Translating the Augsburg Confession Part XXXVIII (Article III)

This is an excerpt from my recently published book The Augsburg Confession: A Latin Reader. Check it out here: https://www.amazon.com/Augsburg-Confession-Latin-Reader/dp/B0BKML7RW1/ref=sr_1_1?crid=IBJ2PEC8PAAX&keywords=Augsburg+Confession+Latin+reader&qid=1667044096&qu=eyJxc2MiOiIwLjc4IiwicXNhIjoiMC4wMCIsInFzcCI6IjAuMDAifQ%3D%3D&s=books&sprefix=augsburg+confession+latin+reade%2Cstripbooks%2C88&sr=1-1

III. De Missa.
Falso accusantur ecclesiae nostrae, quod[1] missam aboleant. Retinetur enim missa apud nos et summa reverentia celebratur. Servantur et usitatae ceremoniae fere omnes, praeterquam quod[2] Latinis cantionibus admiscentur alicubi Germanicae, quae additae sunt ad docendum populum.[3] Nam ad hoc unum opus est ceremoniis,[4] ut[5] doceant imperitos. Et non modo Paulus 1 Cor. 14, 2 sq. praecipit uti lingua intellecta populo[6] in ecclesia, sed etiam ita constitutum est humano iure.[7] Assuevit populus, ut[8] una utantur sacramento, si qui[9] sunt idonei; id quoque auget reverentiam ac religionem publicarum ceremoniarum. Nulli enim admittuntur, nisi antea explorati.[10] Admonentur etiam homines de dignitate et usu sacramenti, quantam[11] consolationem afferat pavidis conscientiis, ut[12] discant Deo credere et omnia bona a Deo exspectare et petere. Hic cultus delectat Deum, talis usus sacramenti alit pietatem erga Deum. Itaque non videntur apud adversarios missae maiore religione[13] fieri quam apud nos.

Constat autem hanc[14] quoque publicam et longe maximam querelam omnium bonorum virorum diu fuisse, quod[15] missae turpiter profanarentur, collatae[16] ad quaestum. Neque enim obscurum est,[17] quam[18] late pateat hic abusus in omnibus templis, a qualibus[19] celebrentur missae tantum propter mercedem aut stipendium, quam[20] multi contra interdictum canonum celebrent. Paulus autem graviter minatur his, qui indigne tractant eucharistiam, quum ait 1 Cor. 11, 27: Qui[21] ederit panem hunc, aut biberit calicem Domini indigne, reus erit corporis et sanguinis Domini. Itaque quum apud nos admonerentur sacerdotes de hoc peccato, desierunt apud nos privatae missae, quum fere nullae privatae missae nisi quaestus[22] causa fierent.


[1] Quod…aboleant: a quod substantive clause
[2] Praeterquam quod: except that: a quod substantive clause
[3] Ad…populum: ad with the gerundive modifying populum to indicate purpose: to teach the people
[4] Opus est ceremoniis: Ceremonies are useful…
[5] Ut…imperitos: a purpose clause
[6] Intellecta populo: a perfect passive participle modifying lingua and modified by the ablative of agency populo
[7] Iure: an ablative of location
[8] Ut…sacramento: a result clause
[9] Si qui: si aliqui: if any
[10] Explorati: explorati sunt
[11] Quantam…conscientiis: an indirect question
[12] Ut…discant: a purpose clause
[13] Maiore religione: an ablative of comparison
[14] Hanc…fuisse: an indirect statement where fuisse as impersonal verb supplies both the subject and main verb: that there has been…
[15] Quod…profanarentur: a quod substantive clause
[16] Collatae: a perfect passive participle modifying missae
[17] Est: an impersonal verb
[18] Quam…templis: an indirect question with quam expressing degree: how widely
[19] A qualibus…stipendium: an indirect question
[20] Quam…celebrent: an indirect question
[21] Qui: The implied he which this relative pronoun modifies is the subject of erit
[22] Quaestus: genitive singular

Our churches are falsely accused that they abolish the mass. However, the mass is retained among and celebrated with the greatest reverence. Nearly all the usual ceremonies are preserved except that some German ceremonies, which have been added to teach the people, are occasionally mixed in with the Latin chanting. For ceremonies are useful for this one thing: that they teach the unlearned. And not only Paul in 1 Cor. 14, 2 and following commands them to use a language, understood by the people in the church but also it is appointed in human law. The people have become accustomed to use the sacrament together if they are worthy: it also increases the reverence and religion of the public ceremonies. For none are admitted unless they are tested before. Men also are cautioned concerning the worth and use of the sacrament how much consolation it produces for terrified consciences so that they learn to trust God and to expect and seek all good things from God. This worship delights God, such use of the sacrament nourishes piety toward God. And so masses do not seem to occur among the adversaries with more reverence than among us.
It is well known, however, that there had for a long time been also a public and very great complaint of all the good men that masses are profaned shamelessly and bestowed for profit. And it is not hidden how widely known this abuse is in all the churches, by what sort masses are celebrated only for pay and tribute, how many celebrate the mass contrary to the canons. Paul, however, gravely warns these people, who handle the Eucharist unworthily, when he says in 1 Cor. Il, 27: He, who eats this bread or drinks the chalice of the Lord unworthily, will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. And so when among us priests are admonished about this sin, private masses cease among us since almost no private masses occur except for the sake of profit.