Despite the fact that the predominant use among converting Catholics is the language of the novus Ordo, what Shawn Tribe calls “hieratic” (roughly “priestly”) English does have its place in the Anglican patrimony””and let’s face it, we’re mostly talking here about the English of Thomas Cranmer, who although a heretic and apostate was nevertheless a master of the English language, and who formalised a style of liturgical English which is still unsurpassed: we recognise that every time we say the Our Father at Mass””in Cranmer’s translation (with one or two minor adjustments) because, frankly, nothing else was good enough.
But Cranmer wasn’t the only master of liturgical English: arguably greater (and himself a clear influence on Cranmer) was Miles Coverdale, translator of the Book of Common Prayer’s very beautiful psalter, and author (in his days as an Augustinian canon) of a majestic pre-Reformation English translation of the Roman Canon, which was authorised for the first time by Pope John Paul over 4 centuries later for use in traditional language parishes of the Anglican Use jurisdiction in the U.S. (a kind of forerunner of the Ordinariate).
I had never before read the Coverdale translation of the Roman Canon. It is incredibly majestic and beautiful, and one can see how it influenced Thomas Cranmer.
I am very surprised that churches in the Anglican Ordinariate are using Novus Ordo instead of the Coverdale or a reworked Cranmer mass. Just what is “Anglican” about the Novus Ordo?
#1. Ordinariate churches are Catholic. They use the rite their Bishop permits them to use.
As yet there are no Ordinariate churches. I hope that is remedied soon.
b+
Let’s go back to Basil of Caesarea. The older the better?? 🙁
[blockquote]. . . we’re mostly talking here about the English of Thomas Cranmer, who although a heretic and apostate . . . [/blockquote]
Not exactly a good way to win friends among Anglicans. Here’s an instance where heresy and apostasy can be only in the eye of the beholder.
Ross (who isn’t about to join the ordinariate anytime soon)
[blockquote] Let’s go back to Basil of Caesarea. The older the better??[/blockquote]
Some of us are just fine with that. There are certain things that one should not engage in idle tinkering with. And liturgy is near the top of that list. Lex Orandi Lex Credendi.
If you want evidence on the dangers of liturgical tinkering, Rome is a good place to start. They went from the glory of Palestrina and a Mass with a 1500 year old canon to Mass for Guitar and Bongos in D Minor celebrated at Our Lady of Social Justice in jeans and tie-dye vestments using gender sensitive and inclusive language.
A good rule of thumb… If its less than a thousand years old, it should be treated with great suspicion at the least.
I think this ought to be called the homeopathic theory of liturgical reform.