Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Sorry, I've been slacking, mighty ill lately
Am just now starting to feel somewhat better after last weeks in and out nausea. Will be better to post soon. Just laying out all the ones I want to do!
Sunday, December 13, 2009
I know, seems like I'm slacking...
More later today. Yesterday I attended a [semi--!!!] Rorate Mass before the crack kof crack plus also a High Mass for a priest... More on those later, with a post to come about Guadalupe too, and more about Gaudete. Off to Mass shortly, sorry for the delay -- was too bone tired to post yesterday, I went to dinner about 4 then hit the wall and crawled to sleep.
Friday, December 11, 2009
Dude, Where's my very own Mass? St. Damasus wuz robbed
Somewhere between the 20s and 1948 "the powers that be" stripped St. Damasus of his very own Mass. Right now, St. Damasus has the plain vanilla "Si diligis me...." Mass. Not even any special Commemorations.
Someone had had it in for him. His Mass was more his own than any hybrid. The introit, Epistle and Gospel back then for his Mass was the same Introit, Epistle and Gospel for the "Sacredotis tui" mass for Confessor Bishops. (And the pope is, of course, also a bishop.)
The Alleluia was similar, but not quite the same as that Mass.
HOWEVER, the Collect, Gradule, Offertory, Secret, Communion and Post communion propers were "his own."
the Credo was said, and the Preface used was that of the preface of the Octave of the Immaculate Conception, which would have been the Preface for the Virgin, Mary.
--
I remember, last year running across a few historical quirks like this. I suspect, from my comparison of my 20s hand missal to the 48 and '62 missals, a lot of number of set Masses got conflated and or truncated.
I'll update this post a little later after work today. For each month of the year, I'm planning to put up a spread sheet of such changes.
Whatever prompted the powers that be to dink with this?
I will update this post a little later to give you the old propers to give St. Damasus his due!
Someone had had it in for him. His Mass was more his own than any hybrid. The introit, Epistle and Gospel back then for his Mass was the same Introit, Epistle and Gospel for the "Sacredotis tui" mass for Confessor Bishops. (And the pope is, of course, also a bishop.)
The Alleluia was similar, but not quite the same as that Mass.
HOWEVER, the Collect, Gradule, Offertory, Secret, Communion and Post communion propers were "his own."
the Credo was said, and the Preface used was that of the preface of the Octave of the Immaculate Conception, which would have been the Preface for the Virgin, Mary.
--
I remember, last year running across a few historical quirks like this. I suspect, from my comparison of my 20s hand missal to the 48 and '62 missals, a lot of number of set Masses got conflated and or truncated.
I'll update this post a little later after work today. For each month of the year, I'm planning to put up a spread sheet of such changes.
Whatever prompted the powers that be to dink with this?
I will update this post a little later to give you the old propers to give St. Damasus his due!
St. Damasus - Pope and Confessor - Dec 11
"White - Semi-double -- S
St. Damasus, bybirth a Spaniard, governed the Church from 366 to 384. "The ancients," according to Alban Butler, "particularly commend his constancy in maintaining the purity of our holy faith, the innocence of his manners, his Christian humility, his compassion for the poor, his piety in adorning holy places, especially the tombs of the martyrs, and his singular learning." At his command St. Jermoe translated the New Testament into Latin. This Pope also confirmed the second ecumenical council, held at Constantinope. -- SM"
--
This feast is now a "3rd class" feast. [I must do a post soon as regards the "old classifications" and the new ones -- sorry I've been lacking in that point. I shall go back too, and mention the new classifications in each saint post later on.]
An interesting point is that St. Damasus, used to have his own Mass the 1948 missal st. Mary's missal, and the '62 Baronius press missal both have the mass propers of the day as "Si diligis me...." whereas in the 20s this "pope, confessor" had his own mass Propers.
More about those 20s propers for this Mass later, I've got to get to work!!
St. Damasus, bybirth a Spaniard, governed the Church from 366 to 384. "The ancients," according to Alban Butler, "particularly commend his constancy in maintaining the purity of our holy faith, the innocence of his manners, his Christian humility, his compassion for the poor, his piety in adorning holy places, especially the tombs of the martyrs, and his singular learning." At his command St. Jermoe translated the New Testament into Latin. This Pope also confirmed the second ecumenical council, held at Constantinope. -- SM"
--
This feast is now a "3rd class" feast. [I must do a post soon as regards the "old classifications" and the new ones -- sorry I've been lacking in that point. I shall go back too, and mention the new classifications in each saint post later on.]
An interesting point is that St. Damasus, used to have his own Mass the 1948 missal st. Mary's missal, and the '62 Baronius press missal both have the mass propers of the day as "Si diligis me...." whereas in the 20s this "pope, confessor" had his own mass Propers.
More about those 20s propers for this Mass later, I've got to get to work!!
Thursday, December 10, 2009
St. Melchiades, Pope, Martyr - Dec 10
"Red, Semidouble, St. Damasus, Pope, Martyr --
"Pope St. Melchiades ruled the Church at the close of the era of persecution. St. Augustine styled him "a true son of peace and a true father of Christians." He died January 10, 314, having sat as Pope two years, six months, and eight days - SM"
This also would have been the 3rd day within the Octave of the Immaculate Conception.
The Baronius Press edition of the '62 missal also says that he "died peacefully, after undergoing great sufferings in the persecution of Maximian."
--
I thought the information was a bit scant about the details of his death -- so I further looked to an article about him in the Catholic Encyclopedia. It's odd that he's called a martyr, I think. Seems that his reign was towards the end of the persections, indeed, the civil authorities in his time had started to give back church properties which had been confiscated. This pope also had to deal with a lot of heretics and lapsi.
"Pope St. Melchiades ruled the Church at the close of the era of persecution. St. Augustine styled him "a true son of peace and a true father of Christians." He died January 10, 314, having sat as Pope two years, six months, and eight days - SM"
This also would have been the 3rd day within the Octave of the Immaculate Conception.
The Baronius Press edition of the '62 missal also says that he "died peacefully, after undergoing great sufferings in the persecution of Maximian."
--
I thought the information was a bit scant about the details of his death -- so I further looked to an article about him in the Catholic Encyclopedia. It's odd that he's called a martyr, I think. Seems that his reign was towards the end of the persections, indeed, the civil authorities in his time had started to give back church properties which had been confiscated. This pope also had to deal with a lot of heretics and lapsi.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Immaculate Conception - Dec. 8th
"White - Double - 1st Class - Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary"
The feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary was instituted to solemnize the exalted dignity bestowed upon her through a special grace of God, and in behalf of the merits of Chirst - a dignity and choice that preserved her from the least stain of original sin.
We must look kto the Orient for the first indications of this feast . In the Eastern Church it was observed as early as the seventh century, and in the Western Church it became known in the ninth century. Pope Sixtus IV introduced it (1476) into the Roman Church; Pope Gregory XV gave to it (1622) the title, "conception B.V.M. Immaculatae"; Innocent XII raised it (1693) to a feast of the 2nd class with an octave; Clement XI declared it (1708) a universal holyday; Pius IX gave it (1863) new Beviary hours and a new Mass; Leo XIII raised it (1879) to a feast of the first class with a vigil. The choice of December 8th was determined and approved solely in accordance with its tradition. - SM"
--
In the US, thDec. 8th is a holy day of obligation. She is the patron Saint of the United States.
I'm sure Roger Cardinal Mahoney is disappointed he can't give this feast a pass, as he will do with Jan 1st in 2010 (once again for at least the 3rd year running.)
Note that in the older calendars this feast used to be an Octave. no Octave for the '62 Missal.
Monday, December 7, 2009
2nd Sunday in Advent
I took such a visceral pleasure in spotting a "prothonotary warbler" at Mass yesterday, that I forgot to post the following:
"Purple II class -- Second Sunday of Advent --
Station at the Church of the Holy Cross in Jerusalem
The Apostles enjoyed the wonderful privilege of praying with Christ. We enjoy the same privilege in the official worship of the Church. we pray with Christ, the Head of the Mystical Body.
After Bethlehem and the manger comes Golgoths with the cross already shining far off over the peaceful country of Ephrata, where already shining far off over the peaceful country of Ephrata, where the Incarnate Word first appeared upon earth. The station is therefore at the Sessorian Basilica - the Roman counterpart of the Martyrdom at Jerusalem. Here was kept the Holy Cross which the Empress Helena had presented to the Church in Rome. Many allusions are made today to Jerusalem in the Liturgy.
The Prayer is inspired by the famous cry of the Baptist, "prepare ye the way of the Lord," so we pray to God to pour His grace into our hearts. This preparation consists in the spirit of contrition purifying the soul and in the sincere purpose of obedience to the divine precepts.
In the Epistle [Romans 15, 4-13] St. Paul in a few touches sketches the mission of the Redeemer to esptablish all mankind in one single family, the church. The Gospel testifies to the divinity of Christ by deeds rather than by words.
The Eucharistic grace for which we beg in the Postcommunion is that the holy bread, the memorial of the death of Our Lord, may destroy in us the germs of evil and may nourish us unto everlasting life. - SM"
"Purple II class -- Second Sunday of Advent --
Station at the Church of the Holy Cross in Jerusalem
The Apostles enjoyed the wonderful privilege of praying with Christ. We enjoy the same privilege in the official worship of the Church. we pray with Christ, the Head of the Mystical Body.
After Bethlehem and the manger comes Golgoths with the cross already shining far off over the peaceful country of Ephrata, where already shining far off over the peaceful country of Ephrata, where the Incarnate Word first appeared upon earth. The station is therefore at the Sessorian Basilica - the Roman counterpart of the Martyrdom at Jerusalem. Here was kept the Holy Cross which the Empress Helena had presented to the Church in Rome. Many allusions are made today to Jerusalem in the Liturgy.
The Prayer is inspired by the famous cry of the Baptist, "prepare ye the way of the Lord," so we pray to God to pour His grace into our hearts. This preparation consists in the spirit of contrition purifying the soul and in the sincere purpose of obedience to the divine precepts.
In the Epistle [Romans 15, 4-13] St. Paul in a few touches sketches the mission of the Redeemer to esptablish all mankind in one single family, the church. The Gospel testifies to the divinity of Christ by deeds rather than by words.
The Eucharistic grace for which we beg in the Postcommunion is that the holy bread, the memorial of the death of Our Lord, may destroy in us the germs of evil and may nourish us unto everlasting life. - SM"
St. Ambrose, Bishop, Confessor - Dec. 7th
"White - double -
St. Ambrose, a doctor or teacher of the Church, was Archbishop of Milan from A.D. 374 to his death in 397. By his steadfastness he deserved well of God's people. Gentleness, meekness, humility, and obedience made him yield to every one in indifferent matters, but in those of duty he was inflexible. His writing have contributed many hymns and lecctions to the Roman Breviary. St. Ambrose died April 4, 397. -- SM "
---
According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, there's no direct evidence that St. Ambrose composed the liturgy of the Ambrosian Rite, but his name has been associated with it since the eight century. You can read more about the Ambrosian Rite here. And more about Ambrose himself here.
BTW, the Ambrosian Rite is a western Catholic Rite that had always maintained a procession of gifts. So no, the tradition of processing with the offertory gifts wasn't something the NO people pulled out of thin air. It's also worth mentioning that the Eastern Rites have a highly stylized form of "little entrance" where the priest and servers process with the gifts from the sanctuary, through the congregation and into the sanctuary again.
--
St. Ambrose, a doctor or teacher of the Church, was Archbishop of Milan from A.D. 374 to his death in 397. By his steadfastness he deserved well of God's people. Gentleness, meekness, humility, and obedience made him yield to every one in indifferent matters, but in those of duty he was inflexible. His writing have contributed many hymns and lecctions to the Roman Breviary. St. Ambrose died April 4, 397. -- SM "
---
According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, there's no direct evidence that St. Ambrose composed the liturgy of the Ambrosian Rite, but his name has been associated with it since the eight century. You can read more about the Ambrosian Rite here. And more about Ambrose himself here.
BTW, the Ambrosian Rite is a western Catholic Rite that had always maintained a procession of gifts. So no, the tradition of processing with the offertory gifts wasn't something the NO people pulled out of thin air. It's also worth mentioning that the Eastern Rites have a highly stylized form of "little entrance" where the priest and servers process with the gifts from the sanctuary, through the congregation and into the sanctuary again.
--
Dude, where's my Vigil?!
I mean, what up wid dat?
In 1879 Leo XIII had raised the feast of the Immaculate Conception (Dec 78th) to a feast of the first class with a vigil. The Blessed Mother shoulda had a Vigil today too.
In the US Dec. th is a Holy Day of Obligation, Mahoney can't even dance around that one. But in reading the Ordo for the NO yesterday, I noted that once again, for the 3rd year running Mahoney, may his 75th birthday hasten soon, has once again decided all by fiat that Jan 1st as a holy Day of obligation need not be observed, never mind the fact that most Americans have that day off anyway, and will be sitting on their butts at home watching football most of the day, which is what I expect Mahoney will be doing. Because JP II was evidently having a bad hairball day when he was appointed, Los Angeles, San Diego, Monterrey, Fresno, San Bernadino, Merced and Orange Catholics wil get a freebie.
Then idiots like him will say "I don't know why I should go to holy days of obligation, even Mahoney doesn't think it's important enough, even through we all have the day off anyway."
In 1879 Leo XIII had raised the feast of the Immaculate Conception (Dec 78th) to a feast of the first class with a vigil. The Blessed Mother shoulda had a Vigil today too.
In the US Dec. th is a Holy Day of Obligation, Mahoney can't even dance around that one. But in reading the Ordo for the NO yesterday, I noted that once again, for the 3rd year running Mahoney, may his 75th birthday hasten soon, has once again decided all by fiat that Jan 1st as a holy Day of obligation need not be observed, never mind the fact that most Americans have that day off anyway, and will be sitting on their butts at home watching football most of the day, which is what I expect Mahoney will be doing. Because JP II was evidently having a bad hairball day when he was appointed, Los Angeles, San Diego, Monterrey, Fresno, San Bernadino, Merced and Orange Catholics wil get a freebie.
Then idiots like him will say "I don't know why I should go to holy days of obligation, even Mahoney doesn't think it's important enough, even through we all have the day off anyway."
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Latin/English Ordinary of the Mass
Fordham University has a nice page out with a side-by-side Latin/English of the Ordinary parts of the 1962 Mass which is easy to follow. This resource will also be kept on my sidebar, but I thought I'd call attention to it.
One note: that 2nd confiteor which used to be said while the priest was having Communion was officially "knocked out." in a fairly late change. I can see why too: [editorial comment coming up, fair warning] If the server is allegedly representing the unwashed, unlettered herd then he'd already said it for the sheeple. [Yes, there are a few things I would change about the latin Mass -- like more dialogue between priest and people -- especially on a Sunday, I'd as soon say my OWN Confiteor, thank you very much! Albeit, sometimes the choir is yodeling over it in a Missa Cantata.]
One note: that 2nd confiteor which used to be said while the priest was having Communion was officially "knocked out." in a fairly late change. I can see why too: [editorial comment coming up, fair warning] If the server is allegedly representing the unwashed, unlettered herd then he'd already said it for the sheeple. [Yes, there are a few things I would change about the latin Mass -- like more dialogue between priest and people -- especially on a Sunday, I'd as soon say my OWN Confiteor, thank you very much! Albeit, sometimes the choir is yodeling over it in a Missa Cantata.]
St. Nicholas, Bishop, Confessor - Dec. 6th
"White - Double - {now 3rd class-BP}
St. Nicholas, Archbishop of Myra is Asia Minor, [that's "Turkey" to you folks in Rio Linda-KH], from the childlike innocence of his own life and his devout care for the young looked upon as the patron of children. He died in the middle of the fourth century, and seven hundred years later his holy relics were translated to Bari in Italy. Because of the power he exercised over flames, we pray that through his intercession we may be preserved from the flames of hell. - SM"
---
St. Nicholas, Archbishop of Myra is Asia Minor, [that's "Turkey" to you folks in Rio Linda-KH], from the childlike innocence of his own life and his devout care for the young looked upon as the patron of children. He died in the middle of the fourth century, and seven hundred years later his holy relics were translated to Bari in Italy. Because of the power he exercised over flames, we pray that through his intercession we may be preserved from the flames of hell. - SM"
---
St. Sabbas, Abbot - Dec. 5
"White - simple - St. Sabbas, Abbot
St. Sabbas, a monk in Palestine, was famous for his charity to those in need, for his true Catholic zeal and for his austere life. There is a church in Rome dedicated to him. Over ninety years of age, he died in 531. - SM"
---
Off to Mass in a few minutes, but the commemorations for this Saint have changed. Prior to '62, this sent had his own Collect, Secret, and Post communion prayer. Now, for whatever reason, they are different.
A little more investigation, after I get back from Mass. [I KNEW I should have posted the night before, then I would have found the discrepancy earlier!]
St. Sabbas, a monk in Palestine, was famous for his charity to those in need, for his true Catholic zeal and for his austere life. There is a church in Rome dedicated to him. Over ninety years of age, he died in 531. - SM"
---
Off to Mass in a few minutes, but the commemorations for this Saint have changed. Prior to '62, this sent had his own Collect, Secret, and Post communion prayer. Now, for whatever reason, they are different.
A little more investigation, after I get back from Mass. [I KNEW I should have posted the night before, then I would have found the discrepancy earlier!]
Go to this page to see some contemporary pictures of the Basilica of St. Sabbas - use your browswer to find "Saba"
Update: Goofballs. I should have guessed. Upon further inspection, I find that the commemoration propers for this Mass are the same as always. It's just that the gooballs who were supposed to proofread their own stuff didn't. The Baronius Press Missal had "Os justi ... of an Abbot, p. 1037." 1037 which, when you turn to the Mass is the Mass of a "confessor not a bishop" whereas it SHOULD be "Os justi....of a holy 1043." BP people (and St. Peter's Fraternity" take note -- you have "1037 whereas it should be 1043" Duh. One of the proof readers asleep at the switch.
At any rate, this being Saturday, Fr. G. [you can reference "the Amazing Fr. G." on my other blog] said the Mass for the Immaculate Heart of Mary, this being a Saturday. On this blog, I will "ignore" if a Mass actually said is a First Friday Mass [usually Sacred Heart of Jesus] or Saturday [usually a Marian Mass.] Reason being I am trying to get through the whole calendar, and don't want to miss any saints. So at the Mass this morning the commems went: Immaculate Heart of Mary, 1st Sunday of Advent, and St. Sabbas. Last night they went: Sacred Heart of Jesus, 1st Sunday of Advent, and St. Peter C. -- St. Barbara got bumped. Because according to the rubrics of '62 you can only do 3 sets of commems max. In theory, They could have done her commems instead of St. Peter C.
Update: Goofballs. I should have guessed. Upon further inspection, I find that the commemoration propers for this Mass are the same as always. It's just that the gooballs who were supposed to proofread their own stuff didn't. The Baronius Press Missal had "Os justi ... of an Abbot, p. 1037." 1037 which, when you turn to the Mass is the Mass of a "confessor not a bishop" whereas it SHOULD be "Os justi....of a holy 1043." BP people (and St. Peter's Fraternity" take note -- you have "1037 whereas it should be 1043" Duh. One of the proof readers asleep at the switch.
At any rate, this being Saturday, Fr. G. [you can reference "the Amazing Fr. G." on my other blog] said the Mass for the Immaculate Heart of Mary, this being a Saturday. On this blog, I will "ignore" if a Mass actually said is a First Friday Mass [usually Sacred Heart of Jesus] or Saturday [usually a Marian Mass.] Reason being I am trying to get through the whole calendar, and don't want to miss any saints. So at the Mass this morning the commems went: Immaculate Heart of Mary, 1st Sunday of Advent, and St. Sabbas. Last night they went: Sacred Heart of Jesus, 1st Sunday of Advent, and St. Peter C. -- St. Barbara got bumped. Because according to the rubrics of '62 you can only do 3 sets of commems max. In theory, They could have done her commems instead of St. Peter C.
And as long as I'm banging on Baronius Press-- I HATE the way you guys are chintzy with your pages of NEVER duplicating anything. The propers for the Immaculate Heart of Mary are ALL OVER THE PLACES. TOO MANY FLIPS. It's not going to kill you to have an extras page in.
IMNHO [in my never humble opinion] I should not have to flip to a max of more than 2 places for the propers. [Not counting the preface.]
Tip for the person new to the Latin Mass -- Always read the propers before Mass. If the Mass is too "flippy" [i.e. the propers are all over heck and begone] you'll be thankful. As far as I'm concerned, sometimes the secret can STAY the secret, because it isn't worth flipping the page for 15 seconds to read. So read your commems beforehand and you won't feel guilty for not looking.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
St. Peter Chrysologus, St. Barbara - Dec. 4th
This is a day with three sets of Commemorations. [a "set" of commems would be the collect, secret and post communion prayers. -- in other words 3 of each type of prayer would be said.]
If the Mass of St. Peter is said, the collects go in order: St. Peter, 1st Sunday of Advent, then St. Barbara. If the Mass for St. Barbara was said, then the order would be reversed.
"White - double - St. Peter Chrysologus, Bishop, Confessor, Doctor of the Church -
St. Peter, Archbishop of Ravenna in Italy, who died about the year 450, won the title of Chrysologus, "Golden worded, " not only for his eloquence, but because his words were good, true, and of priceless worth. God's choice of St Peter as a bishop, which was made known in a vision to Pope Sixtus III, is alluded to in the prayer of the Mass. - SM"
Same day:
"Red - St. Barbara, Virgin, Martyr
St. Barbara, also commemorated today, was a virgin martyr, who suffered for Christ probably in Egypt, during the reign of Galerius, about the year 306. The details of her holy life are unknown; but she has been held in veneration throughout the Church from the date of her martyrdom. - SM"
The Epistle for St. Peter's Mass is the reading from 2nd Tim: 4, 1-8 -- the one about being careful for good teachers, and not false ones.
The Gospel is Matthew 5: 13019 -- JEsus admonishing his disciples that they are the salt of the earth, and holding them more accountable, because they will be teachers.
-----
Ut's worth noting that before the '62 missal, for the doctors of the Church the Credo (Creed) used to be said. Pity they dropped that.
One thing that the EF form does not currently have is a Mass to be said for "Virgin and Doctors." There weren't any females declared Doctors of the Church by the year 1962, but there are some now, and they deserve their snaps! BTW, the Church honors NO males as "Virgins."
Telling, isn't it? You'd think in 2000 years, but noooooo.
I've always particularly liked the introit for the Common of Doctors:
"In the midst of the Church he opened his mouth: and the Lord filled him with the spirit of wisdom and understanding: He clothed him with a robe of glory. It is good to give praise to the Lord; and to sing to tThy Name; O Most High. Glory be to the Father, ...[etc]"
If the Mass of St. Peter is said, the collects go in order: St. Peter, 1st Sunday of Advent, then St. Barbara. If the Mass for St. Barbara was said, then the order would be reversed.
"White - double - St. Peter Chrysologus, Bishop, Confessor, Doctor of the Church -
St. Peter, Archbishop of Ravenna in Italy, who died about the year 450, won the title of Chrysologus, "Golden worded, " not only for his eloquence, but because his words were good, true, and of priceless worth. God's choice of St Peter as a bishop, which was made known in a vision to Pope Sixtus III, is alluded to in the prayer of the Mass. - SM"
Same day:
"Red - St. Barbara, Virgin, Martyr
St. Barbara, also commemorated today, was a virgin martyr, who suffered for Christ probably in Egypt, during the reign of Galerius, about the year 306. The details of her holy life are unknown; but she has been held in veneration throughout the Church from the date of her martyrdom. - SM"
The Epistle for St. Peter's Mass is the reading from 2nd Tim: 4, 1-8 -- the one about being careful for good teachers, and not false ones.
The Gospel is Matthew 5: 13019 -- JEsus admonishing his disciples that they are the salt of the earth, and holding them more accountable, because they will be teachers.
-----
Ut's worth noting that before the '62 missal, for the doctors of the Church the Credo (Creed) used to be said. Pity they dropped that.
One thing that the EF form does not currently have is a Mass to be said for "Virgin and Doctors." There weren't any females declared Doctors of the Church by the year 1962, but there are some now, and they deserve their snaps! BTW, the Church honors NO males as "Virgins."
Telling, isn't it? You'd think in 2000 years, but noooooo.
I've always particularly liked the introit for the Common of Doctors:
"In the midst of the Church he opened his mouth: and the Lord filled him with the spirit of wisdom and understanding: He clothed him with a robe of glory. It is good to give praise to the Lord; and to sing to tThy Name; O Most High. Glory be to the Father, ...[etc]"
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
St. Francis Xavier - Dec 3
"St. Francis Xavier, Confessor - white, 3rd class [used to be Double Major, prior to '62*]
St. Francis Xavier, the great Jesuit Missionary, was the apostle of the east Indies, and the first to preach the faith of Christ in Japan. He baptized hundreds of thousands of pagans. He preached the gospel in more than one hundred kingdoms and brought kings and nations into the fold of the Church. This noble hearted missionary gave his soul to his Master, December 2, 1552. - SM"
---
You can read more about his in the Catholic Encyclopedia here.
* I will do a separate little article about how the feasts/days are classified. It was much simplified in '62.
There used to be a Vigil for St. Andrew?
Uh, yeah.One of the features of this blog will be to note how that "Static" Latin Mass did change a bit over the course of the 20th Century. One of the things done prior to '62 was there used to be a "Vigil of St. Andrew" celebrated on the 29th.
Eventually, (soon before I get too many changes to log to feel like doing then!), I will get together a spreadsheet or somesuch to show any changes to the calendar. I will try to add to it bit-by-bit.
The vigil would NOT have been celebrated if the 29th of Nov. fell on a Sunday, but the preceeding Saturday. [As it did this year.] However, iif the 29th was not a Sunday, a Vigil Mass for St. Andrew would have been done.
Here's what my 50s missal has to say:
"Purple - Simple Nov. 28th Vigil of St. Andrew, Apostle -
The day preceding a festival is styled a vigil (from the Latin word signifying a night-watch) because in the primitive ages the faithful passed in prayer in the Church the greater part of the evening and night preceding a festival. Nor did they break their fast until after the holy sacrifice of the Mass had been offered, and Communion given in the course of the vigil. Hence the greater vigils are still observed as fast-days; and the Mass of a Vigil has a specially penitential character. Purple vestments are worn by the priest, the Gloria in excelsis is not said. - SM"
This Mass had its own propers. [propers are changeable parts of the Mass]
The propers were:
Introit (corresponds to the entrance ampithon) - Matt. 4, 18-19 and Psalm 18,2
Collect (corresponds to the opening prayer, before the 1st reading) -
"We beseech Thee, O almighty God, that blessed Andrew, Thine apostle, for whose feast we are preparing, may implore for us Thine aid, that, our offenses being pardoned, we may also be saved from all dangers. Through our Lord...."
[an additional collect would have been done in commemoration of St. Saturnius whose day also falls on Nov 29th -- it was basically an older Mass than when the vigil came into exisistence]
Epistle - (Lesson) - Wisdom 44, 25-27; 45, 2-4; 6-9
Gradual - (would be the psalm between the 1st and 2nd reading) Ps. 138, 17-18
Gospel - John 1, 35-51
Offertory - Ps 8, 6, 5
Secret - "We offer Thee, O Lord, the gift to be consecrated, whereby, commemorating the solemnity of blessed Andrew, the apostle, we at the same time implore that our souls may be made clean. Through our Lord.." [Another secret would have been also added for St. Saturnius[]
Communion - (would correspond to Communion ampithon) - John 1, 41-42
Postcommunion - (closing prayer) -
"Having received Thy sacraments, O Lord, we humbly beseech Thee, that, by the inercession of blessed Andrew, Thy apostle, that which we perform in honor of his venerable passion may profit unto our healing, Through our Lord..." [Another Post-Communion prayer would have been added for St. Saturnius.]
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
St. Bibiana, Virgin, Martyr - Dec 2nd
"St. Bibiana, [also sometimes called Viviana-KH], a Roman virgin, was scourged to death (363( in the persecution of Julian the Apostate. Before her death her father, mother, and only sister, had given their lives for Christ. One of the most ancient churches in Rome bears her name, and is said to have been built on the site of her house. - SM"
There is more detail -- the Catholic Encyclopedia has this to say about her:
"The earliest mention in an authentic historical authority of St. Bibiana (Vibiana), a Roman female martyr, occurs in the "Liber Pontificalis" where in the biography of Pope Simplicius (468-483) it is stated that this pope "consecrated a basilica of the holy martyr Bibiana, which contained her body, near the 'palatium Licinianum'" (ed. Duchesne, I, 249). This basilica still exists. In the fifth century, therefore, the bodily remains of St. Bibiana rested within the city walls. We have no further historical particulars concerning the martyr or the circumstances of her death; neither do we know why she was buried in the city itself. In later times a legend sprang up concerning her, connected with the Acts of the martyrdom of Sts. John and Paul and has no historical claim to belief. According to this legend, Bibiana was the daughter of a former prefect, Flavianus, who was banished by Julian the Apostate. Dafrosa, the wife of Flavianus, and his two daughters, Demetria and Bibiana, were also persecuted by Julian. Dafrosa and Demetria died a natural death and were buried by Bibiana in their own house; but Bibiana was tortured and died as a result of her sufferings. Two days after her death a priest named John buried Bibiana near her mother and sister in her home, the house being later turned into a church. It is evident that the legend seeks to explain in this way the origin of the church and the presence in it of the bodies of the above mentioned confessors. The account contained in the martyrologies of the ninth century is drawn from the legend. CE/NA"
---
The Cathedral Church in Los Angeles, until recently was St. Viviana's. [I'd hestistate to see what she'd say about the new structure that passes as Mahony's cathedra. "Mama Mia" would be the least of it.] I think she'd tell the architect something along the lines of "Sciaca-ti nel fango!" [That's Italian for "go roll yourself in the mud." Unless I didn't spell it right!]
Suscipio - A bit of Latin
Readers of this blog need not know Latin, but occasionally I will be including bits and pieces along the way that I, and hopefully others, may find enlightening.
There is an excellent book called A Primer of Ecclesiastical Latin by John F. Collins, which I'd found in a used bookstore. It may still be in print. I highly recommend it, as it is geared to Latin used in the Latin Mass and church writing.
I found this little gem:
""Suscipio" means 'take up [from below].' A Roman father acknowledged a newborn child as his own by picking it up, ecclesiastical Latin often uses this verb of God the Father taking up [and therefore acknowledging) our earnest prayers. -- PEL"
For example in the Mass we know the response: "May the Lord Accept the sacrifice at your hands, to the praise and glory of His name, for our good, and the good of all His church."
In Latin the response in the same in the EF form of the Mass "Suscipiat Dominus [may the Lord accept] sacrificum de manibus tuis ad laudem, et gloriam nominis sui, ad utilitatem quoque nostram, totiusque Ecclesiae suae sanctae."
Also, another place in the Latin mass would be the priest's prayer just prior to that that to the Holy Trinity: "suscipe, sancta Trinitas" [Accept, Holy Trinity.]
Additionally, "Suscipe, sancte Pater, omnipotentens aeterne Deus, ...." Accept, Holy Father, Almighty eternal God.... --- the first prayer of the EF Offertory.
It gives these prayers a richer mean knowing this.
There is an excellent book called A Primer of Ecclesiastical Latin by John F. Collins, which I'd found in a used bookstore. It may still be in print. I highly recommend it, as it is geared to Latin used in the Latin Mass and church writing.
I found this little gem:
""Suscipio" means 'take up [from below].' A Roman father acknowledged a newborn child as his own by picking it up, ecclesiastical Latin often uses this verb of God the Father taking up [and therefore acknowledging) our earnest prayers. -- PEL"
For example in the Mass we know the response: "May the Lord Accept the sacrifice at your hands, to the praise and glory of His name, for our good, and the good of all His church."
In Latin the response in the same in the EF form of the Mass "Suscipiat Dominus [may the Lord accept] sacrificum de manibus tuis ad laudem, et gloriam nominis sui, ad utilitatem quoque nostram, totiusque Ecclesiae suae sanctae."
Also, another place in the Latin mass would be the priest's prayer just prior to that that to the Holy Trinity: "suscipe, sancta Trinitas" [Accept, Holy Trinity.]
Additionally, "Suscipe, sancte Pater, omnipotentens aeterne Deus, ...." Accept, Holy Father, Almighty eternal God.... --- the first prayer of the EF Offertory.
It gives these prayers a richer mean knowing this.
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