Royal Manuscript., British Musuem c. 1375
Of Holy Mass
The worthiest thing, of most goodness
In all this world, it is the Mass.
For if all clerks did nothing else,
But told the virtues of Mass-singing
And the profit of Mass-hearing,
They ne'er should compass the fifth part,
For all their wit and all their art,
Of all its virtues, meeds and pardon,
To them that with devotion,
In cleanness and in good intent,
Do worship in this Sacrament.
At the Beginning of Mass
God, for Thy goodness,
At the beginning of this Mass,
Of Holy Mass
The worthiest thing, of most goodness
In all this world, it is the Mass.
For if all clerks did nothing else,
But told the virtues of Mass-singing
And the profit of Mass-hearing,
They ne'er should compass the fifth part,
For all their wit and all their art,
Of all its virtues, meeds and pardon,
To them that with devotion,
In cleanness and in good intent,
Do worship in this Sacrament.
At the Beginning of Mass
God, for Thy goodness,
At the beginning of this Mass,
Grant to all that it shall hear
That they of sin be clean and clear.
Lord, save the priest that it shall say
From temptations to-day,
That he be clean in deed and thought,
That evil spriits vex him not;
That he fulfil this Sacrament
With stainless heart and good intent.
First, to do Thee all honour,
That art sovereign of all succour;
And to Thy Mother, maiden bright,
And to thy saints in heaven's light.
And give to all that ear soul-health,
Aid and grace and every wealth;
And to all those we have in mind,
Our friends and comrades, kith and kind,
Good Lord, grant them by this Mass
Of all their sins forgiveness.
And rest and peace that last alway
To Christian souls passed away;
And to us all thy succour send,
And bring us to joy without an end. Amen
That they of sin be clean and clear.
Lord, save the priest that it shall say
From temptations to-day,
That he be clean in deed and thought,
That evil spriits vex him not;
That he fulfil this Sacrament
With stainless heart and good intent.
First, to do Thee all honour,
That art sovereign of all succour;
And to Thy Mother, maiden bright,
And to thy saints in heaven's light.
And give to all that ear soul-health,
Aid and grace and every wealth;
And to all those we have in mind,
Our friends and comrades, kith and kind,
Good Lord, grant them by this Mass
Of all their sins forgiveness.
And rest and peace that last alway
To Christian souls passed away;
And to us all thy succour send,
And bring us to joy without an end. Amen
I love language, and its significance, both in the sacred professions of one's intimate faith, and in regards to the precise means of engagement with the secular world.
Latin, Greek, Hebrew, Aramaic, and Syriac are all keys to understanding the intricasies of prayer, meditation, lectio divina, and exegesis. So are the interplays of various translations into descendant languages.
I love Latin for its subtleties of wordplay, expression, and focus, and for its elevation of prayer and ritual above the vennacular. I do not love its misuse as a rallying device for division, scorn, politic, or recalcitrant behavior.
I do find it ironic and sad that this wonderful text that you site here, from the Middle Ages, is posted in a poor translation, from the original text in Middle English.
Another medieval text, THE CLOUD OF UNKNOWING,loses much when it is made subject to the wills and whims and talents of a modern translator. The same with old prayers. The same with the psalms from Hebrew, and the Gospels from Greek.
I salute the use of languages to refine and shape worship, and deeper understanding, and communion. But I do agree with the Pope, that the Solemn Mass is not a critique of the Modern Mass. And that languages are all tools. And that intent and focus of mind reign supreme.
In Peace.