Let us pray (in silence) [that we cooperate with God’s will]
Pause
Grant, Lord, [or O God]
that the course of this world may be directed by your peaceful governance,
and that your church may be joyful as,
in confidence and serenity,
we serve your purpose;
through 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 part of my attempt to provide a set of collects with history and commentary. It is shared by Roman Catholics, Anglicans (Episcopalians), and others. Episcopalians use this collect when Ordinary 8 falls after the Easter Season. This year it does not.
Here is my commentary for this collect for Ordinary 8 – or you can read my reflection below.
I suggest the Transfiguration, if possible, be celebrated with the majority Western tradition on Lent 2. I will post on this during the week.
Here are resources for Lent.
Other resources beyond this site:
textweek
Resourcing Preaching Down Under
Add useful resources in the comments below.
Some call this coming Sunday, the Last Sunday before Lent, “Quinquagesima“.
Commentary on the Collect
From the Leonine Sacramentary (#633) in the Masses for July, Gregorian Supplement (#1141) fifth Sunday after the Pentecost octave, the Veronese, and the Gelasian, through the Sarum Rite and the pre-Vatican II Missal (Trinity 5):
Da nobis, quaesumus, Domine, ut et mundi cursus pacifico nobis tuo ordine dirigatur: et Ecclesia tua tranquilla devotione laetetur.
After Vatican II it was moved to Ordinary Sunday 8 and, within Anglicanism (The Episcopal Church) to the same Sunday (and week following), there called Proper 3 (The Sunday closest to May 25).
There are allusions to the barbarian invasions, and one might image a ship and its captain…
Cranmer 1549:
GRAUNTE Lorde, wee beseche thee, that the course of thys worlde maye bee so peaceably ordred by thy governaunce, that thy congregacion may joyfully serve thee in all godly quietnes; thoroughe Jesus Christe oure Lorde.
1662 revisers, in response to the Puritan interpretation of “congregation” replaced it with “Church”.
Cursus – course (if a ship), way, journey
Dirigo – give a particular direction; lay or draw a straight line, direct or steer a ship on its course
Pacificus – pax & facio – peacemaker, peaceable
et (and) is missing in Cranmer’s translation. The original is a prayer for the world and for the church.
BCP TEC Proper 3 (The Sunday closest to May 25):
Grant, O Lord, that the course of this world may be
peaceably governed by your providence; and that your
Church may joyfully serve you in confidence and serenity;
through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you
and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
ICEL translation (1973):
Lord, guide the course of world events and give your Church the joy and peace of serving you in freedom.
In the failed 1998 English Missal translation:
Direct the course of this world, Lord God, and order it in your peace,
that your Church may serve you
in serenity and quiet joy.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever.
Current ICEL translation (2011):
Grant us, O Lord, we pray, that the course of our world may be directed by your peaceful rule and that your Church may rejoice, untroubled in her devotion.
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