04 March 2010

Liturgical postscript to St Casimir: 'Dives and Lazarus' worship and liturgy


Dives and Lazarus, Bonifacio Veronese, 1540s

Today's gospel, that of Dives and Lazarus, was appropriate for the commemoration of St Casimir, a prince noted for his strong sense of justice and love for the poor.

I was struck by the contrast in the English translations of the Collect or Opening Prayer for Thursday of the Second Week of Lent, that of ICEL and that in the breviary produced under the direction of the bishops of Australia, England & Wales, Ireland and Scotland, that I use.

ICEL

God of love,
bring us back to you.
Send your Spirit to make us strong in faith
and active in good works.

Grant this, etc

My Breviary

Lord God,
you love innocence of heart,
and when it is lost you alone can restore it.
Turn then our hearts to you,
and kindle in them the fire of your Spirit,
so that we may be steadfast in faith
and unwearied in good works.

We make this, etc.

I can't find the original Latin but the ICEL translation looks like a 'Lazarus' one in that it seems to be very undernourished English-wise.

St Casimir Church, Cleveland, Ohio, USA


Chapel in Hinsley Hall, Leeds, England, owned by the Catholic Diocese of Leeds

I can't help but notice a 'Dives and Lazarus' contrast here also. Which of these two places of worship is more likely to nourish the worshipper? 

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