Liturgiam authenticam (titled:De usu linguarum popularium in libris liturgiae Romanae edendis) is an instruction of theCongregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, dated 28 March 2001.
This instruction included the requirement that, in translations of theliturgical texts or of theBible, "the original text, insofar as possible, must be translated integrally and in the most exact manner, without omissions or additions in terms of their content, and withoutparaphrases orglosses. Any adaptation to the characteristics or the nature of the variousvernacular languages is to be sober and discreet." (n. 20)
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Liturgiam authenticam established theNova Vulgata as "the point of reference as regards thedelineation of the canonical text." Concerning the translation ofliturgical texts, the instruction states:
Furthermore, in the preparation of these translations for liturgical use, theNova VulgataEditio, promulgated by the Apostolic See, is normally to be consulted as an auxiliary tool, in a manner described elsewhere in this Instruction, in order to maintain the tradition of interpretation that is proper to the Latin Liturgy. [...] [I]t is advantageous to be guided by theNova Vulgata wherever there is a need to choose, from among various possibilities [of translation], that one which is most suited for expressing the manner in which a text has traditionally been read and received within theLatin liturgical tradition[1]
However, the instruction precises (n. 24) that translations should not be made from theNova Vulgata, but "must be made directly from the original texts, namely the Latin, as regards thetexts of ecclesiastical composition, or the Hebrew, Aramaic, or Greek, as the case may be, as regards the texts ofSacred Scripture". Therefore, the instruction does not recommend a translation of the Bible or of the liturgy based upon the LatinNova Vulgata; theNova Vulgata must simply being used as an "auxiliary tool" (n. 24).[2]
The AmericanCatholic Biblical Association reacted negatively to the publication of the instruction.[3] In reaction to this,Cardinal Medina wrote inNotitiae to answer criticisms and misunderstandings concerning the instruction.[2]
Bruce Harbert, a former executive secretary ofICEL, considered the instruction a “courageous document on texts,” saying that “It’s not easy to write prescriptively on language, but I thought it did so very well. The time had come when some guidance had to be given.”[4]
In December 2016,Pope Francis authorized a commission to studyLiturgiam authenticam.[5]
