Well, for one, there was a big mistake in the program. It was NOT a missa cantata. I was hoping to sing things at a sung mass, only to find out that it was better-It was a solemn high mass! Th vestments were beautiful, cloth of gold embroidered with needle point images of saints, the trinity, etc. I expected to take some pictures, so I got a good seat in the middle, ad made my place. Only, I couldn't get a good view. Why? Because the place was packed! The pews were full, the temporary folding chairs were full, the aisles were full, the doorways were full. It became standing room only for latecomers.The music was okay, but it seems that the best parts were the responses and the ordinary. I don't really like accompanied chant, and the chants (Especially the credo and introit.) Seemed to have been sung a bit too quickly for my tastes. The communion motets were great though. I also saw some people from my own parish, including two young siblings who usually serve mass at Lourdes. They were torchbearers. The whole experience was truly uplifting, and I can only regret that there are those who wish to keep such experiences as rare as possible.
All in all, If I could do it again, I would love to. If I could do it every sunday,I would do almost anything for such a privilege.
Sorry, High mass beats a low mass for me. I guess I'm just one of those people that like high mass.
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Missa Cantata at the Carmelite monastery.
TONIGHT. at 730 p.m. I hope to go, but I'm stuck taking septa, and I don't know how to get there.
You know, unless someone's willing to stop by Overbrook and give me a ride.
I promise to pay gas money?
You know, unless someone's willing to stop by Overbrook and give me a ride.
I promise to pay gas money?
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Heaven.
"And when he had opened the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, having golden bowls full of incense which are the prayers of the saints."
Revelation 5:8
"And another angel came and stood before the altar , having a golden censer; and there was given to him much incense, that he might offer it with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which is before the throne. And with the prayers of the saints there went up before God from the angel's hand the smoke of the incense."
- Revelation 8:3-4
Heaven on earth.
Revelation 5:8
"And another angel came and stood before the altar , having a golden censer; and there was given to him much incense, that he might offer it with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which is before the throne. And with the prayers of the saints there went up before God from the angel's hand the smoke of the incense."
- Revelation 8:3-4
Heaven on earth.
Friday, July 11, 2008
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Part II: The procession.
Before mass, the servers, celebrant in his vestments, and any other ministers line up for the procession. The servers may wear an alb, or a shortened version, a surplice. In either case, it is white, symbolic of purity. If they wear a surplice, they also wear a cassock underneath. it is usually, black, symbolic of dying to self, which is what the priest and servers are expected to do, especially in the mass, when their personalities should disappear under the vestments. In some places, they may change with the liturgical season, or according to the rank of the church. (Such as violet for a Cathedral church, or a monsignor's parish.)
In the procession for sung mass will usually be:
1) The Thurifer and Boat boy.
The thurifer has the job of carrying incense. Incense will be explained later, but for now, keep in mind that the use of incense was once commanded by God under the sacrifices of the old covenant. (Leviticus 2:2, 2:15-16, Luke 1:8-10) Originally, in order not to be confused with the jews or pagans, and in order not to be found by the authorities who persecuted them, the early church did not use incense. But after she was vindicated from the catacombs, she used it in order to show that it was her sacrifice, the true and only sacrifice of Christ which brings glory to God, and the remission of the sins of the world, not the sacrifices of the Jews or pagans. They were the type, the Church the antitype.
2) The Crucifer.
The crucifer has the job of carrying the cross in precession. The cross itself is a representation, and a symbol of Christ in our midst. Its main purpose is to serve as a reminder to the faithful to "Ponder nothing earthly minded", as the hymn goes, but to put your mind attentively on the mystery of our salvation, the sacrifice of the cross which is to be made present to us. The cross acts as a first standard of our king, Jesus Christ. It comes to tell us that Christ will soon become present on the altar, and in some sense, is a sign to us that he is present in the priest, as well as in all of us.
3)Acolytes with candles.
Candles of course, represent Christ, who said he was the Light of the World. On the altar, or on gradines behind it, we may see four or six lights lighted. Four are all that are necessary for a sung mass under the old rubric, but six are customarily lighted on feastdays, and every Sunday at many parishes. When there are four, they can remind us of the ffour living creatures of the book of Revelations, which ever and always gave themselves up to in worship to the glory of God and the lamb, as the candles give themselves up by being burned to the glory of God.
When there are six, they can remind us of the seven lamps which burn before the throne of God in heaven. ( Revelation 4:5)
4) The celebrant.
In the mass, the priest as we know acts in the name and person of Christ, in offering the holy sacrifice. Truly, it is not the priest who offers the mass by his own power, but Christ who does it. He consecrates the bread and wine of man into the bread of heaven and the chalice of salvation, his own body and blood. He offers himself to the father on our behalf. We respect the priest, ot out of clericalism, but out of respect for Christ who works through the priest. You will often see people bow to the celebrant as he walks in procession to the altar.
A lector, or additional servers may be in the procession, as well as a master of ceremonies, deacons and concelebrants in solemn mass.
Of the origin procession, Dom Gueranger says: "The Procession, which in many Churches immediately precedes a Solemn Mass, is a prelude to the great Aot which is about to be accomplished. It originated from the practice used in Monasteries, of going through the Cloisters, every Sunday, whilst chanting certain appointed Responsories; and during which, the Hebdomadarian went through all the Conventual Places, blessing each of them. The practice is still in use."
After the celebrant blesses the incense with the sign of the cross. The first of many to be made!) The sacristan or a server may ring the sacristy bell, and in a flurry of glory, the procession makes its way to the sanctuary. When it reaches the sanctuary, all genuflect, except the crucifer and acolytes, or anyone who may be carrying something. (The first of many genuflections.) The mass will begin with the introit.
The Mass Explained, Part I :What the Mass is.
The Holy Mass is different than other church service. It is not for entertainment, or even so much as for the edification of the faithful. The church teaches and has always taught that the mass is a memorial sacrifice. This is rather simply explained. Christ died only once, and never dies again. As the book of Hebrews says, he died once, and offering one single sacrifice, sat down at the right hand of God. It must be made clear that Our Lord never offers nor will he ever offer another sacrifice for sins. There is but one sacrifice in Christianity, and it is the one sacrifice made by Our Lord Jesus on he cross, 2000 years ago. But, our Lord wanted the memory of that sacrifice to always be in the minds of his people. To that end, on the night before he died, he gave a command of great meaning. After giving his body and blood to his apostles, he said "Do this in memory of me."
But the memory which he commands us to make is not just a recalling of events. He uses a special word, which in greek, and especially to the ancient Jews meant not "A calling to mind", but "A making present." Make present. Jesus is telling his disciples to make present his offering of his body and blood , which he offerred, as he said "For the life of the world." Jesus told us to make present his one single sacrifice on the cross. As the Jews said that their feasts were literally making present the events signified, by allowing the people to enter into them in a mystical manner, so the church from the earliest days beleived that the mass, or the eucharist, or the communion service, was the way ordained of God for us to obey the command of Christ to enter into and make present his sacrifice on the cross for us.
Do not think that this is impossible. St.Paul the apostle, speaking of the mass says that in the mass are made present all the angels and saints, the just men and women from every age. Is it possible that the God who made everything, who parted the sea and made the sun stand still, who sent his son to be born of a pure Virgin, who changed water to wine, multiplied bread, raised the dead, is it possible that he could not make present and event in history? Is it possible that he could apply the benefits of Christ's sacrifice to "Every people, toungue, tribe, and nation", because he is eternal and is the master of time, but is unable to allow those same faithful enter into the sacrifice that redeemed them?
All of the rituals of the mass are based on this truth: That at mass, we are present at Calvary. It all hinges on this. It hinges on the fact that Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of the prophecies and laws of the old rite. The Catholic church tries to make this clear in what she does in the mass. The mass has grown up out of the synagogue and temple rites of old, adapted by the apostles and their successors for the Church, the True Israel.
So as the Jewish people used the psalms as their hymns of worship, so also do we at mass sing the introit, gradual, and offertory antiphons, taken from scripture.
So as in the Synagogue, a lamp burns continuously before the Tabernacle, so in the church, lamps and candles burn continuously before the Tabernacle.
I hope in this explanation to make clear those truths.
The mass starts with a procession, as Psalm 118 says "Bind the festal procession, even up unto the altar". The priest and his ministers process up to the altar as did the Hebrews of the old covenant. The Venerable Dom Prosper Gueranger says of the procession:
"The procession, which immediately precedes the Mass, should remind us how we ought to be standing with lamps burning in our hands, ready to go out and meet our Lord, who is coming.1 The Church is ever advancing towards her Spouse in an unbroken procession, and our souls should be ever hastening towards their sovereign Good, never resting until they have found Him."
At the front of the procession is the thurifer and boatboy. Incense has long been used in Catholic churches. Long before, God had prescribed its use in Jewish temple ceremonies, and after the church emerged from the catacombs, and was able to freely express herself, she took up the use of incense in the mass. In this, we show are continuity with our Jewish ancestors in the faith. Behind them, are the crucifer, and two acolytes.
The cross is the most used sign in the mass. We begin with the cross, and we end with it. In bringing up the processional cross, we are reminded for a last time before mass begins that we are to "Ponder nothing earthly minded", as the hymn goes, but to remind ourselves that we are to take part in a sublime sacrifice. That of Calvary, re-presented to us here in the mass. The acolytes carry candles. Candles are another thing used the mass. Candles represent the light of Christ. Traditionally, six candles are used for a sung mass. These, together with the sanctuary lamp make seven lights that burn before the tabernacle, the throne of God. These two candles in the procession serve like standards. Standards of Christ the king, who the cross represents. The reader follows after the servers, and the celebrant after the reader. During the procession, we might sing a hymn.
The procession reaches the sanctuary, and we see the first of many genuflections. A genuflection is exactly what it's name means.(Knee-bend) It's it a brief kneeling down in the presence of Jesus in the blessed sacrament. Why do we do it? We hear in scripture, that at the mere mention of the name of Jesus, every knee everywhere should bend. (Psalm 72:11,
The church in her wisdom, makes this verse real to us, by giving us the custom of bending our knees whenever we cross or come to the tabernacle.
The ancients bowed down, fell down, and reveranced the tabernacle of old, which contained the Manna (The Bread of Heaven) the Law of God in the ten commandments, and The rod of Aaron's priestly authority. And there was where God dwelt with his people.
The Tabernacle of the church contains the same: The Bread of Heaven, the Word of God, and the authority of God, and our High priest. Here God dwells with us.
But the memory which he commands us to make is not just a recalling of events. He uses a special word, which in greek, and especially to the ancient Jews meant not "A calling to mind", but "A making present." Make present. Jesus is telling his disciples to make present his offering of his body and blood , which he offerred, as he said "For the life of the world." Jesus told us to make present his one single sacrifice on the cross. As the Jews said that their feasts were literally making present the events signified, by allowing the people to enter into them in a mystical manner, so the church from the earliest days beleived that the mass, or the eucharist, or the communion service, was the way ordained of God for us to obey the command of Christ to enter into and make present his sacrifice on the cross for us.
Do not think that this is impossible. St.Paul the apostle, speaking of the mass says that in the mass are made present all the angels and saints, the just men and women from every age. Is it possible that the God who made everything, who parted the sea and made the sun stand still, who sent his son to be born of a pure Virgin, who changed water to wine, multiplied bread, raised the dead, is it possible that he could not make present and event in history? Is it possible that he could apply the benefits of Christ's sacrifice to "Every people, toungue, tribe, and nation", because he is eternal and is the master of time, but is unable to allow those same faithful enter into the sacrifice that redeemed them?
All of the rituals of the mass are based on this truth: That at mass, we are present at Calvary. It all hinges on this. It hinges on the fact that Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of the prophecies and laws of the old rite. The Catholic church tries to make this clear in what she does in the mass. The mass has grown up out of the synagogue and temple rites of old, adapted by the apostles and their successors for the Church, the True Israel.
So as the Jewish people used the psalms as their hymns of worship, so also do we at mass sing the introit, gradual, and offertory antiphons, taken from scripture.
So as in the Synagogue, a lamp burns continuously before the Tabernacle, so in the church, lamps and candles burn continuously before the Tabernacle.
I hope in this explanation to make clear those truths.
The mass starts with a procession, as Psalm 118 says "Bind the festal procession, even up unto the altar". The priest and his ministers process up to the altar as did the Hebrews of the old covenant. The Venerable Dom Prosper Gueranger says of the procession:
"The procession, which immediately precedes the Mass, should remind us how we ought to be standing with lamps burning in our hands, ready to go out and meet our Lord, who is coming.1 The Church is ever advancing towards her Spouse in an unbroken procession, and our souls should be ever hastening towards their sovereign Good, never resting until they have found Him."
At the front of the procession is the thurifer and boatboy. Incense has long been used in Catholic churches. Long before, God had prescribed its use in Jewish temple ceremonies, and after the church emerged from the catacombs, and was able to freely express herself, she took up the use of incense in the mass. In this, we show are continuity with our Jewish ancestors in the faith. Behind them, are the crucifer, and two acolytes.
The cross is the most used sign in the mass. We begin with the cross, and we end with it. In bringing up the processional cross, we are reminded for a last time before mass begins that we are to "Ponder nothing earthly minded", as the hymn goes, but to remind ourselves that we are to take part in a sublime sacrifice. That of Calvary, re-presented to us here in the mass. The acolytes carry candles. Candles are another thing used the mass. Candles represent the light of Christ. Traditionally, six candles are used for a sung mass. These, together with the sanctuary lamp make seven lights that burn before the tabernacle, the throne of God. These two candles in the procession serve like standards. Standards of Christ the king, who the cross represents. The reader follows after the servers, and the celebrant after the reader. During the procession, we might sing a hymn.
The procession reaches the sanctuary, and we see the first of many genuflections. A genuflection is exactly what it's name means.(Knee-bend) It's it a brief kneeling down in the presence of Jesus in the blessed sacrament. Why do we do it? We hear in scripture, that at the mere mention of the name of Jesus, every knee everywhere should bend. (Psalm 72:11,
The church in her wisdom, makes this verse real to us, by giving us the custom of bending our knees whenever we cross or come to the tabernacle.
The ancients bowed down, fell down, and reveranced the tabernacle of old, which contained the Manna (The Bread of Heaven) the Law of God in the ten commandments, and The rod of Aaron's priestly authority. And there was where God dwelt with his people.
The Tabernacle of the church contains the same: The Bread of Heaven, the Word of God, and the authority of God, and our High priest. Here God dwells with us.
And the award for most hilarious True story goes to.....
These people. I would love to ridicule them, and make them seem absurd, but they're already doing it for me.
Acts of Reparation!
Some of you already known of the recently stolen host. Well, searching online, I came across a link to some guy's analysis and comments on the story. It was extremely biased, and delved into appeals to ridicule, strawmen, and other fallacies. at the end, he begged readers to steal consecrated hosts so that they could be desecrated. I won't link to it, because I don;t think many of us can stomach the comments.
Please pray that no one does this! and here's some similar acts of reparation that I found online:
Act of Reparation to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament:
With that most profound respect
which divine Faith inspires,
O my God and Saviour Jesus Christ,
true God and true man,
I adore Thee,
and with my whole heart I love Thee,
hidden in the most august Sacrament of the Altar,
in reparation of all the irreverences,
profanations, and sacrileges, that I,
to my shame, may have until now committed,
as also for all those
that have been committed against Thee,
or that may be ever committed for the time to come.
I offer to Thee,
therefore, O my God,
my humble adoration, not indeed,
such as Thou art worthy of,
nor such as I owe Thee,
but such, at least,
as I am capable of offerings;
and I wish that I could love Thee
with the most perfect love
of which rational creatures are capable.
In the meantime,
I desire to adore Thee now and always,
not only for those Catholics
who do not adore or love Thee,
but also so supply the defect,
and for the conversion of all heretics,
schismatics, lebertines,
atheists, blasphemers,
sorcerers, Mahomedans,
Jews, and idolaters.
Ah! yes, my Jesus,
mayest Thou be known,
adored, and loved by all
and may thanks be continually given to Thee
in the most holy and august Sacrament!
Another: (Shorter)
With that profound humility which the Faith itself
inspires in me,
O my God and Saviour Jesus Christ,
true God and true man,
I love Thee with all my heart,
and I adore Thee who art hidden here,
in reparation for all the irreverences,
profanations and sacrileges
which Thou receivest in the most adorable Sacrament of the
Altar.
I adore Thee, O my God,
if not so much as Thou art worthy to be adored
nor so much as I am bound to do,
yet as much as I am able;
would that I could adore Thee
with that perfect worship which the Angels in heaven
are enabled to offer Thee.
Mayest Thou, O my Jesus, be known, adored,
loved and thanked by all men at every moment
in this most holy and Divine Sacrament.
Amen.
Another: (One that can be said daily)
O Jesus, my Savior and Redeemer, Son of the living God, behold, we kneel before Thee and offer Thee our reparation; we would make amends for all the blasphemies uttered against Thy holy name, for all the injuries done to Thee in the Blessed Sacrament, for all the irreverence shown toward Thine immaculate Virgin Mother, for all the calumnies and slanders spoken against Thy spouse, the holy Catholic and Roman Church. O Jesus, who hast said: "If you ask the Father anything in My name, He will give it to you," we pray and beseech Thee for all our brethren who are in danger of sin; shield them from every temptation to fall away from the true faith; save those who are even now standing on the brink of the abyss; to all of them give light and knowledge of the truth, courage and strength for the conflict with evil, perseverance in faith and active charity! For this do we pray, most merciful Jesus, in Thy name, unto God the Father, with whom Thou livest and reignest in the unity of the Holy Spirit world without end. Amen
Please pray that no one does this! and here's some similar acts of reparation that I found online:
Act of Reparation to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament:
With that most profound respect
which divine Faith inspires,
O my God and Saviour Jesus Christ,
true God and true man,
I adore Thee,
and with my whole heart I love Thee,
hidden in the most august Sacrament of the Altar,
in reparation of all the irreverences,
profanations, and sacrileges, that I,
to my shame, may have until now committed,
as also for all those
that have been committed against Thee,
or that may be ever committed for the time to come.
I offer to Thee,
therefore, O my God,
my humble adoration, not indeed,
such as Thou art worthy of,
nor such as I owe Thee,
but such, at least,
as I am capable of offerings;
and I wish that I could love Thee
with the most perfect love
of which rational creatures are capable.
In the meantime,
I desire to adore Thee now and always,
not only for those Catholics
who do not adore or love Thee,
but also so supply the defect,
and for the conversion of all heretics,
schismatics, lebertines,
atheists, blasphemers,
sorcerers, Mahomedans,
Jews, and idolaters.
Ah! yes, my Jesus,
mayest Thou be known,
adored, and loved by all
and may thanks be continually given to Thee
in the most holy and august Sacrament!
Another: (Shorter)
With that profound humility which the Faith itself
inspires in me,
O my God and Saviour Jesus Christ,
true God and true man,
I love Thee with all my heart,
and I adore Thee who art hidden here,
in reparation for all the irreverences,
profanations and sacrileges
which Thou receivest in the most adorable Sacrament of the
Altar.
I adore Thee, O my God,
if not so much as Thou art worthy to be adored
nor so much as I am bound to do,
yet as much as I am able;
would that I could adore Thee
with that perfect worship which the Angels in heaven
are enabled to offer Thee.
Mayest Thou, O my Jesus, be known, adored,
loved and thanked by all men at every moment
in this most holy and Divine Sacrament.
Amen.
Another: (One that can be said daily)
O Jesus, my Savior and Redeemer, Son of the living God, behold, we kneel before Thee and offer Thee our reparation; we would make amends for all the blasphemies uttered against Thy holy name, for all the injuries done to Thee in the Blessed Sacrament, for all the irreverence shown toward Thine immaculate Virgin Mother, for all the calumnies and slanders spoken against Thy spouse, the holy Catholic and Roman Church. O Jesus, who hast said: "If you ask the Father anything in My name, He will give it to you," we pray and beseech Thee for all our brethren who are in danger of sin; shield them from every temptation to fall away from the true faith; save those who are even now standing on the brink of the abyss; to all of them give light and knowledge of the truth, courage and strength for the conflict with evil, perseverance in faith and active charity! For this do we pray, most merciful Jesus, in Thy name, unto God the Father, with whom Thou livest and reignest in the unity of the Holy Spirit world without end. Amen
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
ATTENTION PHILADELPHIA CATHOLICS!
I just had a crazy idea, that will probably fail in the end, but I still want to try it. Lets organize a petition to re-open a closed Philadelphia church, as a personal parish for the tridentine mass.
I'm serious. Let's write a nice, well thought out letter, with cited sources, and give it to the chancery and Cardinal Rigali, asking them to set one up. We have to face the simple fact, that none of the parishes that offer the EF are in easily accessibly places, or places that are though of as safe by our more suburban friends. Option #1 is Assumption BVM. It's a huge, beautiful gothic church on Spring Garden, that is still in good condition, considering its been closed since 1995. It's four blocks away from the orange line, and three buses that run on Broad. There are also buses that run directly along Spring garden, and the Orange Line is connected with the El, which is connected to more buses and trolleys than I can count. Its not very far from center city.
Option #2 is old Holy trinity. Also, in good condition, as well as being very famous, and easily accessible. Right now, its technically still open, but doesn't function as a parish.
If you are interested in organising a petition, send me an e-mail. Please tell all your friends! (And enemies too, of they might be interested.)
I'm serious. Let's write a nice, well thought out letter, with cited sources, and give it to the chancery and Cardinal Rigali, asking them to set one up. We have to face the simple fact, that none of the parishes that offer the EF are in easily accessibly places, or places that are though of as safe by our more suburban friends. Option #1 is Assumption BVM. It's a huge, beautiful gothic church on Spring Garden, that is still in good condition, considering its been closed since 1995. It's four blocks away from the orange line, and three buses that run on Broad. There are also buses that run directly along Spring garden, and the Orange Line is connected with the El, which is connected to more buses and trolleys than I can count. Its not very far from center city.
Option #2 is old Holy trinity. Also, in good condition, as well as being very famous, and easily accessible. Right now, its technically still open, but doesn't function as a parish.
If you are interested in organising a petition, send me an e-mail. Please tell all your friends! (And enemies too, of they might be interested.)
Monday, July 7, 2008
The Mass Explained, Part I: The Vestments
For some reason, which I don't know, I've decided to talk about all the symbolism behind the parts, ceremonies, and adornments of the mass. Not the Tridentine, but the reformed missal that most of us usually see. I don;t want the posts to be long, so I'll do it in several parts. Part I is before the mass.
We all know what the mass is. It's the sacrifice of Christ, the same as the cross, only presented to us in an unbloody manner. The mass is the same sacrifice as calvary, because the offerer is the same (Christ, the high priest of the New Covenant.) and that which is offered is the same. ( Jesus Christ, our lord.)
We know that when we receive communion, we receive the true and real body and blood of Christ. But what many of us were never taught is what everything else means. The incense, tha candles, the vestments, it's all wasted on us if we don't get the symbolism. Rather than remove such ceremonies, to be "relevant", it is best to explain them. We begin in the sacristy before mass.
The priest before mass, puts on his vestments, all of which have a meaning, of different virtues, and of the passion of Christ. Originally, all the priestly vestments were the same as the dress of early Christian laymen, only more elaborate, or more decorated. As time went on, these clothes began to be associated with the priesthood, and the Church retained them in her worship, in memory of her roots. They then became even more and more decorated, and made of materials more precious than before.
The Amice is a white linen cloth ,decorated with a small cross, worn over the shoulders and neck, and kept in place by tapes. Putting it on, the priest briefly passes it on the head, and ties it like a hood. Originally, it was in fact a hood, worn in cold drafty churches. Now, it keeps sweat off of the precious vestments, and hides the celebrant's street clothes. It represents the helmet of salvation, (Ephesians 16:17) and also the linen rag with which our lord was blindfolded . (Mark 14:65)
As he puts it, he prays:
"Place upon me, O Lord, the helmet of salvation, that I may overcome the assaults of the devil."
Over the amice, the priest outs on the Alb. the alb is a white linen or cotton garment reaching to the feet, and was originally an undergarment. It symbolises the virtues of purity and innocence, (Rev 17:13-15) and also the garment with which Herod clothed Christ in mockery. ( Luke 23:11)
Putting it on, he may say:
"Purify me, O Lord, and cleanse my heart; that, being made white in the Blood of the Lamb, I may come to eternal joy."
To keep the alb in place, the priest puts on the Cincture, sometimes called the girdle. It was originally a woolen cord used to keep the alb in place, and is symbolic of the virtue of chastity, and the cords with which Christ was bound. Putting it on, he may say:
"Gird me, O Lord, with the girdle of purity, and extinguish in me all evil desires, that the virtue of chastity may abide in me."
Now optional, some priests wear a maniple. The maniple was originally a rag used to wipe sweat from the face .Now, it symbolises patience, labor, reward, and suffering. (Psalm 125:6)
As he puts it on, he may pray:
"Grant, O Lord, that I may so bear the maniple of weeping and sorrow, that I may receive the reward for my labors with rejoicing."
The priest next puts on the stole. The stole is a narrow band of fabric, of the same material and design of the chasuble, and kept in place by the cincture. The stole was originally a kind of towel, that become a sign of authority . It is a sign of immortality, and of the authority that Christ invests his priests.
As he puts it on, he may pray:
"Restore unto me, O Lord, the stole of immortality, which was lost through the guilt of our first parents: and, although I am unworthy to approach Your sacred Mysteries, nevertheless grant unto me eternal joy."
Lastly, he puts on the Chasuble. The chasuble was originally a woolen cloak, which covered the entire body. It may be decorated with various Christian motif. The chasuble is symbolic of the yoke of Christ (Matthew 11:29-30) and of the purple mantle with which Pontius Pilate's soldiers clothed Christ. ( John 19:1-3)
As the priest puts it on, he may say:
"O Lord, Who said: My yoke is easy and My burden light: grant that I may bear it well and follow after You with thanksgiving. Amen."
The vestments come in various colors, which you will see throughout the liturgical season:
Violet.
Violet, preferably a somber, dark shade, is worn during the penitential seasons of Advent and Lent. Purple signifies great solemnity, with connotations of both penance and royal dignity. Decoration of the vestments for these penitential season is appropriately simple.
Rose.
Rose colored vestments may be worn on the third Sundays of Advent and Lent, to suggest a pause or lift in the penitential focus of these seasons, appropriate because of the initial Latin words of the collects for these Sundays, which mention rejoicing.The rose should be a bright feminine pink, but a darker color.
White.
White is a symbol of purity, light, rejoicing, and of the Resurrection, and is used on all special feasts of Our Lord, Christmas and Easter season, Corpus Christi, and at festive occasions such as weddings and baptisms.
Since Vatican II, white vestments may also usually used at funerals, suggestive of the Resurrection; however black vestments should still be used regularly . Interestingly, white signifies mourning in the religions of the Far East, but not in the West.
For Marian feasts and solemnities, some parishes have special white vestments ornamented with blue, symbolizing Mary's fidelity. Blue is not a liturgical color, however, and is not to be used as the main vestment color
Cloth-of-gold, often richly embroidered, may sometimes replace white, especially for very festive feasts, such as Christmas and Easter, or for weddings.
Red.
Red vestments are worn on the feasts of martyrs and on Pentecost, Passion Sunday, and feasts of the apostles. The color symbolizes martyr's blood -- also fire, for Pentecost. Usually red is used now on Good Friday, instead of the traditional black.
Green.
Green vestments are worn during Ordinary Time, (after Epiphany and after Pentecost.)which is the largest segment of the liturgical calendar including most of the summer. Green signifies new growth, the flourishing of the "vineyard".
Black.
Black, signifying absence of light and mourning, is properly used on All Souls Day, and funeral masses.
(Sources: Here, here, )
Sunday, July 6, 2008
Random Fact that you don;t need to know
Each of the suits on a deck of cards represents the four major pillars of the economy in the middle ages: heart represented the Church, spades represented the military, clubs represented agriculture, and diamonds represented the merchant class.
(From this site.)
(From this site.)
You're joking right? Oh, you are'nt.
You might know of a certain St Louis nun who was ( rightfully) excommunicated, and put under interdict for attempting to simulate an ordination.
She, and others known to her are claiming her innocence. Apparently, the big mean ol' bishop is imposing canonical penalties on an innocent nun who has only worked for the poor and oppressed.for no good reason. Apparently, you can break canon law, deny the teaching of the Catholic church, and disobey legitimate authority, and people will still come to your rescue if you do some good works here and there. I'm thinking, somewhere in the Loopy La-La-Land of Liberalism, she completely lost her natural born mind.
They even have the gall to call her a faithful Catholic! Faithful in what? Being unfaithful? Considering the ideas of many Catholics nowadays, I think disobedience is the new obedience.
Of course, NCR had to spin the story, to make it seem like big mean ol' Archbishop Burke (Who is in league with the oppressive mean ol' Vatican!) picked on a little, innocent nun who's spent almost her whole life serving the poor.
Even worse, she says she was shocked that such penalties were imposed. For crying out loud! they TOLD HER months beforehand what what happen if she did it, and she did it anyway. That's like a mass murderer being shocked that he gets arrested and four consecutive life sentences, plus 60 years, after he was told what he'll get if he murders people.
Lastly. her "Spirituality of Nonviolence" thing sounds like nothing but a bunch of new age junk, with no grounding in the teachings of the church.
My Rant Is Over.
The St. Louis Archdiocese says:
She, and others known to her are claiming her innocence. Apparently, the big mean ol' bishop is imposing canonical penalties on an innocent nun who has only worked for the poor and oppressed.for no good reason. Apparently, you can break canon law, deny the teaching of the Catholic church, and disobey legitimate authority, and people will still come to your rescue if you do some good works here and there. I'm thinking, somewhere in the Loopy La-La-Land of Liberalism, she completely lost her natural born mind.
They even have the gall to call her a faithful Catholic! Faithful in what? Being unfaithful? Considering the ideas of many Catholics nowadays, I think disobedience is the new obedience.
Of course, NCR had to spin the story, to make it seem like big mean ol' Archbishop Burke (Who is in league with the oppressive mean ol' Vatican!) picked on a little, innocent nun who's spent almost her whole life serving the poor.
Even worse, she says she was shocked that such penalties were imposed. For crying out loud! they TOLD HER months beforehand what what happen if she did it, and she did it anyway. That's like a mass murderer being shocked that he gets arrested and four consecutive life sentences, plus 60 years, after he was told what he'll get if he murders people.
Lastly. her "Spirituality of Nonviolence" thing sounds like nothing but a bunch of new age junk, with no grounding in the teachings of the church.
My Rant Is Over.
The St. Louis Archdiocese says:
"As a result of his judgment of the case, Archbishop Burke has also imposed the following canonical penalties upon Sister Louise Lears: 1) the penalty of interdict and 2) the prohibition of receiving any mission in the Archdiocese of Saint Louis, effective immediately. Interdict prohibits the reception of the Sacraments. The prohibition of receiving any mission prohibits the holding of any Church position or the exercise of any apostolate of the Church in the Archdiocese of Saint Louis.Let's all pray that she comes to repentance. Seriously.
The penalties are imposed for the purpose of bringing Sister Louise Lears to repentance for the delicts which she has committed and to reconciliation with the Catholic Church.
Archbishop Burke expressed his sadness in imposing the canonical penalties which were necessitated by the refusal of Sister Louise Lears, even after repeated admonitions, to withdraw her statements and repudiate her conduct which have constituted grave delicts in the Church. The Archbishop asks all of the faithful of the Archdiocese to pray for the reconciliation of Sister Louise Lears with the Church."
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Jult 1: Feast of the precious blood
July first is the feast of the precious blood, and July is the month of the precious blood. (Like May is Mary's month.)
Today we should all give thanks to Jesus,for suffering on the cross and dying to redeem us by shedding his precious blood. St.Peter says that the blood of Christ, with which we have been redeemed is of more value, even than gold, silver of jewels. (I Peter 1:18-19) It used to be common to say at the elevation of the chalice "You have redeemed us O Lord, not with perishable things, but with your own precious blood."
St. Augustine says in the reading at today divine office, of the efficacy of Christ's blood in redeeming us:
"Look what he paid, and you shall see what he bought. Christ's Blood was the price. What is his Blood worth? What, but the whole world? What but all men? They are very unthankful for his redemption, or very proud, who say that it is only precious enough to buy the Africans, or that they themselves are so precious that it was shed only for them. Let there be an end to such conceit, and end to such vainglory. What he paid, he paid for all."
In the Te Deum, a hymn we sing in the liturgy of the hours on solemn feast days, we sing " Save your servants, o Lord, whom you have redeemed with your own precious blood."Today, and this month, we should thank him for giving us his blood to drink in the Eucharist. ( John 6:56, Matthew 26:27) We should also make sure that we are prepared to got to communion, and we should offer penances,like giving up something we like for the day, or doing something we don't like, in reparation for those who don't heed Paul's warning not to come to communion if we are in mortal sin, lest we profane the Lord's body and blood, and eat and drink damnation on ourselves. ( I Corinthians 11:27, 11:29)
Here is a prayer of reparation for the precious blood:
Offering in Reparation to the Precious Blood
Eternal Father, I offer Thee the merits of the Precious Blood of Jesus, Thy beloved Son, my Savior and my God, for the spread and exaltation of my dear Mother, Thy holy Church, for the preservation and welfare of her visible Head, the sovereign Roman Pontiff, for the cardinals, bishops, and pastors of souls, and for all the ministers of the sanctuary.
- Glory be to the Father, etc.
Blessed and praised for evermore be Jesus, who hath saved us with his Blood!
Eternal Father, I offer Thee the merits of the Precious Blood of Jesus, Thy beloved Son, my Savior and my God, for peace and concord among Catholic kings and princes, for the humbling of the enemies of our holy faith, and for the welfare of all Thy Christian people.
- Glory be to the Father, etc.
Blessed and praised for evermore be Jesus, who hath saved us with his Blood!
Eternal Father, I offer Thee the merits of the Precious Blood of Jesus, Thy beloved Son, my Savior and my God, for the conversion of unbelievers, the rooting-up of all heresies, and the conversion of sinners.
- Glory be to the Father, etc.
Blessed and praised for evermore be Jesus, who hath saved us with his Blood!
Eternal Father, I offer Thee the merits of the Precious Blood of Jesus, Thy beloved Son, my Savior and my God, for all my relations, friends and enemies, for those in need, in sickness, and in tribulation, and for all those for whom Thou knowest that I am bound to pray, and willest that I should pray for.
- Glory be to the Father, etc.
Blessed and praised for evermore be Jesus, who hath saved us with his Blood!
Eternal Father, I offer Thee the merits of the Precious Blood of Jesus, Thy beloved Son, my Savior and my God, for all those who are to pass this day to the other life, that Thou wouldst deliver them from the pains of hell, and admit them with all speed to the possession of Thy glory.
- Glory be to the Father, etc.
Blessed and praised for evermore be Jesus, who hath saved us with his Blood!
Eternal Father, I offer Thee the merits of the Precious Blood of Jesus, Thy beloved Son, my Savior and my God, for all men who are lovers of this great treasure and who are united with me in adoring and glorifying It and who labor to spread this devotion.
- Glory be to the Father, etc.
Blessed and praised for evermore be Jesus, who hath saved us with his Blood!
Eternal Father, I offer Thee the merits of the Precious Blood of Jesus, Thy beloved Son, my Savior and my God, for all my needs, both temporal and spiritual, as in intercession for the holy souls in purgatory, and in an especial manner for those who were most devoted to this price of our redemption, and to the sorrows and sufferings of our dear Mother, Mary most holy.
- Glory be to the father,etc.
Blessed and praised for evermore be Jesus, who hath saved us with his Blood!
Glory to the Blood of Jesus both now and for evermore and through the everlasting ages. Amen.
Monday, June 30, 2008
Vacation time!
It's between London and Atlantic city for my summer vacation, and since we go to Atlantic city almost every year (Trust me, it's no fun the thirteenth time.) I'm pushing for London.
I've never been there, and I wanted to go to Disney world, but people say I'm too old.(Lies! You're never to old for Disney world! it's like pacifiers and Saturday morning cartoons.) We could just end up going nowhere, depending on how my father's work schedule is. Unfortunately, It's summer in Philadelphia which means two things: 1) There's nothing to do. 2) the place is full of tourists.
Oh sure, they help the summer economy, but they crowd the PT and the cabs, talk loudly, and buy up everything in whatever stores they go to. There's even people who come all the way to Haddington to buy Morrone's water ice. They also think everything is a tourist attraction.
(Including the local cathedral. More than once, you can see them taking pictures during mass.)
I've never been there, and I wanted to go to Disney world, but people say I'm too old.(Lies! You're never to old for Disney world! it's like pacifiers and Saturday morning cartoons.) We could just end up going nowhere, depending on how my father's work schedule is. Unfortunately, It's summer in Philadelphia which means two things: 1) There's nothing to do. 2) the place is full of tourists.
Oh sure, they help the summer economy, but they crowd the PT and the cabs, talk loudly, and buy up everything in whatever stores they go to. There's even people who come all the way to Haddington to buy Morrone's water ice. They also think everything is a tourist attraction.
(Including the local cathedral. More than once, you can see them taking pictures during mass.)
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