A Christmas Prayer.

"HAIL and blessed be the hour and moment in which the Son of God was born of the most pure Virgin Mary, at midnight, in Bethlehem, in piercing col. In that hour, vouchsafe, O my God, to hear my prayer and grant my desires,through the merits of Our Saviour Jesus Christ and of his blessed Mother. Amen."

To be said 15 times daily from the feast of S.Andrew (November 30th) until Christmas. It is piously believed that whoever does so will obtain what is asked.

*Cough cough*

I've been lurking HERE for a while now, So I've decided to sidelink it now.
NOW GO THERE.
If you don't, I'll send my Gemini Elf to take 1,000 hit points and send your Mystical Beast Cerberus to the graveyard. (And if you get That reference, you Win the Day, but only if you prove it.)

And now,

A musical interlude.

Ritual Notes. (Christ the King.)

They can now say that their maxim is "Libretto by Bugnini, ceremonial by Fortescue."

They have a new big thurible. It's not the brass,enamel-encrusted,50-pound monster that comes out five times a year, but something lighter. All the candles were lit.
There were six servers: Crucifer, acolytes, thurifer, and boat bearer, and an extra server who came but wasn't supposed to. And the chasuble was this one.
There wasn't an entrance hymn, instead , Charpentier's "Prelude to the Te Deum" was played during the procession. The introit, Dignus est Agnus was sung suring the incensation of the altar, which had genuflections rather than bowing, and altar was'nt walked around. The mass setting was "De Angelis", except for the gloria which was Hassler's.
We sat during the gloria, as (At least, as I've been told) They do at Westminster Cathedral.
At the offertory,the offertory chant was sung, followed by Groller's "O Sacrum Convivium", and the hymn "The King of Love my Shepherd Is." The altar was incensed in the same way, and then the priest and the people, as we've been doing this year.
Because of time restraints (I suppose), from the Te igitur to the communicantes, part of the canon was said quietly under the sanctus, but the rest was said aloud.
The communion antiphon was from the Graduale, but with a psalm sung and the antiphon actually used as an antiphon. The song of praise was the popular choral version of the "Christus Vincit", with verses by the men of the choir. When the antiphon was first sung, it was by the women of the choir on simple diapasons. It was sung again chorally Organo Pleno, with the 16' Pousaune and 32' Contre Bourdone in the pedal.
The dedication of the human race to Christ the King was recited after mass,and the recessional was "Crown him with many crowns" with the last verse sung chorally and the 32' Contre Bombarde shaking the foundations and walls.
The postlude was BWV 541.
All in all, great work, all of it.

All good things must end.

Yes, and now I'm Devastated. Heartbroken. There's a hole in my heart where my lifeblood used to be. Wherefore all this sad talk?
Yuyu Hakuso is over. No more. Finished.Done. No more chapters. That's it.

No, I'm not overreacting. Yuyu Hakusho was one the only series I found when I first got interested in anime/manga that I actually kept up with.(That was back in 03', when the show used to run on Toonami, just before The Big O. That was the good ol' days, before CN became another Disney Channel clone.) It's like losing a friend. Or a pet. No, more like a firend actually.
And worse, it had a confusing ending. What happenned? Did everyone die and get blown to bite-sized smitherines? Did he press the right button? Is Tupac really alive in Cuba somewhere? Okay, that last one was random. But still, I did'nt get it at all.
Now the only series I still follow from then is Shaman King, others having ended or gotten boring.
I don't know what I'll do with my life now. How can I simply replace all those years of having the gand around? How can I call friends Kuwabara when now, no one will know who that is?(Or rather was?) Oh wait- I found a replacement.
But it'll never be the same. [cry/sob/emo]

I just saw the worst vampire movie ever made.

No, it wasn't......that series that dare not speak it's scream inducing name.

My brother convinced me to watch The Lost Boys yesterday on G4. It was awful. Maybe that's just because it was from the 80's and almost everything was wrong with the 80's, but it was really stupid. And the bathroom scene with the dog? What's up with that? What sane vampire goes after his own brother, or what sane human being sees someone being attacked by a dog and says "What are you doing to my dog!!??" Um yeah, I'm getting killed by him. I thought that was somewhat obvious.
And everything written here about it is completely true.
The only redeeming quality is the soundtrack.

Guess what? Guess what?!

Guess what!?

This week, I finally, for real, got started on the pilot chapter for the manga that I'm writing. I'm lazy, and I have no imagination, so I spent all summer and fall thinking about writing it, but never actually doing it. Well, eventually I'll let you guys see it .

And now,

A musical interlude.

And if you know what show that's a reference from, you Win the Day.

But I know that none of you will.It's too old of a reference. You'd have to be an American kid from the early 1990's to get it.

It's a contradiction of terms!

Why can't you people see it!? There's a simple reason why there's no such thing as a so-called "black conservative". The black community's most embarassing, irrelevant, and annoying socio-political commentator spells it out for you: Real Black people are Democrats.
We should be glad he finally came out and said it. I mean, black politicians have known this for years, but never said it. Our comedians, however, like Wanda Sykes (who used to be funny but got all political and annoying these days.) have been saying this for years. Jesse Jackson is a joke, and it's only natural that a clown like him would finally hatch onto it.

Meanwhile, I'll enjoy my newfound caucasian idgntity. I always wondered why I could'nt dance, but now I know why. (Ba-dum-ching!) the only problem is that now, I don't qualify for that scholarship money to go to school next semester now. And I'll have to change the name of this blog too. I'm no longer The Token Black Guy, because I'm not black anymore, so Eddie Murphy's joke does'nt fit anymore.

It it just me, or this seriously Ironic?

I'm talking about the soon to come translation for the Roman Missal.

The chief objection to the new missal is that it's too hard for people to understand. It uses big words, it doesn't use everyday common speech. They claim you need a Masters in English and a Latin degree to understand it, and that those who aren't educated will be left out.

But there's a blatantly obvious contradiction of facts here. The vast majority of churches made of working or lower-class people, many of whom don't have a great deal of education use what type of bible? The King James, of course. A translation containing such easy to understand passages as:

"For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse."
(Rom.1:20)
"Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that heareth my word and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life,and shall not come into condemnation, but is passed from death unto life."
(John 5:24)
"For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant by many thanksgivings unto God."
(II Cor.9;12)
" I speak as concerning repreach, as though we had been weak. Howbeit whereinsoever any is bold ( I speak follishly) I am bold also."
(II C or.11:21)
" Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines, for it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace, not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein."
"For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error."
Etc, etc.
A translation containing such common place words as "expediency","straitly", "quickeneth" "determinate", "beseech", "gainsaying", "wot", or "Behooveth".
Unless they think that Catholics are dumber than protestants, in which case I could provide numerous examples of "Hard words" from various childrens missals and childrens prayer-books, and even some things copied from a service sheet from Philly's own historically black parish, S.Peter Claver.
But either way, I think the point stands: The group of people they think will be lost with the new translation are using (and have been using) the very langage they object to!
And another anecdote: I was once looking through a hymnal published by GIA, and noticed that in almost all the gospel hymns they had included, the 'thees', 'thys' and other old words I remember from childhood had been removed. Apparently it's good enough for the people who came up with the music, (Who, Surprise! tended to be black people without a great deal of education.) but it's too hard for educated suburbanites.

Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal.

. Her feast day November 27th, her novena starts tomorrow, and her national shrine is right here in Philadelphia. So no surprise that her feast is now on the proper calendar for the Archdiocese of Philly. Here's the proper office for the feast, or at least parts of it, according to the 61' breviary.

At First Vespers:
From the common of the Bessed Virgin except the following:

1 Ant. Tota pulchra es, Maria, et macula originalis non est in te.
2 Ant. Vestimentum tuum candidum quasi nix, et facies tua sicut sol
3 Ant. Tu goria Ierusalem, tu laetitia Israel, tu honorificentia populi nostri.
4 Ant. Benedicta es tu, Virgo Maria, a Domino Deo excelso prae omnibus mulieribus super terram
5 Ant. Trahe nos, virgo immaculata, post te curremus in oderum unguentorum tuorum.

V.Sigum magnum apparuit in caelo
R.Mulier amicta sole et luna sub pedibus eius.

Magificat Ant.: Qui me invenerit,inveniet vitam, et hauriet salutem a Domino.

Collect:
Domine Iesu Christe,qui beatissimam Virginem Mariam matrem tuam ab origine immaculatam
innumeris miraculis clarascere voluisti:
Concede,ut eiusdem patrocinum semper implorantes,gaudium consequamur aeterna.
At Laudes:
Everything from first vespers, except:
Benedictus Ant: Ait Dominus ad serpentem: Inimicitias ponam inter te et mulierem, et semen tuum et semen illius: ipsa conteret caput tuum, alleluia.

At II vespers:
All from first vespers except:
Magnificat ant: Sancta Maria, succere miseris,iuva pusilanimes, refove flebiles: ora pro populo, interveni pro clero, intercede pro devoto femineo sexu: sentiant omnes tuum iuvamen, quicumque celebrant tuum sanctum Patrocinium.

More Goodness.

So It looks like we will be having another solemn high mass in the older form for midnight mass.
From what I hear from a good friend of mine who recently joined the choir, they won't be using Hassler's lovely polyphonic mass setting. This year's will be a Hayden mass, complete with orchestra. They don't know it, but they're becoming more like Clem's every year. ( They also use a mass setting by Hayden for midnight mass.)

Best.Week. Ever.(So far)

Yes, it has.
First, I found the will I was looking for. That's good. The house is a bit further away from Lourdes than I would have liked (I'm no longer within walking distance) But it's a better neighborhood, close to a mall, the R5 and 52, and Saint Joe's.

Then, I got a call from one of the places I applied to for a job. Out of the 15 or so different stores and chains I applied to, about 0.00% bothered to contact me and say I did'nt get the job. Actually, most never even told me they were'nt interested in an interview. Well, the lady called yesterday and told me to come Wednesday for my interview. I've basically got the job because the lady is my older sister's friend from Way back.

And then of course, I spent the weekend over at the monastery again. On Friday, I went over to S.Charles seminary with one of the brothers to sit in on some classes. It was actually great fun,and one of the professors turned out to be someone I usually see at Lourdes.
Oh, and I'm beginning to notice a strange pattern of disasters everytime I come. Last time, there was'nt any heat, and this time a pipe broke and the bathrooms could'nt be used.

And today, I was using my dad's old laptop that he gave to me to make a set of altar cards. I was playing around with the programs, and for fun, I clicked the Firefox icon. And it worked. My brother said the wireless card was broken, but it's not. It's working! I'm back online!

I quit playing Vierne's Callion de Longpont. I've been playing it by ear, because the music department at the Free Library downtown is closed because of asbestos. I got most of it done. but I don't know how to play the ending. I need sheet music for that, and I don't have it for now. So instead, I'm going to learn Bach's famous Passacaglia from the Passacaglia and fugue in C minor. I used to know it, but it's been at least two years since I played it, and even then, I never got the last six variations done.

I have good news...

....And I have bad news. And I have a question.

A co-worker of my mother was recently left a house, following the death of her mother. Now, the woman doesn't need the house, and she's willing to just Give the house to my mother. The house is in Wynfield, and apparently is quite nice, and could be ours for a measly $500. That's the good news.

The bad news is that the lady gave the will to my mother to look over. And mom lost it. She lost the will that would give us a new house in a nice neighborhood. We've looked about, tore up the house, taken everything out of it's place, and no sign of it.

So, I have a question: Is it possible for us to get a copy of the will? Note, however, that we don't remember the name of the lawyer who helped to draw up the will.

I'm hiring myself out..

I've been trying since the end of June to get a job, and so far, no luck at all. I've applied to some eleven different chains, and three small businesses without so much as a phone call saying I didn't get the job.
So I've decided to hire out my talents .
Now, I've only really got three talents that could pay: I can draw, I can sing,and I'm an amateur organist.
Now, I won't trust myself to be an organist. Most of what I practice are improvisations in the French style, and I can play one English mass ordinary,three Latin, and a few hymns. Besides, I can't be an organist in a Roman Catholic church. It's too much greif.

So, I've decided that I'll try to find some poor writer who wants to publish a comic or manga, but doesn't have an artist. I've spent all summer trying to think of a concept for a manga with no luck, unless I want to do one about MMA. * So I'll polish my style, put together my protfolio, and hopefully make some extra bucks to save up.


*I think I might do that one.

You know what I've noticed?

I think I get 99% of my political news and commentary from the internet. I realised that I have no clue what's going on, other than Chris Christy being governor of Jersey, and that's only because it's local.
Hopefully, with this intermittent internet, I can get some clue what's going on in congress with....everything.

Anime/Manga/Comic news.

*Drool drool drool*
OOfuri has FINALLY been licensed in the U.S.! The English title is "Big Swing!", which I assume roughly correlates to the series' full Japanese title. Volumes one and two are at the FYE at the Gallery, but at $60 each, it's out of the question. And don't you DARE go out and buy it from me! I'm saving up for it, and if it's gone, I'll find you and deal with the situation, um shall I say Expediently.

I really, really want to find out more about Dokaben. It's a little old, but I like the art. I don't know if it's been scanlated anywhere, but I hope so. I'm not totally sure what it's about.
And due to my computer crisis, I've missed up the release dates of basically every manga volume I want. I know Noora is at volume eight, and I think Fairy Tail volume seven got released somewheres in October.

Lastly,I've fallen in love with American comics again. I thought I was done with them, but I'm addicted to Teen Titans and Thor. I'm still too afraid to actually visit a comic shop, but perhaps someday, I'll work up the gumption to go buy one of the volumes I'm currently drooling over.

It's a Catafalque!

Photos here.

It was a very nice mass.The music was Cristobal Morales' setting of the requiem, except for the tract, dies irae, sanctus and agnus, and the libera me. Jacques Arcadelt's Ave Maria was sung at the offertory, and William Byrd's well-known setting of the Ave Verum was sung at the ablutions. Before mass, the organist played one of bach's chorales using the flute celeste and tromba with the tremulo one the antiphonal organ. The postlude was BWV 549. All the flowers and reliquaries had been removed, as had the carpets in the sanctuary.