Roman Missal, Third Edition: I've got Hopes, and Fears

It's out: the new Catholic Missal:

• "Roman Missal," Third Edition
  From the Committee on Divine Worship (© 2006, 2008)

That link takes you to an introductory page on the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) website - which also lists "Roman Missal | Workshops for Priests | and Diocesan Leaders" this year, from April 15-16 in Cincinnati, Ohio; to November 4-5 in Orlando, Florida.

I see one in Minnesota has already happened (May 24-25).

I've heard and read quite a bit about this: mostly from folks who are looking forward to the new Roman Missal. Quite a few of them expect great things from it.

They may be right.

I haven't done more than read a few of the 'before and after' selections - which look okay to my unschooled eye.

I sincerely hope that implementation of the Roman Missal - Third Edition goes better than the documents of Vatican II. The documents - what I've read of them - are fine. Problems in the AmChurch came, in my view, from wunderkinds who, apparently having gotten their theological training from reading Newsweek, wreaked havoc "in the spirit of Vatican Two." I've wondered if the spirit was around 180 proof. Which I've said before.

Me? I think that the Holy See has realized that they have to exercise quality control with their English translations. The current English translation of the Catechism of the Catholic Church is an example of this awareness at work.

I also hope - sincerely - that Bishops in this country will follow through and see to it that what the Holy See has said to do gets carried out. We don't need another round of (I trust well-intentioned) enthusiastic wannabe theologians deciding that they know what's in documents from the Vatican - without reading them.