Comments on ICEL Translation

By + Cardinal George Pell
Archbishop of Sydney
19/6/2006

After three years of hard work by the ICEL translators it was encouraging to hear that the bishops of the United States had joined the bishops of Australia, England, Wales and Scotland in approving the new ICEL English translation of the Order of Mass.

As chairman of Vox Clara, the small group of cardinals and bishops from around the English-speaking world who advise the Vatican on the translation of the Roman Missal, I have followed this closely and know the quality and excellence of the translation.  I had publicly anticipated this approval by the bishops’ conferences.

The new single translation for all the English speaking world captures the theological richness of the original Latin and the English is clear, dignified and accessible.  Catholics will quickly get used to it and come to love it.

The new text will not be immediately available in the parishes as it is only one part of the Missal and time-tabling arrangements have yet to be finalized by bishops’ conferences and the Holy See, which has the last word on translations.

Finally we are seeing the fruits of years of hard and hidden work.  The new translations will give a considerable boost to prayers, worship and sound teaching.  They will be a blessing for the Church.