Saturday, April 05, 2008

Misericordia(s) Domini

"Misericordia Domini plena est terra."

In Lutheran circles, this is a typo that may live forever.

In the Western Rite all of the Masses celebrated during the year are named according to the opening words of their Latin Introits. Thus, Masses are referred to by their name, not by the day on which they are celebrated. This is especially true when references are made to the various Masses for Feast Days (the Common Masses).

Lutherans assign names to the Sundays in Advent, in Lent and from Easter to the Ascension; but these are only an exception. To review the names of every Sunday of the year, look at the Calendar posted on LexOrandi.org.

It is my opinion that this typo is a carry-over from the Kirchen-Agende printed by CPH in 1922. The Evangelical Lutheran Hymn Book (CPH, 1924) retained this typo as does The Lutheran Hymnal (CPH, 1941). The Service Book and Hymnal (as recently as 1979 printing) does not contain this typo. Since I do not have a copy of the LSB, I do not know if the LSB perpetuates this typo; but I know that LSB users do perpetuate it.

Now, while I am on a roll, I will jump ahead to the Third Sunday after Easter - Rogate. Following the naming convention mentioned above, only the CPH 1922 Kirchen-Agende bows to tradition. i.e "Am fünften Sontag nach Ostern, genannt Rogate, oder Vocem Jucunditatis. "With a voice of singing...", as the introit says.

This may be nit picking; but what else is a traditionalist supposed to do?