Thursday, March 10, 2022

Again and again in peace let us pray to the Lord!

Of your charity, pray for Ukraine; I have drawn up the following litany from the special petitions being used at the Divine Liturgy by priests of the Ukrainian Catholic Church here in Australia, as exemplified by the services for Cheesefare [see the video recording from 6:19 to 7:05] and Meatfare [see 40:40 to 42:10] Sundays at St Andrew's, Lidcombe, NSW:

A Litany for Ukraine in Time of Invasion

1. That the Lord God grant peace and glory to Ukraine, let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

2. That the Lord God grant Ukraine deliverance from the enemy invasion and from all evil attacks, let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

3. That the Lord God turn all the sorrows and groans of the people of Ukraine into joy and gladness, and their troubles into lasting peace, let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

4. That the Lord God make the people of Ukraine invincible against all hostile attacks, let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

5. That the Lord God destroy the shields, weapons and strength of all the forces of the enemy and throw them under the feet of the Christ-loving army of Ukraine, let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

6. That the Lord God send Ukraine deliverance from invasion of foreigners, let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

7. That the Lord God grant salvation and victory to all the soldiers of Ukraine, let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

8. That the Lord God grant lasting peace to the people, church and country of Ukraine, let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

Saturday, February 26, 2022

Victory in Spite of All Terror

I have often wondered however what would have happened if two hundred thousand German storm troops had actually established themselves ashore. The massacre would have been on both sides grim and great. There would have been neither mercy nor quarter. They would have used Terror, and we were prepared to go all lengths. I intended to use the slogan “You can always take one with you.” 

— Sir Winston Churchill, Their Finest Hour (London: Cassell, 1949, 246)

This is what Ukraine is facing today.

YOU CAN ALWAYS TAKE ONE WITH YOU.

God grant them victory:

It is an easy matter for many to be shut up in the hands of a few: and there is no difference in the sight of the God of heaven to deliver with a great multitude, or with a small company: for the success of war is not in the multitude of the army, but strength cometh from heaven. They come against us with an insolent multitude, and with pride, to destroy us, and our wives, and our children, and to take our spoils. But we will fight for our lives and our laws: and the Lord himself will overthrow them before our face: but as for you, fear them not. — 1 Machabees 3, 18-22

God forbid we should do this thing, and flee away from them: but if our time be come, let us die manfully for our brethren, and let us not stain our glory. — 1 Machabees 9, 10

To the invaders, death:

Long ago, the great army of Sennacherib threatened Jerusalem; it suffices to allude to the proud lies and evil blasphemies of the Assyrians and their king to see the parallels with today; God grant that matters come to pass as they did then:

And it came to pass that night, that an angel of the Lord came, and slew in the camp of the Assyrians a hundred and eighty-five thousand. — 4 (2) Kings 19, 35

And they arose in the morning, and behold they were all dead corpses. — Isaias 37, 36

After this reversal, Sennacherib returned home, and was slain.

GOD GRANT IT.

As Judas Machabeus prayed:

O Lord, who didst send thy angel in the time of Ezechias king of Juda, and didst kill a hundred and eighty-five thousand of the army of Sennacherib: even so destroy this army in our sight today. — 2 Machabees 15, 22; 1 Machabees 7, 42

Domine, qui misisti angelum tuum sub Ezechia rege Juda, et interfecisti de castris Sennacherib centum octoginta quinque millia: sic contere exercitum istum in conspectu nostro hodie.

AMEN.

Prayer for the Deliverance of Ukraine in Time of Invasion

Pray that even now the unjust onslaught of Russian armed forces may be defeated, and Ukraine delivered!


Prayer for the Deliverance of Ukraine in Time of Invasion

Adapted from the Great Book of Needs

[If at the Divine Liturgy:] After the Augmented Litany, the Holy Doors are opened, and the deacon (or priest) exclaims:

Let us attend, and with compunctionate hearts, having inclined the knees of our souls and bodies, let us pray to the Lord.

People: Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. 

And the priest (on bended knees) says this prayer in a loud voice with compunction:

O Lord God of powers, and God of our salvation, O God, who alone work wonders: look down with mercy and compassion on Your humble servants, and out of love for mankind hearken and have mercy on us and on the land of Ukraine. For, behold, enemies have once more gathered together, in order to cause division and enmity. But You who know all things, understand that they have risen up unrighteously, and that it will be impossible to oppose their multitudes unless You show us Your help. Therefore, we who are sinful and unworthy pray unto You in repentance and with tears: “Help us, O God, our Saviour, and deliver” the land of Ukraine “for the sake of the glory of Your Name” (Ps. 78:9), that the enemy may not say: “Their God has forsaken them, and there is none to deliver and save them.” (Cf. Ps. 70:11) But let every nation understand that You are our God, and we Your people are always protected under Your dominion. Reveal Your mercy, O Lord, and let the words spoken by Moses unto the people of Israel (Exodus 14:13-14) be applied to us: “Fear not. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord. For the Lord shall fight for us.” Work for us a sign for good, that they who are filled with hatred may see our orthodox faith and be humbled and shaken. Yes, O Lord God, our Saviour, our Strength and Hope and Help, remember not the transgressions and unrighteousness of Your faithful people, and turn not away from us in Your anger. But visit Your mercies and compassions upon Your humble servants, those who fight in defence of Ukraine and her much-suffering people, outnumbered though they be, and hear us who fall down before Your deep compassion. With Your mercy enlighten and make glad the hearts of the civil authorities, and strengthen them by Your might. Rise up to their help and lay low the evil counsels purposed against them by the enemy. Judge them that provoke and make war, and turn their impious boldness into fear and flight. But grant unto the just and God-fearing armies of the children of Ukraine, great boldness and courage to advance and overtake them, and to defeat them in Your Name. And unto them that You have judged worthy to lay down their lives for faith and country, forgive them their trespasses, and in the day of the righteous reckoning grant unto them incorruptible crowns. For You are the health and victory and salvation of them that put their hope in You, and unto You do we send up glory: to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. 

People: Amen. 

Courtesy of the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Toronto and Eastern Canada. “Prepared by the sinful Reader Ilya, feast of the Hieromartyr Clement of Ancyra [23rd January, O.S., 5th February, N.S.]. Brampton, [Ontario, Canada,] 2022.”

Sources:

https://www.ncregister.com/blog/prayer-for-the-deliverance-of-ukraine-in-time-of-invasion

https://www.holyangelssandiego.com/ 

[Errata: “enemy may not to say” changed to “enemy may not say”; “strengthened them” changed to “strengthen them”; “councils” changed to “counsels”; “worthy” added after “judged”; American spelling of “Savior” and “defense” changed to “Saviour” and “defence”; comma added after “hearts” and in the Kyries; references to psalms added and quotation marks inserted.]


Thursday, February 24, 2022

God Save Ukraine

"There is no purgatory for war criminals. They go straight to hell, ambassador."

— Ukraine's UN ambassador Sergiy Kyslytsya to Russia's UN ambassador Vassily Nebenzia, at the UN Security Council, Wednesday 23rd February 2022.

While we must hope that even the most hardened sinner would repent and be saved ere they die, lest they go straight to hell, realistically there is a but a scant chance of that happening, bar a miracle – and it seems unlikely that Putin, in his own eyes the Autocrat of All the Russias, real and imagined, fondly picturing himself as the worthy heir of Catherine the Great (!), would be the recipient of such; for while the Good Thief, moved by grace, was saved by Christ, it was permitted that Judas should hang himself.

Pray for Ukraine, wickedly invaded by Russia at the behest of an evil man; may the many who will die make their peace with God; may those who defend Ukraine fight manfully in the cause of right, knowing that God can give victory either to many or to few; and, as Churchill put it, in the dark days of May 1940:

“Arm yourselves, and be ye men of valour, and be in readiness for the conflict; for it is better for us to perish in battle than to look upon the Outrage of our nation and our altar. As the Will of God is in Heaven, even so let it be.” (Cf. 1 Machabees 3:58, 59, 60)


Sunday, February 20, 2022

Four Responsories Suitable to the Time

Ukraine is threatened with imminent war; pray for that beleaguered nation, that war be averted even now – herewith, as food for prayer, four very suitable responsories from those in the Breviary for the month of October, when the lessons at Matins are taken from the Books of the Machabees, and the responsories reflect their anxious concerns:


Responsory 1. (V. Ps. 58, 12)

R. Congregáti sunt inimíci nostri, et gloriántur in virtúte sua: cóntere fortitúdinem illórum, Dómine, et dispérge illos: * Ut cognóscant quia non est álius qui pugnet pro nobis, nisi tu, Deus noster.

V. Dispérge illos in virtúte tua, et déstrue eos, protéctor noster, Dómine. * Ut cognóscant quia non est álius qui pugnet pro nobis, nisi tu, Deus noster.


R. Our enemies are gathered together, and make their boast of their own strength; O Lord, break their power, and scatter them, * That they may know that there is none other that fighteth for us, but only thou, O our God!

V. Scatter them in thy strength, and destroy them, O Lord our Shield. * That they may know that there is none other that fighteth for us, but only thou, O our God!


Responsory 2. (1 Mach. 4, 8. 9. 10)

R. Impetum inimicórum ne timuéritis: mémores estóte, quómodo salvi facti sunt patres nostri: * Et nunc clamémus in cælum et miserébitur nostri Deus noster.

V. Mementóte mirabílium ejus, quæ fecit pharaóni et exercítui ejus in Mari Rubro. * Et nunc clamémus in cælum et miserébitur nostri Deus noster.


R. Be ye not afraid of the assault of the enemy; remember how our fathers were delivered. * Now, therefore, let us cry unto heaven, and our God will have mercy upon us.

V. Remember His marvellous works that He hath done unto Pharaoh and his host in the Red Sea. * Now, therefore, let us cry unto heaven, and our God will have mercy upon us.


Responsory 3. (Cf. 2 Par. 20, 12; V. 1 Mach. 3, 52. 53)

R. Congregátæ sunt gentes in multitúdine, ut dímicent contra nos, et ignorámus quid ágere debeámus: * Dómine Deus, ad te sunt óculi nostri, ne pereámus.

V. Tu scis quæ cógitant in nos: quómodo potérimus subsístere ante fáciem illórum, nisi tu ádjuves nos? * Dómine Deus, ad te sunt óculi nostri, ne pereámus.


R. The heathen are assembled together to fight against us, and we know not what we should do: * Our eyes look unto thee, O Lord our God, that we should not perish.

V. What things they imagine against us, thou knowest; how shall we be able to stand against them, except thou be our help? * Our eyes look unto thee, O Lord our God, that we should not perish.


Responsory 4. (V. Cf. 2 Mach. 1, 28)

R. Aperi óculos tuos, Dómine, et vide afflictiónem nostram: circumdedérunt nos gentes ad puniéndum nos: * Sed tu, Dómine, exténde brácchium tuum, et líbera ánimas nostras.

V. Afflíge oppriméntes nos et contuméliam faciéntes in supérbiam; et custódi partem tuam. * Sed tu, Dómine, exténde brácchium tuum, et líbera ánimas nostras.

V. Glória Patri, et Fílio, et Spirítui Sancto. * Sed tu, Dómine, exténde brácchium tuum, et líbera ánimas nostras.


R. Open thine eyes, O Lord, and behold our affliction: for the heathen are come round about us to punish us. * But thou, O Lord, stretch forth thine arm, and deliver our souls.

V. Punish them that oppress us and with pride do us wrong, and keep thine own portion. * But thou, O Lord, stretch forth thine arm, and deliver our souls.

V. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. * But thou, O Lord, stretch forth thine arm, and deliver our souls.

Saturday, February 12, 2022

Prayers for Peace and to Avert War in Ukraine

As it appears events may be approaching a crisis, of your charity pray that Russia will not invade Ukraine, that the scourge of war even now be averted: 

Prayers for Peace and to Avert War in Ukraine

Cf. Ecclus 50, 24. 25
Pray ye to the God of all, that he may grant us peace in our days for ever.

Prayer for Peace.
Lord Jesus Christ, who didst say unto thine Apostles: “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you, not as the world giveth, do I give unto you,” regard not our sins but thy merits, and grant unto all thy servants, that they whom the Almighty Father hath created and governeth, and whom thou hast redeemed with thy Precious Blood and hast ordained unto everlasting life, may love one another with all their hearts for thy sake, and may be made one in spirit and rejoice in thy perpetual peace. Lord Jesus Christ, concerning whom the Prophet hath said: “And all kings of the earth shall adore him, all nations shall serve him,” extend thy reign over the whole human race. Send upon all men the light of thy faith, deliver them from all the snares and bonds of passion, and direct them to heavenly things; and graciously grant, that the states and nations may be united by means of thine immaculate Bride, Holy Church, and, through the intercession of the blessed Virgin Mary, Queen of Peace, may serve thee in all humility; and that all tongues and peoples may form one great choir, to praise thee both day and night, to bless thee, to exalt thee, O King of the nations and the Ruler thereof, O Prince of Peace, immortal King of ages. Amen.

Prayers for Peace.
Let us pray the Lord, that he may crush wars, and give peace in all the earth.

1. God of peace, our peace, peaceable King, R. Crush wars, grant peace!
2. Peace we ask, peace grant unto us: R. Crush wars, grant peace!
3. Remove war and deliver us: R. Crush wars, grant peace!
4. With humble prayer we ask, O Lord: R. Crush wars, grant peace!
5. O pious [Lord], repress wars, grant peace. R. Crush wars, grant peace!

1. From threatening wars, R. Deliver us, Lord.
2. From the scourge of war, R. Deliver us, Lord.
3. From enemies open and hidden, R. Deliver us, Lord.
4. From disturbers of peace, R. Deliver us, Lord.
5. From every hostile assault, R. Deliver us, Lord.

1. That thou wouldst deign to humble the enemies of holy Church, R. We pray thee, hear us.
2. That thou wouldst deign to repress the attempt of the Russians and reduce it to nothing, R. We pray thee, hear us.
3. That thou wouldst deign to avert war and every hostile onslaught from Ukraine, R. We pray thee, hear us.
4. That thou wouldst deign to give peace and true concord to Christian kings and princes, R. We pray thee, hear us.
5. That thou wouldst deign to grant peace and unity to the whole Christian people, R. We pray thee, hear us.

V. Scatter thou the nations that delight in wars. (Ps. 67, 31)
R. Take away wars even to the end of the earth. (Cf. Ps. 45, 10)

Let us pray.

Collect. 2nd Sunday after Epiphany.
Almighty everlasting God, who governest at once things heavenly and earthly: clemently hear the supplications of thy people, and grant thy peace to our times. Through Christ our Lord. R. Amen.

Queen of peace, R. Pray for us.

******

Cf. Eccli. 50, 24. 25
Orate Deum omnium, ut det nobis pacem in diebus nostris per dies sempiternos.

Oratio pro pace. (Cf. “Dñe... do vobis: ne respicias peccata mea, sed fidem Ecclesiæ tuæ”)
Domine Jesu Christe, qui dixisti Apostolis tuis: « Pacem relinquo vobis, pacem meam do vobis, non quomodo mundus dat ego do vobis » (Joan. 14, 27), ne respicias peccata nostra sed merita tua, et concede omnibus famulis tuis, ut quos creavit Pater omnipotens atque gubernat, quosque tu pretioso Sanguine redemisti et ad vitam æternam destinasti, omnes alterutrum toto corde propter te diligentes, cor unum fiant et perenni tua pace lætentur. Domine Jesu Christe, de quo cecinit Propheta: « Et adorabunt eum omnes reges terræ, omnes gentes servient ei » (Ps. 71, 11), regnum tuum ad genus humanum universum extende. Super omnes homines fidei tuæ lumen immitte, a passionum illecebris vinculisque eos libera, atque ad cælestia dirige: et concede propitius, ut civitates nationesque per immaculatam Sponsam tuam Ecclesiam sanctam conjunctæ, beatissima Virgine Maria Regina Pacis intercedente, tibi humillime famulentur; et ex omnibus linguis et populis unus existat chorus, qui, die ac nocte, te laudet, te benedicat, te exaltet, o Rex gentium (Jer. 10, 7) et dominator earum, o Princeps pacis (Is. 9, 6), o sæculorum Rex immortalis (cf. 1 Tim. 1, 17). Amen.

Preces pro pace.
Oremus Dominum, ut conterat bella, et donet pacem in universa terra.

1. Deus pacis, pax nostra, Rex pacifice, R. Contere bella, tribue pacem!
2. Pacem rogamus, pacem nobis tribue: R. Contere bella, tribue pacem!
3. Amove bella et nos omnes erue: R. Contere bella, tribue pacem!
4. Humili prece postulamus, Domine. R. Contere bella, tribue pacem!
5. Pie, bella reprime, pacem concede. R. Contere bella, tribue pacem!

1. A bellis imminentibus, R. Libera nos, Domine.
2. A flagello belli, R. Libera nos, Domine.
3. Ab hostibus apertis et occultis, R. Libera nos, Domine.
4. A perturbatoribus pacis, R. Libera nos, Domine.
5. Ab omni hostili incursu, R. Libera nos, Domine.

1. Ut inimicos sanctæ Ecclesiæ humiliare digneris, R. Te rogamus, audi nos.
2. Ut russicorum conatus reprimere et ad nihilum redigere digneris, R. Te rogamus, audi nos.
3. Ut ab Ucraina bellum et omnem incursum hostilem avertere digneris, R. Te rogamus, audi nos.
4. Ut regibus et principibus christianis pacem et veram concordiam donare digneris, R. Te rogamus, audi nos.
5. Ut cuncto populo christiano pacem et unitatem largiri digneris, R. Te rogamus, audi nos.

V. Dissipa gentes quæ bella volunt. (Ps. 67, 31)
R. Aufer bella usque ad finem terræ. (Cf. Ps. 45, 10)

Oremus.

Oratio. Dñca II. post Epiphaniam.
Omnipotens sempiterne Deus, qui cælestia simul et terrena moderaris: supplicationes populi tui clementer exaudi; et pacem tuam nostris concede temporibus. Per Christum Dominum nostrum. R. Amen.

Regina pacis, R. Ora pro nobis.

Thursday, January 6, 2022

A Prayer on the Solemn Feast of the Epiphany of the Lord

At thy birth, O Jesus, a star of wondrous splendour shone forth in the Eastern skies, and led to Bethlehem the Magi, those envoys of far-distant, pagan peoples, even as the Angel, bathed in heavenly light, was summoning to thy manger the shepherds, as representatives of the chosen people. For the Gentiles, as well as the Jews, must needs recognize in thee, a poor and helpless Infant, the Almighty King of Ages, the Saviour of mankind. Neither sceptre nor diadem disclosed thy kingly state; no sweet harmonies, no hosts of Angels mustering round thy crib revealed thy divine nature; but the star, shining above thy wretched stable, pointed to the heavens, the earth, and the entire universe as thine absolute possessions; even as the Magi, who at the inspiration of thy grace, coming promptly from afar, caring naught for dangers, overcoming every difficulty, and embracing every sacrifice, reached thy feet and, kneeling down in reverence, offered thee their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. Thirsting for God, they had gone eagerly in search of thee, and thou did reveal thyself to them in a wonderful manner, while still in thy crib, filling them with ineffable joys and transforming them into the first messengers of thy glories to the peoples of the Orient. After the appearance of the star, which sufficed to render the Magi thy ardent followers, with what marvels, O Jesus, didst thou demonstrate thy divinity! Yet what darkness still overshadows our poor minds! How reluctantly our wills give way to the loving impulses of thy grace, even when they do not openly resist thee! Give us, therefore, O Jesus, the strength to reply ever promptly and generously to thy call, and grant that the divine light of faith, which was enkindled by thee within us while still in our cradles, may ever accompany us on the road of life, until, blessed at last in heaven, we shall be able to fix our eyes upon thee in the light of glory.

The Raccolta, n. 130.

Amen! So be it! Amen!

Friday, December 24, 2021

Merry Christmas 2021

Christ is born! Glorify him!

Christmas! the wondrous Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ, both God and man, the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity, the Eternal Word incarnate for our salvation, who liveth and reigneth for ever and ever, who is and ever shall be the Victor over sin, Satan, death and hell.



"the Light shineth in darkness" — St John i, 5

This is now the third Christmas of the pandemic, for the virus was already about its fell work in Wuhan back in December 2019... may God see fit to deliver us before next Christmas.

A blessed, safe and happy Christmas to all.

Saturday, October 9, 2021

Shortest Composite Proper

The variable chants, lessons and orations that comprise the Proper of the Mass vary widely in length; out of curiosity, I have assembled the shortest of each of them, taken from the Roman Missal of 1962 (in the case of the chants, this involved counting the notes of each) into a shortest composite proper, illustrative of the minimum required – which in the case of the chants and lessons, amounts to about a verse of Scripture each (two, for the Introit and Tract), and as for the prayers, a similar word-length applies:


NB Procession before Rogation Mass [used as an Introit in the Ordinary Form]

[44 notes, excl. psalm verse & Gloria Patri; 18 words; 21+23=44 syllables; 114 characters (no spaces): all statistics excl. Gloria Patri]

Ps. 43, 26

Exsurge, Domine, adjuva nos, et libera nos propter nomen tuum.

Ps. ibid., 2 Deus, auribus nostris audivimus, patres nostri annuntiaverunt nobis.

V. Gloria Patri.


Shortest Introit: SS Marius, Martha, Audifax & Abachum, Martyrs (19 Jan.) 

[57 notes excl. Ps. verse & Gloria Patri; one verse, plus Ps. verse, etc.; 26+32=58 syllables, 11+14=25 words, 136 characters (no spaces): all statistics excl. Gloria Patri]

Introitus Ps. 67, 4

Justi epulentur, et exsultent in conspectu Dei, et delectentur in lætitia. 

Ps. ibid., 2 Exsurgat Deus, et dissipentur inimici ejus: et fugiant qui oderunt eum, a facie ejus.

V. Gloria Patri.


NB Shortest Collect in the Breviary: “Absolution” [in form, a Collect] of First Nocturn of Matins

[10 words, 25 syllables, 62 characters (no spaces); excl. Qui...]

Exáudi, Dómine Jesu Christe, preces servórum tuórum, et miserére nobis: Qui...


Shortest Collect in the Missal: 17th Sunday after Pentecost 

[15 words, 37 syllables (same as shortest Epistle), 82 characters (no spaces); excl. Per...]

Oratio.

Da, quæsumus, Domine, populo tuo diabolica vitare contagia: et te solum Deum pura mente sectari. Per... 


Shortest Epistle: Daily Requiem Mass 

[one verse; 30 words, 70 syllables, 166 characters (no spaces)]

Lectio libri Apocalypsis beati Joannis Apostoli. 

Apoc. 14, 13 

In diebus illis: Audivi vocem de cælo, dicentem mihi: Scribe: Beati mortui, qui in Domino moriuntur. Amodo jam dicit Spiritus, ut requiescant a laboribus suis: opera enim illorum sequuntur illos.


Shortest Gradual: Common of a Virgin & Martyr, 1st Mass 

[62 + 93 = 155 notes; one verse; 13 words, 37 syllables, 81 characters (no spaces)]

Graduale Ps. 44, 8

Dilexisti justitiam, et odisti iniquitatem. 

V. Propterea unxit te Deus, Deus tuus, oleo lætitiæ.


Shortest Tract: Lenten Ember Saturday; Easter Vigil; Pentecost Vigil; Whit Saturday; September Ember Saturday 

[112 + 138 = 250 notes; 22 words; 54 syllables; 130 characters (no spaces)]

Tractus Ps. 116, 1-2

Laudate Dominum, omnes gentes: et collaudate eum, omnes populi. 

V. Quoniam confirmata est super nos misericordia ejus: et veritas Domini manet in æternum.


Shortest Alleluia: Queenship B.V.M. (31st May), 2nd Alleluia

[35 + 58 = 93 notes (excl. any repeat of the All.); 6 words, 10 syllables, 25 characters (no spaces), excl. All.]

Alleluja.

V. Nunc cum eo regnas in æternum. 

Alleluja.


2nd-Shortest Alleluia: Whit Saturday, 2nd Alleluia

[30+66 = 96 notes (excl. any repeat of the All.); one verse; 4 words, also 10 syllables, also 25 characters (no spaces), excl. All.]

Alleluja. 

V. Job 26, 13 Spiritus ejus ornavit cælos. 


Shortest Gospel: Circumcision (1st January); Holy Name of Jesus

[one verse; 25 words, 57 syllables, 143 characters (no spaces)]

Sequentia sancti Evangelii secundum Lucam.

Luc. 2, 21

In illo tempore: Postquam consummati sunt dies octo, ut circumcideretur Puer: vocatum est nomen ejus Jesus, quod vocatum est ab Angelo priusquam in utero conciperetur.


Shortest Offertory: St Stanislaus Kostka (13th November, PAL)

[88 notes; one verse; 10 words, 24 syllables, 54 characters (no spaces)]

Offertorium Ps. 42, 4

Introibo ad altare Dei: ad Deum, qui lætificat juventutem meam.


Shortest Secret: First Sunday after Epiphany; Sexagesima Sunday; Monday after the 4th Sunday in Lent 

[9 words, 24 syllables, 57 characters (no spaces); excl. Per...]

Secreta.

Oblatum tibi, Domine, sacrificium vivificet nos semper et muniat. Per...


Shortest Communion: 7th Sunday after Pentecost

[one verse; 43 notes; 7 words, 17 syllables, 38 characters (no spaces)]

Communio Ps. 30, 3

Inclina aurem tuam, accelera, ut eripias me.


Shortest Postcommunion: St John before the Latin Gate (6th May, PAL)

[9 words, 24 syllables, 61 characters (no spaces); excl. Per...]

Postcommunio

Refecti, Domine, pane cælesti: ad vitam, quæsumus, nutriamur æternam. Per...


Shortest Oratio super populum: Lenten Ember Friday

[11 words, 26 syllables, 64 characters (no spaces); excl. Per...]

Oratio.

Exaudi nos, misericors Deus: et mentibus nostris gratiæ tuæ lumen ostende. Per...

Sunday, August 15, 2021

Consecration to Our Lady Queen of the Angels - Fifth Anniversary

Particularly at this time, it is wise to redouble one’s prayers and consecrate oneself to Our Lady, as the Queen of Angels Latin Mass Community of the Archdiocese of Hobart first did five years ago; for convenience, here are some suitable forms to employ:


Aña. Ave, Regina cælorum, 

Ave, Domina Angelorum:

Salve, radix, salve, porta,

Ex qua mundo lux est orta:

Gaude, Virgo gloriosa,

Super omnes speciosa,

Vale, o valde decora,

Et pro nobis Christum exora.

V. Ave María, Regína Angelórum.

R. Ora pro nobis servis tuis.

Orémus.

Oratio. Supplicatiónem servórum tuórum, Deus miserátor, exáudi: ut qui in Communitáte Regínæ Angelórum congregámur, ejus intercessiónibus, a te de instántibus perículis eruámur. Per Christum Dóminum nostrum. R. Amen.

 

(Ant. Hail, O Queen of Heaven enthroned,

Hail, by angels mistress owned,

Root of Jesse, Gate of Morn

Whence the world's true light was born:

Glorious Virgin, joy to thee,

Loveliest whom in heaven they see;

Fairest thou, where all are fair,

Plead with Christ our souls to spare.

(V. Hail Mary, Queen of the Angels.

(R. Pray for us thy servants.

(Let us pray.

(Collect. Graciously hear the supplication of thy servants, O merciful God, that we, who are gathered in the Community of the Queen of the Angels, may, at her intercession, by thee be delivered from threatening dangers. Through Christ our Lord. R. Amen.)

 

Consecration to Our Lady, Queen of Angels.

Holy Virgin, Sovereign of the heavenly hierarchies, who by the august title of Mother of God have been raised to the dignity of Queen of Angels, we unite ourselves today to those blessed spirits to render to you our duty and our profound homage; we come to consecrate ourselves forever to your service. We already belong, it is true, to your beloved Congregation; however, permit us to declare loudly, O Mary, that we are and will always be your children. Immaculate Virgin, who have never been invoked in vain, show that you are truly our mother; we beseech you, show to us, especially during these rejoicings, that we are passing through the midst of a corrupt world that will strive to deceive us; show the enemies of our salvation that you are more powerful to save us than they are to destroy us; govern us by the good offices of our celestial Guardians. We must fight the infernal legions, an evil and seductive world, and especially our passions and evil inclinations; who will defend us against such formidable enemies if you do not come to our rescue? You are terrible as an army in battle array: it is for you to support us in these battles. O Mary, bright star of the sea, guide us in the midst of this stormy sea, so full of pitfalls that many of the virtuous have been wrecked! You are beautiful as the lily among thorns: preserve us in an inviolable purity in the midst of universal corruption. We entrust to you the precious deposit of our innocence, which will be safer in your hands, O Virgin of virgins, whose purity exceeds that of the same Angels. O Mother most amiable, enlarge your heart, open to us a refuge against the fury and dangerous seductions of the infernal dragon whose head you crushed. You are all powerful with the Almighty: gain for us, we beseech you, all relief that we need to overcome the devil, the world and ourselves. Finally, obtain for us the grace to lead an angelic life, that we may deserve to be assisted and strengthened at the hour of death, by you and by our holy angels, and be rewarded in heaven. Amen.


Sunday, February 14, 2021

When Not to Say "Amen"

Especially at Low Mass, sometimes the overeager faithful reply Amen when they ought not.

The priest begins the prayers at the foot of the altar by making the sign of the Cross, saying In nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti. Amen. No one, neither the server(s) nor the rest of the congregation, replies here - the priest himself says the Amen.

When the priest recites the Introit, he reads the Gloria Patri, ending with an Amen; however, as he immediately repeats the Introit antiphon, it is far less likely that an overzealous attendee would attempt to say Amen at that point.

It should be carefully noted, though, that when the priest recites the Gloria in excelsis, and, likewise, the Credo, in both cases he himself concludes each with an Amen, which is his to say, and is not the province of the faithful present at Mass, however heartily they concur – despite this, some mistakenly try to reply Amen, not realising that here there is no reply to give.

When the priest administers Communion to the faithful, he says to each Corpus Domini nostri Jesu Christi custodiat animam tuam in vitam æternam. Amen. Again, the individual communicant ought say nothing – as they are at that moment kneeling with their tongue extended, ready to receive the Host, by trying to saying Amen, they will only obstruct the administration of Communion.

It is always wise to be aware of the rubrics.

Wednesday, October 7, 2020

Prayers in Time of Universal Contagion

Ever since the end of February, I’ve been praying for deliverance from the present pandemic, and have over time developed a sort of litany for daily use, derived from various traditional prayers, as follows (first in Latin, then in English) – note, that in Latin you don’t say “the city of N” but instead “the N* city”, where N* is the adjectival form of N; similarly, Latin prefers to use an adjective (spineam Coronam, “thorny crown”) where the English employs a genitive (“crown of thorns”); and obviously one should replace the name(s) of the place(s) and region(s) prayed for with one’s own place(s) and region(s) of concern:

Preces in tempore universalis contagii. 

Sanctus Deus, Sanctus Fortis, Sanctus Immortalis, miserere nobis: et sicut pepercisti clementer contritæ Urbi Ninivæ, sic et parce Stephanopoli (add. et Melburniæ et Sydneio et Brisbanæ et Perthiæ et Adelaidopoli et Darwin et Camberræ). — Parce nobis, Domine. 

Sancta Trinitas, unus Deus, pro avertenda peste, qua nos punis, vota Tasmaniæ (add. et Victoriæ et Novæ Cambriæ Australis et Terræ Reginæ et Australiæ Occidentalis et Australiæ Australis et Territorii Septentrionalis et Territorii Capitalis Australiani) urbisque (vel: urbiumque) Stephanopolitani (add. et Melburnensis et Sydneyensis et Brisbanensis et Perthensis et Adelaidopolitani et Darvinensis et Camberrensis) benigne exaudi. — Exaudi nos, Domine. 

Per spíneam Corónam tuam, — Líbera nos, Dómine. 

A flagéllo pestiléntiæ, — Líbera nos, Dómine. 
A perículo infectiónis, — Líbera nos, Dómine. 
Ab aëris corruptióne, — Líbera nos, Dómine. 

Ut a nobis pestiléntiæ flagéllum avértere dignéris, — Te rogámus, audi nos. 
Ut nos ab homínibus et rebus inféctis custodíre dignéris, — Te rogámus, audi nos. 
Ut auram salúbrem nobis impertíri dignéris, — Te rogámus, audi nos. 
Ut mereámur pestem epidémiæ illǽsi pertransíre, — Te rogámus, audi nos. 
Ut mereámur præservári a peste mortífera, — Te rogámus, audi nos. 
Ut civitátem istam (vel: civitates istas) deféndere, protégere, custodíre, conserváre et benedícere dignéris, — Te rogámus, audi nos. 

Domina nostra, Salus infirmorum, — Ora pro nobis. 
Sancte Sebastiane, — Ora pro nobis. 
Sancte Roche, — Ora pro nobis. 
Sancte Thoma, — Ora pro nobis. 
Sancta Rosalia, — Ora pro nobis. 

V. Dómine, dic Angelo percutienti populum: 
R. Sufficit; nunc contine manum tuam. (Cf. 2 Reg. 24, 16) 

Orémus. 

Oratio. 
Peccatis nostris indignationem tuam meruimus, Domine, ut mortiferæ pestilitatis territi, contagio juste contremiscamus; sed intercessione beatæ semper Virginis Mariæ, sanctorumque tuorum Sebastiani, Rochi Thomæ atque Rosaliæ placatus, mala quibus affligimur clementer averte. Per Christum Dominum nostrum. R. Amen. 

O adorande Plasmator, — Exaudi nos, et miserere populo tuo. 
O omnipotens Sanator, — Exaudi nos, et miserere populo tuo. 
O optime Consolator, — Exaudi nos, et miserere populo tuo. 
O misericors et miserator et juste Domine Deus noster, — Exaudi nos, et miserere populo tuo. (Cf. Ps. 111, 4)

Prayers in Time of Universal Contagion.

Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us: and as thou didst clemently spare the contrite city of Nineveh, so also spare Launceston (add. and Melbourne and Sydney and Brisbane and Perth and Adelaide and Darwin and Canberra). — Spare us, O Lord. 

Holy Trinity, one God, for averting the plague, by which thou punishest us, benignly hear the prayer of Tasmania (add. and Victoria and New South Wales and Queensland and Western Australia and South Australia and the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory) and of the city (or: cities) of Launceston (add. and Melbourne and Sydney and Brisbane and Perth and Adelaide and Darwin and Canberra). — Graciously hear us, O Lord.  

By thy Crown of thorns, — Deliver us, O Lord. 

From the scourge of pestilence, — Deliver us, O Lord. 
From peril of infection, — Deliver us, O Lord. 
From corruption of the air, — Deliver us, O Lord. 

That thou wouldst vouchsafe to avert the scourge of pestilence from us, — We pray thee, hear us. 
That thou wouldst vouchsafe to guard us from infected men and objects, — We pray thee, hear us. 
That thou wouldst vouchsafe to impart healthful air unto us, — We pray thee, hear us. 
That we may deserve to pass unharmed through the plague of the epidemic, — We pray thee, hear us. 
That we may deserve to be preserved from deadly plague, — We pray thee, hear us. 
That thou wouldst vouchsafe to defend, protect, guard, preserve and bless this city (or: these cities), — We pray thee, hear us. 

Our Lady, Health of the Sick, — Pray for us. 
Saint Sebastian, — Pray for us. 
Saint Roch, — Pray for us. 
Saint Thomas, — Pray for us. 
Saint Rosalia, — Pray for us. 

V. O Lord, say to the Angel striking the people: 
R. Enough; now hold thy hand. (Cf. 2 Sam. 24:16)

Let us pray. 

Collect.
Our sins have deserved thine indignation, Lord, that, terrified of the deadly pestilence, we may justly tremble at contagion: but, appeased by the intercession of the Blessed ever-Virgin Mary, and of thy Saints Sebastian, Roch, Thomas and Rosalia, clemently avert the evils with which we are afflicted. Through Christ our Lord. R. Amen. 

O adorable Creator, — Hear us, and have mercy on thy people. 
O almighty Healer, — Hear us, and have mercy on thy people.
O best Consoler, — Hear us, and have mercy on thy people.
O merciful and compassionate and just Lord our God, — Hear us, and have mercy on thy people. (Cf. Ps. 111:4)