The bo'oto of this office is the particular item I would like to highlight.
To access the office, click here.
On a literary level, this bo'oto is a classic example of Syriac anthropomorphizing an inanimate or abstract 'it.' In this case, it is a contrite and sincere prayer mentioned in three of the four proper verses. The concluding verse is particularly interesting to me because it likens God's goodness to the dove that brought the olive branch, the sign of hope, to Noah after the deluge. Many references are made to sin as a great whirlpool that sucks us up and drowns us - coupled with this image, God's goodness and mercy is the dove that brings hope that the storm is gone.
Come, let us take refuge in a prayer that has spiritual wings which flies and ascends to heaven with our petition and supplication with feathers of lofty spirit and doors are open before it. It enters and worships before the throne of the Judge who sits upon it.It cries out in passion and intercedes before the Judge of Justice and piteously offering a sorrowful petition while saying, “Accept me, Lord, accept me, for sinners sent me in passion. With broken heart and tears they formed me and sent me to Your majesty.”May it not, Lord, turn back from Your door but obtain remission for Your servants who stand in Your Church and ask for mercy on their lives. May Gabriel the archangel stand with it in intercession, open it the door and enter before the Judge of Justice.Like the dove who returned to Noah and was carrying an olive leaf, likewise, may Your goodness return to the sinners who call to You, and may they receive from You forgiveness and remission of their faults. May they enter, inheriting the kingdom with the righteous and the just.
Our Lord, accept our service, our prayers, come to our aid and have mercy on us!
Thank you so much for all the work that you are doing in making available the riches of our Maronite tradition to those of us who are not as learned in Syriac. It is a precious work that you are doing, and may God bless you for it.
ReplyDeleteI was wondering, as we are in the season of Lent, whether or not you might be interested in translating some of the offices from the Hashe, or book of the passion of our Lord. I am certain that the current english translation is barely scratching the surface of our Maronite tradition surrounding the feasts regarding the Paschal Mystery of our Lord.
If you are not able to do so at this time, we certainly understand, but if you could, we would all be thrilled over here.
God bless you again, and please know that you are in our prayers, especially during this difficult time of persecution that all the Christians are experiencing in the Middle East. May God give you strength and courage, and protect you from all harm.
Again, it is my pleasure to contribute what I can.
DeleteIn regards to translating from the Hasho, I was considering at least doing a Good Friday office or two. There's a propensity to criticize the Prayer of the Faithful translation (and rightfully so, it's terrible and it doesn't actually follow the proper ordo) but at least it has provided some English idea of the offices, despite its many faults. That being said, I have requested a digital copy of the tedmrotho (the Lenten office book) from USEK, to which I have not received a response.
I hope by next year, God willing, I will have more time to have completed the entire ordinary and Hasho. Thank you for your prayers in these times.