Dominus Vobiscum
Encyclopedia
Dominus vobiscum, a Latin
phrase meaning "The Lord be with you", is an ancient salutation and blessing
traditionally used by the clergy in the Roman Catholic Mass, as well as in the liturgies
of other Western
Christian denominations.
, translate the response in the older form, "And with thy spirit". The ICEL
translation presently in use for Roman Catholic Masses in English has, "The Lord be with you / And with your spirit." Prior to Advent
2011, the Roman Catholic response was "And also with you", however in 2001, the Holy See issued the instruction Liturgiam Authenticam
concerning the use of vernacular languages in the Mass; the instruction requires that certain phrases, such as the response Et cum spiritu tuo, which "belong to the heritage of the whole or of a great part of the ancient Church, as well as others that have become part of the general human patrimony, are to be respected by a translation that is as literal as possible . . . ." Accordingly, the current translation of the Mass in English uses the response "And with your spirit" to reflect an accurate translation of the Latin.
This exchange is also said many times in the Lutheran
Divine Service. Lutherans have experienced confusion in the translation of the response along with Roman Catholics. The previous translation was "And with thy spirit", however Lutherans changed to "And also with you" in 1982, then changed to "And with your spirit" in 2006, changing from "thy" to "your".
In some Jewish rites, a person called up to the Torah says Adonai immachem; the sense is identical.
, the Latin translation of the Bible. In Ruth
, the phrase appears in the sentence, "Et ecce ipse veniebat de Bethlehem dixitque messoribus: 'Dominus vobiscum'. Qui responderunt ei: 'Benedicat tibi Dominus'." ("Boaz himself came from Bethlehem and said to the harvesters, 'The LORD be with you!' and they replied, 'The LORD bless you!'") II Chronicles
recounts that Azariah
, filled with the spirit of God
, said, "Audite me, Asa et omnis Iuda et Beniamin! Dominus vobiscum, quia fuistis cum eo. Si quaesieritis eum, invenietur a vobis; si autem dereliqueritis eum, derelinquet vos." ("Hear me, Asa and all Judah and Benjamin! The LORD is with you when you are with him, and if you seek him he will be present to you; but if you abandon him, he will abandon you.")
The phrase additionally appears in : "Nolite ascendere: non enim est Dominus vobiscum: ne corruatis coram inimicis vestris." (Hebrew Ayn adonai b'qirb'chem) The expression in Hebrew means to be successful. It also occurs in where Saul tells David "Go and may the Lord be with you" (Lech va'adonai y'hiyeh im'cha).
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
phrase meaning "The Lord be with you", is an ancient salutation and blessing
Blessing (Roman Catholic Church)
Blessing in Roman Catholicism, in the narrow liturgical sense, is a rite consisting of a ceremony and prayers performed in the name and with the authority of the Church by a duly qualified minister by which persons or things are sanctified as dedicated to Divine service or by which certain marks of...
traditionally used by the clergy in the Roman Catholic Mass, as well as in the liturgies
Christian liturgy
A liturgy is a set form of ceremony or pattern of worship. Christian liturgy is a pattern for worship used by a Christian congregation or denomination on a regular basis....
of other Western
Western Christianity
Western Christianity is a term used to include the Latin Rite of the Catholic Church and groups historically derivative thereof, including the churches of the Anglican and Protestant traditions, which share common attributes that can be traced back to their medieval heritage...
Christian denominations.
Usage
The response is Et cum spiritu tuo, meaning "And with your spirit." Some English translations, such as the Anglican Book of Common PrayerBook of Common Prayer
The Book of Common Prayer is the short title of a number of related prayer books used in the Anglican Communion, as well as by the Continuing Anglican, "Anglican realignment" and other Anglican churches. The original book, published in 1549 , in the reign of Edward VI, was a product of the English...
, translate the response in the older form, "And with thy spirit". The ICEL
Icel
Icel or ICEL may refer to:*İçel, previous name of capital city of Mersin province in Turkey*ICEL, International Commission on English in the Liturgy*Icel of Mercia, great-grandfather of Creoda of Mercia...
translation presently in use for Roman Catholic Masses in English has, "The Lord be with you / And with your spirit." Prior to Advent
Advent
Advent is a season observed in many Western Christian churches, a time of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of the Nativity of Jesus at Christmas. It is the beginning of the Western liturgical year and commences on Advent Sunday, called Levavi...
2011, the Roman Catholic response was "And also with you", however in 2001, the Holy See issued the instruction Liturgiam Authenticam
Liturgiam Authenticam
Liturgiam Authenticam is an instruction of the Holy See, dated 28 March 2001, that included the requirement that, in translations of the liturgical texts from the official Latin originals, "the original text, insofar as possible, must be translated integrally and in the most exact manner, without...
concerning the use of vernacular languages in the Mass; the instruction requires that certain phrases, such as the response Et cum spiritu tuo, which "belong to the heritage of the whole or of a great part of the ancient Church, as well as others that have become part of the general human patrimony, are to be respected by a translation that is as literal as possible . . . ." Accordingly, the current translation of the Mass in English uses the response "And with your spirit" to reflect an accurate translation of the Latin.
This exchange is also said many times in the Lutheran
Lutheranism
Lutheranism is a major branch of Western Christianity that identifies with the theology of Martin Luther, a German reformer. Luther's efforts to reform the theology and practice of the church launched the Protestant Reformation...
Divine Service. Lutherans have experienced confusion in the translation of the response along with Roman Catholics. The previous translation was "And with thy spirit", however Lutherans changed to "And also with you" in 1982, then changed to "And with your spirit" in 2006, changing from "thy" to "your".
In some Jewish rites, a person called up to the Torah says Adonai immachem; the sense is identical.
Origins
The salutation is taken from the verses and in the VulgateVulgate
The Vulgate is a late 4th-century Latin translation of the Bible. It was largely the work of St. Jerome, who was commissioned by Pope Damasus I in 382 to make a revision of the old Latin translations...
, the Latin translation of the Bible. In Ruth
Book of Ruth
The Book of Ruth is one of the books of the Hebrew Bible, Tanakh, or Old Testament. In the Jewish canon the Book of Ruth is included in the third division, or the Writings . In the Christian canon the Book of Ruth is placed between Judges and 1 Samuel...
, the phrase appears in the sentence, "Et ecce ipse veniebat de Bethlehem dixitque messoribus: 'Dominus vobiscum'. Qui responderunt ei: 'Benedicat tibi Dominus'." ("Boaz himself came from Bethlehem and said to the harvesters, 'The LORD be with you!' and they replied, 'The LORD bless you!'") II Chronicles
Books of Chronicles
The Books of Chronicles are part of the Hebrew Bible. In the Masoretic Text, it appears as the first or last book of the Ketuvim . Chronicles largely parallels the Davidic narratives in the Books of Samuel and the Books of Kings...
recounts that Azariah
Azariah (prophet)
Azariah was a prophet described in 2 Chronicles 15. The Spirit of God is described as coming upon him , and he goes to meet King Asa of Judah to exhort him to carry out a work of reform. Azariah is described as being the "son of Oded" , but the Masoretic Text omits Azariah's name in verse 8,...
, filled with the spirit of God
Holy Spirit
Holy Spirit is a term introduced in English translations of the Hebrew Bible, but understood differently in the main Abrahamic religions.While the general concept of a "Spirit" that permeates the cosmos has been used in various religions Holy Spirit is a term introduced in English translations of...
, said, "Audite me, Asa et omnis Iuda et Beniamin! Dominus vobiscum, quia fuistis cum eo. Si quaesieritis eum, invenietur a vobis; si autem dereliqueritis eum, derelinquet vos." ("Hear me, Asa and all Judah and Benjamin! The LORD is with you when you are with him, and if you seek him he will be present to you; but if you abandon him, he will abandon you.")
The phrase additionally appears in : "Nolite ascendere: non enim est Dominus vobiscum: ne corruatis coram inimicis vestris." (Hebrew Ayn adonai b'qirb'chem) The expression in Hebrew means to be successful. It also occurs in where Saul tells David "Go and may the Lord be with you" (Lech va'adonai y'hiyeh im'cha).