Our Lady of Prompt Succor, Saint Paul the Hermit, Saint Maurus

Old Ursulines Convent, New Orleans. Image via Wikipedia

OUR LADY OF PROMPT SUCCOR


SAINT PAUL
Hermit

SAINT MAURUS
Abbot

DOUBLE / WHITE

The original statue of Our Lady of Prompt Succor was brought from France to the pioneer Ursuline convent in New Orleans. When the British Army threatened New Orleans in 1815, the Urslines and the relatives of the American soldiers implored the help of Our Lady of prompt Succor. The subsequent American victory caused General Andrew Jackson to visit the convent to thank the Sisters for their prayers. Our Lady of Prompt Succor was later designated by Papal degree as special patroness of the State of Louisiana.

INTROIT

Let us all rejoice in the Lord as we celebrate the feast in honor of the blessed ever-Virgin Mary, upon which the angels rejoice and praise the Son of God. 
Ps. 44:2. My heart overflows with good tidings; I sing my song to the king.
V. Glory be . . .

COLLECT

O most gentle Jesus, You have entrusted the treasury of Your mercy to Your Mother Mary. May she shield us from all evil of body and soul; who lives and rules with God the Father . . .

Commemoration of SAINT PAUL
An affluent family and an excellent early education offered Paul of Egypt promise of a distinguished life in the world. He chose instead a life of renunciation alone with Christ. During 90 years he remained in the desert, absorbed in contemplation and adoration of God. Toward the close of his long dedication, he was visited by another hermit, St. Anthony of the Desert. His abiding concern for souls was expressed in an eager question to Anthony, "Does idolatry still reign in the world?" Death came to him in his 113th year, about 341, while he was on his knees.

O God, it is a joy for us to celebrate yearly the feast of Your blessed confessor Paul. May we who commemorate his birthday also imitate his example.

Commemoration of SAINT MAURUS
Maurus, sixth-century disciple of St. Benedict, helped to introduce monastic life in France, and was rewarded by God with the gift of miracles because of his heroic spirit of obedience.

Let the blessed Abbot Maurus intercede for us, O Lord. May his prayers win us Your help, since our own actions cannot merit it. Through Our Lord . . .

LESSON Eccli. 24: 23-31

As the vine I have brought forth a pleasant odour: and my flowers are the fruit of honour and riches. I am the mother of fair love, and of fear, and of knowledge, and of holy hope. In me is all grace of the way and of the truth, in me is all hope of life and of virtue. Come over to me, all ye that desire me, and be filled with my fruits. For my spirit is sweet above honey, and my inheritance above honey and the honeycomb. My memory is unto everlasting generations. They that eat me, shall yet hunger: and they that drink me, shall yet thirst. He that hearkeneth to me, shall not be confounded: and they that work by me, shall not sin. They that explain me shall have life everlasting.

GRADUAL Cant. 6:3; Judith 13:22

You are all-beautiful and sweet, O daughter of Sion; fair as the moon, bright as the sun, terrible as an army in battle array.
V. The Lord has blessed you by His power, because by you He has brought our enemies to nought.

Alleluia, alleluia! V. Luke 1:28

Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women.

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 Jer. 18:20

Remember, O Virgin Mother, to speak good things in our behalf before the face of God, so that He may turn away His anger from us.

SECRET

O Lord, through Your mercy and the intercession of the Blessed ever-Virgin Mary, let this offering bring us prosperity and peace now and forever. Through Our Lord . . .

Commemoration of SAINT PAUL
We offer You, O Lord, this Sacrifice of praise in memory of Your saints. Free us from evil now and in the future through their intercession.

Commemoration of SAINT MAURUS
May the offering we lay upon Your sacred altar, O Lord, bring us closer to our salvation through the intercession of the blessed abbot Maurus. Through our Lord . . .

COMMUNION ANTIPHON

Ever-Virgin Mary, most worthy Queen of the world, you who brought forth Christ, the Lord and Savior of all mankind, pray for our peace and safety.

POSTCOMMUNION

O Lord, help us by the prayers of Your Immaculate ever-Virgin Mother Mary. Her loving care has already brought us lasting blessings; may she shield us from all dangers and unite us in heart and mind; who lives and rules with God the Father . . .

Commemoration of SAINT PAUL
Refreshed with Heavenly Food and Drink, we humbly pray You, our God, that we may be strengthened by the prayers of the saint in whose memory we have received this Sacrament.

Commemoration of SAINT MAURUS
May the Sacrament we have received and the prayers of the blessed abbot Maurus 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 . . .

Within the Octave of Epiphany, Saint Adrian, Saints Julian & Basilissa

Saint Adrian of Canterbury

Saints Julian & Basilissa

WITHIN THE OCTAVE

SIMPLE / WHITE

The Mass of the Feast of the EPIPHANY is said.

SAINT ADRIAN OF CANTERBURY

Archbishop

(Historical)

We all know about men and women who travelled to China and Africa and South Seas Islands as missionaries, to bring the Word of Christ to these distant lands. But many centuries ago, when the Church was still young and hadn't spread to Europe, people would travel from Judea or Egypt to other lands as missionaries. Saint Adrian was born in Africa, but ended his days as a missionary to the people of England.

Saint Adrian was an Abbot of a monastery near Naples, Italy when the Archbishop of Canterbury died in 664. Pope Vitalian asked Adrian to travel to Canterbury as the next Archbishop. (Adrian was then an Abbot of a monastery near Naples.) Adrian refused, saying that he was not good enough for the job and suggested that the Pope send Saint Theodore of Tarsus instead. Saint Adrian offered to go to Canterbury as Saint Theodore's assistant.

Once they arrived in England, Theodore and Adrian went about teaching the Gospel. Most of England was still pagan, and There was much work to be done, to build the Christian Church in England. Adrian's job consisted mainly of establishing monasteries and schools. Together, they successfully spread the Christian faith in England so that it soon became a Christian country.

Saint Adrian died in the year 710. Saint Adrian's feast day is on the 9th on January.

SAINTS JULIAN & BASILISSA

Martyrs

(Historical)

Saint Julian and Saint Basilissa, though married, lived by mutual consent in perpetual chastity. They sanctified themselves by the most perfect exercises of an ascetic life, and employed their revenues in relieving the poor and the sick. For this purpose they converted their house into a kind of hospital, in which they sheltered up to a thousand poor people. Basilissa attended those of her sex in separate lodgings, and Julian, who for his charity is known as the Hospitaler, cared for the men.

Egypt, where they lived, was in those days blessed with persons who, either in the cities or in the deserts, devoted themselves to the most perfect exercises of charity, penance, and mortification. Conversions were numerous, and persecutions by furious pagans followed as the numbers of Christians increased. Basilissa, after having survived seven of those, died in peace, foretelling to her husband that he would die a martyr. Julian lived afterwards for a number of years, but eventually received the crown of a glorious martyrdom in 313. His interrogation and his tortures were accompanied by astonishing prodigies and numerous conversions.

With him died thirty-one other persons, including a priest named Anthony, a new Christian named Anastasius, Celsus, the seven-year-old son of the judge who sentenced Julian, Marcianilla, the mother of Celsus, who when she came to visit her son was won over to the faith, and many other Christians. Spared by fire and wild beasts, Saint Julian finally was decapitated. His tomb became illustrious by many great miracles, including the cure of ten lepers on the same day.

Many churches and hospitals, in both the East and in the West, bear the name of one or another of these martyrs. Four churches at Rome and three in Paris are dedicated to Saint Julian.

Within the Octave of Epiphany, Saint Apollinaris, Saint Severinus

Saint Apollinaris the Apologist

Saint Severin of Noricum

WITHIN THE OCTAVE

SIMPLE / WHITE

The Mass of the Feast of the 

EPIPHANY is said.

SAINT APOLLINARIS THE APOLOGIST
Bishop and Martyr
(Historical)

Saint Apollinaris Claudius, otherwise Apollinaris of Hierapolis or Apollinaris the Apologist, was a Christianleader and writer of the 2nd century.
He was Bishop of Hierapolis in Phrygia and became famous for his polemical treatises against the heretics of his day, whose errors he showed to be entirely borrowed from the pagans. He wrote two books against the Jews, five against the pagans, and two on "Truth". In 177 he published an "Apologia" for the Christians, addressed toMarcus Aurelius, and appealing to the Emperor's own experience with the "Thundering Legion", whose prayers won him the victory over the Quadi. The exact date of his death is not known, but it was probably while Marcus Aurelius was still Emperor.
Nothing survives of his writings except for a few extracts, the longest of which relates to the date of Passover.

Ancient Fresco in Cappadocia Image via Wikipedia

SAINT SEVERINUS OF NORICUM
Hermit, Archbishop
(Historical)

Severinus of Noricum (ca. 410-482) is a Roman Catholicsaint, known as the "Apostle to Noricum". It has been speculated that he was born in either Southern Italy or in the Roman province of Africa, after the death of Attilain 453. Severinus himself refused to discuss his personal history before his appearance along the Danube in Noricum. However, he did mention experiences with eastern desert monasticism, and his vita draws connections between Severinus and St. Anthony of Egypt.

Saint Lucian of Antioch

WITHIN THE OCTAVE

SIMPLE / WHITE

The Mass of the Feast of the

 EPIPHANY is said.

The Profession of Faith is omitted.

SAINT LUCIAN OF ANTIOCH
Priest & Martyr (Historical)

Following the death of his wealthy parents, he gave away his possessions, and studied rhetoric, philosophy, and Scripture under Macarius at Edessa. Hermit briefly in his youth. Ordained in Antioch. Spiritual director of SaintPelagia of Antioch.

Head of a school of theology in Antioch; one of his students was Arius, founder of Arianism. Friend of Paul of Samosata and other heretics, and may have been excommunited himself at one point, but later came back to full communion.

Noted Scripture scholar, working to insure that copyists made the most exact copies possible, correcting copyist errors by comparing against older texts in the original languages. His edition of the complete Bible, known as the Lucian Recension was used by many churches, and by Saint Jerome during his work on the Vulgate.

Arrested in Nicomedia during the persecution of Diocletian, and spent nine years in prison. Dragged before the emperor as an example, he struggled to his feet and gave a great defense of the faith. He thrown back in the cells, given no food or water for 14 days, then hauled before the tribunal and interrogated; he answered all questions with "I am a Christian." 

Did you notice?

Did you notice? | iPadre Catholic Podcasting

Did you notice how the four new bishop were clothed for their ordination by Pope Benedict XVI on Epiphany? Below is a picture of the Holy Father’s personal secretary, Archbishop Georg Gänswein. First, you see his Episcopal cassock, which is covered with a beautiful lace alb. Also covering the cassock around the neck is the amice. On top of the alb and maybe missed by some is the dalmatic, which is covered by a Roman style chasuble. The dalmatic may be worn by the bishop under his chasuble for solemn Mass. It was part of the required vesture of a bishop from the 13th until the 20th century.

What is most interesting is the use of the dalmatic and the Roman style chasuble. Here is another sign of the Reform of the Reform in progress under our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI. The Holy Father leads more by example than by command. Here, he is showing the Church how a bishop aught to be clothed for the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

Thanks Fr. Finelli for this post!

http://www.ipadre.net/

[Video] Latin, the most modern dead language in the world.

romereports   Latin, the most modern dead language in the world http://youtu.be/2fO4fOErbNE by romereports http://en.romereports.com It is often considered a dead language, but often associated with culture, Latin refuses to go extinct. Up until the 18th Century, scientific texts were published in Latin. Nowadays, its main use comes in Vatican official documents, and in at least two radio stations, Finland's YLE and Bremen Radio in Germany.

Octave Day of the Nativity, Circumcision of Our Lord

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

January 1

OCTAVE-DAY OF THE NATIVITY

THE CIRCUMCISION OF OUR LORD

DOUBLE, SECOND CLASS / WHITE

Jesus respected the sacredness of the Old Law and submitted to its ceremony of circumcision. The rite officially incorporated Him into the Jewish religion and was a figure of Christian Baptism. The Savior came to replace the Old Law, and to incorporate people of all nations into His Mystical Body through Baptism. From Him, the Head, they receive all the graces needed to live worthily as His members. We become "acceptable" to God in the measure that we are cleansed from sin, give God Hid due worship and obedience, and render our fellow men everywhere on earth both full justice and Christlike charity.

INTROIT Isa. 9:6

A Child is born to us, and a son is given to us; upon his shoulder is supreme sovereignty, and his name shall be called the Angel of great counsel. 
Ps. 97:1. Sing a new canticle to the Lord, for He has done wondrous things. 
V. Glory be . . .

COLLECT
O God, it was through the Motherhood of the Blessed Virgin Mary that You bestowed the gift of eternal life upon mankind. Grant that we may feel the powerful intercession of Mary, through whom we were privileged to receive the giver of life, Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord; who lives and rules with You . . .

EPISTLE Titus 2:11-15

Beloved: The grace of God our Saviour hath appeared to all men: Instructing us, that, denying ungodliness and worldly desires, we should live soberly and justly and godly in this world, looking for the blessed hope and coming of the glory of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ. Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity and might cleanse to himself a people acceptable, a pursuer of good works. These things speak and exhort and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.

GRADUAL Ps. 97:3-4, 2

All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. Sing joyfully to God, all the earth. 
V. The Lord has made His salvation known; in the sight of the nations He has revealed His justice.

Alleluia, alleluia! V. Heb. 1:1-2

God, who in divers manners spoke in times past to the fathers by the prophets, last of all in these days has spoken to us by His Son.

Alleluia!

GOSPEL Luke 2:21

At that time, when eight days were fulfilled for the circumcision of the Child, His name was called Jesus, the name given to Him by the Angel before He was conceived in the womb.

OFFERTORY ANTIPHON Ps. 88:12, 15

Yours are the heavens and Yours are the earth; the world and its fullness You have founded. Justice and judgment are the foundation of Your throne.

SECRET

Accept our offerings and prayers, O Lord. Cleanse us by this heavenly rite and in Your mercy hear our petitions. Through Our Lord . . .

The Christmas Preface is said.

COMMUNION ANTIPHON Ps. 97:3

All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.

POSTCOMMUNION

O Lord, may this Communion cleanse us from sin, and bestow on us spiritual health from heaven through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God. Through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord . . .

From CWR: What Archbishop Müller Said About the SSPX and “Continuity”

The publication of the latest volume of Ratzinger’s Collected Works fuels debate about the Council.

Michael J. Miller

Volume VII of Joseph Ratzinger’s Collected Works, an anthology of his writings on the Second Vatican Council, was recently published in German. On November 28, 2012, the editor of the Opera Omnia, Archbishop Gerhard Ludwig Müller, who is now also prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, presented this latest volume in the series at the Teutonic College of Santa Maria dell’Anima in Rome. This was the place where German and Austrian Council Fathers used to confer regularly with theologians and periti, including then-Father Ratzinger, at special meetings organized by Cardinal Frings of Cologne. An Italian version of Archbishop Müller’s speech appeared in the edition of L’Osservatore Romano dated November 29. 

Although the speech ostensibly outlined the contents of Volume VII and quoted a few familiar passages from a Vatican II document, it elicited several sharply critical responses from traditional Catholics, including an unsigned, six-part analysis by a theologian from the Society of St. Pius X and an essay by historian Roberto de Mattei. What under other circumstances might have been a routine publishing event proved to be an informal but revealing moment in the ongoing theological discussions between the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and the Society of St. Pius X. 

Read more here: http://www.catholicworldreport.com/Item/1849/What_Archbishop_Mller_Said_About_the_SSPX_and_Continuity.aspx

THE HOURS OF OUR LADY #26 [Continued]

It's been a while but,

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

"Nothing different in kind is expected of us. It is enough that we accommodate the sacred language of the Psalms to our own personal needs, and express them through its medium. Our individual devotional sentiments are not suppressed, but handed over, as it were, to the guidance of divine expression. Such a practice repays us by its education in praise and prayer. Growing familiarity with words of sacred origin as repeatedly applied to ourselves, gradually enriches and elevates our habitual ideas of praising God and praying to Him more acceptably. With the constant aid of Divine grace, such experience will in time prove to be its own reward." (W. H. McClellan, S.J., The Psalms). 

Through original sin we have lost the art of talking to God as we ought. One has only to consider the model prayer that our Lord gave us (the Our Father) and note how different is its way of talking to God from that which we should have followed if we had not been taught. Even when we come to speak to God of our own needs we must even then be thinking mostly of His interests. The Psalms teach us how to pray -- the sentiments that should animate us when we raise our minds and hearts to God. "For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself pleads for us with unutterable groanings." (Romans 8, 26)

 

[To be continued]

Image by Lawrence OP via Flickr

FERIAL DAY

[Mass from preceding Sunday]

VIGIL OF SAINT THOMAS

[Apostle]

Saint John of the Cross, Saint Chrysogonus

SAINT JOHN OF THE CROSS
Confessor and Doctor of the Church

SAINT CHRYSOGONUS

Martyr

DOUBLE / WHITE
John of the Cross was born near Avila in Spain in 1542. Educated by the Jesuits, he entered the Carmelite Order at the age of 21. He felt attracted to the life of a Carthusian, but Teresa of Avila asked him to co-operate with her in the restoration of the primitive Carmelite rule. After John established several monasteries of Discalced Carmelites, those opposed to the reform had him imprisoned at Toledo. During the nine months of his imprisonment, he wrote many of the poems and prose works that have made him one of the foremost authorities on mysticism in the West. He had asked God for suffering, and he received an abundance of both physical and spiritual torment right up to his death in 1591.


Mass of a DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH, except:

COLLECT
O God, who blessed the holy confessor and doctor John with a spirit of complete self-denial and a deep love of the cross, grant that we may always follow his example and thus attain to eternal glory. Though Our Lord . . .

Commemoration of  SAINT CHRYSOGONUS, MARTYR
Mentioned in the Canon of the Mass, Chrysogonus, a Greek Christian, was martyred under Diocletian at Aquileia at the beginning of the fourth century.

O Lord, hear our humble prayers. May the intercession of Your blessed martyr Chrysogonus free us from the guilt of sin which troubles us. Through Our Lord . . .

SECRET 
O Lord, let the blessed confessor and doctor John always help us, and through his intercession accept our offering and pardon our sins. Through Our Lord . . .

Commemoration of  SAINT CHRYSOLOGUS
O Lord, be moved to compassion by our offerings and shield us from all danger through the prayers of Your holy martyr Chrysologus. Through Our Lord . . .

POSTCOMMUNION 
O Lord, may this sacrifice bring us closer to our salvation through the intercession of Your blessed confessor and illustrious doctor John. Through Our Lord . . .

Commemoration of  SAINT CHRYSOLOGUS
O Lord, may the reception of Your Sacrament cleanse us from our hidden faults, and guard us against the deceptions of our enemies. Through Our Lord . . .

TWENTY-FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

DEDICATION OF THE BASILICAS OF THE HOLY APOSTLES PETER AND PAUL

Today the Church goes on spiritual pilgrimage to the tombs of the two greatest apostles. To the famous basilica of St. Peter's, built over the tomb of the Vicar of Christ at Rome, have come Christians of every age, every race, and every nation, for Peter is the rock and foundation of their faith. while we are thus reminded of the unity of all the members of the Mystical Body, St. Paul, Apostle of the Gentiles, directs our thoughts toward those who have yet to be taught the message of Salvation.

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 DEDICATION OF THE BASILICA OF THE HOLY APOSTLES PETER AND PAUL

O God, by Your care we come safely each year to commemorate with these sacred rites the dedication of Your holy temple. Graciously hear the prayers of Your people and grant that all who implore Your blessings in this church may joyfully receive the favors they ask. 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 DEDICATION OF THE BASILICA OF THE HOLY APOSTLES PETER AND PAUL

Graciously hear our prayers, O Lord. May the gifts we offer You help us to attain Your eternal rewards. 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 
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 DEDICATION OF THE BASILICA OF THE HOLY APOSTLES PETER AND PAUL

O God, by Your divine choosing, living stones are used to build an everlasting dwelling place for Your majesty. Hear the prayers of Your people who call upon You and grant that the material growth of Your Church may be accompanied by a deepening spiritual development in her. Through our Lord . . .

Saint Theodore, Martyr

DEDICATION OF THE ARCHBASILICA
OF OUR SAVIOUR

SAINT THEODORE

Martyr

Image via Wikipedia

Commonly called St. John Lateran, this basilica, donated by the Emperor Constantine, was once part of the Pope's residence and is the cathedral of the bishop of Rome. On its facade is carved the inscription: "The Mother and Head of all the churches in the city and the world." Today's feast, then, calls to mind the unity of the Church over the whole earth.This is the first church given public consecration. Five ecumenical councils were held there. Within the basilica is an altar of wood which dates back to the days of persecution, and is believed by some to have been used by St. Peter himself.

Mass of the DEDICATION OF A CHURCH, except:

COLLECT

O God, by Your care we come safely each year to commemorate with these sacred rites the dedication of Your holy Temple. Graciously hear the prayers of Your people and grant that all who implore Your blessings in this church may joyfully receive the favors they ask. Through Our Lord . . .

Commemoration of SAINT THEODORE 

This Roman soldier was cruelly tortured and burnt alive in the year 306 for having allegedly set fire to the temple of the pagan goddess Cybele.

The glorious profession of faith of Your holy Martyr Theodore overshadows and protects us, O God. May we profit by his example and rejoice in the assistance of his prayers. Through Our Lord . . .

SECRET
Graciously hear our prayers, O Lord (and grant that all who are gathered in this church to celebrate the anniversary of its dedication may please You by their complete service of body and soul). May the gifts we offer You help us to attain Your eternal rewards. Through Our Lord . . .

Commemoration of SAINT THEODORE

Accept the prayers and offering of the faithful, O Lord, and let our love and devotion lead us to the glory of heaven. Through Our Lord . . .

POSTCOMMUNION
O God, by Your divine choosing, living stones are used to build an everlasting dwelling place for Your majesty. Hear the prayers of Your people who call upon You, and grant that the material growth of Your Church may be accompanied by a deepening spiritual development in her. Through Out Lord . . .

Commemoration of SAINT THEODORE

May the intercession of Your holy Martyr Theodore help us, O Lord, to cherish with pure hearts the Sacrament we have received upon our lips. Through Our Lord . . .

 

Pope's Chair in Basilica. Image via Wikipedia

SSPX Dialogue Continues: “Patience, Serenity, Perseverance, and Trust are Needed”: Catholic World Report

SSPX Dialogue Continues: “Patience, Serenity, Perseverance, and Trust are Needed”: Catholic World Report

The last several months’ developments in Vatican/SSPX relations have been misinterpreted by extremists of all ideological stripes.

Michael J. Miller

Father Kevin Robinson processes from the sacristy at the beginning of a traditional Latin Mass at the Society of St. Pius X's St. Michael the Archangel Chapel in Farmingville, NY, June 17. (CNS photo/Gregory A. Shemitz)

The last official meeting between the Ecclesia Dei Commission and the authorities of the Society of Saint Pius X took place in the offices of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith on June 13, 2012. Some sanguine observers expected the return of the Society to the fold in months if not weeks, while the more cynical opined that the meeting marked the end of the CDF-SSPX negotiations. 

Since June there were major personnel changes at the CDF, and the Society held a General Chapter, defined the parameters for its future dealings with the Vatican, and neutralized an internal threat to its unity. Commentators weighed each of these developments in turn as though it could seal the ultimate fate of the Society. Often lost in the shuffle was the key fact that the SSPX authorities still had not responded officially to Rome’s latest offer—a fact helpfully pointed out in a communiqué from the Ecclesia DeiCommission issued in late October. 

This article reviews these events and offers a perspective on the controversies surrounding them. 

Read the article here: http://www.catholicworldreport.com/Item/1726/SSPX_Dialogue_Continues_Patience_Serenity_Perseverance_and_Trust_are_Needed.aspx

FIVE YEARS SINCE THE MOTO PROPRIO SUMMORUM PONTIFICUM

from VIS news - Holy See Press Office by VISarchive 02

cardinal Tarcisio Bertone (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Vatican City, 6 November 2012 (VIS) - In a message sent in the name of Benedict XVI on the occasion of the fifth anniversary of the Apostolic Letter "Summorum Pontificum", Cardinal Secretary of State Tarcisio Bertone S.D.B. affirms that "by this Motu Proprio, the Holy Father wished to respond to the hopes of the faithful regarding the forms of liturgy", prior to Vatican Council II.

Released into public domain with Newman Society press release (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Benedict XVI's Apostolic Letter "Motu Proprio data", "Summorum Pontificum" on the use of the Roman liturgy prior to the reform of 1970, was published on 7 July 2007, and came into effect on 14 September of the same year.

In his message the secretary of State notes that "it is good to conserve the richness that has developed in the faith and prayer of the Church and to accord it due space, at the same time fully recognising the value and sanctity of the ordinary form of the Roman rite”.

Cardinal Bertone adds that in the Year

 of Faith, which coincides with "the fiftieth anniversary of Vatican Council II, the Holy Father invites all the faithful to make a special demonstration of their unity in faith; in this way they will become effective agents of new evangelisation”.

The message, written in French, was read out on the the occasion of the international pilgrimage to Rome, "Una cum Papa nostro", organised by "Coetus internationalis Summorum Pontificum". The pilgrimage culminated in a Mass presided by Cardinal Antonio Canizares, prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, celebrated according to the extraordinary form of the Roman rite. Among those participating were faithful belonging to groups linked to the use of the 1962 Missal, which was approved by John XXIII and remained in force until the reforms of the Council.