Dedication of St Michael

Wednesday 29 September 2010

IN DEDICATIONE S. MICHAELIS ARCHANGELI
Dedication of St Michael the Archangel;
commonly called Michaelmas Day
1st Class, White


Oremus.

Deus, qui, miro órdine, Angelórum ministéria hominúmque dispénsas : concéde propítius ; ut, a quibus tibi ministrántibus in cælo semper assístitur, ab his in terra vita nostra muniátur. Per Dóminum.

Let us pray.

O everlasting God, who hast ordained and constituted the services of Angels and men in a wonderful order : mercifully grant that as thy holy Angels alway do thee service in heaven, so by thy appointment they may succour and defend us on earth. Through.

(image: breviary.net)

Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost

Sunday 26 September 2010

DOMINICA XVIII POST PENTECOSTEN
18th Sunday after Pentecost
4th Sunday of September
2nd Class, Violet



Oremus.

Dírigat corda nostra, quæsumus, Dómine, tuæ miseratiónis operátio : quia tibi sine te placére non póssumus. Per Dóminum.

Let us pray.

Grant, we beseech thee, O Lord, that the operation of thy mercy may direct our hearts, forasmuch as without thee we are not able to please thee. Through.

Links:
(image: breviary.net)

Ember Saturday in September

Saturday 25 September 2010

SABBATO QUATUOR TEMPORUM SEPTEMBRIS
Ember Saturday in September
2nd Class, Violet
(Lauds II, Preces; 1st Vespers of 18th Sunday)

Oremus.

Omnípotens sempitérne Deus, qui per continéntiam salutárem corpóribus medéris et méntibus : majestátem tuam súpplices exorámus ; ut pia jejunántium deprecatióne placátus, et præséntia nobis subsídia tríbuas et futúra. Per Dóminum.

Let us pray.

O Almighty and everlasting God, who hast chosen healthy fasting, as a mean to do good both to bodies and to souls, we humbly implore thy Majesty, that the godly prayer of such as be fasting this day may turn away thy wrath, and may be effectual to gain for us thy blessing in time and in eternity. Through.

Link:

Ember Friday in September

Friday 24 September 2010

FERIA SEXTA QUATUOR TEMPORUM SEPTEMBRIS
Ember Friday in September
2nd Class, Violet
(Lauds II, Preces; commem. of Our Lady of Ransom)

Oremus.

Præsta, quæsumus, omnípotens Deus : ut observatiónes sacras ánnua devotióne recoléntes, et córpore tibi placeámus, et mente. Per Dóminum.

Let us pray.

Grant, we beseech thee, O Almighty God, that we who every year do earnestly renew the sacred observance of this Fast, may please thee both in body and in soul. Through.

Link:
(image: September Ember Days by Abel Grimmer, 1607)

Ember Wednesday in September

This coming Wednesday, Friday and Saturday are Ember Days under the classical Roman Calendar. At the beginning of the four seasons of the year, the Church celebrated Ember Days to thank God for his blessings during the past year and to implore further graces for the new season. Ember Days were marked by fasting and abstaining from meat as one would do on Ash Wednesday or Good Friday. They are intended to consecrate to God the four seasons in nature, and to prepare by penance those who are about to be ordained. Ordinations were often conferred at this time, so it is traditional to pray for Vocations at this time!

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Wednesday 22 September 2010

FERIA QUARTA QUATUOR TEMPORUM SEPTEMBRIS
Ember Wednesday in September
2nd Class, Violet
(Lauds II, Preces; commem. of St Thomas of Villanova)


Oremus.

Misericórdiæ tuæ remédiis, quæsumus, Dómine, fragílitas nostra subsístat : ut, quæ sua conditióne attéritur, tua cleméntia reparétur. Per Dóminum.

Let us pray.

We pray thee, O Lord, that the healing power of thy mercy may give strength to our weakness, that those things which do pass away by their own frailty, may be renewed again by thy clemency. Through.

Link:
(image: Rorate Cæli)

Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost

Sunday 19 September 2010

DOMINICA XVII POST PENTECOSTEN
17th Sunday after Pentecost
3rd Sunday of September
2nd Class, Green


Oremus.

Da, quæsumus, Dómine, pópulo tuo diabólica vitáre contágia : et te solum Deum pura mente sectári. Per Dóminum.

Let us pray.


Grant thy people, we beseech thee, O Lord, to shun the defilements of the devil, and with pure hearts to follow thee, the only God. Through.

Links:
(image: Christ Among the Doctors by Giotto. Scrovegni Chapel, Padua, Italy.)

The Seven Sorrows of the B.V.M.

Wednesday 15 September 2010

SEPTEM DOLORUM B.M.V.
Seven Sorrows of the B.V.M.
2nd Class, White
(commem. of St Nicomedis)



Oremus.

Deus, in cujus passióne, secúndum Simeónis prophetíam, dulcíssimam ánimam gloriósae Vírginis et Matris Maríæ dolóris gládius pertransívit : concéde propítius ; ut, qui dolóres ejus venerándo recólimus, passiónis tuæ efféctum felícem consequámur : Qui vivis et regnas.

Let us pray.

O God, in whose passion the sword of grief did pierce the gentle soul of the glorious Virgin Mary, thy Mother, that so might be fulfilled the word of thy Prophet Simeon : mercifully grant that we who here do call to mind her sorrows ; may be fulfilled with the blessed fruits of thy passion. Who livest and reignest with the Father.

(image: breviary.net)

What Must Be Done?

Glory be to our Lord Christ!

- Stuart Milligan
http://stuart-filioque.blogspot.com/

A poll conducted by the BBC recently discovered that 49% of Catholics interviewed believed that the Holy Father should drop his (in fact, the Latin Church's) insistence on clerical celibacy in light of the sexual abuse scandals. Now, we must ask whether such a measure would be beneficial to the Church's mission, which is to perpetuate the Incarnation and bring the Redemption wrought by Christ's Precious Blood to all nations. Will a relaxing of discipline allow the Church to fully witness to the salvific work of God and make it effective in the lives of mankind? The simple answer is no.

What must be done is a return to the Church, the Mystical Body of Christ and an embrace of her teachings and her disciplines in their fullness. The Catholic Church (thankfully) is not founded as a democracy, otherwise she would have consumed and mutilated herself by impatiently attempting to conform to the prevailing trends in society. However, in a short period of time, these 'absolute values' of the world will be classed as outmoded and contrary to the judgment of right-minded and rational people. If we as a modern, technical and 'humane' society have progressed such a great deal in the past 50 or so years, could we even contemplate the marvellous nature of our country in another hundred years time? Will not our current 'truths' be decried as preposterous and Medieval? Let us not latch on to the latest novelty for the mere sake of it being 'new'. It must be noted however that not all developments must be rejected out of hand without due consideration, we must be careful not to throw out the wheat with the chaff.

Many have commented that if the Church does not alterate her doctrines and practices, there will not be a Church to worship in shortly. We are being warned that great multitudes will depart from her bosom as the Sacrament of Salvation is not fulfilling their needs. What should we do? Let them go. Our Blessed Lord said that 'No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God' (Lk 9:62) and 'anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me' (Mt 10:38). Such are hard (dare we say, harsh?) demands that require the conversion and consecration of the whole person to Christ Who descended to save all men and all of man. Let not an itch of your being remain cut off from Christ. Let your words be the words of Christ, your thoughts be of Christ, and your actions be of Christ. A recommitment to our Divine Lord especially to the Holy Sacrifice and to His Most Holy Mother Mary will allow us to be conformed to His likeness, resulting in an unconditional renunouncement of ourselves to our Lord. Do we not say at Compline, 'Into Your hands Lord, I commend my spirit'? Why do we idly recite those precious words of the Crucified and then retire to our beds without a single change of heart, of true repentence and desire for sanctity? The soul who verily acknowledges his debt to the God Who created, sustains and has redeemed him counts nothing as too much. 'Oh but it is too hard' we lament and blubber. Yes it is, for you. We must listen attentively to the words of our Lord to the Divine Apostle, Paul, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' (2 Cor 12:9) He, as the fashioner of human nature, knows exactly what we are capable and by His grace and illumination He allows man to live a divine life. A life free of disordered passions and worries of the ephemeral sort.

This will shrink the Church, they cry. Certainly. Yet, we must remember that few souls will enter and savour the Beatific Vision for all eternity anyway. Our Way is in the steps of our Master Who has went before us and He promised His chosen ones nothing less than sorrow, persecution and repudiation in return for eternal felicity. Is the servant greater than the Master? (Jn 13:16). Let us not be blinded by secular oppression and accept a Gospel other than the one 'entrusted once for all to the saints'(Ju 1:3). The Church cannot witness to the Redemption of the Incarnate Logos by attenuating her commitment to her Bridegroom and the salvation of souls. So if it has to be that men walk away sad from her like the rich man (Lk 18:23), or those gathered around our Lord as He spoke of the necessity of eating His flesh and drinking His blood who departed at this 'hard teaching' (Jn 6:60), so be it. However, I would greatly prefer that we educate our children in the Faith and hand it on to them whilst leading a holy and cheerful life, in willing obedience to Christ and His Church. By our example to our friends, family and extended society, let us become channels of grace for this darkened time and with the Apostle may we say honestly, 'I feel as if I'm going through labor pains for you again, and they will continue until Christ is fully developed in your lives.' (Gal 4:19).

The Exaltation of the Holy Cross

Tuesday 14 September 2010

IN EXALTATIONE S. CRUCIS
Exaltation of the Holy Cross
2nd Class, Red


Oremus.

Deus, qui nos hodiérna die Exaltatiónis sanctæ Crucis ánnua solemnitáte lætíficas : præsta, quæsumus ; ut, cujus mystérium in terra cognóvimus, ejus redemptiónis præmia in cælo mereámur. Per eúmdem Dóminum.

Let us pray.

O God, who dost gladden us upon this day by the festival of the Exaltation of the holy Cross : grant that we who have acknowledged the mystery of redemption here on earth, may rejoice in the everlasting fruits thereof in heaven. Through.

Link:
(image: Breviarium Romanum blog)

Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost

Sunday 12 September 2010

DOMINICA XVI POST PENTECOSTEN
16th Sunday after Pentecost
2nd Sunday of September
2nd Class, Green


Oremus.

Tua nos, quæsumus, Dómine, grátia semper et prævéniat et sequátur: ac bonis opéribus júgiter præstet esse inténtos. Per Dóminum.

Let us pray.

Let thy grace, we beseech thee, O Lord, ever go before us and follow us, and may it make us to be continually zealous in doing good works. Through.

Links:
(image: Gospel, breviary.net)

The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Wednesday 8 September 2010

IN NATIVITATE B. MARIAE VIRGINIS
Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
2nd Class, White
(commem. of St Adrian)



Oremus.

Fámulis tuis, quæsumus, Dómine, cæléstis grátiæ munus impertíre : ut, quibus beátæ Vírginis partus éxstitit salútis exórdium ; Nativitátis ejus votíva solémnitas pacis tríbuat increméntum. Per Dóminum.

Let us pray.

Grant unto us thy servants, we beseech thee, O Lord, the gift of thy heavenly grace, unto whom thou didst give the first sight of a Saviour as the offspring of a Blessed Virgin, and grant that this Feast, which they keep in honour of the same Virgin, may avail them unto the increase of peace. Through.

Link:
(image: The Madonna by Sandro Botticelli, Florence, Italy)

Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost

Sunday 5 September 2010

DOMINICA XV POST PENTECOSTEN
15th Sunday after Pentecost
1st Sunday of September
2nd Class, Green

Oremus.

Ecclésiam tuam, Dómine, miserátio continuáta mundet et múniat : et quia sine te non potest salva consístere ; tuo semper múnere gubernétur. Per Dóminum.

Let us pray.

O Lord, we beseech thee, let thy continual pity cleanse and defend thy Church, and because it cannot continue in safety without thy succour, preserve it evermore by thy help and goodness. Through.

Links:
(image: the Son of the Widow of Naim, Gospel)