Praying the Roman Missal: Pastoral Reflections on the Revised English Translation by Robert L. Tuzik (review)

240 Antiphon 16.3 (2012) Prior to the postconciliar reform, the Order of Mass began with the words “Sacerdos paratus,” which means, “When the priest is ready.” Now that phrase is replaced with “Populo congregato,” which means, “When the people have gathered.” This change, according to Turner, “unveils one of the main values of the revised Missal, the active participation of the people” (2). Turner’s entire volume provides a sophisticated yet accessible commentary on the Mass that not only promotes understanding but invites individuals deeper into its mysteries. Kristin Colberg College of St. Benedict / St. John’s University St Joseph / Collegeville, Minnesota Robert L. Tuzik Praying the Roman Missal: Pastoral Reflections on the Revised English Translation Chicago: Liturgy Training Publications, 2011 241 pp. Paperback $16.95. Robert Tuzik’s Praying the Roman Missal is one contribution among several works aimed at assisting the English-speaking Church to receive and pray well the Mass. The promulgation of the English edition of the Missale Romanum: Editio Typica Tertia inaugurated the rise of a particular genre that spans from technical lingual and process analyses to reflections upon theological shifts and focus, to pastoral reflections for the wary or casual observer. This ecclesial phenomenon, having begun in the United States on the First Sunday of Advent 2011, but prepared for months in advance, is, when viewed in a positive light, an opportunity for communal reflection. For the seasoned pastor it is a chance to meet the orations again for the first time. For the faithful, and possibly uninformed , Catholic parishioner, a time to understand better what it is the Church prays and believes. Tuzik writes for as broad an audience as the Roman Missal is intended, since every Catholic is affected no matter their liturgical or ecclesial role. As stated in the preface, the author hopes for the book “to appeal to parish councils, school boards, religious education boards, Catholic school teachers, catechists, RCIA teams, liturgy committees, musicians, cantors, and choir members” (x). And it would. Clearly written and not burdened by historical and theological complexities but filled with pastoral advice and ideas, the book could serve as a helpful resource to the host of groups mentioned above. 241 Book Reviews And yet distinctions in audience are not always evident. At times he gives advice seemingly to a priest celebrating Mass at the home of a shut-in. Elsewhere Tuzik encourages good use of a particular Mass for Various Needs, advice that could be directed to a priest, or perhaps to a liturgy committee that prepares which set of orations will be used. And then the reflection questions located at the end of each chapter tend to be mostly directed toward parishioners. Despite these shifts in tone, focus, and audience, Tuzik’s work holds the potential to be of assistance to any and all who engage it. At first the book focuses heavily upon translation comparisons. This is particularly true when discussing the Order of Mass. Then Tuzik speaks more broadly about the overall structure of the Roman Missal and its individual parts. This is helpful when analyzing the 22 Votive Masses and the 49 Masses and Prayers for Various Needs and Occasions. Readers may already be familiar with Lift Up Your Hearts, a collection of essays edited by Tuzik exploring the major structures of the Roman Missal. The two works complement each other. Though unfortunate that Tuzik excludes the Latin text, readers will benefit from side-by-side comparisons of the former and the newer English translations, making evident the perplexing omissions in the former English and thus the need for a translation more faithful to the original Latin. A helpful feature throughout most of the book is that individual words of the former translation which were not found in the original Latin, as well as words faithfully included in the newer, are placed in italics, a point Tuzik mentions repeatedly—six times in chapter five alone. Tuzik, like any fair-minded person, admits that no translation is perfect and lists what he names “unresolved issues”, including run-on sentences. But this work is overall positive in its outlook and is eager to assist priests, liturgy committees, and parishioners in familiarizing themselves...