The More I read What Bishop Trautman Says, the Less Respect I Have for Him

I am looking forward to the new liturgical translation of the Novus Ordo because everything I have seen show me that it is a huge imrpovement over what was done in the early 70s.

But when I read the latest pronouncement about Bishop Trautman on why he doesn't like it, 2 things come to mind: Is he serious? & will he please stop insulting the intelligence of the average Catholic. What was quoted in the article about the approval of the latest texts is proof in point:

At the June meeting, Bishop Trautman’s objections were to phrases such as this one from the translation for votive Masses and Masses for the dead: “May the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, Lord, cleanse our hearts and make them fruitful within by the sprinkling of his dew.”

“What does that even mean?” he asked, citing frustration also with phrases such as “the sweetness of your grace.”

“I don’t think the word ‘sweetness’ relates to people today,” at least not in the way the translation intends, he told CNS in June.

I'll get to the "dew" in a minute, but I have to start with his bit on "sweetness" not relating to people today. 1st of all, I find "the sweetness of Your grace" a beautiful phrase that truly reflects what grace is. I have no problem relating to it. I hesitate to say this out of respect for your office as Bishop, but maybe the problem lies with you Bishop Trautman. Maybe it is you who is having trouble relating to the sweetness of God's Grace.

Now onto the "dew". Maybe I know Scripture better than Bishop Trautman because I caught the allusion immediately. Lets start with the blessing Isaac gives Jacob in Genesis 27:28. "God give thee of the dew of heaven and of the fatness of the earth, abundance of corn and wine.." Douay-Rheims Bible) or "May God give to you of the dew of the heavens And of the fertility of the earth abundance of grain and wine."(New American Bible) or "May God give you dew from heaven, and the richness of the earth, abundance of grain and wine!" (Jerusalem Bible) (OK, I could have added the Italiano version found on the Vatican website, but even though it would also make my point, I highly doubt the Bishop would know the Italian, let alone the Latin from the Vulgate or the original Hebrew. Gee, not that I am bragging, but it does look like I do know Scripture better.) The prayer makes perfect sense to me. It is a prayer that we will repent, allow the Holy Spirit to cleanse our hearts as a result & then grace us so we will bear fruit for God.

I could go on with a whole OT/NT exegisis, but I think I made my point. Any Catholic who has been adequately taught the faith will know what these terms mean. & see why they are very appropriate for use in the Liturgy.

What this all boils down to, IMHO, is that Bishop Trautman is unwittingly admitting he has failed in his exercise of the office of Bishop by not teaching the people in his diocese the faith, directly or through those who's duty it is in the local parish to provide adequate catechisis. If he did then there would be no trouble with the Biblical allusion that "dew" is or relating to how sweet Grace really is. Or realizing that the average Catholic in the pew is a whole lot smarter than he is willing to give us credit for.

(Note: This post is not intended to go into his motives/reasons why he hasn't done what he should.)

Source: With mail-in ballots counted, bishops approve liturgical translations

H/T: Joe of St. Thérèse @ Verbum Veritatis (Word of Truth)....in Mahonyland (New translations)