Starting this week, our parish will begin using the Revised Grail Psalter for the Responsorial Psalm at Mass. This is an officially approved English translation of the Book of Psalms prepared specifically for Catholic liturgical worship. It was developed by Benedictine monks with a strong focus on prayer, proclamation, and music, and it reflects both modern biblical scholarship and the Church’s current translation principles. Many composers, parishes and dioceses across the country have already made this transition, and it is increasingly becoming the standard text used in Catholic liturgy.

One of the primary reasons for this change is that the Revised Grail Psalter is crafted to be easily sung. Its language follows consistent rhythms, balanced phrasing, and natural speech patterns that lend themselves well to chanting and psalm tones. This makes it especially well suited for cantors, choirs, and congregational response. As music ministers, you may notice that some familiar verses sound slightly different at first, but these changes were made intentionally to support clearer proclamation and stronger musical flow.

This translation is also important looking ahead. As the bishops continue work on a future revision of the Lectionary, the Revised Grail Psalter is widely expected to be the psalm translation used throughout. By beginning to sing and pray with these texts now, we are preparing ourselves for that broader shift in the Church’s liturgical books. While new wording always takes a little time to settle in, I have every confidence that we will quickly grow comfortable with these texts and that they will deepen our ability to sing and pray the Psalms well, together, as one voice in worship.

Thank you, and God Bless!