.. If I was 40 years older, not considering a vocation to the religious life, and not poor. See what I mean. I Langlais is pretty awesome as far as modern composers go, considering his mass setting is even pretty nice. But his organ works are real difficult.
*ETA* I get brownie points for knowing by sound alone that this organ had Skinner blood in it, right? Joe, who's so awesome that he can point out skinner ranks in an organ that's been ruined by Moeller and Rufatti.
On the last day of Our Lady's month, the feast of her visitation, and the slemnity of Pentecost, I think it's completely appropriate to see what the Holy Spirit accomplished in Mary, our mother.
From the Catechism.
721 Mary, the all-holy ever-virgin Mother of God, is the masterwork of the mission of the Son and the Spirit in the fullness of time. For the first time in the plan of salvation and because his Spirit had prepared her, the Father found the dwelling place where his Son and his Spirit could dwell among men. In this sense the Church's Tradition has often read the most beautiful texts on wisdom in relation to Mary. Mary is acclaimed and represented in the liturgy as the "Seat of Wisdom."
In her, the "wonders of God" that the Spirit was to fulfill in Christ and the Church began to be manifested:
722 The Holy Spirit prepared Mary by his grace. It was fitting that the mother of him in whom "the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily" should herself be "full of grace." She was, by sheer grace, conceived without sin as the most humble of creatures, the most capable of welcoming the inexpressible gift of the Almighty. It was quite correct for the angel Gabriel to greet her as the "Daughter of Zion": "Rejoice." It is the thanksgiving of the whole People of God, and thus of the Church, which Mary in her canticle lifts up to the Father in the Holy Spirit while carrying within her the eternal Son.
723 In Mary, the Holy Spirit fulfills the plan of the Father's loving goodness. Through the Holy Spirit, the Virgin conceives and gives birth to the Son of God. By the Holy Spirit's power and her faith, her virginity became uniquely fruitful.
724 In Mary, the Holy Spirit manifests the Son of the Father, now become the Son of the Virgin. She is the burning bush of the definitive theophany. Filled with the Holy Spirit she makes the Word visible in the humility of his flesh. It is to the poor and the first representatives of the gentiles that she makes him known.
725 Finally, through Mary, the Holy Spirit begins to bring men, the objects of God's merciful love, into communion with Christ. And the humble are always the first to accept him: shepherds, magi, Simeon and Anna, the bride and groom at Cana, and the first disciples.
726 At the end of this mission of the Spirit, Mary became the Woman, the new Eve ("mother of the living"), the mother of the "whole Christ." As such, she was present with the Twelve, who "with one accord devoted themselves to prayer," at the dawn of the "end time" which the Spirit was to inaugurate on the morning of Pentecost with the manifestation of the Church.
*Edited. I'm high on incense. Gotta watch the spelling errors.*
Well, I took my first and only final exam today, and graduation is this time next week. So I'll have a high-school degree, and I'll be officially eligible to make The Big Move.
Now, I'm not actually too afraid to make The Big Move. The only thing is mom and dad. Dad has finally come to terms with my flight to Rome, and mom being somewhat of an agnostic did'nt have feelings either way. Things being like this, I kind of expect mom to protest more than dad. For some unexplainable reason, I've been closer to mom than dad, even though he's been around more. Mom won;t admit it, but I know she knows it's true. I'm hoping anger won't be a factor in it. In fact, I doubt anger will be a factor. Mostly a little surprise, since I've never made the slightest mention of me doing anything other than music. I wonder what my brothers and sister will think? Most of them are out of the house already, and we already don't see each other much. Then there's Ginger. I wonder what'll happen to her? I know I can't take her with me, but I don't feel right leaving her here, because they all might get rid of her. She's been a good pet these past six or so years, even with all the greif she gives me with her multiple personalities and neediness. In fact, other than her, I don't think I really own anything that I'll miss. (If you can really own a cat, that is.)
But it's okay if things don;t go well. In fat, it's a little good if things don;t go well. Thomas a Kempis says that without suffering, there is no merit. So I'll see about whatever forms or exams have to be done before I can make The Big Move, and once I've got a schedule, I'l go about figuring how to break the news to the fam.
REEALY YOU SHOULD'VE BEEN THERE!
I've finally done it! My life's work is consummated! I've been working on an improviation on the easter introit, Resurrexi et adhuc tecum sum. It was mostly just in my mind, but I tried it today. It was so, umm, I don't think I should use the word that first came to my mind....uh..it was great.
WARNING: The following is full of obscure organist jargon. Read at your own risk.
I tell you how it went down: So I have for my registration:
Grande Orgue: 8' montre, 4' principal, 8' tromba, 8' spitzflote, mixture III, violoncello 16, flute harmonique 8' flute celeste 8', viol d'amour 8'. Positif is couple to grande orgue
Positif: 8' montre, 4' principal , 8' oboe, 8' bourdon, 2' piccolo, 16' waldhorn, 8' trompette, fourniture, flute 4' , viole celeste 8'
Antiphonale: Trompette en chamanade 8', Tuba mirabilis 8'
Pedal: soubasse 32' montre 8' montre 16', pousaune 16' flute 4'. Grande orgue and positif coupled to pedal.
I start out by simply playing the first seven notes of the introit on the antiphonale, then I play the first line (Resurrexi, et adhuc tecum sum, alleluia) on the grande orgue, underpined by pedal. I played the alleluia on the antiphonale, holding the last note for about five seconds with a short bit of pedaling, repeating the first seven notes and adding an arpeggio.
I play the whole introit through in this manner, alternating between dipasons and loud trumpets on different manuals as described. At the last chord, I hold it and do a short improv on the second subject of the introit (Posuisti super me manum tuam, alleluia) on the positif, using only flutes, but playing the alleluia on the grande orgue with the tromba.
Then back to my original registration for the last subject (mirabilis facta est scientia tua, alleluia, alleluia) This subject ends with a pedal solo. For the psalm verse ( Domine, tu probasti me et cognivisti me: tu cognovisti sessionem meam, et ressurectionem meam.) and gloria patri, I play simple V-VII chords on the positif (which has flutes and strings and is closed) while I add a second theme, based on the psalm tone. (played on the grande orgue with flutes and strings 8' and the ' principal, which together make a good-sounding solo registration.)
Then back to original resgistration (plus an added contre bombarde 32') to play the opening theme on the antiphonale's reeds, but this time in chords. Random playing, then some Dupre-esque chordal arpeggios* while the pedal plays the introit . To end, random improvisations and a short pedal solo on full organ to the end . It was all so cool that I tried to record it and upload it as my firt recorded song, only the camera did'nt work. I'll try again tomorrow.
*I say Dupre-eque because I stole them from Dupre's prelude and fugue in B major.
Verse: 1:3 A bundle of myrrh is my beloved to me, he shall abide between my breasts.
St. John the Apostle: And after these things, Joseph of Arimathea (because he was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews) besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus. And Pilate gave leave. He came therefore, and took the body of Jesus. (Jon 19: 38
Verse: 2:2 As the lily among thorns, so is my love among the daughters
Comment:
S. Theodotus of Ancyra: A virgin, innocent, spotless, free of all defect, untouched, unsullied, holy in soul and body, like a lily sprouting among thorns.
S. Hyppolytus: "He was the ark formed of incorruptible wood. For by this is signified that His tabernacle was exempt from putridity and corruption
S.Germanus of Constantinople:"Truly elect, and superior to all, not by the altitude of lofty structures, but as excelling all in the greatness and purity of sublime and divine virtues, and having no affinity with sin whatever."
Verse:2:10 Behold my beloved speaketh to me: Arise, make haste, my love, my dove, my beautiful one, and come. For winter is now past, the rain is over and gone. The flowers have appeared in our land, the time of pruning is come: the voice of the turtle is heard in our land: The fig tree hath put forth her green figs: the vines in flower yield their sweet smell. Arise, my love, my beautiful one, and come
Comment:
St.Modestus of Jerusalem: "As the most glorious Mother of Christ, our Savior and God and the giver of life and immortality, has been endowed with life by him, she has received an eternal incorruptibility of the body together with him who has raised her up from the tomb and has taken her up to himself in a way known only to him."
St.Gregory of Tours: "The Apostles took up her body on a bier and placed it in a tomb; and they guarded it, expecting the Lord to come. And behold, again the Lord stood by them; and the holy body having been received, He commanded that it be taken in a cloud into paradise: where now, rejoined to the soul, Mary rejoices with the Lord's chosen ones."
St. Theoteknos of Livia: "It was fitting that the most holy-body of Mary, God-bearing body, receptacle of God, divinised, incorruptible, illuminated by divine grace and full glory should be entrusted to the earth for a little while and raised up to heaven in glory, with her soul pleasing to God."
Verses: 3:1 In my bed by night I sought him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, and found him not. I will rise, and will go about the city: in the streets and the broad ways I will seek him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, and I found him not. The watchmen who keep the city, found me: Have you seen him, whom my soul loveth?
5:8 I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem, if you find my beloved, that you tell him that I languish with love
5:17 Whither is thy beloved gone, O thou most beautiful among women? whither is thy beloved turned aside, and we will seek him with thee?
Comment:
Gospel of St. John: "Now there was in the place where he was crucified, a garden; and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein no man yet had been laid. There, therefore, because of the parasceve of the Jews, they laid Jesus, because the sepulchre was nigh at hand."
Verse: 3:6 Who is she that goeth up by the desert, as a pillar of smoke of aromatical spices, of myrrh, and frankincense, and of all the powders of the perfumer? Behold threescore valiant ones of the most valiant of Israel, surrounded the bed of Solomon?
Comment:
St.Peter Canisius: " Those who deny that Mary's body has been assumed into heaven are not to be listened to patiently but are everywhere to be denounced as over-contentious or rash men, and as imbued with a spirit that is heretical rather than Catholic."
Pope Pius XII: "Often there are theologians and preachers who, following in the footsteps of the holy Fathers, have been rather free in their use of events and expressions taken from Sacred Scripture to explain their belief in the Assumption. Thus, to mention only a few of the texts rather frequently cited in this fashion, some have employed the words of David: "Arise, O Lord, into your resting place: you and the ark, which you have sanctified"; and have looked upon the Ark of the Covenant, built of incorruptible wood and placed in the Lord's temple, as a type of the most pure body of the Virgin Mary, preserved and exempt from all the corruption of the tomb and raised up to such glory in heaven. Treating of this subject, they also describe her as the Queen entering triumphantly into the royal halls of heaven and sitting at the right hand of the divine Redeemer.Likewise they mention the Spouse of the Canticles "that goes up by the desert, as a pillar of smoke of aromatical spices, of myrrh and frankincense" to be crowned. These are proposed as depicting that heavenly Queen and heavenly Spouse who has been lifted up to the courts of heaven with the divine Bridegroom."
S.Robert Bellarmine: "And who, I ask, could believe that the ark of holiness, the dwelling place of the Word of God, the temple of the Holy Spirit, could be reduced to ruin? My soul is filled with horror at the thought that this virginal flesh which had begotten God, had brought him into the world, had nourished and carried him, could have been turned into ashes or given over to be food for worms."
Verse: 4:7 Thou art all fair, O my love, and there is not a spot in thee.
Comment:
Saint Eprem te Syrian: "Thou alone and thy Mother are in all things fair, there is no flaw in thee and no stain in thy Mother."
St. Jacob of Serug: "The very fact that God has elected her proves that none was ever holier than Mary, if any stain had disfigured her soul, if any other virgin had been purer and holier, God would have selected her and rejected Mary."
St.Augustine: "We must except the Holy Virgin Mary, concerning whom I wish to raise no question when it touches the subject of sins, out of honour to the Lord; for from Him we know what abundance of grace for overcoming sin in every particular was conferred upon her who had the merit to conceive and bear Him who undoubtedly had no sin."
Verse: 4:10 How beautiful are thy breasts, my sister, my spouse! thy breasts are more beautiful than wine, and the sweet smell of thy ointments above all aromatical spices.
Comment:
Gospel of St.Luke: "And it came to pass, as he spoke these things, a certain woman from the crowd, lifting up her voice, said to him: Blessed is the womb that bore thee, and the paps that gave thee suck."
Verse: 4:12 My sister, my spouse, is a garden enclosed, a garden enclosed, a fountain sealed up.
Comment:
St.Basil: "The friends of Christ do not tolerate hearing that the Mother of God ever ceased to be a virgin."
St.Jon of Damascus: "The ever-virgin One thus remains even after the birth still virgin, having never at any time up till death consorted with a man. For although it is written, And knew her not till she had brought forth her first-born Son, yet note that he who is first-begotten is first-born even if he is only-begotten. For the word first-born' means that he was born first but does not at all suggest the birth of others. And the word till' signifies the limit of the appointed time but does not exclude the time thereafter. For the Lord says, And lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world, not meaning thereby that He will be separated from us after the completion of the age. The divine apostle, indeed, says, And so shall we ever be with the Lord, meaning after the general resurrection."
St.Epipanius of Salamis: "The Son of God was born perfectly of the holy ever-virgin Mary by the Holy Spirit."
S.Sophronius of Jerusalem: " Enclosed within thy womb is God himself. In thee hath he made his abode, and in fom thee he cometh forth as a bridegroom, winning jo for all and betowing the light of God on all."
Verse: 4:15 Thou art the fountain of gardens: the well of living waters, which run with a strong stream from Libanus.
S.Alphonsus Ligouri: "O Mother of mercy, since thou art so compassionate, and hast so great a desire to render service to us poor creatures and to grant our requests, behold I, the most miserable of all men, have now recourse to thy compassion, in order that thou mayest grant me that which I ask. Others may ask what they please of thee, bodily health, and earthly goods and advantages; but I come, O Lady, to ask thee for that which thou desired of me humility and love of contempt."
Comment:
Psalm 44: "Hearken, O daughter, and see, and incline thy ear: and forget thy people and thy father's house. And the king shall greatly desire thy beauty; for he is the Lord thy God, and him they shall adore. And the daughters of Tyre with gifts, yea, all the rich among the people, shall entreat thy countenance."
S.Bernard: As you were not worthy that anything should be given to you, all graces were given to Mary that through her you might receive everything that you are to have."
S.Louis-Marie De Montfort: "All the rich among the people", to make use of the words of the ole Ghost. according to the explanation of S.Bernard- all the rich among the people will entreat thy countenance from from age to age, that iss to say, the greatest saints , those souls richest in grace and virtue , will be the most persistent in praying to Our Blessed Lady , in having her ever-present as their perfect model to be imitated and as their powerful intercessor in heaven."
* As in, Typology.
Since the Cathedral in Philadelphia is renovating the orga, I thought I might suggest a few things, just as a note, First of all, undo everything Moller did, including the re-voicing of the pipes. Either get it back to Austin;s original things, or call in another company to get a more classical sound. ( Preferrably neither Dobson or Casavant Freres.) Second, don;t get rid of the tab console. They're very rare, especially consoles by Austin. (They were prone to breaking down early in life.) And keep the same stop and key action, though obviously,restore it to original working function. Third , put most of the reeds under higher pressure. It's the high wind pressure that gives reeds thier clearness and brilliance. Considering the size of the church, the en chamades and pedal reeds are a supreme disappointment. Fourth, if possible, either move the antiphonale to the back of the chancel, or at least install a nice solo reed there. (Possibly a chamade!) That said, I would propose these as a modified stoplist.
Great
16 Montre
8 Montre
4 Octave
8 Bombarde
2 /2 3 Twelfth
8 Solo Flute
2 Fifteenth
8 Cello
V Fourniture
8 Cello Celeste
IV Scharf
4 Doppel Flöte
8 Trompette
Swell.
16 Lieblich Gedackt
8 Diapason
8 Viole de Gambe
8 Viole Céleste
8 Rohr Flöte
8 Flûte Celeste
4 Prestant
4 Flûte Traversière
Nasard
2 Principal
2 Pfiefe
IV Plein Jeu
III Carillon
16 Contre Trompette
8 Tuba Mirabilis
4 Clairon
8 Hautbois
8 Voix Humaine
8 Trompette en Chamade
Choir
16 Quintaten
8 Holz Gedackt
8 Viole Céleste
8 Dulciana
8 Unda Maris
4 Prestant
4 Octave
4 Flûte Overte
2 Block Flöte
2 2/3
Nasard
1 1/3 Larigot
16 Serpent
8 Tromba
IV Plein Jeu
4 Rohr Schalmei
Tremulant
Positif
4 Clairon
8 Nason Flute
8 Hautbois
4 Koppel Flöte
8 Voix Humaine
2 2/3 Nasat
Tremulant
Solo.
8 Solo Flute
8 Cello
8 Cello Celeste
4 Doppel Flöte
8 Trompette
V Tierce Mixture
16 Bombarde
Antiphonal (Located beind high altar?)
8 Trompette Harmonique
8 Principal
4 Clairon Harmonique
8 Gemshorn
8 English Horn
8 Gedeckt
8 Trompette en chamade
Mixture III
Viol D'amour 16
Tremulant
Pedal
32 Contre Bombarde
32 Subbass
4 Nachthorn
32 Harmonics IV ranks
32 Resultant
16 Contre Bass
16 Principal
16 Montre
16 Bourdon
10 2/3 Quinte
8 Principal
8 Octave
8 Bourdon
8 Gedackt (Sw)
4 Principal
Chancel Swell
8 Gedeckt
16 Gedeckt
8 Viole de Gamba
8 Tromba
4 Octave Gemshorn
4 Flute
III Plein Jeu
8 Trumpette
8 Vox Humana
Tremulant
4 Clairon Harmonique
2 Cymbale
END.
..Et deus in voce tubae, alleluia.
-Resposory, first vespers of the ascension.
Lukily for me, Our diocese does'nt transfer the ascension to the wrong day. You know what's kool? If you look at the proper chants for today, almost every time the word"ascendit", or "altum", or "elevatis" or some other word having to do with the ascension is used, the music likewise 'ascends'. You see it in the introit of the day"viri galilae", and the antiphon using the same text which in the modern Roman Rite is the first at lauds. Also, in that same office antiphon, look at the begining and end? See how they correspond? The antiphon ends with the words "sic veniet" ( Translation:"Return in the same way"). The music does this, returning to the note it began on by reversing the way it got to where it as. The music gives us a physical demonstration of the text it sets, as if to be a means of drawing us deeper ito contemplation of the supreme mystery of Christ's glorification and eventual second coming. I'll leave you with the antiphon given for the Magnificat at second vespers. Use it as a prayer during the great pentecost novena, the greatest of the year.
"O Rex glóriæ, Dómine virtútum, qui triumphátor hódie super omnes cælos ascendÃsti, ne derelÃnquas nos órphanos; sed mitte promÃssum Patris in nos, SpÃritum veritátis, allelúia."
"O King of glory, thou Lord of hosts, who as on this day didst ascend with exceeding triumph far above all heavens: we pray thee leave us not comfortless, but send on us the Promise of the Father, even the Spirit of truth, alleluia."
Yes, I'm years behind on this francise, sue me. But I like it already. I've only had it, what, three days now? I've already decided to draw some charaters: Malin, Shingo, and She. You cn do a google image search if ou wat to know what they look like.
Oh yeah, my latest masterpiece is nearly doe. You know, the maga based on the book of Jonah? I'm just doing the cover, credits ad mini-comics. ad it seems that mr. letter 'n' on my keyboard is broked too. So I'm up to four broken letters. I guess I know what my graduation gift is going to be?
And speaking of graduation, how lame is it that we have to return the cap and gown? I mean, it's not like they can reuse the tassel. But then, they're probably re-used 06' tassels anyway. *Rants for 40 miutes on the stupidity of returning used dated tassels.*
...But I really, really don't want to do that now. I was cruising MSN and came across an article talking about the greatness of O's appearance at Notre Dame, and there was a quote by Fr.Jenkins. You know, the priest that invited him. Apparently, it seems that the fact that O' supports abortion can be justified. Quote:
"He respects people who differ, but he's resolute in his decision because he did it based on conscience and what he really believes in."
Right then. So if my conscience makes me resolute in decapitating old ladies at the bus stop, we're cool right? I mean, I really beleive that's it's okay, and I'm doing it based on my conscience, so I'm golden, right?
I'll admit, he's got some balls to say that, but it does'nt make it any less stupid and mind-numbingly illogical. See, Fr.Forgets that although the church does respect the importance of each person's conscience, she also reminds you that anyone's conscience cn be malformed. That's why we have people who do unthinkable crimes but say that they felt justified at the time.
It should be obvious to anyone where the logical contadiction is. Fr. beleives that O's subjective feelings on an objectively immoral act somehow either make the act moral or justify the act. In other words, according to Fr. Jenkins' logic, the man who goes about murdering in cold blood is justified in his murder because he felt okay about murdering people. The kid who shoplifts is justified and is not commiting an immoral act, because he really beleived that it was okay. Obviously, this does'nt make any sense, because it's a good example of the Relitivist Fallacy.
Let's pray that Fr.'s confusion will end soon.
Without saying the prayers before the office, immediately is said:
V. O God, come unto my assistance.
R.O lord,make haste to help me.
Glory be to the Father.
I confess to almighty God, and to you my brethren, that I have sinned exceedingly in thought, word and deed, in what I have done, and what I have omitted.Through my fault, through my own fault, through my own most grevious fault. Therefore, I beseec blessed Mary ever Virgin, all the angels and saints, and you my brethren, to pray for me to the Lord our God.
Hymn:
Before the ending of the day,
Creator of the world, we pray
That thou with wonted love wouldst keep
Thy watch around us while we sleep.
O let no evil dreams be near,
Nor phantoms of the night appear;
Our ghostly enemy restrain,
Lest ought of sin our bodies stain..
All praise be thine, O risen Lord,
From death to endless life restored;
Whom with the Father we adore,
And Holy Ghost, for evermore. Amen.
Ant.I: Have mercy upon me, and hearken unto my prayer.
Psalm 4
He hath heard me when I call, the God of my righteousness: * thou hast set me at liberty when I was in trouble.
Have mercy upon me, * and hearken unto my prayer.
O ye sons of men, how long will ye be dull of heart? * and have such pleasure in vanity, and seek after leasing?
Know this also, that the Lord hath chosen to himself the man that is godly; * when I call upon the Lord he will hear me.
Be ye angry, and sin not; * the things that ye say in your hearts, repent ye them upon your beds.
Offer the sacrifice of righteousness, and put your trust in the Lord, * there be many that say, who will shew us any good?
The light of thy countenance, O Lord, is sealed upon us, * thou hast put gladness in my heart.
By the fruit of their corn and wine and oil * have they been multiplied.
I will lay me down in peace, * and take my rest;
For it is thou, Lord, only, * that makest me dwell in safety.
Ant.I: Have mercy upon me, and hearken unto my prayer.
Ant.II: Lift up your hands by night in the sanctuary, and bless ye the Lord.
Psalm 133
Behold now, bless the Lord, * all ye servants of the Lord;
Ye that stand in the house of the Lord, * even in the courts of the house of our God.
Lift up your hands by night in the sanctuary, * and bless ye the Lord.
The Lord that made heaven and earth * give thee blessing out of Sion.
Ant.II: Lift up your hands by night in the sanctuary, and bless ye the Lord.
Capter: Deut.6:4-7
Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is one Lord. Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with thy whole heart, and with thy whole soul, and with thy whole strength. And these words which I command thee this day, shall be in thy heart: And thou shalt tell them to thy children, and thou shalt meditate upon them sitting in thy house, and walking on thy journey, sleeping and rising.
Resp.
R.Into thy hands, O lord, I commend my spirit.
V.Into thy hands, O lord, I commend my spirit.
R. For thou hast redeemed us, O Lord, thou God of truth.
V.I commend my spirit.
R.Glory be.
V.Into thy hands, O lord, I commend my spirit.
Ant. Save us, O Lord, waking, guard us sleeping, that awake we may watch with Christ, and asleep we may rest in peace.
Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, * according to thy word.
For mine eyes have seen * thy salvation,
Which thou hast prepared * before the face of all people;
To be a light to lighten the Gentiles, * and to be the glory of thy people Israel.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy Ghost.
As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, * world without end. Amen.
Ant. Save us, O Lord, waking, guard us sleeping, that awake we may watch with Christ, and asleep we may rest in peace.
Collect:
Visit, we beseech thee, O Lord, this habitation, and drive far from it all the snares of the enemy: let thy holy Angels dwell herein, to preserve us in peace; and may thy blessing be upon us evermore. Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord. Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.
Blessing.
May the Lord Almighty and merciful vouchsafe to bless us and keep us, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.Amen.
Then an antiphon in honour of the blessed Virgin is sung.
(This is where Joe was going to post a photograph of Paronychia, only it's so rank and disgusting that he could'nt do it. Google at your own risk.)
MAYBE! Or, I could lose the toe. You see, Joe here is one of the 40% of Americans who is unable to take pills. Yes, I finally admited it. I buy children's Tylenol and crush my allergy medicines up in orange juice and Jell-o.
I really tried.
For ten minutes every time since I got the medicine, I've tried but it just does'nt work. Nevermind the fact that I know that there are certain foods that I eat mostly whole (mini-M&M's for example.) It does'nt work. Years of mom's scolding that I neede to teach myself the heimlich for when I inevitably start choking on some candy or something and no one's around, along with constant stories of near-choking experiences scarred me. Mentally. Like, in the mind and stuff. So I't just does'nt ork. I'd try the thing with soda, but my parents have'nt bought soda in nine years. I'm not even suppossed to drink it.* Let's hope the topical anti-biotics keep the infection down util re-re Joe figures out how to take pills. Now I'm practicing with frozen strawberries. I already downed three in a row.
18 years old and he still has mommy crush up his tablets in yougurt. What is he, stupid or something?
I've seen the new settings of the tones for the new English Roman Missal. I like them They even provide tones for the Prophecy, (First reading) Epistle ( Second reading) and Gospel. The gloria is nice too. Linkie.
Now, if anyone is interesting in a free copy of a four-part choral mass for SATB choir and organ, e-mail me [/Shameless self-promotion]
I realized why I could'nt properly follow along to the Dorian Toccata and Fugue. My edition skips from the trill in the theme after it's introduced in the pedal ( 1:10 exactly) to the episode ( 4:27) before the long pedal trill at the final measures. I guess it's off to find the missing measures.
Oh yeah, I'm working on a mini-comic on chapter three of the book of Jonah. Yes, my first real comic and it's based on an obscure book of scripture. I'll have to edit it though, as in my zeal in following the masters of Manga, I added one or two cuss words. For shame, Joe, For shame. Artistic license only goes so far.
So I got my aard yesterday. I went straight home, got dressed, aited for mom to get dressed, and then we were off. The trolley driver decided to have a 30 minute chat after the written departure time, and we missed the 46, but were still early. I heard the brothers singing my fifth favorite hymn tune Llanfair, and before dinner, we sang the Regina caeli. Dinner as great. Mom does'nt usually eat red meat, but she ate some steak. The broccoli as the best I've ever had. We got to Ss.Peter and Paul on time, and waited an hour. I made my preparation before mass, and mass started with a long, long, long, procession. (With a song that as too short to cover it. ) The cantor who sang the responsorial psalm was great. Unlike the other musicians, he had a good strong , clear voice. The setting was extremely catchy, and I liked it. I wish I could donload it for my music player, but it's probably composed by him. Please, please, please, I hate the Celtic alleluia. It's literally the one setting that I can not and will not sing. Alstott's are much better, and easily singable.
I was in my POD mood, so I after my usualy to acclamations at the elevation I said S.Ambroses's prayer Salve salutaris victima, a prayer often used in medeival England at mass.
At communion, I think Fr. Check from Seek his Face gave me communion. When I got back to my seat, I said Clement XI's Universal Prayer. There were at least 100 total awards recipients, and being classists, they put us lowly Philadelphia South Vicariates last. I'm shicked that the lady announced mt name right. And Bishop McFadden told me told me that he was actually from Lourdes. If that's true, it's be mega cool. To be nominated for an award by your parish priest, and to then be given it by one of your diocese's auxiliary bishops, who happens to actually be from said parish?
I met three or four people from the parish that I did'nt even know were going to be there. Then we went home amidst talk of scrapple, corned beef hash, spam, and my mother's childhood while growing up with a family-run general store. (And sunsequent injuries.) I got home very late, said compline,read one chapter from True Devotion, then I was knocked out. The cat decided to sleep on my pillows, and I just let her this one time.
...Both our Cardinal-archbishop and our archbishop emeritus are adressing the inappropriateness of whats going on at Notre Dame and all that.
(Latin Included.)
HAIL, O hail, thou thornless rose ,
Thou whom the Father in clestial abode
In majesty deigned to elevate
And from suffering dist keep safe.
MARY, who art called the Star ,
Whose Son makes thee shine excelling far
with the light of God full clear
On men daily, year by year.
FULL OF GRACE, thou spotless Maid
This the Spirit hath thee made
Vessel of goodness, all divine
And of sweetness without bind
THE LORD IS WITH THEE: O Pact of wonder!
The Word made flesh in thee our mother!
Work of the Triune maker, reigning above
O, thou sweet, thou vessel of love!
BLESSED ART THOU AMONG WOMEN:
This testimony by all men is given
That the height doth call thee bless'd
Exalted thou 'bove all the rest.
AND BLESSED IS THE FRUIT OF YOUR WOMB
Of whom we recevice every boon
And here in time our foretaste true
But after death, etern'lly true. Amen.
AVE rosa sine spinis,
Te quam Pater in divinis
Majestate sublimavit,
Et ab omni vae servavit.
MARIA stella dicta maris,
Tu a Nato illustraris
Luce clara deitatis,
Qua praefulges cunctis datis.
GRATIA PLENA: te perfecit
Spiritus Sanctus dum te fecit
Vas divinae bonitatis
Et totius pietatis.
DOMINUS TECUM: miro pacto
Verbo in te carne facto
Opere trini conditoris:
o quam dulce vas amoris.
BENEDICTA IN MULIERIBUS:
Hoc testatur omnis tribus;
Coeli dicunt te beatam
Et super omnes exaltatam.
ET BENEDICTUS FRUCTUS VENTRIS TUI,
Quo nos semper dona frui
Per praegustum hic aeternum
Et post mortem in aeternum: Amen.
(Now, this is my own translation. Obviously, I could'nt gt it all because It was too hard for a self-taught amateur Latinist. Questions, comments, and suggestions appreciated.)
Even if I did, I want to do it again: The epic awesomeness of Widor's sixth symphony. It's deceptively simple, and you can;t beat a Cavaille-Coll. (There should be one in America*! D<) Daniel Roth, my favorite living organist at St.Sulpice.
*We Almost have one here in Philly, at S.Francis de Sales. It was built by the Austin company using some Cavaille-coll pipework, most notably, his two most famous stops: Flutes 8' and 4' and the 32' Contre-Bombarde**. Let's just hope it does'nt get ruined in it's restoration.
**Or at least that's what They*** say.
***I don't actually know who "They" are.****
****Okay, I admit it, there's no real reason***** for this footnote at all.
*****That's a lie . I wanted to see if I could feasibly just keep making footnotes off of footnotes in an endless cycle.******
****** Are you actually still reading these?
On Prom kings who refuse to dance:
"Heavy lies the head the wears the plastic crown. A monarch who does not fulfill his royal duties risks a coup d'état or a peasant uprising. How many prom kings have to be overthrown and replaced with prom liberal democracies before this lesson is learned?"
-Crœsos
From the Ship.
The Sonic Megacollection is here! I mean not here here, as in on the blog, but here as in sitting on the playstation waiting to be greedily devoured by me and my brother. All the games from Sonic the hedgehog I to Sonic 3-d. So of course, I'm dying to get the Sand board on Sonic III. You know, the one with the ghosts?
Now, if you're unfortunate enough to not be familiar with videogames from the early ninties, that board (which is right after the board) has a reputation in the retro gaming community for being extremely difficult. I mean, seriously? Were they on PCP or something when they came up with it? Beside your usual enemies, there's quicksand, rock monsters, and swiftly moving sand ducts that send you spiralling to your death in a dark abyss. Oh yeah, I almost forgot: There's a timer on the lights in the ruins that you're in. They get dimmer and dimmer till they go out completely. This is so that these cute little harmless ghosts in the background get bigger and bigger until you get savagely ripped apart. (All while dodging the othe aforesaid problems.)
At least there's a save function. (Goes to see how much a Genesis costs today.)
I sang vespers from the Monastic Diurnal/Liber Usualis for the first time tonight.
To put it lightly, It was horrible beyond being described by words. Being used to the Nova Vulgata, I was having trouble using the psalm tones. I forgot the Responsory after the chapter, and used the tune from the hymn Maria, Quae Mortalium (From the common of the Blessed Virgin) to sing the office hymn 'Ad Regias Agni Dapes'* Then, because I could'nt find how to end an office, I used the new/old ending.(Domine nos benedicat, etc.)**
*I wonder if it would be terribly wicked to use the non-ruined hymns. I wish I could've gone back a few centuries and told Urban VIII to keep his papacies out of my hymnaries.
**Technically it was used to end prime in some uses of the Western rite, but was never part of the Roman rite till the new breviary specified it's use to end the major hours in private recitation.
I'll give you all a break and let you know that I at least found out that my manuscript book (The one that has the organ suite and two and a half mass settings that I wrote in it was'nt in my book bag. It was on my bookshelf stuck between two books. (Christopher De hamel's A history of Illuminated Manuscripts and Lorne Campbell's book on Rogier Van der Weyden)
And this is also good news: I finally tracked down the name of this piece here. It's Lefebure-Wely's Sortie in Eb. It kind of threw me off, because when I think of a sortie, I think Sortie or possibly even Sortie. Never that. Anyway, here's a less bombastic version at the hinsz organ at the Martikerk.( Yup, same hinsz who built the organ at the Bovenkerk.) Alas, this one is without the wonderful trumpet that comes on at 2:30.
Remember when I said I could'nt accept that award because this was the Friday that Shaman King volume 21 hits the shelves at borders?
Well, the award is'nt till Monday, but the comic still comes out today. But of course, with lingering flu symptoms and an injured toe (For which I know I need to go to the hospital for) I could'nt get all the way downtown to Borders.
But wait! There's more!
Yes, because I tracked down the only vidoe I will watch of the ubiquitous, overplayed, cliched and usually massacred toccata from Widor's symphony #5.Played at the nearby Basilica in Newark, here Goes.
It's Our Blessed Lady's month as well as the month of the Blessed Sacrament. I'll try to put up daily devotions in honour of both and try finish This Thing on the holy Mass and This Thing on the Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
For now though, I'll just reccomend some good reads. First, if you can find a copy, Bishop Challoner's tract on the Sacrifice of the Mass. I picked my copy from S.Clem's, but you might be ale to find a copy somewhere else. Next, The Imitation of Christ Book Four: On the Blessed Sacrament. It teaches you how to prepare for holy communion. Next, the True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin, by S. Louis Marie deMontfort. One of the priests at my parish gave me a copy form the Baronius Press, and I can reccomend the translation.
Lastly, Abbe Durande's explanation of the Ceremonies of the mass. Mine is based mostly off of his.
Wait- one more tidbit of info- I'm trying to restore a little shrine of our lady I got last year. It's a dyptich that opens and on the inside is an image of Our Lady. There was a painting on the inside of the wing but it's been long destroyed. There is damage to the image of Our Lady as well, but the painting on the outside is well.h
Cardinal Rigali slammed some women who had an ordination in Philly late last month. I think this is the money-quote that explains the problem: h
"God’s gifts, however, are never given to individuals merely for their own fulfillment, but for the unfolding of His plan of salvation in the Church for the benefit of the whole community of the faithful, and no one’s true personal dignity in the Church can be fostered in opposition to the will of Christ Himself. Consequently, such a pseudo-ordination ceremony denigrates the truth entrusted to the Church by Christ Himself, and demonstrates a complete misunderstanding of the respect and dignity accorded to women by Christ and His Church."
Whether they realize it or not, it looks like they're getting 'ordained' more for their sake than the Church's sake. It makes them look proud and self centered, and likely to engage in old-fashioned Clericalism. They go through these 'ordinations' and serve no community, and appear to bring Christ to no one, but rather, they do it to make a statement, so that they can get a kind of self-fufilling self-satisfaction. Were they men, they could'nt be admitted to the seminary like this anyway.Too much mental baggage.
So lets look at my options in descending oder from most wanted to least wanted:
Option #1 Liturgia horarum Yeah right, like that's ever going to happen. Unless some kind donor gives me 300-something dollars, or three kind donors gave me $100 each, or six gave me $50 each, I can continue to forget about it. It's the one I really, really want, but there will never be money even for one volume.
Option #2 Lauds and Vespers (Latin/English) At $40, this is the cheapest option, but it does'nt have a Sanctoral or commons of the saints. No calendar either.
Option #3 Roman Diurnal.
Option #4 Anglican Breviary. Not very expensive at all, it just takes forever to arrive.
Option #5 Liturgy of the hours. I don't need to go over the fact that the psalms and other translations are actually just paraphrases and that they grate on me. But if it's all I can get, I'll just make do. Te leater binding and gilt pages are a plus.
No money or phone or anything. So they took my bookbag. I told them there was nothing worth any money in that either, but they took it anyway. So they got my Daily Roman Missal, my English Hymnal, my copy of S.Louis Marie de Montfort's True Devotion, a change of clothes and my most prized possession, my breviary.
I'll never get another like it because it was printed in 1969 and they only made 400 copies. Even then, it was beat up and worn out, but having used it for years and made it my own, I got attached to it. Afterward, I walked away while they rummaged through it. Then they called after me. I figured they realized it really was nothing in there and were coming for me, so I jetted and ran down 63'rd, cut down Media and made a turn down another side street. I went up haverford ave. to 63'rd, then I made a left down Girard ave. and then went down Felton till I got home. Obviously, I lost them.
At least I kept my cool, tried not to look afraid and played it off, even if inside I was rembering all the timed I got jacked when I was a little kid in grade school. (Joe was never much of a fighter. Dad saw that I was a nerd, so he taugh the older boys how to fight and he told me how to run.)
