Friday, January 05, 2007

Comparison of Prayers - Epiphany Vigil Mass

"Adoration of the Magi" by Rubens

This comparison is really not quite a comparison. Apparently in the Pauline Rite, the Vigil Mass of the Epiphany was done away with. However, in the 2002 revision of the Roman Missal, the Vigil Mass was reinstated, however, the prayers are different from the Tridentine Roman Missal. Therefore, there are no English translastions of these prayers. If you go to a Vigil Mass for Epiphany in English, you will just hear the prayers from the Epiphany Mass of the Day.

My translations may need to be tighented up a bit, this is the first time I have translated these, so they could probably use some tweaking. Any corrections or suggestions are appreciated.

The preface is the same as the Mass of the Day, so there is an I.C.E.L. translation for that. In the preface, I have decided to stick with the actual names of the choirs of Angels mentioned, ie "Thrones" and "Dominations," even though the helpful Lewis & Short has a translation of them as "angelic order" and "spiritual powers." I figure we are talking about the Angelic choirs, who have names, singing the Sanctus to God, so let's keep their names.

I also debated on whether to translate "gentes" as "gentiles" or "nations." I decided to go with "gentiles" since that seems a bit more appropriate to this feast. "Nations" sounds a bit modern and tends to lose the significance of Christ revealing himself to the non-Jews as represented in the Magi. However, in a broader sense, "nations" does work. But it does lose some of the beauty in my opinion.

Collect (Opening Prayer)

Official Latin from the 2002 Roman Missal
Orémus. Corda nostra, quaésumus, Dómine, tuæ maiestátis splendor illústret, quo mundi huius ténebras transíre valeámus, et perveniámus ad pátriam claritátis ætérnæ.
Per Dóminum nostrum Iesum Christum, Fílium tuum, qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte Spíritus Sancti, Deus, per ómnia saécula sæculórum.

Official 1973 I.C.E.L. Translation (Used at Mass in English)
n/a

My Own Literal Translation
Let us pray. May the splendor of Your majesty illumine our hearts, we beseech You, O Lord, which may make us prevail to pass through the darkness of this world, and come to the homeland of eternal light.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, You Son, Who lives and reigns with You, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, forever and ever.

Prayer Over the Gifts

Official Latin from the 2002 Roman Missal
Súscipe, quaésumus, Dómine, múnera nostra pro apparitióne Unigéniti Fílii tui et primítiis géntium dicáta, ut et tibi celebrétur laudátio et nobis fiat ætérna salvátio.
Per Christum Dóminum nostrum.

Official 1973 I.C.E.L. Translation (Used at Mass in English)
n/a

My Own Literal Translation
Accept, we beseech You, O Lord, our gifts for the manifestation of Your Only-begotten Son and consecrate the first-fruits of the gentiles, that both praise may be given to You and eternal salvation may be given to us.
Through Christ our Lord.

Preface
Preface of Epiphany: Of Christ, the Light of the Gentiles

Official Latin from the 1969 & 2002 Roman Missals
Vere dignum et iustum est, æquum et salutáre, nos tibi semper et ubíque grátias ágere: Dómine, sancte Pater, omnípotens ætérne Deus:
Quia ipsum in Christo salútis nostræ mystérium hódie ad lumen géntium revelásti, et, cum in substántia nostræ mortalitátis appáruit, nova nos immortalitátis eius glória reparásti.
Et ídeo cum Angelis et Archángelis, cum Thronis et Dominatiónibus, cumque omni milítia cæléstis exércitus, hymnum glóriæ tuæ cánimus, sine fine dicéntes:
Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus ...

Official 1973 I.C.E.L. Translation (Used at Mass in English)
Father all-powerful and ever-living God, we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks.
Today you revealed in Christ your eternal plan of salvation and showed him as the light of all peoples. Now that his glory has shown among us you have renewed humanity in his immortal image.
Now, with angels and archangels, and the whole company of heaven, we sing the unending hymn of your praise:
Holy, holy, holy ...

My Own Literal Translation
It is truly right and just, proper and availing unto salvation, that we always and everywhere give thanks to You, O Lord, Holy Father, Almighty and Eternal God:
For, today You revealed the Mystery of our salvation Itself in Christ as the Light of the gentiles, and, when He appeared in the substance of our mortality, You restored us with the new glory of His Immortality.
And so, with the Angels and Archangels, with the Thrones and the Dominations, and with all the host of the Heavenly army, we sing the hymn of Your Glory, saying without end:
Holy, Holy, Holy ...

Post-Communion Prayer

Official Latin from the 2002 Roman Missal
Orémus. Sacra alimónia renováti, tuam, Dómine, misericórdiam deprecámur, ut semper in méntibus nostris tuæ appáreat stella iustítiæ et noster in tua sit confessióne thesáurus.
Per Christum Dóminum nostrum.

Official 1973 I.C.E.L. Translation (Used at Mass in English)
n/a

My Own Literal Translation
Let us pray. Having been renewed by this sacred food, we humbly beseech Your mercy, O Lord, that Your star of justice may always appear in our minds and our treasure may be in our profession of faith in You.
Through Christ our Lord.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Dear Roman Sacristan,

In the Missale Romanum 1962 the vigil Mass of the Epiphany is also absent. In the 1950's their was a revision of the various octaves of the year and the use of commemorations in the Mass. Simplification and all. Of all this you are no doubt well aware. In any event, in older editions of the Missal before 1962 the prayers and propers for the vigil of the Epiphany correspond with the the Sunday within the octave of Christmas...the Mass "Dum Medium." The main difference I saw in comparing the two Masses was the Gospel was distinct, but seemingly little else. Thus in the 2002 Missale Romanum we have a distinct proper set of prayers for the Vigil of Epiphany not found in earlier editions of the Missale Romanum whether N.O. or V.O. I am not sure of the origin of these prayers. Perhaps they are found in other ancient sacramentaries or are just new compositions. Thus it seems to be not just a restoration of the old vigil with proper only a proper Gospel but a new vigil with distinct propers.

--Fr. BP