Its official, we are now blessed with the new English translation of the Roman Missal which went into effect this past weekend. By way of reporting, all went very well in my parish. The people seemed ready, they payed attention more than usual, and hit all changes well. Our priest had a tougher time of it. He caught himself falling back on old habits more than once, correcting himself by reading veeeeeerrrrrryyyyy slooooooowly. It made me smile.
But now a little confession. For the first time in years I actually said the “Lord, I am not worthy….” Actually, for the first time in years I actually said it in English. The translation of this particular line of the liturgy was so off, that I preferred to say it in the original Latin “Domine, non sum dignus, ut intres sub tectum meum: sed tantum dic verbo, et sanabitur anima mea,” now properly rendered as “Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.”
With all the poor translations in the mass, why is that this particular line brought out the closet sedevacantist in me?
Some history, I have for years attended the Traditional Latin Mass when my schedule would permit and will admit that I am fond of it. I won’t get into the whys, but suffice it to say that certain elements appeal to me. One of the things that so grabbed my attention those years ago (back when we needed an indult? What’s that?) was the non sum dignus. What really got my attention was the fact that faithful said that prayer not once, not twice, but three times. When you say something three times in a row, you get the message, this is important.
Saying that prayer three times really focused me on the great gift I was about to receive and my complete unworthiness of it.
“Lord, I am not worthy…”
“Lord, I am not worthy…”
“Lord, I am not worthy…”
That recognition of my own unworthiness back then and the great gift bestowed upon me nevertheless stuck with me. Ever since then I have focused myself on saying it properly (in Latin) in the new mass as a way of keeping that focus. I am grateful that I can now say it properly in English.
But one thing I would really love to see restored in the mass is the triple repetition of this prayer as I am sure that it might then have the same effect on others as it had on me. Saying it just once seems like pauper’s gruel when there is really a great feast to be had.
So, in the immortal words of Dickens placed into the mouth of that famous orphan Oliver Twist, “Please, sir, I want some more.”
Triple helpings if you please.
Comments
Post a Comment
You’re not alone. I don’t go to the Traditional Mass as often as I used to or would like, but every time we get to that part in the OF of the Mass I mentally recite the Latin. It’s automatic at this point.
Domine, non sum dignus, ut intres sub tectum meum: sed tantum dic verbo, et sanabitur anima mea,”
I thought only us old f*rts could rattle that off. The thing I always hear in Latin is Sursum Corda…
Ah, I’m not the only one! I’m a guy in my young twenties and I’ve been saying that part in Latin for years now, too. The element of the new translation for which I was most excited is definitely the proper translation of the ‘DominePope’s non sum dignus.’ Now, its time to work on getting more Extraordinary Form masses!
It was wonderful to go backwards, so to speak, to “the old days”. Now I pray that the “music” changes, too, concentrating on the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, and away from the “community”, and I especially pray the drums vaporize, along with all the other trappings staring us in the face, as we try to ascend heavenward during the Mass.
Thank you, Pat. Christ’s peace!
Hey! Me too! I love that it mirrors the words with which Jesus addressed the centurion, but I especially like the repetition because it takes me until the third time for the meaning to really sink in.
I thought I was the only one whose grade school brain was captivated by that particular Latin sentence. I’ve been saying it (in my head) at every mass for well over 40 years.
Yes, THREE TIMES would get the point across LOUD AND CLEAR, but imaging the howling of the liberals!
Me, too! Ever since I began attending the Latin Mass, I would thrice whisper “Domine, non sum dignus ut intres sub tectum meum . . .” after “Lord, I am not worthy to receive you . . . ” in English. Or, I would say it thrice while proceeding up the aisle to receive Communion, given that I try to make a spiritual Communion at the moment that the priest makes his Communion.
One thing that I wish they had brought back also is “Corpus Domini nostri Jesu Christi custodiat animam tuam in vitam aeternam” (May the Body of our Lord Jesus Christ preserve your soul unto everlasting life), as opposed to the rather blah “Body of Christ?” The Latin spells out right there what the Eucharist does, and why it we distinguish it from ordinary food.
And Adrienne, I also tend to hear the Sursum Corda/Habemus ad Dominum in Latin, or a direct English translation of it. Heh, so you old f*rts now have a lot of us young fogeys to keep you company.
May I add that I think it more fitting to KNEEL, and have the bell rung 3 times during the Agnus Dei? Kneeling while imploring God’s mercy and peace seems more in keeping with the request. That is my humble suggestion..
Then you would love the Anglican Use Mass. It already has many of the points discussed - - the reference to the centurion’s faith, times 3; WSquared’s preference upon reception,etc., at least as offered in the Diocese of Scranton at St. Clare’s by the St. Thomas More society. Just a beautiful liturgy. Awesome priest too, and the whole former Anglican community members generally are great.
When I was in grade school, the nuns taught us this: Oh Lord I am not worthy that Thou should’st enter under my roof, but only say the Word and my soul shall be healed” [70+ yrs. ago] ‘old,old’
Well, Sue, I am 63, and I remember that, too, from grade school, and it is BEAUTIFUL : )
@ Judy…. and I am 84. The nuns taught us well….I had Sisters of Charity….in New York State, up the Hudson from the city
I had Dominicans. Only my first four years, but such important those years were.
Love to her once again “Introibo ad altar Dei, ad Deum juventutem meum.”
Correct that “to hear” and insert laetificat. Mea culpa.
William J. Quinn re “introibo ad Altare Dei”: AMEN!
Now I’ve definitely seen and heard it all—a jangle-pop ballad in praise of Summorum Pontificum played on guitar:
http://youtu.be/YSMAacrCkMw
It’s very wittily written, and it’s catchy. If you appreciate the Latin Mass, you’ll likely have the chorus “gimme some more, some more Summorum Pontificum” stuck in your head for quite some time.
WSquared: That was utterly AWFUL! I did not recognize a single Latin word and if it were in English I still would not have recognized a single English word….the kid had a horrible voice and all he did was strum the guitar. I could see a whole bunch of kids dancing to that one.
Sue (old), you’ll have to read the lyrics, which you can get to through “show more.” Sorry. I should’ve warned folks that the sound quality is poor.
Sorry this is late. I’d also like to see the bells rung at the Consecration.
In case anyone responds to my Post, I am hitting the notification option.
Thanks
Post a Comment
By submitting this form, you give The National Catholic Register permission to publish this comment. Comments will be published at our discretion, and may be edited for clarity and length. For best formatting, please limit your response to one paragraph and don't hit "enter" to force line breaks.