Towards a People's Liturgy: the Importance of Language / Mark Twinham Elvins

"According to the author of Towards a People's Liturgy, "Since the introduction of the vernacular Mass ... Mass attendance has decreased dramatically. It is certain that the Mass has not lost its power. Perhaps this has been a serious loss of faith. Yes, but might not that loss of faith be caused by the vulgarization of the Mass with senseless experimentation and a vernacular that is at best commonplace?"

Among the enduring legacies of the 16th century were the "King James" translation of the Bible into English and The Book of Common Prayer. Both these texts not only profoundly influenced the development of the English language, but remain examples of dignified English composition that direct the worshipper to God who is transcendent.

These texts, many of which in The Book of Common Prayer are translations of Latin liturgical texts, stand in contrast to those which Latin rite Catholics use in their worship.

In this short monograph Elvins discusses the process by which liturgical texts were translated into the vernacular in the years following the Second Vatican Council..."

Read the rest of the review in AD2000 here.