Wednesday, November 27, 2013

Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal; Saint Maximus




OUR LADY OF THE MIRACULOUS MEDAL 
(1830)

[Historical]

Saint Maximus

Bishop


WHITE

The Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to the young Sister Catherine Laboure while she was at prayer with the Sisters in a chapel in Paris. Our Lady appeared in an oval frame, standing on a globe of the world. She was dressed in a white robe with a blue cloak edged with silver, having as it were diamonds in Her hands from which fell streams of golden rays upon the earth. A voice was heard saying: "These rays are the graces that Mary obtains for men." Then golden words formed around the oval: "O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to Thee!" The oval picture then turned around, and on the reverse side the Sister saw the letter M, with a cross above it, having a crosspiece at its base, and below the letter the Hearts of Jesus and Mary, the former surrounded by a crown of thorns, and the latter pierced with a sword. Then the voice said: "A medal must be struck on this pattern; the persons who shall carry it with indulgences attached to it, and shall offer the above prayer, shall enjoy a very special protection from the Mother of God."
The medal was struck and spread all over the world, and immediately the most wonderful conversions and cures attested to its miraculous efficacy. Devout Catholics everywhere attest to its wonder-working power!
Medal of the Immaculate Conception (aka Miracu...Image via Wikipedia


INTROIT Ex 13:9
It shall be a sign in thy hand, and as a memorial before thine eyes, and that the law of the Lord be always in thy mouth.
Ps. 104. O give thanks unto the Lord, and call upon His name; tell forth His deeds among the nations.
Glory be . . .

COLLECT
O Lord Jesus Christ, who wast pleased that the most Blessed Virgin Mary Thy Mother, immaculate from her first conception, should shine resplendent with miracles beyond number; grant, that, ever imploring her patronage, we may attain the joys of everlasting life; Who livest and reignest . . .

LESSON Apoc. 12:1-16
And a great sign appeared in heaven: A woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. And being with child, she cried travailing in birth: and was in pain to be delivered. And there was seen another sign in heaven. And behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns and on his heads seven diadems. And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven and cast them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was ready to be delivered: that, when she should be delivered, he might devour her son. And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with an iron rod. And her son was taken up to God and to his throne. And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she had a place prepared by God, that there they should feed her, a thousand two hundred sixty days. And there was a great battle in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon, and the dragon fought, and his angels. And they prevailed not: neither was their place found any more in heaven. And that great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, who seduceth the whole world. And he was cast unto the earth: and his angels were thrown down with him. And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying: Now is come salvation and strength and the kingdom of our God and the power of his Christ: because the accuser of our brethren is cast forth, who accused them before our God day and night. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of the testimony: and they loved not their lives unto death. Therefore, rejoice, O heavens, and you that dwell therein. Woe to the earth and to the sea, because the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, knowing that he hath but a short time. And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman who brought forth the man child. And there were given to the woman two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the desert, unto her place, where she is nourished for a time and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent. And the serpent cast out of his mouth, after the woman, water, as it were a river: that he might cause her to be carried away by the river. And the earth helped the woman: and the earth opened her mouth and swallowed up the river which the dragon cast out of his mouth.

GRADUAL Ps. 104
Remember the marvelous works which He hath done; His wonders, and the judgment of His mouth. He placed in them the words of His signs, and of His wonders in the land.

Alleluia, alleluia. Ps. 18
His going forth is from the end of heaven; nor is there any that can hide from His heat. Alleluia.

GOSPEL John 2:1-11
At that time there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee: and the mother of Jesus was there. And Jesus also was invited, and his disciples, to the marriage. And the wine failing, the mother of Jesus saith to him: "They have no wine." And Jesus saith to her: "Woman, what is that to me and to thee? My hour is not yet come." His mother saith to the waiters: "Whatsoever he shall say to you, do ye." Now there were set there six waterpots of stone, according to the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three measures apiece. Jesus saith to them: "Fill the waterpots with water." And they filled them up to the brim. And Jesus saith to them: "Draw out now and carry to the chief steward of the feast." And they carried it. And when the chief steward had tasted the water made wine and knew not whence it was, but the waiters knew who had drawn the water: the chief steward calleth the bridegroom, And saith to him: "Every man at first setteth forth good wine, and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse. But thou hast kept the good wine until now." This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him.

OFFERTORY ANTIPHON John 19
Jesus said to the disciple: Behold thy mother. And from that hour the disciple took her to his own.

SECRET
Moved by the petition of the Blessed Virgin Mary, in answer to whose prayers Jesus Christ Thy Son worked His first miracle, enable us, Lord God, to minister the Sacrament of the Body and Blood of this Thy Son with pure hearts, and thus be counted worthy of Thy eternal banquet. Through the same our Lord . . .

COMMUNION ANTIPHON Eccl. 36
Renew Thy signs, and work new miracles; glorify Thine hand and Thy right arm; hasten the time, and remember the end, that they may declare Thy wondrous works.

POSTCOMMUNION
O Lord God almighty, who givest us all things through the Immaculate Mother of Thy Son, enable us by the aid of this mighty Mother to escape the dangers of this time and come to life everlasting. Through the same . . .

Saint Maximus

Bishop of Riez
(† 460)

Saint Maximus
Saint Maximus
Saint Maximus, from his youth as the son of a noble Christian family, manifested a firm predilection for virtue. His austerities, undertaken to conserve his virtue at all costs, were so constant and determined that it seemed he merited the crown of martyrdom even without a tyrant to persecute him. For seven years, after he made a private vow of virginity at the age of eighteen and then entered into religion, he was a disciple of Saint Honoratus, Abbot of the famous monastery on the island of Lerins; and in the year 426 he succeeded in that office his master, who had been chosen bishop of Arles.
For seven years, he governed this monastery, and under his guidance, solid piety and penance flourished as well as excellent studies, which he established and directed himself. The demon, irritated, under various disguises persecuted him without respite, but the holy Abbot put him to flight by the sign of the Cross, our salvation. Saint Maximus was remarkable not only for the spirit of recollection, fervor, and piety familiar to him from childhood, but still more for the gentleness and kindliness with which he governed the fervent monks of this monastery. At that time it contained a very large number of them. Exhibiting in his own person an example of the most sterling virtues, his exhortations could not fail to prove all-persuasive; loving all his religious, whom it was his delight to consider as composing one single family, he established among them the sweet concord, union, and holy emulation in virtue which render the exercise of authority virtually unnecessary, and make holy submission a pleasure.
The clergy and people of Antibes near Lerins, then those of Frejus, moved by such a shining example, elected Maximus for their bishop, but he refused this dignity verbally on the first occasion, and on the second took flight in a boat and then into a forest, where he prayed for three days and nights that the Lord would change the dispositions of the people of Frejus. Their emissaries did not succeed in finding him, and proceeded to another election. He fled again after Saint Hilary joined his approbation to the election of the clergy and people of the city of Riez in the French Alps, then large and heavily populated. This time he was found, and was compelled to accept the see of Riez, his native diocese.
When one day a church was to be built on a hilltop and it was necessary to transport heavy columns to the elevated site, the oxen refused to move. The bishop was absent that day, although he had often come to encourage all concerned. The people attached two more animals to the yoke, but still none of them moved. The bishop was advised, and when he arrived told them he saw a demon standing before the oxen to prevent their advance. He put the enemy to flight once more with the sign of the Cross, and himself detached the two animals who had been requisitioned; and the first two, with his blessing, had no difficulty in arriving at the hilltop.
In the see of Riez Saint Maximus practiced virtue in all gentleness until he died in 460, regretted as the best of fathers.

Monday, November 25, 2013

SAINT CATHARINE OF ALEXANDRIA

[ Guido Reni
ca. 1575, Calvenzano, Italy - ca. 1642, Bologna, Italy]

SAINT CATHARINE OF ALEXANDRIA
Virgin and Martyr

DOUBLE / RED
The saint of philosophers and wheelwrights and one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers, Catharine of Alexandria was very popular in the Middle Ages. Her legend relates that in the early years of the fourth century, Catharine converted to Christianity a group of philosophers whom Emperor Maximinus had appointed to shake the maiden's own faith. The infuriated ruler had Catharine scourged and bound to wheels on which knives were fixed; but the wheels broke and the knives flew off, killing some of the onlookers. Then she was beheaded. Angels are said to have carried her body up to Mount Sinai in Arabia, as today's Prayer recalls.

Mass of a VIRGIN MARTYR, except:

 COLLECT
O God, You gave the law to Moses on Mount Sinai, and later had the body of the blessed virgin Martyr Catharine miraculously carried to the same spot by Your holy angels. Grant that we may reach the mountain which is Christ, through the merits and intercession of this saint; who lives and rules with You . . .

SECRET
O Lord, accept the gifts we bring You on the feast of Your blessed virgin Catharine, through whose intercession we hope to set free. Through our Lord . . .

POSTCOMMUNION
O Lord, through the intercession of Your blessed virgin Martyr Catharine, may we be aided by the reception of the Blessed Sacrament and rejoice in Your everlasting protection. Through our Lord . . .

Sunday, November 17, 2013

25th SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST; SAINT GREGORY THE WONDER WORKER



TWENTY-FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
ADDITIONAL MASS NUMBER FOUR




St. Gregory the Wonderworker, Bishop of Neocae...
St. Gregory the Wonderworker, Bishop of Neocaesarea (taken from the Menologion of Basileiou (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
 
 [Commemoration]
THE WONDER WORKER
Bishop and Confessor

INTROIT Jer. 29:11, 12, 14
SAID THE LORD: "I think thoughts of peace and not of affliction. You shall call upon Me and I will hear you, and I will bring you back from captivity from all places." 
Ps.
 84:2. Lord, You have blessed Your land; You have restored Jacob from captivity.V. Glory be . . .


COLLECT
ALMIGHTY GOD, let our minds always be fixed on Your truths, so that, in every word and deed, we may do what is pleasing to You. Through Our Lord . . .

Commemoration of the SAINT GREGORY
Gregory, one of the Fathers of the Church, was converted to the faith by Origen about the year 232. He then returned to his native city of Neocaesarea in Asia Minor, and was made its bishop. At that time there were only 17 Christians in the city, but Gregory's apostolic zeal was such that before his death there were only 17 non-Christians left. Gregory was aided in his apostolate by an extraordinary gift of miracles. A legend relating that he once caused the removal of a mountain from the spot where he wished to build a church is alluded to in today's Gospel. He died about the year 270.

O Almighty God, grant that our solemn celebration of the feast of Your confessor bishop Gregory may increase our devotion and bring us closer to our salvation. Through Our Lord . . .

EPISTLE I Thess. 1:2-10
Brethren: We give thanks to God always for you all: making a remembrance of you in our prayers without ceasing, being mindful of the work of your faith and labor and charity: and of the enduring of the hope of our Lord Jesus Christ before God and our Father.
Knowing, brethren, beloved of God, your election: For our gospel hath not been unto you in word only, but in power also: and in the Holy Ghost and in much fullness, as you know what manner of men we have been among you for your sakes. And you became followers of us and of the Lord: receiving the word in much tribulation, with joy of the Holy Ghost: So that you were made a pattern to all that believe in Macedonia and in Achaia. For from you was spread abroad the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and in Achaia but also in every place: your faith which is towards God, is gone forth, so that we need not to speak any thing. For they themselves relate of us, what manner of entering in we had unto you: and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God. And to wait for his Son from heaven (whom he raised up from the dead), Jesus, who hath delivered us from the wrath to come.

GRADUAL Ps. 43:8-9
YOU HAVE FREED us from those who afflict us, O Lord, and You have put to shame those who hate us.V. In God we will glory all the day and praise Your name forever.

Alleluia, alleluia! Ps. 129:1-2
V. Out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord; Lord, hear my prayer!
Alleluia!

GOSPEL Matt. 13:31-35
AT THAT TIME, Jesus spoke this parable unto them, saying: "The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field. Which is the least indeed of all seeds; but when it is grown up, it is greater than all herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come, and dwell in the branches thereof."
Another parable he spoke to them: "The kingdom of heaven is like to leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, until the whole was leavened." All these things Jesus spoke in parables to the multitudes: and without parables he did not speak to them. That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying: "I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter things hidden from the foundation of the world."

OFFERTORY ANTIPHON Ps. 129:1-2
OUT OF THE DEPTHS I cry to You, O Lord; Lord, hear my prayer, out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord.

SECRET 
O GOD, may this offering cleanse us from sin and bring us life, that by it we may be guided and protected. Through Our Lord . . .

Commemoration of the SAINT GREGORY
O Lord, may Your saints everywhere be a source of joy for us, and may we feel the power of their intercession with You as we solemnly recall the deeds of their lives. Through Our Lord . . . 

COMMUNION HYMN Mark 11:24
AMEN I say to you, all things whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you shall receive, and they shall come to you.

POSTCOMMUNION PRAYER
O LORD, grant that we who have been nourished with the Food of Heaven may always hunger after this Bread which truly makes us live. Through Our Lord . . .

Commemoration of the SAINT GREGORY
O Almighty God, may the expression of our gratitude to You for all Your Gifts bring us even greater benefits, through the intercession of Your blessed confessor bishop Gregory. Through Our Lord . . .

English: Gregory Thaumaturgus Русский: Святите...
English: Gregory Thaumaturgus Русский: Святитель Григорий Чудотворец (Photo credit: Wikipedia)





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Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Cardinal assures traditionalists of Pope’s support for Extraordinary Form




The former prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy has told a traditionalist group that Pope Francis has no intention of restricting access to the Extraordinary Form of the Latin liturgy.
“I met Pope Francis very recently and he told me that he has no problem with the old rite, and neither does he have any problem with lay groups and associations like yours that promote it,” Cardinal Dario Castrillon Hoyos told members of Una Voce International (FIUV), who were in Rome for a general assembly.

Priestly Ordinations for the Franciscan Friars...
Priestly Ordinations for the Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate in Ognissanti, Florence celebrated in the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite by H.E. Franc Cardinal Rodé - The ordinands prepare for anointing. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Responding to questions from FIUV members about tensions within the Friars of the Immaculate, the Colombian cardinal said that the Pope moved to insist on the use of the Novus Ordo in that religious community only because of internal dissension, and not because of any negative judgment on the traditional liturgy.
At its general assembly, FIUV elected a new president: James Bogle, a lawyer, author, and chairman of the Catholic Union of Great Britain. “We are very grateful to His Eminence Cardinal Castrillon Hoyos, His Eminence Cardinal Brandmüller, and to Archbishop Pozzo for taking part in our General Assembly of the International Federation Una Voce,” Bogle said in a brief statement to CWN. “We are very pleased with the way the celebration of the traditional Mass is now going worldwide. We are obviously very grateful to Benedict XVI and also our present Pope Francis for all the support that they have given us in our right to worship in the traditional Roman rite.” 


From http://www.catholicculture.org/index.cfm
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Saturday, November 09, 2013

Is Latin making a comeback? Vatican launches Latin journal



English: 2008 Christmas Urbi et Orbi by Pope B...
English: 2008 Christmas Urbi et Orbi by Pope Benedict XVI, Saint Peter's Square, Vatican City. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)








                                             





Is Latin making a comeback? Vatican launches Latin journal

www.romereports.com This statement revolutionized the Vatican and the modern-day Papacy. But since Benedict XVI spoke in Latin, even some cardinals had a hard time understanding his announcement.













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Friday, November 08, 2013

Octave Day of All Saints, Four Crowned Martyrs, Blessed Elizabeth of the Trinity




OCTAVE DAY OF ALL SAINTS



SIMPLE / RED

This is the name given to four fourth-century martyred brothers -- Severus, Severian, Carpophorus, and Victorinus. A tradition holds that they were stonemasons, and as such they were held in high honor by medieval masonry guilds.

The Mass of SEVERAL MARTYRS, except

COLLECT
O Almighty God, we pay honor to the bravery of Your glorious martyrs in bearing witness to You. Grant that we may feel the power of their intercession with You. Through Our Lord . . .

EPISTLE Heb. 11:33-39
Brethren: The saints by faith conquered kingdoms, wrought justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, recovered strength from weakness, became valiant in battle, put to flight the armies of foreigners. Women received their dead raised to life again. But others were racked, not accepting deliverance, that they might find a better resurrection. And others had trial of mockeries and stripes: moreover also of bands and prisons. They were stoned, they were cut asunder, they were tempted, they were put to death by the sword, they wandered about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being in want, distressed, afflicted: Of whom the world was not worthy: wandering in deserts, in mountains and in dens and in caves of the earth. And all these, being approved by the testimony of faith, in Christ Jesus our Lord.

GOSPEL Matt. 5:1-12
At that time, Jesus, seeing the multitudes, went up into a mountain, and when he was set down, his disciples came unto him. And opening his mouth he taught them, saying:
"Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. "Blessed are the meek: for they shall possess the land.
"Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
"Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after justice: for they shall have their fill.
"Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
"Blessed are the clean of heart: they shall see God.
"Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
"Blessed are they that suffer persecution for justice' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
"Blessed are ye when they shall revile you, and persecute you, and speak all that is evil against you, untruly, for my sake: Be glad and rejoice for your reward is very great in heaven."

SECRET
May the prayers of Your holy martyrs bring us Your bountiful blessings, O Lord, so that our gifts may be pleasing to you and be a means of grace for our redemption. Through Our Lord . . .

POSTCOMMUNION
You have comforted us by Your Sacraments, O Lord, and filled us with the joy of Heaven. May Your saints defend us, even as we glory in their own victory. Through Our Lord . . .


1880 - 1906
November 8
Also known as: Elizabeth Catez

Profile
Daughter of Captain Joseph Catez and Marie Catez. Her father died when she was seven, leaving her mother to raise Elizabeth and her sister Marguerite. Noted as a lively, popular girl, extremely stubborn, given to fits of rage, with great reverence for God, and an early attraction to a life of prayer and reflection. Gifted pianist. Visited the sick and taught catechism to children.

Much against her mother's wishes, she entered the Discalced Carmelite monastery in Dijon, France on 2 August 1901. Though noted for great spiritual growth, she was also plagued with periods of powerful darkness, and her spiritual director expressed doubts over Elizabeth's vocation. She completed her noviate, and took her final vows on 11 January 1903. She became a spiritual director for many, and left a legacy of letters and retreat guides.

Born: Sunday 18 July 1880 in a military camp in the diocese of Bourges, France as Elizabeth Catez

Died: 9 November 1906 of Addison's disease, a hormone disorder whose side effects are painful and exhausting; her dying words: I am going to Light, to Love, to Life!

Beatified: 25 November 1984 by Pope John Paul II

Canonized: pending

Patronage
bodily ills, illness, loss of parents, sick people, sickness

Readings
I think that in Heaven my mission will be to draw souls by helping them to go out of themselves in order to cling to God by a wholly simple and loving movement, and to keep them in this great silence within which will allow God to communicate Himself to them and to transform them into Himself.

-Saint Elizabeth of the Trinity
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Make a little cell in your heart for Jesus of the Agony; take refuge there, when you hear Him outraged by men, try to make reparation; you, at least, love Him and keep your heart quite pure for Him. Oh! If you only knew how the good God love pure hearts! It is there that He loves to reign.

-Saint Elizabeth of the Trinity
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Wednesday, November 06, 2013

Special Report: Local Catholics revert to the Latin Mass -

Special Report: Local Catholics revert to the Latin Mass - 12 News KBMT and K-JAC. News, Weather and Sports for SE Texas


 
There is a movement among conservative Catholics worldwide to revert to the Latin mass.
It's a move that is happening right here in southeast Texas.
Parishioners at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Vidor are going back to the beginning; going back to Catholicism roots which originated in the 16th century.


View video and Read more here: http://www.12newsnow.com/story/23892517/special-report-local-catholics-revert-to-the-latin-mass

Monday, November 04, 2013

Some thoughts on Holy Innocents, Manhattan | Fr. Z's Blog

Some thoughts on Holy Innocents, Manhattan | Fr. Z's Blog

Let me tell you a little about Holy Innocents Church in Manhattan.
I have written about the place many times but usually from the point of view of their upcoming Masses and events.  It has also been my honor to be celebrant there sometimes.
On this trip however, I had the occasion to wait for a friend for a while. I sat myself in the back of the church.  I resolved my office, said some prayers, and then watched.
There were about a dozen people in the church at any given moment.  Some were kneeling, some coming, some going.  They were of every race and, judging from their clothing, every economic level.  One homeless guy caught forty winks in a dark niche. Most people parked in a pew to pray for a while in the relative quiet.  Many of them would then rise and seek out one of the many statues or shrines of saints or our Lord or Lady in the church.  One frequented point for pious prayer is a statue of Our Lord, dead, after being deposed from the Cross.
20131104-084024.jpg
There was a steady stream to this image, placed at about hip level.
Person after person went over to Him and stood and gazed at His Body.   Sometimes they reached out to touch His wounds.
20131104-084032.jpg
I saw one particularly tough looking hombre, whom life was clearly riding pretty hard, go over to the shrine and stand and gaze.
20131104-084042.jpg
He then reached out and stroked the Lord’s head, as if smoothing His hair.   He put his hand on His hand.
He bent down and kissed His feet.
20131104-084049.jpg
There was a constant stream of people in and out of the church, one after another, each with their private cares and prayers.
They just sit.  They pray.  They light candles.  They visit the statues and images.  They kneel at the altar rail close to the Blessed Sacrament.  They go on their way, with their shopping bags or brief cases or back packs.
In my reading about Pope Francis, Papa Bergoglio, I learned that he has an interest in a theology which stems from the popular devotion that people have without straying into the dangerous morass of Marxism, which infects Liberation theology.  I wonder if what I was watching in Holy Innocents didn’t have something to do with that theological line.  I shall have to drill into these more in the future.  But I digress.
This church is in a great location for many people who pass through midtown Manhattan. It is close to subway stops, in the Garment District.  There are Masses at convenient times.  Every day of the week there are TLM’s, often Sung Masses.  I am told that there are on average three or four Sung Masses a week!  There are, as a matter of fact, often Solemn Masses. The quality of the music is amazing.  the Masses are often polyphonic as well as in Gregorian chant.   There is Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament during the afternoon and Benediction before the evening Mass.   On Sunday there are Rosary, Vespers in Gregorian chant, and Benediction.
Also, since Fr. George Rutler has taken charge of the place, one of the old confessionals that had been used as a storage closet has been reclaimed as a confessional!  Confessions are being heard there even more often now, before Masses and sometimes during (as is recommended by the Congregation for Divine Worship).
If you are ever in Manhattan, I recommend that you plan a stop, especially for Mass.
This parish is an example of how the use of the older form, the Extraordinary Form, and the hard, sometimes backbreaking work, the very-much thankless work, of a dedicated core group of lay people, transfused life and activity back into a tired church where demographics shifts had all but euthanized its life.
This, friends, is the New Evangelization.  All the fancy talk about this committee or that program or this or that poster isn’t going to get it done on its own.
The devotion and piety of the people coming and going was a powerful witness to what we need to reclaim.  Churches have to be places where people can go to “be devout”, to feel themselves in the company of the saints and angels, to be with the Lord in private moments.  The images and statues are important.  They can’t be too abstract or heady or intellectualized.  They have to be accessible.  So too with the architecture.
It’s not rocket science.  There are a lot of parishes out there, especially inner city parishes, which are in trouble.  These parishes often have beautiful churches that, for various reasons, are languishing.
Why not try something different with these parishes?  Why not try something new/old?   Why not implement the older, traditional form of sacred worship in these places?  What is there to lose?  A place such as St. John Cantius in Chicago revived by emphasizing its ethnic origins and implementing excellent liturgical worship in both the Ordinary and Extraordinary Form.  Holy Innocents is making a go of it.

Sunday, November 03, 2013

24th SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST; WITHIN THE OCTAVE


TWENTY-FORTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
WITHIN THE OCTAVE

DOUBLE / GREEN
INTROIT Jer. 29:11, 12, 14
Said the Lord: "I think thoughts of peace and not of affliction. You shall call upon Me and I will hear you, and I will bring you back from captivity from all places."
Ps. 84:2. Lord, You have blessed Your land; You have restored Jacob from captivity.
V. Glory be . . .

COLLECT
O God, You Who know that our human frailty cannot stand fast against the great dangers that beset us; grant us health of mind and body, that with Your help, we may overcome what we suffer on account of our sins.
Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end.
R. Amen.


EPISTLE Rom. 13: 8-10
Brethren: Owe no man any thing, but to love one another. For he that loveth his neighbour hath fulfilled the law. For: Thou shalt not commit adultery: Thou shalt not kill: Thou shalt not steal: Thou shalt not bear false witness: Thou shalt not covet. And if there be any other commandment, it is comprised in this word: Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. The love of our neighbour worketh no evil. Love therefore is the fulfilling of the law.

GRADUAL Ps. 43:8-9
You have freed us from those who afflict us, O Lord, and You have put to shame those who hate us. V. In God we will glory all the day, and praise Your name forever.

Alleluia, alleluia! Ps. 129:1-2
V. Out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord; Lord, hear my prayer!
Alleluia!

GOSPEL Matt. 8:23-27
At that time, Jesus entered into the boat, and his disciples followed him: And behold a great tempest arose in the sea, so that the boat was covered with waves, but he was asleep. And they came to him, and awaked him, saying: "Lord, save us, we perish." And Jesus saith to them: "Why are you fearful, O ye of little faith?" Then rising up, he commanded the winds, and the sea, and there came a great calm. But the men wondered, saying: "What manner of man is this, for the winds and the sea obey him?"

OFFERTORY ANTIPHONN Ps. 129:1-2
OUT OF THE DEPTHS I cry to You, O Lord; Lord, hear my prayer, out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord.

SECRET
Almighty God, grant that our sacrificial offering may cleanse and protect out frail nature from all evil. Through our Lord . . .

COMMUNION ANTIPHON Mark 11:24
AMEN I say to you, all things whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you shall receive, and they shall come to you.

POSTCOMMUNION
May this gift draw us away from earthly pleasures, O God, and may the nourishment we receive from this Bread of Heaven fill us always with new strength. Through our Lord . . .