Sunday 3 February 2008

A personal liturgical suggestion...

Recently there has been much talk about the revival of traditional liturgical practice in the wake of Summorum Pontificum that is considered stuffy, clerical and elitist. And by the same token, we have heard much comment about interesting and popular liturgical dancing and puppet masses.

I have been thinking carefully. It is the intention of our Holy Father that the two uses of the Roman rite should cross fertilize one another. Perhaps we should consider taking some trendy hymns that aren't stuffy and elitist as chant and polyphony, and translate them into Latin, so some people do not feel so excluded and left out at celebrations the 1962 missal.

We could make a start with taking a traditional old favourite, 'Let us break bread together on our knees.':

Let us break bread together on our knees, (on our knees)
let us break bread together on our knees. (on our knees)
When I fall on my knees with my face to the rising sun,
O Lord, have mercy on me.

Let us drink wine together on our knees, (on our knees)
let us drink wine together on our knees. (on our knees)
When I fall on my knees with my face to the rising sun,
O Lord, have mercy on me.

Let us praise God together on our knees, (on our knees)
let us praise God together on our knees. (on our knees)
When I fall on my knees with my face to the rising sun,
O Lord, have mercy on me.


Here is a Latin translation for use in the 1962 rite. (And also are some suggestions for how and where it should be used.)

Frangamus panem in genu, (in genu)
frangamus panem in genu, (in genu)
quando cado in genu ad solis ortu,
O Domine, miserere mei!


(This verse to be sung during the offertory.)

Bibamus vinum in genu, (in genu)
bibamus vinum in genu, (in genu)
quando cado in genu ad solis ortu,
O Domine, miserere mei!


(Sing this verse during communion: to make it particularly relevant, perhaps we can introduce communion under both kinds in the 1962 missal.)

Laudemus Deum in genu, (in genu)
laudemus Deum in genu, (in genu)
quando cado in genu ad solis ortu,
O Domine, miserere mei!


(This verse to replace the Leonine prayers to St. Michael: after all, we should be more optimistic in the 'Spirit of Vatican II'.)

Some will say this is an appallingly bad translation, full of grammatical errors. Also the syllables do not completely fit. Yes, but bear in mind that we must not act in a way that makes anyone who translates, sings and prays in the spirit of ICEL feel inferior...

P.S. As I write this, I have been making the most of the last few days before we enter lent, and having just drunk a whole bottle of wine I am not entirely sober....

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Now now Oliver! behave!

Rita said...

Brilliant!

Anonymous said...

Yes, I am so eager to embrace your vibrantly diverse plurality.