Day: December 4, 2010

Readings at mass: Old vs. new

It’s a duel here between New American Bible (NAB), what we hear read at mass these days, and the Douay-Rheims version (D-R), what we heard before the liturgical revolu — I mean reform — shook up Catholic worship.

Here is tomorrow’s 2nd reading, 2nd Sunday of Advent, Romans 15.4-9, NAB vs. D-R, verse by verse, each time NAB first, then D-R:

4 For whatever was written previously was written for our instruction, that by endurance and by the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope.
[4] For what things soever were written, were written for our learning: that through patience and the comfort of the scriptures, we might have hope.

“Previously” is redundant.  “Instruction” not “learning”?  Why?  “Patience and the comfort” of the scriptures beats “endurance and by the encouragement of” the scriptures.  Patience is a virtue, for one thing, and encouragement “of” the scriptures?  “By”?

5 May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to think in harmony 2 with one another, in keeping with Christ Jesus.
 

[5] Now the God of patience and of comfort grant you to be of one mind one towards another, according to Jesus Christ:

“Thinking in harmony” vs. being “of one mind”?  One is abstract, the other is a good everyday image.

6 that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

[6] That with one mind, and with one mouth, you may glorify God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Ditto “one mind . . . one mouth.”  It’s visual and memorable.

7 3 Welcome one another, then, as Christ welcomed you, for the glory of God.
[7] Wherefore receive one another, as Christ also hath received you unto the honour of God.

“Welcome” vs. “receive”?  The second says more.

8 For I say that Christ became a minister of the circumcised to show God’s truthfulness, to confirm the promises to the patriarchs,
 

[8] For I say that Christ Jesus was minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers.

“The circumcision” — a sort of Old Testament sacrament, or an era.  A condition.

9 but so that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written: “Therefore, I will praise you among the Gentiles and sing praises to your name.”
[9] But that the Gentiles are to glorify God for his mercy, as it is written: Therefore will I confess to thee, O Lord, among the Gentiles, and will sing to thy name.

Both constructions are best left unattended.  But as throughout, the rhythm is the thing.  Or so it seems to me.

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Dumbed down on way to Bethlehem

Challoner's 1749 revision of the Rheims New Te...
1749 Rheims New Testament, first cousin to King James Version

Has the Scripture prescribed for reading at mass been dumbed down since Vatican 2? Here’s the gospel for today, Saturday of the First Week of Advent:

Jesus went around to all the towns and villages,
teaching in their synagogues,
proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom,
and curing every disease and illness.

At the sight of the crowds, his heart was moved with pity for them
because they were troubled and abandoned,
like sheep without a shepherd.
Then he said to his disciples,
The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few;
so ask the master of the harvest
to send out laborers for his harvest.

Then he summoned his Twelve disciples
and gave them authority over unclean spirits to drive them out
and to cure every disease and every illness.

Jesus sent out these Twelve after instructing them thus,
Go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
As you go, make this proclamation: The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Cure the sick, raise the dead,
cleanse lepers, drive out demons.
Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give.

That’s Mt 9:3510:1, 5a, 6-8, New American Bible. Here’s the passage, same verses, from the 1962 (and earlier) Bible, the only point of comparison, since the 1962 daily readings were skimpy to nonexistent:

And Jesus went about all the cities, and towns, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease, and every infirmity.

[36] And seeing the multitudes, he had compassion on them: because they were distressed, and lying like sheep that have no shepherd. [37] Then he saith to his disciples, The harvest indeed is great, but the labourers are few. [38] Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he send forth labourers into his harvest.

[1] And having called his twelve disciples together, he gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of diseases, and all manner of infirmities.

[5] These twelve Jesus sent: commanding them, saying: Go ye not into the way of the Gentiles [and into the city of the Samaritans enter ye not]. [6] But go ye rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. [7] And going, preach, saying: The kingdom of heaven is at hand. [8] Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out devils: freely have you received, freely give.

I submit that the pedestrian has replaced the sonorous, I’d call it rhythmic. The 1962 Bible (Douay-Rheims) called for a reader-aloud with some oratorical training, which has its pitfalls, yes. But this reading the daily newspaper at us (so it comes across) has nothing to stir souls.

Auditing with intent to prosecute

Journal of Forensic Accounting
Today's topic

Forensic audit is apparent cornerstone of Tea Party efforts in fading Illinois. Forensic audit?

Application of accounting methods to the tracking and collection of forensic evidence, usually for investigation and prosecution of criminal acts such as embezzlement or fraud. Also called forensic accounting.

Read more: http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/forensic-audit.html#ixzz179Ul6ty3

From which you may gather why the state’s politicos do not favor it, same ones who favored such an audit of Medicaid in Illinois. In the one you endanger politicos, in the other docs and patients.

On the other hand, docs said in 2008 they were being paid too late.