We have moved into the Time called “Ordinary”, by which we mean “ordered”, not “unexceptional”. In the traditional calendar of the Extraordinary Form, this is the “Time through the year”, divided into time after Epiphany and after Pentecost. This terminology, “Tempus per annum”, remained also in the Novus Ordo calendar. Ordinary Time embraces the sacral cycle of Lent and Eastertide like bookends and stretches from the adoration of the heavenly infant King by earthly kings to the Solemnity of Christ the King who will come as Judge to separate the tares from the wheat and usher in the unending reign of peace.
This Sunday’s Collect, for the Second Sunday of Ordinary Time, is in the 1962 Missale Romanum for the Second Sunday after Epiphany.
Omnipotens sempiterne Deus,
qui caelestia simul et terrena moderaris,
supplicationibus populi tui clementer exaudi,
et pacem tuam nostris concede temporibus.
We often ask when we pray in Latin that God will pay attention, usually by “hearing” us. Exaudio signifies “listen to” in the sense of “perceive clearly.” The imperative exaudi is more urgent than a simple audi (the imperative of audio, not the car). Think of the beginning of one of our Litanies: “Christe audi nos… Christe exaudi nos…” often translated as “Christ hear us… Christ graciously hear us.”
For the ancient Romans a supplicatio was a solemn religious ceremony in thanksgiving for a victory or prayer in the face of danger. It is related to supplex, an adjective for the position of a beggar, on bended knees or prostration.
Tempus obviously means “time”. It also means “the appointed time, the right season, an opportunity (Greek kairos)”. Tempus gives us “temporal”, that is, worldly or earthly things, material things, as opposed to sacred, eternal or spiritual. Plural tempora can also mean the “temples” of our heads, as well as “the times”, our “state of affairs”.
LITERAL RENDERING:
Almighty eternal God,
who at the same time does govern things heavenly and earthly,
mercifully hearken to the supplications of Your people,
and grant Your peace in our temporal affairs.
OBSOLETE ICEL (1973):
Father of heaven and earth,
hear our prayers, and show us the way
to peace in the world.
NEW CORRECTED ICEL (2011):
Almighty ever-living God,
who govern all things,
both in heaven and on earth,
mercifully hear the pleading of your people
and bestow your peace on our times.
We beg God, omnipotent sempiternal disposer of all things, for peace in our temporal affairs here and now, not just later in heaven. We do not want just any peace. We want the peace which comes from Him.
Christ said:
“Peace I leave with you: my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, do I give unto you. Let not your heart be troubled: nor let it be afraid” (John 14:27 DR).
Christians are confident. Christ will give us His peace. He said so. But He won’t force peace on us.
The temporal peace the world offers and the peace that God bestows are different, though they can be harmonized when the temporal is subordinated to the heavenly. The goods (and ills) of this world are passing and fragile, always susceptible to loss. The goods of heaven are enduring and dependable. No finite, passing, created thing or person can provide lasting joy or eternal peace: they will be lost through theft and wear, time and death. Our wealth, family, health, appearance and reputation can be lost in the blink of an eye.
To put a creature in God’s place is foolhardy idolatry and a sin. Love God, above all. Practice making His will your own. As Piccarda tells Dante in the Divine Comedy, “In His will is our peace. It is that sea to which all things move, both what it creates and what nature makes” (Par 3.85).
God knew each one of us outside of time, before the creation of both the visible and invisible universe. He called us into existence at a precise moment in His eternal plan. He gives us all something to do in His plan together with the talents and graces to do it. When we cooperate with Him, submit our wills to His, make His plan for us our own, God then makes us strong enough to carry it out. God knows our needs better than we do. Turn confidently to Him in prayer. Ask Him for the graces, and with them peace, which He alone can give.
Sin shatters His peace. Peace can be regained in the Sacrament of Penance.
We ask God to bless us in this new year of salvation. Let us beg Him to give aid to all who suffer. With bent knees and with foreheads to the ground, bodies and wills both bent in supplication, beg His graces and His peace.
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Et nunc flecto genua cordis mei, precans ad te bonitatem Domine.
And now I bend the knees of my heart, praying to you for your goodness, O Lord.
Thanks, Father, I needed that commentary. A homilist probably never really knows which words he’s spoken may be a knock-it-out-of-the-park home run for someone who needed to hear or read them.
Not that I’m going to let that ICEL ’73 translation go without comment. The generalized semantics blur the intention of the prayer and its opportunity to inform the intentions of the one making it. The original language is articulate and targeted toward specific ideas. The direct translation and ICEL 2011 have much more passion behind them as well, spoken as one whose heart is aflame for God.
The ICEL ’73 prayers tendency toward generalized language and vague principles make them seem not only dispassionate, but unmemorable, and like a reworking of the same thing each week.
This is so beautiful. Thank you so much. The world, the flesh and the devil want to steal peace from us. We need to be on our guard and trust in God. Please, Father, in the midst of all the things you do, can you publish a book of such meditations for us starving laity?
” With bent knees and with foreheads to the ground, bodies and wills both bent in supplication, beg His graces and His peace.”
Amen
Father, you made the humorous connection between the car and the verb “audi”. From your last name I assume you know anyway, but for your readers interested in Latin (probably all) and also intetested in (German) cars (I don’t know – few?) it might be intetesting to learn that the car is named after the founder of the firm, Mr. Horch which name means nothing different than the etymologically related English imperative “Hark!”
This is the most beautiful and humbling thing I can recall you writing Father. Thank you so much for this. What an amazing way to top off a beautiful Sunday, as I made a good confession after Mass today.
Perficio.
I am going to print this to display on the breakfast table – for all to read :)
Blessings to you Fr.Z.
Thank you, Father, I needed this right now.
Thank you, Father, this was exactly what I needed to hear this evening.
Thank you, Father. Good and wise words for the soul. And you will note that some of the lasagna commenters are reading about the Collect, too.
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This was useful. Occasionally mothers end up thinking that their children are the beginning and end of the world, and forget Who gave them the children the first place. Believe me, when the children and the husband forget your birthday, one gets firmly reminded where one’s love should be directed.