\u201d, un-literally rendered in the singular, even though the Latin is plural. Is this about receiving a knighthood? Being praised by others? At least \u201cmay become worthy\u201d isn\u2019t as awful as \u201cmay merit\u201d.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

SOLEMN BLESSING<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Latin, MR2002<\/strong><\/span><\/span> <\/td>\n\u00a0<\/strong><\/td>\nICEL<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n\u00a0<\/strong><\/td>\nNew translation<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Deus infinitae bonitatis, qui incarnatione Filii sui mundi tenebras effugavit, et eius gloriosa nativitate hanc noctem sacratissimam irradiavit, effuget a vobis tenebras vitiorum, et irradiet corda vestra luce virtutum.<\/td>\n<\/td>\nWhen he came to us as man, the Son of God scattered the darkness of this world, and filled this holy night with his glory. May the God of infinite goodness scatter the darkness of sin and brighten your hearts with holiness.<\/td>\n<\/td>\nMay the God of infinite goodness, who by the Incarnation of his Son has driven darkness from the world and by that glorious Birth has illumined this most holy night, drive far from you the darkness of vice and illumine your hearts with the light of virtue.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Quique eius salutiferae nativitatis gaudium magnum pastoribus ab Angelo voluit nuntiari, ipse mentes vestras suo gaudio impleat, et vos Evangelii sui nuntios efficiat.<\/td>\n<\/td>\nGod sent his angels to shepherds to herald the great joy of the Saviour’s birth. May he fill you with joy and make you heralds of his gospel.<\/td>\n<\/td>\nMay God, who willed that the great joy of his Son\u2019s saving Birth be announced to shepherds by the Angel, fill your minds with the gladness he gives and make you heralds of his Gospel.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Et, qui per eius incarnationem terrena caelestibus sociavit, dono vos suae pacis et bonae repleat voluntatis, et vos faciat Ecclesiae consortes esse caelestis.<\/td>\n<\/td>\nWhen the Word became man, earth was joined to heaven. May he give you his peace and good will, and fellowship with all the heavenly host.<\/td>\n<\/td>\nAnd may God, who by the Incarnation brought together the earthly and heavenly realm, fill you with the gift of his peace and favour and make you sharers with the Church in heaven.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Et benedictio Dei omnipotentis, Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti, descendat super vos et maneat semper.<\/td>\n<\/td>\nMay almighty God bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.<\/td>\n<\/td>\nAnd may the blessing of almighty God, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, come down on you and remain with you for ever.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

 <\/p>\n

I have heard this blessing for two years running \u2013 once sung, once said. In both cases, the priest stumbled through it and the congregation had no clue about when to come in with \u201cAmen\u201d. The phrases are too long. The cascading nested clauses don\u2019t work. And \u201csin\u201d is a far less misleading rendering of vitium<\/em> than \u201cvice\u201d.<\/p>\n

The 1973 translators decided to emphasise the theme of \u201cjoy\u201d; they give the celebrant the option of introducing the Collect by saying \u201cLet us pray in the peace of Christmas midnight that our joy in the birth of Christ will last forever\u201d. The new translation seems to play this down, reminding us that we are unworthy and in need of salvation. All true. But is this the night to emphasise that?<\/p>\n

Let me deal with two other themes that may surface in the comments. The first is that the new rendering is somehow more \u201celegant\u201d or \u201cpoetic\u201d than the 1973. It is not. Cranmer would never have put out shoddy English like this. Tossing \u201cverily\u201d and \u201cforsooth\u201d into clumsy prose does not turn it into Shakespeare. And larding the word salad of the new translation with archaisms does not make it beautiful or sacral.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

It\u2019s still a pig<\/span><\/p>\n

The second is that the new translation is somehow more \u201caccurate\u201d than the old. Again, I disagree. CS Lewis wrote that \u201ctranslation, by its very nature, is a continuous implicit commentary\u201d. Morris Zapp, the cigar-chomping post-modernist character in David Lodge\u2019s campus novels, loved to say that \u201cEvery decoding is another encoding.\u201d I don\u2019t know whether the saying comes from Saussure or Stuart Hall, or whether Lodge just made it up. But it applies here: every translator makes choices. There is no such thing as \u201cwhat the prayer really says\u201d. The 1973 translators\u2019 choices were more pastorally appropriate to Midnight Mass than those in the new Missal.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The translation of the prayers for Midnight Mass is clumsy, and it misses the spirit of the Mass itself.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":43,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[17,91,24],"tags":[562,719,173,2192,106,612,2044,477],"class_list":["post-17451","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-liturgical-spirituality","category-liturgical-year","category-translation-new-missal","tag-christmas","tag-comparing-translations","tag-cs-lewis","tag-david-lodge","tag-liturgiam-authenticam","tag-midnight-mass","tag-preaching","tag-translation-issues"],"yoast_head":"\nHow the Grinch mistranslated Christmas - Home<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/praytellblog.com\/index.php\/2012\/12\/27\/how-the-grinch-mistranslated-christmas\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"How the Grinch mistranslated Christmas - 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My church home is the Jesuit Church of the Immaculate Conception (Farm Street Church) in central London, where I serve at the altar and help with adult education at the Mount Street Jesuit Centre. I recently became the chair of Council at Newman University, a small Catholic university in Birmingham. 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