Archaic Terms in the Our Father
Date: December 3, 2023
Author: Fr. Edward McNamara, LC
Question: In the Lord’s Prayer during the Mass, why is the liturgy still using some words that are no longer common, or used in the common language, such as “Who art in Heaven, Hallowed be thy name … thy kingdom…thy will”? Is there any inconvenience to use for example “Who are in Heaven … Holy be your name … your Kingdom come … Your will be done …”? Also, in the Order of Mass, No. 132, the rubric says, “The priest genuflects, takes the host and, holding it slightly raised above the paten or above the chalice, while facing the people, says aloud ….” My concern is about “slightly raised above the paten or above the chalice” because most of the priests (even bishops) simply lift the bread and the chalice all together, or the entire vessel of bread in one hand and the chalice in the other. Though the rubric is clear by saying that he “takes the host,” some pretend that the "Lamb of God" is bread and wine, not only bread. Can you help us by clarifying the correct gesture? – F.K., Ndola, Zambia
Answer: It is true that the liturgy, and especially the text of the Our Father, uses a somewhat archaic form that is no longer current in English.
The decision to maintain the older form was made by the majority of bishops during the process of examination of the new translation of the missal, although there had been serious suggestions to modernize the text.
The reason adduced were above all because they did not wish to change the text of such a fundamental prayer which was already known to practically all Catholics and which is used in many other circumstances besides the Celebration of Mass, such as during the recitation of the rosary. Many felt that it would be hard to implement the change and that having two widely diffused versions of the Lord’s Prayer could be an unnecessary source of disunity in discordant times.
Others also considered ecumenical reasons insofar as the traditional text is used in many Eastern Churches and among many Protestant congregations, albeit usually with the addition of the final verse: “For thine is the kingdom and the Power and the glory, forever.” Having a common version of the Our Father makes common prayer more accessible.
The Church has the authority to revise these translations, and in some languages, such as in Italian, the text of the Our Father has been recently revised. However, this is a task that requires the full authority of the bishops’ conference and confirmation by the Holy See. Therefore, no individual, even if endowed with sacred orders, should undertake to make changes on his own initiative.
With respect to the second question, I believe the rubrics of the General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM) 132 are clear.
The priest first has performed the fraction rite so the host that is shown is usually that of the broken host. The choice to show this fragment above the paten or the chalice falls to the priest, although this latter gesture seems aesthetically preferable.
The priest should hold the host aloft until he and the people have finished reciting the "Lord I am not worthy …."
Once more, it is better not to make this elevation as high as physically possible like that of the earlier elevation at the doxology: “Through him, and with him and in him ….”
It is a liturgical error to show the host without the paten or chalice by simply raising it above the corporal. Since at this time the host has already been broken, the possibility of fragments falling is enhanced, and so it is better that they fall directly onto the paten or into the chalice.
It is also a liturgical error to show just the paten or ciborium and the chalice as this gesture basically repeats the elevation at the doxology.
It is an important liturgical element that the faithful can see the broken host at this moment as it is a sign of the Lord’s paschal sacrifice present in the consecrated species. Otherwise, the “This” in the expression “This is the Lamb of God” loses some of its spiritual impact.
This is also underlined by the practice still retained in some countries for the faithful to kneel after this rite.
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