In meinen Geboten wandeln

This morning I went to my first Mass this year in Germany. Obviously, during my time in Heidelberg I went along to Mass too, so going wasn't a new experience for me. Experiences could, however, vary dramatically. For instance, in Heidelberg I would usually attend the Jesuitenkirche in the Altstadt, and most of the time Mass there was fine. The hymns sung were sometimes difficult but it was ok. Every now and then, though, a different priest would come along and mess everything up, saying things like "Der Herr ist mit uns" (The Lord is with us), meaning the congregation felt a bit stupid and embarrassed when responding "Und mit Deinem Geiste" (And with your spirit).
Well, today was one of those not so good times. Please allow me to indulge in my favourite pastime - criticizing terrible "liturgies".
The main problem with today was that the priest messed with the Liturgy of the Word. First of all, the most blatant error was the complete omission of the responsorial psalm and the second reading. The first reading was also completely different - it should have been from Zechariah, but instead the lector read from Ezekiel, the bit about "making you sincerely respect my observances". Finally, while reading the Gospel (the correct reading, as it happens, from Matthew 11:25-30), he missed out huge chunks, particularly those awful bits about shouldering yokes and about the Lord's yoke being easy and His burden light. It was disappointing that the priest did this as I thought the Gospel was perfect, particularly since the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart was just on Friday ("I am gentle and humble of heart" - Mt 11:29).
Luckily the Liturgy of the Eucharist was fairly untouched, though I think he made up the offertory prayer (as well as the collect and the postcommunion). He sang the preface, which I love and wish they did it all the time in Scotland.

Below, an example of the German preface, from Eucharistic Prayer II.

Der Herr sei mit euch.

Und mit Deinem Geiste.

Erhebet die Herzen.

Wir haben sie beim Herrn.

Lasset uns danken dem Herrn unserem Gott.

Das ist würdig und recht.

In Wahrheit ist es würdig und recht, dir, Herr, heiliger Vater, immer und überall zu danken durch deinen geliebten Sohn Jesus Christus. Er ist dein Wort, durch ihn hast du alles erschaffen. Ihn hast du gesandt als unseren Erlöser und Heiland. Er ist Mensch geworden durch den Heiligen Geist, geboren von der Jungfrau Maria.
Um deinen Ratschluß zu erfüllen und dir ein heiliges Volk zu erwerben, hat er sterbend die Arme ausgebreitet am Holze des Kreuzes. Er hat die Macht des Todes gebrochen und die Auferstehung kundgetan.
Darum preisen wir dich mit allen Engeln und Heiligen und singen vereint mit ihnen das Lob deiner Herrlichkeit:

Back in Germany!

I am now back in Germany (in Bavaria, to be more precise) and working as a translator. Finally!

Series on France

Over at Unam Sanctam Catholicam, Boniface is writing a series on France. Currently he is writing about the Jansenist heresy. I'd recommend his blog as he presents his arguments and the history very clearly and the blog is very readable.

Je suis diplômé!

I graduated today! :D


Father
Help us to not look forward in fear
to the changes in life;
Rather, may we look to the future with full hope,
because as changes arise,
you will lead us safely through all things,
because we are your very own,
and when we cannot stand it,
You will carry us in Your arms.
With you,
we shall not fear what may happen tomorrow;
because you are the understanding Father
who cares for us today,
and who will care for us tomorrow and every day.
We have faith, O Lord,
That you will either shield us from suffering,
or give us unfailing strength to bear it.
Put us at peace,
and give us the grace
to put aside all anxious thoughts and images.
We pray in the name of Jesus Christ,
Your Son, and Our Lord. Amen

from churchyear.net

The Power of a Mass said correctly

Yesterday I went to Mass where the priest did everything by the book. He said the black and did the red. While other aspects of the Mass (such as the music and the female altar boys) were not that great, the fact that I never worried about Father ad-libbing here and there brought great serenity. The texts of the Mass could then speak for themselves.
To highlight how correctly he said it, the dismissal he used was "Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.", which is option 3. Often I go to Masses generally said well but then the priest always ends with something like "The Mass is ended, go in peace to love and serve the Lord" (options 2 and 3 combined) or "The Mass is ended, go in the peace of Christ" (options 1 and 2 combined). They just can't seem to help it. They often can't help saying "happy are we who are called to His supper", either. So when the dismissal is said properly, my heart leaps and I can say with even greater conviction "Thanks be to God" (though I don't then ad-lib with "for these priests who can actually follow the text and the rubrics" even though I'm tempted - the priest set an example, see).

P.S. the Mass I went to yesterday wasn't at the cathedral, but if you want a well-said daily Mass, then the cathedral is a good place for it.

Prayer request

Please pray for Rev. Graham Turner, a deacon who is due to be ordained to the holy priesthood of Jesus Christ on 29th June this year. He has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of leukaemia. Cardinal O'Brien, the Archbishop of St Andrew's and Edinburgh, has requested that we ask for the intercession of Venerable Margaret Sinclair when praying for Deacon Turner.

Venerable Margaret Sinclair and St Peregrine, please pray for Rev Graham Turner.

Deo gratias!

A lot of good things have happened to me recently, for which I thank God.

Pray for me that I also thank Him when things go badly.
Also, please pray for others in my family who are suffering at the moment and for whom these good things may be difficult. I have certainly not deserved them.



"Lord, give success to the work of our hands" (Psalm 90)