Tablet readers will have seen Canon Alan Griffith's letter in this weekend's issue, pointing out that the translation of the Prayer after Communion for the First Sunday of Advent is grossly misleading. It reads:
May these mysteries, O Lord, in which we have participated, profit us, we pray, for even now, as we walk amid passing things, you teach us by them to love the things of heaven and hold fast to what endures. Through Christ our Lord.
The 'them' in the fifth line syntactically refers to the nearest previous plural noun - 'passing things' in the previous line. So are 'passing things' to teach us to love the things of heaven? Of course not. The pronoun should refer to 'these mysteries' in the distant first line. This concoction by Vox clara is practically incomprehensible for the priest to read, let alone for the congregation to understand.
Here is the Latin:
Prosint nobis, quaesumus, Domine, frequentata mysteria, quibus nos, inter praetereuntia ambulantes, iam nunc instituis amare caelestia et inhaerere mansuris. Per Christum Dominum nostrum.
It's difficult to translate, but Canon Griffiths provides a lucid translation in his Tablet letter. Priests may feel conscience-bound to use the new official (Vox clara) version. but can I appeal to them to clarify the last two lines thus:
...you teach us by these mysteries to love the things of heaven and hold fast to what endures.
The repetition of 'these mysteries' may not be elegant, but at least it makes the prayer both accurate in translation and comprehensible. Then there is a chance that priest and congregation can actually pray the prayer sensibly!
At the risk of being flippant -- here is the google translation:
Advantage to us, we beseech Thee, O Lord, often mysteries, which we, among that pass by walking, to love and to hold fast to the heavenly instituted the now permanent. Through the same Christ our Lord.
Calum Cille wrote:A definite blind spot on the part of Vox Clara. I'm sure this is one they'll have to revise, after all, inculturation is all about clarity.
Vox Clara - perhaps one of the most ironically named organisations ever. I smile every time I come across it.
