40 hours,

Which began in the U.S. here in Philly by S.John Neumann, was celebrated at my parish last week.I began with a solemn high mass on Sunday and ended with solemn pontifical vespers on Tuesday.
Here are a great many photos of the mass from Patrick, our postulant:
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16

Okay, now go and be amazed.

Well, that's not helpful. D:

My brother, after crashing EVERYONES COMPUTERS decided to make up for it by re-installing Windows. Only, he bought the 'New' disk from ebay. The 'New' disk is covered in obvious, visible scratches, and many of the files are corrupted.
So now we have to send it back, get the money back, and spam the guy with repeated negative reviews.

The good news, is that almost none of my files were affected. <3
The bad news is that the one file that was affected is the internet software, so Verizon does'nt recognize my computer. D:

BOOK RE-BINDING.

[Allcapz]

Almost all of my breviaries have damaged covers or binding.Volume II of the Liturgy of the hours is in such bad condition that the covers are attached to the spine by only two thin threads. Volume III has the end paper torn and separated at the back cover, and the glue is coming away.
Volume IV has only some tearing at the front cover, and volume I is in perfect condition.

My Anglican Breviary has no front cover, and my copy of the Newman House Lauds and Vespers (my day-to-day breviary) has both covers and the endpapers torn off.The title on the spine is also torn off, and everything is repaired with tape.

I'd like to get it repaired,but I don't know where to go. I'd like to have Lauds and Vespers rebound in leather, or at least bonded leather, with the title in gold on the spine, not on the front. I'd like to have the edges of the pages gilded.That's about it.If I could, I'd like to get the kalendar, the commons,the litany, and the preparation for communion printed up and inserted, but that's a plus.

*Sigh*

We're trying to find a Phillies game to go to. The home opener was'nt available, and neither was the game against the Cardinals, among many games I want to go to. The only day where my dad is'nt scheduled for something at work or at his church is the game against the Mets. And I'm not fond of the Mets, for totally un-obvious reasons. (Try to guess, you'll never get it)

Anyway, in an effort to get more up to date on current stats, I'm forcing myself to memorize the stats of the current rosters of every team that the Phils will go against. Beside the Phils, I'm really familiar with only four other teams.

Mental Note:

You have already watched episodes five and six of Oofuri, so please do not watch them again trying to figure out which episode you're on on. It is episode seven that you need to watch.

The bad thing is that now with the computers crashed, I can't watch anymore episodes. This laptop is over nine years old, and the video card does'nt work.
And on that note, I have neither watched nor read that other baseball manga series,Major. Even if it does look like it might be filled with lots of possibly offensive, un-PC stereotypes.

*Edited to remove dysgraphic typing.*

Why does'nt my computer recognise Dysgraphia as a real word? Hmm..

Ah, just great.

There's a HUGE wasp in the kitchen, and I have some things on the stove cooking for dinner.*I don't want to kill it, I just wish he'd kind of go away. Besides, I'm afraid of bees and wasps.
Maybe I'll just send the kitten in there to deal with it. She killed a bee once, maybe she can kill a wasp.

*Yeah I know, this early in the morning? But It's a two part recipe, and part one involves simmering the chicken in some spice, oil and other ingredients for quite a while to make a kind of marinade and then letting it sit for four hours.

Hmm..

Well, it seems that the computers of everyone in the house have been affected by this terirble computer virus going around.We saved my second laptop, by my good one downstairs as well as everyone elses have crashed. And on mine, only the administrator account works well. The guest account, where I keep all my stock photos and reference drawings is sloooow. And Firefox crashes on it.
My files don't seem to have suffered any damage though. I just wonder if it's safe to move the photos at least from the guest to the administrator account.

Anyway, I'm going downtown to buy new markers today and start the drawing of Beat.And also, find a way to color my manga, since I was dumb and drew on both sides of the paper,and the ink will soak through.

Now that Easter is over.*

*Sleeps late*
*Engorges on candy*
*Eats red meat three meals a day*




*Technically it's just begun, I know,but all the hard parts with the constant services and fasting is over. And yes, I'm already aware that this makes me a Bad Catholic.

Some Easter photos.

After Lauds of Easter Sunday.
The blurriness is the effect of a substance that I think is rather obvious, considering the day.

Before vespers of Holy Saturday.

After compline of Holy Saturday.

Lauds of Easter Sunday.

Ritual Notes.

For the Vigil and first solemn mass of Easter.

Music: (Basically the same as last year. Yay copy/paste!

Psalms and canticles after the readings:The Canticle of Moses, sung to the gregorian tone 2.d. The Canticle of Isaiah, sung to tone 8.c. Psalm 19, sung to tone 2.d Psalm 42, sung to tone 7.d.

Gloria: 'Little organ mass', Franz Josef Haydn

Alleluia:Roman Gradual and psalm 118 in English.

At the baptisms: Faith,Hope, and Love, Alexander Peloquin.

Renewal of baptismal promises and sprinkling: Sicut Cervus, G.P. da Palestrina

Offertory: Cantique de Jean Racine, Gabriel Faure. Organ improvisation.

Communion: Proper antiphon and psalm,Hymn: The Strife is O'er, Ego sum Panis Vivus, Josef Surzynski.

Antiphon to Our Lady: Regina Caeli, Gregor Aichinger

Recessional: Jesus Christ is Ris'n today.

Postlude. Prelude and Fugue in C major, BWV 549.


There were to have been four servers, but one is away in Mexico, so one of the brothers stepped in as thurifer. Besides the celebrant, there were four concelebrants, all in gold gothic chasbles. Albs and surplices edged with lace were also worn by some.

The blessing of the Easter fire took place outside of the door of one of the transepts of the church. After it was blessed and incense laid on, the procession went into the church and down the side aisle, then up the center aisle, with the celebrant stopping to chant the invitation 'light of Christ' with the response three times, in successively higher tones. The exultet was sung beautifully by one of the concelebrants. The vigil then proceeded.
All seven readings were read, with psalms chanted after the third, fifth, sixth, and seventh readings. The collects were sung after each reading.

Then the gloria was sung, the church bells and sanctuary bells rung, and the altar candles lighted.After the epistle was read,the alleluia was solemnly intoned (The traditional mode 8 alleluia, Roman Gradual) in successively higher tones, with psalm 118 sung to tone 8.G*. The gospel was sung by one of the concelebrant, and what's probably now the most memorable Easter vigil sermon ever was preached.

AT the baptisms (And there were many, praise God!) those to be baptised went in procession to the font while the litany of the saints was sung.The font was solemnly blessed, and those to be baptised were baptised while the canticle was sung.After the baptisms, the Baptismal promises were renewed, and the celebrant, assisted by the M.C., sprinkled the people with holy water, using the traditional bundle of hyssop rather than the aspergil.
After the intercessions, mass continued as usual.

The mass was celebrated ad orientem.Communion was given at the rail once again. I think I should now retract my long-held opinion on communion kneeling. (That all those stories about people being receptive to communion kneeling were just platitudes and useless or false anecdotes.) Throughout the triduum, even though they were not required to kneel or receive on the tongue, almost everyone did so any way.The exceptions were in the single digits.
After communion, the post-communion was sung, as well as the blessing and solemn dismissal.The antiphon to Our Lady was sung before the recessional. It was wonderful to hear the pedal reeds again in the prelude, after weeks of absence, especially the 32' Double Ophicleide in the fugue.
After mass, there was cake and champagne in the parish hall, in the crypt of the church.

Ritual Notes.

Music:

Gradual: Christus Factus est, Felice Anerio

Tract:Psalm 33, chanted in English to a Gregorian tone, alternating between the men and women of the choir.

Passion: Roman chant, adapted to English

Veneration of the cross: Reproaches, Vittoria. Crux Fidelis/Pange Lingua...Certaminis, Roman Gradual.

Procession of the Blessed Sacrament: O crux Ave, G.P. Da Palestrina

Communion: Hymn: The Royal Banner Forward Go, Adoramus te Christe, Dubois.

For Good Friday.There were three servers , the M.C., and three priests in choir, all wearing plain surplices.The celebrant wore the same roman chasuble, stole and maniple as on Palm Sunday. After the prostration, the collect was said, and then the readings read by a reader. After the gradual and tract, the passion was chanted to the traditional Roman tones by the Celebrant (taking the part of Christ) and two men from the choir. The final verses were sung to the traditional 'burial tone'. The homily was given by Fr.Brennan, one of the priests who helps out at the parish.(He also helps by celebrating the tridentine low mass on Sundays.)

After the sermon, the solemn collects were sung by the celebrant in a ferial tone, with everyone kneeling or standing as appropriate.Afterward, the cross was brought to the sanctuary by one of the servers, while the other two held candles. The celebrant sang the invitation "This is the wood of the cross" three times, in successively higher tones as he uncovered the cross,and all genuflected toward it. The servers took the cross to the footpace of the altar.The celebrant then removed his shoes and chasuble, and after genuflecting three times, venerated the cross. The three priests in choir came into the sanctuary and after genuflecting, venerated it as well.Then the cross was taken to the the sanctuary gates and venerated by the people. Almost everyone (Really, there were only two exceptions) venerated it by genuflecting and then kneeling and kissing the cross. While this happened,two of the brothers covered the altar with an altar cloth and put the missal on it.

The servers, M.C. and priest went to the altar of repose to bring the Blessed Sacrament to the altar. After putting on the humeral veil, the celebrant carried the Blessed Sacrament in procession to the altar.The servers put the two candles on the altar. The Our Father was sung, and after the celebrant's communion, communion was given at the altar rail by the celebrant and one of the assisting priests.After the purification of the vessels and the priests' hands, the postcommunion was sung, and then the prayer over the people. The servers and M.C. went to the sacristy by the short route, and the parish's relics of the True Cross and the Crown of Thorns were available for veneration at the altar rail.Most people came and knelt down to kiss the relics.

Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

One more Photo.

After the unveiling of the cross on Good Friday.

THEIF!

I'm pretty sure someone's been sneaking around in my room while I'm away and stealing my stuff. Well, besides my brotther who goes into my room all the time and 'borrows' my copies of Shonen Jump* or  wears my clothes without asking** or decides to use my best headphones***. 

No, this is someone who comes and all they do is steal my markers. See, I had six different green markers-Dark Green,Apple Green,Bright Green, Celadon Green, Leaf Green, and Lime Green. Now I only have the first three of those colors. No one in the house knows where they went (Or at least, rather, no one is admitting that they're a filthy lying theif and they stole my stuff and they owe me monney)

So anyway, If I don't find them, I'll have to replace them. Which is good and well because my mother BROKE my Faber-Castell manga pen that I use for lining and doing line art. And my Cool Grey 30% is dried out.****

*Which he always leaves in places where they'll be easily damaged.Three of my copies no longer have covers, thanks to him.

**Which he stretches out, because he's much taller than me.Normal people don't try to wear their younger siblings' clothes.

***See the first.I found my one pair of Sennheisers sitting next to a large,full, glass of soda, just waiting to be tipped over.

****This one color seems to get used up more than any color I own. I've already gone through three since I got the set. All the other colors I got with the set still work fine though.D:

Some photos.

Palm Sunday.

Spy Wednesday,prepared for tenebrae the next morning.

After vespers on Maundy Thursday.

From around the house this Holy Week.

Ritual Notes.

For Maundy Thursday.

Music:

Kyrie and gloria: Community Mass, R.Proulx.

Psalm:Gregorian psalm tone, alternating between male and female voices of the choir.

Tract: Set to Kyrie Orbis Factor.

Antiphons at the maundy: Antiphons from the Roman Gradual. (Postquam surrexit Dominus,  Domine,tu mihi lavas pedes,  Si ego Dominus, In hoc cognoscet omnes,  Mandatum novum da nobis.) Antiphons, choral setting by Gregory A.Glenn.

Offertory: Ubi Caritas, Maurice Durufle. Hymn: Lord,Who at Thy First Eucharist Didst Pray. (Unde et Memores)

Sanctus: Missa Iubilate Deo

Agnus Dei: Holy Cross Mass, David Isele.

Communion: Proper antiphon and psalm, adapted to English. Hymn: O Food of Exiles lowly. (Innsbruck)

Procession to the altar of repose: Pange Lingua Gloriosi, Roman Gradual.

There were nine servers: Crucifer and two acolytes, thurifer and boat-bearer, and four torches. Besides the celebrant, there were four concelebrants (all wearing birettas) and the M.C., the 12 'apostles', five Bernadettes (from the parish girls' society) some Knights of Columbus,one of the Knights of Malta, and the brothers who weren't serving.

This mass was celebrated Ad orientem, and the altar was incensed* facing that direction.After the sign of the cross, before the confiteor and kyrie,the bernadettes presented flowers to all the priests present.The collects was sung, and the mass went on as usual. At the gloria, the organist played a short but very nice fanfare, and bells were rung by two alternating servers on opposite sides of the sanctuary.Before the tract, incense was blessed at the sedilia, and the procession went lined up with the homilist, who also proclaimed the gospel. At the maundy, the 12 men who had their feet washed were led by one of the brothers, the celebrant having removed his chasuble.After the intercessions, the celebrant explained why the priest would be facing ad orientem, and he also explained that communion would be given at the altar rail.All were given the option to receive standing or kneeling, and to receive on the hand on on the tongue, both according to their preference.

At the offertory, the holy oils were brought up by the bernadettes and put into the aumbry in the side wall of the sanctuary by the celebrant and the M.C. The missal was removed from the altar during the incensation, as is now the custom at high masses, and after the celebrant was incensed, the concelebrating priests were incensed, followed by the M.C. and the people.The sanctuary gates were closed at the orate fratres.The super oblata, sursum corda and preface were sung, and the Roman Canon was used.At the elevations, the Blessed Sacrament was incensed from the side pf the bottom step, and the M.C. lifted the celebrant's chasuble.The crotalus replaced the bells.

After the per ipsum was sung,the Our Father was sung.Before the people's communion, the crotalus once again replaced the bells. Communion was given at the rail, with the M.C. holding one paten and a server the other.The vast majority of the people seem to have knelt anyway, despite the fact that they were given the option to stand.Most of those who knelt also received communion on the tongue, rather than the hand.

After the ablutions, the ciborium was veiled and the missal and chalice removed from the altar.After the post-communion prayer was sung,the celebrant changed from a white chasuble to a gold cope. Incense was blessed again, and the Blessed Sacrament incensed before the procession.The celebrant received the humeral veil from the M.C., and the torchbearers with their torches lined up with everyone who took part in the short procession from the sacristy before mass.The procession made a circuit around the church before going to the altar of repose, where the veiled urn was surrounded by a great many candles and flowers.After the Blessed Sacrament was incensed again, all genuflected and went to the sacristy.

The altars of the church were all stripped while the men of the choir chanted psalm 22 in latin, recto tono, with the antiphon diviserunt sibi.

The watch continued to midnight, and all departed in silence.

Photos: 1,2,3,4,5