Wednesday Liturgy: Gloria's "Sin" and Agnus Dei's "Sins"
ROME, JULY 24, 2007 (Zenit.org).- Answered by Legionary of Christ Father Edward McNamara, professor of liturgy at the Regina Apostolorum university.
Q: A question has come up regarding the use of the word "sin" in the Gloria and "sins" in the Agnus Dei. Would you please explain the theological reason for this? -- S.G., Colorado Springs, Colorado
A: I would be at a loss to explain the theological reason for this difference for the simple reason that I don't believe there is much difference.
The difference is in the translation, not in the original Latin. The Latin in all three cases (counting the "This is the Lamb of God" that is said by the celebrant) uses the same plural form "peccata mundi."
There is a discussion among the experts as to the best translation of this formula. Some sustain that it is best translated as a simple plural "sins." Others render it as an abstract singular "sin," meaning the totality of sin in the world.
This difference is seen in some other versions. The Italian missal translates the expressions each time as sins, "i peccati," whereas the Spanish conveys it as sin, "el pecado."
The first translation is perhaps closer to the literal sense and, being more concrete, it tends to includes not only the sins but in some way also refers to the sinners.
The second translation might lay greater stress on the universal and even cosmological effects of redemption, in the sense that Christ's death and resurrection has also restored a certain sense of order to creation itself. It could be said that all things are recapitulated in Christ, to use an expression of St. Paul (Ephesians 1:10) which was later theologically developed by St. Ireneus of Lyon.
Both translations, however, essentially express the same underlying reality. It may be that the English translators Solomonically divided their options. But it might also mean no more than that different people were responsible for different parts of the missal and never got together to iron out the creases.
The most important thing is that Christ, the Lamb of God who died and rose for us, is the source of all salvation and has the power to effectively take away our sins, and all sin from the world. This power is exercised above all through the sacraments, especially the re-enactment of his paschal sacrifice that is the holy Mass.
Q: A question has come up regarding the use of the word "sin" in the Gloria and "sins" in the Agnus Dei. Would you please explain the theological reason for this? -- S.G., Colorado Springs, Colorado
A: I would be at a loss to explain the theological reason for this difference for the simple reason that I don't believe there is much difference.
The difference is in the translation, not in the original Latin. The Latin in all three cases (counting the "This is the Lamb of God" that is said by the celebrant) uses the same plural form "peccata mundi."
There is a discussion among the experts as to the best translation of this formula. Some sustain that it is best translated as a simple plural "sins." Others render it as an abstract singular "sin," meaning the totality of sin in the world.
This difference is seen in some other versions. The Italian missal translates the expressions each time as sins, "i peccati," whereas the Spanish conveys it as sin, "el pecado."
The first translation is perhaps closer to the literal sense and, being more concrete, it tends to includes not only the sins but in some way also refers to the sinners.
The second translation might lay greater stress on the universal and even cosmological effects of redemption, in the sense that Christ's death and resurrection has also restored a certain sense of order to creation itself. It could be said that all things are recapitulated in Christ, to use an expression of St. Paul (Ephesians 1:10) which was later theologically developed by St. Ireneus of Lyon.
Both translations, however, essentially express the same underlying reality. It may be that the English translators Solomonically divided their options. But it might also mean no more than that different people were responsible for different parts of the missal and never got together to iron out the creases.
The most important thing is that Christ, the Lamb of God who died and rose for us, is the source of all salvation and has the power to effectively take away our sins, and all sin from the world. This power is exercised above all through the sacraments, especially the re-enactment of his paschal sacrifice that is the holy Mass.
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11:34 AM
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