Rocco Palmo has come across some very interesting news about Pope Benedict's newest encyclical. I'm going to have to have a look out for its release early next week! I'll be sure to read it immediately and post some thoughts as well as a link.
-Bellarmine
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Sunday, June 28, 2009
A Tale of Two Masses
Though this comes a couple weeks late, I had been meaning to blog about my experiences at two of the Diocese's three early afternoon, non-English Masses.
Week one: Novus Ordo Spanish Mass, 1PM, St Francis DeSales, Geneva: 7 June 2009
The priest decided against fully dressing himself, skipping the chasuble and stole entirely, settling on a simple Alb, with Crocs as his footwear. Crikey!
This seemed to mesh perfectly with the music, a guitar-player and a tamborine player in the sanctuary. St. Francis has an absolutely beautiful Pipe Organ in the Choir Loft, which I have not seen used the past three times I have attended Mass there. Incidentally, the music was horrendous once again.
Idle chatter and irreverance abounded, even as the Sign of Peace took a great deal of time. Of course, the priest also kept a dixie cup handy about the sanctuary to sip from throughout Mass, should the idle chatter parch his throat.
There was a baptism as well. Save for the actual baptism itself, all of the dialogue/questioning with parents and Godparents was done by the nun, who apparently was also celebrating her birthday. During Mass, to show our appreciation, we had the distinct pleasure of singing Happy Birthday to her in both Spanish and English.
Finally, in the spirit of unity, the priest, nun, and all 15 others inexplicably in the sanctuary (I don't believe any were serving Mass...perhaps one) gathered and held hands. On the plus side, not one person broke out in a chorus of kumbayah.
Fast Forward One Week
Week 2: Tridentine Latin High Mass, 1 PM St. Stanislaus Kostka, Rochester 14 June 2009
The church proper was silent before and after a most beautiful liturgy.
The Choir sang incredibly, from the Asperges through Mass, to the Eucharistic Procession and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. Perhaps I am biased, as my favorite song was sung...Panis Angelicus
Reverent Altar Boys and a Liturgically Dressed Fr. Bonsignore were the only people in the Sanctuary.
There were lines for confession.
Rather than the crazy rush to leave immediately after communion, nearly the entire congregation remained through a lengthy and beautiful Eucharistic Procession and Benediction.
If only I could get to Latin Mass more often!
And in closing, with English Translation:
Panis angelicus
fit panis hominum;
Dat panis caelicus
figuris terminum:
O res mirabilis!
Manducat Dominum.
Pauper, servus et humilis.
Te trina Deitas
unaque poscimus:
Sic nos tu visita,
sicut te colimus;
Per tuas semitas
duc nos quo tendimus,
Ad lucem quam inhabitas.
Amen.
The angelic bread
becomes the bread of men;
The heavenly bread
ends all prefigurations:
What wonder!
consumes the Lord
a poor and humble servant.
Triune God,
We beg of You,
that you visit us,
as we worship You.
By your ways,
lead us who seek
the light in which You dwell.
Amen.
Tell me that's not more beautiful than Halle! Halle! Halle! *shudder*
-Arialdus
Week one: Novus Ordo Spanish Mass, 1PM, St Francis DeSales, Geneva: 7 June 2009
The priest decided against fully dressing himself, skipping the chasuble and stole entirely, settling on a simple Alb, with Crocs as his footwear. Crikey!
This seemed to mesh perfectly with the music, a guitar-player and a tamborine player in the sanctuary. St. Francis has an absolutely beautiful Pipe Organ in the Choir Loft, which I have not seen used the past three times I have attended Mass there. Incidentally, the music was horrendous once again.
Idle chatter and irreverance abounded, even as the Sign of Peace took a great deal of time. Of course, the priest also kept a dixie cup handy about the sanctuary to sip from throughout Mass, should the idle chatter parch his throat.
There was a baptism as well. Save for the actual baptism itself, all of the dialogue/questioning with parents and Godparents was done by the nun, who apparently was also celebrating her birthday. During Mass, to show our appreciation, we had the distinct pleasure of singing Happy Birthday to her in both Spanish and English.
Finally, in the spirit of unity, the priest, nun, and all 15 others inexplicably in the sanctuary (I don't believe any were serving Mass...perhaps one) gathered and held hands. On the plus side, not one person broke out in a chorus of kumbayah.
Fast Forward One Week
Week 2: Tridentine Latin High Mass, 1 PM St. Stanislaus Kostka, Rochester 14 June 2009
The church proper was silent before and after a most beautiful liturgy.
The Choir sang incredibly, from the Asperges through Mass, to the Eucharistic Procession and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. Perhaps I am biased, as my favorite song was sung...Panis Angelicus
Reverent Altar Boys and a Liturgically Dressed Fr. Bonsignore were the only people in the Sanctuary.
There were lines for confession.
Rather than the crazy rush to leave immediately after communion, nearly the entire congregation remained through a lengthy and beautiful Eucharistic Procession and Benediction.
If only I could get to Latin Mass more often!
And in closing, with English Translation:
Panis angelicus
fit panis hominum;
Dat panis caelicus
figuris terminum:
O res mirabilis!
Manducat Dominum.
Pauper, servus et humilis.
Te trina Deitas
unaque poscimus:
Sic nos tu visita,
sicut te colimus;
Per tuas semitas
duc nos quo tendimus,
Ad lucem quam inhabitas.
Amen.
The angelic bread
becomes the bread of men;
The heavenly bread
ends all prefigurations:
What wonder!
consumes the Lord
a poor and humble servant.
Triune God,
We beg of You,
that you visit us,
as we worship You.
By your ways,
lead us who seek
the light in which You dwell.
Amen.
Tell me that's not more beautiful than Halle! Halle! Halle! *shudder*
-Arialdus
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
On Devotion to the Blessed Virgin
After work today I stuck around a few moments to watch a few videos, starting with one at the Cleansing Fire DoR blog, and before I knew it I had found some videos of St. Josemaria Escriva speaking before crowds. One, in particular, stood out to me today.
St. Josemaria's emphasis on the holiness of the laity was instrumental in the development of my prayer life as I was leaving behind the heterodoxy I was raised with. He helped me to break away from the perception that active participation in faith must be a visible thing with his constant exhortations to holiness in all matters. Praise God for his Saints
-Bellarmine
St. Josemaria's emphasis on the holiness of the laity was instrumental in the development of my prayer life as I was leaving behind the heterodoxy I was raised with. He helped me to break away from the perception that active participation in faith must be a visible thing with his constant exhortations to holiness in all matters. Praise God for his Saints
-Bellarmine
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