Pray for Cardinal Sarah

A priest whom I am honoured to count as a friend told me a year ago or more that he prays an Ave daily that Cardinal Sarah be elected as the next Pope (and I believe he received this advice from a good bishop). I humbly commend the same excellent prayer intention to all readers.

Transtulit austrum de cælo et induxit in virtute sua africum.
(Ps. 77, 26) 

Unxerunt Salomonem

Yesterday evening, the antiphon at the Magnificat for first Vespers of the 7th Sunday after Pentecost was Unxerunt Salomonem, which irresistibly brings to mind Handel's magnificent coronation anthem Zadok the priest…

Sadoc the priest and Nathan the prophet anointed Solomon king in Gihon: and going up glad, they said: May the king live for ever. (3 Kings 1:45; cf. 1:39,34,31)

Dominican Ave Regina cælorum – II

Years ago, I blogged on the beautiful and little-known Dominican variant of the Marian anthem Ave Regina cælorum; here is a transcription made to match as closely as possible the Dominican chant thereof (I found a version, albeit with inaccuracies, elsewhere online, and have improved on it):

Naughty Brits

I am more and more staggered by the way news outlets these days but mouth elite propaganda. Apparently, to paraphrase my betters, the Brits (well, the English and Welsh, or more particularly of those persons all ignorant peasants and poor fools, not the nice and rich overlords amongst them) have been very naughty to vote Leave, and now Nanny Reichskanzler will have to spank them. Let that be a warning not to permit referenda nor plebiscites, as they only lead to hate speech.

On a more positive note, the Scots, having voted throughout their realm to Remain, look likely to press for independence (in order to remain in the EU and give the English a bloody nose), and as I support both Brexit and an independent Scotland, I am happy. All I need now is for Scotland to pass a law whereby all those of Scottish descent can apply for a Scottish passport and I'll be content.

My predictions? In five years' time, England and Wales, possibly still referred to as the United Kingdom (but UKEW not UK), possibly still united to some or all of Northern Ireland, will be perfectly well-off and won't have slid into the sea. And the Kingdom of Scotland will also be quite content as a member of the EU.

A Sequence for the Sacred Heart

From the Mass of the Most Divine Heart of Our Lord, proper to the Sisters of the Good Shepherd, comes this admirable Sequence in worship of that Sacred Heart (verses 1 to 14: 8.8.7.; verses 15 to 18: 8.8.8.7.; verses 19 to 20: 8.8.8.8.7.; verse 21: 7.7.7.7.7.7.):

1. Gaudeamus exultantes

Cordis Jesu personantes

Divina præconia.

2. Hæc est dies veneranda

In qua Patris adoranda

Laudamus præcordia.

3. Cor amandum Salvatoris,

Melis fontem et amoris,

Corda cuncta diligant;

4. Cor beatum summi regis,

Cor et vitam novi legis

Omnes linguæ concinant.

5. Sit laus plena, sit immensa,

Sit perennis, sit accensa

Ardoribus pectoris.

6. Laudet, canat orbis totus,

Colat, amet tota virtus

Et cordis et corporis.

7. Ora, manus, sensus, vigor,

Fides viva, parus amor

Cor divinum consonent;

8. Flammis sacris inflammata,

Corda, voces atque facta

Cor amoris prædicent.

9. Cor mirandum Redemptoris

Coadunans terram cælis,

Unitatis speculum,

10. Digna sedes Trinitatis,

Plenitudo Deitatis,

Amoris miraculum.

11. Amoris evangelium,

Puri cordis incendium,

Magna Dei gloria,

12. Cæli nectar vivificans,

Cordis manna deificans,

Amor et lætitia,

13. Cleri sacri præsidium,

Rector benigne cordium,

Nostra rege pectora.

14. Fons æternæ pietatis,

Ardens fornax caritatis,

Corda flammis devora.

15. Domus amoris aurea,

Turris amantum flammea,

Cœtus nostri lex ignea, 

Fons perennis gratiæ,

16. Cor thesaurus sanctitatis,

Abyssus humilitatis, 

Thronus Dei voluntatis

Et centrum clementiæ.

17. Paradisus beatorum,

Consolator afflictorum,

Pax et salus peccatorum,

Cor omnibus omnia.

18. O Jesu, raptor cordium,

Amore flagrans mentium,

Cor tuum trahat omnium

Mentes et præcordia.

19. O Cor summa benignitas,

Immensa liberalitas,

Incomprehensa caritas,

Cordis vera felicitas,

Cor esto supplicibus.

20. Fac nos Jesu flammescentem

Cordis tui caritatem

Et divinam pietatem

Summam quoque sanctitatem

Sanctis sequi moribus.

21. O beata Trinitas,

Cordis Jesu caritas,

Immensæ clementiæ,

Immensæ sint gratiæ,

Æterna est gloria,

Amen dicant omnia.

Amen. Alleluja.

The Other Chants of the Mass of St Philip Neri

Having in my last post identified the musical source for the chant setting of the Offertory for the feast of St Philip Neri, I thought next to mention the melodic origins of the rest of the Proper of his Mass. 

To begin with, the Introit, Caritas Dei, is self-evidently taken from the Mass of Whit Saturday, omitting the first, internal alleluia (and the last two, except in Eastertide), raising the first note of per by a tone and replacing the Whit Saturday melody for the last word, nobis, with that of the last two syllables of the first (itself identical with the corresponding part of the last) Whit Saturday alleluia. 

Likewise, the Gradual Venite is taken without change from the Mass of the 7th Sunday after Pentecost.

The Alleluia and verse De excelso is set to the same melody as the first Eastertide Alleluia and verse for the feast of St Irenaeus (28th June), but it is unclear to me as to which is the original.

I have not yet found a source for the music of the second Eastertide Alleluia and its verse Concaluit.

Most interestingly, the Communion Cor meum is set to a very prominent chant – that of the Communion Viderunt of the Mass of Christmas Day. Doubtlessly this conveys something of the joy whereby the heart and flesh of such a saint do ever exult in the living God.

Musical Source of the Offertory for St Philip Neri

Having checked through the Offertoriale, it is clear that the chant for the Offertory for the feast of St Philip Neri is taken from that of the 19th Sunday after Pentecost, Si ambulavero, thus: 

1Viam1 2man2-3datorum tuorum cucurri3, 4cum dilatasti4  5cor meum.5 (T. P. Alleluja.) 

1Si am1-bulavero in medio tribulationis, 4vivificabis4 me, Domine: et super 2i2-ram ini-3micorum meorum extendes3 manum tuam, et salvum me faciet 5dextera tua.5 

Twenty-Nine Years in the Church of Rome

Today being Pentecost Sunday, I motored down to Hobart (as I usually do each first day of the week) and M.C.'d the Missa cantata at Sacred Heart. Today being Pentecost Sunday, I mark the anniversary of my Baptism, Confirmation and first Communion on this same beloved feast in 1987. While I have perhaps little to show for twenty-nine years in the Church of Rome, that is because of my sins and backsliding: but grace is greater than all, so I must give all glory to God for having blessed me so abundantly with the grace of the Holy Spirit in Christ Jesus our Lord. Te Deum laudamus!

Sequences for St Peter Martyr and St Catherine of Siena

Having recently downloaded a pdf of the 1603 Dominican Missal (as one does), I have transcribed the Sequences for St Peter Martyr (whose feast was yesterday) and St Catherine of Siena (whose feast is today):

Sequentia S. Petri Martyris

1. Adest dies celebris, quo lumen de tenebris, exortum emicuit.

2. Nam ab infidelibus, Petrus dispar moribus, ortus mundo claruit.

3. Mundum mundus abjicit, ordini se subjicit Evangelizantium.

4. Fit salutis speculum‚ morumque spectaculum, vas virtutum omnium.

5. Сarnis pudicitiam, et baptismi gratiam, conservat viriliter.

6. Verbi semen seminat, errores exterminat, verbo pugnans fortiter.

7. Dum non cedit hostibus, resistens erroribus, justi sanguis funditur.

8. A profanis manibus Sanctus diris ictibus, invasus occiditur.

9. Сhristi factus hostia, cæli transit ostia, cum palma martyrii.

10. Sempiterna gaudia, possidet cum gloria, ter centeni præmii.

11. Мorbi, mors, dæmonia, Petri per suffragia, depelluntur penitus.

12. Credit plebs incredula, videns hæc miracula, fieri divinitus.

13. Nobis ergo veniam, det Deus et gratiam‚ Petri prece sedula.

14. Et post hanc miseriam, largiatur gloriam, per æterna sæcula. Alleluja.

Sequentia S. Catharinæ Senensis

1. Lux advenit veneranda, laus in choris jubilanda, piis cunctis cordibus.

2. Hujus læta lux diei, festum refert sponsæ Dei, dedicandum laudibus.

3. Hæc de Senis oriunda, virgo munda Catharina, justis ex parentibus.

4. Mundum, carnem, hostem fregit, et triumphum victrix egit, ornata virtutibus.

5. Matrem Christi venerandam, omni gradu salutandam, lustro primo didicit.

6. Multis sanctis circumcinctum, se benedicentem Christum, virgo sancta conspicit.

7. Virginalis vitæ votum, Deo spondet quam devotum, ætatis septennio.

8. Ob hoc virgo tribulatur, sed a Deo liberatur, columbæ indicio.

9. Regularis vitæ ritum amplexatur institutum, a sancto Dominico.

10. Hunc adepta virgo sancta, mox vita claret miranda, Deo placens unico.

11. O quam chara, quam accepta, Christo Regi est effecta, ob præclara merita!

12. Nam ab ipso visitari, et de cunctis edoceri, solebat frequentius:

13. Hinc in sponsam subarrhari, et in fidem desponsari, meruit cum gloria.

14. Quis condigne potest fari, quave lingua explicari, fletus et suspiria.

15. Quæ fraterna pro salute, Jesu sponso cum virtute, emittebat sæpius.

16. Ut peccanti creaturæ, et Redemptor suo jure, fieret propitius.

17. Christi corpus venerandum, sic ducebat frequentandum, magno desiderio.

18. Ut si sibi licuisset, omni die id sumpsisset, pro sui remedio.

19. Dulce signum charitatis, dum amator castitatis, cor mutat in virgine.

20. Quo sic flagrat, sic movetur, ut dilectum contempletur, in cælorum cardine.

21. A quo sane nulla sorte, nec in vita nec in morte, separari patitur.

22. Sed in eum tota rapta, et a terra sublevata, Deo vero fruitur.

23. Tandem Christus dulcis sponsus, pio cordi sic conjunctus, sponsæ suæ nobilis.

24. Claram miris prodigiis, sacris ornat studiis, vitæ donas gaudia.

25. Jesu bone, Jesu dulcis, qui ad lumen cæcos ducis, sponsæ tuæ precibus.

26. Nos purgatos a peccatis, fac regnare cum beatis, omnibus temporibus.

27. Tuque virgo Deo digna, mitis, clemens et benigna, precibus nos refove.

28. Nec oblita pietatis, ad conspectum Deitatis, populum hunc promove. Alleluja.

ANZAC Day 2016

For the first time in many, many years I went to the Dawn Service at the Cenotaph in Royal Park this morning. I was staggered to find nearly every parking spot in the Launceston CBD already taken – at 5:45 am! – and had to park opposite Holy Trinity (half a mile away), whence I walked smartly so as to arrive in time for the start of proceedings at 6 am.

The RSL chaplain took as his text Psalm 26(27):3-4, “If armies in camp should stand together against me, my heart shall not fear. If a battle should rise up against me, in this will I be confident. One thing I have asked of the Lord, this will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life. That I may see the delight of the Lord, and may visit his temple.”

After the short service (during which, sadly, the choir seemed virtually silent rather than leading the crowd of thousands – 7,500, so The Examiner reported the next day –  so the traditional hymn “O God, our help in ages past” and the National Anthem were both all but inaudible), I went to a nearby pub for breakfast, then walked back in the cold light of dawn through now-deserted streets.

In 1916, Tasmania had a population of 200,000; of those, 15,485 enlisted (38% of eligible men), and of those enlisted, 2,432 were killed – a 16% death rate.  In memory of the fallen, I have said the Dirge (Matins and Lauds of the Dead, so-named after the first antiphon at Matins, Dirige, Domine, Deus meus); at nine o’clock, I will join the choir at the ANZAC Mass at Apostles.

Entrance Antiphon (Cf. Rev 14:13)

Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord. Let them rest from their labours, for their good deeds go with them.

Collect

Almighty everlasting God, who sent your Son to die that we might live, grant, we pray, eternal rest to those who gave themselves in service and sacrifice for their country. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

Prayer over the Offerings

Grant, O heavenly Father, that the sacrifice of Christ, who laid down his life for his friends, may raise all those who have died in war to the victory of eternal life. Through Christ our Lord.

Communion Antiphon (Cf. Jn 15:13)

Greater love has no one than to lay down his life for his friends, says the Lord.

Prayer after Communion

By our communion with this Sacrament, O Lord, grant us, we pray, fortitude in the cause of right, and may our remembrance of those who have died in war make us ardent defenders of your peace. Through Christ our Lord.

Our Best Yet

Attendance at our monthly 6 pm Missa cantata in Launceston was the best yet, and yesterday evening was marked also by the use and presentation to our nascent community of a new altar missal, recently purchased, in place of the battered old edition that we have previously used. This morning, despite being a public holiday, I had to rise well before dawn in order to get to St Francis again to serve the 7 am Low Mass. There is something so beautiful about the sacred silence.

Christmas and Circumcision, Epiphany and Baptism

It struck me yesterday, that just as the Octave Day of Christmas is (or was) the feast of the Circumcision (it still is, in the traditional Dominican Rite), so the Octave Day of the Epiphany is the feast of the Lord's Baptism: so the liturgy passes from Christ's Birth to his Circumcision, he being born a subject of the Law, and then on from the Epiphany, or the Manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles, to his Baptism, a baptism of repentance which he vicariously undertook on our behalf at the hands of his cousin the Baptist, which sanctified the waters of the Jordan, and presaged his later institution of sacramental Baptism for all nations, by the power of his Passion applied to souls through the laver of regeneration.