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Saturday, March 12, 2011

LAME DUCK AND BEIJING DUCK



For the First Sunday of Lent, I've posted both the current lame duck and the soon to be Beijing Duck translations of the Latin opening prayers, now once again called the "Collect." I also print the prayer after Holy Communion which I think you'll appreciate given the miserable state of the current one.

The revised opening prayer though leaves me thinking they could have done a better job at translating it, but it is better than the current.

COLLECT

Current lame duck:

Father,through our observance of Lent,
help us to understand the meaning
of your Son's death and resurrection,
and teach us to reflect it in our lives.

Forthcoming Beijing Duck:

Grant, almighty God,
through the yearly observances of holy Lent,
that we may grow in understanding
of the riches hidden in Christ
and by worthy conduct pursue their effects.

AFTER COMMUNION

Current lame duck:

Father,
you increase our faith and hope,
you deepen our love in this communion.
Help us to live by your words
and to seek Christ, our bread of life,
who is Lord for ever and ever.

Forthcoming Beijing Duck:

Renewed now with heavenly bread,

by which faith is nourished, hope increased,
and charity strengthened,
we pray, O Lord,
that we may learn to hunger for Christ,
the true and living Bread,
and strive to live by every word
which proceeds from your mouth.
Through Christ our Lord.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

There appears a more collaborative tone in the new ducks. While admitting the total inadequacy of our actions toward our own salvation the need for Good Works is clearly present, as well as alert mindfulness of the advent of grace. The old texts seem to capture so much of what has become wrote with the Church these days, a profession followed by waiting for the guarantee of Grace rather doing SOMETHING as a gift to Lord for it.

I am liking these as they are lessons for contemplation.

rcg