Just Too Cool: Options for Divine Office sung in Gregorian chant – ONLINE | From Fr. Z's Blog – What Does The Prayer Really Say?

Just Too Cool: Options for Divine Office sung in Gregorian chant – ONLINE | Fr. Z's Blog – What Does The Prayer Really Say?

There are times when as I work or drive or walk I listen to the Office sung by Benedictine monks.

For those of you who would like to get to know more about Gregorian chant, or start a schola, I recommend the same.

There are a couple good options.  The monks of Le Barroux, in France, and the monks at Norcia, in Italy (we like them – they make beer!).

The monks at Le Barroux are among the best singers of chant I have ever heard.  The monks at Norcia are easier to understand, because of their acoustics, though they are a bit rougher and readier.

What I like about both of them is that they sing like men.  There is a virile quality to their chant and it is not pretentious or overly scientific.  They get that the texts are prayer and that prayer is language.  Thus, they have a natural quality that I find helpful.

Le Barroux streams live on their website, which isn’t very convenient for people in other time zones.  A nice fellow set up a site to capture their streams and make them available on demand.  THANKS!  You can also subscribe to the hours as a podcast. They only stream Prime, Sext (followed by the Angelus), Vespers and Compline.  The Norcia monks generally provide us with Lauds, Mass and Vespers on a regular basis.  Their feed is HERE.  Sometimes they have Compline and Prime.  They can be a bit spotty with posting their hours and I have had a troubles downloading on some days.

NOTA BENE: Sext and Le Barroux amused me today.  Perhaps you who have been parents can affirm or comment… if you listen the recording HERE.  There must have been some visitors to their abbey during Sext, including a baby.

QUAERITUR: Tell if you agree or not, but, toward the end, is the baby singing with the monks?

It seems to me that these monks, by streaming their hours, are using well the tools of social communication which are readily available these days.  They are, therefore, offering people a tool for – in my opinion – the New Evangelization.

This is part of who we are as Catholics.  We have to know this form or worship and rebuild it everywhere.  It is the Church’s preferred music for worship.  It is our patrimony.

[Video] Cardinal Burke’s Candid Interview On The Society of St. Pius X

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Cardinal Burke's Candid Interview On The Society of St. Pius X   Cardinal Burke Reveals the Struggle Society Will Have Praises the Efforts of Pope Benedict XVI Expressing Hope For the Reunification   Subscriber Note:  This is a video, please click HERE to watch. http://www.gloria.tv/?media=315454   Please say a quick prayer right now for the reunification. Thanks and God bless!

Saint Martha

Martyrdom of Sts. Simplicius & Faustinus

NINTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

SAINT MARTHA, Virgin

SAINTS FELIX, SIMPLICIUS, FAUSTINUS,
AND BEATRICE, Martyrs

DOUBLE / GREEN
INTROIT Ps. 53:6-7
Behold, God is my helper, and the Lord is the support of my soul. Turn back the evils upon my enemies, and in Your faithfulness to us disperse them, O Lord my protector.
Ps. 53:3. O God, by Your name save me, and by Your might deliver me.
V. Glory be . . .

COLLECT
O Lord, let mercy attune Your ear to the prayers of Your people calling upon You. May they ask only what is pleasing to You, so that their requests may always be heard. Through our Lord . . .

Commemoration of SAINT MARTHA
Martha was the active and anxious sister of Lazarus, whom Jesus raised from the dead, and Mary, the contemplative, whom the Lord said "has chosen the best part." [Luke 10:42]

Hear our prayer, O God our Saviour, and let us learn the spirit of true devotion from Your blessed virgin Martha, as we joyfully celebrate her feast.

Commemoration of SAINTS FELIX, SIMPLICIUS, FAUSTINUS, AND BEATRICE
Pope Felix II was martyred in Tuscany, Italy, in the fourth century. The brothers Simplicius and Faustinus and their sister, Beatrice, gave their lives for Christ at Rome, A.D. 303.

O Lord, all Christian nations joyfully unite today to celebrate the feast of your martyrs Felix, Simplicius, Faustinus, and Beatrice. Grant that the faithful may rejoice in it through all eternity and share the triumph of Your saints which they commemorate. Through our Lord . . .

EPISTLE I Cor. 10:6-13
Brethren: These things were done in a figure of us, that we should not covet evil things, as they also coveted. Neither become ye idolaters, as some of them, as it is written: "The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play." Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them that committed fornication: and there fell in one day three and twenty thousand. Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them tempted and perished by the serpent. Neither do you murmur, as some of them murmured and were destroyed by the destroyer. Now all these things happened to them in figure: and they are written for our correction, upon whom the ends of the world are come. Wherefore, he that thinketh himself to stand, let him take heed lest he fall. Let no temptation take hold on you, but such as is human. And God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that which you are able: but will make also with temptation issue, that you may be able to bear it.

GRADUAL Ps. 8:2
O Lord our Lord, how glorious is Your name over all the earth!
V. For Your splendor is exalted above the heavens.

Alleluia, alleluia! V. Ps. 58:2
Rescue me from my enemies, O my God, and defend me from my adversaries. Alleluia!

GOSPEL Luke 19:41-47
At that time, when Jesus drew near to Jerusalem, seeing the city, he wept over it, saying: "If thou also hadst known, and that in this thy day, the things that are to thy peace: but now they are hidden from thy eyes. For the days shall come upon thee: and thy enemies shall cast a trench about thee and compass thee round and straiten thee on every side, And beat thee flat to the ground, and thy children who are in thee. And they shall not leave in thee a stone upon a stone: because thou hast not known the time of thy visitation." And entering into the temple, he began to cast out them that sold therein and them that bought. Saying to them: "It is written: 'My house is the house of prayer.' But you have made it a den of thieves." And he was teaching daily in the temple.

OFFERTORY ANTIPHON Ps. 18:9, 10, 11, 12
The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart, and His judgments are sweeter than honey and the honeycomb; for Your servant observes them.

SECRET

May we celebrate these sacred rites worthily, O Lord, for each offering of this memorial Sacrifice carries on the work of our redemption. Through our Lord . . .

Commemoration of SAINT MARTHA
Accept this gift, O Lord, from a people dedicated to You. We offer it in honor of Your saints for the help we have received from them when we were in trouble.

Commemoration of SAINTS FELIX, SIMPICIUS, FAUSTINUS, AND BEATRICE
We offer our gifts, O Lord, in memory of Your holy martyrs Felix, Simplicius, Faustinus, and Beatrice, and pray that they may obtain forgiveness and salvation for us. Through our Lord . . .

COMMUNION ANTIPHON John 6:57
"He who eats My flesh, and drinks My blood, abides in Me and I in him," said the Lord.

POSTCOMMUNION
O Lord, may the reception of Your Blessed Sacrament cleanse us from sin and unite us all in You. Through our Lord . . .

Commemoration of SAINT MARTHA
O Lord, You have feasted Your family with the Food of Heaven. may we always be refreshed through the intercession of Your saint whose feast we celebrate this day.

Commemoration of SAINTS FELIX, SIMPLICIUS, FAUSTINUS, AND BEATRICE
We ask, Almighty God, that the celebration of this heavenly Sacrifice on the feast of Your martyrs Felix, Simplicius, Faustinus, and Beatrice, may bring us Your merciful pardon. Through our Lord . . .

ST. PIUS X AND THE OLYMPIC GAMES

Pius X - hand coloured glass slide (Photo credit: Marc (alias willy whopper))

LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 27: Part of the 2012 Olympic Games 'Games time' uniform hangs in a cubicle at a Uniform distribution and accreditation centre, UDAC, on April 27, 2012 in London, England. 

Vatican City, 27 July 2012 (VIS) - It was 1908 when, in the wake of a serious economic crisis, Rome renounced hosting the Olympic Games which were eventually celebrated in London, England. In the same year Pierre de Coubertin, the founder of the modern Olympics, sought help from the Vatican to support the Games, and Pope St. Pius X in person offered him his support.

More than one hundred years later, the British capital is hosting the Olympic Games for the third time. The event is due to open this evening.

That moment at the beginning of the twentieth century is described in a book entitled "Pio X e lo sport" by Antonella Stelitano. At that time "less than one per cent of the population practised any sporting activity, ... and sport was used only as a form of military training or as a pastime for the upper classes", the author explained in an interview with Vatican Radio.

However "St. Pius X ... was aware of the educational potential of sport". He saw it as a way "to approach young people, and to bring them together while following certain rules and showing respect for adversaries. I believe", the author explained, "that he understood that it was possible to bring people together simply, without any problems of race, religion or differing political ideas".

At that time in history many people did not understand the importance of exercise, said Antonella Stelitano who concluded her interview by recalling an anecdote whereby Pius X told one of his cardinals: "All right, if it is impossible to understand that this can be done, then I myself will do exercise in front of everyone so that they may see that, if the Pope can do it, anyone can do it".

THE HOURS OF OUR LADY #23

We continue with our posting of the Introduction to The Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary:

 

(The translation of the Psalms and the brief introductory comments on the Psalms of this Little Office of the Blessed Virgin are taken largely from: The Psalms and Canticles by George O'Neill, S.J. [Bruce Publishing Co. 1937.] The late Father O'Neill's work has long been out of print.)

[Continued]

INTRODUCTION

 

"Those who attack the Psalmist, or those who oppress the chosen people of old, are but types of those who persecute the Chosen One of God, whilst He was on earth in the flesh, figures of all the powers of evil opposed to God's spiritual Kingdom and harassing the individual soul struggling for sanctity, in all ages." 

(Simon, O.S.M., Scripture Manual).

 

[To be continued]

 

Pius X Society will give Vatican final decision 'very soon' :: Catholic News Agency (CNA)

Pius X Society will give Vatican final decision 'very soon' :: Catholic News Agency (CNA)

Bishop Bernard Fellay.

Rome, Italy, Jul 17, 2012 / 11:31 am (CNA/EWTN News).- The head of the Society of St. Pius X says the breakaway traditionalist group is on the verge of giving a definitive response to the Vatican’s offer of re-unification.

“All ambiguity has now been resolved among us. Very soon we will convey to Rome the position of the Chapter,” Bishop Bernard Fellay said July 16, following the conclusion of the society’s general chapter in Econe, Switzerland.

The society has spent the past month considering a June 13 offer from the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith that would give the traditionalist group personal prelature status within the Church.

A personal prelature is a Church jurisdiction without geographical boundaries designed to carry out particular pastoral initiatives. At present, the only personal prelature in the Church is Opus Dei.

In return, the society would have to agree to certain doctrinal statements, including, it is presumed, an acceptance of the documents of the Second Vatican Council.

Bishop Fellay said all the documentation relating to his Vatican negotiations was put before the Society’s General Chapter between July 9 and 14. The gathering brought together the 40 most senior figures in the organization to decide on Rome’s offer.

“This made it possible for us to conduct direct discussions which have cleared out the doubts and dissipated any misunderstandings, resulting in peace and unity of hearts, which of course is something to rejoice about,” he said.

The July 2 appointment of Bishop Gerhard Muller as the new Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith seems to have become a significant stumbling block for Bishop Fellay. He believes the former bishop of Regensburg “does not like” the society, which has a seminary in the bishop’s former diocese, and said that he treated them “like lepers” even after Pope Benedict XVI lifted the excommunication on the society’s four bishops in 2009.

“He is the one who stated that our seminary should be closed and that our students should go to the seminaries of their dioceses of origin, adding bluntly that ‘the four bishops of the SSPX should resign,’” recalled Bishop Fellay.

The Society of St. Pius X was founded in 1970 by the Frenchman Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre in response to errors he believed had crept into the Catholic Church following the Second Vatican Council.

The society has had a strained relationship with the Church since its founder ordained four bishops against the will of Pope John Paul II in 1988.

This is Great! The Latin Mass Explained by a Young Lady [Video] http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=ZDb8LNJ_NB4

Young lady on YouTube evangelizing like a champ, explaining the … Traditional Latin Mass!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=ZDb8LNJ_NB4

Brief SSPX statement on talks with Holy See

Brief SSPX statement on talks with Holy See : News Headlines - Catholic Culture

The Society of St. Pius X has issued a brief statement on the discussions between the Holy See and Bishop Bernard Fellay, its superior general.

“The General Chapter of the Society of St. Pius X opened Monday, July 9, 2012, at the seminary of Econe (Switzerland), and will continue until Saturday, July 14,” the statement noted. “In the present context, following the response of Cardinal William Levada, Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, on June 14, 2012, this chapter will permit the Superior General, Bishop Bernard Fellay, to make known the state of relations of the Society of St. Pius X with Rome, and obtain feedback from the capitularies on this subject.”

“Discussions are being conducted in a fraternal atmosphere, marked by cordiality.”

THE HOURS OF OUR LADY #22

We continue with our posting of the Introduction to The Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary:

 

(The translation of the Psalms and the brief introductory comments on the Psalms of this Little Office of the Blessed Virgin are taken largely from: The Psalms and Canticles by George O'Neill, S.J. [Bruce Publishing Co. 1937.] The late Father O'Neill's work has long been out of print.)

[Continued]

INTRODUCTION

 

"The Messianic Psalms, picturing the God-Man and His redemptive office, show the means by which the gap between the Divinity and the world by sin, is eventually closed and the original oneness of man with God is reestablished. Moreover, it is to be noted that, even in Psalms not strictly to be termed Messianic, the speaker or man placed face to face with God is frequently personified as the ideal Servant of Yahweh (God), the Messias, as the destined representative of mankind before its heavenly Father. Thus the Psalmist often speaks in the name of Christ, or at least in terms that may readily be placed in the Saviour's mouth." 

(Simon, Scripture Manual).

 Pope Pius X in the Vatican Gardens

Hence Pius X in his Constitution, Divino Afflatu says: "Who will not be inflamed with love for the carefully foreshadowed figure of Christ our Blessed Redeemer, whose voice St. Augustine heard in all the Psalms either singing or sighing or rejoicing in hope or mourning in present sorrow?" 

[To be continued]

 

Traditional Wedding Mass in 1959 [Video]

A Nuptial Mass in 1959:
We were married in 1961 at Immaculate Conception church in New York and it was a very private wedding, but this video brought back a lot of memories of that Sacred Liturgy and I thought you would like to view how a marriage was celebrated in those days before the changes.
God bless+