Meek and mild?
In Church today, the Gospel reading was Mark’s account of Jesus saying that the Kingdom of God belongs to children. One point the preacher made was that this meant those outside the Covenant – for children had not taken their place within the Covenant community. However, he also looked at some Christian views of children, especially the “gentle Jesus, meek and mild” idea. He suggested that one reason for this phrase becoming so commonplace was the unfortunate fact that, in English, “mild” and “child” rhyme. He quoted an old Charles Wesley hymn:
Gentle Jesus, meek and mild,
Look upon your little child.
Render this in French, though, and it just doesn’t work (and apologies for my terrible French – errors doubtless my own rather than the preacher’s!):
Gentil Jesu, bon et doux
Regardez lez enfants…fou
Doesn’t have quite the same ring, does it 
pax et bonum
Follow comments using Co.mments.com
Add to your del.icio.us bookmarks
