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Glossary entry

Italian term or phrase:

il monaco di sempre

English translation:

traditional monk

Added to glossary by Peter Waymel
Jan 19, 2018 18:13
6 yrs ago
Italian term

il monaco di sempre

Italian to English Other Religion
I'm translating a book about monasticism, in which the author wishes that monks would return to the way they were in former days (or centuries). He makes this statement:

"Il monaco di sempre annuncia la fede che professa, sia ai non cattolici (chiamati eretici nella terminologia classica) sia ai non cristiani (chiamati pagani, senza che questi termini siano offesa per alcuno)."

It seems he's speaking about those monks today who have maintained the monastic spirit intact. I just don't know how to translate this. The monk of always"? The monk like those in the days of old? The true monk?

Thanks for your help,

Peter
Proposed translations (English)
4 +3 traditional monk
4 +1 the classic monk
4 the steadfast monk
3 self-respecting monk / a monk as per the canons
2 the monks faithful to the original monastic values

Discussion

JohnMcDove Jan 21, 2018:
@ Scott - All kidding aside, "the old-school monk" seems to me a very apt option as well. :-)
Scott Hendry Jackson Jan 20, 2018:
tongue in cheek: this could also be "the old-school monk"
Marco Solinas Jan 19, 2018:
Sempiternal? Sempiternal, everlasting? They both sound pompous. The meaning is clear (monks faithful to what the author considers the spirit of monasticism), but it is hard to com up with a concise expression.
Deke Languages Jan 19, 2018:
Instinctively, I would say that the phrase should be "da sempre": "has always", which makes immediate sense in this context; "The monk has always..."
I'm only familiar with the use of "di sempre" comparatively, at the end of a clause.

Proposed translations

+3
4 hrs
Selected

traditional monk

I agree with Marco's answer, but this is more concise.
Peer comment(s):
agree Scott Hendry Jackson : looking at the context more carefully, I think this would work well
38 mins
agree JohnMcDove
5 hrs
agree Lisa Jane
10 hrs
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
2 hrs

the monks faithful to the original monastic values

I cannot think of a more concise way of expressing it.
Something went wrong...
3 hrs

the steadfast monk

I think this is a more concise way of saying it.

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/steadfast

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 3 hrs (2018-01-19 21:34:40 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

"steadfast" is commonly used in the context of adherence to religious beliefs over time, so I think it should work here.
Reference:

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/steadfast

Peer comment(s):
neutral philgoddard : I don't think this works, because you could also be a steadfast adherent of non-traditional values.
52 mins
"di sempre" doesn't indicate whether the values are traditional or non-traditional, either.... the only think it denotes is "longstanding", like "steadfast"
Something went wrong...
9 hrs

self-respecting monk / a monk as per the canons

I agree with Phil's answer "traditional monk", which is probably the most concise and embracing.

I am just adding a couple of options that might work in the context too.

At any rate, I understand "il monaco di sempre" as that monk that "we know from way back when", it has been like this and it will be like this "in saecula seculorum"...

That is "a monk comme il faut", a "monk according to the canons" "a standard monk worth its salt" type of idea...

Something went wrong...
+1
21 hrs

the classic monk

This would give the sense of both centuries ago, but still existing now.
Peer comment(s):
agree JohnMcDove : Good option, too. :-)
15 hrs
Something went wrong...
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