Vesting Prayers - washing hands (Latin question)

[japhy]

In the vesting prayers, the priest prays these words as he washes his hands: “Da, Dómine, virtútem mánibus meis ad abstergéndum omnem máculam …”

In the common translation of this that I’ve seen, this prayer is rendered in English as “Give strength to my hands, Lord, to wash away all stain …” It occurs to me that the verb form of ad abstergéndum (a passive participle) lends itself rather to the rendering “to be cleansed” rather than “to cleanse/wash away”.

I think, then, that the priest is not asking God for his hands to be given power to wash away the stain of sin from other things, but is rather asking God to bestow that power of His which washes away the stain of sin from his (the priest’s) hands. Does that seem correct?

 

[Langdell]

In the vesting prayers, the priest prays these words as he washes his hands: “Da, Dómine, virtútem mánibus meis ad abstergéndum omnem máculam …”

In the common translation of this that I’ve seen, this prayer is rendered in English as “Give strength to my hands, Lord, to wash away all stain …” It occurs to me that the verb form of ad abstergéndum (a passive participle) lends itself rather to the rendering “to be cleansed” rather than “to cleanse/wash away”.

I think, then, that the priest is not asking God for his hands to be given power to wash away the stain of sin from other things, but is rather asking God to bestow that power of His which washes away the stain of sin from his (the priest’s) hands. Does that seem correct?

Good question. I don’t have my Latin grammar handy, but I think “abstergendum” here is a gerund rather than a participle. In other words, “Grant strength to my hands for washing away every sin.”

Here’s an online explanation that may help: class.uidaho.edu/luschnig/Latin%20Grammar/10.htm
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[tee_eff_em]

Good question. I don’t have my Latin grammar handy, but I think “abstergendum” here is a gerund rather than a participle. In other words, “Grant strength to my hands for washing away every sin.”

Here’s an online explanation that may help: class.uidaho.edu/luschnig/Latin%20Grammar/10.htm
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Actually, it is the *gerundive *(cf the same page). As John F Collins (Primer of Ecclesiastical Latin) notes: *The gerundive is a *passive construction where English perfers the active.

*Ad *+ the gerundive is typically translated as “to active voice verb” – “to cleanse/wash away” is correct.

tee

 

[japhy]

*Ad *+ the gerundive is typically translated as “to active voice verb” – “to cleanse/wash away” is correct.

So is the priest asking for God to cleanse his hands, or is he asking God for the power to cleanse others (by his hands)?

It seems to me to be the first, since the rest of the prayer asks that he be able to serve God without impurity in mind or body, which speaks of being cleansed rather than cleansing.

 

[Langdell]

Actually, it is the *gerundive *(cf the same page). As John F Collins (Primer of Ecclesiastical Latin) notes: *The gerundive is a *passive construction where English perfers the active.

*Ad *+ the gerundive is typically translated as “to active voice verb” – “to cleanse/wash away” is correct.

Are your sure? My understanding is that the gerundive is for expressing something that must be done, e.g., “cathago delenda est” “carthage must be destroyed.”


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[Breviarylover]

Give virtue, O Lord, unto my hands, that every stain may be wiped away

It sure sounds like he’s asking God to *cleanse **his *hands.

 

[Langdell]

So is the priest asking for God to cleanse his hands, or is he asking God for the power to cleanse others (by his hands)?

It seems to me to be the first, since the rest of the prayer asks that he be able to serve God without impurity in mind or body, which speaks of being cleansed rather than cleansing.

I think he’s asking to be given the power to wash away sins. Here’s my shot at a literal translation:

Da, Dómine, virtútem mánibus meis ad abstergéndum omnem máculam

Grant, Lord, power to hands mine to wash away every sin
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[Langdell]

I think he’s asking to be given the power to wash away sins. Here’s my shot at a literal translation:

Da, Dómine, virtútem mánibus meis ad abstergéndum omnem máculam

Grant, Lord, power to hands mine to wash away every sin
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CORRECTION: Sorry, folks. I just looked at the whole sentence, and I think my translation is wrong. I agree with the “cleanse my hands” view.

Here’s another shot at a literal translation:

Da, Domine, virtutem manibus meis ad abstergendam omnem maculam immundam; ut sine pollutione mentis et corporis valeam tibi servire.

“Grant, Lord, moral excellence to hands mine for the purpose of washing away every sin dirty, so that without pollution of mind and of body I may be able you to serve.”

The phrase “ad abstergendam omnem maculam immundam” goes with “virtutem” as an explanation or specification of the purpose of the virtus being requested. It’s virtus with the goal of washing away every sin from the priest’s hands.

Mea culpa!
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[Filioque]

As the prayer is in preparation for offering the Mass, prior to vesting, one could imply both. One as an act of preparation for offering the Mass, the second the application of the Sacrifice of Calvary, in an unbloody manner for the living and the dead.

While taking a narrow interpretation, I would lean to the cleansing of the hands, (spiritually) of the priest that he may be worthy to offer the Mass.

 

[tee_eff_em]

Are your sure? My understanding is that the gerundive is for expressing something that must be done, e.g., “cathago delenda est” “carthage must be destroyed.”


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That is the passive periphrastic, which is also formed from the future passive participle, when it governs the subject (nominative): *Carthago delenda est *- Carthage must be destroyed.

But, when it governs any other case, it may be the gerundive, which does not really have an English equivalent. Typically, the passive voice becomes active and the verb is expressed as the English infinitive or gerund (or perhaps other forms. The case at hand, Da, Domine, virtutem manibus meis ad abstergendum omnem maculam, may be translated literally (with the passive bit): Grant, Lord, strength to my hands for the purpose that every stain having-to-be-washed-away – English re-works this clumsy construction as …to wash away every stain.

Which still leaves ambiguous whether the prayer is requesting for his own hands to be cleansed or for them to be empowered to cleanse others of sin. Since the priest is in fact washing his hands as he prays, and because a priest has no power of his own to wash away anyone else’s sin, I lean toward the former.

tee

 

[Langdell]

That is the passive periphrastic, which is also formed from the future passive participle, when it governs the subject (nominative): *Carthago delenda est *- Carthage must be destroyed.

But, when it governs any other case, it may be the gerundive, which does not really have an English equivalent. Typically, the passive voice becomes active and the verb is expressed as the English infinitive or gerund (or perhaps other forms. The case at hand, Da, Domine, virtutem manibus meis ad abstergendum omnem maculam, may be translated literally (with the passive bit): Grant, Lord, strength to my hands for the purpose that every stain having-to-be-washed-away – English re-works this clumsy construction as …to wash away every stain.

Thanks – I stand corrected!
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