QUAERITUR: New translation of Confiteor omitted from Mass today.

Posted on 25 July 2011 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

From a reader:

Dear Fr Z, I’ve just been to Mass, using the new translation for the first time.  [hmmm] I was looking forward to the Confiteor, but our priest left it out. Was that because it was a weekday? I thought from now on the Confiteor was going to be a part of the ceremony.

There is indeed a new translation of the Confiteor in the new, corrected translation.  However, in the Ordinary Form, the use of the Confiteor is included in just one version of the “penitential rite” of Mass.  In other words, there are legitimate penitential rites in the Ordinary Form which don’t include the Confiteor.

Another issue is whether or not the new, corrected translation should have been used.  In some places the new translation of the Order of Mass will begin in September, with the whole translation on the 1st Sunday of Advent at the end of November.

That said, I will post something about the new Confiteor elsewhere very soon.

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8 Comments

  1. JohnE says:
    25 July 2011 at 12:40 PM

    I was at another Mass recently where they are already using the new responses — for the most part. They had a laminated page in the pews to highlight the changes. I kept doing the old parts on accident (“and also with you” rather than “and with your spirit”), and when I finally remembered to do it the new way, everyone went back to the current practice (“O Lord I am not worthy to receive you…”).

  2. Miss Anita Moore, O.P. says:
    25 July 2011 at 1:21 PM

    However, in the Ordinary Form, the use of the Confiteor is included in just one version of the “penitential rite” of Mass. In other words, there are legitimate penitential rites in the Ordinary Form which don’t include the Confiteor.

    Incidentally, that I think is one of the problems with the Ordinary Form. The quotes around “pentiential rite” are appropriate. It often feels as though there hasn’t been a penitential rite at all.

  3. Henry Edwards says:
    25 July 2011 at 2:03 PM

    Another issue is whether or not the new, corrected translation should have been used.

    Apparently some parishes have those new translation cards–e.g., those attractive multi-colored Our Sunday Visitor cards which I saw in a church recently–in the pews to use for “practice” at Mass in preparation for when the new translation is officially required. And to get people used to them in advance, a few prayers and/or responses at a time. Evidently, some pastors are less uptight about the precise date than others.

  4. stjmen says:
    25 July 2011 at 3:01 PM

    At our parish the changes are being introduced gradually, a few at a time. This past Sunday I attended a different parish, and I am nit sure if I was more amused or appalled that the ‘homily’ was a DVD regarding the changes. From what I can tell, the DVD is in several parts and the congregation are getting a different part each week until all the changes gave been introduced. It was certainly a novel experience to say the least. Back to the topic at hand though, we also do not use the penitential rite that includes the confiteor unfortunately. This saddens me as it is to me such an important part if preparing fir Holy Communion. I think there are far to many “options” available for use in the mass.

  5. wanda says:
    25 July 2011 at 4:21 PM

    I just found out that here in the Archdiocese of Baltimore, permission has been granted by the Bishops (USCCB?) to start ‘teaching the new mass’ on the weekend of Sept. 24/25, 2011. At that time we will start teaching the new sung parts of the Mass.

  6. Fr Martin Fox says:
    26 July 2011 at 3:07 PM

    We are permitted to begin using the new text of the Gloria, Sanctus and Memorial Acclamation in September, and we will.

    Also, in a recent conversation with one of the retired priests, I proposed that, when the new translation takes full effect in Advent, we might make things easier, on both the celebrant and the faithful, by postponing use of some options until some time in 2012. I.e., what if for all of Advent and Christmas, we stuck to the Roman Canon? We can use just one memorial acclamation until, say, Lent; and do the same with the penitential rite. We can introduce the other Eucharistic prayers one at a time during 2012. We’re looking at it.

  7. jmvbxx says:
    26 July 2011 at 10:47 PM

    We say the Spanish version at every single mass in Colombia.

  8. jmvbxx says:
    26 July 2011 at 10:48 PM

    I’m sorry .. I meant to include it .. Por mi culpa, por mi culpa, por mi gran culpa ..

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