World without end

[2heartsaz1]

I’ve always wondered about where the last part of the Glory Be prayer came from, it’s meaning, and where this prayer originated? Recently there are different variations I’m seeing e.g. Magnificat: “…as it was int he beginning,is now, and will be for ever. Amen. Alleluia.” which is written as part of the prayer for the morning.

 

[Todd_Easton]

In Ephesians 3:21, the Greek expression which literally translates to something like “of the age of the ages” was translated as “world without end” in both the King James Version and the Douay-Rheims Bible. Although the 1970 New American Bible still uses the expression “world without end” here, many modern versions use the expression “for ever and ever” for this and other similar Greek expressions.

Perhaps this will help:
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, even as it shall be in that age of the ages, that world to come **which is without end.

 

[QuicumqueVult]

There are two forms of the Gloria, a lesser (Gloria Patri, used especially in Office, or Liturgy of the Hours) and a greater (Gloria in Excelsis, used especially at Mass). Each is a Doxology, a metrical text giving glory to God. The practice is frequent in the New Testament, and is derived from Jewish synagogue liturgy (without Trinitarian structure, of course), which formed the basis of much Christian liturgy.

But here is the CE article, a far better catechetical account:

newadvent.org/cathen/05150a.htm

Cheers,

 

[Benedictus]

World without end is a funny way of translating the Latin in saecula saeculorum (or some equivalent phrase in Greek). It would be best translated unto the ages of ages. Many Orthodox Churches use ages of ages in their English Liturgy.

World without end can also be used to translate similar Latin phrases, such as per omnia saecula saeculorum (through all the ages of ages).

Please keep that ICEL will be forever away from me. Whoever thought that up should be shot. It might translate the meaning somewhat accurately, but it lacks style and flavor.

 

[Dr.Colossus]

Benedictus:

Please keep that ICEL will be forever away from me. Whoever thought that up should be shot. It might translate the meaning somewhat accurately, but it lacks style and flavor.

I’ll take accuracy over flavor any day, though I do like the ages of ages translation far better.

 

[canu]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Benedictus
Please keep that ICEL will be forever away from me. Whoever thought that up should be shot. It might translate the meaning somewhat accurately, but it lacks style and flavor.
----
REPLY:
URGENT: Please send your donation to the International Commission on English in the Liturgy (ICEL@eLiturgy.org) to provide bullet-proof vests and bodyguards to archbishops Denis Hart and Albert LeGatt, and to bishops Arthur Roche, Dominic Jala, John McAreavey, Denis Browne, Andrew Francis, Romulo Valles, Joseph Toal, Hugh Slattery, and Arthur Serratelli.

 

[CDNowak]

World without end is a funny way of translating the Latin in saecula saeculorum (or some equivalent phrase in Greek). It would be best translated unto the ages of ages. Many Orthodox Churches use ages of ages in their English Liturgy.

World without end can also be used to translate similar Latin phrases, such as per omnia saecula saeculorum (through all the ages of ages).

Actually the Latin is et semper et in saecula saeuculorum. Saecula saeculorum probably shouldn’t be translated literally (it is a Latin idiom for “endless ages”, ie “forever”). My personal favorite is: "and will be forever (semper) through endless ages (saecula saeculorum). The current translation is especially poor given the dominating materialism of our culture.