Let us pray (in silence) [that we may grow into the life promised at Christmas]
pause
God,
you wonderfully created
and yet more wonderfully restored
the dignity of human nature;
grant that we may share the divine life
of the one who came to share our humanity,
Jesus Christ, our Saviour
who is alive with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God now and for ever.
Amen.
The above is my reworking of the collect shared by Roman Catholics and Episcopalians/Anglicans. I am very happy to receive comments and also suggestions for improvement. The process of producing such a reworking is always a wonderful mulling over and over and over. The process has value – even though I acknowledge the product may be able to be improved.
The original was
Deus, qui humanae substantiae dignitatemet mirabiliter condidisti, et mirabilius reformasti,da, quaesumus, nobis eius divinitatis esse consortes,qui humanitatis nostrae fieri dignatus est particeps…
The collect comes from the Leonine sacramentary where it is the collect of the first Christmas Mass (1239). The Gelasian sacramentary moves it to be one of the Christmas prayers for Lauds or Vespers (27), and the Gregorian sacramentary has it as one of the “other prayers for the birthday of the Lord” (59).
reformo = to shape again, remould, transform, metamorphose, change
substantia = nature
consors , -sortis = sharing property with one (as brother, sister, relative), living in community of goods, partaking of in common, a sharer, partner [Etymology – con + sors (“fate). When you are a consors you have a common fate or destiny]
dignitas = dignity [moral overtone]
Echoes of Philippians 2:8; 2 Peter 1:4
CofE’s Common Worship [Christmas 1] has it as
Almighty God,
who wonderfully created us in your own image
and yet more wonderfully restored us
through your Son Jesus Christ:
grant that, as he came to share in our humanity,
so we may share the life of his divinity;
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
TEC’s BCP [Christmas 2] has it as
O God,
who wonderfully created,
and yet more wonderfully restored,
the dignity of human nature:
Grant that we may share the divine life
of him who humbled himself to share our humanity,
your Son Jesus Christ;
who lives and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
Amen.
Roman Catholic
O God,
who wonderfully created the dignity of human nature,
and still more wonderfully restored it,
grant, we pray,
that we may share in the divinity of Christ
who humbled himself to share in our humanity…
In Celebrating Eucharist I have also placed it, as the TEC’s BCP has, as the collect concluding the first reading at the Easter Vigil. There I have restated it with the address “Bounteous God…”
Further commentary on this collect.
Originals:
Cod. Bibl. Capit. Veron. LXXXV (80) Sacramentarium Veronese (Leonianum): [1239] Deus, qui in humanae substantiae dignitate et mirabiliter condedisti et mirabilius reformasti: da, quaesumus, nobis Iesu Christi filii tui ³: eius:³ diuinitatis esse consortes, qui humanitatis nostrae fieri dignatus est particeps…
Cod. Vat. Reg. lat. 316/Paris B.N. 7193, 41-56(Sacramentarium Gelasianum Vetus): [27] Deus, qui humanae substantiae dignitate et mirabiliter condedisti et mirabilius reformasti: da, quesumus, ut eius efficiamur in diuina consortes, qui nostrae humanitatis fieri dignatus est particeps, Christus filius tuus: per eundem dominum nostrum…
Liber Sacramentorum Engolismensis (Gel. VIII sec.): [33] Deus qui humanae substantiae dignitatem et mirabiliter condidisti et mirabilius reformasti, da quaesumus ut eius efficiamur in diuina consortes, qui nostrae humanitatis fieri dignatus est particeps Christus filius tuus…
I like your re-wording. I think it says more simply and directly what the object of that prayer is – at least for my church TEC.
Thanks, Chris. Blessings.