Meriting salvation

Our bishops had approved a translation which the Vatican rejected. The proposed one for last Sunday and the approved one are below. Also an excerpt from Eucharist Prayer II, proposed and approved. Why the Vatican insisted on using “merit” in their translations escapes me. It is at best misleading.


Almighty and eternal God,
whom we dare to call Father,
impart to us more fully the spirit of adoption,
that we may one day gain the inheritance you have promised.


Almighty and everliving God,
whom, taught by the Holy Sprit,
we dare to call our Father,
bring, we pray, to perfection in our hearts
the spirit of adoption as your sons and daughters,
that we may merit to enter into the inheritance
which you have promised.


Echaristic Prayer II


Have mercy on us all:
make us worthy to share eternal life,
with Mary, the virgin Mother of God,
with the apostles and with all the saints,
who have found favour with you throughout the ages;
in union with them
may we praise you and give you glory



Have mercy on us all, we pray,
that with the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of god,
with the blessed Apostles,
and all the Saints who have pleased you throughout the ages,
we may merit to be coheirs to eternal life,
and may praise and glorify you