More photos of the two priests

Here are some more photos of the two FSSP priests, Messieurs les abbés Jouachim and Roseau.

In this one, Jouachim is priest and Roseau is deacon.

 

Here one of Abbé Roseau's self-made hosts is being consecrated.

De pænultima die

I've just come back from my last EF Mass here in Nantes, that of the feast of St Polycarp, so the priest, the fantastic Abbé Roseau, was wearing beautiful red vestments.
Being the shy soul that I am, I had never really introduced myself to the priests or indeed anyone at the parish. It was only last week that someone approached me whom I'd met before. They had no idea I attended the EF on such a regular basis (my attendance has been pretty much daily over the past two weeks). However, I leave Nantes on Thursday so the man and the woman whom I knew invited me to lunch after Mass on Sunday. What a delightful Sunday it was. It was so peaceful that it really pained me to think that I'd only have one such Sunday, and that this won't happen again.

I am so grateful to the priests at the parish and I thank God for them, Abbé Roseau and Abbé Jouachim. I could not leave without expressing this gratitude and so I bought a card, bearing the name St Clément (the name of the church) and wrote a sentence or two (in French of course) expressing my thanks to them for these my first experiences at the EF of the Mass. My original intention was to just leave it lying there on one of the tables at the back of the Church under the noticeboard but then I decided I would hand it to M. l'abbé Roseau personally for several reasons. Firstly, the card could lie there for weeks without anyone noticing. Secondly, it could be picked up by someone else. Thirdly, even if they did get the card, they would probably have no idea who I am, and would probably just seem rather strange. And finally, I don't think it would truly express my gratitude if I just left it lying for them, rather than actually having a conversation with them. So I waited until the priest heard a few Confessions and finished his prayers, and then approached him. I think he did recognise me, and if he didn't immediately, he will have recognised the same voice who stumbles through confessions in awkward French, often not making much sense. I gave him the card and he inquired as to what it was, and then I told him that I was leaving Nantes. He asked a few more questions and then just as I was going out of those thick double doors one finds in churches to keep the heat in, he said he would like to give me a blessing for my travels. It was totally unexpected but I really felt like this is what it must be like to live in a country which still has some dregs of a Catholic culture. In Scotland, I often feel as though we are just meant to be grateful that the Church is allowed to operate in such a presbyterian country, and so never mind all these traditions such as blessings, churching of women, house blessings and the like. So finally, I'd like to thank God for the thousands of opportunities He has given me while here in Nantes, and I am ever so grateful to Him.

Benedictus Jesus Christus, verus Deus et verus homo. Benedictum Cor ejus sacratissimum!

(Abbé Roseau also has a blog describing his journey on making his own hosts for Mass. You can find it here. I've also already posted a link to the Nantes FSSP website where you can see the two priests in action.)

Domine, non sum dignus...

...ut intres sub tectum meum, sed tantum dic verbo et sanabitur anima mea.

Today I went to my last Sunday EF Mass for probably a very long time. And so I'm quite sad. The older liturgy has really enriched my view of Catholicism, and made me feel connected to the very same Mass that so many saints of old attended while here on earth. Today, the Gospel concerned the curing of a leper and the faith of the centurion when Jesus cured his servant. It is from this passage that we get the (soon to be) "Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word, and my soul shall be healed". It is in this confession (in the EF it is said threefold while beating the breast) that we acknowledge how we are always unworthy to receive the Lord, yet He still invites us to come to Him, for He is "meek and humble of heart" and in Him we "find rest for [our] souls". Yet again we can marvel at the depths of the love of our Saviour, that He suffers our sinfulness even in our reception of Him (sadly, given the large difference in the Communion lines with the Confession lines, many people receive truly unworthily with mortal sin on their souls). In the Sacrament of Reconciliation, the Lord calls us and moves our hearts to approach the fountain of mercy which pours from His own, and then gives His Body and Blood for us, that we may become like Him, and love to a greater capacity, and love more truly, with the love of God. Lord, we truly are not worthy of such favour. And that is why it is called grace - gratia - because it is gratis.

In paradisum deducant te angeli...

In paradisum deducant te angeli,
in tuo adventu
suscipiant te martyres
et perducant te 
in civitatem sanctam Jerusalem
Chorus angelorum te suscipiat
et cum Lazaro quondam paupere
æternam habeas requiem.

May the angels lead you into paradise,
and the martyrs receive you
in your coming,
and may they guide you
into the holy city, Jerusalem.
May the chorus of angels receive you
and with Lazarus, once poor,
may you have eternal rest.

Recently I have been indulging in thoughts of my death, and more specifically, my funeral. I've always thought that I'd like to plan my funeral in advance, just to make sure it strengthens and encourages others, and doesn't turn into a sentimental swamp. Therefore, I wrote a list of instructions as to what it should and shouldn't have: the readings, the Gospel, no eulogy, vetoed songs and song suggestions. To say the least, I had a lot of chant in there, or classical stuff like the one linked above (though I know that they'd never manage to get it! I can dream, though...). I've also vetoed stuff like Amazing Grace and The Lord's My Shepherd (Scottish Psalter version) because they are overplayed (and I'm still not too sure about the former, anyway). Other things like On Eagle's Wings are OUT! Anyway, I'll print out this list and show it to my younger brother. He's one of the few people that doesn't really mind talking about stuff like this. But always be prepared!

The Angelus

Angelus Domini nuntiavit Mariæ
Et concepit de Spiritu Sancto
Ave, Maria, gratia plena,
Dominus tecum:
benedicta tu in mulieribus,
et benedictus fructus ventris tui,
Jesus
Sancta Maria, Mater Dei,
ora pro nobis peccatoribus,
nunc, et in hora mortis nostræ.
Amen.

When praying the Angelus at midday and at 6pm (I'm never able to say the 6am one; I start it but fall asleep again after the first Hail Mary), I always end up matching each part to a part of the Hail Mary. For this first part, we hear of the angel Gabriel's greeting to Mary (Ave gratia plena - from where we can learn of Mary's immaculate conception, and her importance in salvation history by the angel's honorific Ave), and then immediately of the result of that greeting, the conception of the God-man, Jesus Christ (Dominus tecum - though the Lord was with her before His conception of course - indeed, He was with her since her immaculate conception - but after Mary's encounter with Gabriel, the Lord was physically with her in her womb).

Ecce ancilla Domini
Fiat mihi secundum verbum tuum

Ave, Maria, gratia plena,
Dominus tecum:
benedicta tu in mulieribus,
et benedictus fructus ventris tui,
Jesus
Sancta Maria, Mater Dei,
ora pro nobis peccatoribus,
nunc, et in hora mortis nostræ.
Amen.

Here we see why Mary is so blessed in mulieribus, notwithstanding her conception. Here she displays Christian perfection; she accepts God's will and fully cooperates in His plan for the redemption of the human race, including her own preemptive redemption.

Et Verbum caro factum est
Et habitavit in nobis

Ave, Maria, gratia plena,
Dominus tecum:
benedicta tu in mulieribus,
et benedictus fructus ventris tui,
Jesus
Sancta Maria, Mater Dei,
ora pro nobis peccatoribus,
nunc, et in hora mortis nostræ.
Amen.

And in this final section we encounter in plain words the entire message of the Angelus, and indeed the message of the Gospels - God became man; Jesus walked among us, taught us, and died for us, and remains with us in the tabernacles around the world, and still teaches us through the Scriptures, and helps us to die to the world so that we can live with Him. There has never been a more fruitful womb than the womb of Mary.

Signature 2722

Just to let all those millions who read this... correction, who don't read this, there is an online petition called "We've waited long enough" to counteract the "Why don't we just wait?" petition regarding the new translation of the Roman Missal. Please sign it, and show your support for the new translation which more closely safeguards the faith within the Mass. Some people (i.e. those who signed the "Why don't we just wait?" petition) say that the new translation is not modern English. Well, I argue that some of the English used in the current translation is not modern English (who says "and also with you"?) Additionally, there are definitely some grave ambiguities in the current rendering - the worst for me is the translation of the epiclesis, which seems confusing. Here is the Latin:

Supplices te rogamus, omnipotens Deus:
iube hæc perferri per manus sancti Angeli tui in sublime altare tuum,
in conspectu divinæ maiestatis tuæ:
ut quotquot, ex hac altaris participatione sacrosanctum Filii tui
Corpus et Sanguinem sumpserimus
omni benedictione cælesti et gratia repleamur.
(Per Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen)

Here is the current rendering:

Almighty God,
we pray that your angel may take this sacrifice to your altar in heaven.
Then, as we receive from this altar
the sacred body and blood of your Son,
let us be filled with every grace and blessing.
(Through Christ our Lord. Amen.)

And here is the upcoming new translation:

In humble prayer we ask you, almighty God:
command that these gifts be borne by the hands of your holy Angel to your altar on high
in the sight of your divine majesty,
so that all of us who through this participation at the altar
receive the most holy Body and Blood of your Son
may be filled with every grace and heavenly blessing.
(Through Christ our Lord. Amen.)

For me, the current translation is ambiguous about which altar we receive from - the heavenly altar or the one in front of us? When I was younger, I used to think that the bread and wine were taken up to heaven and swapped for the Body and Blood, but this couldn't be! The Consecration had already taken place! However, in reading the new translation, there is no such ambiguity.

So I exhort everyone to please sign the petition (the linked one, not the other one!) and show your support for a better translation.

If only they just kept the Latin...

Mass for the Epiphany, yet again!

Yesterday I attended Mass at the FSSP Chapel here in Nantes (on Sundays I go to the EF Mass here, mainly because I know that when I leave here, I don't know when I'm likely to be able to go to and EF Mass again). I went along expecting it to be the feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. Not so. Instead, it was the transferred feast of the Epiphany, meaning it was the third Mass for the Epiphany that I've been to this year. The previous Sunday I had come back from Scotland after the holidays and since I missed the Mass in the morning, I decided to wait and go along to the 6 o'clock evening Mass instead. However, having forgotten to change the time on my computer, when I thought it was 5 o'clock, Mass had already started. Doh! So I quickly searched on the internet for a Mass on later. Luckily there was one at the Cathedral, so I went to that one. Only it was and Epiphany Mass (I had intended to go along to the Epiphany Mass at the FSSP chapel on the Wednesday, the actual day of the Epiphany). But nevertheless, it was far more important for me to fulfil my Sunday obligation and go to Mass. Anyway, it's not like I dislike the OF at all (apart from when it's at that church nearest to me - then it's just excruciating).
So I went along to my second Epiphany Mass on the Wednesday at the FSSP chapel, where it was low mass. And then yesterday was a missa cantata, that is, a type of low mass that is more elaborate and has a choir singing the responses, etc. According to the Catholic Encyclopedia on newadvent.org, the essence of a high Mass is the presence of the deacon and subdeacon, and not the music.
Finally, just a point that I wanted to make about yesterday's Mass. The priest celebrating (who always gives good homilies and advice in Confession) sang the preface with all the elaborate notes, something I had never heard before, either on the Internet or over here in Nantes. I had wondered about it, as if you, for example, go to the Sancta Missa website and read the music for the prefaces, and at the same time watch one of the Masses they have on video there, you can see that not all of the notes are sung. I suppose that with the lack of a deacon and subdeacon, the priest wished to make it as solemn as possible for the Epiphany.

Here is the website of the FSSP in Nantes

Wonderful Communion hymn!

This happened a while ago - for the feast of the Immaculate Conception - but at the EF of the Mass that I attended, they sang the Anima Christi for communion. Now, I was well aware of this hymn because it is included in the Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius of Loyola, my confirmation saint, but this was the first time I had heard it sung, and not only that, but sung in an appropriate context. The words are beautiful on their own, but receiving communion while hearing "Corpus Christi, salva me", it really helps devotion to the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament and I think aids a better reception of Communion and better prayer afterwards.

Here is a youtube version of it:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2Gy73N4qA0

Sermon 31, by Pope St Leo the Great

 On the Feast of the Epiphany,

After celebrating but lately the day on which immaculate virginity brought forth the Saviour of mankind, the venerable feast of the Epiphany, dearly beloved, gives us continuance of joy, that the force of our exultation and the fervour of our faith may not grow cool, in the midst of neighbouring and kindred mysteries. For it concerns all men's salvation, that the infancy of the Mediator between God and men was already manifested to the whole world, while He was still detained in the tiny town. For although He had chosen the Israelitish nation, and one family out of that nation, from whom to assume the nature of all mankind, yet He was unwilling that the early days of His birth should be concealed within the narrow limits of His mother's home: but desired to be soon recognized by all, seeing that He deigned to be born for all. To three wise men , therefore, appeared a star of new splendour in the region of the East, which, being brighter and fairer than the other stars, might easily attract the eyes and minds of those that looked on it, so that at once that might be observed not to be meaningless, which had so unusual an appearance. He therefore who gave the sign, gave to the beholders understanding of it, and caused inquiry to be made about that, of which He had thus caused understanding, and after inquiry made, offered Himself to be found.

These three men follow the leading of the light above, and with steadfast gaze obeying the indications of the guiding splendour, are led to the recognition of the Truth by the brilliance of Grace, for they supposed that a king's birth was notified in a human sense, and that it must be sought in a royal city. Yet He who had taken a slave's form, and had come not to judge, but to be judged, chose Bethlehem for His nativity, Jerusalem for His passion. But Herod, hearing that a prince of the Jews was born, suspected a successor, and was in great terror: and to compass the death of the Author of Salvation, pledged himself to a false homage. How happy had he been, if he had imitated the wise men's faith, and turned to a pious use what he designed for deceit. What blind wickedness of foolish jealousy, to think you can overthrow the Divine plan by your frenzy. The Lord of the world, who offers an eternal Kingdom, seeks not a temporal. Why do you attempt to change the unchangeable order of things ordained, and to forestall others in their crime? The death of Christ belongs not to your time. The Gospel must be first set on foot, the Kingdom of God first preached, healings first given to the sick, wondrous acts first performed. Why do you wish yourself to have the blame of what will belong to another's work, and why without being able to effect your wicked design, do you bring on yourself alone the charge of wishing the evil? You gain nothing and carriest out nothing by this intriguing. He that was born voluntarily shall die of His own free will. The Wise men, therefore, fulfil their desire, and come to the child, the Lord Jesus Christ, the same star going before them. They adore the Word in flesh, the Wisdom in infancy, the Power in weakness, the Lord of majesty in the reality of man: and by their gifts make open acknowledgment of what they believe in their hearts, that they may show forth the mystery of their faith and understanding. The incence they offer to God, the myrrh to Man, the gold to the King, consciously paying honour to the Divine and human Nature in union: because while each substance had its own properties, there was no difference in the power of either. had he been, if he had imitated the wise

And when the wise men had returned to their own land, and Jesus had been carried into Egypt at the Divine suggestion, Herod's madness blazes out into fruitless schemes. He orders all the little ones in Bethlehem to be slain, and since he knows not which infant to fear, extends a general sentence against the age he suspects. But that which the wicked king removes from the world, Christ admits to heaven: and on those for whom He had not yet spent His redeeming blood, He already bestows the dignity of martyrdom. Lift your faithful hearts then, dearly-beloved, to the gracious blaze of eternal light, and in adoration of the mysteries dispensed for man's salvation give your diligent heed to the things which have been wrought on your behalf. Love the purity of a chaste life, because Christ is the Son of a virgin. Abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul 1 Peter 2:11, the blessed Apostle, present in his words as we read, exhorts us, In malice be ye children 1 Corinthians 14:20 , because the Lord of glory conformed Himself to the infancy of mortals. Follow after humility which the Son of God deigned to teach His disciples. Put on the power of patience, in which you may be able to gain your souls; seeing that He who is the Redemption of all, is also the Strength of all. Set your minds on the things which are above, not on the things which are on the earth Colossians 3:2 . Walk firmly along the path of truth and life: let not earthly things hinder you for whom are prepared heavenly things through our Lord Jesus Christ, who with the Father and the Holy Ghost lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.

from NewAdvent.org, under Fathers