Bury Me Not on The Lone Prairie

First Solemn High Mass - Fr. Rhone Lillard

2010-05-30T22:37:00.000-07:00

Fr. Lillard was ordained in Lincoln, Nebraska last Saturday. Today in San Diego, at St. Anne's Parish (which exclusively does the EF form of Mass) Father Celebrated his first high Mass. I culled some of the clearest shots of the Mass and reception which followed. [Earlier in the week Father also said some of the low Masses. Towards the end of the slide show, Fr. is pictured with his mother, Jackie Lillard, who is a member of our parish.

Congratulations to Fr. Lillard and his friends and family and the prayerful support of the parish. I have yet to meet a priest belonging to the Fraternity of the Society of St. Peter who doesn't show extreme zeal and love of God and his people.

The society is filled with men with true joy of the priesthood, and I expect Fr. Lillard will be no exception.

Latin Mass for Dummies

2010-03-24T19:16:00.000-07:00

From the late 40s to the early 70s in the USA there was a magazine published for grade school kids called "Treasure Chest" - it was essentially a comic book for Catholic kids -- it had articles of general interest, stories and a lot about the faith. They did a few series over the years on the Mass, the general listing of all those articles is at this link -- but I thought I'd make it a little easy to get to the first page of the actual comic book for each part of the Mass. I think the 60s version is probably the most complete series, but it's worth looking at the other articles, so I've interspersed them.

I'll make the direct links a little easier for you so you won't have to do as much clicking and can go to the first page of the graphic. I have put a little * in front of the parts of the Mass that are variable from day to day (although the preface is either seasonal or changes for a special feast day) -- so if you are new to following the Latin Mass - know that you'd flip to a different page for these propers -- no big deal, as a general rule you don't have to mark more than two extra places in your missal.

I suggest if you are new to trying to follow the latin Mass -- just read all these variable parts BEFORE the Mass - if you go on a Sunday, the Epistle and Gospel will be re-read in the vernacular - so don't trip. If you go on a weekday Mass and you don't have a Daily Missal, if you ask beforehand someone can tell you the epistle and the Gospel. Some places will ALSO read these at a daily Mass in English, some not. Some lucky people might even have the main reading's book, chapter and verses printed in the parish bulletin, so if people bring a little new testament they can look them up before Mass, or read them at home beforehand. (hint for the Amazing Father G. of St. Anne's Parish in San Diego.)

The parish will likely have a version of a missalette that has all the prayers in English/Latin (or English/Spanish as the case may be) There are little pictures on the side, so you can tell where you are. The priests are slavishly accurate about following the rubrics ["rubrics" is a fancy word for rules, the word itself means "the stuff in red" - in other words the instructions - so there will be no cartwheels or liturgical dancing] , so if you position yourself up front, and to the SIDE (i.e. AWAY from the center), you can even see the chalice on the altar the whole way through so you can take note of the position of father's hands and follow the rubrics and where Father is, even though he may be "silent" -- after about 2 or 3 masses at most - Unless you've NEVER been to a Catholic Mass - you should be able to follow the Mass without getting lost.

Even though the articles were written for children, there is a lot of historical information in them that even an adult would find interesting. And because "Mass is Mass" even if you NEVER intend to go to a Latin Mass, you'll still learn a lot about this history of the parts of the Novus Ordo Mass (anything after Dec of 1969) - a lot of the prayers in the NO Mass were shortened (especially the Offertory and the Canon) and there are multiple options given now (for beginning of the Mass), the NO Mass offertory prayers are greatly truncated, and there are multiple options for the Canon now, but all the same you'll be able to follow the flow without trouble if you take about 15 minutes to explore the Latin Missalette provided BEFORE the Mass. Again, SIT UP FRONT AND AT THE SIDE - for your first few Masses at least until you are comfortable with what is going on.

The full text of the latin Mass for the ordinary parts (i.e. the parts that don't change) is here.

The Sign of the Cross - Sept 15, 1960

Judica Me (psalm 42) - Sept 21, 1948 -- (Judica me means "Judge me" - this is one part of the Mass that was dropped with the Novus Ordo. -- it is skipped from two Sundays before Easter Sunday until Easter. [The reason? According to Jungmann, the theory is that when the priest asks "why am I so sad?" It's to keep people from saying to themselves "could be all these darkly drapped statues, that would be your first clue, Father...."])

The Confiteor - Sept 29th, 1960 - (I confess to Almighty God...)

*The Introit - Oct 13th, 1960 - (on a week day Mass this is would correspond to the verse that would be read at the beginning of the Mass in the Novus Ordo)

The Kyrie Eleison - Oct 27th, 1960 - (Lord Have Mercy) Hey, it's all Greek to me.

The Gloria - Nov 10th, 1960

*The Collect - Nov 24th, 1960 - (This would correspond to the opening prayer - i.e. the prayer said just before the people sit down in the N.O.) Note: in the 60s the max. number of collects the priest's would say was cut down to 3 maximum, prior to that more could be said. The number of collects, secrets, and post communions is always the same. I.E. you wouldn't have 1 collect and 2 seuquences, for instances, so however manyh collects the priest says, that's how many secrets and post communion prayers he will say.

*The Epistle - Dec 8th, 1960 - (As a rule of thumb, there was one reading before the gospel, but not always, sometimes there can be many readings, like on the ember Saturdays, for instance)

*The Gradual, Alleluia, Tract, and Sequence - Dec. 22, 1960 (the gradual would correspond to the psalm said between the two Sunday readings in the NO)

*The Gospel - Jan 5th, 1961

The Creed - Jan 19th, 1961 - (the official addition of the creed to the Mass came pretty late to the official Mass -- Change!!! INNOVATION!!! ;-D)

The Lavabo and *The Secret - Feb 16th, 1961 (the Lavabo is the washing of the fingers and the word "Lavabo" means "I will wash" -- the "secret" is a short verse the priest still says to himself just before the preface)

*The Preface - March 2nd, 1961

The Sanctus - March 22, 1949 - (Holy, Holy, Holy....)

The Canon and the Rememberance of the Living - March 30, 1961

The Consecration and the Elevation - April 13th, 1961

[for some unaccountable reason, there really isn't any article on the tail end of the canon and the Our Father, go figure - but there may be an article elsewhere, if/when I find it I will insert it here.]

The Communion - April 27th, 1961

[There is no article on the short Communion verse in the EF mass after the priest has his abulutions -- in the NO Mass this would correspond to the verse said on a weekday Mass when there is no singing just after the priest has his communion, usually it's the verse a member of the congregation reads]

*The post Communion - May 11th, 1961

*The concluding Prayers & Dismissal - May 15th, 1961 - (The N.O. dropped the last gospel (the beginning of the Gospel of John, and the Leonine Prayers - the Leonine prayers were said only after a low Mass, the Leonine prayers were said in Latin, this link doesn't tell you much about the latter two. The short little "Placeat" prayer the priest says to himself is worth looking at in the missal, I don't think it has an equivalent in the NO Mass - unless the priest is saying this to himself.)

Simple Exposition this Morning

2010-03-24T18:09:00.000-07:00

This is pretty much all the "centering prayer" I need right now.

I'm really starting to feel physically better with a lot more energy this last month and a half.

I think I'll just pick up from today, rather than "review" the days I missed. I don't want to miss all the good stuff like Holy Week.

Tommorrow, we're going to have a high Mass for the Annunciation. Can't wait.

A real full bore High Mass too. Have to admit I wouldn't want to go to one of those every Sunday, but every now and again for a real special occasion, it's a treat.

Eenie meanie chilly beanie the spirits are about to speak

2010-02-22T06:48:00.000-08:00

A headline in the Daily Mail caught my eye this morning. It said That a dog had chaced a seagull off a 300 foot cliff and the dog had survived the fall. My first thought was "English Springer Spaniel."

It was. There is nothing as single minded as an Springer.

Sorry, I've been slacking, mighty ill lately

2009-12-23T15:49:00.000-08:00

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!

I know, seems like I'm slacking...

2009-12-13T09:11:00.000-08:00

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.

Dude, Where's my very own Mass? St. Damasus wuz robbed

2009-12-11T12:09:00.000-08:00

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!

St. Damasus - Pope and Confessor - Dec 11

2009-12-11T07:19:00.000-08:00

"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. Melchiades, Pope, Martyr - Dec 10

2009-12-10T07:08:00.000-08:00

"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.

Dude, Where's my Octave?

2009-12-09T09:49:00.000-08:00

Sorry, Blessed Mother, prior to '62 you had one.

I know, I know.

Immaculate Conception - Dec. 8th

2009-12-08T12:19:00.000-08:00

"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.

2nd Sunday in Advent

2009-12-07T18:22:00.000-08:00

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"

St. Ambrose, Bishop, Confessor - Dec. 7th

2009-12-07T06:54:00.000-08:00

"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.

--

Dude, where's my Vigil?!

2009-12-07T06:39:00.000-08:00

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."

Latin/English Ordinary of the Mass

2009-12-05T19:44:00.000-08:00

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.]

St. Nicholas, Bishop, Confessor - Dec. 6th

2009-12-05T18:13:00.000-08:00

"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. Sabbas, Abbot - Dec. 5

2009-12-05T06:55:00.000-08:00

[photo - Baronius press '62 Missal , avec correction]

"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!]

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.

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.

St. Peter Chrysologus, St. Barbara - Dec. 4th

2009-12-03T21:11:00.001-08:00

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]"

St. Francis Xavier - Dec 3

2009-12-02T21:17:00.000-08:00

"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?

2009-12-02T19:35:00.000-08:00

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.]

St. Bibiana, Virgin, Martyr - Dec 2nd

2009-12-01T20:29:00.000-08:00

"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

2009-12-01T09:50:00.001-08:00

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.

St. Andrew, Apostle - Dec. 1

2009-11-29T15:07:00.000-08:00

"St Andrew, the elder brother of St. Peter, and, like him, a fisherman of the lake of Galilee, on hearing St. John the Baptist proclaim that Jesus was the Lamb of God, was moved to follow Our Lord, who chose him to be one of the twelve apostles. It is believed that aft the Resurrection St. Andrew labored in spreading the Gospel in Eastern Europe, and made many converts. At the last he was crucified in Patras in the Greek manner.-SM"

---

You can read more about St. Andrew here, in the Catholic Encyclopedia. Or here, for young readers (and not so young!)

Advent always starts on the 1st Sunday closest to the Feast of St. Andrew. It can begin as early as Nov. 27th and as late as December 3rd.

It's also worth noting that on ferias (a "feria" is a day) the commemorations (i.e. the Collect, Secret, and Post Communion Prayers of the preceeding Sunday are added to the feast day commemorations.. Ember days (about more later) have a special Mass. In the case of Advent, the Ember days are the Wednesday, Friday and Saturday after the 3rd Week in Advent (Gaudete Sunday.)

Advent Preface - EF

2009-11-29T08:35:00.000-08:00

Sometimes people dig their heels in really hard when there are changes in the litury. HOWEVER, change can be good. For example, in '62 there was a change in the EF which allowed for the use of a Gallician Preface for the season of Advent. Prior to that, the preface wasn't in use in the Tridentine Mass.

The Galliican Rite was the common liturgy in Gaul [i.e. France] -- these Gallican prefaces were supercede in the eight century by the Roman Rite. In 1962 there were several Gallician Prefaces approved for use are: Preface for the Dedication of a Church, Preface of the Most Blessed Sacrament, Preface of St. John the Baptist, Preface of All Saints and Holy Patrons, and the Preface of Advent.

There is an excellent article in the Catholic Encyclopedia about the origins of Advent here. There is NO liturgical support for the claim that the 4 weeks of Advent represent 1 week for each "supposed" millenium from what was then sometimes construed as the "dawn of time" before the birth of Christ. [And no, smart sailors DIDN'T think the wolrd was flat in 1492.[

Prior to '62 the Preface said had been the common Sunday Preface for the Holy Trinity.

The Advent Preface is:

""It is truly meet and just, right and for our salvation, that we should at all times and in all places give thanks to Thee, Holy Lord, Father Almighty, eternal God: for through the Mystery of the Word made flesh, new radiance from tThy glory hath so shone on the eye of the soul that the recognition of our God made visible draweth us to love what is invisible. And therefore with Angels and Archangels, with Thrones and Dominations, and with all the hosts of the heavenly army we sing a hymn to Thy glory, evermore saying: [Holy, holy, etc.] "

The priest can still chose to do the Preface of the Holy Trinity - (the one that's normally done on a Sunday.)

1st Sunday of Advent

2009-11-28T21:34:00.000-08:00

"The Spirit of the Sacred Liturgy during Advent, full of the joyful announcement of approaching freedom, is one f holy enthusiasm, tender gratitude and an intense longing for the coming of the Word of God in the hearts of all the children of Adam.

The Introit gives eloquent expression to the feelings of humanity, cast down, yet full of hope, and begs the Saviour to bring it back into the path which leads to Bethlehem, along the way of truth and justice The epistle calls upon us to rouse from sleep. The Church in the Gospel the second coming of Ohr Lord at the end of the world with His first appearance at Bethlehem as Our Reedemer.

Man is made up of spirit and flesh, and whilst the former is desirous of being drawn to truth and love, the latter understand only such good or evil as can be percieved by the senses, and must be held in check by penance and by a fear of the judgements of God. -- SM"

---

The Missal notes that the "Station" for the Mass would be at St. Mary Major.

In the glory days of the Church, certainly from th time of Poope Gregory the Great, and possibly before - the people used to gather at difference churches depending what the feast, occasion was. It's well worth checking out this article about Stational Masses here.

Delaware

2009-11-26T12:57:00.000-08:00

"Forty-Seventh{*} in area and forty-sixth{} in population; a Middle Atlantic State; one of the thirteen original States bordering the Atlantic and Delaware Bay, Delaware has the distinction of being the flattest State in the Union, but its shore line is the site of numerous resort areas.

Before the coming of the white men, Delaware was inhabited by tribes of aborigines of the Lenni-Lenape stock. The English knew them as Delaware, from the name of the river. Of ancient and proud lineage, they were known as the "original people" and were accorded an honorific pre-eminence by the other eastern Algonquins, under the respectful title of "grandfathers of the red men." As the whites pressed upon them the Delawares gradually retired westward. On of their noted chiefs was Tammenend, from who the Tammany Society derives its name. The Nanticoke, a group similar to the Lenape, lived along the coast of Delaware. They suffered from the nearness of the Colonists and moved northward through Pennsylvania, taking the bones of the dead with them.

In 1609 Henry Hudson discovered Delaware Bay for the Dutch. The bay was so named c. 1610 by the Virginians in honor of their first Governor, Thomas West, Lord De Lla Warr, who is said to have entered the bay in the interest of England. The region was more thoroughly explored by Hendrickson, 1615-1616. The first settlement however made by members of the Dutch Company in 1631 was soon destroyed by the Indians. By 1638 the Swedes under Peter Minuit settled at the present site of Wilmington. The colony was known as New Sweden. The Swedes surrendered to Peter Stuyvesant, governor of New Netherland, 1655, but in 1664 Sir Robert Carr seized the Delaware territory for England. After William Penn was made proprietary of Delaware country in 1682 executive power remained with the Pennsylvania authorities until the American Revolution.

The State was, from early times, free of religious intolerance. This brought an influx of settlers: The Swedes and Dutch were followed by Finns, Scotch, Irish and English; by 1730 Wilmington was surveyed. Catholics were few in Colonial Delaware. The Apoquiniminck Mission in New Castle County was established before 1750 by Jesuits from Maryland, notably Father Ferdinand Farmer, the first priest known to have visited Catholic families at Dover, and Father Matthew Sittensperger who built St. Mary's at Coffee Run in 1772, the first Catholic Church in the State.

During the Revolution, Delaware furnished only two regiments but they were aamong the best in the service. Early settlers came mainly from the farming lands of Europe and when the fur trade with the Indians languished, agriculture became the prime occupation. The first cotton factory was at Broome, 1795. Truck farming and dairying supplying Philadelphia, New York and other large cities. The immigration boom of 1840-1880 brought skilled workers to industry. The State supported the Union in the Civil War although a number of citizens who favored slavery, sympathized with the Confederacy.

In 1816 Father Patrick Kenny built St. Peter's Church which later became the Cathedral Wilmington. The arduous labors and personality of Father Kenny have made him probably the best-known priest in the early Catholic history of the State. A school and orphanage were erected in 1930 by the Daughters of Charity (Emmitsburg, Md.) in Wilmington. The Diocese of Wilmington was erected in 1868 with Rt. Rev. Thomas A. Becker (1868-86) first bishop. He invited the Sisters of the Visitation to Wilmington (1869) where they opened an academy, taken over (1862) by the Ursulines, the Sisters of the Visitation remaining to follow a contemplative life.

The Benedictines from Newark, NJ, arrived for the spiritual care of the Germans at Sacred Heart Church, 1874, Wilmington. Poles, Portuguese, Italians and Greeks required priests of the various languages; the Sisters of St. Benedict came in 1880 to conduct schools. In 1889 Bishop Curtis (1886-1896) invited the Josephites to care for the colored. In 1903 Bishop Monaghan (1897-1925) introduced the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales, who opened a day school in Wilmington; and the Little Sisters of the Poor who opened a home for the aged at Wilmington.

The Felician (Franciscan) Sisters arrived from Buffalo, NY, 1897, at Wilmington where they conduct schools in two Polish parishes. The fourth bishop, Edmond J. Fitzmaurice (1925-) invited the Capuchin Fathers to Wilmington (1931) and the Norbertine Fathers to Claymont (1932) founding Archmere Academy. The See of Wilmington comprises the State of Delaware and Eastern Shores of Maryland and Virginia and is 8 percent{} Catholic. -- S.M."

- --

{} - there are a number of spots in this post I will amend with more recent data, as to population, %, etc. -- I just wanted to get some actual "typical blog" content up. I will also add, when I get a chance additional information, regards newer bishops, # of dioceses in the state -- there are some pretty good on line sources I can update the info with.

In quoting from the original source, I note that the term "colored" or "negro" is often used to refer to what we now normally would term as "black." In you are not in the know, please be advised until well up to the late 1960s, this was often the NONperjorative way to refer to blacks. I could substitute the word "black" but then that wouldn't be an exact quote, and people would known that the use would have been out of keeping with the time. So no offense is meant, in this or future "State history" type posts.

Conventions for this blog

2009-11-26T09:52:00.000-08:00

On this blog I intend to use quite a bit of information from other sources. I think it important to give attribution, and the following conventions are designed to credit to the original author(s).

With that in mind:

Basic text for the posts will be in white. In the main body of the text, if you see something in white, in quotes, assume it was not written by me. It will be followed by a dash and an abbreviation for the original source of the material. I may put some common abbreviations used on the sidebar, but for full details of the source see the bottom of this post..

Any commentary text I add, will not be quoted, but will follow after a line break, followed by a series of dashes.

Sometimes, particularly when quoting the St. Mary's missal I have, information will have changed since 1948, when the book was published - such things as percentage of Catholics in a given US state, or population figures, etc. These emmendations will be given in bright blue type font, placed between curly brackets.

Example:

"St Froddo was born in hard time Mississsippi, surrounded by 4 walls that weren't so pretty, his parents gave him bon-bons, and a unicycle in 1912{1914}. Blah, blah. -- BS"

---

Heaven knows why this guy was made a Saint

--
Ergo the business about Froddo was a quote from "Bull Stuff " and you can look up the particulars on the source "Bull Stuff" here in detail, or on the sidebar for a short reference. The "heaven knows" comment was something I made up.

Links will be in yellow. Abbreviations for sources will be in red, there will be a short reference to the abbreviation in the sidebar--full details of the publication or source will be at the bottom of this post.

If for some reason, I get a hankering to add a link that also plays music, I will put a musical note or two behind the link, as a "Fair warning" that if you're goofing off at work, or whatever, reading this blog, the link you click to will play some music. A word to the wise.

Also on the side bar, will be some useful links which bring up frequentlly mentioned information - for instance, a list of popes, etc. it may be an external link to another site (duh), or if need be, it may link to a scribd page I've created. [Don't have any up yet, but keep an eye out for them.]

Where census figures and the like are updated, the most likely source will be The Catholic Almanac, or official US Census figures. If a different source is used, I'll so note with a hyphen and an Abbriviation as to source.

Watch my tags, I will try and be consistent. For instance, if there is a lovely series in the St. Mary's missal regards the history of the spread of Catholicism in each state I will try to put not only the name of the state in the tags section, but also the word "states."

Also, as regards to writing up the info. about the states -- for right now, I will not be doing them in alphabetical order. In part, because two states have been added to the Union since '48, namely Alaska and Hawaii, and I'm going to need some time to gather info on those states. I will try and do one state a week, usually in the order the state was admitted to the Union. [If there's a BIG bribe in the offing, however....]

If you're going to drop me a line privately, feel free, HOWEVER, give me a heads up in an online comment -- I generally don't check the email this blog is officially linked to. So, no, I'm not standoffish - it's just that you may be waiting for a MONTH (or more!) sometimes, before I'd see your email -- then you'd think I hated your guts or was ignoring you. You can write me there, of course, but do give me a heads up -- even if you don't have anything to say about that item.

It occurs to me that I am HOURS, and HOURS time zone wise behind most of you -- so I will try to get items that pertain to a given day or days a little ahead of time when applicable, but don't hold my feet to the fire over it. Capisce? Other wise I send out my half-Sicilian Godfather, Uncle Rollie. He's pushing 80, but he can still probably beat the crap out of you because he's a Frozen Chosin.

Abbreviations and their full attributions: (this list will likely expand over time)
-----------------------------------------

B.P.M. - Refers to the Latin Mass '62 edition recently published by Baronius Press. If they hadn't have been so lame, in some respects, I wouldn't have started this blog. (Well, okay, I had "other resources" to compare them with.)

C.E.N.A. - Catholic Encyclopedia, which is on the New-Advent Website. This reference will probably be used fairly frequently in links.

C.H. - Laux, Fr. John, - Church History (a history of the Catholic Church until 1940) -- originally published in 1930, with periodic emmendations -- Good for "upper high school * College Courses and Adult Reading." recently republished by TAN books. -- I would have loved this book in High School and after. In my day, in the 70s a lot of the religious education courses available were pretty Mickey Mouse (no offense to the Mouse!). [The only challenging class I had for religion was a basic philosophy class I took when I was 16, all the other classes were pretty much an easy "A" unless you were a complete moron, or "B" at worst. You'd have had to cut class to smoke ciggies if you got a "C" or less.

J. - The Mass of the Roman (Its origins and development), by Joseph Jungmann, 2 Vols. Originally published in the 50s, reissued by Collegeville press. I expect this resource will be invaluable for background articles. Jungmann was a master at being thorough, I'm not one for "allegorical" explanations as the main mover and shaker. [Allegorical is fine as an extra layer on type of everything, but it's usually something embroidered after the fact.

M.R.25 - Refers to my beautiful Missale Romanum, published in 1925. It's a beautiful little hand missal, 99% in Latin, designed for priest/seminarian. Quite useful for spotting changes to the calendar, or ritual over the course of the 20th century, when used to compare with other missals.
PEL - A Primer of Ecclesiastical Latin, by John E. Collins

S.M. - St. Mary My Everyday Missal and Heritage. - (1948), issued by the Monks of St. Mary's Abbey, Newark, NJ, Rt. Rev. Patrick O'Brien, OSB, Abbot - published by Benzinger Bros.

Why this blog?

2009-11-25T22:18:00.000-08:00

But...But...But....Karen....Why this blog? Don't you have a perfectly good blog?

Yes, I do. HOWEVER - in the last year I have been going to the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite quite frequently - and in the course of the last year have come across some rather good out-of-print and out-of-copyright (as far as I have researched!) material(s), which I'd like to share with others.

Why NOW? Why did you WAIT if you were sitting on this treasure trove? What are you SELFISH or something?

Yes, I'm selfish ... and .... I didn't think of it before ... and because I've been following the EF form since just before last Lent AND a new liturgical year is about to start, which makes the timing about perfect. With any luck, I can put up a few posts re: some general resources for the EF Mass before this Sunday. Kind of "EF for Dummies" stuff.

What do you expect ALL of us to switch over to the EF?

Nah. I'm mostly doing so that I'm not the last one on planet earth who can appreciate all the loving detail that went into what otherwise might be lost or forgotten publications.

Aren't there new Baronius press missals that are good enough?

New missals, yes. But I found Baronius, and other "new" missals really LAME in some key aspects. Like detail. Would you rather read:

BP: Saint Whozis: Feb. 30th -- Killed under Diocletian

OR

Saint Whozis: Feb. 30th -- St. Whozis was born of parents who ran a circus. Mom was a
high wire artist, and dad fed the elephants. One day, the emporer, Diocletian, decided Jasper, the most famous elephant of his time, should be worshiped as a god. St. Whozis told the emporer he was nuts and Diocletian had him thrown to the lions.

Thought so.

What other cool stuff will be in this blog?

I have three missals I constantly use -- from different eras. One from the 20s, on the late 40s, and one from 62. I love spotting when things change. [It's the history geek in me coming out.]
For instance, why in heck was Oct. 31st dropped from the '62 calendar as a formal vigil? Beats me, but I thought it was interesting that they did drop that. Whatever. Sometime, during the course of the last year, I was really amazed at how UNSTATIC, the "static" EF Mass was. So help me, some of those guys dinking around were like dogs marking their territory. Because they "could."

Also, there a lot of good information on how Catholicism spread in the US, state by state - plus good catechetical points - and how the Church calendar has changed. If I get really ambitious, I can also talk about that messy interim period -- between spring of 64 and 69.

I intend to take us through the Church year, bit by bit.

My *other* blog, will still be my main one but this way you won't have to wade through me unloading on zero.

Karen, why did you chose to use blogger again, instead of wordpress?

Believe me, I was tempted by the fact that you can do pages in Wordpress. I was not enamoured by the pain in the ass templates however, along with certain other Nazi-like features that using Wordpress would involve. Some of the things I intend to do, for instance, give the history of the spread of Catholicism through each state in the US, would lend itself nicely to having a "page" of its own. I think I'll be able to work around this by using good, consistent tags and some decent sidebar gee-whiz prestidigitation. [That's PFM to you folks in Rio Lindo.]

Karen, was the new Maidenform lady REALLY necessary? Isn't this supposed to be a more serious blog, don't you know priests might be reading this blog and find the Maidenform lady offensive?

Perhaps. But then they're probably just stick-in-the-muds anyway. And besides, I wanted to give you a "subtext" heads up that in case you found a smart assed remark here and there you shouldn't be too surprised. I mean, what do you expect when there's a picture of a dame in her bra standing in front of a pink elephant? I WAS going to say underneath her: "I dreamed I found some really cool stuff in my Maidenform bra" but, thankfully, it occurred to me that perhaps that might be misconstrued, so I didn't say that.

More to come -- I still have to add some blog features, and work out some conventions -- so hold your water if you don't see all the normal sidebar goodies just yet .. I wasted most of the day screwing around with wordpress before deciding it was more trouble than it was worth -- so keep your shirt on!!! [Unless, you're wearing Maidenform, or are a guy.]