Orationes

ORDO CLASSICUS

Deus, qui Ecclesiam tuam annua quadragesimali observatione purificas: praesta familiae tuae; ut, quod a te obtinere abstinendo nititur, hoc bonis operibus exsequatur.

"God, who purify your Church by the yearly observance of Lent: grant to your household; that what it strives to obtain from you by abstaining, it may attain by good works."

Remarks:
*The favour which this prayer asks for is not defined: only the means by which the favour is to be obtained: abstinence and good works.
*Abstinence is presumed; we ask for help in adding to our abstinence works of charity. The third element of Lenten observance, prayer, is already present!
*Exsequor: the verb means to pursue with success; hence to attain.


ORDO RECENTIOR

Concede nobis, omnipotens Deus, ut per annua quadragesimalis exercitia sacramenti, et ad intellegendum Christi proficiamus arcanum, et effectus eius digna conversatione sectemur.

"Grant us, almighty God, that through the annual exercises of the Lenten sacrament, we may both make progress in understanding the mystery of Christ, and pursue its effects with a worthy way of life."

Remarks:
*Two interesting phrases: the quadragesimale sacramentum, and the Christi arcanum; both may be translated 'mystery'.
*'Pursuing the effects of the mystery of Christ' is a strange concept. Does one pursue effects?


COMPARATIO

The newer prayer seems to be a drastic reworking of the older. The newer prayer makes no reference to purification, nor to abstinence: there is a more general reference to 'exercises'. The favour asked by the older prayer is not specified; the newer prayer asks for two things, understanding of the mystery of Christ, and pursuit of its effects. As a means to obtaining the favour requested, the older prayer speaks of 'good works', the newer one of 'a worthy way of life'.