At conclusion of readings

[Another_Mary]

At the conclusion of the readings, is there a difference between saying “This is the Word of the Lord” and “The Word of the Lord”?

Our Lectionary says “This is the Word of the Lord” but the misslette says “The Word of the Lord”. (Our reader uses the longer version because she reads from the Lectionary.)

Is one more correct than the other?

 

[Phemie]

Our Lectionary (Canada) has “The word of the Lord”. The explanation I was given for the removal of “this is” is that “This” implies that what we’ve just read is the sum total of the Word.

 

[PhilotheaZ]

“This is” was removed years ago. You probably have an old Lectionary.

 

[agapewolf]

Saying “this is” is implying that the book is the word.

saying “the word of the lord” is saying that it is the word proclaimed.

It also parallels it to “the body of Christ”…

 

[Chatter163]

The words This is were removed in 1994, as the Latin original simply says* Verbum Domini*.

 

[Another_Mary]

Thanks everyone for your answers!

I think I will mention this to our deacon.

 

[benedictgal]

Your parish probably needs to purchase a new lectionary. As others have stated, the new phrase is “The Word of the Lord.” Furthermore, once the new Lectionary supplants the old one, you need ot use the more recent translation since you will find that the wording is slightly different. This would also apply, I believe, to the Book of the Gospels, since the deacon/celebrant no longer says, “This is the Gospel of the Lord”. Instead, he should say, “The Gospel of the Lord.”