LAME DUCK AND BEIJING DUCK TIME AS WELL AS THE REAL EF MASS FOR LAETARE SUNDAY, PINK THAT IS, WILD ROSE! CATHOLIC TEA!

After my editorial below, I have the Lame Duck and Beijing Duck translations for the 4th Sunday of Lent, Laetarae Sunday. Then below that I have the 4th Sunday in Lent for the Extraordinary Form of the Mass which we are celebrating this Sunday at 2:00 PM as a High or Sung Mass. Our men's schola who are not our men's folk schola will sing the propers in Gregorian Chant and that's no April Fools'! And yes at both the EF and OF Masses, the priest will wear rose! Sadly though, I ordered a rose dalmatic for our deacons to wear after being convinced by one of them that they have a right to one, but it hasn't arrived yet. But in Beijing Advent, 3rd Sunday, he'll have it!

In a previous post I acknowledged that some of the Beijing Duck translations while very accurate theologically and doctrinally, compared to the Lame Duck ones we are currently praying, were nonetheless a bit clunky, but that I'd take clunkiness over lame duckness. But really, the newly translated prayers, ever faithful to the Latin, its syntax, theology, doctrine and piety are really marvelous. I hope we have them for a very long time, at least until I die!

At a certain unnamed blog that is filled with doom and gloom about the new translation, its all about how people will accept it as though Catholics are contrary, irrational, narrow-minded pygmies when it comes to the good of the Church and obedience to legitimate authority in the areas of faith, morals, and church discipline. They promote that closed circle, horizontal view of Church so typified in modern, circular church architecture that leaves little room for the vertical transcendent acknowledgment of God and openness to Him and His will, as well as humble obedience to that which we may not always want for ourselves. Seldom on that blog do we read anything approximating what would please God, only what will please "man."

Catholic identity at one time was based upon humility and awe in the presence of God especially in our experience of the Mass, even when celebrated poorly and relying totally on "ex opere operato." Today there is a haughtiness and narcissism that seems to have corrupted our more pristine Catholic identity. I think the new translation of the Mass will return us to our true Catholic identity. The "law of prayer is the law of belief." The lame duck translation lends itself to haughtiness of heart, the new Beijing Duck lends itself to acknowledging we are creatures of God, not His equal! That should humble us once again!
Pretend these are pink or rose vestments:

COLLECT

Current Lame Duck:

Father of peace,
we are joyful in your Word,
your Son Jesus Christ,
who reconciles us to you.
Let us hasten toward Easter
with the eagerness of faith and love.

Forthcoming Beijing Duck:

O God, who through your Word
reconcile the human race to yourself in a wonderful way,
grant, we pray,
that with prompt devotion and eager faith
the Christian people may hasten
toward the solemn celebrations to come.

PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION

Current Lame Duck:

Father, you enlighten all who come into the world.
Fill our hearts with the light of your gospel,
that our thoughts may please you,
and our love be sincere.

Forthcoming Beijing Duck:

O God, who enlighten everyone who comes into this world,
illuminate our hearts, we pray,
with the splendor of your grace,
that we may always ponder
what is worthy and pleasing to your majesty
and love you in all sincerity.

Pretend this is a rose vestment:

The Extraordinary Form of the Mass for the 4th Sunday in Lent. Keep in mind that this English translation is unofficial, properly translated by one person who was hired by the company that produced the English translation of the missal for their hand missal. While the post Vatican II Liturgy Committee for reforming the Mass revised many prayers even in Latin, you'll note that these English translated prayers look a lot like the Beijing ones we'll get for the OF Mass in Advent. The reason for that is that this translation is faithful to the Latin original which is not too much to ask.

INTROIT
Isaias 66: 10,11
Rejoice, O Jerusalem: and come together all you that love her: rejoice with joy, you that have been in sorrow: that you may exult, and be filled from the breasts of your consolation. -- (Ps. 121. 1). I rejoiced at the things that were said to me: we shall go into the house of the Lord. V.: Glory to the Father . . . -- Rejoice, O Jerusalem . . .

COLLECT - Grant, we beseech Thee, almighty God, that we who are justly afflicted for our deeds, may be relieved by the consolation of Thy grace. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost . . .

EPISTLE
Galatians 4: 22-31
Brethren, It is written that Abraham had two sons: the one by a bondwoman and the other by a free woman. But he who was of the bondwoman was born according to the flesh; but he of the free woman was by promise; which things are said by an allegory. For these are the two testaments. The one from Mount Sinai, engendering unto bondage: which is Agar; for Sinai is a mountain in Arabia, which hath affinity to that Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. But that Jerusalem which is above is free, which is our mother. For it is written: Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not: break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for many are the children of the desolate, more than of her that hath a husband. Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise. But as then he that was born according to the flesh persecuted him that was after the spirit: so also it is now. But what saith the Scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman. So then, brethren, we are not the children of the bondwoman but of the free: by the freedom wherewith Christ has made us free.

GRADUAL
Psalm 121: 1, 7
I rejoiced at the things that were said to me: we shall go into the house of the Lord. V.: Let peace be in Thy strength: and abundance in Thy towers

TRACT
Psalm 124: 1 - 2
They that trust in the Lord shall be as Mount Sion: he shall not be moved for ever that dwelleth in Jerusalem. V.: Mountains are round about it: so the Lord is round about His people, from henceforth now and for ever.

GOSPEL
John 6: 1-15

At that time Jesus went over the sea of Galilee, which is that of Tiberias: and a great multitude followed Him, because they saw the miracles which He did on them that were diseased. Jesus therefore went up into a mountain: and there He sat with His disciples. Now the Pasch, the festival day of the Jews, was near at hand. When Jesus therefore had lifted up His eyes, and seen that a very great multitude cometh to Him, He said to Philip: Whence shall we buy bread that these may eat? And this He said to try him: for He Himself knew what He would do. Philip answered Him: Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one may take a little. One of His disciples, Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, saith to Him: There is a boy that hath five barley loaves and two fishes; but what are these among so many? Then Jesus said: Make the men sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. The men therefore say down, in number about five thousand. And Jesus took the loaves, and when He had given thanks, He distributed to them that were set down: in like manner also of the fishes, as much as they would. And when they were filled, He said to His disciples: Gather up the fragments that remain, lest they be lost. They gathered up therefore, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves which remained over and above to them that had eaten. Now those men, when they had seen what a miracle Jesus had done, said: This is of a truth the Prophet that is to come into the world. Jesus therefore, when He knew that they would come to take Him by force and make Him king, fled again into the mountain, Himself alone.

OFFERTORY
Psalm 134: 3,6
Praise ye the Lord, for He is good: sing ye to His Name, for He is sweet: whatsoever He pleased, He hath done in heaven and in earth.

SECRET - Look favorably upon these present Sacrifices, we beseech Thee, O Lord, that they may profit us both unto devotion and salvation. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who liveth and reigneth . . .

PREFACE (Preface for Lent) - 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 by this bodily fast, dost curb our vices, dost lift up our minds and bestow on us strength and rewards; through Christ our Lord. Through whom the Angels praise Thy Majesty, the Dominations worship it, the Powers stand in awe. The Heavens and the heavenly hosts together with the blessed Seraphim in triumphant chorus unite to celebrate it. Together with these we entreat Thee that Thou mayest bid our voices also to be admitted while we say with lowly praise:

COMMUNION ANTIPHON
Psalm 83: 4, 5
The sparrow hath found herself a house, and the turtle a nest, where she may lay her young ones: Thine altars, O Lord of hosts, my King, and my God: blessed are they that dwell in Thy house, they shall praise Thee for ever and ever

POST COMMUNION - Look favorably upon these present Sacrifices, we beseech Thee, O Lord, that they may profit us both unto devotion and salvation. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who liveth and reigneth . . .