By Fr Soroj Mullick, SDB –
The basic question is whether God ‘leads’ humans into temptation or human themselves surrender to the evil existing in the world. The words learned by millions of English and Italian-speaking believers are due to be changed after a 16-year-long research carried out by experts from a theological, pastoral and linguistic viewpoint.
Also read: Making it Home to Our Father, Through Prayer
The Italian bishops have already decided to change “lead us not into temptation” to “abandon us not when in temptation.” The ‘new’ Our Father in effect from 2019 is being prayed daily at Mass in Italy. Besides, there is a change in a verse within Gloria. The new translations, ‘allegedly’ more adherent to the original text, are the main innovations that emerged from the last assembly of the Italian Bishops’ Conference (CEI).
Many other languages have this. It is theologically accurate. Today, attempt is being made to ensure that the translation is not left open to misinterpretation. A wrong translation might come as a ‘blasphemy’, or heresy (Cf. Alberto Friso, Il nuovo Padre Nostro, in “Castelmonte”, 2nd February 2019, pp.16-19 ).
What ‘new’ Our Father are we talking about? Certainly, it is not a theological revolution, but a revised version of the Roman Missal, the liturgical text for the Eucharistic celebrations of the Catholic community (Lectionary). The experts have been working on it since 2002 to contribute to the renewal of the Church community through a liturgical reform.
In contrary, in January 2018, the ‘conservative’ German bishops’ conference, chose to keep the Our Father as it is. They noted “philosophical, exegetical, liturgical and, not least, ecumenical” reasons for not following the modern trend but leave it untouched, because the petition speaks of “the trust to be carried and redeemed by almighty God.”
“Do not lead us into temptation” becomes: “do not ‘abandon us’ to temptation” or “Do not let us fall into temptation”, removing the possible misunderstanding about the agent of temptation itself. Pope Francis says, “It is not a good translation because it speaks of a God who induces temptation […] I am the one who falls. It’s not him pushing me into temptation to then see how I have fallen […] A father doesn’t do that; a father helps you to get up immediately. It’s Satan who leads us into temptation, that’s his department.” (Pope Francis told Italy’s TV2000 channel in 2017, for The Guardian).
He illuminates the Lord’s Prayer, the most important and oft repeated prayer in all of Christianity, as a guide to living a life of meaning, purpose and strength. He offers unprecedented insight into Jesus’s most profound words, as he explores the importance of embracing social justice, benevolence, and forgiveness in our hearts and minds.
This clarification, though, is not the latest finding of Pope Francis. The new version is not, in fact, a novelty in absolute terms. It is already heard in some community celebrations (not yet in the Mass), as well as it is known that there are faithful who have adopted it definitively in their own personal prayer and family.
This is because the last official translation of the CEI dates back to 2008 and it is already proposed in the translation: “and do not allow us to give in to temptation” (Mk, 6:9-13), emphasizing a clear truth that is easily traced in the Bible (1 James 1:13-15): “When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.”
For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed by the evil around. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.” The previous verse 12 states, “Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.”
God never puts us into temptation. The petition does not imply “don’t bring us to the place of temptation” or “don’t allow us to be tempted.” It can only mean as “don’t let us succumb to temptation” or “don’t abandon us to temptation.”
Sometimes we succumb to temptations but never because we have no alternative, for God will never put us into test beyond our ability (1 Cor 10:13). God does not ‘bring’ us to the test. Neither He ‘leads’ us to the test. It is wrong, therefore, to pray, “don’t ‘get us’ (lead/induce) into temptation”. Rather, we can pray, “Keep us from (falling into) temptation.”
Similarly when we tell God, “deliver us from evil”, it means we have already fallen into evil, and now we plead with God to ‘lift us up’ (save/deliver) us from evil. The last clause “deliver us from evil” may mean either “rescue from” or “protect against” “the evil one” (as noun, referring to the Devil). Some scholars opine that the word is a neuter, (neither Hebrew nor Aramaic uses “the evil one” to denote Satan). Whatever it be, evil exists in the world.
Fr. Soroj Mullick, SDB is a Salesian priest from the Kolkata Province. He has a Licentiate in Catechetics and a Doctorate (Christian Education) from UPS, Italy. He has number of years of teaching experience in college and in the formation of future priests. Besides, he has written number of research papers and articles, and has 25 years of Ministry in India and abroad as Educator, Formator, Retreat Preacher, Editor and engaged in School, Parish Catechetical & Youth Ministry. He is now an assistant priest in Bandel Basilica, rendering pastoral and catechetical ministry to the parishioners and to the pilgrims. He can be contacted at [email protected].