Saturday, December 15, 2007

Pater noster & Embolism (Mozarabic)

I have long had an interest in liturgy, and in a particular way in the Mozarabic Rite of old Spain anterior to the Reconquista, still offered up in Toledo in the Capilla Muzarabe, and elsewhere from time to time.  


If you can, navigate through the site I linked to above for the Proper of the Mass of the 5th Sunday of Advent (the Rite has six, like the Ambrosian), which will be used by some few lucky priests tomorrow.  In its Oratio Admonitionis, we are told, "Rejoice (hilarescite), I beseech ye, most beloved brothers, and rejoicing lift up your hearts, for now our redemption is near at hand.  Prepare a way for him in your hearts, that when he come ye may be repaid with everlasting gifts.  For full of mercy (multum misericors) is our Lord Jesus Christ, living with the Father and reigning with the Holy Ghost." – to which we reply, "Amen".


Here is the Mozarabic way of praying the Lord's Prayer, together with the Embolism that follows it at Mass, and sometimes at Office; I like the way each petition is affirmed, and (strange but true) while at Mass I quite often recite the Liberati a malo to myself while the priest prays the Libera nos:


Pater noster, qui es in cælis.  R/.  Amen.  
Sanctificetur nomen tuum.  R/.  Amen.  
Adveniat regnum tuum.  R/.  Amen.
Fiat voluntas tua, sicut in cælo et in terra.  R/.  Amen.  
Panem nostrum cotidianum da nobis hodie.  R/.  Amen.* 
Et dimitte nobis debita nostra, sicut et nos dimittimus debitoribus nostris.  R/.  Amen.
**Et ne nos inducas in tentationem.  R/.  Amen.
Sed libera nos a malo.  R/.  Amen.**'

[*or, as in older editions, Quia tu Deus es.
**–**' or in older editions, Et ne nos inducas in tentationem.  R/.  Sed libera nos a malo.]


Liberati a malo, confirmati semper in bono, 
tibi servire mereamur Deo ac Domino nostro.  
Pone, Domine, finem* peccatis nostris, 
da gaudium tribulatis, præbe redemptionem captivis, 
sanitatem infirmis, requiemque defunctis.  

Concede pacem et securitatem in omnibus diebus nostris.  
Frange audaciam inimicorum nostrorum.  
Et exaudi, Deus, orationes servorum tuorum, 
omnium fidelium christianorum, 
in hac die et in omni tempore.  

Per Dominum nostrum Jesum Christum Filium tuum, 
qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitate Spiritus Sancti, Deus, 
per omnia semper** sæcula sæculorum.  R/.  Amen.  

[* in older editions, here the priest struck his breast in penitence;
** this semper is omitted in the modern edition]


I'll not translate the Lord's Prayer of course, but here's my version of the Embolism Liberati a malo, though I cannot capture all its rhymes (note the prayer to smash the crafts of enemies, all too apposite in Visigothic Spain, and still relevant in our violent world, despite what those comfortably off may think):


Delivered from evil, confirmed evermore in good, may we deserve to serve Thee, our God and Lord.  Put, Lord, an end to our sins, give joy to those in tribulation, provide redemption to captives, health to the infirm, and rest to the dead.  Grant peace and security in all our days.  Break the audacity of our enemies.  And graciously hear, O God, the prayers of Thy servants, of all faithful Christians, on this day, and at every time.  Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who with Thee liveth and reigneth in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, always through all the ages of the ages.  Amen.


Amen.

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