Cardinal Sarah: Words of Consecration Mean "For Many" and not, "For All"

Cardinal Robert Sarah in discussion with Infovaticana

(Madrid) Cardinal Robert Sarah, Prefect of the Roman Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments expressed  his hope that the Church in Spain would introduce "in the coming year," the words of consecration pro multis.

In 2006, Pope Benedict XVI. approved a decree of the Congregation, to more accurately adjust the translation of the words of consecration in the local language to reflect the Church's Latin language and the Gospels.

Cardinal Arinze, Prefect of the Congregation of Divine Worship 2002-2008, wrote to all bishops' conferences:

"The Bishops' Conferences of the countries where currently the wording 'for all' or an equivalent of it are in use, are therefore requested to provide the faithful in the next one to two years with the necessary catechesis on this issue in order to prepare for the introduction an accurate translation of the phrase pro multis  in the local languages- for example, for many, 'by molti', etc. That will be the case for the next translations of the Roman Missal, which will allow for its use in various countries, by the bishops and the Holy See. "

Defaulting Episcopal Conferences

That was ten years ago. Some Bishops' Conferences responded, including those of the US. The English-speaking put the reform through first. The new Spanish translation of the Missal is long finished and has already been implemented by some countries, including Mexico. Other countries are delaying, including Spain, Italy and the German-speaking world.

In Spain, the new translation was even approved by the Episcopal Conference, but it has not yet been implemented. To the north and south of the Alps, in the German and Italian areas, it seems to be understood that the election of Pope Francis has offered a "breathing space" to be able to delay the matter.

The initial justification named was for discussion and a consensus, then the necessary completion and publication of a new missal translation and finally "difficulties" because the faithful would not understand the "change".

The German bishops were so cunning that they initially reinterpreted every implementation of the papal requirement in an arbitrary dialectical word game for "disobedience." Some priests, who felt the faithfulness to Gospel in the words of consecration were important had, namely, started to implement  Benedict's mandatory order on their own.

The words of consecration  were "always pro multis and never pro omnibus "

Equally paradoxical was the assertion that the people were not properly informed, since that task had been expressly delegated to the bishops. If believers are not sufficiently informed, then this is due to the bishops. In German-speaking countries there were even no efforts for ten years after the papal decision binding for the whole universal Church.

Now In Spain it seems to be working. Cardinal Sarah said this during his recent visit to Spain to InfoVaticana:

"I hope that in 2017 the Mass will be celebrated in Spain Mass with the pro multis."

The "exact translation" of the Latin pro multis  in Spanish is "per muchos" (for many) and not "per todos" (for all). This is the way it's translated through the Gospels, which is why  there is the order, obligation and desire to adhere to it.

Cardinal Sarah called this to mind that in the Roman Rite it was "always pro multis and never pro omnibus."

Text: Giuseppe Nardi
Image: Infovaticana

Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com

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