Sunday, April 24, 2011
COOKING FOR THE HOMELESS
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| Sean, William and Gavin |
A good number of our Traditional Mass community donated funds for the meal. God reward you! We can truly say this was a corporal act of mercy done by the Traditional Mass community.
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| Gavin, William and Joe |
Friday, April 22, 2011
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
CONFESSIONS ON GOOD FRIDAY / HOLY SATURDAY
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| Pope John Paul II hearing confessions |
"Hac et sequenti die, Ecclesia, ex antiquissima traditione, sacramenta, praeter Paenitentiae et Infirmorum Unctionis penitus non celebrat."
"Today and tomorrow, the Church, according to very ancient tradition, except for Penance and the Anointing of the Sick, does not celebrate at all the sacraments."
See also from the Congregation for Divine Worship, Protocol 690/03/L (April 9, 2003) stating that not only is it allowed but also LAUDABLE (praiseworthy) that confessions be heard on Good Friday and Holy Saturday, and mentions that the late Pope John Paul II regularly heard confessions at St. Peter's every Good Friday.
Sunday, April 17, 2011
PALM SUNDAY : DISTRIBUTION OF PALMS
The retablo was decorated with palm branches from trees growing on Friary grounds.
Everyone, young and old, received a bless palm.
They kissed the palm and then the priest's hand.
Friday, April 15, 2011
HOW TO RECEIVE THE BLESSED PALM
At the communion kneeler, the priest will hand you the blessed palm like seen above. Take hold of both ends of the palm with both your hands.
Then, kiss the palm and then the priest's hand. Rise and return to your seat.
BLESSED PALMS ARE SACRAMENTALS AND ARE TO BE TREATED WITH REVERENCE. TAKE IT HOME AND PLACE ON YOUR HOME ALTARS OR ON THE WALL ALONGSIDE OR BEHIND A CRUCIFIX OR SACRED IMAGE. REMEMBER WHAT THE PALMS STAND FOR EVERYTIME YOU SEE THEM. IF THERE ARE EXTRA PALMS AFTER MASS, PLEASE TAKE MORE HOME FOR PRIVATE DEVOTION.
Monday, April 11, 2011
PALM SUNDAY PROCESSION
It would be a good idea for you to practice singing the refrain of this hymn we will be singing during the Palm Sunday procession. The priest will begin the refrain, then those who know it can join in singing it a second time. The priest then sings all the verses, and those who know the refrain can sing the refrain in between the verses. The text is :
Gloria, laus et honor tibi sit, Rex Christe Redemptor : cui puerile decus prompsit Hosanna pium.
English : Glory, praise and honor to Thee, O Christ, King, the Redeemer : to whom children poured their glad and sweet hosanna's song.
The above youtube clip will be helpful.
Saturday, April 9, 2011
PRACTICE NOW THE VIDI AQUAM
During Easter season, at a Sung Mass, we sing the Vidi Aquam instead of the usual Asperges Me. Since it is sung fewer times in the year, we need to familiarize ourselves with it. We will sing it at least once in the coming Easter season.
Here is the Latin text :
Vidi aquam / egredientem de templo / a latere dextro : alleluia!
Et omnes ad quos pervenit / aqua ista / salvi facti sunt /
et dicent : alleluia!
Confitemini Domino quoniam bonus / quoniam in saecula misericordia eius.
Gloria Patri, et Filio, et Spiritui Sancto / sicut erat in principio / et nunc et semper / et in saecula saeculorum. Amen.
The English translation :
I saw water coming forth from the temple on the right side : alleluia!
And all those to whom this water came / were saved and shall say : alleluia!
Give praise to the Lord for He is good / for His mercy endureth forever.
Glory be to the Father...
THE MEANING
When our Lord was hanging on the cross, a soldier thrust his lance into the Lord's side and out flowed blood and water, representing the sacraments of the Church which give us grace and life.
Christ is the true temple, seen in the vision of the prophet Ezekiel as quoted in the Vidi Aquam. Ezekiel saw the temple, and, from the right, flowed water which turned into a river that gave birth to all kinds of vegetative and animal life. This vision was prophetic and symbolic of the life-giving sacraments, coming forth from the pierced side of the crucified Jesus, the true temple.
See Ezekiel, chapter 47, verses 1 and 9.
VEILING THE STATUES
On Passion Sunday, the Sunday before Palm Sunday, all religious images in a church or chapel are covered in purple, at least the main ones in the sanctuary. It is a striking and impressive sight. Why is it done?
Essentially, to deprive us of some comfort and consolation. Religious images bring us comfort. But by Passion Sunday, we enter a time in Christ's life where He was bereft of comfort. We want to accompany Him in the most difficult days of His life.
We read in the Gospel that, when the Jews picked up stones to hurl at Jesus, He hid Himself and left the Temple.
In hiding Him, we yearn for Him and seek Him all the more. We ache from His absence. And we rejoice all the more when, risen from the dead, we have Him and His image back.
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
BIRTHDAY BLESSING
Jared stopped by the Friary yesterday to ask for a blessing on his birthday. Happy Birthday Jared and God bless you!