The Latin Collect
Omnipotens sempiterne Deus, qui nos omnium Sanctorum tuorum merita sub una tribuiste celebritate venerari: quaesumus; ut desideratam nobis tuae propitiationis abundantiam, multiplicatis intercessoribus largiaris.
Almighty, everlasting God, who hast granted us to venerate in one solemnity the merits of all thy saints, we beseech thee, that as our intercessors are multiplied, thou wouldst bestow upon us the desired abundance of thy mercy.
The Collect 1549
ALMIGHTIE God, whiche haste knitte together thy electe in one Communion and felowship, in the misticall body of thy sonne Christe our Lord; graunt us grace so to folow thy holy Saynctes in all virtues*, and godly livyng, that we maye come to those inspeakeable joyes, whiche thou hast prepared for all them that unfaynedly love thee; through Jesus Christe.
The Collect 1662
O ALMIGHTY God, who hast knit together thine elect in one communion and fellowship, in the mystical body of thy Son Christ our Lord; Grant us grace so to follow thy blessed Saints in all virtuous and godly living, that we may come to those unspeakable joys, which thou hast prepared for them that unfeignedly love thee; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Commentary
As may be seen, Cranmer replaced the old Collect with a brand new composition. His is a happy casting into prayer of several major themes of Scripture that are not present in the Latin, but one could wish he had had less prejudice against the present intercessory role of the Saints at the Heavenly Throne.
Meditation
Earth and heaven are united in the blessed Communion of Saints. How blest we are to be part of such a glorious company! How wonderful of God to supply us with such examples of godly living! As they strain (in the marvelous picture in Hebrews 12) to watch us as we run the race, to cheer us on, and to bathe us in prayers, we can know that we are not alone, that the mysterious and difficult road on which we run has been trod before, and that the desire of our God and of His Saints is that we join them at His Throne in "joy unspeakable and full of glory". All ye holy Saints of God, pray for us.
-----------------ed pacht
"...had less prejudice against the present intercessory role of the Saints at the Heavenly Throne."
ReplyDeleteI agree. Anglicans once had a stronger understanding of the Communion of Saints. Today many don't even seem to think of the Saints and as a result they don't understand Paul's teaching on the pleroma.
Very true, Ed and Alice.
ReplyDeleteA few prayers to St Jude for the Anglican Communion methinks.