Catholic Sensibility

Rock posted the latest ICEL incarnation of the Creed. Compare to the authentic Latin version on the left. Maybe you'd like to take your own crack at translating it. Who knows? ICEL may give you a call. I believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Only-begotten Son of God, born of the Father before all ages, God from God, light from light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father: through him all things were made. For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven, (At the following words, up to and including and became man, all bow.) and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man. Crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate, he suffered death and was buried. And rose again on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead. His kingdom will have no end. And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life: who proceeds from the Father and the Son, with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. And in one holy, catholic and apostolic Church. I confess one baptism for the forgiveness of sins, I look forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen. Compare it to draft 1, what went to the English-speaking bishops last year, as leaked by an Australian news agency: I believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible. I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Only-begotten Son of God, born of the Father before time began. God from God, light from light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, one in being with the Father: through whom all things were made. Who for us and for our salvation came down from heaven, (At the following words, up to and including and became man, all bow.) and by the Holy Spirit became incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and was made man. Crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate, he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of the Father. He will come again with glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life: who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who together with the Father and the Son is worshipped and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. I believe in one holy, catholic and apostolic Church. I confess one baptism for the forgiveness of sins, and I await the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen. I can imagine the nitpicking that went on about what to do with and's, who thought "consubstantialem" is or isn't a direct translation of "consubstantial," and that the feminists would be heartened to find the Holy Spirit is no longer "He," but we're still going to translate "homo" just the same as we'd do with "vir." Just for spite, eh? Whatever final English version that emerges has some obstacles. Permit your favorite parish liturgist to make some suggestions for implementation: This would be a good time to get people to sing it. If they have to learn music, they'll have to learn the new words along with it, and I suspect that for singing congregations, the alterations will go down easier if there's music to go with it. Maybe the USCCB could commission about a half-dozen good composers to give us public domain music any parish could copy and use. The alternative is that people will trip up over the seemingly innocent placement of articles, not necessarily words like "consubstantial." Some people want the bow at the incarnation enforced? I'd be happy if the laity don't adopt another favorite liturgical gesture ... arms crossed in front of them and unmoving lips.