Omitting words/changing verses in The Lord's Prayer

[whatevergirl]

Not sure what to make of this. My husband and I (and our kids) really like our new parish…BUT…last night my husband said that the only thing he dislikes (he can deal with not having kneelers, I’m still getting used to that ) is that this parish’s choir takes certain words out of The Lord’s prayer…here’s how it is sung:

Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name…thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, forgive us, as we forgive others…(the rest of the prayer is as Jesus stated)

So…is this ‘wrong’ to do? Obviously, the local Bishop must be accepting of it. It is odd to me, because this parish seems so strikingly ‘strict’ in so many other respects…but then changes what Jesus originally said?

My husband dislikes that they have done that, and would like me to look into it…but before I do…what do you think about it?

 

[Joe_Kelley]

I think there was persimmsion at one time to reword texts to meet musical needs - phrasing etc. when granted it envisaged only minor adjustments, but like all liturgical loopholes it has been grossly abused. If this permission has not been withdrawn, it is in the process of being phased out.

 

[TantumErgo90]

I think you should bring it to the attention of you Parish Priest. You could offer to find another arrangement for the Our Father. Of course you could also suggest to chant it in Latin.

 

[mdgspencer]

This seems out of line to me. When Christ’s disciples asked him how to pray, he provided the Our Father. I find the words this hymn leaves out its most challenging and demanding words for myself as a Christian, since like many others I find it hard to forgive. So I like to be reminded by these words to forgive. But I don’t know if permission was given by the Church to change the words in such a case a bit for the sake of the music, so I can’t say myself how serious this omission this might be.