The Translation of Saint James

Both in the Mozarabic Rite, and in the proper calendar for Spain according to the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite, the 30th of December is not an unadorned day of the Christmas Octave, but rather the Feast of the Translation of St James, according to the ancient tradition whereby his sacred body was transported from Jerusalem to Santiago de Compostela. 

How delightful, that the days after Our Lord's Nativity should honour, first St Stephen, first Christian Martyr, next St John the beloved disciple, Apostle and Evangelist, thirdly the Holy Innocents, the first to die for Christ, fourthly the great Archbishop-Martyr Thomas à Becket, and fifthly the Translation of the Apostle St James, before lastly, on the last day of December, honouring St Sylvester, Pope of Christian freedom and peace.

I append the texts of the Mass of the Translation of St James, first in Latin, then in an English version:

Die xxx Decembris.

IN FESTO TRANSLATIONIS

S. Jacobi Apostoli, et Hispaniarum Patroni.

Introitus. Tob. 13, 13 & 14.

Luce splendida fulgebit justus. Nationes ex longinquo venient ad eum, et adorabunt Dominum in conspectu ejus, et terram suam in sanctificationem habebunt.

Psalm. 150, 1. Laudate Dominum in Sanctis ejus: Laudate eum in firmamento virtutis ejus.

Gloria Patri.

Oratio

Deus, qui dispositione mirabili Corpus beati Jacobi Apostoli tui de Hierosolymis ad Hispaniam transferri, et in Compostella gloriosè sepeliri voluisti: concede quæsumus, ut ejus meritis, et precibus in cælesti Jérusalem collocari mereamur. Per Dominum.

Si hoc Fest. venerit in Domin. aut die, in quo fit de ea, fit commemorat. Domin. postea Oct. in fine dicitur Evang. ejusdem Dominicæ.

Lectio Epistolæ beati Pauli Apostoli ad Corinthios. 1 Cor. 15, 39-50.

Fratres, non omnis caro eadem caro, sed alia quidem hominum, alia vero pecorum, alia volucrum, alia autem piscium. Et corpora cælestia, et corpora terrestria: sed alia quidem cælestium gloria, alia autem terrestrium. Alia claritas solis, alia claritas lunæ, et alia claritas stellarum. Stella enim à Stella differt in claritate: sic et resurrectio mortuorum. Seminatur in corruptione, surget in incorruptione. Seminatur in ignobilitate, surget in gloria. Seminatur in infirmitate, surget in virtute. Seminatur corpus animale, surget corpus spiritale. Si est corpus animale, est et spiritale, sicut scriptum est: Factus est primus homo Adam in animam viventem, novissimus Adam in spiritum vivificantem. Sed non priús quod spiritale est, sed quod animale: deinde quod spiritale. Primus homo de terra terrenus: secundus homo de cælo cælestis. Qualis terrenus, tales et terreni: qualis cælestis, tales et cælestes. Igitur, sicut portavimus imaginem terreni, portemus et imaginem cælestis. Hoc autem dico, fratres, quia caro, et sanguis regnum Dei possidere non possunt: neque corruptio incorruptelam possidebit.

Graduale. Ps. 33, 7 & 21.

Iste Sanctus clamavit ad Dominum, et exaudivit eum: et de omnibus tribulationibus ejus salvavit eum.

V. Custodit Dominus omnia ossa ejus: unum ex his non conteretur.

Alleluja, alleluja.

Isai. 2, 2 & 11, 10. V. Fluent ad eum omnes gentes, et erit sepulchrum ejus gloriosum.

Alleluja.

Sequentia sancti Evangelii secundùm Matthæum. 20, 20-23.

In illo tempore: Accessit ad Jesum mater filiorum Zebedæi cum filiis suis, adorans, et petens aliquid ab eo. Qui dixit ei: Quid vis? Ait illi: Dic ut sedeant hi duo filii mei, unus ad dexteram tuam, et unus ad sinistram in regno tuo. Respondens autem Jesus, dixit: Nescitis quid petatis. Potestis bibere calicem, quem ego bibiturus sum? Dicunt ei: Possumus. Ait illis: Calicem quidem meum bibetis: sedere autem ad dexteram meam, vel sinistram, non est meum dare vobis, sed quibus paratum est à Patre meo.

Credo.

Offertorium. Eccli. 44, 14.

Corpora Sanctorum in pace sepulta sunt, et nomen eorum vivit in generationem, et generationem. Alleluja.

Secreta.

Præsta, quæsumus omnipotens Deus; ut beati Jacobi Apostoli tui intercessione, quem ad laudem tui nominis, dicatis muneribus honoramus, piæ in nobis fructus devotionis accrescat. Per Dominum.

Præfatio, et Communic. de Nat.

Communio. Isai. 55, 5.

Gentes, quæ te non cognoverunt, ad te current, et adorabunt, propter Dominum Deum tuum, et sanctum Israël; quia glorificavit te.

Posteommunio.

Deus, qui beatum Jacobum Apostolum tuum gloriosum fecisti in cælis, et ejus Corpus singulari cultu venerari voluisti in terris: concede propitius; ut, qui mirabilem ejus translationem festivo celebramus obsequio, ad æternam gloriam ejus intercessione transferri mereamur. Per Dominum.

******

30th December.

THE FEAST of the TRANSLATION

of St James the Apostle, and Patron of Spain.

Introit. (Tob. 13, 13 et 14; Ps. 150, 1)

With a glorious light the just shall shine. Nations from afar shall come to him, and shall adore the Lord in his presence, and shall esteem his land as holy.

Ps. Praise ye the Lord in his Saints: praise ye him in the firmament of his power.

Glory be.

Collect.

O God, who by marvellous management didst will the body of blessed James thine apostle to be transferred from Jerusalem to Spain and in Compostela to be buried magnificently: grant, we beseech thee; that by his merits and prayers we may deserve to be assembled together in the heavenly Jerusalem. Through...

If this Feast should occur on Sunday, or the day on which the Sunday is kept, a commemoration of the Sunday is made after that of the Octave, and at the end is said the Gospel of the same Sunday. [According to the liturgical books of 1962, this rubric would not apply.]

Lesson from the Epistle of blessed Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians.

(1 Cor. 15, 39-50)

Brethren: All flesh is not the same flesh: but one is the flesh of men, another of beasts, another of birds, another of fishes. And there are bodies celestial, and bodies terrestrial: but, one is the glory of the celestial, and another of the terrestrial. One is the glory of the sun, another the glory of the moon, and another the glory of the stars. For star differeth from star in glory. So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption, it shall rise in incorruption. It is sown in dishonour, it shall rise in glory. It is sown in weakness, it shall rise in power. It is sown a natural body, it shall rise a spiritual body. If there be a natural body, there is also a spiritual body, as it is written: The first man Adam was made into a living soul; the last Adam into a quickening spirit. Yet that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; afterwards that which is spiritual. The first man was of the earth, earthly: the second man, from heaven, heavenly. Such as is the earthly, such also are the earthly: and such as is the heavenly, such also are they that are heavenly. Therefore as we have borne the image of the earthly, let us bear also the image of the heavenly. Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot possess the kingdom of God: neither shall corruption possess incorruption.

Gradual (Ps. 33, 7 et 21)

This Saint cried to the Lord, and he heard him: and out of all his troubles he saved him.

V. The Lord keepeth all their bones, not one of them shall be broken.

Alleluia, alleluia. (Is. 2, 2 et 11, 10)

V. All nations shall flow unto him, and his sepulchre shall be glorious.

Alleluia.

The continuation of the holy Gospel according to Matthew (20, 20-23)

At that time: There came to Jesus the mother of the sons of Zebedee with her sons, adoring and asking something of him. Who said to her: What wilt thou? She saith to him: Say that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left, in thy kingdom. And Jesus answering, said: You know not what you ask. Can you drink the chalice that I shall drink? They say to him: We can. He saith to them: My chalice indeed you shall drink; but to sit on my right or left hand, is not mine to give to you, but to them for whom it is prepared by my Father.

Creed.

Offertory (Ecclus 44, 14.)

The bodies of the Saints are buried in peace, and their name liveth unto generation, and generation.

Secret

Grant, we beg, almighty God, that, by the intercession of blessed James thine Apostle, whom, to the praise of thy name, we honour by dedicated gifts, the fruit of pious devotion may grow in us. Through…

Preface and Communicantes of Christmas.

Communion (Is. 55, 5)

Nations, that knew not thee, shall run to thee, and shall adore, because of the Lord thy God, and the Holy One of Israel; for he hath glorified thee.

Postcommunion

O God, who didst make blessed James thine Apostle glorious in heaven, and didst will his body to be venerated with singular care on earth: grant propitiously; that, we who celebrate his marvellous translation with festive worship, may deserve, at his intercession, to be transferred to everlasting glory. Through…

Thankfulness for Christ's Being Made Man

From the devout writings of John Kettlewell, Anglican clergyman and Nonjuror (1653-1695):

What am I, dear Lord, that thou shouldst leave the right hand of God, and come to visit me? Hadst thou no ease in thy own breast so long as I lay plunged in misery? How camest thou, being so highly exalted, and the eternal Son of God, to have any affectionate concern at all for me? Was I not a deformed, polluted wretch, and thy professed enemy? And was not either of these to turn away thy face from me? But if, notwithstanding all this, thy overflowing goodness would put thee upon doing something for my sake; why must thou come thyself upon earth, and be subject to the miseries of human nature, and to the affronts of an ungrateful world, to bleed and die to redeem me? How unfathomable is thy grace, and what an unsearchable depth of love is this, which thou hast opened to us! O! how happy do I think myself in it, and how doth my heart rejoice at the remembrance of it! Lord! I love thee dearly, and long to love thee more: would I had the heart of the seraphim, that I might be all over love, and feel my soul affected to that degree which I desire, and thou infinitely deservest of me: I wish no greater pleasure than to be found perfect in thy love, and to have thee so dear to me, that I may contemn all the gilded vanities and allurements of this world at the thoughts of it. O! that thou wouldest fill me, if that might be, with an affection full and absolute, like thy own, that so I might love thee infinitely, as I am beloved by thee. At least possess me with such a sense of thy love, and such thankfulness for all thy favours, as is somewhat worthy of thee: though should I offer the utmost acknowledgments, which the most affected and enlarged heart can pay, I should not give thee the thousandth part of what I owe thee. Let all the angels adore thy glorious goodness, and all the sons of men, so long as they have a tongue to speak, set forth thy noble praise; for thou, O sweetest Jesu, art the Son of the Blessed, the joy and glory of the world, the Lamb of God, the Saviour of Mankind, who was slain for our sakes, and art alive again, and sittest now for ever at the right hand of power, in the glory of the Father, that angels may submit to thee, and all the world may worship thee, and praise thy goodness, power, and glory, to all eternity. Amen.

A very blessed and holy Christmas to all, with ardent prayers for the good estate of the whole Church, that the Lord may grant her speedy and complete deliverance from the unhappy cause of all her recent trials, that his Virgin Mother's Immaculate Heart may triumph.

I Can't Speak French

Being unable to understand French, I ran through an online automatic translator the instructions put out by the Cardinal Archbishop of Paris, back in 1874, for the customs to be retained when introducing the Roman Rite. This produced some hilarious results:

The custom of giving screams during Mass as well as vespers to the singers who are tonsured, and even to those who are not so, if they are allowed to wear the cassock in the Community where they are admitted.

…Indians may be admitted to High Mass... 

…we can use two apologists for the incensing of the Choir… 

…during the period of the Uffizi… 

The canons, the Celebrant and his assistants, if they are in a hat… 

The inclination is poor when you greet superiors, equals and Chorus.

All rise to render salvation to the Priest or Superior of the place.

…sometimes after the lessons precede the epistle… 

…Ave stella husbands… 

During the Magnificat, one is standing, without relying on mercy.

During the singing of memoirs, one standing shot Choir.

If some of MM. The Priests believe that in view of the number of Communists and the smallness of their church, two low Masses can not satisfy the need of the Faithful; they must address themselves to His Eminence, who will examine what number of Masses it is necessary to grant them.

Parisian jumpers carry on their backs a fairly typical cross… 

The practice existed almost everywhere in France, that during certain pieces sung, two singers "beat the chorus"… 

"We could not find the date of the introduction of the Indians into the Parisian Liturgy. The Missal of 1666 mentions them as serving the Metropolitan Church." 

When the clergy is standing shot in choir, those in the stalls rely on the mercy… 

…they do not rely on mercy when the choir is facing the altar.

The Canons can sit as soon as the last of them has been praised… 

The rule of Nicaea subsists in filigree in the Roman ritual… 

In fact, for the candlestick of Darkness… 

Many girls Updates to the tomb to be found in churches served the ceremony…

Ninth Anniversary

I began this blog (which hasn't been kept up very often for a long time now) nine years ago, on the feast of that great monastic saint, Venerable Sabbas the Sanctified (Ὅσιος Σάββας ὁ Ἡγιασμένος), to whom I have since learnt is attributed the Typicon or set of directions for the liturgical rites of the Byzantine Liturgy – how appropriate for unworthy me, who often acts as M.C., directs a choir, prays the Office, etc. I was delighted to find his commemoration among the texts of the EF Mass today. May anything of good blogged here be attributed to Divine Providence through his intercession; may all the bad be forgiven me by the Lord at his prayers.

I was recently privileged to serve Mass for Fr Pius, who has recently moved to Tasmania to found a traditional Benedictine monastery with the blessing of our beloved Archbishop; to this end, I turn in prayer to St Sabbas, himself a great founder of monasteries, in the words of another famous monastic founder, Abbot Guéranger, from his masterwork The Liturgical Year (Vol. I, p. 337):

O Sabas, “thou man of desires” (Dan. x, 11)! in thy expectation of that Lord, who has bid His servants watch until He come (cf. Matt. xxiv. 42), thou didst withdraw into the desert, fearing lest the turmoil of the world might distract thy mind from its God. Have pity on us who are living in the world, and are so occupied in the affairs of that world, and yet who have received the commandment, which thou didst so take to heart, of keeping ourselves in readiness for the coming of our Saviour and our Judge. Pray for us, that when He comes we may be worthy to go out to meet Him (cf. Matt. xxv, 6). Remember also the monastic state, of which thou art one of the brightest ornaments; raise it up again from its ruins; let its children be men of prayer and faith, as of old; let thy spirit be among them, and the Church thus regain, by thy intercession, all the glory which is reflected on her from the sublime perfection of this holy state.

Amen, so be it!

Birthday, Confession and First Communion

Again my birthday has rolled around, my forty-second; I seem to recall that "42" was alleged in a sci-fi novel to be 'the answer' to life, the universe and everything, which raised the issue of what the question was in the first place! 

Today being Saturday, I had a nice sleep-in after a pleasant eve-of-birthday dinner with family at the local Chinese restaurant last night; then it was off to Confession at Apostles as is my weekly custom… I had hoped to be early enough to be first in line (I believe strongly in being as quick and to the point as possible when confessing), and arrived just before the priest at 10 am, but as it was I was fourth, and didn't get out of the box till twenty past. At least I had time to say Mattins and pray a little more whilst waiting.

Then I had to drive as fast as lawfully allowed to Glengarry, where (at the little country church of St Canice – "in-the-fields", as Fr Allan used to say) I was expected to sing at a special Missa cantata for the First Communion of the daughter of some friends of mine. I was also bringing the Mass booklets for the congregation, the music for the rest of the choir, the altar cards and the altar missal! 

Luckily, after I arrived, I found that Mass wasn't going to start strictly on time after all, so I could relax. However, I did have a near-miss: for when rushing to put the altar cards in place, I leaned the central card against the crucifix as usual, only to have the crucifix fall backwards against the stained-glass window behind the altar, somehow avoiding breaking it, but bending the crucifix (though Fr Suresh was able to bend it back into shape).

The Mass – of St Elizabeth of Hungary, with commemoration of Pope St Pontian – was beautiful: beforehand, we sang Veni Creator Spiritus; we psalm-toned the Propers, chanted the Messe Royale for the Ordinary, and during the Offertory sang Jesu dulcis memoria, after Communion, Ave verum, during the Last Gospel, the simple Salve, and for a recessional, Faber's devout hymn, "Jesus, my Lord, my God, my all". It was good to sing with the choir, since the 2nd M.C. had come up from Hobart, so I didn't have to serve as I usually do. Fr Suresh preached a special sermon about the Blessed Eucharist, especially for our first communicant. Afterward, in the adjoining church hall, we had a delightful celebration.

Of your charity, please pray for Peter, the father of an old friend I met at the First Communion party: I was shocked to learn that he is very ill with cancer.

I drove home along some of the quiet country roads in the district, through patches of bushland interspersed with farmland. Family members had given me a bottle of gin for my birthday, so I had a G&T once I got back, to celebrate. Then, it was time for some gardening, before heading off to the parish Vigil Mass of Christ the King (I sang with the choir, and read the first reading). Somewhat oddly, I then had Mexican for tea. All in all, a happy birthday.

Back from Christus Rex

Once again, I've walked as part of the Christus Rex Pilgrimage from Ballarat to Bendigo – this was my eighth. This year, the main trial was a plague of mosquitoes, particularly on the last day; I've never known mosquitoes like it. But of course the holy pilgrimage itself found its culmination and raison d'être in the solemn celebration of the traditional form of the Mass: a pre-pilgrimage Requiem High Mass on the Thursday evening at Ballarat Cathedral; the morning Votive High Mass of the Holy Cross, with commemoration of SS Simon and Jude, Apostles, early on the Friday morning; the beautiful midday Mass of Our Lady on Saturday; the afternoon Pontifical High Mass of Christ the King; and the Monday morning High Mass, this year of the Vigil of All Saints. In addition, as usual, I assisted my former parish priest, Fr Rowe, by serving his Low Mass on the Friday, Saturday and Sunday; this meant I missed a bit of each day's walk, which wasn't so bad! The camaraderie of the pilgrimage was itself a great blessing, as it affords me the chance to catch up with old friends I rarely see these days. I have already booked my accommodation for next year. ¡Viva Cristo Rey!

Contra Kasper

...the Lord was witness to the covenant between you and the wife of your youth, to whom you have been faithless, though she is your companion and your wife by covenant. Has not the one God made and sustained for us the spirit of life? And what does he desire? Godly offspring. So take heed to yourselves, and let none be faithless to the wife of his youth. "For I hate divorce, says the Lord the God of Israel, and covering one's garment with violence, says the Lord of hosts. So take heed to yourselves and do not be faithless."

"...I will draw near to you for judgment; I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, against the adulterers, against those who swear falsely, against those who oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow and the orphan, against those who thrust aside the sojourner, and do not fear me, says the Lord of hosts. For I the Lord do not change…"

— Malachi 3:14-16; 4:5-6 [RSV]

Consecration to Our Lady Queen of Angels

The Latin Mass Community of the Archdiocese of Hobart was this day consecrated to its newly-chosen Patroness, Our Lady, Queen of Angels. After the usual Sunday morning Mass in Hobart, and after this evening's second-Sunday-of-the-month Missa cantata in Launceston, one and all recited the Act of Consecration, entrusting the whole Community, and each member thereof, to her maternal care.

This evening, during the Last Gospel, the choir sang the Ave Regina cælorum (using the Dominican version); after that came the following versicle, collect and the Act of Consecration itself, followed by the recessional hymn, "Help of Christians, guard this land":

V. Ave María, Regína Angelórum.

R. Ora pro nobis servis tuis. 

Orémus. 

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. 

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.

An Antiphon from the Church of the Beatitudes

When in the Holy Land on pilgrimage a few years ago, I visited the Church of the Beatitudes, and in the adjoining gift shop I bought a postcard-sized reproduction of a piece of Gregorian chant whose text was, of course, the Beatitudes - the whole text thereof. I assume it is an antiphon, and from the range of notes and its final, it must be in mode IV; but I have been unable to locate its source. Just today I got around to typesetting it: here it is.

The odd-numbered beatitudes each share the same basic melody, as does part of the last beatitude - but in reverse: quoniam ipsorum est regnum cælorum has the tune of the first half-verse of each of those odd-numbered beatitudes, Beati qui persecutionem the same as their second halves, while patiuntur propter justitiam seems instead to have the same tune as that shared by the even-numbered beatitudes.

Can anyone identify its source? Could it be Franciscan?

Mass against the Pagans

The 1962 edition of the Roman Missal changed the title of the Votive Mass contra paganos to pro Ecclesiæ defensione (for the defence of the Church), but left all of its texts unchanged. Being a Votive Mass for a pressing need, it is said without Gloria in excelsis and Credo, and the sacred ministers wear violet vestments. If it is said by order or consent of the Ordinary for a grave and public reason (as, for example, in contemporary France), it ranks as a Votive of the II class, and the salutations, orations, lessons and so forth are sung to the solemn tone; otherwise, it is of the IV class, and the ferial tone is employed. 

The Dominican Missal changes the term "pagans" (also commonly translated as "heathen") to "Turks and heretics", but this seems a little tactless. There is a ruling, centuries past (I think in Gavantus), proscribing the change of the word "pagans" in this Mass of the Roman Missal into other more specific terms, such as Moors, Turks and Saracens, for example, so it is probably best to leave the word "pagans" in place. 

Such wicked deluded zealots of another, ahem, Abrahamic religion as currently carry out atrocities are, in point of fact, acting precisely as barbaric pagan votaries of devils, so they deserve to be prayed against in those terms. The martyred Fr Hamel was quite right to rebuke his murderers as agents of Satan in his last words. May God by his grace convert all such by a great miracle!

(For this cause, the corresponding prayer pro inimicis could be profitably added after each of the three proper orations of this Mass, as is allowable if it be of the IV class – I include these below, for, just as we should pray for protection against our enemies, we should also pray for our enemies themselves, that they be converted and saved.)

Apparently the Collect, Secret and Postcommunion of this Mass have been used as a triplet together since the 11th century, unsurprisingly in connexion with prayer for the success of the Crusades, and Pope Calixtus III promulgated the full Mass proper by his Bull Cum hiis superioribus of 20th June 1456, though I have not yet found a copy thereof. 

Other researches of mine have revealed no Sequence once used for this Mass (as similar Votive Masses generally did not have Sequences), but several Prefaces contra Paganos exist, and I include a slight abbreviation and conflation of two of them in the following texts.

The Mass against the Pagans is liturgically well-structured, being a holy recycling of chants, lessons and prayers from earlier Masses, thus:

Int. Exsurge – Liber Usualis, 504 (Sexagesima Sunday)

Or. O. s. Ds, in cujus – (Cf. Good Friday, Prayer for the Roman Emperor)

Ep. Oravit Mardochæus – (Wednesday after Second Sunday of Lent)

Grad. Sciant gentes – Liber Usualis, 506 (Sexagesima Sunday)

All. Excita Domine – Liber Usualis, 336 (Third Sunday of Advent)

Tr. Adjuva – not in Liber Usualis; 1961 Graduale Romanum [131]

All. Deus virtutum – not in Liber Usualis; 1961 Graduale Romanum [132]

Evang. Quis vestrum – (Rogation Mass)

Off. Populum humilem – Liber Usualis, 1015 (Eighth Sunday after Pentecost)

V. Clamor & Liberator – Offertoriale, 93

Secr. Sacrificium – (Cf. Mass in Time of War, Secret)

Comm. In salutari – Liber Usualis, 1069 (Twenty-first Sunday after Pentecost)

PC. Protector noster – (Cf. Votive Prayer for Defence against Foes, Postcommunion)

The way the prayers of this Mass were adapted from earlier sources is instructive:

Oratio

Omnipotens sempiterne Deus, in cujus manu sunt omnium potestates et omnium jura regnorum: respice in auxilium christianorum; ut gentes paganorum, quæ in sua feritate confidunt, dexteræ tuæ potentia conterantur. Per.

(Cf. Good Friday, Solemn Prayers, Prayer for the Roman Emperor:

Omnipotens sempiterne Deus, in cujus manu sunt omnium potestates et omnium jura regnorum: respice ad Romanum benign us Imperium; ut gentes, quæ in sua feritate confidunt, potentiæ tuæ dextera comprimantur. Per.)

Secreta

Sacrificium, Domine, quod immolamus, intende: ut propugnatores tuos ab omni eruas paganorum nequitia, et in tuæ protectionis securitate constituas. Per. 

(Cf. Tempore Belli, Secreta:

Sacrificium, Domine, quod immolamus, intende placatus: ut ab omni nos eruat bellorum nequitia, et in tuæ protectionis securitate constituat. Per.)

Postcommunio 

Protector noster, aspice, Deus: et propugnatores tuos a paganorum defende periculis; ut, omni perturbatione submota, liberis tibi mentibus deserviant. Per.

(Cf. Pro defensione ab hostibus, Postcommunio:

Protector noster, aspice, Deus, et ab inimicorum nos defende periculis: ut, omni perturbatione submota, liberis tibi mentibus serviamus. Per.)

In these prayers, we pray that the pagan nations who trust in their own ferocity may be crushed by the power of God's right hand (Collect), and that those who fight for us may escape all pagan snares and perils (Secret and Postcommunion): or, in modern-day terms, may Daesh, Boko Haram, etc. be smashed and all police, military and security services win out against terrorists, that God by his aid may keep us safe.

The handy Versus Psalmorum et Canticorum, 134, suggests various verses of Psalm 118 to be sung with the Communion antiphon In salutari on the 21st Sunday after Pentecost, but since these psalm-verses can be freely chosen, I would suggest a more apposite selection (Ps. 118, 53. 61. 85. 87. 95. 98. 110. 126. 139. 150. 157) when the same Communion is used at Mass against the Pagans.

In France, it was long the custom to sing O salutaris hostia after the Elevation, and this is still done today at some EF Masses there. This being a prayer to Christ our Sacrifice for delivery from our foes, it would be highly appropriate to sing this as a Motet during or after Communion at this Votive Mass (in France itself, after Communion at some EF Masses, Domine salvam fac Galliam is sung at the same point).

As for the Offertory, if some Motet be desired, there are many settings of the Matins Responsory Congregati sunt inimici nostri (used during October, when the books of the Machabees are read during the Night Office), which would be most suitable – I happen to like the setting by Clément Janequin (music here) – and I give the Latin amongst the other texts of the Mass below. 

Here is a translation of it:

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. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. * That they may know that there is none other that fighteth for us, but only thou, O our God.

Another suitable Matins responsory, also used during October, would be Impetum inimicorum ne timueritis, set by several composers. Indeed, if polyphony be employed at this Mass, either Janequin's Missa super « La Bataille » (music here) or Victoria's more ambitious nine-part Missa pro Victoria  (music here) – both based on Janequin's own chanson commemorating the French victory at the Battle of Marignano in 1515 – could be fitting choices.

Missa pro Ecclesiæ defensione (olim, contra Paganos)

Antiphona ad Introitum (Ps. 43, 23-24 et 25-26)

Exsurge, quare obdormis, Domine? exsurge, et ne repellas in finem: quare faciem tuam avertis, oblivisceris tribulationem nostram? Adhæsit in terra venter noster: exsurge, Domine, adjuva nos, et libera nos. (T. P. Alleluja, alleluja.) 

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

V. Gloria Patri.

Oratio

Omnipotens sempiterne Deus, in cujus manu sunt omnium potestates et omnium jura regnorum: respice in auxilium christianorum; ut gentes paganorum, quæ in sua feritate confidunt, dexteræ tuæ potentia conterantur. Per Dominum.

ad lib., Oratio pro inimicis

Deus, pacis caritatisque amator et custos: da omnibus inimicis nostris pacem caritatemque veram; et cunctorum eis remissionem tribue peccatorum, nosque ab eorum insidiis potenter eripe. Per Dominum.

Lectio libri Esther. (13, 8-11 et 15-17)

In diebus illis: Oravit Mardochæus ad Dominum, dicens: Domine, Domine Rex omnipotens, in dicione enim tua cuncta sunt posita, et non est qui possit tuæ resistere voluntati, si decreveris salvare Israël. Tu fecisti cælum et terram, et quidquid cæli ambitu continetur. Dominus omnium es, nec est qui resistat majestati tuæ. Et nunc, Domine Rex, Deus Abraham, miserere populi tui, quia volunt nos inimici nostri perdere, et hereditatem tuam delere. Ne despicias partem tuam, quam redemisti tibi de Ægypto. Exaudi deprecationem meam, et propitius esto sorti et funiculo tuo, et converte luctum nostrum in gaudium, ut viventes laudemus nomen tuum, Domine, et ne claudas ora te canentium, Domine Deus noster.

Graduale (Ps. 82, 19 et 14) 

Sciant gentes, quoniam nomen tibi Deus: tu solus Altissimus super omnem terram. 

V. Deus meus, pone illos ut rotam, et sicut stipulam ante faciem venti.

Alleluja, alleluja. 

V. Ps. 79, 3 Excita, Domine, potentiam tuam, et veni: ut salvos facias nos. 

Alleluja.

Post Septuagesimam, omissis Alleluia et versu sequenti, dicitur:

Tractus (Ps. 78, 9-11)

Adjuva nos, Deus salutaris noster: et propter honorem nominis tui, Domine, libera nos: et propitius esto peccatis nostris, propter nomen tuum. 

V. Ne quando dicant gentes: Ubi est Deus eorum? et innotescat in nationibus coram oculis nostris. 

V. Vindica sanguinem servorum tuorum, qui effusus est: intret in conspectu tuo gemitus compeditorum.

Tempore autem paschali omittitur graduale, et eius loco dicitur:

Alleluja, alleluja. 

V. Ps. 79, 3 Excita, Domine, potentiam tuam, et veni: ut salvos facias nos.

Alleluja.

V. Ibid., 15-16 Deus virtutum, convertere, respice de cælo, et vide, et visita vineam istam: et perfice eam, quam plantavit dextera tua.

Alleluja.

Sequentia sancti Evangelii secundum Lucam. (11, 5-13) 

In illo tempore: Dixit Jesus discipulis suis: Quis vestrum habebit amicum, et ibit ad illum media nocte, et dicet illi: Amice, commoda mihi tres panes, quoniam amicus meus venit de via ad me, et non habeo quod ponam ante illum: et ille deintus respondens, dicat: Noli mihi molestus esse, jam ostium clausum est, et pueri mei mecum sunt in cubili, non possum surgere et dare tibi. Et si ille perseveraverit pulsans: dico vobis, et si non dabit illi surgens eo quod amicus ejus sit, propter improbitatem tamen ejus surget, et dabit illi quotquot habet necessarios. Et ego dico vobis: Petite, et dabitur vobis: quærite, et invenietis: pulsate, et aperietur vobis. Omnis enim qui petit, accipit: et qui quærit, invenit: et pulsanti aperietur. Quis autem ex vobis patrem petit panem: numquid lapidem dabit illi? Aut piscem: numquid pro pisce serpentem dabit illi? Aut si petierit ovum: numquid porriget illi scorpionem? Si ergo vos, cum sitis mali, nostis bona data dare filiis vestris: quanto magis Pater vester de cælo dabit spiritum bonum petentibus se?

Ant. ad Offertorium (Ps. 17, 28. 32. 7. 48-49)

Populum humilem salvum facies: et oculos superborum humiliabis: * Quoniam quis Deus præter te, Domine? (T. P. Alleluja.)

ad lib., V. 1. Clamor meus in conspectu ejus introivit in aures ejus. * Quoniam quis Deus præter te, Domine? (T. P. Alleluja.)

ad lib., V. 2. Liberator meus de gentibus iracundis: ab insurgentibus in me exaltabis me. * Quoniam quis Deus præter te, Domine? (T. P. Alleluja.)

ad lib., Motectum ad Offertorium (Cf. Ecclus 36, 12-13; Agg. 2, 23; Pss. 48, 7; 58, 12)

R. Congregati sunt inimici nostri, et gloriantur in virtute sua; contere fortitudinem illorum, Domine, et disperge illos: * Ut cognoscant, quia non est alius qui pugnet pro nobis, nisi tu, Deus noster. V. Disperge illos in virtute tua, et destrue eos, protector noster, Domine. * Ut cognoscant, quia non est alius qui pugnet pro nobis, nisi tu, Deus noster. Gloria Patri, et Filio, et Spiritui Sancto. * Ut cognoscant, quia non est alius qui pugnet pro nobis, nisi tu, Deus noster. 

Secreta

Sacrificium, Domine, quod immolamus, intende: ut propugnatores tuos ab omni eruas paganorum nequitia, et in tuæ protectionis securitate constituas. Per Dominum.

ad lib., Secreta pro inimicis

Oblatis, quæsumus, Domine, placare muneribus: et nos ab inimicis nostris clementer eripe, eisque indulgentiam tribue delictorum. Per Dominum.

Olim Præfatio contra Paganos

Vere dignum et justum est, æquum et salutare, nos tibi semper et ubique gratias agere, Domine, sancte Pater, omnipotens æterne Deus: Clementiam tuam humiliter implorantes, ut omni Ecclesiæ tuæ præstes auxilium: ut, sicut liberasti filios Israël de manu Ægyptiorum, ita liberes populum christianum de oppressione paganorum, et des victoriam servis tuis: Per Christum Dominum nostrum. Per quem majestatem tuam laudant Angeli, adorant Dominationes, tremunt Potestates. Cæli cælorumque Virtutes, ac beata Seraphim, socia exsultatione concelebrant. Cum quibus et nostras voces ut admitti jubeas, deprecamur, supplici confessione dicentes:

Antiphona ad Communionem Ps. 118, 81, 84 et 86 

In salutari tuo anima mea, et in verbum tuum speravi: quando facies de persequentibus me judicium? Iniqui persecuti sunt me, adjuva me, Domine Deus meus. (T. P. Alleluja.)

ad lib., Versus Psalmorum (Ps. 118, 53. 61. 85. 87. 95. 98. 110. 126. 139. 150. 157)

1. Defectio tenuit me, pro peccatoribus derelinquentibus legem tuam.

2. Funes peccatorum circumplexi sunt me, et legem tuam non sum oblitus.

3. Narraverunt mihi iniqui fabulationes, sed non ut lex tua.

4. Paulo minus consummaverunt me in terra; ego autem non dereliqui mandata tua.

5. Me exspectaverunt peccatores ut perderent me; testimonia tua intellexi.

6. Super inimicos meos prudentem me fecisti mandato tuo, quia in æternum mihi est.

7. Posuerunt peccatores laqueum mihi, et de mandatis tuis non erravi.

8. Tempus faciendi, Domine; dissipaverunt legem tuam.

9. Tabescere me fecit zelus meus, quia obliti sunt verba tua inimici mei.

10. Appropinquaverunt persequentes me iniquitati, a lege autem tua longe facti sunt.

11. Multi qui persequuntur me, et tribulant me; a testimoniis tuis non declinavi.

Gloria Patri.

ad lib., Motectum ad Communionem (attr. S. Th. Aq.)

O salutaris Hostia,

Quæ cæli pandis ostium: 

Bella premunt hostilia; 

Da robur, fer auxilium.

Uni trinoque Domino

Sit sempiterna gloria:

Qui vitam sine termino 

Nobis donet in patria. Amen.

Postcommunio 

Protector noster, aspice, Deus: et propugnatores tuos a paganorum defende periculis; ut, omni perturbatione submota, liberis tibi mentibus deserviant. Per Dominum.

ad lib., Postcommunio pro inimicis

Hæc nos communio, Domine, eruat a delictis: et ab inimicorum defendat insidiis. Per Dominum.