SAN CARLOS SEMINARY GRADUATE SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY

TOWARDS CANONICAL CONFIRMATIO OF THE CUYUNON LITURGICAL

RITE OF THE MASS
(A Critical Analysis of Liturgical Translation in the Vernacular in light of Pope
Francis’ Magnum Principuum)

_________________________

A Thesis Proposal Presented to

The Faculty of the San Carlos Seminary
Graduate School of Theology

_________________________

In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements

for the Degree of Master of Arts in Theology
Major in Historico-Liturgico Pastoral Studies

Butch Aiven Catain Cabaylo

March 2024
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TABLE OF CONTENTS

APPROVAL SHEET.........................................................................................................ii
DEDICATION..................................................................................................................iii
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT...............................................................................................vi
TABLE OF CONTENTS.................................................................................................ix
ABSTRACT......................................................................................................................xi

CHAPTER I – The Problem and Its Background..........................................................1

CHAPTER II – John Paul II on the Meaning of Suffering.........................................10
CHAPTER III – The Sufferings of the Filipinos During the COVID-19 Pandemic............29
CHAPTER IV – Summary, Conclusion, Recommendation .......................................47
4.1. Summary .............................................................................................................47
4.2. Conclusion ..........................................................................................................53
4.3. Recommendation ................................................................................................55

BIBLIOGRAPHY............................................................................................................57
CURRICULUM VITAE.................................................................................................61
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ABSTRACT
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INTRODUCTION

The liturgy contains a variety of texts, both biblical and extra-biblical. These texts

are an essential component in the proclamation of public worship and the Word of God,

which are meant to nourish the faith of the assembly. In a sense, liturgical texts are

languages that ought to effectively communicate the message of the liturgy to the

assembly.

The goal of the translation of liturgical texts and of biblical texts for the Liturgy of the
Word is to announce the word of salvation to the faithful in obedience to the faith and to express
the prayer of the Church to the Lord. For this purpose it is necessary to communicate to a given
people using its own language all that the Church intended to communicate to other people
through the Latin language. While fidelity cannot always be judged by individual words but must
be sought in the context of the whole communicative act and according to its literary genre,
nevertheless some particular terms must also be considered in the context of the entire Catholic
faith because each translation of texts must be congruent with sound doctrine.

At the dawn of the Second Vatican Council, the Latin Mass was translated into

vernacular so that the intrinsic nature and purpose of the mass and the connection

between them may be more clearly manifested, through which devout and active

participation by the faithful can be more easily achieved.

For already four hundred (400) years of Christianity in Palawan brought to the

shores by the Augustinian Recollects, the liturgy and its mission remained engaging and

revitalizing. For centuries, it was only in the year 2023 that a Cuyunon translation of the

Bible was launched during the celebration of the four hundredth year of Christianity in

Palawan. In view of the richness of the cultural milieu of the Cuyunon, the Christian faith

has grown old and the demand for more active liturgical worship is still young.

Presently, Palawan boasts a diversity of fifty-two (52) languages and dialects. A

majority of the population is proficient in Filipino, with over half of the residents being

able to communicate in this language. Cuyunon is the most widely spoken language after
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Tagalog, being used by 26.27 percent of the populace, followed by Hiligaynon and

Palawano. In the Apostolic Vicariate of Taytay alone, the medium of communication

used is Cuyunon. Several parishes in both Vicariates of Puerto Princesa and Taytay even

have scheduled Cuyunon masses.

The Second Vatican Council has a noble intention in allowing the translation of

the language of the liturgy from Latin into vernaculars, including English, for its wider

use and greater participation of the faithful. However, the translation from Latin, as

mentioned in the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, must be approved by the competent

territorial ecclesiastical authority, and must be accepted and confirmed (Confirmatio) by

the Holy See. These competent ecclesiastical authorities, as prescribed in the General

Norms, are the bishop’s conferences, legitimately established, with competence in given

territories.

The Motu Proprio Magnum Principium of Pope Francis which addresses the

translation of liturgical text that grants more authority to local bishops’ conferences in

translating the liturgical texts from Latin into the vernacular languages including

Cuyunon. Keeping this in mind, the move to acquire a Cuyunon Liturgical Rite fosters a

more localized and culturally sensitive approach to the language used in the Liturgy.

It is in this light that a need arises for the establishment of a localized Liturgical

Rite of the Mass for faithful-speaking Cuyunon while applying the principles of

translation purported by the council. Catholicism in the Cuyunon islands in Palawan has

been an indispensable object of its history, ingrained in the very cultural identity of every

Palaweno. The promulgation of a Cuyunon translation hopes to foster a fully conscious,

 SAN CARLOS SEMINARY GRADUATE SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY

and active participation in liturgical celebrations which is demanded by the very nature of

the liturgy.

A. Statement of the Problem

The Motu Proprio gives the Church a direction as to how shall the translated

vernacular texts from the Roman Rite could be confirmed (confirmatio) by the Episcopal

conferences and hopefully be promulgated by virtue of canonical recognitio from the

Apostolic See. With this, Pope Francis writes, “it seemed opportune that some principles

handed on since the time of the Council should be more clearly reaffirmed and put into

practice.”1 Pope Francis’ Motu Proprio re-echoes the promotion of full and active

participation as mentioned in SC 26 by translating the Latin Liturgical Rite of the Mass

into the vernacular language. In this way, the message of the Liturgy can be

communicated more effectively in the cultural setting of the audience.

Following the aforesaid exhortation from Pope Francis and the continual

unfolding of the Second Vatican Council, the Cuyunon language – the lingua franca of

Palawenos – has yet to heed in this liturgico-pastoral need for the Church in the hope to

bridge more effectually the Liturgical diastema between the Divine and the Cuyunon

faithful.

Thus, this study aims to look into the following questions or areas of concern:

1. What makes vernacular languages significant for liturgical use?

2. How can Cuyunon be considered a qualified vernacular language to be introduced

into liturgical use? From the existing Cuyunon Mass Liturgical Rite, what parts
1
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are needed to be re-appropriated according to the instructions provided by the

2017 Motu Proprio of Pope Francis, Magnum Principium?

3. What are the principles of vernacular translation of the Latin Liturgical Rite of the

Mass?

4. How can the Cuyunon Liturgical Rite of the Mass be an effective means to

communicate the meaning of the Eucharistic text and enrich the Catholic faith of

Palawenos?

B. Significance of the Study

C. Scope and Limitation

D. Methodology

This study falls under descriptive as well as a critical analysis under the academic

track Historico-Liturgico Pastoral Studies in San Carlos Seminary. This study will

commence with the historical investigation of the translation of the Latin mass into

vernacular languages. Further discussion will show the assessment and evaluation of the

existing Cuyunon liturgical rite. It will then proceed with the critical analysis of the

vernacular translation using the thoughts of Georg Steiner’s Hermeneutics of Presence.

The researcher moves on with the enumeration of the principles of the vernacular

translation from the Latin Liturgical Rite of the Mass.

Through the readings of Pope Francis Motu Proprio Magnum Principuum, a

comprehensive investigation will be conducted to analyze the Cuyunon Liturgical Rite of

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the Mass and the necessary steps for its Canonical “confirmatio” as a response to the

continual unfolding of the Second Vatican Council which hopes to offer a more

understandable and effective means of communicating the mysteries of Christ in the

Eucharist.

The researcher also reflected on the need for liturgical translation of the Mass into

Cuyunon which arises from the desire to make the liturgy accessible, understandable, and

participatory for the faithful. This translation allows the faithful to actively engage with

the mysteries being celebrated, fosters a sense of unity and community, and enables the

liturgy to be a source of spiritual nourishment and a more concrete encounter with Christ.

E. Review of Related Literature