The Bishop's Weekly Column from the Parish Bulletin

OUR LADY OF FATIMA

CATHOLIC CHURCH

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January 19th, 2008

Just in time for Good Friday services and we bring you the amended 1965 text of the Oratio pro Iudaeis... (Which is also used in the Novus Ordo !) If the rumor proves true, it is likely to be the same text issued to replace the 1962 prayer on Good Friday. Save it to your desktop, print it out and paste it in your Missale Romanum or Ordo Hebdomadae Sanctae Instauratus...

One kind soul, in a "gotcha" moment sent me the official translation of this prayer in English more than a year ago alleging the text was heretical. I ignored the e-mail needless to say.

Let us pray for the Jewish people, the first to hear the word of God, that they may continue to grow in the love of his name and in faithfulness to his covenant.

Almighty and eternal God, long ago you gave your promise to Abraham and his posterity. Listen to your Church as we pray that the people you first made your own may arrive at the fullness of redemption. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

As usual the translation is appalling ! The following is a literal translation of the Latin original :

Let us also pray for the Jews that God and Our Lord would deign to shine his face upon them, that they themselves would acknowledge Jesus Christ Our Lord as the redeemer of all.

Almighty and eternal God, who gave your promises to Abraham and his seed: graciously hear the prayers of your Church, that the people of your old acquisition may merit to come to the fullness of redemption. Through our Lord. Amen.

Would this qualify me to celebrate the Latin Mass in the event of an examination being administered to me to determine if I can read Latin in the Missal ??? I didn't read that in the MP!!!

It seems to me that praying that the Jews come to the fullness of redemption is nothing more or less than what Christ said of himself:

Do not think that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets. I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.
For amen I say unto you, till heaven and earth pass, one jot, or one tittle shall not pass of the law, till all be fulfilled. (Matthew 5:17 & 18)

He is the fulfillment of the Law and prophets, praying that the Jewish people should find the fullness of the Law in Christ is hardly heretical. The official translation, however, doesn't clearly state this, though, and that I admit.

+TF

PS. Many thanks to the anonymous soul who forked over the "green backs" to re-evangelize me in the Gospel according to Caput-vacantism. Like the e-mail referenced above, it will also be ignored.