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Dear Catholic Exchange:
I have a couple basic questions regarding the Liturgy. Our parish relies on the Gather and Worship hymnals from GIA press. Despite some questionable “revisions” and sometimes muddy theology, in general I appreciate the wealth of religious music these books contain. My question regards the renditions of the Psalms included in Gather. Our choir relies on this hymnal almost exclusively in their honest, genuine attempts to help the people of God lift these beautiful prayers up to Him in song. Often, if not always, the renditions of the Psalms do not match the text presented in the missal, the accepted translation for inclusion in the liturgical celebration. I imagine that the texts are often altered in order to make them more “musical”, i.e., so that they will “fit” a chosen melody. But there are times when the translations are so divergent as to be almost unrecognizable. For instance, sometimes the repeated response is pretty close, but the content of the psalm is completely different. I did see something on GIA's website about “approved Guimont responsorial psalms” (a Canadian bishop?), but am not sure what they are or if they are applicable to me in my particular church (diocese). Lastly, there are times when the psalm itself (chosen number) is not the one in the missal/lectionary. So, my questions:
(1) Is it acceptible to sing translations of the psalms that are different from the accepted liturgical translation (often radically so)?
(2) Is there a list of “approved” translations (by USCCB or perhaps individual bishops)?
(3) Is it acceptible to sing a different psalm altogether than the one identified for a given liturgical celebration?
Beyond general concern over the sanctity of the Mass and its universality (it's difficult explaining to my oldest son who is following along in his Magnificat why the words don't match), I have been approached to cantor and am not sure I should/can go along with the inconsistencies. Thank you for any help you can provide and all you do!
May God bless you and continue to bless your work.
Mark Bayne
Dear Mr. Bayne,
Peace in Christ!
There seem to be three issues of primary importance regarding your questions. First, the integrity of the text must be maintained-in other words, any alteration must not change the meaning of the text. Secondly, within a given territory (e.g., the dioceses of the United States), there should be a uniformity of translation for the reasons set out below. Thirdly, competent authority in liturgical matters must be respected.
The Bishops Committee on the Liturgy (BCL) approved a policy for musical compositions for the liturgy on November 10, 1996. Number 2 of that document says clearly that all liturgical texts from the Order of the Mass (which includes the Lectionary and Psalter) must be approved by the Secretariat for the Liturgy before the musical arrangements can be published. This does indicate that some variation for a musical composition is allowed for, but the text must be approved. GIA Music states that their translations of the responsorial psalms, written by Canadian composer Michael Guimont, are in fact approved. Number 2 goes on to give more specific guidelines to the composer. He must,
…respect the integrity of the approved text. Admittedly, not all texts, as approved by the episcopal conference, easily lend themselves to musical composition because of their style, length or translation. Nevertheless, composers may not alter the prescribed texts of the rites to accommodate them to musical settings. The Church is always concerned about the use of the approved liturgical texts be they written, spoken, proclaimed, or sung (emphasis added).
The indication seems to be, because one must “respect the integrity of the approved text,” that some limited variation is allowed, insofar as it would not affect the substantial meaning. However, altering the “prescribed text” merely to accommodate a musical setting is prohibited. For example, if the Psalm says “he makes me lie down in green pastures” and for musical purposes it is changed to “he makes me lie down in pastures green,” that would appear to “respect the integrity of the text.” However, if just for the sake of a musical setting the composer changes it to “he makes me take my rest in rich fields of green,” then the composer has altered the prescribed text in an unacceptable way. The essential difference is that in first instance, the music serves the text, while in the second instance, the text serves the musical arrangement.
More recently on March 28, 2001, the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments published the Fifth Instruction for the Right Implementation of the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy of the Second Vatican Council, Liturgiam Authenticam (LA). Part II of LA addresses the translations of liturgical texts into vernacular and section 2 of Part II addresses Sacred Scripture and Lectionaries in particular. Number 36 prescribes:
In order that the faithful may be able to commit to memory at least the more important texts of the Sacred Scriptures and be formed by them even in their private prayer, it is of the greatest importance that the translation of the Sacred Scriptures intended for liturgical use be characterized by a certain uniformity and stability, such that in every territory there should exist only one approved translation, which will be employed in all parts of the various liturgical books. This stability is especially desired in the translation of the Sacred Books of more frequent use, such as the Psalter, which is the fundamental prayer book of the Christian people (emphasis added).
This passage does not differentiate between spoken or sung Psalms or make allowances for that which is sung. Within this guideline, it would seem that in a given territory such as the dioceses of the United States, it is preferable that the same translation be used throughout. This would not preclude different musical settings necessarily, but it does strive for a useful uniformity. With the approval of Volume II of the current lectionary, the United States does have a single approved translation in harmony with the above prescription of Liturgiam Authenticam.
The General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM) #61 provides additional guidance:
When sung the following may be used in place of the psalm assigned in the lectionary: either the gradual from the Gradule Romanum,/i> or the responsorial psalm or the Alleluia psalm from The Simple Gradual in the form they have in those books.
Ultimately, the proper application of these principles and norms is entrusted to the responsibility of the conference of Bishops and the Holy See in Rome. If you encounter inappropriate changes to the text of the Psalms, you should first discuss the matter with your pastor or liturgist.
United in the Faith,
