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

Finem respice

Well, like probably many other blogs, I'm going to write a little bit about how today is the last day of the calendar year. Before I do so, I would like to first of all wish everyone a Happy Christmas and a similarly Happy New Year.

Today is called Hogmanay in Scotland, and the origins of the word are disputed. Anyway, there are some traditions/superstitions that are no longer carried out, hence why we notice them and talk about it. One of them is called first-footing, where the first person to come through the door after midnight should be a tall dark man (blond-haired men were not welcomed after Viking invasions, so it goes) bearing gifts of coal (for warmth), black bun (for food), salt (for wealth), and a hawf-bottle (an alcoholic drink, usually whisky, for obvious reasons).
Another little fact about Scotland and Hogmanay/Ne'ersday is that in the past it took place of Christmas, since Christmas celebrations were discouraged by the presbyterian Church of Scotland for being too Catholic. In fact, my dad remembers it being so until the 1960s, when my grandfather, a pretty staunch Presbyterian*, would work on Christmas Day.

And so we reach the end of AD 2009, and this inevitably causes everyone to carry out evaluations of the past year. For me, the year has been split in two. The time before me going abroad, which was roughly the first eight months, and then the latter four months in France. During the latter period, with lots of solitary free time, I spent a lot of it researching my faith and learning more, and everyone has noticed in this short time of being back in Scotland.

Finally, I would like to ask you to pray for my parish priest, who had a heart attack on Sunday and is in hospital. It looks as though he will be taking retirement even earlier than was planned (though he was meant to have taken it last September). However, his retirement spells the end of the parish, ultimately, and so please pray for my parish as well.

All the best for 2010.



*an example of how he thought would be the time when he wouldn't speak to my father since he was courting my mother, a Catholic. Nevertheless, my grandfather was always courteous to my mother. Then, there is the story of how he drank quite a bit of whisky in order to endure my parents' wedding in a Catholic church, somewhere he clearly had never planned on entering.

In Conceptione Immaculata Beatæ Mariæ Virginis

Introit
Gaudens gaudebo in Domino, et exultabit anima mea in Deo meo :

induit me vestimentis salutis; et indumento justitiæ circumdedit me,

quasi sponsam ornatam monibilis suis.

Exaltabo te, Domine, quoniam suscepisti me :

nec delectasti inimicos meos super me.

Gloria Patri et Filio et Spiritui Sancto,

sicut erat in principio, et nunc, et semper,

et in sæcula sæculorum. Amen.

Gaudens gaudebo in Domino, et exultabit anima mea in Deo meo :

induit me vestimentis salutis; et indumento justitiæ circumdedit me,

quasi sponsam ornatam monibilis suis.

Collect

Deus, qui per immaculatam Virginis Conceptionem dignum Filio tuo habitaculum præparasti : quæsumus; ut, qui ex morte Filii tui prævisa eam ab omne labe præservasti, nos quoque mundos eius intercessione ad te pervenire concedas. Per eundem Dominum nostrum Jesum Christum, qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitate Spiritus Sancti, Deus, per omnia sæcula sæculorum. Amen.

Gradual

Benedicta es tu Virgo Maria

a Domino Deo excelso præ omnibus

mulieribus super terram.

Tu gloria Jerusalem, tu lætitia Israel,

tu honorificentia populi nostri.

Alleluia, alleluia.

Tota pulchra es, Maria,

et macula originalis non est in te.

Alleluia.

Offertory

Ave, Maria, gratia plena :

Dominus tecum : benedicta tu

in mulieribus, alleluia.

Secret

Salutarem hostiam, quam in solemnitate immaculate Conceptionis beatae Virginis Mariae tibi, Domine, offerimus, suscipe et praesta: ut, sicut illam tua gratia prasveniente ab omni labe immunem profitemur; ita eius intercessione a culpis omnibus liberemur. Per Dominum nostrum Jesum Christum, Filium tuum, qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitate Spiritus Sancti, Deus, per omnia sæcula sæculorum. Amen.

Communion

Gloriosa dicta sunt de te, Maria :

quia fecit tibi magna qui potens est.

Post-Communion

Sacramenta quae sumpsimus, Domine Deus noster: illius in nobis culpse vulnera, reparent; a qua immaculatam beatae Mariae Conceptionem singulariter praeservasti. Per Dominum nostrum Jesum Christum, Filium tuum, qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitate Spiritus Sancti, Deus, per omnia sæcula sæculorum. Amen.

Supercherie

Here are some lies which are whispered into your mental ear either in or near the occasion of sin, or after the loss of sanctifying grace. Prenez garde!

• You've been good for so long, one little look won't hurt.
• Well, you've sinned now, may as well just look again anyway. You'll have to go to confession anyway.
• You've done it again. Face it, you can't win.
• Just go along to the pub/to a bar. You can't stay shut inside all the time. Besides, nothing will happen.
• You should probably just stay inside. You know you're just putting yourself in temptation's path. Best be alone.
• Go to confession later. You need time to work through the sin.
• It wasn't that bad. Was there really deliberate consent? Or full knowledge?
• You probably shouldn't pray the rosary - you know you'll just get distracted and won't pray it well.
• Just take a peek.
• Thoughts don't count. Just indulge them.
• Phew! You've got that grace now. Just relax and enjoy it. Don't think about it.
• Think of how the priest judges you for confessing that pathetic sin yet again. Come on, change the record!
• Your sexuality is a gift. You shouldn't suppress your natural desires.
• How could God let you down like that? You've asked for His help time and time again yet look at you - fallen again.
• All those prayers to the saints seem to be useless. You're not making any progress whatsoever.
• The Lord won't mind you receiving Him now. Just confess later on in the week. It's too embarrassing not to receive. Everyone else does so you'd stand out. Everyone would judge you.