Photos: Pope Benedict XVI at First Vespers for Advent Throughout the Years

As is evident in the above image, the Holy Father is dressed brilliantly, truly radiant as the Vicar of our Lord Jesus Christ.  A continuing theme that I have shared on my blog is the Holy Father's choice in garments.  You will see that as time continues to pass, the Holy Fathere continues to wear more traditional vestments.

Below is an image from the blog Opinionated Catholic of the Holy Father at the Vespers of Advent in 2009.  More photos of the First Vespers of Advent in 2009 are available at the New Liturgical Movement.

Now for comparison purposes, look at these photos from 2008's First Vespers of Advent:

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First Mass of Father Severino da Silva

From the blog Dominus Vobiscum:

To the solemn chords of the "Ave Maris Stella" Padre Severino da Silva entered the beautiful Chapel of Immaculate Conception College to sing his first solemn mass. Performed well, the cherished dream since the early days of the seminar celebrating the same Mass of the Holy Curé of Ars. On November 13, the city of Natal has witnessed something very rare, a new priest celebrating the Mass in Gregorian Rite, assisted by deacon and subdeacon. Ceremonies and ran like the first ones to let readers images of that unforgettable celebration.

Related Posts:

• First Solemn Mass of Fr. Aaron Huberfeld
• First Mass Celebrated in Church of the Salesian Sisters of Seville

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Traditional Baptism Photos

I have posted before on the Sacrament of Baptism (see list below) and today I came across these beautiful photos taken by Joseph Shaw of a Traditional Baptism.  Please see his photostream for more of these photos.








Posts on Baptism:

• Baptism: New v Old Rite
• Baptism of our Lord Jesus Christ
• Sacrament of Baptism
• Council of Trent, Part I
• Lessons on the Sacrament of Baptism

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Saints Calendar and Daily Planner for 2011

Don't forget to purchase your new calendar for 2011! I have decided to go with this one. I ordered it a few weeks ago and I am actually quite pleased. It looks nice and serves the function that I need, namely providing me both the Novus Ordo and TLM feastdays.

Saints Calendar and Daily A great aid to sanctify each day! Covers 16 months beginning September 2010. 71 fascinating illustrations and mini biographies - one for every week. Contains both the Ordinary (Novus Ordo) and the Extraordinary (Tridentine) liturgical year,feastdays and Sundays, and historical feasts (such as Our Lady of the Angels, St Philomena, St Dismas the Good Thief). Includes Catholic information such as the days of fast and abstinence, Ember Days and vigils. Alphabetical list of over 700 Patron Saints. With more room to write, monthly planner pages and the same easy to use 51 2" x 81 2" size. The perfect Calendar for Catholic students, the home and business Planner

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First Sunday of Advent

Traditional Propers:

INTROIT
Psalms 24: 1-3
To Thee, O Lord, have I lifted up my soul: in Thee, O my God, I put my trust; let me not be ashamed. Neither let my enemies laugh at me: for none of them that wait on Thee shall be confounded. Ps. Show, O Lord, Thy ways to me, and teach me Thy paths. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. To Thee...

COLLECT - Bestir, O Lord, Thy might, we pray Thee and come; That, defended by Thee, we may deserve rescue from approaching dangers brought on by our sins, and being set free by Thee, obtain our salvation. Who livest and reignest with God the Father in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen.

EPISTLE
Romans 13:11-14
Brethren, knowing the time, that it is now the hour for us to rise from sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we believed. The night is past, and the day is at hand; let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and put on the armour of light. Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and impurities, not in contention and envy; but put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ.

Gradual
Psalms. 24: 3-4
None of them that wait on Thee shall be confounded. Show, O Lord, Thy ways to me, and teach me Thy paths.

LESSER ALLELUIA - ALLELUIA, alleluia. V. Ps. 84, 8. Show us, O Lord, Thy mercy: and grant us Thy salvation. Alleluia.
GOSPEL
Luke 21:25-33

At that time, Jesus said to His disciples: There shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, by reason of the confusion of the roaring of the sea and of the waves: men withering away for fear and expectation of what shall come upon the whole world. For the powers of heaven shall be moved; and then they shall see the Son of man coming in a cloud with great power and majesty. But when these things begin to come to pass, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is at hand. And He spoke to them a similitude: See the fig tree, and all the trees; when they now shoot forth their fruit, you know that summer is nigh; so you also, when you shall see these things come to pass, know that the kingdom of God is at hand. Amen I say to you, this generation shall not pass away till all things be fulfilled. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My words shall not pass away.

OFFERTORY
Psalms 24:1,-3
To Thee have I lifted up my soul: in Thee, O my God, I put my trust, let me not be ashamed: neither let my enemies laugh at me: for none of them that wait for Thee shall be confounded.

SECRET - May, O Lord, these Sacred Rites enable us, whom by Thy mighty power Thou hast cleansed from sin, to come pure in heart before Thee who art their author. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen.. .

PREFACE (Preface of the Most Holy Trinity) - It it truly meet and just, right and for our salvation, that we should at all times, and in all places, give thanks unto Thee, O holy Lord, Father almighty, everlasting God; Who, together with Thine only-begotten Son, and the Holy Ghost, art one God, one Lord: not in the oneness of a single Person, but in the Trinity of one substance. For what we believe by Thy revelation of Thy glory, the same do we believe of Thy Son, the same of the Holy Ghost, without difference or separation. So that in confessing the true and everlasting Godhead, distinction in persons, unity in essence, and equality in majesty may be adored. Which the Angels and Archangels, the Cherubim also and Seraphim do praise: who cease not daily to cry out, with one voice saying:

COMMUNION
Psalms 84: 13
The Lord will give goodness: and our earth shall yield her fruit.

POST COMMUNION - May we in the midst of Thy holy temple, O Lord, receive of Thy mercy, who seek with fitting honour to welcome the coming festival of our Redemption. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen.

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Catholic Thanksgiving Day Prayer

Happy Thanksgiving!

Let us remember to thank God today for the many blessings we have received. Remember to say a special Blessing before your Thanksgiving meal today. If you have no other commitments volunteer to help serve Thanksgiving dinner at a place that is serving the poor. Or, if you are hosting a dinner, invite friends or family who have nowhere else to go.

Today is an appropriate day to add to our prayers the collect prayer from the Votive Mass of Thanksgiving:

O God of Whose mercies there is no number, and of Whose goodness the treasure is infinite: we render thanks to Thy most gracious Majesty for the gifts Thou hast bestowed upon us, always beseeching Thy clemeny; that as Thou grantest the petitions of them that ask Thee, Thou wilt prepare them for the greater rewards that still await them.

Source: 1962 Roman Catholic Daily Missal

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Pope Benedict XVI: Recent Comments on Condom Usage

In the past few days, the Internet and much of the media has been focusing on the recent comments of Pope Benedict XVI, when he said that condom usage may be appropriate for male prostitutes (not female prostitutes) as a means to reduce the spread of H.I.V, the virus responsible for AIDS.  His comments were not issued in support for contraception by females and was not intended under any circumstance to be used for the purpose of birth control.

I wish to direct your attention to these previous posts of mine on the topic:

• Why not contraception?
• The Church will never recommend condoms
• Uganda's Abstinence Program will Work
  

Image Source: AP Photo/Andrew Medichini

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Consistory for the creation of new cardinals

As I had mentioned several weeks ago, the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, has chosen 24 new cardinals, including 4 new Americans.  Included among these 24 are Archbishop Raymond Burke, Archbishop Donald Wuerl, Archbishop Kurt Koch, and others.

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New Translation of the English Roman Missal: A Comprehensive Guide and Explanation

CatechismClass.com has recently unveiled a new lesson on their website to help explain the New Translation of the Roman Missal. The lesson is available as a 60-page document outlining the changes in the Liturgy from the perspective of the priest and the congregation. The text goes through the changes in the Liturgy over the past 2,000 years to best explain the reasons for the changes in this New Translation.

• Chapter 1: The Source and Summit of the Christian Life
• Chapter 2: A Brief History of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass
• Chapter 3: The Need for a New Translation of the Roman Missal
• Chapter 4: What We Will Say (Changes for the Participants)
• Chapter 5: What We Will Hear (Changes for the Celebrant)

This work is intended for the average Catholic to read and is a great tool for pastors to purchase and share with their congregations, CCD classes, RCIA students, etc, etc.

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St Mary Magdalen Wandsworth: Solemn Mass

Below are a few of the recent images uploaded by Joseph Shaw of a Solemn Mass at St. Mary Magadalene in Wandsworth.  Fr Martin Edwards, parish priest of St Mary Magdalen's, Wandsworth, arranged for the recently ordained Fr Ian McDole to celebrate a Solemn Mass in his Church. Fr John Zuhlsdorf was deacon for this Mass.

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