English-speaking bishops get copies of draft of Mass prayers

Published: 2004-02-17

ROME (CNS) -- Bishops in English-speaking countries have been sent copies of a draft of a new translation of the main prayers used at Mass, but one liturgy expert said the number of obviously modified texts would not be overwhelming. Msgr. James P. Moroney, secretary of the U.S. bishops' liturgy committee, said "the only things that were changed were those things that needed to be changed for precision or proclamation." The English draft of the "Ordo Missae," or Order of the Mass, was approved by the episcopal board of the International Commission on English in the Liturgy in January. Copies were sent out Feb. 13 to every Latin-rite bishop in the United States, and other English-speaking bishops' conferences were expected to distribute the text about the same time. Msgr. Moroney said he would not discuss specific suggested changes while the bishops were reviewing and offering their comments on the texts. However, he said the Order of the Mass contains "almost all of the changes" expected in the parts of the Mass recited by the congregation.

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