It is so frustrating, Noel. I’ve recently switched translations for my psalm settings (going forward; not actively revising). It’s so dumb. The fact that the translations aren’t CC or free to use makes it all the worse.

I'd settle for 30, which is about all I'll need.

But perhaps, instead of the translation, we need to freeze the theological/philosophical/political machinations of the episcopate.

What's new this time?

Could it be that we in the Anglosphere may finally be in for a pax gloriosa in our translations? It occurs to me that in the last 50-60 years, we have had several things occur that can never happen again. In chronological order:

1. A world war and genocide that forced Christianity to reconsider its relationship to Judaism, and the entire world order to be permanently altered, with the final end of Christian Europe, the introduction of atomic weapons, the rise of America, etc.
2. The global introduction of vernacular worship; the first time this was really the case for Roman Catholics in more than a millennium and of course the first try wasn’t perfect.
3. In light of #1, the idea that we are complex Modern Men in unprecedented times, but also simple, uncatechised dolts in need of simple language that did not fully reflect the Latin NOM.
4. Uncertainty about who decides on vernacular translations and what are the criteria for a good translation; the national bishops’ conferences vs. the Curia….?
5. The Spirit of a Council and the Spirit of ‘68 leading to unintended practices, in a way hitherto impossible before mass media.
6. A demonstrably unfaithful translation in light of the above.
7. A pope reacting to the above and finally decreeing clear criteria for translation.
8. A new translation in 2011 for the Missal, and the other texts according to the same principles coming later this year.

All that can’t be repeated. I think we will always have problems in America as long as we keep trying to fix the deeply-flawed NAB and Grail projects, now in their ???th revisions, but I think the other liturgical texts will persist for a good while.

The NAB and, to a lesser extent, the NRSV would be far from my choice for a "stable" translation of the Lectionary, especially for singing. The original RSV or NKJV would be much better in that respect, if a modern-language translation is desired.

@Gamba
An interesting list, I will add my comments,

1. A world war and genocide that forced Christianity to reconsider its relationship to Judaism, and the entire world order to be permanently altered, with the final end of Christian Europe, the introduction of atomic weapons, the rise of America, etc.

The genocide continues across the world, now the Godless kill those they don't like before they are born. I am waiting for anyone other than Germany to apologise for their share of the 200 million killed. The world order continues, we are still in the so called age of enlightenment! Man thinks he knows better than God, and has yet to learn the error of his ways. Until Christians can deal with the errors of the enlightenment we will continue to decline.

2. The global introduction of vernacular worship; the first time this was really the case for Roman Catholics in more than a millennium and of course the first try wasn’t perfect.

A stunning success, our churches are filled to the brim now we can all understand what is being said.

3. In light of #1, the idea that we are complex Modern Men in unprecedented times, but also simple, uncatechised dolts in need of simple language that did not fully reflect the Latin NOM.

There is nothing modern about paganism, modern man will find he has much in common with the less educated pagans of the ancient world. Modern man may think he has better eyesight than those men of the past, but since he cannot see he is standing on the shoulders of giants, he is in more need of a white stick.

4. Uncertainty about who decides on vernacular translations and what are the criteria for a good translation; the national bishops’ conferences vs. the Curia….?

who cares about the arrangement of the deck chairs, the iceberg is getting nearer.

5. The Spirit of a Council and the Spirit of ‘68 leading to unintended practices, in a way hitherto impossible before mass media.

The salt can lose its savour, the sheep can be lead astray, the branch can cease to produce fruit, and the seed can be trampled by the wayside or overcome by weeds. We have been warned and nothing is new. A faithful remnant will of course persevere.

6. A demonstrably unfaithful translation in light of the above.

A branch that is not producing fruit

7. A pope reacting to the above and finally decreeing clear criteria for translation.

Too little too late, but the Divine pruner will be action soon

8. A new translation in 2011 for the Missal, and the other texts according to the same principles coming later this year.

Once again this looks like more deck chair arranging, when more important issues need to be dealt with.

I think we will always have problems in America as long as we keep trying to fix the deeply-flawed NAB and Grail projects, now in their ???th revisions, but I think the other liturgical texts will persist for a good while.

I tend to use the RSV 2nd Catholic Edition and the Orthodox Study Bible over the NAB. I don't find that much wrong with the NAB Old Testament since more time was spent on it and it was simply done better than the New Testament. I have the Grail and have seen better. I understand it was supposed to be for singing?

an attempt to make English words sound tolerable when sung according to a system designed to chant words in French.

So, is the problem that someone unskilled in the art of poetry tried to adapt a good system, or is the problem with the system itself?

Gerard,

You've just made the best imaginable argument for Latin in the liturgy: the texts available in English rarely (but not never) adapt well to the music of the Roman Rite.

Grail loves to end lines on one-syllable words.

Which isn't usually a problem for mediations (using the abrupt form), but it's more difficult for endings