Una Voce Report presented to the Holy Father 20/21 October 2008: English translation/synthesis: I

Propose to publish this in bite sized posts. I'm working direct from the document to keyboard as fast as I can so there may be typos and inelegance in the English which I'll clean up later. My translation is not 'word for word'. That usually results in lifeless and sometimes risible un-Englishness. Current English equivalent expression is always preferred whilst tryin to preserve the stylistic dignity of the original.

BACKKGROUND: Issued by Una Voce France on newsletter to members.

"July 17 2008. Una Voce France sent a letter to the Holy Father in advance of his visit to France, to ask for more support for the faithful in their active attempts to recover the Traditional Mass.

October 20 and 21 2008. The International Federation of Una Voce, of which Una Voce France is a member) went to Rome to present to the Vatican authorities a detailed report on the application of the Motu Proprio of His Holiness a year after its promulgation. The document gives a synthesis of events and you can familiarise yourself with it below. The elaborative details are founded on information provided by UV member associations in 40 countries.

Please do not hesitate to circulate this document amongst your contacts with the intent of gaining approval for the action of Una Voce International.

Patrick Banken , President of Una Voce France "

Follows: The entire document which is preceded by a letter addressed to the Holy Father himself with the Una Voce letterhead and crest. It is dated October 2008 and is signed by Leo Darroch, President of the International Una Voce Federation. I do not know the language of the original document, possibly Latin, but this French version conveys in impeccable style and courtesy, the expression of the Federation's gratitude for His Holiness' efforts towards the restoration of the Tridentine Mass and the 1962 Missal of Pope John XXIII. The penultimate paragraph makes it clear that the report enshrines the sentiments, not only of the laity but also of priests and Religious who are known in the Church as 'traditional' and who welcomed the Motu Proprio with great joy. The translated final paragraph now follows:

"Prostrated at the feet of Your Holiness, our universal Father and Shepherd, we express to you our most profound sentiments of filial piety, loyalty and gratitude, and in assuring you of our prayers, we ask the benediction of our most Holy Father for ourselves and all the members of our International Federation."

(Not for nothing was French the 'language of the court' for several centuries!)

The next page is a table of contents and gives the names of Una Voce National organisations who have contribute to the Report.

To be continued in: English translation/synthesis: II

In Christo pro Papa