Listen to the Word


ing toward the way of unity”. The preposition in with the object viam indicates that the Church is not yet on the way of unity. She is, rather, off the way but advancing toward, unto, into the way of unity. The official English title corrects the idea expressed in Latin, albeit omit- ting the participle, “The Church on the Path of Unity”, which would be expressed in Latin as in via, “on the way”.


Source:New to the Missale Romanumof 2002 this prayer appeared in previous vernacular editions.


Analysis of literary forms Classic Roman prayers tend to be based on only one or two central teachings which they state concisely, synthetically and beautifully. Prayers from the Mozarabic and Gallican tra- ditions and the later Ottonian reform tend to be florid, repetitive expressions of the senti- ments of their time, as in this Preface. This text begins and ends with reference to the Son. God does three actions and the Church does three actions. In both cases the first and third actions express similar ideas, sandwiching the second actions. The Church’s three actions are similar statements that do not correspond with the three actions of God. Rather than saying “by the Good News” the Latin text is verbose without apparent reason, saying, “by the word of the Good News”. First confession: Our confession of faith begins with a relative clause, Quia verbo Evangelii Filii tui, ex omnibus populis, lin- guis et nationibus unam Ecclesiam collegisti, “because by the word of the Good News of your Son you have brought together out of all peo- ples, languages and nations one Church”, given as, “For by the word of your Son’s Gospel you have brought together one Church from every people, tongue, and nation”. Means: God works through the instrumen-


tality of the Church, [unam Ecclesiam] per quam … omnes homines in unum congregare non desinis, “[one Church] through which … you do not cease to gather all people into one”, given as, “and … you never cease through her to gather the whole human race into one”. First motor: The subject of the passive par-


ticipial is the Church, Spiritus tui virtute vivificatam, “[the Church] having been brought to life by the power of your Spirit”.


Towards the way U


sed in Masses for various necessi- ties, the first Eucharistic Prayer has the title Ecclesia in viam unitatis progrediens, “The Church advanc-


Roman Missal 2010 … Lord … For by the word of your Son’s Gospel


you have brought together one Church


from every people, tongue, and nation,


and, having filled her with life by the power of your Spirit,


you never cease through her to gather the whole human race into one.


Manifesting the covenant of your love,


she dispenses without ceasing the blessed hope of your Kingdom and shines bright as the sign of your faithfulness,


which in Christ Jesus our Lord you promised would last for eternity.


© International Commission on English in the Liturgy.


The Spirit brings the Church to life. The offi- cial English makes the passive participle active and changes its subject to God not the Church, resulting in two actors, God and the Spirit, “having filled her with life by the power of your Spirit”. Second motor: The participial phrase describes the Church’s first action, tuae dilec- tionis testamentum manifestans, “clearly showing the covenant of your love”, given as “Manifesting the covenant of your love”. Second confession: Her second action is Ipsa … spem beatam regni incessanter largi- tur, “She … unceasingly provides the blessed hope of the kingdom”, given as “she dispenses without ceasing the blessed hope of your Kingdom”. Third confession: Her third action is ac veluti signum tuae fidelitatis resplendent: “and shines even as a sign of your fidelity”, given as “and shines bright as the sign of your faith- fulness”. Amplification: God’s faithfulness is described in the relative clause, quam in Christo Iesu Domino nostro, in aeternum promisisti,


The Latin title of this prayer is somewhat misleading, writes Daniel McCarthy. It is unity among all peoples that is intended here, rather than among Christian Churches


PREFACE: THE CHURCH MOVING AHEAD TOWARD THE WAY OF UNITY


Missale Romanum2008 … Domine … Quia verbo Evangelii Filii tui,


ex omnibus populis, linguis et nationibus


unam Ecclesiam collegisti, per quam, Spiritus tui virtute vivificatam, omnes homines in unum congregare non desinis.


Ipsa tuae dilectionis testamentum manifestans,


spem beatam regni incessanter largitur ac veluti signum tuae fidelitatis resplendet quam in Christo Iesu Domino nostro,


in aeternum promisisti.


Study text … Lord … because by the word of the Good News of your Son you have brought together out of all peoples, languages and nations one Church through which, having been brought to life by the power of your Spirit, you do not cease to gather all people into one. She, clearly showing the covenant of your love, unceasingly provides the blessed hope of the Kingdom and shines even as a sign of your fidelity which you have promised for ever in Christ Jesus our Lord.


Prepared in collaboration with Frs James Leachman OSB and Reginald Foster OCD.


“which you have promised for ever in Christ Jesus our Lord”, given as “which in Christ Jesus our Lord you promised would last for eter- nity”.


Summary The first half loosely follows the process of Christian initiation in which all three persons of the Trinity have a role. The Good News of Jesus Christ is addressed universally to all peo- ples, languages, nations, who are gathered into one Church. The Spirit makes the Church alive, and brings all people into communion, imag- ing of the Trinitarian communion. Prefaces typically state that God works per


Christum, “through Christ”, but this Preface states that God works through the Church. The Church is identified here not as the body of Christ, evoking corporate unity, but as enlivened by the Spirit, evoking the diversity of gifts.


■Daniel McCarthy OSB is a monk of St Benedict’s Abbey, Kansas, who writes on and teaches liturgy.


24 September 2011 | THE TABLET | 15


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