Translate

Thursday, May 6, 2010

IS THE ORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS A STRIPPED DOWN, REAR ENGINE VW, AND THE EXTRAORDINARY FORM A LOADED BMW?

An Extraordinary Nuptial Mass, fully loaded, with all the bells and whistles and smoke and blessings, fire and water, signs of the cross and genuflections, bows and thumb and finger attachements, palls, veils and burses! Tigers, lions and bears, O MY!




Below is an "unofficial" translation of the Latin Extraordinary Form Mass. What I have italicized has either been totally removed from the reformed Ordinary Form of the Mass or severely truncated or changed. What are your thoughts on this? Some would call the Ordinary Form of the Mass fulfilling what Vatican II asked for in terms of noble simplicity while others would say that it enters the realm of "ignoble simplicity." Missa Ignotus? No, ignotus is "unknown" not ignoble. In Latin it would be Missa ignōbilis! Like pater ignobilis, no?

Bowing before the altar,

the priest makes the sign of

the cross, saying:


Prayers at the Foot of the Altar

P: In the name of the Father,
and of the Son, and of
the Holy Ghost. Amen.


P: I will go in to the altar of God.

R: To God, Who giveth joy to my youth.



Psalm 42

The priest and server say

alternately:



P: Judge me, O God, and
distinguish my cause from the
nation that is not holy;
. deliver me from the unjust and deceitful man.

R: For Thou art, God, my strength; why hast Thou cast
me off? and why do I go
sorrowful whilst the enemy afflicteth me?

P: Send forth Thy light and
Thy truth: they have
conducted me and brought me
unto Thy holy hill, and into Thy tabernacles.

R: And I will go in to the
altar of God: to God Who
giveth joy to my youth

P: To Thee, O God, my God,
I will give praise upon the
harp: why art thou sad, O my
soul, and why dost thou disquiet me?

R: Hope in God, for I will
still give praise to Him, the
salvation of my countenance and my God.

P: Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.

R: As it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen.

P: I will go in to the altar of God.
R: To God, Who giveth joy to my youth.
juventutem meam.


P: Our help (+) is in the name of the Lord.
R: Who made heaven and earth.








Bowing down low, the

priest says:

Confiteor

P: I confess to almighty God,
to blessed Mary ever virgin,
to blessed Michael the
archangel, to blessed John
the Baptist, to the holy
apostles Peter and Paul, to
all the saints, and to you,
brethren, that I have sinned
exceedingly in thought, word,
and deed: (The priest strikes
his breast three times saying:)
through my fault, through my
fault, through my most
grievous fault. Therefore I
beseech the blessed Mary ever
virgin, blessed Michael the
archangel, blessed John the
Baptist, the holy apostles

Peter and Paul and all the saints and you, brethren,
to pray to the Lord our God for me.


R: May almighty God have mercy
on thee and, having forgiven
thee thy sins, bring thee to
life everlasting.

P: Amen.


The server now says:

R: I confess to almighty God,
to blessed Mary ever virgin,
to blessed Michael the
archangel, to blessed John
the Baptist, to the holy
apostles Peter and Paul, to
all the saints, and to thee,
Father, that I have sinned
exceedingly in thought, word,
and deed: (The acolyte strikes
his breast three times saying:)
through my fault, through my
fault, through my most
grievous fault. Therefore I
beseech the blessed Mary ever
virgin, blessed Michael the
archangel, blessed John the
Baptist, the holy apostles
Peter and Paul, all the
saints, and thee, Father,
to pray to the Lord our God
for me.

P: May almighty God have mercy
on you and, having forgiven
you your sins, bring you to
. life everlasting.
R: Amen.

The priest signs himself,
saying:



P: May the almighty and
merciful Lord grant us pardon,
absolution, and remission
of our sins.
. R: Amen.

Again bowing slightly, the
priest goes on:




P: Thou wilt turn again, O
God, and quicken us.
R: And Thy people will rejoice in Thee.
P: Show us, O Lord, Thy mercy.
R: And grant us Thy salvation.
P: O Lord, hear my prayer.
R: And let my cry come unto Thee.

P: The Lord be with you.

R: And with thy spirit.

P: Let us pray.

Going up to the altar, the
priest prays silently:


P: Take away from us our
iniquities, we beseech Thee,
O Lord; that, being made
pure in heart we may be worthy
to enter into the Holy of
Holies. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

He bows down over the
altar, which he kisses,
saying:



P: We beseech Thee, O Lord,
by the merits of those of Thy
saints whose relics are here,
and of all the saints, that
Thou wouldst vouchsafe to
pardon me all my sins. Amen.


The Introit


Standing at the Epistle
side of the altar, he reads
the Introit of the Mass being
celebrated.

Kyrie Eleison


The priest returns to the
middle of the altar and says
alternately with the server:



P: Lord, have mercy on us.
R: Lord, have mercy on us.
P: Lord, have mercy on us.
R: Christ, have mercy on us.
P: Christ, have mercy on us.
R: Christ, have mercy on us.
P: Lord, have mercy on us.
R: Lord, have mercy on us.
P: Lord, have mercy on us.



Gloria in Excelsis Deo

Standing at the middle of
the altar, the priest extends
and joins his hands, and
making a slight bow says:




P: Glory be to God on high,
and on earth peace to men of
good will. We praise Thee;
we bless Thee; we adore Thee;
we glorify Thee. We give Thee

thanks for Thy great glory, O
Lord God, heavenly king, God
the Father almighty, O Lord
Jesus Christ, the
only-begotten Son. O Lord
God, Lamb of God, Son of the
Father, Who takest away the
sins of the world, have mercy
on us. Who takest away the
sins of the world, receive
our prayer. Who sittest at
the right hand of the Father,
have mercy on us. For Thou
alone art holy; Thou alone
art the Lord; Thou alone, O
Jesus Christ, together with
the Holy Ghost, art most high
in the glory of God the Father. Amen.

Turning to the people, the
priest says:

P: The Lord be with you.
R: And with thy spirit.



Collect

Here the priest says the
Prayers appointed for the day.

The Epistle


At the Epistle side of the
altar, the priest reads the
Epistle or Lesson from the
Mass he is celebrating, after
which the server says:

R: Deo gratias.


The Gradual, the Tract, or the Sequence


The priest now says the
Gradual, Tract, or Sequence
for the day.

The Gospel

The priest, returning to
the middle of the altar, bows
down, joins his hands, and
says:

P: Cleanse my heart and my
lips, O almighty God, Who
didst cleanse with a burning
coal the lips of the prophet
Isaias; and vouchsafe in Thy
loving kindness so to purify
me that I may be enabled
worthily to announce Thy holy
Gospel. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Vouchsafe, O Lord, to bless me.
The Lord be in my heart
and on my lips, that I may
worthily and becomingly
announce His gospel. Amen.

The priest goes to the
Gospel side of the altar and
reads the Gospel for the Mass
he is celebrating.


P: The Lord be with you.
R: And with thy spirit.
P: (+) The following (or the
beginning) is taken from the
Holy Gospel according to St. N.
R: Glory be to Thee, O Lord.

At the end of the Gospel,
the server says:

R: Praise be to Thee, O Christ.
P: May our sins be blotted out
by the words of the Gospel.

The Nicene Creed

The priest returns to the
middle of the altar and
recites the Creed:


P: I believe in one God, the
Father almighty, maker of
heaven and earth, and of all
things visible and invisible.
And in one Lord Jesus Christ,
the only-begotten Son of God,
born of the Father before all
ages; God of God, light of
light, true God of true God;
begotten, not made;
consubstantial with the
Father, by Whom all things
were made. Who for us men,
and for our salvation, came
down from heaven, and was
incarnate by the Holy Ghost of
the Virgin Mary, AND WAS MADE
MAN (Here genuflect). He was
crucified also for us,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
and was buried. And the third
day He arose again, according
to the Scriptures, and
ascended into heaven. He
sitteth at the right hand of
the Father: and He shall come
again with glory, to judge
the living and the dead: and
His kingdom shall have no end.
And in the Holy Ghost, the
Lord and Giver of life, Who
proceedeth from the Father and
the Son, Who, together with
the Father and the Son, is
adored and glorified: Who
spoke by the prophets. And
one holy, catholic, and
apostolic Church. I confess
one baptism for the remission
of sins. And I expect the
resurrection of the dead, and
the life of the world to come. Amen.

The priest kisses the altar
and turning to the people,
says:


P: The Lord be with you.
R: An with thy spirit.
P: Let us pray.


The Offertory

The priest now says the
Offertory antiphon for the Mass being
offered. He then uncovers the
Chalice and in a lower voice
says:



The Offering of the Host

P: Receive, O Holy Father,
almighty and eternal God,
this spotless host, which I,
Thine unworthy servant, offer
unto Thee, my living and true
God, for my countless sins,
trespasses, and omissions;
likewise for all here present,
and for all faithful
Christians, whether living or
dead, that it may avail both
me and them to salvation,
unto life everlasting. Amen.




The priest goes to the
Epistle side and pours wine
and water into the Chalice.

P: O God, Who in creating
man didst exalt his nature
very wonderfully and yet more
wonderfully didst establish it
anew: by the mystery
signified in the mingling of
this water and wine, grant us
to have part in the Godhead of
Him Who hath vouchsafed to
share our manhood, Jesus
Christ, Thy Son, Our Lord,
Who liveth and reigneth with
Thee in the unity of the Holy
Ghost, God; world without
end. Amen.


Offering of the Chalice

At the middle of the altar,
the priest says:


P: We offer unto Thee, O
Lord, the chalice of
salvation, beseeching Thy
clemency that it may ascend as
a sweet odor before Thy divine
majesty, for our own
salvation, and for that of
the whole world. Amen.




P: Humbled in mind, and
contrite of heart, may we
find favor with Thee, O Lord;
and may the sacrifice we this
day offer up be well pleasing
to Thee, Who art our Lord and our God.

P: Come, Thou, the
Sanctifier, God, almighty and
everlasting: bless (+) this
sacrifice which is prepared
for the glory of Thy holy name.


The Lavabo

Going to the Epistle side,
the priest washes his fingers
and says:


P: I will wash my hands among
the innocent, and will
compass Thine altar, O Lord.
That I may hear the voice of
praise, and tell of all Thy
wondrous works. I have loved,
O Lord, the beauty of Thy
house, and the place where
Thy glory dwelleth. Take not
away my soul, O God, with
the wicked; nor my life with
men of blood. In whose hands
are iniquities: their right
hand is filled with gifts.
But as for me, I have walked
in my innocence; redeem me,
and have mercy on me. My foot
hath stood in the right way;
in the churches I will bless
Thee, O Lord.
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.

The priest returns to the
middle of the altar and bowing
slightly, says:


P: Recieve, O holy Trinity,
this oblation offered up by us
to Thee in memory of the
passion, resurrection, and
ascension of Our Lord Jesus
Christ, and in honor of
blessed Mary, ever a virgin,
of blessed John the Baptist,
of the holy apostles Peter and
Paul, of these, and of all
the saints, that it may be
available to their honor and
to our salvation; and may
they whose memory we celebrate
on earth vouchsafe to
intercede for us in heaven.
Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.


The Orate Fratres


The priest kisses the altar
and turning to the people,
says:


P: Brethren, pray that my
sacrifice and yours may be
well pleasing to God the
Father almighty.
R: May the Lord receive this
sacrifice at thy hands, to
the praise and glory of His
name, to our own benefit, and
to that of all His Holy Church.

The Secret Prayer

Then with hands extended,
the priest says the Secret
prayers.

The Preface

(of the Most Holy Trinity)



The priest now says in a
louder voice:



P: World without end.
R: Amen.
P: The Lord be with you.
R: And with thy spirit.
P: Lift up your hearts.
R: We have them lifted up unto the Lord.
P: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
R: It is meet and just.


P: It is truly meet and just,
right and profitable, for us,
at all times, and in all
places, to give thanks to
Thee, O Lord, the holy One,
the Father almighty, the
everlasting God: Who,
together with Thine
only-begotten Son and the Holy
Ghost, art one God, one
Lord, not in the singleness of
one Person, but in the
Trinity of one substance. For
that which, according to Thy
revelation, we believe of Thy
glory, the same we believe of
Thy Son, the same of the Holy
Ghost, without difference or
distinction; so that in the
confession of one true and
eternal Godhead we adore
distinctness in persons,
oneness in essence, and
equality in majesty: Which
the angels praise, and the
archangels, the cherubim also
and the seraphim, who cease
not, day by day crying out
with one voice to repeat:

The bell is now rung three
times.


The Sanctus

P: Holy, holy, holy, Lord
God of hosts. The heavens and
the earth are full of Thy
glory. Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is He Who cometh in
the name of the Lord. Hosanna
in the highest.


The Canon of the Mass

The priest now prays
silently.


P: Therefore, we humbly pray
and beseech Thee, most
merciful Father, through
Jesus Christ Thy Son, Our
Lord, to receive and to bless
these (+) gifts, these (+)
presents, these (+) holy
unspotted sacrifices, which
we offer up to Thee, in the
first place, for Thy holy
Catholic Church, that it may
please Thee to grant her
peace, to guard, unite, and
guide her, throughout the
world: as also for Thy
servant N., our Pope, and N.,
our Bishop, and for all who
are orthodox in belief and who
profess the Catholic and apostolic faith.

Commemoration of the Living


P: Be mindful, O Lord, of
Thy servants, N. and N., and
of all here present, whose
faith and devotion are known
to Thee, for whom we offer,
or who offer up to Thee, this
sacrifice of praise, for
themselves, their families,
and their friends, for the
salvation of their souls and
the health and welfare they
hope for, and who now pay
their vows to Thee, God
eternal, living, and true.


The Communicantes

P: Having communion with and
venerating the memory, first,
of the glorious Mary, ever a
virgin, mother of Jesus
Christ, our God and our Lord:
likewise {of blessed Joseph,
spouse of the same virgin}
of Thy blessed apostles
and martyrs, Peter
and Paul, Andrew, James,
John, Thomas, James,
Phillip, Bartholomew,
Matthew, Simon and Thaddeus;
of Linus, Cletus, Clement,
Sixtus, Cornelius, Cyprian,
Lawrence, Chrysogonus, John
and Paul, Cosmas and Damian,
and of all Thy saints: for
the sake of whose merits and
prayers do Thou grant that in
all things we may be defended
by the help of Thy protection.
Through the same Christ, our
Lord. Amen.


The "Hanc Igitor"
The priest extends his
hands over the oblation.

P: Wherefore, we beseech

Thee, O Lord, graciously to
receive this oblation which we
Thy servants, and with us Thy
whole family, offer up to
Thee: dispose our days in Thy
peace; command that we be
saved from eternal damnation
and numbered among the flock
of Thine elect. Through
Christ our Lord. Amen.

Here the bell is rung once.

Quam Oblationem

P: And do Thou, O God,
vouchsafe in all respects to
bless (+), consecrate (+),
and approve (+) this our
oblation, to perfect it and
render it well-pleasing to
Thyself, so that it may
become for us the body (+) and
blood (+) of Thy most beloved
Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

THE CONSECRATION OF THE HOST

P: Who, the day before He
suffered, took bread into His
holy and venerable hands, and
having lifted up His eyes to
heaven, to Thee, God, His
almighty Father, giving thanks
to Thee, blessed it (+),
broke it, and gave it to His
disciples, saying: Take ye
and eat ye all of this:


The priest bends over the
Host and says:


FOR THIS IS MY BODY.

Then the priest genuflects, then
elevates the Sacred Host, then genuflects again. The
bell is rung at each genuflection and three times for the elevation.



THE CONSECRATION OF THE WINE

The priest uncovers the
Chalice and says:



P: In like manner, after He
had supped, taking also into
His holy and venerable hands
this goodly chalice again
giving thanks to Thee, He
blessed it (+), and gave it to
His disciples, saying: Take
ye, and drink ye all of this:


The priest bends over the
Chalice and says:



FOR THIS IS THE CHALICE OF MY
BLOOD, OF THE NEW AND
EVERLASTING TESTAMENT, THE
MYSTERY OF FAITH, WHICH FOR
YOU AND FOR MANY SHALL BE SHED
UNTO THE REMISSION OF SINS.

P: As often as ye shall do
these things, ye shall do
them in memory of Me.


The priest genuflects,then
elevates the Chalice then genuflects again. The
bell is rung at each genuflection and three times at the elevation.
He then
continues:

P: Wherefore, O Lord, we,
Thy servants, as also Thy
holy people, calling to mind
the blessed passion of the
same Christ, Thy Son, our
Lord, His resurrection from
the grave, and His glorious
ascension into heaven, offer
up to Thy most excellent
majesty of Thine own gifts
bestowed upon us, a victim
(+) which is pure, a victim
(+) which is stainless, the
holy bread (+) of life
everlasting, and the chalice
(+) of eternal salvation.

P: Vouchsafe to look upon
them with a gracious and
tranquil countenance, and to
accept them, even as Thou
wast pleased to accept the
offerings of Thy just servant
Abel, and the sacrifice of
Abraham, our patriarch, and
that which Melchisedech, Thy
high priest, offered up to
Thee, a holy sacrifice, a
victim without blemish.

P: We humbly beseech Thee,
almighty God, to command that
these our offerings be borne
by the hands of Thy holy angel
to Thine altar on high in the
presence of Thy divine
Majesty; that as many of us as
shall receive the most sacred
(+) Body and (+) Blood of Thy
Son by partaking thereof from
this altar may be filled with
every heavenly blessing and
grace: Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen

Commemoration of the Dead

P: Be mindful, also, O
Lord, of Thy servants N. and
N., who have gone before us
with the sign of faith and who
sleep the sleep of peace.
P: To these, O Lord, and to
all who rest in Christ,
grant, we beseech Thee, a
place of refreshment, light,
and peace. Through the same
Christ our Lord. Amen.

Striking his breast, the
priest says:

P: To us sinners, also, Thy
servants, who put our trust
in the multitude of Thy
mercies, vouchsafe to grant
some part and fellowship with
Thy holy apostles and martyrs;
with John, Stephen,
Matthias, Barnabas, Ignatius,
Alexander, Marcellinus,
Peter, Felicitas, Perpetua,
Agatha, Lucy, Agnes,
Cecilia, Anastasia, and with
all Thy saints. Into their
company do Thou, we beseech
Thee, admit us, not weighing
our merits, but freely
pardoning our offenses:
through Christ our Lord.

P: By Whom, O Lord, Thou
dost always create, sanctify
(+), quicken (+), bless (+),
and bestow upon us all these
good things.

P: Through Him (+), and with
Him (+), and in Him (+), is
to Thee, god the Father (+)
almighty, in the unity of the
Holy (+) Ghost, all honor and glory.


Raising his voice, the
priest says:


P: World without end.
saeculorum.
R: Amen.


The Pater Noster

P: Let us pray. Admonished
by salutary precepts, and
following divine directions,
we presume to say:

P: Our Father, Who art in
heaven, hallowed be Thy name;
Thy kingdom come; Thy will be
done on earth as it is in
heaven; give us this day our
daily bread; and forgive us
our trespasses, as we forgive
those who trespass against us,
and lead us not into
temptation.
R: But deliver us from evil.
P: Amen.


P: Deliver us, we beseech
Thee, O Lord, from all evils,
past, present, and to come:
and by the intercession of the
blessed and glorious Mary,
ever a virgin, Mother of God,
and of Thy holy apostles Peter
and Paul, of Andrew, and of
all the saints, graciously
grant peace in our days, that
through the help of Thy
bountiful mercy we may always
be free from sin and secure
from all disturbance.


The priest breaks the
Sacred Host, saying:

P: Through the same Jesus
Christ, Thy Son, our Lord,
Who liveth and reigneth with
Thee in the unity of the Holy
Ghost, God, World without end.
R: Amen.


P: May the peace (+) of the
Lord (+) be always with (+) you.
R: And with thy spirit.


The priest drops a particle
of the Sacred Host into the
Chalice.

P: May this commingling and
consecrating of the Body and
Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ
avail us who receive it unto
life everlasting. Amen.



The Agnus Dei

Bowing down, the priest
says:


P: Lamb of God, Who takest
away the sins of the world:
have mercy on us. Lamb of
God, Who takest away the sins
of the world: have mercy on
us. Lamb of God, Who takest
away the sins of the world:
grant us peace.

P: O Lord Jesus Christ Who
didst say to Thine apostles:
Peace I leave you, My peace I
give you: look not upon my
sins, but upon the faith of
Thy Church, and vouchsafe to
grant her peace and unity
according to Thy will: Who
livest and reignest God,
world without end. Amen.

P: O Lord Jesus Christ, Son
of the living God, Who,
according to the will of the
Father, through the
co-operation of the Holy
Ghost, hast by Thy death given
life to the world: deliver
me by this Thy most Sacred
Body and Blood from all my
iniquities, and from every
evil; make me always cleave
to Thy commandments, and
never suffer me to be
separated from Thee, Who with
the same God, the Father and
the Holy Ghost, livest and
reignest God, world without end. Amen.


P: Let not the partaking of
Thy Body, O Lord Jesus
Christ, which I, all
unworthy, presume to receive,
turn to my judgment and
condemnation; but through Thy
loving kindness may it be to
me a safeguard and remedy for
soul and body; Who, with God
the Father, in the unity of
the reignest, God, world without end. Amen.

At The Communion

The priest genuflects,
rises and says:

P: I will take the bread of
heaven, and will call upon
the name of the Lord.

Taking the Sacred Host with
his left hand, the priest
strikes his breast three
times, saying (here the bell
is rung each of the three
times with the priest):


P: Lord, I am not worthy
that Thou shouldst enter under
my roof; but only say the
word, and my soul shall be
healed. (three times)

Holding the Sacred Host in
his right hand, the priest
makes the sign of the cross
with it and says:

P: May the Body of Our Lord
Jesus Christ keep my soul unto
life everlasting. Amen.

The priest receives Holy
Communion and after a brief
meditation continues:


P: What shall I render unto
the Lord for all the things
that He hath rendered unto me?
I will take the chalice of
salvation and will call upon
the name of the Lord. With
high praises will I call upon
the Lord, and I shall be
saved from all mine enemies.


The priest takes the
Chalice in his right hand and
makes the sign of the cross,
saying:


P: May the Blood of Our Lord
Jesus Christ keep my soul unto
life everlasting. Amen.


Here the faithful come
forward to receive Holy
Communion at the Communion
rail. Then,
the priest faces the people
with the Ciborium and,
holding up one of the Sacred
Particles before the
communicants, he says:

P: Behold the Lamb of God,
behold Him who taketh away the sins of the world.
P: Lord, I am not worthy
that Thou shouldst enter under
my roof; but only say the
word, and my soul shall be
healed. (three times)

Communion of the Faithful

The priest gives Holy
Communion to each communicant
saying:

P: May the Body of Our Lord
Jesus Christ keep your soul
unto life everlasting. Amen.

When all have received
Communion, he returns to the
altar and replaces the
Ciborium in the tabernacle.
He then receives wine in the
Chalice and says:

P: Into a pure heart, O
Lord, may we receive the
heavenly food which has passed
our lips; bestowed upon us in
time, may it be the healing
of our souls for eternity.

The priest goes to the
Epistle side and, while the
server pours wine and water
over his fingers, he says:


P: May Thy Body, O Lord,
which I have received, and
Thy Blood which I have drunk
cleave to mine inmost parts:
and do Thou grant that no
stain of sin remain in me,
whom pure and holy mysteries
have refreshed: Who livest and
reignest world without end. Amen.


The Communion

P: The Lord be with you.
R: And with thy spirit.
P: Let us pray.

The priest at the Epistle
side recites the Communion antiphon for
the Mass being celebrated.


The Postcommunion

The priest at the Epistle
side recites the Postcommunion
for the Mass being celebrated.
Then he returns to the middle,
kisses the altar, and turning
toward the people says:

P: The Lord be with you.
R: And with thy spirit.
P: Go, the mass is ended.
R: Thanks be to God.

Bowing down over the altar,
the priest says:

P: May the lowly homage of my
service be pleasing to Thee,
O most holy Trinity: and do
Thou grant that the sacrifice
which I, all unworhy, have
offered up in the sight of Thy
majesty, may be acceptable to
Thee, and, because of Thy
loving kindness, may avail to
atone to Thee for myself and
for all those for whom I have
offered it up. Through Christ
our Lord. Amen.

The Blessing

The priest kisses the
altar, and at the word
"Pater", turns toward the
people, blesses them,
saying:


P: May almighty God, the
Father, and the Son (+), and
the Holy Ghost, bless you.
R: Amen.

The Last Gospel

The priest now goes to the
Gospel side of the altar; he
makes the sign of the cross,
first upon the altar, and
then upon his forehead, lips,
and heart, and reads the Last
Gospel:

P: The Lord be with you.
R: And with thy spirit.
P: The beginning of the holy
Gospel, according to St. John.
R: Glory be to Thee, O Lord.


P: In the beginning was the
Word, and God, and the Word was God.
The same was in the beginning
with God. All things were
made by Him, and without Him
was made nothing that was
made. In Him was life, and
the life was the light of men:
and the light shineth in
darkness, and the darkness
did not comprehend it. There
was a man sent from God, whose
name was John. This man came
for a witness to give
testimony of the light, that
all men might believe through
him. He was not the light,
but was to give testimony of
the light. That was the true
light which enlighteneth every
man that cometh into this
world. He was in the world,
and the world was made by Him,
and the world knew Him not.
He came unto His own, and His
own received Him not. But as
many as received Him, to them
He gave great power to become
the sons of God: to them that
believe in His name: who are
born, not of blood, nor of
the will of the flesh, nor of
the will of man, but of God.
And the Word was made flesh,
and dwelt among us, and we
saw His glory, the glory as
of the only begotten of the
Father, full of grace and truth.
R: Thanks be to God.



Prayers after Low Mass

After Low Mass, the priest
kneeling at the altar steps,
says with the people the
prayers which follow:


Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord
is with thee. Blessed art thou
amongst women, and blessed is the
fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary,
Mother of God, pray for us sinners,
now, and at the hour
of our death. Amen.
(three times)


Salve Regina



Hail, holy Queen, Mother of mercy,
our life, our sweetness, and our
hope! To thee do we cry, poor
Ad banished children of Eve, to thee
do we send up our sighs, mourning
and weeping in this valley of tears.
Turn then, most gracious Advocate,
thine eyes of mercy towards us, and
after this our exile show unto us
the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
O clement, O loving, O sweet virgin
Mary.
Pray for us, O holy Mother of God.
That we be made worthy
of the promises of Christ.



P: Let us pray. O God, our
refuge and our strength, look
down with favor upon Thy
people who cry to Thee; and
through the intercession of
the glorious and immaculate
Virgin Mary, Mother of God,
of her spouse, blessed
Joseph, of Thy holy apostles,
Peter and Paul, and all the
saints, mercifully and
graciously hear the prayers
which we pour forth to Thee
for the conversion of sinners
and for the liberty and
exaltation of holy mother
Church. Through the same
Christ our Lord. Amen.

St. Michael, the archangel,
defend us in battle. Be our
protection against the malice and
snares of the devil. We humbly
beseech God to command him.
And do thou, O prince of the
heavenly host, by the divine
power thrust into hell Satan and
the other evil spirits who roam
through the world seeking the ruin
of souls. Amen.

Invocation After Mass


P: Most Sacred Heart of Jesus.
R: Have mercy on us!
(three times)

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

SAINT JOSEPH, PATRON SAINT OF THE UNIVERSAL CHURCH AND OF ST.JOSEPH CHURCH, MACON, GA, PRAY FOR US!

This statue of St. Joseph has been at St. Joseph Church since the beginning, maybe dating to the late 1800's. It has been in the hallway behind the altar for countless years. Today it stands proudly next to the Sacred Heart Chapel, far left of the sanctuary from the congregation. The new pedestal was handcrafted by our parishioner, Mr. Jim Fontenot. We're grateful for that and grateful for Saint Joseph. During this time of crisis in the Church, no better prayer warrior for us! St. Joseph, Step Father of Jesus, Pray for us! I took this picture with my very own blackberry!

FIRST HOLY COMMUNION, 2010

Do you remember your First Holy Communion? I do. It will be 49 years ago this coming Sunday, Mother's Day, 1961! I wore a nice, red bow tie with white shirt and dark pants! It was the Extraordinary Form of the Low Mass at 8:00 AM!



Vidi Aquam and Feely Aquam!


ALL THE EXTRA THINGS A PRIEST DOES IN THE EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS



Every Tuesday, (last evening) I celebrate the Latin Low Mass in the Extraordinary Form. As you know, the priest faces ad orientem, that is he joins the congregation in facing the same side of the altar. Because of this, much of the extra gestures that the priest does in this Mass (which have been removed in the Ordinary Form of the Mass with the priest facing the congregation) the congregation cannot see, although if they know this Mass, they know what the priest is doing.

As I celebrate the EF Mass, I wonder why the reform of the Mass did away with so many of these gestures when the priest was allowed to face the congregation and they could actually see what he was doing.

Most of these gestures are really for the priest himself. There are additional quiet, devotional prayers for the priest that the congregation cannot hear. The extra genuflections, signs of the cross, covering and uncovering the chalice with the pall, the priest joining his thumb and index finger after consecrating the host, holding the Host in a particular way, breaking it in a precise manner, praying at each stage of the breaking of the Host, etc, all contribute to the personal piety and faith of the priest and the reverence he should have for our Lord in the Holy Mass.

Many modern liturgists would hang me by my index finger and thumb for suggesting that all of these gestures and prayers be recovered in the reform of the reform of the Mass. But anything we can do to increase the piety and reverence of priest-celebrants for the Mass and at Mass would be most welcomed indeed. What do you think?

NOTE THE HEADLINES FROM THE SAME NEWS STORY, JUST WHAT ARE WE TO BELIEVE?


CBS did a Poll on Catholic attitudes concerning the sex abuse scandal. The following are copied headlines from various newspapers and blogs reporting on this poll. I find these rather interesting. It lets you know that there is definitely a bias in reporting depending on the reporter and the political points they are trying to score!

Practicing Catholics unfazed by abuse scandals; Pope’s popularity increasing

Gays in the priesthood and the ban on married priests are significant factors contributing to the sexual abuse of children by clergy

Vatican's Handling of Clergy Sex Abuse Gets Failing Grade in Survey

Catholics Criticize Pope on Abuse Scandal, but See Some Hope (This headline from Laurie Goodstein's article which I posted in the previous blog, could have just as well been, Catholic Criticize Laurie Goodstein and New York Times)

Poll: Most Say Sex Abuse by Priests Remains a Problem

New Study Confirms: Clerical Sexual Abuse NOT Gay Related

Poll: Catholics Say Celibacy, Homosexuality Contributed to Sex Abuse

Now the Actual CBS News Story:

CBS News Poll analysis by the CBS News Polling Unit: Sarah Dutton, Jennifer De Pinto, Fred Backus and Anthony Salvanto.

More than one in two Catholics see both celibacy and homosexuality as at least minor factors in child sex abuse by some priests, according to a new CBS News/New York Times poll.

Less than one in three believe celibacy and homosexuality are "major" factors in the abuse, however -- which means that, overall, a majority of Catholics don't see those two issues as a significant factor leading to abuse.

Now the Actual Poll:

CBS NEWS/NEW YORK TIMES POLL
For release: Tuesday, May 4th, 2010
2:00 pm (EDT)

CATHOLICS: CELIBACY AND HOMOSEXUALITY NOT MAJOR FACTORS IN CHILD SEX
ABUSE BY PRIESTS

April 28-May 2, 2010
As reports have recently come to light regarding sexual abuse of
children by some priests, Catholics think celibacy and homosexuality
play some part in the abuse, but fewer than a third think either is a
major factor. American Catholics are even less likely to say that only
permitting men to be priests plays a major role in child sexual abuse
by priests.
Just 31% of Catholics say celibacy among priests is a major factor
that contributes to child sex abuse, and 30% say homosexuality is a
major contributing factor.
Only men are allowed to be priests in the Catholic Church, and just
17% of Catholics think this is a major factor that contributes to
child sex abuse by priests. In fact, more than half do not think this
is a contributing factor at all.
FACTOR CONTRIBUTING TO CHILD SEX ABUSE BY PRIESTS
(Among all Catholics)
Major Minor Not a factor
Celibacy 31% 28 35
Homosexuality 30% 23 37
Only allowing men to be priests 17% 27 53
More observant Catholics (those who attend Mass at least once a week)
are even less likely than Catholics overall to think these factors
contribute to child sex abuse by priests.
___________________________________________________________________
This poll was conducted among a random sample of 1079 adults nationwide, interviewed
by telephone April 28-May 2, 2010. Phone numbers were dialed from RDD samples of both
standard land-lines and cell phones. The error due to sampling for results based on
the entire sample could be plus or minus three percentage points. The error for
subgroups is higher.
An oversample of Catholics was interviewed, for a total of 412 interviews. The results
were then weighted in proportion to the adult population. The margin of error for the
sample of Catholics is five points. This poll release conforms to the Standards of
Disclosure of the National Council on Public Polls

Thirty-one percent of Catholics called celibacy a major factor leading to sexual abuse, while another 28 percent called it a minor factor. Thirty-five percent said celibacy did not play a part in the abuse.

Thirty percent, meanwhile, said homosexuality played a major role. An additional 23 percent said it played a minor role. Thirty-seven percent said it was not a factor.

Catholics were less likely to see the practice of only allowing men to be priests as a contributing factor in sexual abuse. Just 17 percent said it was a major factor leading to abuse, while 27 percent said it was a minor factor.

The majority -- 53 percent -- said the men-only nature of the priesthood was not a factor.

Catholics who attend Mass at least once a week are less likely than Catholics overall to think these factors contribute to child sex abuse by priests.

The survey was conducted between April 28th and May 2nd, and 412 Catholics were interviewed.

This poll was conducted among a random sample of 1079 adults nationwide, interviewed by telephone April 28-May 2, 2010. Phone numbers were dialed from RDD samples of both standard land-lines and cell phones. The error due to sampling for results based on the entire sample could be plus or minus three percentage points. The error for subgroups is higher.

An oversample of Catholics was interviewed, for a total of 412 interviews. The results were then weighted in proportion to the adult population. The margin of error for the sample of Catholics is five points. This poll release conforms to the Standards of Disclosure of the National Council on Public Polls.

ARE YOU SIMPLY CATHOLIC? YOU SHOULD BE!

This video is just over two minutes long but very good. I find it interesting that the clips of the Mass shown, while very brief, seem to be of the Extraordinary Form! With the main stream media trying to politicize what it means to be Catholic and using the categories of politics to polarize Catholics in our own Church, it's good to recall what Catholicism really is. Contrast this video with the most recent drivel from the New York Times by none other than Laurie Goodstein. Although her article shows that Catholics are fed up with her type of reporting--thank God for the internet and new sources of news that balance the propaganda that she and others in the liberal press and media shove down our throats.
While polls can be helpful to address issues in the Church, these do not guide the Church in adjusting our teachings to get approval from our constituents. We're not a political party or a Church run like a political party! As a Catholic I'm not a constituent, I'm simply Catholic! Fr. McDonald
Catholics Criticize Pope on Abuse Scandal, but See Some Hope
By LAURIE GOODSTEIN and DALIA SUSSMAN
Published: May 4, 2010

A majority of Roman Catholics in the United States are critical of the way Pope Benedict XVI and the Vatican have handled the reports of sexual abuse by priests, but have confidence in the Vatican to make changes to prevent abuse in the future, according to a New York Times/CBS News poll released Tuesday.

After five years of Pope Benedict’s papacy, Catholics in the United States are estranged from the hierarchy in Rome, with most saying the Vatican is out of touch with the needs of Catholics and more than three out of four saying it is not necessary to believe in the pope’s authority to be a good Catholic.

But they feel differently about their parish priest, with a majority saying that most priests understand Catholics’ needs and that they trust their own priest with their children. In fact, the poll suggests that for most American Catholics, the resurgence of the abuse scandal is like a far-off storm. They say it has had no effect on their Mass attendance, their financial contributions or their participation in their parishes.

Only one in 10 Catholics now say the clergy sexual abuse issue is prompting them to consider leaving the church. That is a marked contrast from the height of the scandal in the United States, in 2002, when about one in five Catholics said they considered leaving.

While the scandal in 2002 focused on American bishops, starting in Boston, who had failed to remove abusive priests, recent news media reports have focused on the scandal’s outbreak in Europe and on whether the Vatican and the pope are culpable.

The Vatican and many American bishops have reacted by attacking the news media, and it appears they have struck a chord. The poll shows that slightly more Catholics believe the news media have blown the story out of proportion than those who say it has been accurately reported. Most say the news media have been harder on the Catholic Church than on other religions. Those who attend Mass regularly are even more critical of the news media.

Many Catholic respondents indicated that they saw a change in how their church had handled the sexual abuse problem over time. A broad majority of Catholics said that in the past, the Vatican and American bishops were far more focused on covering up sexual abuse by priests than preventing it, but that now the reverse was true.

But a majority said sexual abuse of children by Catholic priests was still going on.

Betsy Conrath, who is 60 and a retired weather broadcaster in Spokane, Wash., said in a follow-up interview: “They are not going to cover up any more and hope and pray it will just go away. Now that the pope has a handle on it, things will change.

“I have been totally saddened by all of this,” Ms. Conrath said, “but I’m still very much a Catholic and have not lost my faith in my religion.”

Norbert Wellman, 71, a retiree in West Point, Iowa, who worked for a chemical company and a state prison, said: “Since the news came out and was spread around in all the newspapers, they got the idea they’re going to have to do the best they can to fix the problem. I think before, maybe, they thought it wouldn’t get out.”

Nearly half of those polled said Benedict’s leadership of the church had been “a mixed blessing,” and only one in four said his leadership had helped the church. But his personal favorability rating is more positive than negative. Forty-three percent say they have a favorable opinion of him, and only 17 percent have an unfavorable view. Still, 38 percent express no opinion about him at all, a decidedly blank reaction to a pope who made a highly publicized trip to the United States only two years ago and has issued three encyclicals, or formal teaching letters, on morality or doctrine. The pope’s favorability rating is higher among those who attend Mass regularly: 63 percent.

The recurrence of the sexual abuse scandal has renewed the debate among some Catholic commentators who argue that there is an underlying problem in the priesthood attributable to celibacy, homosexuality or the male-only-clergy culture. The poll shows that most Catholics are unconvinced of their arguments. Three in 10 said the celibacy requirement for Catholic priests was a major factor contributing to sexual abuse of minors, while nearly as many said it was only a minor factor and more than a third said it was not a factor. Results are similar on the question of whether homosexuality in the priesthood contributes.

Only 17 percent said the all-male priesthood was a major factor in the abuse problem, while a majority said it was not a factor.

Nonetheless, for more than 20 years, majorities of Catholics have consistently said they are in favor of ordaining women and married men as priests. That trend holds true today, with 6 in 10 saying they favor women’s ordination, and two-thirds favoring married priests. Even majorities of weekly churchgoers are in favor of opening the priesthood to women and married men.

Mary Dunham, a 64-year-old quilter and crafter in Orfordville, Wis., said in a follow-up interview: “The sexual abuse issue goes back to the Vatican. They allowed it to be covered up for so long because they didn’t want the church to look bad. Had a woman been pope, she wouldn’t have allowed it. She would have strung up these guys herself.”

The nationwide telephone poll was conducted from April 28 to May 2 with 412 Catholics. The margin of sampling error is plus or minus five percentage points.

Marjorie Connelly, Marina Stefan and Megan Thee-Brenan contributed reporting.
A version of this article appeared in print on May 5, 2010, on page A13

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

The Ambrosian Rite of the Latin Church is one of several rites for the Catholic Mass in the Extraordinary Form. It originated in Milan, Italy. Many of the reforms of the Ordinary Form of the Latin Rite were borrowed from this rite. Please note the differences in this rite and the EF Form of the Mass below the brief video.

This Mass was celebrated recently in the formerly Pagan temple, the Pantheon. Note the manner of incensing which seems closer to the Eastern Rites manner of doing it.

The main differences in the Mass are:[4]

* The principal celebrant blesses all the readers, not only the deacon.
* The Gospel is followed by a short antiphon.
* The General Intercessions or "Prayers of the Faithful" immediately follow the homily
* The Rite of Peace comes at the beginning of the Liturgy of the Eucharist, before the Offertory (Presentation of the Gifts)
* The Creed follows the Offertory, before the Prayer over the Gifts
* There are some differences between the First Eucharistic Prayer of the Ambrosian Missal and the Roman Canon, the first in the Roman Missal; but its Eucharistic Prayers II, III, and IV are the same as in the Roman Rite. In addition, the Ambrosian Rite has two proper Eucharistic Prayers, used mainly on Easter and Holy Thursday.
* The priest breaks the Host and places a piece in the main chalice before the Lord's Prayer, while an antiphon is sung or recited.
* The Agnus Dei is not said.
* Before the final blessing, the people say three times Kyrie, eleison (Lord have mercy)
* The Ambrosian Rite has its own cycle of readings at Mass
* Many of the prayers said by the priest during Mass are peculiar to the Ambrosian Rite, which has a particularly rich variety of prefaces.

EXOTIC VISITOR PHOTOGRAPHS THE SPLENDOR OF OUR "JEWEL OF THE SOUTH" SAINT JOSEPH CHURCH , MACON, GEORGIA!

Photo by Alexis Xenakis

Recently, we had a visitor Alexis Xenakis to our Sunday evening Mass who brought his camera with him. He stayed afterward and took some stunning pictures of our "Jewel of the South" and posted them on his blog. You can paste it to your browser and enjoy. Don't miss the video that is at the top of the blog, just click and watch and hear Ms. Nelda Chapman our music director and organist play our grand pipe organ too.

http://www.papermodelkiosk.com/php/forum/blog.php?b=45

Sunday, May 2, 2010

THE LOS ANGELES TIMES PRINTS AN EDITORIAL AND THE EDITORIAL IS THE TRUTH! WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT?

The article below hits the nail on the head. The main stream media, people who own the New York Times, NBC, CNN and other entertainment media, have it in for the Catholic Church because the Catholic Church is opposed to their agenda and their kind of religion. I'm glad the Los Angeles Times printed this editorial, at least they are trying to give the appearance of being "fair and balanced."



Undermining the faith
Catholic bashers like to refer to priests as ‘men in dresses.’ It’s just another in a growing number of media cheap shots directed at Pope Benedict XVI.
Charlotte Allen

May 2, 2010

"Men in dresses." That's who columnist Maureen Dowd blames for decay in "our religious kingdom."

Which men in dresses is she referring too? The ballerinas-in-drag of Les Ballets Trockadero? The Marilyn Monroe lookalikes marching in gay pride parades? Nope. She's talking about Catholic priests.

Lately Dowd, along with half the other columnists in America, has been speculating about what Pope Benedict XVI knew or didn't know concerning clerical abuse of minors back when he was Josef Ratzinger, acting as archbishop of Munich or as head of the Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. And she and her gang seem to find it hilarious that Catholic priests and bishops often wear cassocks or other long traditional robes, especially on formal religious occasions and when celebrating Mass.

It's odd that no one ever uses the word "dresses" to describe the ankle-length liturgical garments worn by Episcopal priests. Nor are Protestant ministers or Jewish rabbis derided as cross-dressers when they don long robes for religious services. Has anyone ever called the Dalai Lama "a man in a dress"? Or Genghis Khan? Not unless you wanted to see your ribcage sliced into salami by a scimitar.


For most of human history long robes on men — whether the togas of Roman senators, the kimonos of Japanese samurai or the black gowns worn by judges and academics today — have been associated with status, dignity and, in the case of the clergy, the sacral separation of religious ritual from the ordinary activities of daily life. Indeed, so redolent of masculinity are those garments that when women enter the professions for which they are worn, they often soften and feminize them. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, for example, wears lace collars with her judicial robes

Catholic priests alone are mocked as ecclesiastical Lypsinkas in the media and elsewhere when they dare to wear the traditional garb of their calling. There is a reason for that. The latest round of abuse allegations, only one of which can be said to have occurred on Ratzinger's watch, aren't really about supposed Vatican cover-ups of sexual exploitation of children by clerics. They are yet another effort to discredit the Roman Catholic Church wholesale by people whose beefs with Catholicism rest on entirely different grounds — namely that it forbids abortion and homosexual conduct, it doesn't allow women to be priests, and it requires men who enter the priesthood to remain celibate.

If you can undermine the Catholic Church and its theologically conservative current pope with a cheap shot by calling its clergy a bunch of drag queens, the thinking seems to go, all well and good. Far better, though, to reach into your quiver for a more expensive and deadly shot, which is the best way to describe the current campaign, based on flimsy to nonexistent evidence, to implicate Benedict in a sinister conspiracy to shield Catholic clerics from the consequences of their sexual rapacity.

Eight years ago, in 2002, the media performed a valuable, if painful, service to the church by exposing a large number of instances in which Catholic bishops in the U.S. acted in ineffectual, dilatory and self-serving ways during the 1970s, '80s and '90s so as to permit Catholic priests who were known child and teen molesters to continue serving in parishes.

The revelations resulted in a drastic and salutary overhaul of the U.S. church's procedures for handling accusations of clerical sexual abuse of children. Even before then, in 2001, Ratzinger, as head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith under Pope John Paul II, had centralized and toughened standards for the Vatican's then-piecemeal system for disciplining abusive priests. As pope, he has issued apologies to U.S. and, most recently, Irish victims of systematic church mishandling of their cases.

This year is essentially 2002 repeated as farce instead of tragedy, as journalists scramble to locate some microscopic shred of evidence that might connect Benedict to the handful of now-hoary abuse cases they have unearthed. The offenses enumerated in those cases are appalling: molesting deaf children; soliciting sex from the confessional. But it's not exactly the Vatican's fault that the diocese of Milwaukee, for example, waited 20 years, until 1996, before initiating proceedings to defrock a notorious, now-deceased priest-pederast, or that the diocese of Oakland never even tried to defrock Steven Kiesle, who pleaded guilty in 1978 to charges of fondling boys in his church rectory, Instead, the diocese relied on Kiesle's slow-moving voluntary petition to the Vatican for laicization while he continued to work as a parish youth minister in Contra Costa County.

The German priest, Peter Hullerman, accused of having oral sex with an 11-year-old boy in 1979, was allowed by Ratzinger to move to Munich for psychotherapy in January 1980 (those were the days when people believed that counseling could cure sex offenders). Ratzinger's deputy allowed Hullerman to live in a rectory and help out in a parish during the therapy — a bad idea, but it's unclear whether Ratzinger ever read the memo authorizing that move. The Munich archdiocese subsequently allowed Hullerman to return to full-time parish work — a reprehensible idea, but the decision was made in September 1982, seven months after Ratzinger had left Munich to assume his Vatican post.

That's all there is, folks. But that didn't stop Dowd and others from calling for Benedict's resignation from the papacy. Atlantic blogger and gay-marriage advocate Andrew Sullivan used the abuse cases as a platform to press for an end to priestly celibacy and the ban on homosexual activity. "I don't believe … that you can tackle this problem without seeing it as a symptom of a much deeper failure of the church to come to terms with sexuality, sexual orientation and the warping, psychologically distorting impact of compulsory celibacy," he wrote on April 1.

Professional atheists Christopher Hitchens and Richard Dawkins went a step further, demanding that British law enforcement arrest Benedict on his planned visit to Britain later this year and turn him over to the International Criminal Court to be tried for "crimes against humanity." In a March 28 blog post for the Washington Post, Dawkins expressed his hope that "the whole rotten edifice [i.e. the Catholic Church] — the whole profiteering, woman-fearing, guilt-gorging, truth-hating, child-raping institution" would "tumble … amid a stench of incense and a rain of tourist-kitsch sacred hearts and preposterously crowned virgins." He also called Benedict a "leering old villain in a frock." Yes, it's "men in dresses" one more time.

The anti-Catholic media frenzy has gotten to the point that even the staunchly nonreligious Brendan O'Neill, editor of Spiked, denounced what he called a "secular inquisition" aimed at the church. As the insult "men in dresses" that typically accompanies the attacks signifies, the new round of supposed revelations about Benedict has little to do with vindicating abuse victims or punishing clerical pedophiles. It has everything to do with discrediting and destroying the Catholic papacy and the Catholic Church as we know them and replacing them with something more to the bashers' liking.

Charlotte Allen is the author of "The Human Christ: The Search for the Historical Jesus" and a contributing editor to the Minding the Campus website of the Manhattan Institute.

Copyright © 2010, The Los Angeles Times

AN UNEXPECTED AND VERY PLEASANT DISCOVERY OF A LONG LOST RELATIVE!

Literally out of the blue this morning I received an email from a cousin of mine from Italy. His name if Roberto and he is married with two children. I think he's about my age, very young! His grandmother (Nona) is my Zia (Aunt) Ada, my mother's oldest sister from Livorno, Italia. His mother, Emilia, is my mother's niece, but she is about the age of my mother. I think that is how it goes. So Roberto would be my first cousin once removed or my second cousin? I've never met him, but I did meet his mother and his grandmother when I was in Italy in 1981. He now lives in London for the past ten years and probably speaks English better than me! So, Roberto's mother would be my first cousin if she is my mother niece although they are close in age. I'm getting all this family stuff from my sister, but I'll find out from Roberto more exactly. One of things I have regretted the most is that we left Italy in 1956 when I was almost 3 years old and I did not grow up with my Italian side of the family and thus do not really know them that well. I've visited Livorno many times and have made connections. I feel more Italian than anything else, although I am a southerner! (I'm the only one in my Italian family who was born in Napoli due to an American Army dad!)The picture below is my cousin Roberto and his wife and sons Daniel and Josh--who are English! Who would have thought? I suspect though the picture was taken in the lake region of Italia, but I don't know.

FOR WHAT IT IS WORTH, MY HOMILY FOR THE FIFTH SUNDAY OF EASTER, YEAR C

From my mouth to your ears, or from your computer to your eyes--for what it is worth, my Sunday homily for the Fifth Sunday of Easter, Year C, Ordinary Form.

Introduction: If you have never attended the Great Easter Vigil, you’ve missed a great deal in our Liturgical customs during Easter. One of the prominent features of the Easter Vigil is the blessing of the Easter Fire outside, the blessing of the Easter candle and lighting it from the blessed fire. Then everyone holding their own candle lights it from the blessed fire and all process into our darkened Church with the Easter Candle leading the way. By the time all the people have entered with this little light of theirs, our darkened Church is illuminated with the soft light of blessed fire showing forth Jesus Christ, the Risen Lord who is the light of the world often cast in the darkness of sin and death. There is a warmth, security and vision that this one blessed Easter fire light gives to this Church even in the midst of the most profound darkness. It represents our Risen Lord Jesus who is our light in our darkest hours.

Topic Statement: Jesus calls his followers show forth His light by loving each other as He loves us.

1. When we are in the midst of darkness created by others or by ourselves, the love of the Lord can truly overcome the darkness.

A. In my first parish assignment there was a terrible accident, a woman was speeding in a residential neighborhood and struck a child as he rode his bicycle. The mother of this child was absolutely devastated by the death of her child and the circumstances of his death. There was some anger and bitterness at the carelessness of the driver. The night of the visitation and wake, I had gone to the funeral home for the vigil and rosary. After the rosary, the family was greeting those who had come to console them. In the midst of this, the woman who had struck the child entered the funeral home. She went to the child’s mother and sobbing knelt before her and begged forgiveness. The mother lifted the woman to her feet and the two embraced for a long period of time. It was almost like a scene from a dramatic movie, but it was real. In the midst of the darkness and tragedy of this accident, the light of Christ came from this mother. The light of forgiveness. I was most grateful to that grieving mother that night. The light of Christ shined and His love shined through her. She could have cursed that woman up one side and down the other and ordered her out of her sight. But rather than wallow in the darkness of this tragedy, she brought the light of Christ to that situation and to all of us who witnessed it.

B. Today’s Gospel passage is preceded by Judas who departs Jesus in order to set into motion the darkness of his betrayal of our Lord and Jesus subsequent arrest and the passion which follows. Just as Judas leaves, there is an appeal by Jesus Christ for the Church that He founded to be known as His followers by the love they show to one another. St. Francis of Assisi use to tell his followers to preach about the love of God and sometimes use words. He knew that our lives should show forth the love of God, especially how we live our lives. The love that Jesus has for us is not a fleeting warm fuzzy feeling. The love that Jesus has is the love that enables Him to lay down His life in the cruelest experience of His passion and death. He tells His apostles to do this just after Judas had betrayed Him. Love for Jesus is commitment. Love for Jesus is loyalty. Love for Jesus is laying down our lives for each other.

2. To love one another as Jesus commands us means that we must practice authentic spirituality that we must be in communion with the Lord.

A. For the last several weeks, we have been meeting with our new Catholics received into the Church at the Great Easter Vigil to prepare them to live their Catholic faith through thick and thin. One of our concerns is that when they don’t have to come to the RCIA classes anymore, that they may start to flounder. People in the world may challenge them for becoming Catholic and they’ll need to be able to defend the faith. Troubles at home or even in the Church may put pressure on them to revert to their old ways of doing things. But the most important thing about our Catholic faith is that it holds to the truth, a truth that the world will not like or appreciate. Our Catholic faith is counter-cultural today, and more so today than in our recent past in American history. There are great sociological changes occurring in our society. Many main line Protestant Churches have thrown in the towel and accepted our culture’s position on abortion, divorce, homosexual marriage and a variety of other things and thus the world accepts them with open arms. But not so with the Catholic Church, we are a thorn in the side of what liberal progressivists want for the world and the only way to deal with the Catholic Church is to undermine it, ridicule it and highlight the sins and crimes of her members especially the clergy’s. But they won’t be successful, but they will lead many away from us to a post-modern way of living that has nothing to do with the Church or the love of Jesus Christ.

B. The only way that any new or seasoned Catholic can survive in our current cultural upheavals is through our Catholic Spirituality is founded upon the Mass. When the priest approaches the altar, he reverences it with a bow and kisses it. The altar represents Jesus Christ and our life with him. It represents the Book of Revelation’s proclamation that God is with us. His dwelling is with the human race. Our participation in the Church, her sacraments and going forth as committed followers of the Lord to love Him and each other is our high calling which must be nourished and sustained not only by the Mass but also by confession, the Sacrament of Reconciliation and the truth of all the Church’s divinely revealed teachings.

Conclusion: Jesus Christ is the light of the world. As we experience His one Sacrifice in a bloodless way and share in the Holy Eucharist, may we share the light of Christ’s love with others we will meet and live with this week.

POPE BENEDICT NOT AFRAID TO "FACE THE WOLVES" IN THE CHURCH


Head of Italian Senate: Pope not afraid to 'face the wolves' in the Church

Head of the Italian Senate Renato Schifani.

Rome, Italy, Apr 29, 2010 / 09:11 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- The Holy Father has "never been inert in the face of suffering and injustice," the President of the Italian Senate said as he reflected on the impact of the five years of Benedict XVI's time as Pope. The politician noted that the Pope has opted to "face the wolves" rather than avoid addressing difficulties such as cases of priests who sexually abuse minors.

The address from the leader of the Italian Senate, Renato Schifani, took place during a Wednesday evening presentation organized by the Congregation of the Children of the Immaculate Conception, which was themed "The world suffers for a lack of thought."

Likening the Holy Father to the "messenger" of the Gospel, the image of the pastor and the fisherman, Schifani said that "Benedict XVI really knows that loving means being ready to suffer, and as pastor he gives witness to (Him) who has truly made history with men."

The day after his election, noted Schifani, the Pope asked for prayers for strength to confront "the wolves."

Reflecting on the Pope's attitude since then, Schifani observed that, "Facing the hidden dangers, the betrayals, the scandals, the open and painful wounds of the Church, Benedict XVI doesn't flee out of fear before the wolves."

In the current climate, which sees "the dismay and the sense of betrayal that 'sinful and criminal acts' have produced in the whole world and all of the Church, Benedict XVI has expressed openly ... the shame and remorse that we all feel," the senator said.

The Pope has "condemned the silence of the 'mute dogs' of our time," has not limited himself merely to indignation at the suffering of victims of sexual abuse but has shared in their pain and has addressed the issue "without reserve and with strong words."

"Joseph Ratzinger has never been inert in the face of suffering and injustice, but is a pastor that doesn't leave 'survivors without an audience,'" never opting to remain indifferent or to take the easy way out, the senator said.

Amidst attempts to create a climate of "moral panic" in recent months, Schifani continued, the Pope has responded with "evangelical meekness," not responding to insults or taking vengeance, but only "entrusting himself to He who judges with justice."

Schifani added later that there will be a day in the future when "the free women and men of our time will be able to say of him, ' in the middle of that violent storm, he maintained trust and hope and transmitted them also to his travel companions. From that shipwreck ... was born a fervent and solid Christian community."

Saturday, May 1, 2010

FIRST HOLY COMMUNION, A WONDERFUL MOMENT IN ONE'S FAITH PILGRIMAGE!

This Sunday, May 2nd, our second graders will be receiving their First Holy Communion at a special 2:00 PM Mass. Below are pictures of Easter Vigils, the Liturgy of the Eucharist and the Elect from 2010 receiving their First Holy Communion. The final photo is the First Holy Communion class of last year, 2009. I think everyone is moved when God's children come to Him in such a special way!

(Click on any photo once or twice and it will blow up! The Church is not responsible for damages!)

Easter Vigil 2007, the Elect preparing for Baptism, Confirmation and Holy Communion

Priestly "orantes" position

Preparing for the Epiclisis

My Lord and my God!

My Lord and my God!

Ecce Agnus Dei, Behold the Lamb of God!

Reverently receiving on the tongue

Reverently receiving on the palm of one's hand

Our newly baptized receiving their First Holy Communion at the Easter Vigil

First Holy Communion Second Graders from 2009