Orationes

ORDO CLASSICUS

Deus, qui conspicis omni nos virtute destitui: interius exteriusque custodi; ut ab omnibus adversitatibus muniamur in corpore, et a pravis cogitationibus mundemur in mente.

"O God, who see that we are destitute of all strength, guard us within and without; that we may be protected in body from all adversities, and purified in mind from evil thoughts."

Remarks:
*Balance: exterius - adversitates - muniamur - in corpore; interius - pravae cogitationes - mundemur - in mente.
*The plea for both outer and inner help comes after the confession that we lack ALL strength - both external and internal.

ORDO RECENTIOR

Deus qui nobis dilectum Filium tuum audire praecepisti, verbo tuo interius nos pascere digneris, ut spiritali purificato intuitu, gloriae tuae laetemur aspectu.

"O God, who commanded us to listen to your beloved Son, deign to feed us inwardly with your word, that, our spiritual vision being purified, we may rejoice in the sight of your glory."

Remarks:
*The prayer refers to the gospel of the Sunday, the Transfiguration.
*We ask that we may hear the words of Christ in such a way that they become the food of our souls; in this way our spiritual vision is to be purified, so that we may rejoice (one day, in heaven) in the beatific vision.

COMPARATIO

The chief difference between these two prayers is that whereas the classic oration gives equal importance to both the body and the soul, the newer oration is purely 'spiritual'.