Septuagesima Sunday

Sunday 31 January 2010

DOMINICA IN SEPTUAGESIMA
Septuagesima Sunday
2nd Class, Violet
(Lauds II)

Oremus.

Preces pópuli tui, quæsumus, Dómine, cleménter exáudi : ut, qui juste pro peccátis nostris afflígimur, pro tui nóminis glória misericórditer liberémur. Per Dóminum.

Let us pray.

O Lord, we beseech thee favourably to hear the prayers of thy people : that we, who are justly punished for our offences, may be mercifully delivered by thy goodness, for the glory of thy Name. Through.

~~*~~

The three Sundays preceding Ash Wednesday are called Septuagesima, Sexagesima, and Quinquagesima, which mean, respectively, the seventieth, sixtieth, and fiftieth day, that is, before Easter. They are mere names to correspond with the name of Lent (Quadragesima in Latin: fortieth): obviously they do not actually correspond with the period they indicate.

Man, victim of the sin of Adam and of his own sins, is justly afflicted, groans and sorrows encompass him.

On these Sundays the Glória in excélsis and Allelúia are omitted. except when the Mass of a feast is said, and purple vestments are used in preparation for Lent.

Links:

• Fr Goffine's The Church's Year
• What Does the Prayer Really Say? (2008)
• What Does the Prayer Really Say? (2009)
  
• The Guéranger Blog: Discovering Septuagesima
• Vultus Christi: Through the Gate of Septuagesima
  
• Psallite Sapienter: Goodbye Alleluia
  
• Gregorian Chant propers
• Lament of the Exiled Adam
• Secret Harbour: The Mystery of Septuagesima (new!)
• What Does the Prayer Really Say? Septuagesima Prayers for Mass (new!)
  

(image: breviary.net)

Third Sunday after Epiphany

Sunday 24 January 2010

DOMINICA III POST EPIPHANIAM
3rd Sunday after the Ephiphany
2nd Class, Green

Oremus:

Omnípotens sempitérne Deus, infirmitátem nostra propítius réspice : atque ad protegéndum nos déxteram tuæ maiestátis exténde. Per Dóminum.

Let us Pray:

O Almighty and everlasting God, look mercifully upon our weakness: and stretch forth the right hand of Thy Majesty to protect us. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son who liveth and reigneth...

Links:

• Breviarium Romanum blog: Domine, non sum Dignus
• Fr Goffine's The Church's Year
• Gregorian Chant propers
• Propers of the Mass (Latin & English)
  

Second Sunday after Epiphany

Sunday 17 January 2010

DOMINICA II POST EPIPHANIAM
2nd Sunday after the Epiphany
2nd Class, Green

Oremus:

Omnípotens sempitérne Deus, qui cæléstia simul et terréna moderáris : supplicatiónes pópuli tui cleménter exáudi; et pacem tuam nostris concéde tempóribus. Per Dñm.

Let us Pray:

O Almighty and everlasting God, who dost govern all things both in Heaven and on earth: mercifully hear the prayers of Thy people, and grant us Thy peace in our time. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity...

~~*~~

The marriage at Cana is commemorated in the Gosepl today (John 2:1-11): the first miracle of Jesus. Mary, full of charity, asks of Jesus His first miracle. Jesus, at the request of His Mother, anticipates the hour appointed for the manifestation of His Divinity to His Disciples, so that He puts His power at the service of His love.

Links:

• Fr Goffine's The Church's Year
• Gregorian Chant propers
• What Does the Prayer Really Say? (Collect)
  
• What Does the Prayer Really Say? (Postcommunion)
  

(image: eastern icon of the Marriage at Cana)

Baptism of Our Lord

Wednesday 13 January 2010

IN COMMEMORATIONE BAPTISMATIS D.N.I.C.
Commemoration of the Baptism of Our Lord
2nd Class, White

Oremus:

Deus, cuius Unigénitus in substántia nostræ carnis appáruit : præsta quæsumus; ut per eum, quem símilem nobis foris agnóvimus, intus reformári mereámur : Qui tecum vivit.

Let us Pray:

O God, whose Only-Begotten Son hath appeared in the substance of our flesh: grant, we beseech Thee, that by Him, in whom outwardly we recognise our likeness, we may deserve to be inwardly created anew: Who liveth and reigneth...

Links:

• Gregorian Chant propers
• What Does the Prayer Really Say?
• Vultus Christi: Numquam sine aqua Christus
• Young Fogeys
  

(image: Maronite icon of the Baptism of Our Lord)

Motherhood of the B.V.M.

Monday 11 October 2010

MATERNITATIS B.M.V.
Motherhood of the Blessed Virgin Mary
2nd Class, White


Oremus

Deus qui Beatae Mariae Virginis utero Verbum tuum Angelo nuntiante carnem suscipere voluisti: praesta supplicibus tuis; ut qui vere eam Genitricem Dei credimus, eius apud te intercessionibus adjuvem

Let us pray

O God, who didst will that, at the announcement of an Angel, thy Word should take flesh in the womb of the blessed Virgin Mary, grant to us thy suppliants, that we who believe her to be truly the mother of God may be helped by her intercession with thee

(image: Albazinian Wonderworking Icon of the Mother of God)

The Holy Family

Sunday 10 January 2010

SANCTÆ FAMILIÆ IESU, MARIÆ, IOSEPH
The Holy Family
2nd Class, White

Oremus:

Dómine Iesu Christe, qui, Maríæ et Ioseph súbditus, domésticam vitam ineffabílibus virtútibus consecrásti : fac nos, utriúsque auxílio, Famíliæ sanctæ tuæ exémplis instrui; et consórtium cónsequi sempitérnum : Qui vivis et regnas.

Let us Pray:

O Lord Jesus Christ, who, being subject to Mary and Joseph, didst santify home life with ineffable virtues: grant that, with the aid of both, we may be taught by the example of Thy Holy Family, and attain to eternal fellowship with them: Who livest and reignest...

~~*~~

The special devotion which sets forth the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph as the model for virtue for all Christian households began in the seventeenth Century. Pope Benedict XV extended the Feast of the holy Family to the whole Church and ordered it be celebrated on the Sunday after Epiphany.

~~*~~

The Holy Family Apostolate is a new association, based near Edinburgh, Scotland, for Roman Catholic families. Their field of apostolate is "firstly ourselves as individuals, our family members, form whom we have to answer directly to God, and lastly other families, as good families will necessarily produce a better society". Their website can be found at holyfamilyapostolate.wordpress.com

Links:

• Fr Goffine's The Church's Year
• Gregorian Chant propers
• What Does the Prayer Really Say? (Secret)
• Vultus Christi
  

(image: breviary.net)

Epiphany of the Lord

Wednesday 6 January 2010

IN EPIPHANIA DOMINI
The Epiphany of Our Lord
1st Class, White

Oremus:

Deus, qui hodiérna die Unigéntium tuum géntibus stella duce revelásti : concéde propítius; ut, qui iam te ex fide cognóvimus, usque ad contemplándam spéciem tuæ celsitúdinis perducámur. Per eúndem Dóminum.

Let us Pray:

O God, who on this day didst manifest Thine only-begotten Son to the Gentiles by the guidance of a star: graciously grant, that we, who know Thee now by faith, may be led even to contemplate the beauty of Thy Majesty. Through the same...

~~*~~

The word "Epiphany" means "manifestation". The Church in the Mass, commemorates a triple manifestation of Christ: 1) to the Magi, that is, to the Gentiles; 2) in His Baptism, when the Voice from Heaven declared: "This is My Beloved Son"; and 3) in the miracle of changing water into wine at Cana.

The Epiphany is the manifestation of Jesus as Messiah of Israel, Son of God and Saviour of the world. The great feast of Epiphany celebrates the adoration of Jesus by the wise men (magi) from the East, together with his baptism in the Jordan and the wedding feast at Cana in Galilee. In the magi, representatives of the neighbouring pagan religions, the Gospel sees the first fruits of the nations, who welcome the good news of salvation through the Incarnation. The magi's coming to Jerusalem in order to pay homage to the king of the Jews shows that they seek in Israel, in the messianic light of the star of David, the one who will be king of the nations. Their coming means that pagans can discover Jesus and worship him as Son of God and Saviour of the world only by turning towards the Jews and receiving from them the messianic promise as contained in the Old Testament. The Epiphany shows that "the full number of the nations" now takes its "place in the family of the patriarchs", and acquires Israelitica dignitas (is made "worth of the heritage of Israel") (Catechism of the Catholic Church, n. 528).

20 + C + M + B + 10

...consider the old custom of inscribing "C.M.B." and the year in chalk above your door lintel. The "C.M.B." either stands for the traditional names of the Magi (Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar) or the Latin prayer Christus Mansionem Benedicat ("May Christ bless this dwelling!"). Fr Nicholas described this a few years back at Roman Miscellany.

~~*~~



~~*~~

Links:

• Fr Goffine's The Church's Year
• Gregorian Chant propers
• What Does the Prayer Really Say? (Collect)
  
• What Does the Prayer Really Say? (Secret)
• Vultus Christi: Epiphany Blessing
• chantblog: The Epiphany Proclamation
• chantblog: Omnes de Saba (new!)
  
• NLM: The Gospels of Epiphany, part 1, and part 2 (new!)

(video: Introit "Ecce Advenit", Schola Gregoriana Mediolanensis, Milan, Italy)

In Memoriam - Fr. Franck Quoex

a tribute to Fr Franck M. Quoëx (1967-2007),
by Gregory DiPippio

Today is the third anniversary of the death of Fr. Franck Quoëx, a priest of the Diocese of Vaduz in Lichtenstein, and one of the foremost liturgists of our times. I had the great honor to serve alongside Fr. Quoëx at the traditional Masses in Rome for many years, and some of the most beautiful rites I have ever seen were put together and guided by his phenomenal expertise. He had and deserved a reputation throughout Europe as a highly talented Master of Ceremonies; many have remarked that if the Pope should ever decide to do the ancient Papal Mass again, Fr. Quoëx would have been one of the few people who could have arranged it properly. I am always put in mind of him most especially during Holy Week; he had a great love of these most solemn rites of the Church, and the rehearsals he led were filled with interesting asides on the origin and symbolic meaning of the ceremonies. In the year 2000, he was the first master of ceremonies for a Rorate Mass celebrated by His Eminence Alphonse-Maria Cardinal Stickler, at the church of San Pietro in Montorio. Like most of the servers, I had never been involved in Pontifical Mass before, and we were all extremely nervous; Fr. Quoëx steered us through a magnificent ceremony with grace and calm. In 2005, I was master of ceremonies for a Requiem Mass celebrated on behalf of Pope John Paul II at the F.S.S.P.’s former Roman chapel, San Gregorio de’ Muratori; my two very small mistakes were immediately spotted and corrected by Fr. Quoëx. He always behaved with the most perfect courtesy to myself and the other servers, and his criticisms, if I can even call them such, were easy to bear, because they were not born from a lack of charity, or a desire to lord over others. They came, rather, from a profound liturgical piety, and love of the Church’s tradition, even in its smallest details, which permeated his whole life as a priest. His own Masses, whether sung or read, were a lesson to all who saw them in devotion to the sacred liturgy, and he rejoiced to see the growing interest in the Tridentine rite among priests and seminarians in Rome. The Fraternity of Saint Peter’s European seminary, at Wigratzbad in Bavaria, was blessed to have him for some years as a professor. His knowledge of the sacred rites was both practical and theoretical; among his scholarly achievements, his thesis on the virtue of religion in the writings of St. Thomas earned the praise of Cardinal Ratzinger, and he edited and published out of the Sorbonne critical editions of the liturgical codices of the use of Vercelli, in northern Italy.

In May of 2006, Abbé Quoëx was diagnosed with cancer, which took his life less than nine months later. In the final days of his illness, when he had become too weak to celebrate Mass, he would have friends sit at his bedside and read the Mass to him. He passed away at the age of thirty-nine, on January 2, the feast of the Holy Name of Jesus, and is buried in the cemetery of Lausanne, Switzerland, where he had been serving the faithful of the traditional Mass community. The joy of his eternal rest has most surely been increased beyond measure by the promulgation of the motu proprio Summorum Pontificum, and the flourishing of the traditional Mass to which he dedicated his all-too-brief life in this world.

From his essay The Mass, Our Treasure:

The legacy of the Lord, the Mass is the Sun of our lives and our treasure. We love it due to the fact that it is substantially and principally of the Lord's [own] institution. But we love it also as the Church, to which Jesus entrusted its celebration, has transmitted it to us down through the centuries by means of the various liturgical traditions. Because the prayers and rites developed through the centuries in order to explain and manifest before the eyes of the entire Church the unfathomable riches of the essential rite bequeathed by the Lord. ... We cannot in any way forswear a heritage slowly built by the faith of our fathers, their burning devotion, and the theological reflection around the sacrament of the Passion of the Lord. In contact with the Mass of Saint Pius V -- in which we also contemplate the purest masterpiece of Western Civilization, hierarchical as well as sacral -- our souls lift up and our hearts expand, while our minds taste the most authentic Eucharistic doctrine. This is why we wish to understand and love, at all times more, the Traditional Mass, our treasure, and we will not cease to defend and advance it.

Le Baptistere, March 2003; translation courtesy of Rorate Caeli.
Photo courtesy of Orbis Catholicus.

Most Holy Name of Jesus

Sunday 3 January 2010

SANCTISSIMI NOMINIS IESU
Most Holy Name of Jesus
2nd Class, White


Oremus:

Deus, qui unigénitum Fílium tuum constituísti humáni géneris Salvatórem, et Jesum vocári jussísti: concéde propítius; ut, cujus sanctum nomen venerámur in terris, ejus quoque aspéctu perfruámur in cœlis. Per eúmdem Dóminum...

Let us Pray:

O God, who didst constitute Thine only-begotten Son the Saviour of mankind, and didst bid Him be called Jesus: mercifully grant, that we who venerate His Holy Name on earth, may fully enjoy also the vision of Him in heaven. Through the same...

Link:

• Fr Goffine's The Church's Year
• Vultus Christi: Dulcis Iesu Memoria
• VC: Iesu Rex Admirabilis
• VC: Et balsamo suavior
• VC: "And in the Mouth a Honey Zest"
• VC: The Name of Jesus Makes a Contemplative Man
• Breviarium Romanum blog: Admirabile nomen Iesu
• Vultus Christi: Dulcis Iesu Memoria (new!)
  
• Athanasius contra Mundum: Feast of the Holy Name (new!)
  

(image: breviary.net)

reminder: Blog Help Wanted

Reminder:

One of the authors of this blog intends to retire from blogging by Easter. If you have time to help out with this blog, and see it continue, please leave a comment, or email markadm at catholic dot org.

Without such help, this blog cannot continue. Blog posts have been prepared until Advent 2010, but no further posts have been made.

All comments are moderated, hence private comments can be left which will remain unpublished.

First Thursday of the Month: Plenary Indulgence Available

For the faithful, a plenary indulgence can be obtained on the opening and closing days of the Year for Priests, on the 150th anniversary of the death of St. Jean-Marie Vianney, on the first Thursday of the month, or on any other day established by the ordinaries of particular places for the good of the faithful.

To obtain the indulgence the faithful must attend Mass in an oratory or Church and offer prayers to "Jesus Christ, supreme and eternal Priest, for the priests of the Church, or perform any good work to sanctify and mould them to his heart."

The conditions for the faithful for earning a plenary indulgence are to have gone to confession and prayed for the intentions of the Pope.

(source: Zenit/A Catholic Life)