Elaine Gavaghan (Letters, 23 August) need have no fear. “Let us [my emphasis] offer each other the sign of peace” is not by any standards a translation of the official Latin text “Offerte vobis [my emphasis] pacem.” What surprises me is that no one in the Congregation for Divine Worship seems to have noticed this in spite of their insistence on more literal translations from the Latin. Neither the current French, German or Italian versions – to name but a few – refer to “us”; they all refer to “you.” So in these countries the priest can happily remain in the sanctuary while the congregation exchange the sign of peace among themselves.(Canon) Anthony Dolan Grantham, lincolnshirel I was privileged to be taught canon law by Mgr Lawr
28 August 2014, The Tablet
Signs of peace
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