Many times, while translating a text written by a sister or by a layperson from another province, I ask myself: what does this “work” mean to me? What do I feel when I receive such a mission? I know that a translator must remain faithful to the original meaning of the text. One must read it carefully and entirely in order to understand better what it seeks to convey and what the author wishes to express. The translator builds bridges between my culture and the culture of the writer, between my context and theirs. The translator must respect the context in which the text was written.
At its core, translation is a way of bringing to others—whether to a people, a community, or a province—the thoughts of someone from a different culture who wishes to weave bonds, to enter into dialogue, and to be in communion with other realities. At the same time, one’s spirit expands and grows, as new ideas and expressions are discovered. I feel enriched through this simple yet profound task. I even have the privilege of reading it before it is shared!
We know that human beings, in their deepest nature, are social beings, and without relationships with others, they cannot live. This well-worn truth remains essential in today’s world—the world of communication. A world full of possibilities, where opportunities to discover new things multiply at an incredible speed.
It is in this context that the profession of “translator” becomes fundamental. Through their work, the translator goes beyond language: they enter the context of another culture, uncover new ideas and expressions. Translation is a vital means of gaining access to other ways of thinking, other ways of living, everything that life in a different culture entails. It means opening oneself to new horizons, broadening one’s vision, and allowing the spirit to be filled with light. It means being surprised by diverse situations written on a few pages, entering new dynamics, and experiencing thought in the face of varied realities. What I wish to express is that translation is an enrichment beyond price for the translator.
I also ask myself, as a Religious of the Assumption, how this “mission” reflects our charism. The answer is that I find present the very attitudes I have already highlighted, attitudes lived by Saint Marie Eugenie since her childhood and adolescence: a profound openness of mind and thought. She listened in the salons of the Château de Preisch and read widely, exploring many kinds of books. She desired that this experience be passed on to the sisters. She wanted Assumption students to develop strong convictions in their thinking and to be capable of critical reflection in order to transform the society in which they lived.
I pause to recall a few of Saint Marie Eugenie’s words that affirm these ideas: “We must perceive and listen to the calls of our peoples and societies, love and understand our history, our culture, our time.” It is there that God continues to reveal Himself and to be present today. To contemplate and to discern is to recognize that every human being is enriched by the gifts of others, and that this attitude, when embraced, helps to open to new horizons and to broaden one’s vision. To love one’s time means to seek ways of responding to God’s call and to the needs of our world.
“Every person is unique,” and people live incarnated within their own cultures. Hence the importance of respecting the cultural and linguistic diversity of our world—an essential requirement for fostering openness, fairness, and dialogue.
Finally, I recall that International Translation Day is celebrated every year on September 30. This celebration, promoted by the International Federation of Translators since its creation in 1953, coincides with the feast of Saint Jerome, who died on September 30. Saint Jerome, translator of the Bible, is the patron saint of translators.
At the end of the fourth century, Saint Jerome dedicated forty years to translating the Bible from Hebrew and Greek into Latin. In 1546, the Council of Trent declared that his Latin version, known as the Vulgate, was the authentic edition of the Bible. Each year, the International Federation of Translators proposes a theme. For 2025, inspired by the International Year of Peace and Trust, the FIT has chosen the theme: “Enduring Trust in Human Voices,” which highlights the role of human experience and culture in language translation, particularly indigenous languages.
Thank you for allowing Life to flow through our networks of communication.
Cristina Massó, R.A.
Province of Spain