Ordinarium missae & Ordo missae – Notable differences to be maintained in translation?
Ordinarium missae & Ordo missae – Notable differences to be maintained in translation?

Summary/Abstract: Two Latin expressions, Ordo missae and Ordinarium missae, are employed in precise, technical ways in liturgical books and documents of the Roman rite but they are sometimes confused with each other. One has been commonly used when referring to musical compositions of the longer sung texts of the Roman Mass and was used thus in the new chapter of the Institutio Generalis Missali Romani which treats of matters within the competence of Episcopal Conferences. Recent translations of the two Latin expressions in liturgical books for local churches have taken different and even inconsistent routes. Less than ideal translation has affected the rendering of an important new text in the General Instruction regarding the composition of liturgical music and Episcopal Conferences. The author seeks to clarify the usage of the two Latin expressions and how they have been translated differently and inconsistently in major Western languages. He concludes by suggesting there be a consistent approach in the translation of technical terms from Latin into spoken languages.

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