Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Modern Language Liturgies Pro and Con

Recently, the subject of Elizabethan English language usage in the Western Rite was discussed on westernriteorthodoxy@yahoogroups.com. The question about the possibility of a Modern Language version of the Western Rite Liturgies was raised, and this wasn't the first time.

I mentioned this discussion in our Adult Sunday School class at our parish, where I am currently the teacher. I had two ideas at the time. The first was to develop a Modern Language version of the 2009 Book of Common Prayer published by Lancelot Andrewes Press for the purpose of a one year "transitional period" for new WR parishes. This idea wasn't enthusiastically received.

My other idea was for us to develop an "Elizabethan English for Dummies" booklet for new convert parishes. This idea was well received.

My current thoughts on this subject are as follows:

On the one hand, I have a question. Why is it that many people are eager to discard the Old English for the Liturgy of the Church, when those same people would probably object to attending a Shakespearian play that was done in Modern English? Isn't part of the charm of experiencing Shakespeare wrapped up in the cadences and beauty of the older language?

On the other hand, I've concluded that a carefully produced and thoughtfully rendered Modern English version of each Western Rite Liturgy would be a good idea in light of the fact that less and less people have been exposed to an Old English version of scripture.

Also, those of us in the Western Rite ought to produce a Modern Language version while we have control over such a project and before it might be taken out of our hands.

I believe that at some point in the future, this issue will stare us squarely in the face. if the Saint Chrysostom Liturgy is being used in Modern English, pressure will someday be brought to bear on us to do the same with our Liturgies.

Grist for the mill, to be sure.

Columba Silouan