Swiss Liturgical Institute cites Pope John Paul II in support of "pro omnibus"

Translation of original article.

Forty years after publishing the Latin Missal, the vernacular Missals are being examined for their translations and, if necessary, will be corrected.

This process which will in all probability take several years. In this context, a letter by Cardinal Arinze is of importance. This letter is addressed to the Chairmen of the National Bishops’ Conferences.

Although the work of the translation will still take a lot of time, at various points, a discussion has arisen specifically on the question of the translation of the pro-multis in the Canon where some faithful are unsure of whether the translation provided so far is accurate or whether a new phrase “for many” or “for the many” is more accurate.

This lack of certainty can easily be rectified because Church law is clear that until the approval of a revised German Missal, which can only be expected in a few years, the translation “for all” in the German Missal is solely valid.

At the present time, it is especially important because the translation “for all” had been confirmed by Pope John Paul II. It is the last official document from the Magisterium on the question of the translation of “pro multis” and therefore of special significance for the newly disputed questions of translation.

On Maundy Thursday, 13th March 2005, a document which was published shortly before his death and therefore has the dignity of his final testimony.

"Hoc est enim corpus meum quod pro vobis tradetur." The body and the blood of Christ are given for the salvation of man, of the whole man and of all men. This salvation is integral and at the same time universal, because no one, unless he freely chooses, is excluded from the saving power of Christ's blood: "qui pro vobis et pro multis effundetur". It is a sacrifice offered for "many'', as the Biblical text says (Mk 14:24; Mt 26:28; cf. Is 53:11-12); this typical Semitic expression refers to the multitude who are saved by Christ, the one Redeemer, yet at the same time it implies the totality of human beings to whom salvation is offered: the Lord's blood is "shed for you and for all", as some translations legitimately make explicit. Christ's flesh is truly given "for the life of the world" (Jn 6:51; cf. 1 Jn 2:2).

In this context, also important is the following fact that at least since 1500, in the Maundy Thursday Mass, in the most important locus for eucharistic theology, the following insertion is prayed which highlights the clear universal horizon of salvific understanding.

The text then provides the translation of the whole context of the insertion of “pro nostra omniumque salute pateretur, hoc est, hodie” into the Holy Thursday Mass.

Cathcon comment

Liturgical rearguard fighting like fury but in the end their moral will break like the Imperial Guard in the closing hours of the Battle of Waterloo.

Comments

going down hard...
Chris: how would YOU characterize this letter? Where exactly is it in the grand hierarchy of magesterial acts? I am a little suspicious of the attempt to buttress it by stating "a document which was published shortly before his death and therefore has the dignity of his final testimony."

The document stands or falls on it's own merits, surely? It sounds like they aren't too sure of themselves.

thanks.
Chris: how would YOU characterize this letter? Where exactly is it in the grand hierarchy of magesterial acts? I am a little suspicious of the attempt to buttress it by stating "a document which was published shortly before his death and therefore has the dignity of his final testimony."

The document stands or falls on it's own merits, surely? It sounds like they aren't too sure of themselves.

thanks.
The document on a literal reading is clearly wrong. One is obliged on grounds of charity to give the late Pope the benefit of the doubt in terms of his intentions. However, the guy who drafted it, that is another matter.