Christopher Columbus: Catholic Explorer

Christopher Columbus, the great Catholic explorer, has been unjustly marred by historians and liberals. The true Christopher Columbus was a saintly man who sought to serve the Holy Catholic Faith and His Sovereign King.  Despite unprecedented challenges, Columbus ultimately ushered in the colonization and Christianization of the Western Hemisphere.  As a deeply religious man, we can learn from his Faith and devotion.  Join me in crying out: Sancto Subito! (May he be declared a saint soon!)

The following is excerpted from an excellent article on Nobility.org. Please read the whole article in honor of Columbus Day.

Before leaving [on his legendary voyage], Columbus received the Sacraments of Penance and Holy Eucharist, at the hands (it is stated) of Father Juan Perez, the officers and crews of the little squadron following his example. On 3 August, 1492, the people of Palos with heavy hearts saw them depart on an expedition regarded by many as foolhardy. 

... 

Columbus was unquestionably a man of genius. He was a bold, skilful navigator, better acquainted with the principles of cosmography and astronomy than the average skipper of his time, a man of original ideas, fertile in his plans, and persistent in carrying them into execution. The impression he made on those with whom he came in contact even in the days of his poverty, such as Fray Juan Perez, the treasurer Luis de Santangel, the Duke of Medina Sidonia, and Queen Isabella herself, shows that he had great powers of persuasion and was possessed of personal magnetism. His success in overcoming the obstacles to his expeditions and surmounting the difficulties of his voyages exhibit him as a man of unusual resources and of unflinching determination. 

Columbus was also of a deeply religious nature. Whatever influence scientific theories and the ambition for fame and wealth may have had over him, in advocating his enterprise he never failed to insist on the conversion of the pagan peoples that he would discover as one of the primary objects of his undertaking. Even when clouds had settled over his career, after his return as a prisoner from the lands he had discovered, he was ready to devote all his possessions and the remaining years of his life to set sail again for the purpose of rescuing Christ’s Sepulchre from the hands of the infidel.

The following author highlights the Franciscan nature of Columbus.  Columbus was a third order Franciscan and daily prayed the Divine Office:

As early as 1493, Columbus wrote a letter to the Royal Treasurer of Spain in which he speaks of the discovery of the New World as a great victory. Yet, it was not a victory by force of arms but a victory of bringing the truth to people who were sitting in the darkness of unbelief. He wrote, "Since our Redeemer gave this victory to our most illustrious King and Queen and to their famous realms, in so great a manner, it is fitting for all Christendom to rejoice and to make celebrations and give solemn thanks to the Holy Trinity with many solemn prayers for the great exultation which it will have and the turning of so many peoples to our holy Faith." 

All that we know about Columbus testifies to his having lived up to his Franciscan Rule. We know that he would wear the Franciscan habit, especially when he appeared before the Royalty or nobility. Except for the Franciscans with whom he stayed before leaving on his historic voyage, he would never had received the entree to Ferdinand and Isabella which opened the door to the New World. He went to confession to Franciscan priests. He would spend long periods of time in worshiping before the Blessed Sacrament in Franciscan chapels. When he left Palos, Spain on August 3, 1492 to cross the Atlantic, he left his son in the care of the Franciscans at their monastery. 

 Tomb of Christopher Columbus in Seville, Spain's Cathedral. Photo taken January 4, 2019 (c) A Catholic Life Blog.

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Solemn High Mass for Blessed Karl of Austria at Old St. Mary's in Washington, DC

I hope that those of you in the area can attend this Mass.

You may also be interested to learn of the death of Brother Nathan Cochran, OSB, the USA/Canada Delegate to the Blessed Karl League of Prayers.  Here is a link to his obituary:
http://pittsburghlatinmass.org/blog/?p=2167

He was a great promoter of Bl. Karl, and had a great devotion to the Traditional Latin Mass.

Woodlawn Knights of Columbus Council 2161 and the Pittsburgh Latin Mass Community, Inc., will be arranging a Requiem Mass for him at St. Anthony Chapel in Pittsburgh on Saturday, 29 November 2014, at 2pm.

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4 Ways to Help Minorities Become Traditional Catholics

There needs to be an immediate call to action by Traditional Catholics to do more to share the Traditional Faith with minorities.

Kenya, 1937

In my own situation, I frequent a few different chapels/shrines/parishes regularly for the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.  At each Mass, all of which are Traditional Latin Masses, I am pleased to find a few non-white Catholics in attendance.  These people are extremely intelligent – one of which is very fluent in Latin and an integral part of the schola.  It is rewarding to see the one True Faith bringing in people from all societies, social classes, races, and nationalities.  Our Faith is one.  It is universal – after all, that is what it means to be a Catholic!

As Traditional Catholics, some of us are to be commended for what we do to share the Faith with others – whether digitally (e.g. on our Facebook walls) or in personal discussions with others.  But why do so many of us not reach out to the racial or ethnic minorities in our communities?  Are not these people also called to the one saving Faith that is the Catholic Church, outside of which no one can be saved?  Do we do enough to help their salvation?

It’s unfortunate that there are few Traditional Latin Masses in the Spanish-speaking world, relatively to the number in the English speaking world.  And why is it that when we think of African American Catholic communities we think of “praise and worship” singing and heretical worship rather than people who also need true, valid Sacraments?

It’s a fact that the same Traditional Latin Mass codified by His Holiness Pope St. Pius V was the Mass that converted the inhabitants of the New World when the explorers of Juan Ponce de Leon and Christopher Columbus landed on these shores.  The christianization of the New World consisted of naming many places after the Faith.  Did you realize El Salvador means “The Savior” or that much of Southern California christianized by the Franciscans is named after the saints?  Santa Monica – Saint Monica.  San Diego - Saint Diego de Alcalá.  And there are many other examples.  The point is that these primitive people all became Catholics – Catholics attached solely to the Latin Mass and the Latin Sacraments.  It’s a fallacy to even suggest that these peoples need the Novus Ordo to serve as a bridge between their prior ways and the Solemnity of the Latin Mass.  History is our proof and it is not necessary.

Let's also consider the work of the SSPX in Africa or the ICKSP in Africa today and the many conversions they bring about.  All peoples are called to the beauty of Tradition.

There is a tendency – a subtle one within us – to assume that the extraordinary beauty, awe, history, and ritual of the Traditional Latin Mass is only meant for Europeans and those of European heritage.  We need to completely eradicate this notion out of our minds.  Let’s consider the following:

1. Invite non-Catholic minorities to Mass with you.  It’s a holy act and one that we should all be doing more often.  There are many protestant minorities in our society.  There are too many ex-Catholics in the Hispanic community who are seeking spirituality in the un-holiness of Pentecostalism and the like.  Are we inviting them back to Mass?  Are we bringing them with us to the Solemn High Masses so they can experience the great awe and mystery of the Faith that they may have never truly known?  Do we explain to them why we pray to the Holy Mother of God?

2. Invite Catholic minorities to Mass.  With this group, unlike the aforementioned one, they can and should receive the Sacraments.  Help them follow along in the Missal.  Help explain to them the rituals (e.g. the Signs of the Cross, the many genuflections, the symbolism, etc).  Help them feel the awe and mystery.  Invite them to go to Confession.  Introduce them to the priest afterwards.  Invite them to the monthly social hours or some devotions (e.g. Sunday Vespers, Benediction, Rosary, etc).  These people, just like their Caucasian counterparts in non-Traditional Catholic Churches, yearn for what is True, Good, and Beautiful.  This is especially worthwhile to do by bringing to Mass those with inadequate transportation or health issues who may be completely unable to attend any Mass at all on a given Sunday.

3. Advertise in parishes with high minority concentrations.  Put some handouts in the various literature racks of these parishes with information on the Latin Mass and the local times – or even just some beautiful holy cards of St. Pius X or Pope Pius XII or a holy card on why pray the Rosary.  It’s no secret that many parishes with a large minority makeup suffer from poor catechesis, downright scandalous liturgies, and infrequent Confession times.  These people could really benefit from our missionary work.

4. Invite the homeless and the poor to Mass.  Consider giving them a few dollars when you see them and, at the same time, handing them a holy card or a Rosary.  Man does not live on bread alone but on every word that cometh forth from the mouth of God.

So please, join me in helping to evangelize to all members of our society – regardless of their race or nationality.  Let’s help spread the Traditional Mass to everyone.

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Solemn High Mass for Blessed Karl of Austria in Roslyn, NY

Join us in celebrating the exemplary life of Blessed Karl, Emperor and King.

Reception after Holy Mass

Sponsored by the Saint Agnes Institute

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2014 SSPX Starkenburg Pilgrimage

Come join us with your family in this 3-day, 40-mile pilgrimage in honor of Our Lady!

Renew and increase your devotion to the Blessed Mother!

The SSPX is pleased to coordinate this Pilgrimage of Tradition in honor of Our Lady of Sorrows to Starkenburg, MO. The pilgrimage route will be along the historic and beautiful Katy Trail.

We offer both a 3-day and a 1-day option for pilgrims.

The 3-day pilgrimage will start at the Katy Trail access point in Jefferson City, MO, proceeding through Tebbetts, Mokane, Portland, and Bluffton to conclude near the Shrine of Our Lady of Sorrows in Starkenburg, MO.

The 1-day pilgrimage will join the 3-day pilgrimage at Portland, MO on the morning of October 18 for the final 12.5 miles.

Learn more by clicking here.

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Requiem Aeternam: Fr. Benedict Groeschel

Please join me in praying for the soul of Father Benedict Groeschel, requiescat in pace. He has passed away after a long life of service to the Faith. May God forgive him his sins.  May St. Francis of Assisi intercede for Fr. Benedict, who has died on the eve of St. Francis' feast.

Taken from the press release:

Fr. Benedict J. Groeschel, beloved priest and preacher, died on October 3, 2014, the vigil of the Feast of St. Francis, after complications with an ongoing illness. He was 81.

Fr. Benedict was a founder of the Community of Franciscan Friars of the Renewal (CFR), a reform community started in 1987 by eight Capuchin Friars based in New York City. A priest and psychologist, he was director of Trinity Retreat House in Larchmont, New York, and also taught Pastoral Psychology for many years at St. Joseph’s Seminary in Dunwoodie. Fr. Benedict was a popular writer, preacher, retreat master, and evangelist on Catholic television. His greatest joy was serving the poor and underprivileged. Founder of St. Francis House and Good Counsel Homes, he also served as chaplain at Children’s Village in Dobbs Ferry for 14 years. Always deeply concerned with the welfare of others, he tirelessly provided food, clothing, and assistance to people in need—people he always considered his friends.

Father Benedict is survived by his sister, Marjule Drury, sister Robin Groeschel, brother Gary Groeschel, nine nieces and nephews, 115 CFR brothers and priests, and 31sisters who were inspired by his authentic witness to religious life and devotion to Jesus and His Church. He was preceded by his brothers Edward and Mark.

Image: Fr. Benedict Groeschel after his ordination.

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Photo: First Mass in Versailles Since the French Revolution

Cardinal Spellman, celebrated Mass for the U.S. military in the Royal Chapel of the Palace of Versailles on September 10, 1944. The Mass was the first Mass to be celebrated in the chapel since the French Revolution. Thanks to Archives of the Archdiocese of New York for this photo.

Let us pray for a restoration of the Traditional Mass and an end to the erroneous ideas of the French Revolution, which still plague us.

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Happy Michaelmas!

"Michaelmas" is pronounced "MICKel-mus" is one of the 4 English Quarter Days

Today is also one of the 4 English "Quarter Days," days which fall around the Equinoxes or Solstices and mark the beginnings of new natural seasons ( i.e., Spring, Summer, Winter, Fall) and which were used in medieval times to mark "quarters" for legal purposes, such as settling debts.  Debt collection was forbidden certain times of the year such as during the Octave of Christmas.

The other days like this are Lady Day (the Feast of the Annunciation) on March 25, the Feast of St. John on June 24, and Christmas on December 25.

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Rosary Novena for the Defense of the Family

The following is taken from the recent SSPX Newsletter.  Let us join our prayers for this intention:

Approaching rapidly is the October 2014 Extraordinary Meeting of the Synod of Bishops: “Pastoral Challenges to the Family in the Context of Evangelization”. This Synod will be held from October 5-19 and potentially has the grave danger of undermining the Church's doctrinal and moral teachings on marriage and family issues.

To counteract this danger, the USA District Superior, Fr. Jurgen Wegner, is asking everyone to join in a rosary novena for the defense of the family:

I request that all pastors dedicate at least three sermons in October and November to the fundamental truths about marriage. I request also that you invite all the faithful to join us in a novena of rosaries from September 29th to October 7th. We will offer our rosaries for the defense of the family. Please encourage everyone to pray the 15 decades of the rosary."

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Bishop Morlino vs. Holy Wisdom Monastery

While this story is slightly dated, it’s worth repeating here for those who are in or around the Madison Area.  The “Holy Wisdom monastery" has rightfully been made off limits to all priests of the Diocese.  This place, as the following article indicates, is ripe with the fruits of discord and heresy.  

If you notice in the comments to the article on the website of The Wisconsin State Journal that many people are condemning Bishop Morlino for his actions.  Some are pledging support for the heretics, some of whom still falsely call themselves “Catholic.”  This is a good reminder that the enemies of Christ are always at work to sow discord (e.g. Luke 16:8)

Bishop Robert Morlino is continuing to put more distance between the Madison Catholic Diocese and Holy Wisdom Monastery, a former Catholic monastery on the outskirts of Madison that is now a non-Catholic ecumenical retreat center. 

In the latest development, Morlino is now prohibiting priests in the diocese from “attendance or participation at all events held at Holy Wisdom Monastery and all events sponsored or co-sponsored by Holy Wisdom Monastery or the Benedictine Women of Madison,” according to a March 7 letter to priests leaked to the State Journal. 

... 

In 2000, the monastic Catholic sisters at the site welcomed a Protestant woman to live with them, a move that led them to seek independence from the Catholic Church. The Vatican approved their request in 2006. The monastery is now managed by the Benedictine Women of Madison, an ecumenical community led by Sister Mary David Walgenbach, who is Catholic. 

Morlino’s action highlights a longstanding beef some Catholics, especially those who are more tradition-minded, have with the monastery. The monastery’s worship services, they say, retain so many elements of a Mass that unsuspecting Catholics could be duped into thinking the services are valid representations of Catholic teaching. This is especially worrisome, they say, because the worship services diverge from church doctrine in profound ways, such as allowing women to preach and embracing the relationships of gay couples. 

“Holy Wisdom Monastery is perhaps best known among local Catholics for substantive rejection of the Catholic faith, so I would think priests or sisters should know they are not sending a good message if they attend events there,” said Elizabeth Durack of Madison, who attends the Cathedral Parish in Downtown Madison and has been vocal in encouraging “faithful Catholics” not to attend activities at the monastery. 

... 

Morlino, in his letter to priests, said it was his duty “to protect the integrity and unity of the faith.” There “is a grave potential for scandal and confusion among the faithful, owing to Holy Wisdom Monastery’s status as a former Catholic monastery,” he wrote. 

Read more: The Wisconsin State Journal 

Please remember to support Traditional Catholic charities (check out the Top 10 Charities for Traditional Catholics).  We must all work diligently in order to safeguard the Faith that is under attack from outside and inside the Holy Church.

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Book Review: AA 1025: The Memoirs of an Anti-Apostle

Back in the 1960s the memoirs of a secret Communist agent were discovered by a French nurse named Marie Carre while attending to an auto accident in which the agent was killed. In his briefcase was found a set of biographical notes which she kept and read, and then decided to publish because of their extraordinary content. The end result is a little book entitled, AA 1025---The Memoirs of an Anti-Apostle, which reveals the sentiments and plans of this Communist who had deliberately entered the priesthood (along with over a thousand others) with the intention of subverting and destroying the Catholic Church from within. The following excerpt is taken from his notes:

"It was during those days that I launched on the market the program that would allow Catholics to be accepted by Protestants... I prophesied with assurance the suppression of Latin, of priestly vestments, of statues and images, of candles and prie-dieu (so that they could kneel no more). And I also started a very active campaign for the suppression of the Sign of the Cross. This Sign, and also genuflections, are all ridiculous customs. I also prophesied (and we were then in 1940) the disappearance of altars, replaced by a completely bare table, and also of all the crucifixes, in order that Christ be considered as a man, not as a God. I insisted that Mass be only a community meal, to which all would be invited, even unbelievers... I searched for the means of suppressing the Pope. I consoled myself by hoping that we would surely succeed in making him look foolish."

Over the past few days I finished this book and it is alarming what has happened in the past 50 years that the Communist, atheistic agents sought:

• Emphasis on "the Lord's Supper" instead of "The Sacrifice"
• The use of the Mass in vernacular
• The abandonment of the High Altar for a bare table
• Communion in the Hand
• Less use of the phrase "Real Presence"
• Communal Penance sessions
• A New Canon that specifically included removing the reference to Christ's "Holy and Venerable hands"
• Elimination of the talk of indulgences
• A shift to the focus of the rights of man instead of the rights of God
• The abandonment the original schema for Vatican II developed by Traditionalists like Archbishop Lefebvre
• And much more

This short book is a testament that evil is real and in our midst and that the enemy can hide behind a facade of holiness, when in fact they seek to subvert the Church and create one world religion focused on man.  The best thing that we can do to resist this is to always hold true to the Traditions of our Fathers and reject all novelties.  The Communists would frequently mask their evil behind seemingly good intentions; but they knew that the consequence of their work would ultimately be detrimental to the Faith.

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The Martyred Bishops of the Romanian Greek-Catholic Church United with Rome

A few years ago I received a copy of "The Martyred Bishops of the Romanian Greek-Catholic Church United with Rome" by Peter-Michael Preble.  This week I was able to get around to reading the book.

It is a very quick read - only 79 total pages.  The book itself begins with presenting an overview of the persecution inflicted upon the Church by the Communists in Romania.  For those unfamiliar, the Communists had a false council called in which the Union with Rome from 1700 was allegedly broken.  In so doing, the Romanian Catholics would be forced to accept the puppet Orthodox Church that served the Communists.  But to legitimize this, the Communist regime needed a bishop of the Catholic Church to "convert."

"The Martyred Bishops of the Romanian Greek-Catholic Church United with Rome" presents the story of each of the bishops who, refusing to convert to the Orthodox-Communist sect, won the crown of martyrdom.  Some died while in prison.  Others were shot in the head.  Others died while in exile.  But all won the glorious crown of martyrdom. 

The book itself is a straight-forward and easy read.  You really feel connected with the Bishops whose zeal for the Truth and for the Catholic Church allowed them all to suffer with heroic courage.  One part that truly resonated with me was the following:

In prison the bishops, priests felt moments of indescribable joy.  They knew their heart was with God, whom they loved above all.  This grace renewed their courage and perseverance in following Christ, who "For the sake of the joy which lay before Him, endured the cross, heedless of its shame" (17)

I only wish the book ended with a history of what occurred in the years after Communism fell. Overall the book was inspiring and I am happy to recommend it.

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Massive Outpouring of Reparation for the "black mass" in Oklahoma City

It is simply outrageous that public space was used for a blasphemous mockery of the Catholic Religion. God is not mocked.  He will conquer.  The Immaculate Heart of our Lady will triumph.

The act of reparation hosted by the local Archbishop for the public satanic "black mass" was well attended in Oklahoma City. At 3:00 PM thousands of Catholics gathered at St. Francis Church for a holy hour, which included a procession and Benediction. About 1,200 people prayed at the Civic Center from 4:45 to 7:00 PM, as the "black mass" was perpetrated against God. At the end of the final rosary, a rainbow appeared over the skyline of Oklahoma City, it was a heavenly reminder of Our Lady's victory over Satan referenced in Genesis. "She shall crush his head." 

Taken from the SSPX Website:

Catholics of Tradition responded with extraordinary generosity to the calling of a crusade of reparation against the Satanic Black Mass in Oklahoma City. With only 9 days for notice and planning, 6 priests, 7 seminarians, a group of Franciscan sisters and almost 1,000 lay faithful from across the country converged on Oklahoma City on September 21.

A Solemn Mass was offered by Fr. Daniel Themann in a ballroom filled past capacity and with hundreds of faithful pouring out into the hotel foyer watching the Mass on live video feed. In his sermon, Fr. Themann reminded the faithful that a good soldier is motivated not by the hatred of that which is in front of him but by the love of that which is behind him. Condemning the Satanic blasphemy permitted by civil authorities to occur in the Civic Center, he also reminded the faithful of how each of us has also offended God. He echoed Fr. Wegner’s call for reparation.

Following Mass, the crowds moved through the hotel in profound silence to march to the gates of the Civic Center. Despite a predicted 80% chance of torrential rain, a blazing sun beat down on the procession as it wended its way through the city with the fifteen decades of the rosary and the Christus Vincit reverberating across town. The Knights and Honor Guard from St. Mary’s, Kansas led the column and a choir from La Salette Boys Academy from Olivet, Illinois sang the Mass and acted as gracious ushers.

Humanly-speaking such a result from Fr. Wegner’s call to arms would have been impossible in so short a time. Faithful came in a spirit of reparation from Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Illinois, Kentucky, New York, and Pennsylvania with some chapels organizing chartered buses to make the trip.

Following the Mass and Rosary procession of reparation, the U.S. District provided lunch to the participants in the Sheraton Hotel where the Mass had been sung and in a local restaurant as the crowd exceeded the capacity of the hotel. The response of Tradition demonstrates how God can use even the most base and repulsive evil act to manifest His greatness. The clergy and faithful of the U.S. District joyfully served as His instrument in manifesting His omnipotence over the tiny forces of evil pathetically attempting to mock His power.

 For those unfamiliar with this whole issue, Fox News provides some details:

Protesters far outnumbered attendees of a Satanic 'black mass' held in Oklahoma City Sunday.

The Oklahoman newspaper reported that between 40 and 50 people attended the ritual, which was held in a small theater in the basement of the Oklahoma City Civic Center. The ceremony was led by Adam Daniels, a self-proclaimed Satanist, who had said that his group would tone down the ritual's more decadent elements to comply with state law.

Daniels told the Tulsa World prior to the ceremony that he would include a ritual denouncing Jesus Christ and stomp and spit on a wafer representing the Communion host. He added that private rituals conducted by his group featured sex, urine, and nudity.

Meanwhile, about 1,200 Roman Catholics crowded into St. Francis of Assisi Church to hear a holy hour prayer service led by Archbishop Paul S. Coakely. Those who couldn't get into the sanctuary filled an adjacent gym and cafeteria area, while approximately 400 others gathered outside to hear the service piped through speakers.

Coakley told attendees in his homily that Oklahoma City had been targeted by "dark forces," but noted that as Christians "we know that Christ conquered Satan. The war has been won, Christ has conquered, though skirmishes will continue until Christ comes to reign forever."

The service was followed by a procession to the Civic Center, where protesters from around the region had gathered to demonstrate against the Satanic ritual. Security had been stepped up for the event and Oklahoma City Police told KOKH-TV that someone had called in a bomb threat during the service. The Oklahoman reported that one woman was arrested after she knelt in front of one of the entrances to the Civic Center and refused to leave.  [May she be praised for her actions to defend our Lord.  She is the modern day Veronica from the Via Dolorosa]

Despite the outrage over the service, city officials said they would not block the ritual from going forward because the Civic Center is a public building.

Image Sources: SSPX Website

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363 Cardinals and Bishops Who’ve Said the Latin Mass Since Summorum Pontificum

His Excellency, the Auxiliary Bishop of Chicago says the Traditional Mass, the Mass of the Ages
NOTE: THIS IS AN UPDATE TO MY PRIOR POST FROM 2012.

CLARIFICATION: THIS LIST CONTAINS BISHOPS WHO HAVE BEEN PRESENT AT THE TRADITIONAL MASS, PRESIDED AT THE THRONE, ADMINISTERED SACRAMENTS (E.G. CONFIRMATION) IN THE TRADITIONAL RITE, ETC.  IT DOES NOT MEAN EVERYONE OF THESE BISHOPS HAS SAID THE TRADITIONAL MASS.

Since the Motu Proprio, Summorum Pontificum of Pope Benedict XVI was put into effect in 2007 the following Bishops and Cardinals have celebrated the Immemorial Mass of All Ages. The Spanish blog Acción Litúrgica has compiled the following list.  H/T to The Eponymous Flower.

Some past articles of this blog covered the celebration of these Masses.  In those instances, I have linked the item below to the post with news, photos, and/or video of that Mass.

GERMANY: Cardinal Brandmüller (President Emeritus of the Pontifical Council for Historical Sciences).  Bishop Ackermann  (Bishop of Trier), Bishop Dick (Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus of Cologne), Bishop Hanke (Bishop of Eichsttät), König (Auxiliary Bishop of Paderborn), Bishop Mixa (Bishop of Augsburg),  Ostermann (Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus of Münster), Overbeck (Bishop of Essen), Zdarsa (Bishop of Augsburg), and Ziegelbauer (Auxiliary Bishop of Augsburg) .

ARGENTINA: Baseotto  (Bishop Emeritus Military of Argentina), Fenoy (Bishop of San Miguel), Laise (Bishop Emeritus of San Luis) and Sánchez Sorondo (Chancellor of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences).

AUSTRALIA: Cardinal Pell (Archbishop of Sydney). Archbishops Coleridge (Archbishop of Brisbane), Hart (Archbishop of Melbourne), Hickey (Archbishop of Perth) and Wilson (Archbishop of Adelaide). Bishops Elliot (Auxiliary Bishop of Melbourne), Grech (Bishop of Sandhurst, +2010), Jarrett (Bishop of Lismore), Long (Auxiliary Bishop of Melbourne), Mathys (Bishop of Armidale), Porteus (Auxiliary Bishop of Sydney), Prowse (Bishop of Sale) and Tomlinson (Bishop of Sandhurst).

AUSTRIA: Cardinal Stickler (Archivist Emeritus of the Vatican, +2007). Bishop Laun (Auxiliary Bishop of Salzburg).

BELGIUM: Archbishop Leonard (Archbishop of Brussels and Primate of Belgium). Bishop Harpigny (Bishop of Tournai).

BENIN: Bishop N'Koue (Bishop of NATITINGOU).

BRAZIL: Archbishops Pena (Archbishop of Niterói, Emeritus in 2011), Rezende Dias (Archbishop of Niterói), Taveira Correa (Archbishop of Belem do Pará) and Tempesta (Archbishop of Rio de Janeiro, created cardinal in 2014). Areas raffle Bishops (Bishop Apostolic Administration of St. John Vianney Marían), Bergamin (Bishop of Nova Iguaçu), Canindé Palhano (Bishop of Senhor do Bomfim), Costa Souza (Auxiliary Bishop of Sao Sebastiao do Rio de Janeiro), Da Silva ( Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus of Fortaleza), Da Silva Brito (Auxiliary Bishop of Rio de Janeiro) Forge Peace (Bishop of Campos dos Goytacazes), Homem De Castro (Auxiliary Bishop of Rio de Janeiro), Fontes de Matos (Bishop of Palmira dos Indios ) Guimarâes Gomez (Bishop Emeritus of Campos dos Goytacazes) Gouvêa Matosso (Bishop of Nova Friburgo), Marchiori (Bishop of Apucarana), Monteiro Guimarães (Bishop of Garanhuns), Lopes de Faria (Bishop Emeritus of Diamantina, +2009) Paixao (Auxiliary Bishop of Salvador-Bahía), Pestana Filho (Bishop Emeritus of Annapolis, +2011), Romer (Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus of Rio de Janeiro), Silva Matthes (Bishop Emeritus of Franca), Sivieri (Bishop of Propriá-Sergipe) Soares da Costa (Auxiliary Bishop of Aracaju) Stringhini (Bishop of Franca, now Bishop of Mogi das Cruzes), Ubiratan Lopez (Bishop of Itaguaí).

CANADA: Cardinals Collins (Archbishop of Toronto) and Lacroix (Archbishop of Quebec and Primate of Canada). Archbishops Roussin (Archbishop of Vancouver, Emeritus in 2009), Miller (Archbishop of Vancouver), Prendergast (Archbishop of Ottawa). Bishops Blais (Auxiliary Bishop of Quebec), Daniels (Bishop of Grand Falls), Fabbro (Bishop of London, Ontario), LaRocque (Bishop Emeritus of Alexandria-Cornwall, Ontario),   Lemay (Auxiliary Bishop of Quebec [Now Bishop of Amos]).

CHILE: Cardinal Medina Estévez (Prefect Emeritus of Worship). Archbishop Piñera Carvallo (Archbishop Emeritus of La Serena). Duarte Garcia de Cortazar Bishops (Bishop of Valparaíso), Gleisner Wobbe (Auxiliary Bishop of La Serena), and González Errazuriz (Bishop of San Bernardo).

CHINA: Cardinal Tong Hon (Bishop of Hong Kong), Cardinal Zen (Bishop Emeritus of Hong Kong).

COLOMBIA: Cardinal Castrillón Hoyos (em. President of the Ecclesia Dei Commission) Bishops Hurtado López (Bishop of Girardot) and Ramírez Gómez (Bishop Emeritus of Garzón, President of the Ecclesiastical Court).

CROATIA: Bishop Pozaic (Auxiliary Bishop of Zagreb).

DENMARK: Bishop Kozon (Bishop of Copenhagen).

ECUADOR : Bishop Pine Castle (Auxiliary Bishop of Portoviejo).

SLOVAKIA: Bezák Archbishop (Archbishop of Trnava).

SLOVENIA: Cardinal Rode (Prefect for Consecrated Life).

SPAIN: Cardinal Cañizares Llovera (Prefect for Divine Worship), Martínez Sistach (Archbishop of Barcelona), Herranz Casado (President Emeritus of the Council for Legislative Texts), and Navarrete Cortés (Rector Emeritus of the Pontifical Gregorian University, +2010). Archbishops Rodríguez Plaza (Archbishop of Toledo and Primate of Spain), and Ureña Pastor (Archbishop of Zaragoza). Bishops: Arrieta Ochoa de Chinchetru (Secretary of the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts) Cases Andreu (Bishop of Canarias), Fernández González (Bishop of Córdoba), Iceta Gavicagogeascoa (Bishop of Bilbao), Martínez Camino (Auxiliary Bishop of Madrid and Secretary the Spanish Episcopal) Conference and Yanguas Sanz (Bishop of Cuenca).

UNITED STATES: Cardinals Baum (Major Penitentiary Emeritus), Burke (Prefect of the Apostolic Signatura), DiNardo (Archbishop of Galveston-Houston), Egan (em. Archbishop of New York), Foley (Grand Master of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre, + 2011), George (Archbishop of Chicago), Levada (Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Emeritus in 2012), O 'Malley (Archbishop of Boston) and Wuerl (Archbishop of Washington). Archbishops Apuron (Archbishop of Agana), Aquila (Archbishop of Denver), Brown (Titular Archbishop of Aquileia and Papal Nuncio in Ireland), Brunett (Archbishop of Seattle, Emeritus in 2010), Carlson (Archbishop of Saint Louis), Coakley (Archbishop of Oklahoma), Di Noia (Vice President of the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei), Hugues (Archbishop Emeritus of New Orleans), Kurtz (Archbishop of Louisville), Lucas (Archbishop of Omaha), Myers (Archbishop of Newark), Nienstedt ( Archbishop of Sain Paul and Minneapolis), Pilarczyk (Archbishop Emeritus of Cicinnati), Sartain (Archbishop of Seattle), Vigneron (Archbishop of Detroit) and Wenski (Archbishop of Miami). Bishops Backer (Bishop of Birmingham), Bambera (Bishop of Scranton), Barber (Bishop of Oakland), Barres (Bishop of Allentown) , Bevard (Bishop of Saint Thomas), Blair (Bishop of Toledo, Ohio), B oyea (Bishop Lansing), Bruskewitz (Bishop of Lincoln, now emeritus), Burbidge (Bishop of Raleigh), Caggiano (Bishop of Bridgeport), Callahan (Bishop of LaCrosse), Conley (Auxiliary Bishop of Denver, now Bishop of Lincoln), Conlon ( Bishop of Jolliet) Cordileone (Bishop of Oakland, appointed Archbishop of San Francisco in 2012), Cotta (Auxiliary Bishop of Sacramento), Cummins (Bishop Emeritus of Oakland), D'Arcy (Bishop of Fort Wayne-South Bend), Dewane (Bishop of Venice), Di Lorenzo (Bishop of Richmond), DiMarzio (Bishop of Brooklynn), Doran (Bishop of Rockford, Emeritus in 2012), Elizondo (Auxiliary Bishop of Seattle), Etienne (Bishop of Cheyenne), Farrell (Bishop Dallas), Finn (Bishop of Kansas City), Foley (Bishop Emeritus of Birmingham), Foys (Bishop of Covington) Gainer (Bishop of Lexington, appointed Bishop of Harrisburg in 2014), García (Bishop of Monterey), Gelineau ( Bishop Emeritus of Providence), Hanchon (Auxiliary Bishop of Detroit), Hermann (Auxiliary Bishop of Saint Louis), Hying (Auxiliary Bishop of Milwaukee), Hurley (Bishop of Grand Rapids), Jugis (Bishop of Charlotte), Keleher (Bishop Emeritus Kansas City), Kicanas (Bishop of Tucson), Libasci (Bishop of Manchester), Loverde (Arlington Bishop), Madera Uribe (Bishop Emeritus of Fresno), Matano (Bishop of Burlington, in 2014 Bishop of Rochester), McFadden ( Bishop of Harrisburg, +2013), McManus (Bishop of Worcester), Morlino (Bishop of Madison), Mulvee (Bishop Emeritus of Providence), Murphy (Bishop of Rockville Centre), Nevares (Auxiliary Bishop of Phoenix), O'Connell ( Bishop of Trenton), Olmsted (Bishop of Phoenix), Paprocki (Bishop of Springfield, Illinois), Parkes (Bishop of Pensacola-Tallahassee), Perry (Auxiliary Bishop of Chicago), Provost (Bishop of Lake Charles), Reiss (Auxiliary Bishop Detroit), Rhoades (Bishop of Harrisburg, now Fort Wayne-South Bend), Rice (Auxiliary Bishop of Saint Louis), Ricken (Bishop of Green Bay), Sample (Bishop of Marquette, now Bishop of Portland), Serratelli ( Bishop of Paterson), Silva (Bishop of Honolulu), Slattery (Bishop of Tulsa), Timlin (Bishop Emeritus of Scranton), Tobin (Bishop of Providence), Waltersheid (Auxiliary Bishop of Pittsburgh), and Van Johnston (Bishop of Springfield, Missouri).

PHILIPPINES: Archbishops Argüelles (Archbishop of Lipa), Lagdameo (Archbishop of Jaro), and Palma (Archbishop of Cebu). Escaler Bishops (Bishop Emeritus of Ipil), De Gregorio (Administrator of the Prelature of Batanes) Hobayan (Bishop Emeritus of Cazarman), Tobias (Bishop of Novaliches) and Vergara (Bishop of Pasig).

FRANCE: Cardinal Barbarin (Archbishop of Lyon), Ricard (Archbishop of Bordeaux) and Ving-Trois (Archbishop of Paris and President of the French Episcopal Conference). Archbishops Aubertin (Archbishop of Tours), Bacque (Nuncio in Holland), Carré (Archbishop of Montpellier), Cattenoz (Archbishop of Avignon), D'Ornellas (Archbishop of Rennes), Le Gall (Archbishop of Toulouse), Madec (Archbishop Emeritus Toulon), Maillard (Archbishop of Bourges), Thomazeau (Archbishop of Montpellier, retired in 2011) and Wintzer (Archbishop of Poitiers). Aillet Bishops (Bishop of Bayonne), Aumonier (Bishop of Versailles), Bagnard (Bishop of Belley-Ars), Batut (Auxiliary Bishop of Lyon), Beau (Auxiliary Bishop of Paris), Benoît Gonnin (Bishop of Beavois, Noyon and Senlis), Boivineau (Bishop of Annecy), Bonfils (Bishop Emeritus of Apostolic Administrator of Nice and Ajaccio), Brouwet (Auxiliary Bishop of Nanterre, appointed Bishop of Tarbes-Lourdes in 2012), Castet (Bishop of Luçon), Centene (Bishop Vannes), De Dinechin (Auxiliary Bishop of Paris), De Germay (Bishop of Ajaccio), De Kerimel (Bishop of Grenoble), Delmas (Bishop of Angers), Dubost (Bishop of Evry), Dufour (Bishop of Limoges) Fikart (Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus of Paris), Fort (Bishop of Orleans), Gaschignard (Bishop of Aire and Dax), Ginoux (Bishop of Montauban), Fréchard (Bishop Emeritus of Auch), Gaidon (Bishop Emeritus of Cahors, +2011) Guillaume (Bishop Emeritus of Saint-Dié), Herbreteau (Bishop of Agen), Kalist (Bishop of Limoges), Kratz (Auxiliary Bishop of Strasbourg), Le Bègue Germiny (Bishop of Blois), Lebrun (Bishop of Saint-Etienne ), Mathieu (Bishop of Saint-Dié), Nahmias (Auxiliary Bishop of Paris, now Bishop of Meaux), Pansard (Bishop of Chartres), King (Bishop of Frejus-Toulon), Riocreux (Bishop of Pontoise), Scherrer (Bishop Laval) and Séguy (Bishop Emeritus of Autun).

GABON: Mvé Engone Archbishop (Archbishop of Libreville). Bishop Madega Lebouankenham (Bishop of Mouila).

EQUATORIAL GUINEA: Bishop Nsué Edjang (Bishop of Ebebiyin).

HAITI: Gayot Archbishop (Archbishop Emeritus of Cap-Haitien, +2010).

HUNGARY: Bishops Farhat (Nuncio to Austria) and Lajos Varga (Auxiliary Bishop of Vác).

ITALY: Cardinal Antonelli (Archbishop of Florence, retired in 2008), Bagnasco (Archbishop of Genoa), Bartolucci (Choirmaster Emeritus of the Sistine Chapel), Caffarra (Archbishop of Bologna), De Paolis (Prefect of Economic Affairs), Piovanelli (Archbishop Emeritus of Florence), Poggi (Librarian Emeritus of the Holy See, +2010), Scola (Archbishop of Venice). Archbishops Accerbi (Prelate of the Order of Malta), Appignanesi (Archbishop Emeritus of Potenza), Bassetti (Archbishop of Perugia, created cardinal in 2014), Berloco (Apostolic Nuncio in Belgium), Betori (Archbishop of Florence), Boccardo (Archbishop of Spoleto-Norcia), Brugnaro (Archbishop of Camerino-San Severino), Crepaldi (Archbishop of Trieste), De Magistris (Major Penitentiary Emeritus), Fisichella (Titular Archbishop of Vicohabentia and President of the Pontifical Council for Promoting the New Evangelization ), Molinari (Archbishop of L'Aquila), Negri (Archbishop of Ferrara) and Pozzo (Secretary of the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei and Titular Archbishop of Bagnoregio). Bishops Ambrose (Bishop of Piacenza), Cancian (Bishop of Città di Castello), Cerrato (Bishop of Ivrea), Fisichella (President of the Pontifical Academy for Life), Giovanetti (Bishop of Fiesole, retired in 2010), Giusti (Bishop Livorno), Lambiasi (Bishop of Rimini), Miglio (Bishop of Ivrea, now Archbishop of Cagliari), Mistrorigo (Bishop emeritus of Treviso), Oliveri (Bishop of Albenga-Imperia), Rabitti (Bishop of Ferrara), Raspanti (Bishop Acireale), Ravignani (Bishop Emeritus of Trieste), Reali (Bishop of Porto-Santa Rufina), Scanavino (Bishop of Orvieto), Sciacca (Secretary to the Government of the Vatican State, now Deputy Secretary of the Apostolic Signatura), Sigismondi (Bishop Foligno), Tardelli (Bishop of San Miniato), Zenti (Bishop of Verona) and Zuppi (Auxiliary Bishop of Rome).

IRELAND: Martin (Archbishop of Dublin). Bishop Magee (Bishop of Cobh) and Moriarty (Bishop Emeritus of Kildare and Leighlin).

KAZAKHSTAN: Bishop Schneider (Auxiliary Bishop of Astana).

LIECHTENSTEIN: Haas Archbishop (Archbishop of Vaduz).

LITHUANIA: Bishop Bartulis (Bishop of Siauliai).

MEXICO: Cardinal Sandoval Iñiguez (Archbishop Emeritus of Guadalajara). Archbishop Suárez Inda (Archbishop of Morelia). Bishops González González (Auxiliary Bishop of Guadalajara) and Gutiérrez Valencia (Auxiliary Bishop of Guadalajara).

MONACO: Archbishop Barsi (Archbishop of Monaco).

NIGERIA: Cardinal Arinze (Prefect Emeritus of the Congregation for Divine Worship). Ochiagha Bishops (Bishop Emeritus of Orlu), and Tochukwu Ukwuoma (Bishop of Orlu).

NEW ZEALAND: Bishop Basil Meeking (Bishop Emeritus of Christchurch).

NETHERLANDS: Bishop Punt (Bishop of Haarlem-Amsterdam), and Van Burgsteden (Bishop Emeritus of Haarlem-Amsterdam).

PARAGUAY: Bishop Livieres (Bishop of Ciudad del Este).

POLAND: Cardinal Dziwisz (Archbishop of Krakow) and Nycz (Archbishop of Warsaw). Archbishops Golebiewski (Archbishop of Wroclaw, Emeritus in 2013), and Zycinski (Archbishop of Lublin, + 2011). Bishops Balcerek (Auxiliary Bishop of Poznań), Cieslik (Auxiliary Bishop of Koszalin-Kolobrzeg), Czaja (Bishop of Opole), Depo (Bishop of Zamosc-Lubaczow, since 2012 Archbishop of Czestochowa ), Dziuba (Bishop of Lowicz) Gorny ( Bishop of Rzeszów, Emeritus in 2013), Malysiak (Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus of Krakow), Mizinski (Auxiliary Bishop of Lublin), Pieronek (Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus of Sosnowieck), Rys (Auxiliary Bishop of Krakow), Stobrawa (Auxiliary Bishop of Opole) , Szkodon (Auxiliary Bishop of Krakow) and Watroba (Bishop of Rzeszów) .

PORTUGAL: Faria Bishop (Bishop Emeritus of Funchal).

PUERTO RICO: Bishops Corrada del Rio (Bishop of Mayagüez), and Torres Oliveira (Bishop Emeritus of Ponce, +2012).

UK: Cardinal O'Brien (Edinburgh Archbishop and Primate of Scotland, retired in 2013). Archbishops Conti (Archbishop of Glasgow), Longley (Archbishop of Birmingham), McDonald (Archbishop Emeritus of Southwark) and Stack (Archbishop of Cardiff). Bishops Arnold (Auxiliary Bishop of Westminster, London), Brain (Bishop of Salford), Brainey (Bishop of Middlesbrough), Campbell (Bishop of Lancaster), Cunnigham (Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle), Davies (Bishop of Shewsbury), Doyle (Bishop of Northampton), Drainey (Bishop of Middlesbrough), Egan (Bishop of Portsmouth), Gilbert (Bishop of Aberdeen), Hopes (Auxiliary Bishop of Westminster, London), Kenney (Auxiliary Bishop of Birmingham), McGough (Auxiliary Bishop of Birmingham), McMahon (Bishop of Nottingham), Moran (Bishop of Aberdeen), Pargeter (Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus of Birmingham), Sherrington (Auxiliary Bishop of Westminster, London), and Williams (Auxiliary Bishop of Liverpool).

CZECH REPUBLIC: Bishop Baxant (Bishop of Litomerice).

RUSSIA: Archbishop Pezzi (Archbishop of the Diocese of Mary Mother of God).

SINGAPORE: Archbishop Goh Seng Chye (Archbishop of Singapore).

SRI LANKA: Cardinal Ranjith (Archbishop of Colombo).

SWITZERLAND: Bishops Farine (Auxiliary Bishop of Lausanne), Genoud (Bishop of Lausanne and Fribourg, +2010), Huonder (Bishop of Chur) and Perisset (Nuncio in Germany).

Bishops of the Society of St. Pius X: Fellay, De Galarreta, Tissier de Mallerais and Williamson.

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Litany to the Old Testament Saints

For Private Devotion Only.

Lord, have mercy on us.

Christ, have mercy on us.

Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, hear us.

Christ, graciously hear us.

God the Father of Heaven,
Have mercy on us.

God the Son, Redeemer of the world,
Have mercy on us.

God the Holy Spirit,
Have mercy on us.

Holy Trinity, One God,
Have mercy on us.

God of Abraham,
Have mercy on us.

God of Bethel,
Have mercy on us.

Mighty One of Jacob,
Have mercy on us.

God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob,
Have mercy on us.

God Almighty,
Have mercy on us.

God the Most High,
Have mercy on us.

Archangel Michael,
Pray for us.

Archangel Gabriel,
Pray for us.

Archangel Raphael,
Pray for us.

All you holy angels and archangels,
Pray for us.

Noah,
Pray for us.

All you holy people before the flood,
Pray for us.

Abraham,
Pray for us.

Isaac,
Pray for us.

Jacob,
Pray for us.

Joseph,
Pray for us.

All you holy patriarchs,
Pray for us.

Aaron,
Pray for us.

All you holy priests,
Pray for us.

Moses,
Pray for us.

Joshua,
Pray for us.

All you holy leaders,
Pray for us.

David,
Pray for us.

All you holy kings,
Pray for us.

Job,
Pray for us.

Tobit,
Pray for us.

All you holy men,
Pray for us.

Sarah,
Pray for us.

Rebecca,
Pray for us.

Rachel,
Pray for us.

Miriam,
Pray for us.

Deborah,
Pray for us.

Ruth,
Pray for us.

Hannah,
Pray for us.

Judith,
Pray for us.

Esther,
Pray for us.

All you holy women,
Pray for us.

Samuel,
Pray for us.

Jeremiah,
Pray for us.

Ezekiel,
Pray for us.

Daniel,
Pray for us.

Malachias,
Pray for us.

Elijah,
Pray for us.

Elisha,
Pray for us.

Isaias,
Pray for us.

All you holy prophets,
Pray for us.

Abel,
Pray for us.

Eleazar,
Pray for us.

Ananias,
Pray for us.

Azarias,
Pray for us.

Misael,
Pray for us.

All you holy martyrs and heroic witnesses,
Pray for us.

All you holy men and women, Old Testament saints of God,
Make intercession for us.

Be merciful,
Spare us, O Lord.

Be merciful,
Graciously hear us, O Lord.

From all evil,
O Lord, deliver us.

From all sin,
O Lord, deliver us.

From breaking Your Commandments,
O Lord, deliver us.

From falling away from the Faith,
From doubting Your Word,
O Lord, deliver us.

From denying Your Name,
O Lord, deliver us.

From fear of proclaiming Your Name,
O Lord, deliver us.

From lack of sincere repentance,
O Lord, deliver us.

From losing hope,
O Lord, deliver us.

From fear of fraternal correction,
O Lord, deliver us.

From doubt of Your Power,
O Lord, deliver us.

From all false desires,
O Lord, deliver us.

From lack of zeal in Your service,
O Lord, deliver us.

We sinners,
We implore You, hear us.

That we continue to walk by faith,
We implore You, hear us.

That we witness to You regardless of human respect,
We implore You, hear us.

That we grow in love for Your Holy Word,
We implore You, hear us.

That we appreciate the blessing of having children,
We implore You, hear us.

That we overcome evil by the power of good,
We implore You, hear us.

That we who have more respond more,
We implore You, hear us.

That the Jewish nation will recognize You,
We implore You, hear us.

That all non-Christians will come to the Light,
We implore You, hear us.

That You would give eternal rest to the faithful departed,
We implore You, hear us.

That You would grant my special intention,
We implore You, hear us.

Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world,
Spare us, O Lord.

Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world,
Graciously hear us, O Lord.

Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world,
Have mercy on us. Amen.

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