- Discussion of a suspected translation issue in this week's Collect at Commonweal
- Lecture sponsored by the K of C
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Saturday, May 25, 2013
The first comment from Fr. O'Leary on this post at Commonweal identifies a "glaring heresy" in the Collect for this Trinity Sunday. After reading the Collect myself, I couldn't spot it, despite the Athanasian Creed being my favorite.
A deacon turned up an explanation of the heresy from the Pray Tell blog. And the deacon also remembered a theological problem in the EPIV of the 1970 translation that had been corrected. So there is precedent for correcting translation flubs, especially in this case where there is no Latin to stand behind it.
Here's Deacon Jim Pauwels's comment, with a quotation from Fr. McNamara archived at EWTN1 -
1 I haven't tracked down where Fr. Felix mentions this.
A deacon turned up an explanation of the heresy from the Pray Tell blog. And the deacon also remembered a theological problem in the EPIV of the 1970 translation that had been corrected. So there is precedent for correcting translation flubs, especially in this case where there is no Latin to stand behind it.
Here's Deacon Jim Pauwels's comment, with a quotation from Fr. McNamara archived at EWTN1 -
For those who are interested, here is what I was recalling regarding the problem in the old translation of EPIV - it is somewhat similar to that of the Trinity collect under discussion. This is Rev. Edward McNamara, professor of liturgy at the Regina Apostolorum Pontifical University. as quoted by Felix Just, SJ:A more delicate problem arose from an English reader who asks:http://www.ewtn.com/library/liturgy/zlitur107.htmThe difficulty that I, as a mere layman, have with this Preface [of Eucharistic Prayer IV] is that it clearly and most obviously, in English, denies the divinity of Our Blessed Lord and of the Holy Spirit. It starts: "Father in heaven, it is right that we should give you thanks and glory: you alone are God, living and true." Is not this heresy? I know good priests here in England who never use this Eucharistic prayer now. It has to be said, by the way, that all this kind of thing simply causes confusion among the poor laity. Priests and, indeed, bishops should remember the laity when they consider the liturgy. We do not all have degrees in theology; mine is in English and I can, therefore, understand the meaning of words in that language.Far be it from me to accuse the liturgy of heresy. But our reader certainly has a point that we are before a less-than-adequate translation. Indeed, if I am not mistaken, this translation was corrected in the missals used in the United States and now reads "you are the one God, living and true."
1 I haven't tracked down where Fr. Felix mentions this.
Friday, May 24, 2013
A week ago, I attended a lecture offered by a "dynamic Catholic evangelist," sponsored by the local K of C. I entered late and almost turned right around, because the crowd was so aged. It was my birthday, and I'm beginning to see a need to be more choosy with how I spend my time.
Against my better judgment, I stayed because I genuinely desired to hear what the write-up in the paper said would be discussed. Sometimes the write-up doesn't match what the speaker says. This was one of those times. It came across as a bit of a Catholic pep-rally but nothing like Fr. James Martin.
Right before the break, the speaker said that church attendance is down. And that churches are turning to gimmicks in an attempt to attract people. In a disparaging way, he described the introduction of popular music, hand-clapping and friendly fellowship. This prompted me to counter with what I've come to see as a major gimmick: the return of traditional Catholic liturgies and practices.
I described my observation of the Pontifical Mass celebrated last November. As I talked, it occurred on me that some of these K of C members had also likely been at the mass. So after removing my foot from my mouth, I acknowledged that. My criticism wasn't towards them so much. I know they've always been what they are. But the liturgy was a spectacle, a show, a titillation for the laity. My point was - and I stated this clearly - that something doesn't have to be new to be a gimmick. A gimmick can be made of something very old.
Now, my comments elicited from a man in front a put-down, "You don't understand the Latin Mass!" For that, a man next to him punched him in the arm and told him to shut up. Afterwards, the man who had done the punching talked with me at length about the sad state of Catholic religious education. Present company excluded, I'm sure.
But that's my new take. With Corpus Christi coming up. And I've never liked beer.
Against my better judgment, I stayed because I genuinely desired to hear what the write-up in the paper said would be discussed. Sometimes the write-up doesn't match what the speaker says. This was one of those times. It came across as a bit of a Catholic pep-rally but nothing like Fr. James Martin.
Right before the break, the speaker said that church attendance is down. And that churches are turning to gimmicks in an attempt to attract people. In a disparaging way, he described the introduction of popular music, hand-clapping and friendly fellowship. This prompted me to counter with what I've come to see as a major gimmick: the return of traditional Catholic liturgies and practices.
I described my observation of the Pontifical Mass celebrated last November. As I talked, it occurred on me that some of these K of C members had also likely been at the mass. So after removing my foot from my mouth, I acknowledged that. My criticism wasn't towards them so much. I know they've always been what they are. But the liturgy was a spectacle, a show, a titillation for the laity. My point was - and I stated this clearly - that something doesn't have to be new to be a gimmick. A gimmick can be made of something very old.
Now, my comments elicited from a man in front a put-down, "You don't understand the Latin Mass!" For that, a man next to him punched him in the arm and told him to shut up. Afterwards, the man who had done the punching talked with me at length about the sad state of Catholic religious education. Present company excluded, I'm sure.
But that's my new take. With Corpus Christi coming up. And I've never liked beer.
Sunday, May 19, 2013
Sunday Snippets - a Catholic carnival hosted by RAnn at "This That and the Other Thing."
My post this week: Casual conversation uncovers religious hostility
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It's everywhere, isn't it?
After swimming and showering, I struck up a conversation with a kind-looking elderly woman in the high school locker room. We both remarked on how empty the pool had been, but chalked it up to the mild weather and the upcoming Mother's Day weekend. "It's practically a national holiday!" she said.
She spoke of her habit of visiting the Jersey Shore for Mother's Day with friends from Philadelphia. "There might not be much to look at this time, though they are making progress." They are indeed.
Then she mentioned Spring Lake. "You know, the Irish Rivera."
And how she'd once taken friends Margaret and Rose Murphy (emphasis hers, eyebrows raised) from Philadelphia and showed them t-shirts for sale on the boardwalk with the phrase "Irish Rivera" to prove it to them.
"The Kellys had a house there, you know, from Philadelphia? Grace Kelly?"
Well, who doesn't know? Poor Princeton lady, sandwiched between Catholic Philadelphia and the Catholic Jersey Shore.
After swimming and showering, I struck up a conversation with a kind-looking elderly woman in the high school locker room. We both remarked on how empty the pool had been, but chalked it up to the mild weather and the upcoming Mother's Day weekend. "It's practically a national holiday!" she said.
She spoke of her habit of visiting the Jersey Shore for Mother's Day with friends from Philadelphia. "There might not be much to look at this time, though they are making progress." They are indeed.
Then she mentioned Spring Lake. "You know, the Irish Rivera."
And how she'd once taken friends Margaret and Rose Murphy (emphasis hers, eyebrows raised) from Philadelphia and showed them t-shirts for sale on the boardwalk with the phrase "Irish Rivera" to prove it to them.
"The Kellys had a house there, you know, from Philadelphia? Grace Kelly?"
Well, who doesn't know? Poor Princeton lady, sandwiched between Catholic Philadelphia and the Catholic Jersey Shore.
Sunday, May 12, 2013
Sunday Snippets - a Catholic carnival hosted by RAnn at "This That and the Other Thing."
My post this week: Concerns over priest misconduct in the diocese
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On the National Day of Prayer last week, the Community Bible Study held its final session until September in the morning. We took a group photo:
Afterwards, I slipped into St. Mary's in Colts Neck to pray. I didn't know I was supposed to pray "for our nation," so I didn't. Instead, seeing pictures of the first communicants, I prayed for them:
That evening, I encountered the shocking story about a priest of the Diocese of Newark practicing ministry at St. Mary's in our diocese without our bishop's approval. He also accompanied teens on retreats in Marlboro, which, after a little digging, I discovered was actually at Kateri Environmental Center in Wickatunk. My oldest's childcare facility was located on the campus of the Kateri Environmental Center in the early 00's but the building has since been converted into dorms for retired religious sisters.
The third and final session of a workshop on the Liturgy of the Hours offered by the diocese last year fell victim to Hurricane Sandy. The session was rescheduled to Saturday and, probably due to celebrations of first eucharist, the original speaker and location were unavailable. About the speaker, it's just as well. But the original location had been terribly handy to me:
I was still a bit hot about hearing the scandal so it was a good thing that the bishop wasn't in his office. Or that I asked the Monsignor what he knew. Turns out, the pastor at St. Mary's and the youth ministers resigned in the meantime. So the congregation got what it wanted.
During a break, I asked the monsignor, who seemed very "up" on liturgy, to identify the source of the opening antiphon on the first week of Ordinary Time because the line is unattributed in my missal:
A Facebook friend had posted that she's be at a used curriculum sale just down the street from Notre Dame in Lawrenceville. So, when my workshop ended, I drove over to the Holy Trinity Lutheran Church which was hosting the sale to surprise her. She was surprised!
1 Offenbarung, abbreviated "Offb"
Afterwards, I slipped into St. Mary's in Colts Neck to pray. I didn't know I was supposed to pray "for our nation," so I didn't. Instead, seeing pictures of the first communicants, I prayed for them:
That evening, I encountered the shocking story about a priest of the Diocese of Newark practicing ministry at St. Mary's in our diocese without our bishop's approval. He also accompanied teens on retreats in Marlboro, which, after a little digging, I discovered was actually at Kateri Environmental Center in Wickatunk. My oldest's childcare facility was located on the campus of the Kateri Environmental Center in the early 00's but the building has since been converted into dorms for retired religious sisters.
The third and final session of a workshop on the Liturgy of the Hours offered by the diocese last year fell victim to Hurricane Sandy. The session was rescheduled to Saturday and, probably due to celebrations of first eucharist, the original speaker and location were unavailable. About the speaker, it's just as well. But the original location had been terribly handy to me:
I was still a bit hot about hearing the scandal so it was a good thing that the bishop wasn't in his office. Or that I asked the Monsignor what he knew. Turns out, the pastor at St. Mary's and the youth ministers resigned in the meantime. So the congregation got what it wanted.
During a break, I asked the monsignor, who seemed very "up" on liturgy, to identify the source of the opening antiphon on the first week of Ordinary Time because the line is unattributed in my missal:
Upon a lofty throne, I saw a man seated, whom a host of angels adore, singing in unison: Behold him, the name of whose empire is eternal.He thought it sounded like Revelation or Daniel. Sure, but it's not a direct quotation. I've found the phrase in Latin, too.
In excelso throno vidi sedere virum, quem adorat multitudo Angelorum psallentes in unutii ecce cujus imperii nomen est in aeternum.The phrase is attributed in online texts to Revelation1 4:2 and 5:11 and Ps. 99:1. It's also attributed in online texts to Daniel 7:9, 10, 13, 14 and Isaiah 6:1-3.
A Facebook friend had posted that she's be at a used curriculum sale just down the street from Notre Dame in Lawrenceville. So, when my workshop ended, I drove over to the Holy Trinity Lutheran Church which was hosting the sale to surprise her. She was surprised!
1 Offenbarung, abbreviated "Offb"
Sunday, May 05, 2013
Sunday Snippets - a Catholic carnival hosted by RAnn at "This That and the Other Thing."
My post this week: Weekend Retreat
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