13th Sunday Per Annum prayers.

Did these last year, so here they are again:

Comparison of Prayers - 13th Sunday Per Annum

Reviewing it, I don't think I would make any changes or tweaks.

RS

A thought on the Motu Proprio

I was just thinking of how the language I am seeing in the news about the Motu Proprio is going to reveal a double standard in the the practice of many in the Church.

I noticed there is reference to an "ordinary" form of Mass (the Novus Ordo) and an "extraordinary" form of Mass (the old "Tridentine"). Now based on past experience with something using similar language, we should be encouraged.

There are ordinary ministers of the Eucharist: bishops, priests, and deacons; and there are extra-ordinary ministers of the Eucharist: laity. Now based on the extreme proliferation of extra-ordinary Eucharistic ministers, we should see a generous and vast spreading of the "Tridentine" ritual.

However, if bishops, priests, etc. start to argue that the old rite is "extra-ordinary" most likely you can the ask them why they have so many "extra-ordinary" Eucharistic ministers.

Based on the language, you either have to have a widespread use of the "Tridentine" rite, or you have to scale back the absurd numbers of extra-ordinary Eucharistic ministers. Ideally it is win-win, but sadly, it will probably only reveal the double standard that some priests and bishops just do whatever they want and make things up as they go along.

Sorry to be so crabby. Friday's are just hectic for me. But you should see my point, nonetheless.

RS

St Peter and St Paul Comparison of Prayers

Wow, we have pretty much gone through the liturgical year now, as I translated these last year. You can find them here:

Comparison of Prayers - Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul

RS

Kudos to msnbc host

Mika Brzezinski of MSNBC's morning show "refuses to cover the stupid imbecile we call Paris Hilton leaving jail. She tries to burn and shred the story too! Finally!"



The hardest part of this clip is dealing with the idiots making fun of her for being sick of this stupid story.

I love it! All the comments at the site I found this at were all cheering her on! Nobody cares about Paris Hilton anymore, you stupid media outlets!



RS

Railroad Track Switch

This video is for The Engineer. This is a very cool commercial for a Norwegian Oil Company.



At the end of the commercial the text reads,
"There are a lot of young engineers. We are looking forward to them growing up."

RS

Best Motu Proprio date yet.

YES!
I don't usually post on Motu Proprio rumors,
especially THE Motu Proprio.

But this is a good source and some rather concrete evidence.

Father Z. says it WILL be released July 7th (07/07/07).

And has another article helping confirm this.

Let's pray this happens and it goes well.

(Oh, this is going to be a long wait!!!!!!!!!)

RS

Invasion of the Caterpillars!

I've lived in this area since 1991. Usually by the beginning of May it is very dry, all plant life is brown or faded green, and it doesn't rain except for a rare afternoon heating cloudbursts.

However, this year has been really odd. It is already the last week of June and we have only had a few days I would consider "hot." It has also rained ... and rained, and rained, and rained. All the lakes are practically full, and everything is a nice lush green.
(Global warming my furry ---)
Anyway, I guess this has also made conditions ripe for the infestation tree eating caterpillars.

This is getting freaky. I feel like I am in the opening part of a bad 50's horror movie.

A couple of weeks I noticed a tree outside of my apartment had what looked like some webs on it. Eventually the tree was covered in these.

(You can click on any picture to enlarge)

Upon closer inspection inside the webs were a lot of caterpillars eating the leaves. For awhile, I only saw them on the leaves in the trees. However, lately, I've been seeing more and more caterpillars on the ground. At first it was just one or two I woudl see as I went to my car, but lately, they are everywhere on the ground under the covered parking. There are at least 10 in the picture below.


They're not just on the ground now, they are everywhere. They are all over my windows.


They are already all over my door too! Everytime I open my door, I have to flick a few off the door frame or door. I think they made a bridge from that tree which you can see on the left side of the picture. ARE THEY AFTER ME?! :o


I hope they are not poisonous or ... grizzlyniverous!

But looking at my door ... what's this?! :0
A security breach!


And right near the door ... ONE HAS GOTTEN IN!


AAAAAAARRRRRRGGGGGGGHHHHHH!
AAAAAAARRRRRRGGGGGGGHHHHHH!
AAAAAAARRRRRRGGGGGGGHHHHHH!
I hope they don't turn from caterpillars into cats, or I might be up a tree.


So if you hear of a sacristan in Texas being eaten alive by caterpillars, you'll know it was me, and you'd better call the president to send in the military.

:)

RS

Cool World Background Map

click to embiggen
Just found a very cool site that gives a satellite image of the world's current weather and sunlight. The picture it gives is perfect for setting as a background on your desktop.

World Sunlight Map

What would totally geek this out is to have some type of program that would update your background regularly so that your desktop background would be up to the minute (or however often they update the pic).

EDIT: There's also a moon phase page as well.
The waxing gibbous, 12.0 day old moon, 91.9% lit:
Moon Phase

RS

Leaving Mass Early

I just came across this "motivator" which I had made almost a year ago. I think it gets its point across.


RS

In League with ...

I have decided to join the League of Warm and Fuzzy Traditionalists.


Some would say it's a natural fit since I am not only traditional but also warm and fuzzy.


RS

Support a vocation

I would like to note a small "advertisement" if you will for the sister of a friend of mine. They are a very strong and large Catholic family from my neck of the woods. Many of the sons and daughters have graduated from my alma mater as well.

She is an artist who has decided to enter a convent and is looking to sell her remaining art. I'll just use a quote her profile from her website:

Paintings by Pan

So I’m off to the convent, folks! After receiving my Bachelor of Arts in Art History from the University of Dallas, my Masters of Fine Art in oil painting from the New York Academy of Art, I set out for Florence to do post-graduate work at the Florence Academy of Art. It was in Florence that I became familiar with the Religious of the Sacred Heart.

This semi-cloistered order, rooted in St. Madeleine Sophie Barat’s Society of the Sacred Heart, houses a community of 15 nuns, the only community in the only house of this new reform order. As every Roman Catholic religious, these nuns take the vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. Their special fourth vow is one of education of the youth.

You can view and buy her art at the site above.

And you can always pray for her in her discerment as well.

I'll also add her site in the links on the sidebar.

RS

Comparison of Prayers - Solemnity of the Birth of Saint John the Baptist

The prayers for the Vigil Mass of the Birth of Saint John the Baptist are here

"Saint John the Baptist" by Titian

Collect (Opening Prayer)

Official Latin from the 1969 & 2002 Roman Missals
Orémus. Deus, qui beátum Ioánnem Baptístam suscitásti, ut perféctam plebem Christo Dómino preæparáret, da pópulis tuis spiritálium grátiam gaudiórum, et ómnium fidélium mentes dírige in viam salútis et pacis.
Per Dóminum nostrum Iesum Christum, Fílium tuum, qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte Spíritus Sancti, Deus, per ómnia saécula sæculórum.

Official 1973 I.C.E.L. Translation (Used at Mass in English)
Let us pray. All-powerful God, help your people to walk the path to salvation. By following the teaching of John the Baptist, may we come to your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

My Own Literal Translation
Let us pray. O God, You Who raised up blessed John the Baptist, so that he might prepare a perfect people for Christ the Lord, give to Your people the grace of spiritual joy, and direct the minds of all the faithful in the ways of salvation and peace.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, You Son, Who lives and reigns with You, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, forever and ever.

Prayer Over the Gifts

Official Latin from the 1969 & 2002 Roman Missals
Tua, Dómine, munéribus altária cumulámus, illíus nativitátem honóre débito celebrántes, qui Salvatórem mundi et cécinit affutúrum, et adésse monstrávit.
Qui vivit et regnat in saécula sæculórum.

Official 1973 I.C.E.L. Translation (Used at Mass in English)
Lord, look with favor on the gifts we bring on this feast of John the Baptist. Help us put into action the mystery we celebrate in this sacrament.
We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord.

My Own Literal Translation
We heap up gifts upon Your altar, O Lord, celebrating with due honor the birth of him, who both prophesied the coming Savior, and pointed out His Presence.
Who lives and reigns forever and ever.

Preface
Preface of John the Baptist - On the mission of the forerunner

Official Latin from the 1969 & 2002 Roman Missals
Vere dignum et iustum est, æquum et salútare, nos tibi semper et ubíque grátias ágere: Dómine, sancte Pater, omnípotens ætérne Deus: per Christum Dóminum nostrum.
In cuius Præcursóre beáto Ioánne tuam magnificéntiam collaudámus, quem inter natos mulíerum honóre præcípuo consecrásti.
Qui cum nascéndo multa gáudia præstitísset, et nondum éditus exsultásset ad humánæ salútis advéntum, ipse solus ómnium prophetárum Agnum redemptiónis osténdit.
Sed et sanctificándis étiam aquæ fluéntis ipsum baptísmatis lavit auctórem, et méruit fuso sánguine suprémum illi testimónium exhibére.
Et ídeo, cum cælórum virtútibus, in terris te iúgiter prædicámus, maiestáti tuæ sine fine clamántes:
Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus ...

Official 1973 I.C.E.L. Translation (Used at Mass in English)
Father, all-powerful and ever-living God, we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks through Jesus Christ our Lord.
We praise your greatness as we honor the prophet who prepared the way before your Son. You set him apart from other men, marking him out with special favor.
His birth brought great rejoicing: even in the womb he leapt for joy, so near was man’s salvation. You chose John the Baptist from all the prophets to show the world its redeemer, the lamb of sacrifice.
He baptized Christ, the giver of baptism, in waters made holy by the one who was baptized. You found John worthy of a martyr’s death, his last and greatest act of witness to your Son.
In our unending joy we echo on earth the song of the angels in heaven as they praise your glory for ever:
Holy, holy, holy ...

My Own Literal Translation
It is truly right and just, proper and availing unto salvation, that we always and everywhere give thanks to You, O Lord, Holy Father, Almighty and Eternal God: through Christ our Lord.
In Whose forerunner we together praise your magnificence the blessed John, whom you consecrated with extraordinary honor among those born of women.
Who had been distinguished by being born with great joy, and not yet born he had lept with great joy at the nearness of the salvation of man, he himself was the only one of all the Prophets who revealed the Lamb of redemption.
As also by the pourings of water he also washed the Author of Baptism Himself, and he merited to show the supreme testimony by pouring out his blood.
And so, with all the Heavenly Powers, we on earth proclaim together, crying out to Your Majesty without end:
Holy, Holy, Holy ...

Post-Communion Prayer

Official Latin from the 1969 & 2002 Roman Missals
Orémus. Cæléstis Agni convívio refécti, quaésumus, Dómine, ut Ecclésia tua, sumens de beáti Ioánnis Baptístæ generatióne lætítiam, quem ille prænuntiávit ventúrum, suæ regeneratiónis cognóscat auctórem.
Qui vivit et regnat in saécula sæculórum.

Official 1973 I.C.E.L. Translation (Used at Mass in English)
Father, may the prayers of John the Baptist lead us to the Lamb of God. May this eucharist bring us the mercy of Christ,
who is Lord for ever and ever.

My Own Literal Translation
Let us pray. Having been refreshed by the Banquet of the Heavenly Lamb, grant we beseech You, O Lord, that Your Church, being joyful at the birth of blessed John the Baptist, who foretold Him Who would come, may know the Author of Its rebirth.
Who lives and reigns forever and ever.

RS

Comparison of Prayers - Vigil Mass of Saint John the Baptist

"Angel Appearing to Zechariah" by Domenico Ghirlandaio

For some reason, this day's prayers gave me fits. I think I got the translation, although it might be a bit "clunky" IMHO.

Collect (Opening Prayer)

Official Latin from the 1969 & 2002 Roman Missals
Orémus. Præsta, quaésumus, omnípotens Deus, ut família tua per viam salútis incédat, et, beáti Ioánnis Præcursóris hortaménta sectándo, ad eum quem prædíxit, secúra pervéniat, Dóminum nostrum Iesum Christum.
Qui tecum vivit et regnat, in unitáte Spíritus Sancti Deus, per ómnia saécula sæculórum.

Official 1973 I.C.E.L. Translation (Used at Mass in English)
Let us pray. All-powerful God, help your people to walk the path to salvation. By following the teaching of John the Baptist, may we come to your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

My Own Literal Translation
Let us pray. Grant, we beseech You, Almighty God, that Your servants may march in the way of salvation, and, following the exhortations of blessed John the Precursor, may safely come to Him Whom he foretold, our Lord Jesus Christ.
Who lives and reigns with You, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, forever and ever.

Prayer Over the Gifts

Official Latin from the 1969 & 2002 Roman Missals
Múnera pópuli tui, Dómine, propítius intende, in beáti Ioánnis Baptistæ sollemnitáte deláta, et præsta, ut, quæ mystério gérimus, débitæ servitútis actióne sectémur.
Per Christum Dóminum nostrum.

Official 1973 I.C.E.L. Translation (Used at Mass in English)
Lord, look with favor on the gifts we bring on this feast of John the Baptist. Help us put into action the mystery we celebrate in this sacrament.
We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord.

My Own Literal Translation
O Lord, look upon the gifts of Your people, brought on this solemnity of blessed John the Baptist, and grant, that, by this mystery, we may cut away sins, which we bear, by this action of servitude.
Through Christ our Lord.

Preface
Preface of John the Baptist - On the mission of the forerunner

Official Latin from the 1969 & 2002 Roman Missals
Vere dignum et iustum est, æquum et salútare, nos tibi semper et ubíque grátias ágere: Dómine, sancte Pater, omnípotens ætérne Deus: per Christum Dóminum nostrum.
In cuius Præcursóre beáto Ioánne tuam magnificéntiam collaudámus, quem inter natos mulíerum honóre præcípuo consecrásti.
Qui cum nascéndo multa gáudia præstitísset, et nondum éditus exsultásset ad humánæ salútis advéntum, ipse solus ómnium prophetárum Agnum redemptiónis osténdit.
Sed et sanctificándis étiam aquæ fluéntis ipsum baptísmatis lavit auctórem, et méruit fuso sánguine suprémum illi testimónium exhibére.
Et ídeo, cum cælórum virtútibus, in terris te iúgiter prædicámus, maiestáti tuæ sine fine clamántes:
Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus ...

Official 1973 I.C.E.L. Translation (Used at Mass in English)
Father, all-powerful and ever-living God, we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks through Jesus Christ our Lord.
We praise your greatness as we honor the prophet who prepared the way before your Son. You set him apart from other men, marking him out with special favor.
His birth brought great rejoicing: even in the womb he leapt for joy, so near was man’s salvation. You chose John the Baptist from all the prophets to show the world its redeemer, the lamb of sacrifice.
He baptized Christ, the giver of baptism, in waters made holy by the one who was baptized. You found John worthy of a martyr’s death, his last and greatest act of witness to your Son.
In our unending joy we echo on earth the song of the angels in heaven as they praise your glory for ever:
Holy, holy, holy ...

My Own Literal Translation
It is truly right and just, proper and availing unto salvation, that we always and everywhere give thanks to You, O Lord, Holy Father, Almighty and Eternal God: through Christ our Lord.
In Whose forerunner we together praise your magnificence the blessed John, whom you consecrated with extraordinary honor among those born of women.
Who had been distinguished by being born with great joy, and not yet born he had lept with great joy at the nearness of the salvation of man, he himself was the only one of all the Prophets who revealed the Lamb of redemption.
As also by the pourings of water he also washed the Author of Baptism Himself, and he merited to show the supreme testimony by pouring out his blood.
And so, with all the Heavenly Powers, we on earth proclaim together, crying out to Your Majesty without end:
Holy, Holy, Holy ...

Post-Communion Prayer

Official Latin from the 1969 & 2002 Roman Missals
Orémus. Sacris dápibus satiátos, beáti Ioánnis Baptístæ nos, Dómine, præclára comitétur orátio, et, quem Agnum nostra ablatúrum crímina nuntiávit, ipsum Fílium tuum poscat nobis fore placátum.
Qui vivit et regnat in saécula sæculórum.

Official 1973 I.C.E.L. Translation (Used at Mass in English)
Father, may the prayers of John the Baptist lead us to the Lamb of God. May this eucharist bring us the mercy of Christ,
who is Lord for ever and ever.

My Own Literal Translation
Let us pray. Having been filled by these Sacred Foods, may the noble prayer of blessed John the Baptist accompany us, O Lord, and, may he obtain for us the mercy of Your Son Himself, the Lamb about to take away our sins Whom he foretold.
Who lives and reigns forever and ever.

RS

Prison culture

I just watched this series on a prison in California that focuses on hardcore gang members and leaders. Yet I always find the word "gang" to be rather misleading. Usually it just conjures up some image of a rag-tag group of thugs who just engage in street fights and turf wars. But these gangs are really more like super mafia or highly organized networks of crime. They are responsible for drug trafficing, high stakes robbery, violent crimes, assassinations, and the like.

Warning: Although it is a National Geographic show, it does have a bit of potentially graphic visuals.

Lockdown Gangland Pt 1


Lockdown Gangland Pt 2


Lockdown Gangland Pt 3


Lockdown Gangland Pt 4


Lockdown Gangland Pt 5


I found these videos pretty amazing. In spite of having this extremely tight security prison, with former Navy Seals acting as some of the guards, you have some of these inmates able to continue carrying on their work from within the prison itself.

Not only that, but the actual organization and discipline of some of these guys is actually amazing. Without wanting to sound too cliche, you wonder what these guys could do if they could use their powers for good instead of evil? That these guys would be able to be that ingenious and that disciplined to carry out not just crime outside the prison, but to have power struggles within the prison.

Even the "footsoldiers" who are just gang members have such discipline that they cannot get into a fight without permission from the upper ranks.

It eventually leads to the question of the death penalty. Much of the argumentation against it is that we now have prisons that attempt to reform the prisoner. But what about situations like this? When you have such hardened criminals, they not only resist reforming their lives, but actually go to prison to learn and hone their skills better, and continue to carry out extremely violent crimes from within the most secure parts of the prison.

A question is what happens to those who do leave their gangs. They are still serving life without parole. Still, those who have reformed have less of a case for the death penalty.

I won't go into costs, since I don't want to put a price on a man's life.

It is a difficult question. While I support the death penalty, on an emotional level I would never want to have to be on a jury deciding that myself. It is a difficult question in which you have to wonder if the concept of justice has been lost. What about the value of the life of the person who was murdered? From a religious standpoint: would it be better for a person to serve justice in this life so that they don't have to in the next? Difficult questions, but ones we need to look at intellectually rather than a strictly emotional level.

I would see the death penalty as being something only to be used in repeat murders or in cold blood. On the average, I don't think it would be necessary. However, what about these extreme cases, like those mentioned in the above, or those in the supermax prisons? And I especially ask this in light of the afterlife and God's justice.

RS

Another media prediction video

Here's another media prediction video, sort of like what I have posted before.

This one is a bit odd, in my opinion.



Interestingly, they seem to have a concept similar to what I predicted in regards to the historical recreations in AV.

The conclusion of the video is quite confusing. "Experience is the new reality." Most of the way we understand reality is based on our own experience, so I am not quite sure what they are trying to get at. Sounds more like it was not explained well enough in that the our reality will more likely be based on a different type of experience.

Some interesting concepts, but I would be extremely surprised to see any type of copyright laws disappear given the cop orate stronghold on things and how the owners of that intellectual property enlist corporate entities to help them retain their rights of ownership.

As I just heard in a song: "Nobody knows the future now; gonna find out — be patient."

RS

Removing Franciscans of the Renewal link

I am removing the link to the Franciscans of the Renewal from my "Men's Religious" list on the sidebar.
I do this because they are advertising a pilgrimage to Medjugorje by one of their own friars. This is advertised on the events page of the official page of the Fransicans of the Renewal and has a link to the details.

Since this "apparition" has been shown to be nothing of supernatual origin by the Church and has been rife with disobedience to the Church in the local bishop, I will have nothing to do with it. There are plenty of real apparitions which have been approved by the Church as authentic.

This is disappointing to me as most of the CFR's I have met are great priests and brothers. However, if the Order is going to promote false apparitions, I cannot support them except by my prayers for their conversion.

EDIT - adding a link with official Church rulings on Medjugorje

Medjugorje: Just the Facts

If it were Mary, there'd be no problem, but if it isn't (and the Church has said it isn't), what (or who) are you following? Scam artists or something more diabolical?

RS

Why engines are tested

You might remember the airplane engine tests I had a while back. Here's a real life reason why they test engines by shooting birds into them. Two herons got sucked into a jet engine right at take-off.

(watch the whole thing, the detail is at the end)


Here's the news report:



RS

Mere entertainment or deep commentary

For Monday levity, I'll pull out an old video that as my friend said when he sent it: "Goofy video or deep social commentary?"

At first I thought the former, but then after considering it, it could quite be the latter. Is it a social commentary about putting aside differences, or is it even a greater question of the relationship between man and machine. Could technology destroy us?

If nothing else, it has a monkey in it!



More monkeys! One of the greatest advertising ideas eveh!



RS

Comparison of Prayers - 11th Sunday Per Annum

"Christ at the House of Simon the Pharisee" by Pierre Subleyras

(click to embiggen)

Collect (Opening Prayer)

Official Latin from the 1969 & 2002 Roman Missals
Orémus. Deus, in te sperántium fortitúdo, invocatiónibus nostris adésto propítius, et, quia sine te nihil potest mortális infírmitas, grátiæ tuæ præsta semper auxílium, ut, in exsequéndis mandátis tuis, et voluntáte tibi et actióne placeámus.
Per Dóminum nostrum Iesum Christum, Fílium tuum, qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte Spíritus Sancti, Deus, per ómnia saécula sæculórum.

Official 1973 I.C.E.L. Translation (Used at Mass in English)
Let us pray. Almighty God, our hope and our strength, without you we falter. Help us to follow Christ and to live according to your will.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

My Own Literal Translation
Let us pray. O God, Strength of those who hope in You, graciously hear our pleas: because, through the weakness of our mortal nature nothing can be done without You, always grant the aid of Your grace, so that, in carrying out Your commands, we may please You in both will and action.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, Who lives and reigns with You, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.

Prayer Over the Gifts

Official Latin from the 1969 & 2002 Roman Missals
Deus, qui humáni géneris utrámque substántiam præséntium múnerum et aliménto végetas et rénovas sacraménto, tríbue, quaésumus, ut eórum et corpóribus nostris subsídium non desit et méntibus.
Per Christum Dóminum nostrum.

Official 1973 I.C.E.L. Translation (Used at Mass in English)
Lord God, in this bread and wine you give us food for body and spirit. May the eucharist renew our strength and bring us health of mind and body.
We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord.

My Own Literal Translation
O God, Who by the food of these offerings does both nourish the two-fold substance of mankind and renew it by this Sacrament, grant, we beseech You, that the assistance of It may never be lacking to either our bodies or souls.
Through Christ our Lord.

Post-Communion Prayer

Official Latin from the 1969 & 2002 Roman Missals
Orémus. Hæc tua, Dómine, sumpta sacra commúnio, sicut fidélium in te uniónum præsígnat, sic in Ecclésia tua unitátis operétur efféctum.
Per Christum Dóminum nostrum.

Official 1973 I.C.E.L. Translation (Used at Mass in English)
Let us pray. Lord, may this eucharist accomplish in your Church the unity and peace it signifies.
Grant this through Christ our Lord.

My Own Literal Translation
Let us pray. O Lord, just as This Your Holy Communion Which we have received represents the union of the faithful with You, so also may It produce the effect of unity in Your Church.
Through Christ our Lord.

RS

Solemnity on a Friday!

.
(NB-Comparison of Prayers for this Sunday will be posted tomorrow.)

EDIT: I was admonished for not mentioning what Solemnity it is today, so:

Today is the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus.


Usually a Catholic grizzly eats fish on Fridays.


But even though today is Friday, it's also a Solemnity, which means we can eat meat today!

Canon Law

Canon 1251: Abstinence from meat, or from some other food as determined by the Episcopal Conference, is to be observed on all Fridays, unless a solemnity should fall on a Friday. Abstinence and fasting are to be observed on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. [emphasis added]

Yea, Meat!


RS

New Gregorian Chant Font under development

Sample of Caeciliae font

I just saw an interesting post over at The New Liturgical Movement on a new font being developed that displays Gregorian Chant. The really nice thing about this one is that it is inteded to be free, in order to encourage more chant. It is still under development, but you can download it and test it out as it is right now.

Caeciliae Project

It's bascially a font that you can use in Microsoft Word or other word processors which assigns notes or chant notations to various keys or key combinations on the keyboard.

I have bought the Gregorian Chant font from Saint Meinrads, and I have found it to be very useful in my job making handouts for Mass at our parish.

For instance, here's a sample from the Roman Canon to help people sing the reponse of the Mysterium Fidei in the Roman Canon at the Latin Mass:

(Click picture to enlarge)

Or I have also made some of the propers into a simpler form from the Graduale Romanum. Here's the Gradual of the 24th Sunday Per Annum (Ordinary Time):

(Click picture to enlarge)

This tool is great as it helps parishes get out from under the grip of large publishing companies by being able to do simple desktop publishing.

To have a chant font that is free can really help those parishes who have a desire to add more dignity to the Mass.

RS

Hillary and the woorld of tommorow

The Hi-Tech Candidate needs spellchecker.

I'm suprised I haven't seen this on the blogosphere yet. I figure if the libs want to pick on Bush for little things, with equal rights we can laugh at them.

From the Daily Telegraph

Clinton's Hillarious spelling gaffe
June 01, 2007 12:00
POOR old Hillary Clinton - let down by a logo.

The presidential hopeful - in the running to be first female leader of the free world - was left looking like a goose during a speech to Silicon Valley technology business leaders in California.

Her podium, at the Applied Technologies University campus in Santa Clara, was framed by a backdrop featuring the large slogan "New jobs for tommorrow".

Yep, that's right, with an extra "M" in the middle of the last word.

According to a gushing report from the scene, "She quickly let her audience of some 150 Silicon Valley CEO's know that she was the hi-technology presidential candidate".

However, Ms Clinton clearly failed to impress upon them that she was the high-quality grammatical candidate.

And while they focus on new jobs for tomorrow, perhaps they should all concentrate on correct spelling for today.

RS

Neat video

The song is pretty good, but the video is impressive.

The timing on this had to be interesting to get. The video is all backwards, but the music is normal, and they seem to play and sing along with the song. Makes for a neat video. You'll also notice there are very few cuts, so they did a lot of these scenes as one take.

So here's "Typical" by Mute Math



Here's some info on how the made it:



RS

Islands and Lakes

So, have you ever wondered what is the largest island ... or what is the largest lake ... or what is the largest island in a lake ... or what is the largest island in a lake on on island ... or ...

The Island and Lake Combination

RS

Rome Reborn

In one sense the title of this project doesn't really work, since Rome is the "Eternal City."

However, SemperFiCatholic, pointed out the project to me. Looks pretty cool. Hopefully they can put it online. It seems like with some time, you could make a virutal Rome that could work in some type of 3D game engine. That would be an easy way to fund the project. Make a 3D engine and allow people to be able to "walk around in it" virtually.

Of course, if you don't want that and want to build your own Rome, there's always the games Caesar IV (Caesar III was pretty fun, haven't played IV though), CivCity: Rome, and Glory of the Roman Empire. Rome: Total War looks impressive too.

It looks like they want to make other "versions" of Rome to show how the city developed by making models of the various periods of Rome's history.

You can find the project here:

Rome Reborn 1.0

RS

I support Pro Multis = For Many

Since there seems to be those in Germany and here in the U.S. that refuse to obey the Vatican (and authentic translation and just common sense for that matter), I would just like to say:

"Pro Multis" means "For many"

To quote one of my theology professors when someone asked about Hans Urs von Balthasar's "Dare We Hope That All Be Saved" he responded (in his thick Hungarian accent), "This ... this idea is just stupid." Then we went on to talk about the fact that man has free will and will be judged by his actions to accept or reject God's will.
THIS IS BASIC (AND COMPLETELY REASONABLE) THEOLOGY!


I certainly hope that God does have mercy, but He did create man in His own image, we do have free will.

RS

Comparison of Prayers - Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi)

"Discussion of the Holy Eucharist" by Raphael

Liturgically, this is week marks the one year anniversary of this blog. Of course that also depends on which diocese or rite you are a part of. If you are in the old rite or in the diocese of Rome, Thursday would have been the liturgical one year anniversary. However, in my diocese (or any diocese in the U.S.A.) Sunday will be the liturgical one year anniversary. This blog was started on the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ last year. Since it's a movable feast it will be different every year. The actual calendar anniversary will be in 10 days on June 18th. Anyway, on with the comparison of prayers.

Notice how at the end of the Collect and the Prayer after Communion, Christ no longer "reigns" in the I.C.E.L. translation.

Collect (Opening Prayer)

Official Latin from the 1969 & 2002 Roman Missals
Orémus. Deus, qui nobis sub sacraménto mirábili passiónis tuæ memóriam reliquísti, tríbue, quaésumus, ita nos Córporis et Sánguinis tui sacra mystéria venerári, ut redemptiónis tuæ fructum in nobis iúgiter sentiámus.
Qui vivis et regnas cum Deo Patre in unitáte Spíritus Sancti, Deus, per ómnia saécula sæculórum.

Official 1973 I.C.E.L. Translation (Used at Mass in English)
Let us pray. Lord Jesus Christ, you gave us the eucharist as the memorial of your suffering and death. May our worship of this sacrament of your body and blood help us to experience the salvation you won for us and the peace of the kingdom
where you live with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

My Own Literal Translation
Let us pray. O God, Who under this wondrous Sacrament, left to us a Memorial of Your Passion, grant, we beseech You, so as to venerate the Sacred Mysteries of Your Body and Blood, that we may constantly experience the fruit of Your Redemption.
You Who lives and reigns with God the Father in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.

Prayer Over the Gifts

Official Latin from the 1969 & 2002 Roman Missals
Ecclésiæ tuæ, quaésumus, Dómine, unitátis et pacis propítius dona concéde, quæ sub oblátis munéribus mýstice designántur.
Per Christum Dóminum nostrum.

Official 1973 I.C.E.L. Translation (Used at Mass in English)
Lord, may the bread and cup we offer bring your Church the unity and peace they signify.
We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord.

My Own Literal Translation
O Lord, we humbly beseech You, graciously grant to Your Church the gifts of unity and peace, which are mystically represented under these sacrificial offerings.
Through Christ our Lord.

Preface
Preface II of the Most Holy Eucharist - On the fruits of the Most Holy Eucharist

Official Latin from the 1969 & 2002 Roman Missals
Vere dignum et iustum est, æquum et salutáre, nos tibi semper et ubíque grátias ágere: Dómine, sancte Pater, omnípotens ætérne Deus: per Christum Dóminum nostrum.
Qui cum Apóstolis suis in novíssima cena convéscens, salutíferam crucis memóriam prosecutúrus in saécula, Agnum sine mácula se tibi óbtulit, perféctæ laudis munus accéptum.
Quo venerábili mystério fidéles tuos aléndo sanctíficas, ut humánum genus, quod cóntinet unus orbis, una fides illúminet, cáritas una coniúngat.
Ad mensam ígitur accédimus tam mirábilis sacraménti, ut, grátiæ tuæ suavitáte perfúsi, ad cæléstis formæ imáginem transeámus.
Propter quod cæléstia tibi atque terréstria cánticum novum cóncinunt adorándo, et nos cum omni exércitu Angelórum proclamámus, sine fine dicéntes:
Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus ...

Official 1973 I.C.E.L. Translation (Used at Mass in English)
Father, all-powerful and ever-living God, we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks through Jesus Christ our Lord.
At the last supper, as he sat at table with his apostles, he offered himself to you as the spotless lamb, the acceptable gift that gives you perfect praise. Christ has given us this memorial of his passion to bring us its saving power until the end of time.
In this great sacrament you feed your people and strengthen them in holiness, so that the family of mankind may come to walk in the light of one faith, in one communion of love.
We come then to this wonderful sacrament to be fed at your table and grow into the likeness of the risen Christ.
Earth unites with heaven to sing the new song of creation as we adore and praise you for ever:
Holy, holy, holy ...

My Own Literal Translation
It is truly right and just, proper and availing unto salvation, that we always and everywhere give thanks to You, O Lord, Holy Father, Almighty and Eternal God: through Christ our Lord.
Who, when eating the last supper with His Apostles, and about to carry out the saving Memorial of the Cross for all ages, a Lamb without blemish He offered to You Himself, the acceptable Sacrifice of perfect praise.
You sanctify by this venerable Mystery nourishing Your faithful, so that one world contains, one faith enlightens, and one love joins together the human race.
Therefore we now approach the table of so wonderful a Sacrament, so that, having been filled with the sweetness of Your Grace, we may be transformed into the image of the Divine Form.
Thus, the Heavens and the earth, adoring, sing together to You a new song, and with all the armies of Angels, we proclaim, saying without end:
Holy, Holy, Holy ...

Post-Communion Prayer

Official Latin from the 1969 & 2002 Roman Missals
Orémus. Fac nos, quaésumus, Dómine, divinitátis tuæ sempitérna fruitióne repléri, quam pretiósi Córporis et Sánguinis tui temporális percéptio præfigúrat.
Qui vivis et regnas in saécula sæculórum.

Official 1973 I.C.E.L. Translation (Used at Mass in English)
Let us pray. Lord Jesus Christ, you give us your body and blood in the eucharist as a sign that even now we share your life. May we come to possess it completely in the kingdom
where you live for ever and ever.

My Own Literal Translation
Let us pray. Make us, we beseech You, O Lord, to be filled with the everlasting possession of Your Divinity, Which is prefigured by our present receiving of Your Precious Body and Blood.
You Who lives and reigns forever and ever.

The Church recommends that a Eucharistic procession be held after (one of) the Mass(es) on this day.

If your parish does not have one, your should encourage your pastor to do it next year. In Rome on this Solemnity (which is still on the proper Thursday) there is a HUGE procession from Saint John Lateran (the Pope's Cathedral) down to Santa Maria Maggiore. I think the route is about 1 kilometer long, and the procession of people ends up being about that long too. By the end, the entire piazza and streets surrounding Santa Maria Maggiore are completely packed.

RS

Photo and Internet Technology

Wow, this is so geeky and so cool. It's pretty interesting what computer processing has become. It's kind of strange that we have used computers to create fantasy worlds or different environments in which we can change reality. Now we are coming full circle and using computers to make an exact copy of the real world. All at your fingertips on your computer.

I've never played with google streets, but it seems a bit like what they are doing, although with much more detail.

This Photosynth thing looks pretty cool.





I was just thinking you could also "recreate" historical environments. For instance, you could take pre 2001 photos of New York City and put together a virtual environment of the World Trade Centers.

Although I also thought of one problem with this type of thing. Can we say "security issues?" All it would take is a few pictures of things that are not public to get onto the web and ...

Still, it looks like it could be a lot of fun to play with.

Hmm, I wonder if you could use it to see what churches used to look like before they were "wreckovated" so they could be restored to their original glory. Technology can have uses. LOL.

RS

Scary statistics.

I saw this video over at youtube.com and on another blog that tracks trends. I find it rather naive.



It seems all neat and stuff. It's just like some scatterbrained, MTV, visual "can't we all just get along? ... Power to the people ... big government stinks ..."-fest.

Can't we all just get along?
Well, to put it bluntly, no. Many can get along, but there are also many who just can't. This video even proves it.

Go back and watch it again, this time pay attention to the statistics. Yes, technically, a majority of people want peace. But, those statistics should be rather alarming.

Commentary:

"Are we that different?"
Well, we're human, so we obviously care about those whom we love and are sad when they are hurt or killed. But, yes, there are vastly different cultures and very different perspectives on things.

Ok, check out these statistics, straight from the video:
"65% of Egyptians want democracy" (that's a majority, right?)
"74% of Jordanians want democracy" (that's a majority, right?)
"81% of Europeans want Middle East Peace"
"87% of Americans want Middle East Peace"
"67% of Israelis want real Middle East peace talks now."
"62% of Palistinians want real Middle East peace talks now."

Let's look at the other side of the coin.

According to the video:
35% of Egyptians don't want democracy ... 1 out of every 3 people don't want it.
26% of Jordanians don't want democracy ... 1 out of every 4 people don't want it.
19% of Europeans don't want Middle East Peace ... 1 out of every 5 people don't want it.
13% of Americans don't want Middle East Peace ... just over 1 out of every 10 people don't want it.
33% of Israelis don't want peace talks ... 1 out of every 3 people don't want it.
38% of Palistinians don't want peace talks ... 1 out of every 3 people don't want it.

That's alot of people who don't want these things.

"Global Public Opinion is the New Super Power."
Oh great, when did opinion decide reality? Mob rule? No thanks. I thought reason was used to observe and understand reality.

The problem is that over in the Middle East there are still many who don't want peace. Well, they want peace, but that will only happen in their minds when the other side is dead or overthrown. And those people don't give a damn about who is in office or your personal opinion. Do you really think you can just get everyone to just stop fighting? Sheesh.
I'm sure a vast majority of Iraqis want peace if not democracy. But, I really don't see the extreme Muslim rebels listening to them ... in fact they are terrorizing them.

RS

Back at, ya, Cavey!

Just sending a friendly salute back to the Catholic Caveman aka Vir Speluncae Catholicus (gotta love that Latin!) for mentioning me.

I wasn't a military man, but I did spend a semester in Marine JROTC before my family moved out of state (no JROTC at the new High School).


(Found this. At the end, it sounds like he screams "Captain" but we all know it's really "Catholic")


RS

Comparison of Prayers - Trinity Sunday

"The Holy Trinity" by Hendrik van Balen I

I must comment that this week's preface is one of the most beautiful of the year. It is packed with Trinitarian Theology. It should come as no surprise that this preface comes directly out of the Tridentine Rite and was not one newly written (or modified) for the Novus Ordo.

The I.C.E.L. translation of this preface is absolutely horrid. The preface already gives an extremely concise summary of Trinitarian Theology, but somehow the translators managed to make it even shorter to the point of really diluting it.

Collect (Opening Prayer)

Official Latin from the 1969 & 2002 Roman Missals
Orémus. Deus Pater, qui, Verbum veritátis et Spíritum sanctificatiónis mittens in mundum, admirábile mystérium tuum homínibus declarásti, da nobis, in confessióne veræ fídei, ætérnæ glóriam Trinitátis agnóscere, et Unitátem adoráre in poténtia maiestátis.
Per Dóminum nostrum Iesum Christum, Fílium tuum, qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte Spíritus Sancti, Deus, per ómnia saécula sæculórum.

Official 1973 I.C.E.L. Translation (Used at Mass in English)
Let us pray. Father, you sent your Word to bring us truth and your Spirit to make us holy. Through them we come to know the mystery of your life. Help us to worship you, one God in three Persons, by proclaiming and living our faith in you.
Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

My Own Literal Translation
Let us pray. O God our Father, You Who, in sending the Word of Truth and the Spirit of sanctification into the world, declared Your wondrous Mystery to men, give us, in the confession of true faith, to recognize the glory of the Eternal Trinity, and to adore Its Unity in the might of Its majesty.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, Who lives and reigns with You, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.

Prayer Over the Gifts

Official Latin from the 1969 & 2002 Roman Missals
Sanctífica, quaésumus, Dómine Deus noster, per tui nóminis invocatiónem, hæc múnera nostræ servitútis, et per ea nosmetípsos tibi pérfice munus ætérnum.
Per Christum Dóminum nostrum.

Official 1973 I.C.E.L. Translation (Used at Mass in English)
Lord our God, make these gifts holy, and through them make us a perfect offering to you.
We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord.

My Own Literal Translation
O Lord our God, we beseech You, through the invocation of Your Name, sanctify these offerings of our servitude, and through them may we ourselves be perfected as an eternal gift to You.
Through Christ our Lord.

Preface
Preface of the Mystery of the Most Holy Trinity

Official Latin from the 1969 & 2002 Roman Missals
Vere dignum et iustum est, æquum et salútare, nos tibi semper et ubíque grátias ágere: Dómine, sancte Pater, omnípotens ætérne Deus:
Qui cum Unigénito Fílio tuo et Spíritu Sancto unus es Deus, unus es Dóminus: non in uníus singularitáte persónæ, sed in uníus Trinitáte substántiæ.
Quod enim de tua glória, revelánte te, crédimus, hoc de Fílio tuo, hoc de Spíritu Sancto, sine discretióne sentímus.
Ut, in confessióne veræ sempiteraéque Deitátis, et in persónis propríetas, et in esséntia únitas, et in maiestáte adorétur æquálitas.
Quem laudant Angeli atque Archángeli, Chérubim quoque ac Séraphim, qui non cessant clamáre cotídie, una voce dicéntes:
Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus ...

Official 1973 I.C.E.L. Translation (Used at Mass in English)
Father, all-powerful and ever-living God, we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks.
We joyfully proclaim our faith in the mystery of your Godhead. You have revealed your glory as the glory also of your Son and of the Holy Spirit: three Persons equal in majesty, undivided in splendor, yet one Lord, one God, ever to be adored in your everlasting glory.
And so, with all the choirs of angels in heaven we proclaim your glory and join in their unending hymn of praise:
Holy, holy, holy ...

My Own Literal Translation
It is truly right and just, proper and availing unto salvation, that we always and everywhere give thanks to You, O Lord, Holy Father, Almighty and Eternal God:
You Who with Your Only-begotten Son and the Holy Spirit are one God, You are one Lord, not in the unity of a singular person, but in the Trinity of one substance.
For what we believe about Your glory, by revealing Yourself, this we believe of Your Son, and of the Holy Spirit, without difference.
So that, in confession of the True and Eternal Deity, It is not only adored distinct in Persons, but also One in being, and equal in Majesty.
Whom the Angels and Archangels, Cherubim and Seraphim praise, never ceasing to proclaim daily, saying with one voice:
Holy, Holy, Holy ...

Post-Communion Prayer

Official Latin from the 1969 & 2002 Roman Missals
Orémus. Profíciat nobis ad salútem córporis et ánimæ, Dómine Deus noster, huius sacraménti suscéptio, et sempitérnæ sanctæ Trinitátis eiusdémque indivíduæ Unitátis conféssio.
Per Christum Dóminum nostrum.

Official 1973 I.C.E.L. Translation (Used at Mass in English)
Let us pray. Lord God, we worship you, a Trinity of Persons, one eternal God. May our faith and the sacrament we receive bring us health of mind and body.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.

My Own Literal Translation
Let us pray. O Lord our God, may the carrying out of this Sacrament, and the confession of the Eternal Holy Trinity and Its indivisible Unity, perfect us unto the salvation of body and soul.
Through Christ our Lord.

N.B. The preface was difficult to translate because it does involve Trinitarian Theology, and because the subject jumps around between God the Father and God as Trinity. The "It" in the phrase "So that, in confession of the True and Eternal Deity, It is not only adored distinct in Persons, but also One in being, and equal in Majesty." refers back to the "True and Eternal Deity." I tried to use He (since it refers to God) but it was a bit ambiguous and sounded like it was refering to just God the Father or just God the Son. I hate turning God into an It, but that's the best I can do with English. That is the trouble with translations, they will always be inferior to the original language (which is why I so encourage using Latin at Mass in the Roman Rite). However, if we do use translations, we can (and should) try to get as close as possible.

RS