Stress equals lack of posts

Sorry for the lack of posts. I've had a lot on my mind lately, and have been doing a lot of soul searching.

Top it off with spreading myself too thin, and real life has just swamped any blogging. Unfortunately, I don't see it easing up any time in the near future.

So, I just ask for prayers in the discernment area.

Pax et Bonum,
RS

6th Sunday of Easter - Comparison of Prayers

"Appearance While the Apostles were at Table" by Duccio di Buoninsegna
Collect (Opening Prayer)

Official Latin from the 1969 & 2002 Roman Missals
Orémus. Fac nos, omnípotens Deus, hos lætítiæ dies, quos in honórem Dómini resurgéntis exséquimur, afféctu sédulo celebráre, ut quod recordatióne percúrrimus semper in ópere teneámus.
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. Ever-living God, help us to celebrate our joy in the resurrection of the Lord and to express in our lives the love we celebrate.
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. Almighty God, make us to celebrate these days of joy which we have been carrying out with a zealous affection in honor of the risen Lord, so that that Which we hasten towards in this Remembrance, we may always maintain in deed.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your 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
Ascéndant ad te, Dómine, preces nostræ cum oblatiónibus hostiárum, ut, tua dignatióne mundáti, sacraméntis magnæ pietátis aptémur.
Per Christum Dóminum nostrum.

Official 1973 I.C.E.L. Translation (Used at Mass in English)
Lord, accept our prayers and offerings. Make us worthy of your sacraments of love by granting us your forgiveness.
We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord.

My Own Literal Translation
Let our prayers rise up to You, O Lord, with these sacrificial offerings, so that, through Your desire to make us pure, we may receive this great Sacrament of worship.
Through Christ our Lord.

Post-Communion Prayer

Official Latin from the 1969 & 2002 Roman Missals
Orémus. Omnípotens sempitérne Deus, qui ad ætérnam vitam in Christi resurrectióne nos réparas, fructum in nobis paschális multíplica sacraménti, et fortitúdinem cibi salutáris nostris infúnde pectóribus.
Per Christum Dóminum nostrum.

Official 1973 I.C.E.L. Translation (Used at Mass in English)
Let us pray. Almighty and ever-living Lord, you restored us to life by raising Christ from death. Strengthen us by this Easter sacrament; may we feel its saving power in our daily life.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.

My Own Literal Translation
Let us pray. Almighty and Eternal God, Who restored us to eternal life in the Resurrection of Christ, increase in us the fruits of this Paschal Sacrifice, and pour into our hearts the strength of this Saving Food.
Through Christ our Lord.

RS

Most annoying word of the year

.

"Green"

Why are we being enundated with the word "green?" I think the people over at this blog have an answer:

An interesting fact about white people is that they firmly believe that all of the world’s problems can be solved through “awareness.” Meaning the process of making other people aware of problems, and then magically someone else like the government will fix it.

This belief allows them to feel that sweet self-satisfaction without actually having to solve anything or face any difficult challenges. Because, the only challenge of raising awareness is people not being aware. In a worst case scenario, if you fail someone doesn’t know about the problem. End of story.

You can read the rest of the article here:

Stuff White People Like: #18 Awareness

The other reason is that corporate America can make a buck off of it.

In "honor" of Earth Day, I thought I'd post a link on how to destroy the world. Here's the Preamble to Sam Hughes' How to Destroy the Earth

Destroying the Earth is harder than you may have been led to believe.

You've seen the action movies where the bad guy threatens to destroy the Earth. You've heard people on the news claiming that the next nuclear war or cutting down rainforests or persisting in releasing hideous quantities of pollution into the atmosphere threatens to end the world.

Fools.

The Earth is built to last. It is a 4,550,000,000-year-old, 5,973,600,000,000,000,000,000-tonne ball of iron. It has taken more devastating asteroid hits in its lifetime than you've had hot dinners, and lo, it still orbits merrily. So my first piece of advice to you, dear would-be Earth-destroyer, is: do NOT think this will be easy.

This is not a guide for wusses whose aim is merely to wipe out humanity. I (Sam Hughes) can in no way guarantee the complete extinction of the human race via any of these methods, real or imaginary. Humanity is wily and resourceful, and many of the methods outlined below will take many years to even become available, let alone implement, by which time mankind may well have spread to other planets; indeed, other star systems. If total human genocide is your ultimate goal, you are reading the wrong document. There are far more efficient ways of doing this, many which are available and feasible RIGHT NOW. Nor is this a guide for those wanting to annihilate everything from single-celled life upwards, render Earth uninhabitable or simply conquer it. These are trivial goals in comparison.

This is a guide for those who do not want the Earth to be there anymore.

You can jump right to the list here:

Methods for Destroying Earth


RS

5th Sunday of Easter - Comparison of Prayers

Sorry for getting this up later than I intended:

Collect (Opening Prayer)

Official Latin from the 1969 & 2002 Roman Missals
Orémus. Omnípotens sempitérne Deus, semper in nobis paschále pérfice sacraméntum, ut, quos sacro baptísmate dignátus es renováre, sub tuæ protectiónis auxílio multos fructus áfferant, et ad ætérnæ vitæ gáudia perveníre concédas.
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. God our Father, look upon us with love. You redeem us and make us your children in Christ. Give us true freedom and bring us to the inheritance you promised.
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. Almighty and Eternal God, always bring to perfection in us this Paschal Sacrament, that those whom You willed to renew by Holy Baptism, may bear much fruit through the help of Your protection, and that You may grant them to come to the joys of eternal life.
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 nos, per huius sacrifícii veneránda commércia, uníus summaéque divinitátis partícipes effecísti, præsta, quaésumus, ut, sicut tuam cognóvimus veritátem, sic eam dignis móribus assequámur.
Per Christum Dóminum nostrum.

Official 1973 I.C.E.L. Translation (Used at Mass in English)
Lord God, by this holy exchange of gifts you share with us your divine life. Grant that everything we do may be directed by the knowledge of your truth.
We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord.

My Own Literal Translation
O God, You Who, through the venerable exchange of this Sacrifice, have made us participants in the one and most-high Godhead, grant we beseech You, that just as we have learned Your Truth, we may follow It in a worthy manner.
Through Christ our Lord.

Post-Communion Prayer

Official Latin from the 1969 & 2002 Roman Missals
Orémus. Pópulo tuo, quaésumus, Dómine, adésto propítius, et, quem mystériis cæléstibus imbuísti, fac ad novitátem vitæ de vetustáte transíre.
Per Christum Dóminum nostrum.

Official 1973 I.C.E.L. Translation (Used at Mass in English)
Let us pray. Merciful Father, may these mysteries give us new purpose and bring us to a new life in you.
Grant this through Christ our Lord.

My Own Literal Translation
Let us pray. We beseech You, O Lord, graciously be present to Your people, whom You have filled with these Heavenly Mysteries, and make them to pass from the old way to newness of life.
Through Christ our Lord.

RS

Is the Pope performing litmus tests?

Well, did not watch the papal liturgy yesterday at Nationals Stadium, precisely because I figured it would be pretty bad musically. However, even I am surprised at how bad and embarrassing it apparently was. I mean, when Jeffery Tucker at the NLM says,

Indeed, when Marty Haugen's Mass of Creation finally came on at the Sanctus, it was a moment of dignity—so much so that I want to take back all my negative comments back when I thought that this Mass setting was unsuitable for a Papal Mass. I don't think anyone knew before this what the phrase "unsuitable" could really mean.

I think America is reaching rock bottom, liturgically.

But it's had me thinking about some things and possibly the Pope's modus operandi. With the things he's done recently, he's been able to perform a ton of litmus tests. Basically, the Pope is seeing exactly which leaders of the Church are "in union" with the Pope and which ones aren't. What is amazing is how successful these tests have been.

Take Summorum Pontificum. Look at how many bishops have not only just ignored the document, but have openly defied it. It's not a complicated document and there really isn't much to read into it regarding its implementation. Yet, it has been astonishing at how foolish many bishops' responses to the motu proprio have been.

I think the same thing happened with the Pope's former Master of Ceremonies, Piero Marini. Marini knew Pope Benedict's thoughts on liturgy, yet Marini continued with his status quo. I think it's pretty clear that Pope Benedict gave Marini a chance to "come around" yet Marini openly defied His Holiness' liturgical principles. And now, Marini has been replaced with someone a bit more cooperative, shall we say. And in the end, Marini can't say he wasn't given a chance to continue to be Master of Ceremonies. He had over a year to improve things, yet even in that time we had the sad spectacle of the vestments in Austria.

And now, the United States has just stepped in it's own doings. There has been a pretty universal embarassment in the Catholic blogosphere over the choice of music at yesterday's Mass. The one positive I see in this is that now the Pope has seen for himself, firsthand the horrid state of liturgical music in the United States. And sadly, the average parish in the United States is barely better. Having the opportunity to see various parishes around me, it is always distressing to see how liturgy just isn't done by the books. Every place does it's own thing. We the laity are forced to choose Masses based on the the whims and preferences of the priest, not on whether the priest follows the liturgical will of the Church as given through the liturgical documents, instructions, and even rubrics.

I know that there is great freedom in just doing the Mass "by the books" rather than trying to impress people or even ourselves. So much energy and time and attention are given to the most unimportant things -- to "the show" as it were - rather than to just doing the Mass the way the Church says to do it.

How does this relate to the Pope? Well, as he said in his accompanying letter to Summorum Pontificum

The celebration of the Mass according to the Missal of Paul VI will be able to demonstrate, more powerfully than has been the case hitherto, the sacrality which attracts many people to the former usage. The most sure guarantee that the Missal of Paul VI can unite parish communities and be loved by them consists in its being celebrated with great reverence in harmony with the liturgical directives. This will bring out the spiritual richness and the theological depth of this Missal." [emphasis added]

I would say that this litmus test was successful in that I believe the Pope got a read on some of the liturgical problems in this country. I just pray that the Holy Spirit will guide him to a solution for it.

[RS steps off soapbox]

RS

Cats for engineers

Finally, Monday levity is back!

Here is an educational film about cats mainly geared for engineers:



I for one am not a big fan of cats.


RS

4th Sunday of Easter - Comparison of Prayers

Collect (Opening Prayer)

Official Latin from the 1969 & 2002 Roman Missals
Orémus. Omnípotens sempitérne Deus, deduc nos ad societátem cæléstium gaudiórum, ut eo pervéniat humílitas gregis, quo procéssit fortitúdo pastóris.
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 and ever-living God, give us new strength from the courage of Christ our shepherd, and lead us to join the saints in heaven,
where he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

My Own Literal Translation
Let us pray. Almighty and Eternal God, lead us to the community of heavenly joys, so that the humility of the flock might reach Him, from Whom the Might of the Shepherd proceeds.
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
Concéde, quaésumus, Dómine, semper nos per hæc mystéria paschália gratulári, ut contínua nostræ reparatiónis operátio perpétuæ nobis fiat causa lætítiæ.
Per Christum Dóminum nostrum.

Official 1973 I.C.E.L. Translation (Used at Mass in English)
Lord, restore us by these Easter mysteries. May the continuing work of our redeemer bring us eternal joy.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.

My Own Literal Translation
Grant us, we beseech You, O Lord, through these Paschal Mysteries to rejoice always, so that the continual work of our redemption might be the cause of our unending joy.
Through Christ our Lord.

Preface
Preface I of Easter (form for Easter outside of the Octave)

Official Latin from the 1969 & 2002 Roman Missals
Vere dignum et iustum est, æquum et salutáre: Te quidem, Dómine, omni témpore confitéri, sed in hoc potíssimum gloriósus prædicáre, cum Pascha nostrum immolátus est Christus.
Ipse enim verus est Agnus qui ábstulit peccáta mundi. Qui mortem nostram moriéndo destrúxit, et vitam resurgéndo reparávit.
Quaprópter, profúsis paschálibus gáudiis, totus in orbe terrárum mundus exsúltat. Sed et supérnæ virtútes atque angélicæ potestátes hymnum glóriæ tuæ cóncinunt, 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. We praise you with greater joy than ever in this Easter season, when Christ became our paschal sacrifice.
He is the true Lamb who took away the sins of the world. By dying he destroyed our death; by rising he restored our life.
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: You, Lord, are indeed confessed at all times, but most especially in this glorious time, when Christ was offered up as our Paschal Sacrifice.
For He Himself is the true Lamb who took away the sins of the world. Who destroyed our death by dying, and restored our life by rising.
Therefore, with an outpouring of Paschal joy, all on earth exult. And the Supreme Virtues and the Angelic Powers sing together the hymn of Your glory, saying without end:
Holy, Holy, Holy ...

Post-Communion Prayer

Official Latin from the 1969 & 2002 Roman Missals
Orémus. Gregem tuum, Pastor bone, placátus inténde, et oves, quas pretióso Fílii tui sánguine redemísti, in ætérnis páscuis collocáre dignéris.
Per Christum Dóminum nostrum.

Official 1973 I.C.E.L. Translation (Used at Mass in English)
Let us pray. Father, eternal shepherd, watch over the flock redeemed by the blood of Christ and lead us to the promised land.
Grant this through Christ our Lord.

My Own Literal Translation
Let us pray. O Good Shepherd, be pleased to watch over Your flock, and may You deign to gather the sheep, whom You have redeemed by the Precious Blood of Your Son, into the Eternal Pastures.
Through Christ our Lord.

RS

Happy Birthday, Mom

Now the whole world knows!


RS

Meme time again

I've been preoccupied with some pretty heavy things recently, so I'm a bit late on responding to this meme, but
(1)
Diane K at te-deum blog tagged me.

(2)
These are the rules:

1. When tagged place the name and URL on your blog.
2. Post rules on your blog.
3. Write 7 non-important things/habit/quirks about yourself.
4. Name 7 of your favourite blogs.
5. Send an email/comment on their blog letting them know they have been tagged.

(3)
1. I drink a can of low sodium V-8 every morning.
2. I am a beer enthusiast.
3. I am cursed with the family genes of being a night-owl.
4. I like tomatoes in just about any form except raw.
5. My favorite pizza is potato pizza (just like in Rome)
6. Although I'm 6'3", I'm absolutely horrible at basketball.
7. I've never seen the movie ET.

(4)
1. What does the prayer really say.
2. The New Liturgical Movement
3. The Crescat
4. The Hermeneutic of Continuity
5. The Orthometer
6. Scorpion Stalking Duck
7. Domine, da mihi hanc aquam!

(5) [in cyberspace]

RS

3rd Sunday of Easter - Comparison of Prayers

"The Supper at Emmaus" by Philippe Champaigne
Collect (Opening Prayer)

Official Latin from the 1969 & 2002 Roman Missals
Orémus. Semper exsúltet pópulus tuus, Deus, renováta ánimæ iuventúte, ut, qui nunc lætátur in adoptiónis se glóriam restitútum, resurrectiónis diem spe certæ gratulatiónis exspéctet.
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. God our Father, may we look forward with hope to our resurrection, for you have made us your sons and daughters, and restored the joy of our youth.
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. May Your people always exult, O God, in the youth of their souls having been restored, that, he who now rejoices in his restored glory of adoption, may look forward to the day of resurrection with the hope of certain thanksgiving.
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
Súscipe múnera, Dómine, quaésumus, exsultántis Ecclésiæ, et, cui causam tanti gáudii præstitísti, perpétuæ fructum concéde lætítiæ.
Per Christum Dóminum nostrum.

Official 1973 I.C.E.L. Translation (Used at Mass in English)
Lord, receive these gifts from your Church. May the great joy you give us come to perfection in heaven.
Grant this through Christ our Lord.

My Own Literal Translation
Receive these gifts of Your exultant Church, we beseech You, O Lord, and to those whom You have given the cause of so great a joy, grant the fruit of perpetual happiness.
Through Christ our Lord.

Preface
Preface I of Easter (form for Easter outside of the Octave)

Official Latin from the 1969 & 2002 Roman Missals
Vere dignum et iustum est, æquum et salutáre: Te quidem, Dómine, omni témpore confitéri, sed in hoc potíssimum gloriósus prædicáre, cum Pascha nostrum immolátus est Christus.
Ipse enim verus est Agnus qui ábstulit peccáta mundi. Qui mortem nostram moriéndo destrúxit, et vitam resurgéndo reparávit.
Quaprópter, profúsis paschálibus gáudiis, totus in orbe terrárum mundus exsúltat. Sed et supérnæ virtútes atque angélicæ potestátes hymnum glóriæ tuæ cóncinunt, 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. We praise you with greater joy than ever in this Easter season, when Christ became our paschal sacrifice.
He is the true Lamb who took away the sins of the world. By dying he destroyed our death; by rising he restored our life.
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: You, Lord, are indeed confessed at all times, but most especially in this glorious time, when Christ was offered up as our Paschal Sacrifice.
For He Himself is the true Lamb who took away the sins of the world. Who destroyed our death by dying, and restored our life by rising.
Therefore, with an outpouring of Paschal joy, all on earth exult. And the Supreme Virtues and the Angelic Powers sing together the hymn of Your glory, saying without end:
Holy, Holy, Holy ...

Post-Communion Prayer

Official Latin from the 1969 & 2002 Roman Missals
Orémus. Pópulum tuum, quaésumus, Dómine, intuére benígnus, et, quem ætérnis dignátus es renováre mystériis, ad incorruptíbilem glorificándæ carnis resurrectiónem perveníre concéde.
Per Christum Dóminum nostrum.

Official 1973 I.C.E.L. Translation (Used at Mass in English)
Let us pray. Lord, look on your people with kindness and by these Easter mysteries bring us to the glory of the resurrection.
We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord.

My Own Literal Translation
Let us pray. Look kindly upon Your people, we beseech You, O Lord, and, grant that those whom You have deigned to renew through these eternal Mysteries, may attain the incorruptible glorifying resurrection of the flesh.
Through Christ our Lord.

RS

Prayer Request

Please keep dadwithnoisykids and his family in your prayers.

RS.

Rome approves new U.S. bishops' adaptation to Ordinary Form of the Mass.

More liturgy watch:

Rome approves new U.S. bishops' adaptation to Ordinary Form of the Mass.

by Flora Polis
Washington D.C. (RSN) -- As Pope Benedict has begun to further reform the liturgy of the Roman Church, Rome has given approval to a recent request submitted by the USCCB after their last plenary meeting. Although only affecting the reformed Mass (or "ordinary form" as coined by Pope Benedict in his motu proprio Summorum Pontificum), the change will be subtle according to Msgr. Pall Froiso.

"The change will not be something jarring or upsetting to the Mass. In fact, we feel that many won't even notice it. However, it is a great way to increase the communal fellowship within the context of the Mass."

Although approved by Rome, the change will only be optional, and will be examined for a five year period. Msgr. Froiso said the bishops hope that after the trial period, it will be allowed to become a permanent adaptation for all Catholics in the United States. "We feel that it's simplicity will make it easy for permanent approval after the trial period," explained Sister Rosa Fopill, spokesperson for the subcommittee of social interaction and liturgical synergy.

In addition to the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist, the new option will intrduce the Liturgy of Fellowship. It will take place between the Communion Rite and the final dismissal. Here is a summary of the new rite:

1) After Communion, all ministers in the church will line up before the altar.
2) The priest will say a fellowship prayer over the people.
3) The people will then process with the ministers to the parish's community center.
4) All will fellowship for a time yet to be specified for by the bishops' committee.
5) Coffee and donuts will be served to all.
6) A collection will then be taken up.
7) After a short prayer, all process back to the church
8) Mass ends as usual.

"We wanted to make this optional, because some small churches just don't have enough people to get the coffee ready in an orderly manner. The vocation crisis is hitting us hard on all fronts," said Sister Rosa.

The bishops hope to introduce it at the papal liturgy when Pope Benedict visits Washington D.C. later this year.

RS

For more info on
Flora Polis
Pall Froiso
Rosa Fopill
see this link.