Guide to having a Funeral in the Old Rite

LMS Chairman: Guide to having a Funeral in the Old Rite

Requiem for Christopher Inman, former Chairman of the Latin Mass Society, in Spanish Place

Do you know anyone who would like to ensure they get a traditional funeral when they die? Do you think you may have to help organize such a funeral for anyone? The Latin Mass Society has just put together some excellent resources to help you. The page about it on the website is here.

From http://www.lmschairman.org/

The Vigil of Christmas

THE VIGIL OF CHRISTMAS

PRIVILEGED VIGIL / PURPLE
All Advent seems concentrated on the Vigil Mass. All the desires and hopes of men point to this night of miraculous birth. "This day . . . the Lord will come." He is to be welcomed as Saviour and King; but also with the awareness that He is our Judge. The Gospel and Epistle are filled with the deep mystery of the divine and human in the Saviour. Both the name that Joseph was to give Him and the vocation of the Apostle Paul, tell us that the Saviour we possess is meant for all nations.

INTROIT Ex. 16:6-7
This day you shall know that the Lord will come and save us; and in the morning you shall see His glory.
Ps. 23:1. The earth and its fullness is the Lord's; the world and all those who dwell therein.
V. Glory be . . .

COLLECT
O God, who each year makes us happy with the anticipation of our redemption, grant that as we now joyfully welcome Your only-begotten Son as our Redeemer, we may also look with confidence on the same Jesus Christ, Your Son our Lord, when He comes as judge; who lives and rules with You . . .

EPISTLE Rom. 1:1-6
Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God. Which he had promised before, by his prophets, in the holy scriptures, Concerning his Son, who was made to him of the seed of David, according to the flesh, Who was predestinated the Son of God in power, according to the spirit of sanctification, by the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ from the dead: By whom we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith, in all nations, for his name: Among whom are you also the called of Jesus Christ.

GRADUAL Ex. 16:6, 7; Ps. 79:2-3
This day you shall know that the Lord will come and save us; and in the morning you shall see His glory.
V. Take heed, You who rule Israel, You who are shepherd over Joseph. You who are enthroned above the Cherubim, reveal Yourself to Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasses.

Alleluia, alleluia! V.
Tomorrow the sinfulness of the earth shall be blotted out, and the Saviour of the world shall rule over us. Alleluia!

GOSPEL Matt. 1:18-21
When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child, of the Holy Ghost. Whereupon Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing publicly to expose her, was minded to put her away privately. But while he thought on these things, behold the Angel of the Lord appeared to him in his sleep, saying: "Joseph, son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife, for that which is conceived in her, is of the Holy Ghost.
And she shall bring forth a son: and thou shalt call his name Jesus. For he shall save his people from their sins."

OFFERTORY ANTIPHON Ps. 23:7
Lift up your gates, O princes, and be lifted up, O eternal gates, and the king of glory shall enter in.

SECRET
O Almighty God, we eagerly look forward to the adorable birthday of Your Son; grant that we may also receive His everlasting gifts with joy; who lives and rules with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever.

Preface for Weekdays is said

COMMUNION ANTIPHON Isa. 40:5
The glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all men shall see the salvation of God.

POSTCOMMUNION
O Lord, grant us new life as we celebrate the birthday of Your only-begotten Son, for His heavenly rite is our food and drink. Through the same Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and rules with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever.

SAINT FRANCES XAVIER CABRINI; SAINT SERVULUS; December 23rd Day Advent Week Four

Mother Cabrini in 1880

SAINT FRANCES XAVIER CABRINI
Virgin
[Transferred from 12/22] 

In All Dioceses of the United States

DOUBLE, SECOND CLASS / WHITE
From childhood Frances Cabrini desired to become a missionary for Christ. After some unsuccessful starts, she founded the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Codogna, Italy; and in 1889 at the urging of Pope Leo XIII, she accepted the invitation of New York's Archbishop Corrigan to work among the numerous Italian immigrants of that era. Mother Cabrini founded orphanages, schools, and hospitals all over the United States, and extended her institute to Central and South America, France, Spain, and England. Everywhere her work succeeded only through her unbounded trust in God's providence. Though always in poor health, she traveled constantly, crossing the Atlantic 25 times in spite of a great fear of ocean voyages. A naturalized citizen of the United States, Mother Cabrini died in 1917 in the convent of her great hospital in Chicago, and was canonized in 1946, the first American citizen-saint.

Cabrini Shrine. Image via Wikipedia

The chapel of the high school in Fort Washington, New York, where her body is enshrined, is a place of pilgrimage.


INTROIT Ps. 72:24
You have held me by my right hand, and guided me by Your counsel, and in the end You have received me in glory. 
Ps. 72:1. How good God is to Israel, to those whose hearts are upright.
V. Glory be . . .

COLLECT
O Lord, Jesus Christ, You enkindled the fire of Your Sacred Heart in the holy virgin Frances Xavier so that she might win souls for You in many lands, and establish a new religious congregation of women in Your Church. Grant that we too may imitate the virtues of Your Sacred Heart through her intercession, so that we may be worthy of the haven of eternal happiness, who lives and rules with God the Father . . .

Commemoration of the preceding SUNDAY 

EPISTLE I Cor. 1:26-31
Brethren: For see your vocation, brethren, that there are not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble. But the foolish things of the world hath God chosen, that he may confound the "wise": and the weak things of the world hath God chosen, that he may confound the strong. And the base things of the world and the things that are contemptible, hath God chosen: and things that are not, that he might bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his sight. But of him are you in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom and justice and sanctification and redemption: That, as it is written: "He that glorieth may glory in the Lord."

GRADUAL Ps. 17:33-34
God has girded me with strength and made my way sinless. 
V. He has made my feet swift as those of a stag and set me on the heights.

Alleluia, alleluia! V. I Cor. 9:22
I became all things to all men, that I might save all.
Alleluia!

GOSPEL Matt. 11:25-30
At that time Jesus answered and said: "I confess to thee, O Father, Lord of Heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them to little ones. Yea, Father: for so hath it seemed good in thy sight. All things are delivered to Me by My Father. And no one knoweth the Son but the Father: neither doth any one know the Father, but the Son, and he to whom it shall please the Son to reveal him. Come to Me all you that labor and are burdened, and I will refresh you. Take up My yoke upon you, and learn of Me, because I am meek, and humble of heart: And you shall find rest to your souls. For My yoke is sweet and My burden light."

OFFERTORY ANTIPHON Ps. 72:28
It is good for me to hold fast to God, to put my hope in the Lord God, that I may proclaim all Your praises at the gates of the daughter of Sion.

SECRET 
Accept our offerings in honor of the holy virgin Frances Xavier, O Lord, and grant that we too may imitate the Sacred Heart of Your Son and make ourselves an acceptable sacrifice to You. Through the same Jesus Christ . . .

Commemoration of the preceding Sunday 

COMMUNION ANTIPHON Matt. 11:28
Come to Me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.

POSTCOMMUNION 
From the fullness of the Sacred Heart of Your beloved Son, O God, You have bestowed heavenly gifts upon us. Grant that we may follow Saint Frances Xavier's example and seek the glory of Your Son so that we may attain to the rewards of His kingdom; who lives and rules with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever.

Commemoration of the preceding Sunday

ST. SERVULUS

Begger 590 A.D.

[Historical]

ST. SERVULUS was a beggar, and had been so afflicted with palsy from his infancy that he was never able to stand, sit upright, lift his hand to his mouth, or turn himself from one side to another. His mother and brother carried him into the porch of St. Clement's church at Rome, where he lived on the alms of those that passed by. He used to entreat devout persons to read the Holy Scriptures to him, which he heard with such attention as to learn them by heart. His time he consecrated by assiduously singing hymns of praise and thanksgiving to God. After several years thus spent, his distemper having seized his vitals, he felt his end was drawing nigh. In his last moments he desired the poor and pilgrims, who had often shared in his charity to sing sacred hymns and psalms for him. Whilst he joined his voice with theirs, he on a sudden cried out: "Silence; do you not hear the sweet melody and praise which resound in the heavens?" Soon after he spoke these words he expired, and his soul was carried by angels into everlasting bliss, about the year 590.

Angelis - Pie Jesu (Latin & English Lyrics)

It's been over 4 months now since my wife Marianne's passing from this life! When I saw this  short video it made my heart skip a beat as I remember her, especially during this Advent Season, as we prepare to celebrate Christ's Birth. I hope to be with some of our family in New York on Christmas Day (weather permitting). God bless+ us all!
Deacon John

  

December 19th Ferial Day Advent Week Three

Image by Christopher.M. via Flickr

Image by porziuncola via Flickr

FERIAL DAY

[Mass from Preceding Sunday]

Saint Damasus, Pope and Confessor

SAINT DAMASUS
Pope and Confessor

WITHIN THE OCTAVE

SIMPLE / WHITE
The Spaniard Damasus was pope from 366 to 384. During his reign he had to contend with an antipope at Rome, schism at Antioch, Constantinople, and Sardinia, and Arian heresy over the whole Empire. St. Jerome, whom he commissioned to prepare the Vulgatetranslation of the Bible, calls him "an incomparable person, learned in the Scriptures, a virgin doctor of the virgin Church, who loved chastity and heard its praise with pleasure." Pope Damasus had great veneration for the Christian martyrs, wrote many of the epitaphs for their tombs, and out of humility, would not allow himself to be buried among his martyred predecessors.

Octave Mass (Mass of the Immaculate Conception), with the following commemoration of SAINT DAMASUS

COLLECT
O Eternal Shepherd, who appointed blessed Damasus shepherd of the whole Church, let the prayers of this confessor and supreme pontiff move You to look with favor upon Your flock and to keep it under Your continual protection. Through Our Lord . . .

SECRET 
We have offered our gifts to You, O Lord. Let Your light graciously shine upon Your Church, so that this flock may everywhere prosper, and its pastors, under Your guidance, may be truly pleasing to You. Through Our Lord . . .

POSTCOMMUNION 
O Lord, govern the Church, which You have been pleased to nourish with Your heavenly Food. Guide her by Your powerful direction, so that she may enjoy greater freedom and remain unshaken in the fullness of faith. Through Our Lord . . .

SAINT AMBROSE

SAINT AMBROSE

Bishop and Doctor of the Church

VIGIL OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION

DOUBLE / WHITE
Ambrose was Roman governor of northern Italy and still a catechumen when a popular assembly chose him to be bishop of Milan in 374. After his baptism and episcopal consecration he fearlessly resisted the encroachment of civil authorities and defended the Faith against contemporary heretics backed by successive Emperors. Ambrose was a great preacher; many of his sermons and hymns have enriched our Liturgy. He is also responsible for the "Ambrosian Rite," still used in Milan. The most illustrious of his converts was St. Augustine. According to an ancient tradition, when St. Augustine was baptized, he and St. Ambrose composed together the Te Deum, now the solemn hymn of thanksgiving of the Universal Church.

INTROIT Eccli. 15:5

In the gathering of the Church the Lord opened his mouth and filled him with the spirit of wisdom and understanding, and clothed him with a robe of glory. 
Ps. 91:2. It is good to praise the Lord, and to sing to Your name, O Most High.
V. Glory be . . .

COLLECT

O God, may blessed Ambrose intercede for us in heaven as he once instructed Your faithful on earth and directed them in the way of eternal salvation. Through Our Lord . . .

Commemoration of the preceding Sunday

EPISTLE II Tim. 4:1-8

Beloved: I charge thee, before God and Jesus Christ, who shall judge the living and the dead, by his coming and his kingdom: Preach the word: be instant in season, out of season: reprove, entreat, rebuke in all patience and doctrine. For there shall be a time when they will not endure sound doctrine but, according to their own desires, they will heap to themselves teachers having itching ears: And will indeed turn away their hearing from the truth, but will be turned unto fables. But be thou vigilant, labor in all things, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill thy ministry. Be sober.
For I am even now ready to be sacrificed: and the time of my dissolution is at hand. I have fought a good fight: I have finished my course: I have kept the faith. As to the rest, there is laid up for me a crown of justice which the Lord the just judge will render to me in that day: and not only to me, but to them also that love his coming. 

GRADUAL Eccli. 44:16, 20

Behold a great priest, who pleased God in his life. 
V. There was none found the like to him, who kept the law of the Most High.

Alleluia, alleluia! V. Ps. 109:4

The Lord has sworn and He will not repent: "You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchisedech."

Alleluia!

GOSPEL Matt. 5:13-19

At that time, Jesus said to His disciples: "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt lose its savor, wherewith shall it be salted? It is good for nothing anymore but to be cast out, and to be trodden on by men. You are the light of the world. A city seated on a mountain cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle and put it under a bushel, but upon a candlestick, that it may shine to all that are in the house. So let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. Do not think that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets. I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. For amen I say unto you, till heaven and earth pass, one jot, or one tittle shall not pass of the law, till all be fulfilled. He therefore that shall break one of these least commandments, and shall so teach men shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven. But he that shall do and teach, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven."

OFFERTORY ANTIPHON Ps. 88:25

My truth and My mercy shall be with him; and in My name shall his power be exalted.

SECRET

Almighty and eternal God, grant that the gifts we have offered to Your divine majesty may aid our salvation through the intercession of the blessed confessor bishop Ambrose. Through Our Lord . . .

Commemoration of the preceding Sunday

COMMUNION ANTIPHON Ps. 88:36-38

Once, by My holiness, have I sworn: His posterity shall continue forever, and his throne shall be as the sun before Me, like the moon, which is forever a faithful witness in the heavens.

POSTCOMMUNION

Almighty God, grant that we who have received the Sacraments of our salvation may be helped by the prayers of Your blessed confessor bishop Ambrose, in whose honor we have today offered this Sacrifice. Through Our Lord . . .

Commemoration of the preceding Sunday

St. Ambrose Addressing the Young St. Augustine. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Traditional Latin Mass on the Feast of St. Francis Xavier | iPadre Catholic Podcasting

Traditional Latin Mass on the Feast of St. Francis Xavier | iPadre Catholic Podcasting

From Fr. Jay Finelli:

On December 3rd, I had the blessing of celebrating the first Traditional Latin Mass at Our Lady of Good Help, Mapleville, Rhode Island since the changes in 1970.  Photos taken by Marc Garrepy

[Show as slideshow]

SAINT SABBAS

SAINT SABBAS

Abbot

SIMPLE / WHITE
When Sabbas (439-532), a native of Cappadocia, was twenty years old, he became a disciple of the great solitary, St. Euthymius, in the Judean wilderness. On the death of Euthymius, Sabbas was made leader of the solitaries by the appointment of the patriarch of Jerusalem. Several times he left his loved solitude to intervene with the Emperors of the East for the liberty and welfare of the Church. Venerated for his holiness, Sabbas died on December 5, 532 A.D., at the age of 93.




Ferial Mass ( Mass of the preceding Sunday), with the following commemoration of Saint Sabbas


COLLECT
Let the Blessed abbot Sabbas intercede for us, O Lord. May his prayers win us Your help, since our own actions cannot merit it. Through Our Lord . . .


SECRET
May the offerings we lay upon Your sacred altar, O Lord, bring us closer to our salvation through the intercession of the blessed abbot Sabbas. Through Our Lord . . .


POSTCOMMUNION 
May the Sacrament we have received and the prayers of the blessed abbot Sabbas protect us, O Lord. Grant also that we may imitate the virtues of this saint who is our intercessor with You in heaven. Through Our Lord . . .

Medieval icon of Saint Sabbas the Sanctified. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Saint Peter Chrysologus, Saint Barbara

SAINT PETER CHRYSOLOGUS

Bishop and Doctor of the Church

Image via Wikipedia

SAINT BARBARA

Virgin and Martyr

DOUBLE / WHITE
Peter Chrysologus ("the man of golden speech") earned the title of Doctor of the Church for his eloquent sermons, of which some two hundred remain. Made Archbishop of Ravenna by miraculous intervention of St. Peter in 433, he rooted out all remaining traces of paganism, as well as a number of abuses among the Christians. In his sermons he strongly urged frequent Communion. He is supposed to have given us the saying: "He who wants to laugh with the devil cannot rejoice with Christ." Peter died about the year 450 in his native city of Imola.

Mass of a Doctor of the Church, except:

COLLECT
O God, You miraculously chose the blessed and illustrious doctor Peter Chrysologus to rule and instruct Your Church. Grant that he who on earth was our guide along the way of supernatural life may be our intercessor in heaven. Through Our Lord . . .

Commemoration of the FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT

Commemoration of Saint Barbara, 
One of the Auxiliary Saints, Barbara is believed to have been martyred at Nicomedia under Emperor Maximinus of Thrace, about the year 235. She is invoked for the grace of preservation from sudden death.

O God, one of the marvelous examples of Your power was granting the victory of martyrdom even to delicate womanhood. May the example of the Blessed virgin martyr Barbara, whose birthday we celebrate today, draw us closer to You. Through Our Lord . . .

SECRET
O Lord, let the blessed bishop and doctor Chrysologus always help us, and through his intercession accept our offering and pardon our sins. through our Lord . . .

Commemoration of the FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT

Commemoration of SAINT BARBARA
O Lord, accept the gifts we bring You on the feast of Your blessed virgin Barbara, through whose intercession we hope to be set free. Through our Lord . . .

POSTCOMMUNION
O Lord, may this Sacrifice bring us closer to our salvation through the intercession of Your blessed bishop and illustrious doctor Chrystologus. Through our Lord . . .

Commemoration of the FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT

Commemoration of SAINT BARBARA
O Lord, through the intercession of Your blessed virgin martyr Barbara, may we be aided by the reception of the Blessed Sacrament and rejoice in Your everlasting protection. through our Lord . . .

Saint Barbara flees from her father, by Peter Paul Rubens (c. 1620) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Saint Francis Xavier

SAINT FRANCIS XAVIER
Confessor

GREATER DOUBLE / WHITE
Francis Xavier (1506-52) was born in the Basque country of Spain. While still young he was a popular lecturer at the University of Paris. There he met Ignatius Loyola, and was professed as one of the seven pioneer Jesuits. In 1540 St. Ignatius sent his loved disciple to the Orient, saying, "Go and set all on fire." Francis Xavier first evangelized the Portuguese colony of Goa in India, then Travancore, Ceylon, Malacca, and the surrounding islands. From there he journeyed to japan, where he gave Christianity such deep roots that it survived centuries of violent persecution. He died on Sancian Island in 1552, while he was seeking to penetrate into the great forbidden land of China. The immortal fire of his love for Christ still draws missioners to high adventure for God and souls.

INTROIT Ps. 118:46-47
I spoke of Your testimonies before kings, and I was not ashamed; I meditated on Your commandments, which I loved dearly.
Ps. 116:1-2. Praise the Lord, all you nations; praise Him in unison, all you peoples! For His mercy is steadfast toward us, and the truth of the Lord endures forever.
V. Glory be . . .

COLLECT
O God, You brought the peoples of India into the fold of Your Church through the preaching and miracles of blessed Francis. Grant that we who venerate his glorious merits may also imitate his virtues. Through our Lord . . .

Commemoration of the FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT
Arise in Thy strength, we beseech Thee, O Lord, and come: from the dangers which threaten us because of our sins, be Thy presence our sure defense, be Thy deliverance our safety for evermore. Who livest and reignest, with God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen.

EPISTLE Rom. 10:10-18
For, with the heart, we believe unto justice: but, with the mouth, confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith: "Whosoever believeth in him shall not be confounded." For there is no distinction of the Jew and the Greek: for the same is Lord over all, rich unto all that call upon him. "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? Or how shall they believe him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they be sent, as it is written: "How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, of them that bring glad tidings of good things?" But all do not obey the gospel. For Isaias saith: "Lord, who hath believed our report?" Faith then cometh by hearing; and hearing by the word of Christ. But I say: Have they not heard? Yes, verily: "Their sound hath gone forth into all the earth: and their words unto the ends of the whole world."

GRADUAL Ps. 91:13, 14, 3
The just man shall flourish like the palm tree; he shall grow like a cedar of Lebanon in the house of the Lord.
V. That he may show forth Your mercy in the morning and Your truth throughout the night.

Alleluia, alleluia! V. Jac. 1:12
Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been tried, he will receive the crown of life. Alleluia!

GOSPEL Mark 16:15-18
At that time, Jesus said to them: "Go ye into the whole world and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved: but he that believeth not shall he condemned. And these signs shall follow them that believe: In my name they shall cast out devils. They shall speak with new tongues. They shall take up serpents: and if they shall drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them. They shall lay their hand upon the sick: and they shall recover."

 
OFFERTORY ANTIPHON Ps. 88:25
My truth and My mercy shall be with him; and in My name shall his power be exalted.

SECRET
Accept this offering which we humbly present in honor of Your saints, O Almighty God, and through it purify our bodies and our souls. Through our Lord . . .

Commemoration of the FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT
Let the sacred rites that we perform cleanse and purify us, O Lord, that they may bring us closer to God, who is their Author. Through our Lord . . .

COMMUNION ANTIPHON Matt. 24:46-47
Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, shall find watching. Amen I say to you, he will set him over all his goods.

POSTCOMMUNION
Almighty God, we pray that the reception of this Bread of Heaven may strengthen us against all adversity through the intercession of Your blessed confessor Francis. Through our Lord . . .

Body of Saint Francis Xavier in a silver casket of Basilica of Bom Jésus in Goa. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)