Since I wrote my posts on the great Christine Mohrmann, I have noticed - purely by chance - in Bodley a translation of the Roman Breviary into English (Imprimatur by that strange character Francis Cardinal Spellman 1964) in which the Prayers are translated by Mohrmann. Samples, with Cranmer in italics Latin in bold.
Pentecost 13
Almighty eternal God, grant us an increase of faith hope and charity; and make us love what you command so that we may be made worthy to attain what you promise.
Trinity 14
Almighty and everlasting God, give unto us the increase of faith hope and charity; and that we may obtain that which thou dost promise, make us to love that which thou dost command.
Per annum 30
Omnipotens sempiterne Deus, da nobis fidei spei et caritatis augmentum, et, ut mereamur assequi quod promittis, fac nos amare quod praecipis.
Comments? It seems to me that Cranmer had read Liturgiam authenticam quite carefully.
Indeed. And how good to see mereor translated as 'to be worthy'. I find the almost universal use in the latest translation of 'to merit' for mereor rather than 'to be worthy' or 'to be found worthy' jarring. For me 'merit' carries connotations of something achieved entirely by our own efforts ....
ReplyDeleteThat's the breviary I use.
ReplyDelete