Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Act of Reparation to the Blessed Sacrament by St. Louis Marie de Montfort

Act of Reparation to the Blessed Sacrament
By St. Louis Marie de Montfort

Let me cry, let me weep bitter tears to God above,
For Jesus is abandoned in his Sacrament of love;
Forgotten and insulted in the dwelling of the Lord,
Derided and rejected where once he was adored.

The mansions of the nobles are all clean and set with care,
Yet the house of God's forgotten, its altars standing bare;
The floor is all broken, the roof lets in the rain,
The crumbling walls are marked with holes and every kind of stain.

The crucifix is broken, the pictures green with damp,
The altar cloths are rotting, no light burns in the lamp,
The missals torn and battered, the brasswork stained with rust,
The things of God are thrown about and scattered in the dust.

The ciborium is tarnished, the chalice turning black,
The monstrance, which is made of tin, is mouldy at the back;
From font right up to sacristy the picture is the same,
Such disorder in the house of God is our reproach and shame.

The pagans in their temples dare not spit upon the floor,
But in our church a crowd of dogs run in and out the door;
They bark and fight continually and fill the place with slime,
But no one cares enough of this to avenge the dreadful crime.

There is just one exception in all this sorry scene:
My Lord and Lady's special pew is always neat and clean;
And standing out in bright new paint upon the dingy wall
Their gaily-colored coat-of-arms looks down upon it all.

Above the Lord's own altar, instead of the Lord's own name,
The banners of his Lordship, a place of honor claim;
Both priest and mule are flaunting the badges of their thrall,
The former at the altar, the latter in his stall.

The houses of the nobles are so crowded and gay,
And fashionable young ladies are courted night and day;
But the Church of God's deserted, unless they condescend
To go to church for one short Mass they think will never end.

Behold the worldly cleric coming in with haughty face
How his lady friends admire him as he bows with courtly grace!
He bobs a genuflection, then seeks whom he should greet;
He strolls about and chatters as though walking in the street

Still worse, he has a snuff-box, which he opens with a jest,
And delicately takes a pinch, then passes around the rest
Puffed up with self-importance and with his graceful ways,
He squirms about and poses, making faces as he prays

Alas, it's often happened, the way to church he's trod
To pay reverence to Venus, to a goddess not to God;
Every thought and aspiration, every word and loving glance
Are but homage to a creature, a prayer to find romance

Behold upon the other side a sorry scene is played,
A shameless hussy sitting in all her fine brocade;
In her dainty little slippers and head-dress trimmed with lace,
Come simply to parade herself within the holy place

This empty-headed madam, with an impudence unknown,
Up to the very altar ostentatiously is shown,
And poses on a bench in front, so to be seen by all,
To captivate the eyes of men and hold their hearts in thrall

To think this devil's agent, while her knee to Jesus bends,
Must rob him of his glory and lead astray his friends!
The splendor of her finery the thought of Jesus harms,
Forgotten is the altar in the presence of her charms.

And if the time seems tedious, she always has her fan,
Her dog and gloves, to pass the time, and often her young man;
She'll read a bit, and roll her eyes, and fix her hat with care,
Then look around the chapel to see who's watching her

O strike them, God almighty, strike this ungrateful lot!
At least let them respect thee, if they will love thee not
Too long hast thou been patient; thy justice let them see;
Let fear replace that insolence with which they now mock thee

Thy glory has been ravished, dishonored is thy name,
Such sinners against thy majesty must bow their heads in shame
And yet restrain thy anger, at least a while I pray;
The greatness of their wickedness with greater good repay

Forgive them, dearest Jesus, for they know not what they do;
Remember thy great Passion, and have mercy on us too
And if we are unable to atone for all our guilt,
Accept our feeble homage, and treat us as thou wilt

We confess before thy altar that we are sinners still;
Thou canst punish us or spare us according to thy will
But remember thy great mercy and the tears that we have shed,
And hear our cries for pardon, for our hearts are full of dread.
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May Procession of the Blessed Virgin Mary 2009

Here are a few photos from a Marian Procession this past May at St. Jude Roman Catholic Church. Please be sure to browse the links on my Category Page dedicated to Mary, the Mother of God.

Ave Maria, gratia plena,
Dominus, tecum,
benedicta tu in mulieribus
et benedictus fructus ventris tui, Iesus.
Sancta Maria, sancta Maria,
Maria, ora pro nobis nobis peccatoribus,
nunc et in hora, in hora mortis nostrae.
Amen! Amen!

Tantum ergo Sacramentum
Veneremur cernui
Et antiquum documentum
novo cedat ritui
Praestet fides supplementum
Sensuum defectui
Genitori, Genitoque
Laus et jubilatio
Salus, honor, virtus quoque
Sit et benedictio
Procedenti ab utroque
Compar sit laudatio. A-men

Salve Regina coelitum, O Maria!
Sors unica terrigenum, O Maria!

Jubilate, Cherubim,
Exsultate, Seraphim!
Consonante perpetim:
Salve, Salve, Salve Regina.

Mater misericordiae, O Maria!
Dulcis parens clementiae, O Maria!

Jubilate, Cherubim,
Exsultate, Seraphim!
Consonante perpetim:
Salve, Salve, Salve Regina.

Alma Redemptoris Mater,
quae pervia caeli porta manes,
Et stella maris,
succurre cadenti
surgere qui curat populo:
Tu quae genuisti,
natura mirante,
tuum sanctum Genitorem:
Virgo prius ac posterius,
Gabrielis ab ore
sumens illud Ave,
peccatorum miserere.


Image Source:http://www.flickr.com/photos/jcapaldi/ / CC BY 2.0
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150th Anniversary of the Death of St. John Vianney: Plenary Indulgence


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
Image Source: Unknown, Image of St. John Vianney's incorruptible body
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Thursday, July 30, 2009
Smith Museum of Stained Glass Windows

Last Tuesday I visited a fellow blogger in Chicago, IL and both of us visited the Smith Museum of Stained Glass Windows, which is free and open to the public on Navy Pier.



Below you will find a selection of some of the stained glass which I photographed while visiting the Museum. Remember that earlier this summer I mentioned that I am in Chicagoland for the summer months and if anyone would like, I would be happy to visit with them in Chicago.


Some of the stained glass featured picturesque landscapes:


Most of the available stained glass depicted iconic moments in Christianity such as the Magi's Adoration of the Christ Child (pictured below).





St. Patrick was honored with several images available for viewing in the Museum:






Three Persons in One God, the Blessed Trinity:


Even the Old Testament figure of King Solomon - who is venerated as a saint in Catholicism - was prominently featured in a Stained Glass Window.



Our Lord and the Apostles in the Garden of Gethsemane:



Above all, the Smith Museum of Stained Glass Windows reinforced the idea that one's environment is conduce to one's prayer. If we only frequent buildings that have eliminated statues, icons, paintings, stained glass, etc., then we are depriving our senses of the joy that can be obtained through the viewing of such a masterpiece. Such masterpieces transcend the typical and force us to contemplate the wonders of the Divine God, who is rightfully honored with many beautiful paintings, icon, glass windows, Cathedrals, and other wonders throughout the world.
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Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Tridentine Questions: Two Sung Masses on Sunday; More than one Asperges on a Sunday; Length of Matins & Lauds

Q. Is it allowed for a parish church to held two sung masses (either one Solemn High Mass and another in Missa Cantata; or both Missa Cantata) in Extraordinary Form of the Roman rite on Sundays, important/great feasts and other holy days of obligation? Assuming that the church will only have two masses for those days mentioned.

A: It seems pretty clear that according to Summorum Pontificum, this is allowed for the typical parish, so long you are not "depriving" people who want to attend the Novus Ordo of that opportunity.

Looking at rubrics alone, indeed, you may have as many Sung (Missa Cantata) or Solemn Masses (Missa Solemnis) each day as you wish. You need to have a schola for each, so that may be a problem to get singers.

One Mass on any day is the "parochial", "community" or "conventual" Mass. This is the Mass which is the primary Mass of the day. If there is a Missa Cantata or Solemnis, the more solemn form would be automatically designated as such.




Q: If the parish church has two masses in Extraordinary Form of the Roman rite on Sunday, is it allowed that both masses have the Asperges before the mass proper?

A: The Asperges/Vidi Aquam is done only once and only on Sundays. It is done only before the principle of main Mass, as defined above. For additional Masses it is omitted. If no Sunday Mass is sung, it is omitted completely, as it is never done unless at a Sung Mass or Solemn Mass.




Q: Typically, how long does a chanted Matins and Lauds will take, assuming that it is chanted in Latin and following the 1962 Roman Breviary?

A: It varies a bit. Generally, for a feria or a third class feast (one nocturn - three lessons), Matins would take about an 45 mins- 1 hr. For major feasts (three nocturns - nine lessons), figure about 1 hr - 2 hrs. Lauds is about like Vespers, perhaps 30 - 45 mins.




Image Source: Believed to be in the Public Domain
Q&A Source: Taken from Fish Eaters Forum with permission of answerer
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Monday, July 27, 2009
Tridentine Nuptial Mass Photos






Image Source: Ochie Bumanlag's Wedding, Antipolo Cathedral, Rizal, Philippines via the Flickr Profile of dennisraymondm33.
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Friday, July 24, 2009
Choosing Music for a Tridentine Nuptial Mass

Are you preparing to have a Tridentine Nupital Mass for your wedding? Congratulations! When it comes to choosing music that is appropriate and sacred, here are some recommendations for you to share with your organist and choir at the parish. There are others but this is a good start:

Kyrie:

Kyrie IV

Credo: 


Palestrina's Missa Papae Marcelli 


Credo IV

Sanctus:

Sanctus IV

Recommendation from a Blog Reader:

Polyphonic settings are always a plus and preferred by the Church. In general, I try to avoid symphonic settings, though for a wedding, something out of the ordinary would be nice. One thing I learned while in Chicago [at the Sacred Music Colloquium] is that symphonic Masses are NOT suited to a Novus Ordo Mass. There is so little liturgical action that the priest finds himself waiting for the music to end. Back to polyphonic Masses, one that I sang recently that is very well done is the Mass for five voices by Byrd. I tried looking for it on Youtube to no avail. Perhaps you will fare better. Schubert is lovely but I hesitate to recommend it as he makes inappropriate textual changes (leaves out a portion of the Credo and includes the intonation for the Gloria).
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Monday, July 20, 2009
John C. Maxwell's "How Succesful People Think"

 http://amzn.to/2h2qanD
I just had the opportunity to read and review John C. Maxwell's "How Successful People Think". As a relatively small book (approximately 130 pages), it is an excellent "pocket-guide" resource for anyone interested in stimulating creative thought. Critical thinking is appropriately encouraged to the point of adoration in the American education system, though many students still fail to develop effective thinking. As a practical thinker myself, I believe Maxwell's guide is a fantastic resource to anyone interested in learning how to think.

Chapters from the book include:
  • Engage in Focused Thinking
  • Employ Realistic Thinking
  • Learn from Reflective Thinking
  • Benefit from Shared Thinking
  • Rely on Bottom-line Thinking
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Little Office of Christ the King

I would like to pass along this message from Jovan concerning Little Office of Christ the King (also available in PDF).
Matthew,

Greetings in Christ and our Lady! The 'Little Office of Christ the King' which I compiled is based on various devotional 'Little Offices' from before the Second Vatican Council. There were, to my knowledge, such 'Offices' for the Immaculate Conception, St Joseph and the Holy Angels, with possibly others as well. They were designed as devotions to be said after the corresponding Hour of the Divine Office.

If you are not yet bound, under pain of sin, to recite the Divine Office, there would be no problem in substituting, but I would highly recommend either saying the Divine Office or the full Little Office of our Lady and then saying the appropriate hoiur(s) of the Little Office of Christ the King afterwards.

Also, I should point out that, while everything in the Office is taken directly from sources approved by the Church, namely the Roman Breviary, the whole compilation has never been submitted for approval by any competent ecclesiastical authority.

Hope this is helpful.

In Christ the King,

Jovan
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Saturday, July 18, 2009
Catholic Devotion Listing - Contest

Visit Devotional Catholicism for a contest featuring as its prize a Statute of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. The contest involves posting the name of a devotion that is not already listed on the list started by the site's founder.
Editor Note: the site is no longer available
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