Annunciation of the B.V.M.

Wednesday 25 March 2009

IN ANNUNTIATIONE B. MARIAE VIRG.
The Annunciation of the Bl. Virgin Mary
1st Class, White
Gloria; Tract; Credo; Pref. Pr of the BVM
Commem. of Feria at all Masses


Oremus.

Deus, qui de beátæ Maríæ Vírginis útero Verbum tuum, Angelo nuntiánte, carnem suscípere voluísti : præsta supplícibus tuis ; ut, qui vere eam Genitrícem Dei crédimus, ejus apud te intercessiónibus adjuvémur. Per eúmdem Dóminum.

Let us pray.

O God, who didst will that at the message of an Angel thy Word should take flesh in the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary : grant that we, thy suppliants, who believe her to be truly the Mother of God, may be helped by her intercession with thee. Through the same.

Link:

• Sub Tuum: Annunciation Pregame: The Angelus
• St Conleth's Catholic Heritage Association
• Cardinal Newman, Apologist of Our Lady, by Fr John Hardon SJ

Dom Gueranger: brief extracts from Vespers for the Fourth Sunday of Lent.

Capitulum:
Brethren: it is written that Abraham had two sons: the one by a bond-woman, and the other by a free-woman. But he who was of the bond-woman was born according to the flesh: but he of the free-woman, was by promise: which things are said by an allegory.

Magnificat Antiphon:
Jesus therefore went up into a mountain, and there he sat with his disciples.

Let us pray.
Grant we beseech thee, O almighty God, that we, who are justly afflicted according to our demerits, may be relieved by thy comforting grace.
through, &c.

Fourth Sunday of Lent

Sunday 22 March 2009

DOMINICA IV IN QUADRAGESIMA
Fourth Sunday in Lent (Laetare Sunday)
1st Class, Violet/Rose
No Gloria; Credo; Preface of Lent

Oremus.

Concéde, quæsumus, omnípotens Deus : ut, qui ex mérito nostræ actiónis afflígimur, tuæ grátiæ consolatióne respirémus. Per Dóminum.

Let us pray.


Grant, we beseech thee, Almighty God : that we, who for our evil deeds do worthily deserve to be punished, by the comfort of thy grace may mercifully be relieved. Through.

Links:

• Fr Goffine's The Church's Year
• Gregorian Chant propers
• What Does the Prayer Really Say?
• NLM: Laetare Sunday
  

(image: Vultus Christi)

Dom Gueranger: Extract from his prayer to St. Joseph

"O sublime minister of the greatest of blessings, intercede for us with God made Man. Ask him to bestow Humility upon us, - that holy virtue which raised thee to such exalted dignity, and which must be the basis of our conversion.......Get us this virtue, without which there can be no true penance. Pray for us, O Joseph, that we may be chaste. Without purity of mind and body, we cannot come nigh the God of all sanctity, who suffers nothing defiled to approach him. He wills to make our bodies, by his grace, the temples of his holy Spirit: do thou, great Saint, help us to maintain ourselves in so exalted a dignity, or to recover it, if we have lost it.

"....O Faithful Spouse of Mary! recommend us to our Mother. If she cast a look of pity upon us during these days of reconciliation, we shall be saved: for she is the Queen of Marcy, and Jesus her Son, will pardon us and change our hearts, if she intercede for us, O Joseph! Remind her of Bethlehem, Egypt, and Nazareth, in all of which she received from thee such marks of thy devotedness. Tell her, that we, also, love and honour thee; and Mary will reward us for our devotion to him that was given her by heaven as her protector and support."

St Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Thursday 19 March 2009

S. IOSEPH SPONSI B.M.V. CONFESSORS
ET ECCLESIAE UNIVERSAE PATRONI
St Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Patron of the Universal Church
1st Class, White
Gloria; Tract; Credo; Pref. of St Joseph
Commem. of Feria at all Masses

Oremus.

Sanctíssimæ Genitrícis tuæ Sponsi, quæsumus, Dómine, méritis adjuvémur : ut, quod possibílitas nostra non óbtinet, ejus nobis intercessióne donétur : Qui vivis et regnas.

Let us pray.

Grant, O Lord, we beseech thee, that we may be assisted by the merits of the spouse of thy most holy Mother : and vouchsafe to give us at his intercession ; those things which by our own power we cannot obtain. Who livest and reignest with the Father.

~~*~~

Please note:

On Thursday 19th March there will be Latin Vespers at 6.4pm in St Mary's RC Cathedral, Edinurgh (Scotland) to celebrate the Solemnity of Saint Joseph.

All are welcome to join the Schola for this opportunity to pray with the ancient music of the Church.

This will be the first of monthly sung Vespers sung on Thursdays around 7pm by the new Edinburgh Schola. Please see www.edinburghschola.blogspot.com for updates and further information.

(image: St Joseph in Millegem Kerk, Ranst, Belgium)

Third Sunday of Lent

Sunday 15 March 2009

DOMINICA III IN QUADRAGESIMA
Third Sunday in Lent
1st Class, Violet
No Gloria; Credo; Preface of Lent

Oremus.

Quæsumus, omnípotens Deus, vota humílium réspice : atque ad defensiónem nostram, déxteram tuæ majestátis exténde. Per Dóminum.

Let us pray.


We beseech thee, Almighty God, look upon the hearty desires of thy humble servants : and stretch forth the right hand of thy majesty, to be our defence against all our enemies. Through.

Links:

• Fr Goffine's The Church's Year
• Gregorian Chant propers
• NLM: Introit, Third Sunday of Lent
• St Conleth's Catholic Heritage: Lent III: Ave Regina Cœlorum
• St Mary Magdalen: "And You will live long in the Land..."
• Fr Scott Bailey, CSsR: Evening Devotions
  

Second Sunday of Lent

Sunday 8 March 2009

DOMINICA II IN QUADRAGESIMA
Second Sunday in Lent
1st Class, Violet
No Gloria; Credo; Preface of Lent


Oremus.

Deus, qui cónspicis omni nos virtúte destítui : intérius exteriúsque custódi ; ut ab ómnibus adversitátibus muniámur in córpore, et a pravis cogitatiónibus mundémur in mente. Per Dóminum.

Let us pray.

Almighty God, who seest that we have no power of ourselves to help ourselves : keep us both outwardly in our bodies, and inwardly in our souls ; that we may be defended from all adversities which may happen to the body, and from all evil thoughts which may assault and hurt the soul. Through.

~~*~~

From the day Peter confessed that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God, the Master 'began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things...and be killed, and on the third day be raised.'(Mt 16:21.) Peter scorns this prediction, nor do the others understand it any better than he. (Mt 16:22-23.) In this context the mysterious episode of Jesus' Transfiguration takes place on a high mountain, (Mt 17:1-8.) before three witnesses chosen by himself: Peter, James and John. Jesus' face and clothes become dazzling with light, and Moses and Elijah appear, speaking 'of his departure, which he was to accomplish at Jerusalem.' (Lk 9:31.)" (CCC 554) For a moment Jesus discloses his divine glory, confirming Peter's confession. He also reveals that he will have to go by the way of the cross at Jerusalem in order to 'enter into his glory.' (Lk 24:26.) (CCC 555)

Links:

• Fr Goffine's The Church's Year
• Gregorian Chant propers
• Breviarium Romanum blog
• St Conleth's Catholic Heritage: Lent II: Miserere
  

(image: breviary.net)

Dom Gueranger on Saturday in Ember Week

"The Station is in the Basilica of Saint Peter....where the people were wont to assemble, towards evening, that they might be present at the Ordination of the Priests and Sacred Ministers. This day was called 'Twelve-Lesson-Saturday' because formerly, twelve passages from the Holy Scriptures used to be read, as upon Holy Saturday."

This Ordination Mass was celebrated during the night; so that Sunday had begun by the time it was over. Later it was celebrated early on Saturday, "as we now have it; but, in memory of the ancient practice, the Gospel for Saturday is repeated on Sunday."

This Gospel is Matthew's account of the Transfiguration. By 1962 the 12 lessons had been reduced to four but the Gospel remained the same and was still repeated on the Second Sunday of Lent. The OF has suppressed the extra lessons for this day altogether and a different Gospel is in place. However, the Transfiguration accounts are present in both year A (Matthew) and B (Mark). Therefore, whichever form of the Mass you attend tomorrow, today's comments by Dom Guéranger explain why the Church chose the Matthew text in the first place.

"The Church would have us think upon the sublime dignity which has been conferred upon the newly ordained Priests. They are represented by the three Apostles, who were taken by Jesus to the high mountain, and favoured with the sight of his glory."

The newly ordained "..will in like manner.....enter into the cloud with the Lord. They will offer up the Sacrifice of your salvation in the silence of the sacred Canon. God will descend into their hands, for your sakes; and though they are mortals and sinners, yet will they, each day, be in closest communication with the Divinity."

"The forgiveness of your sins.........is to come to you through their hands; their superhuman power will bring it down from heaven upon your souls. It is thus that God has cured our pride......... His own Eternal Son became Man, and he left other men after him to whom he said: 'As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.' Let us, then, show honour to these men, who have this very day, been raised to so high a dignity. One of the duties imposed on us by our holy Religion, is respect to the Priesthood."

Ember Saturday in Lent

Saturday 7 March 2009

SABBATO QUATUOR TEMPORUM QUADRAGESIMAE
Ember Saturday in Lent
2nd Class, Violet
No Gloria; No Credo; Pref. of Lent; Prayer over the people
Commem. of S Thomas Aquinas C D at Low Masses

Oremus.

Pópulum tuum, quæsumus, Dómine, propítius réspice : atque ab eo flagélla tuæ iracúndiæ cleménter avérte. Per Dóminum.

Let us pray.

We beseech thee, O Lord, graciously to hear the prayers of thy people : and of thy great goodness turn aside from them the scourges of thine anger. Through.

Link:

• What Does the Prayer Really Say? (Postcommunion)
  

Ember Friday in Lent

Friday 6 March 2009

FERIA VI QUATUOR TEMPORUM QUADRAGESIMAE
Ember Friday in Lent
2nd Class, Violet; Plenary Indulgence
No Gloria; No Credo; Pref. of Lent; Prayer over the people
Commem. of SS Perpetua & Felicitas MM at Low Masses

Oremus.

Esto, Dómine, propítius plebi tuæ : et, quam tibi facis esse devótam, benígno réfove miserátus auxílio. Per Dóminum.

Let us pray.

We beseech thee, O Lord, mercifully to have compassion on thy people : that they, which by thee are enabled to serve thee in all godliness, may ever be comforted by thy gracious and ready help. Through.

Link:

• Fasting & Abstinence

Ember Wednesday in Lent

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!

~~*~~

Wednesday 4 March 2009

FERIA IV QUATUOR TEMPORUM QUADRAGESIMAE
Ember Wednesday in Lent
2nd Class, Violet
No Gloria; No Credo; Pref. of Lent; Prayer over the People
Commem. of St Casimir, Confessor, at Low Masses

Oremus.

Preces nostras, quæsumus, Dómine, cleménter exáudi : et contra cuncta nobis adversántia déxteram tuæ majestátis exténde. Per Dóminum.

Let us pray.

We beseech thee, O Lord, that thou wouldest graciously hear our prayers : and stretch forth the right hand of thy majesty to be our defence against all adversities.

Links:

• Catholic Encyclopaedia: Ember Days
• Fasting & Abstinence

Dom Gueranger: from the Mass of the First Sunday of Lent

After the first Collect "The two following Collects are then added.

Second Collect

Preserve us, O Lord, we beseech thee, from all dangers of soul and body: and by the intercession of the glorious and Blessed Mary, the ever Virgin-Mother of God, of thy blessed Apostles Peter and Paul, of blessed N. (here is mentioned the Titular Saint of the Church.), and of all the Saints, grant us, in thy mercy, health and peace; that all adversities and errors being removed, thy Church may serve thee with undisturbed liberty.

Third Collect

O Almighty and eternal God, who hast dominion over the living and the dead, and art merciful to all whom thou knowest will be thine by faith and good works: we humbly beseech thee, that they, for whom we have proposed to offer our prayers, whether this world still retains them in the flesh, or the next world hath already received them divested of their bodies, may, by the clemency of thine own goodness, and the intercession of thy Saints, obtain pardon and full remission of their sins. Through &c."