Expert: Sal - 3/15/2004

Question
Hi Sal,

I've read that the line 'and the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours' was added to the Lord's Prayer in the King James Version of the Bible.  Is this true?  Were these words actually spoken by Jesus or are they additions?  Why do Protestants always include them in the Lord's Prayer?  Can you tell me the origin of the rosary?  Was is started by St. Dominic, or was it revealed to us by the Blessed Virgin Mary? Regarding modesty in church, does the Bible not say that women should cover their heads?  Did they do so prior to Vatican II?  Why is it that most churches no longer seem to consider this important?  Finally, have you seen the Passion of the Christ (it hasn't come to Finland), and if so, what is your opinion of it?

Thank you.  

Answer
Hi Les:

Nice to hear from you , my friend.

The Lord's Prayer or the Our father occurs twice in the Bible (Matthew 6:9-13; Luke 11:2-4). In the KJV of the Matthew account is the added line, “For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen” (vs. 13b). These are beautiful words that we Catholics have used in our Mass for centuries. However, these are not the words of our Lord as he taught the Our Father. These words are actually taken from the Catholic Mass. In the early Church's liturgy we find the doxology, “For yours are the power and the glory forever.” This is preserved in the document the Didache written between 70-140 AD. The words “the kingdom” were added to the beginning of the doxology and are preserved in the document the Apostolic Constitutions written between 250-380 AD (see Catechism of the Catholic Church 2760).

This is apparently what happened. A copyist did a very common thing. When copying Matthew's gospel he put a note in the margin at 6:13. He probably noted that in the Mass we follow the quote from vs. 13 with the doxology, “For the kingdom…” A later copyist mistakenly transcribed the margin note into the text after vs. 13. The KJV translators used a copy of the New Testament that contained these added words. Most Protestant scholars admit that these words are not those of our Lord. I find it ironic that the most rabid anti-Catholics have learned the Our Father with the Catholic doxology added!

The rosary developed out of the monks devotion of saying, or singing, the 150 Psalms. Lay people wanted to take part in this devotion, but did not have the time to commit to memory all 150 Psalms. Instead the our Fathers and Hail Marys were used and beads were introduced in order to keep tract of the 150 prayers. St. Dominic had a vision of the Blessed Virgin Mary in which she told him to pray the rosary to defeat the Albigensian heresy that was very strong in Toulouse, France. St. Dominic did so and the rosary was popularized.  The rosary has undergone many changes over the years.

St. Paul says, Similarly, any woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered brings shame upon her head. It is as if she had had her head shaved” (I Corinthians 11:5). His point here is that external comportment at public worship is important because it reflects a person's inner disposition. The head covering in St. Paul's day was a sign of the dependence of a wife on her husband. To not wear a head covering showed a lack of humility which is an important Christian virtue. For example, our Lord said, "Take my yoke upon your shoulders and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble of heart" (Matthew 11:29; see also 18:4; 23:12).

Yes, prior to Vatican II women in the Catholic Church were required to wear head coverings at Mass. This was a custom which could be, and was, changed. A head covering is no longer a sign of dependence on one's husband nor a sign of humility.

I have not yet seen "The Passion", but I hope to. From what my family and friends who have seen it have said I believe that it is a worth while film to see.

Thanks for the questions!

God Bless You,
Sal