New Translation of the Mass 5: Some

Collects
In September 2011 the English translation we use in the Roman Missal will be
replaced by a new more accurate translation of the Latin. The translation we use at
present in the Mass was issued in 1973 in something of a rush after Vatican II and has
long been acknowledged as being in need of improvement.
Each of these newsletter handouts will focus on a different part of the Mass.

The Collects (Opening Prayers)

Previous handouts have focussed on parts of the Mass that we all say in common.
This handout gives 3 examples of some others prayers that will change: the Opening
Prayer of the Mass said by the priest.
In each example it can be seen that the old 1973 translation is shorter and
over-simplified. The new translation aims to include nuances and meanings that are
in the Latin text but that were lost in the 1973 translation.

Ash Wednesday 1

The Latin Old Translation (1973) New Translation (2010)

Concede nobis, Domine,
praesidia militiae
christianae
sanctis inchoare ieiuniis,
ut, contra spiritales
nequitias pugnaturi,
continentiae muniamur
auxiliis.
Father in Heaven,
Protect us in our struggle
against evil.
As we begin the discipline
of Lent,
make this season holy by
our self-denial.
1st Sunday of Lent
Grant, O Lord, that we may
begin with holy fasting
this campaign of Christian
service,
so that, as we take up
battle against spiritual evils,
we may be armed with
weapons of self-restraint.
2

Concede nobis, omnipotens Father, Grant, almighty God,

Deus,
ut, per annua
quadragesimalis exercitia
sacramenti,
et ad intellegendum Christi
proficiamus arcanum,
et effectus eius digna
conversatione sectemur.
through our observance of through the yearly
Lent, observances of holy Lent,
help us to understand the that we may grow in
meaning understanding
of your Son’s death and of the riches hidden in
resurrection, Christ
and teach us to reflect it in and by worthy conduct
our lives. pursue their effects.

Thursday of 1st Week of Lent 3

Largire nobis, quaesumus,
Domine,
semper spiritum cogitandi
quae recta sunt,
promptius et agendi,
ut, qui sine te esse non
possumus,
secundum te vivere
valeamus.
Father, without you we can
do nothing.
By your Spirit help us to
know what is right
and to be eager in doing
your will.
Bestow on us, we pray, O
Lord,
a spirit of always pondering
on what is right
and of hastening to carry it
out,
and, since without you we
cannot exist,
may we be enabled to live
according to your will.
 Friday of 1st Week of Lent
Da, quaesumus, Domine,
fidelibus tuis
observationi paschali
convenienter aptari,
ut suscepta sollemniter
castigatio corporalis
cunctis ad fructum proficiat
animarum.
Deus, qui nobis dilectum
Filium tuum audire
praecepisti,
verbo tuo interius nos
pascere digneris,
ut, spiritali purificato
intuitu,
gloriae tuae laetemur
aspectu.
Monday of 2nd Week of Lent
Deus, qui ob animarum
medelam
castigare corpora
praecepisti,
concede, ut ab omnibus
possimus abstinere
peccatis,
et corda nostra
pietatis tuae valeant
exercere mandata.
Tuesday of 2nd Week of Lent
Custodi, Domine,
quaesumus,
Ecclesiam tuam
propitiatione perpetua,
et quia sine te labitur
humana mortalitas,
tuis semper auxiliis et
abstrahatur a noxis,
et ad salutaria dirigatur.
Thursday of 2nd Week of Lent
Lord,
may our observance of
Lent
help to renew us and
prepare us
to celebrate the death and
resurrection of Christ.
2nd Sunday of Lent
God our Father,
help us to hear your Son.
Enlighten us with your
word,
that we may find the way
to your glory.
God our Father,
teach us to find new life
through penance,
Keep us from sin,
and help us to live by your
commandment of love.
Lord, watch over your
Church,
and guide it with your
unfailing love.
Protect us from what could
harm us
and lead us to what will
save us.
Help us always, for without
you we are bound to fail.
4
Grant that your faithful, O
Lord, we pray,
may be so conformed to
the paschal observances,
that the bodily discipline
now solemnly begun
may bear fruit in the souls
of all.
5
O God, who have
commanded us
to listen to your beloved
Son,
be pleased, we pray,
to nourish us inwardly by
your word,
that, with spiritual sight
made pure,
we may rejoice to behold
your glory.
6
O God, who have taught us
to chasten our bodies
for the healing of our souls,
enable us, we pray,
to abstain from all sins,
and strengthen our hearts
to carry out your loving
commands.
7
Guard your Church, we
pray, O Lord, in your
unceasing mercy,
and, since without you
mortal humanity is sure to
fall,
may we be kept by your
constant helps from all
harm
and directed to all that
brings salvation.
8
Deus, innocentiae God of love, O God, who delight in
restitutor et amator, bring us back to you. innocence and restore it,
dirige ad te tuorum corda Send your Spirit to make us direct the hearts of your
servorum, strong in faith, servants to yourself,
ut, Spiritus tui fervore and active in good works. that, caught up in the fire
concepto, of your Spirit,
et in fide inveniantur we may be found steadfast
stabiles, in faith
et in opere efficaces. and effective in works.
Annunciation, 25th March 9

Deus, qui Verbum tuum in God Our Father, O God, who willed that your
utero Virginis Mariae Your Word became Man Word
veritatem carnis humanae and was born of the Virgin should take on the reality
suscipere voluisti, Mary. of human flesh
concede, quaesumus, May we become more like in the womb of the Virgin
ut, qui Redemptorem Jesus Christ, Mary,
nostrum whom we acknowledge as grant, we pray,
Deum et hominem our Redeemer, God and that we, who confess our
confitemur, man. Redeemer to be God and
ipsius etiam divinae man,
naturae mereamur esse may merit to become
consortes. partakers even in his divine
nature.

3rd Sunday of Lent (Post-Communion Prayer) 10

Sumentes pignus caelestis Lord, in sharing this As we receive the pledge

arcani, sacrament of things yet hidden in
et in terra positi iam may we receive your heaven
superno pane satiati, forgiveness and are nourished while
te, Domine, supplices and be brought together in still on earth
deprecamur, unity and peace. with the Bread that comes
ut, quod in nobis mysterio from on high,
geritur, opere impleatur. we humbly entreat you, O
Lord,
that what is being brought
about in us in mystery
may come to true
completion.

Fr Dylan James, Shaftesbury, 27th March 2011

1
http://wdtprs.com/blog/2011/03/wdtprs-ash-wednesday-2002mr-battle/ accessed 20/3/11
2
http://wdtprs.com/blog/2011/03/wdtprs-1st-sunday-of-lent-2002mr-what-we-can-learn-in-no-
other-way/ accessed 26/3/11
3
http://wdtprs.com/blog/2011/03/wdtprs-thursday-in-the-1st-week-of-lent/ accessed 20/3/11
4
http://wdtprs.com/blog/2011/03/wdtprs-friday-of-the-1st-week-of-lent-2002mr/ accessed 20/3/11
5
http://wdtprs.com/blog/2011/03/wdtprs-2nd-sunday-of-lent-2002mr-the-spiritual-view/ accessed
20/3/11
6
http://wdtprs.com/blog/2011/03/wdtprs-monday-in-the-2nd-week-of-lent/ accessed 26/3/11
7
http://wdtprs.com/blog/2011/03/wdtprs-tuesday-in-the-2nd-week-of-lent/ accessed 26/3/11
8
http://wdtprs.com/blog/2011/03/wdtprs-thursday-in-the-2nd-week-of-lent-2002mr-steadfastness-
and-the-human-heart/ accessed 26/3/11
9
http://wdtprs.com/blog/2011/03/annunciation-help/ accessed 26/3/11
10
http://wdtprs.com/blog/2011/03/reason-64675-for-the-new-corrected-translation/ accessed
27/3/11