November 29th, Feast of Saint Saturninus of Carthage

(Not to be confused with Saint Saturninus of Toulouse, Bishop & Martyr whose feast is also today)

Altar and relics of Saint Saturninus of Carthage at the Basilica of Saints John and Paul in Rome
Back in 2000, I had read a story about a priest (however, it was not Saint John Marie Vianney) who had begun praying to a very obscure and unknown Saint. He reasoned that because this Saint was so unknown, she would have more "time" to pray for him and his intentions. And sure enough, intentions he had for his parish were coming to pass through the intercession of this Saint.

A few weeks after I read that story I was in Rome for the Jubilee year and my friend Father Cassian had suggested I visit the basilica of Saints John and Paul (the ones mentioned together in the Roman Canon). While I was there, I was struck by a painting and relics in a side altar of Saint Saturninus of Carthage (as seen above). And having never heard of him before, I thought about that story I had read about the priest who began praying to this obscure Saint. So, I've had a devotion to Saint Saturninus of Carthage ever since. And I was blessed to be able to visit him on my last trip to Rome back in October.

Saint Saturninus of Carthage
The new (2004) Roman Martyrology has this:

Romæ in cœmetério Trasónis via Salária Nova, sancti Saturníni Carthaginénsis, mártyris, qui, ut sanctus Dámasus papa refert, sub Décio imperatóre pro Christo in pátria in ecúleo impósitus est et Romam extórris missus, ubi, áliis atrócibus torméntis superátis, Gratiánum tyránnum ad fidem convértit et cápite obtruncáto corónam martýrii adéptus est.

My rough translation

At Rome, in the cemetary of Trasonis on the New Via Salaria, Saint Saturninus of Carthage, martyr, who, Pope Saint Damasus relates, that under the Emperor Decius, in his homeland he [St. Saturninus] was placed on the rack for Christ, and sent into exile in Rome, where, having overcome other severe tortures, converted the tyrant Gratianus to the faith, and [St. Saturninus] being beheaded obtained the crown of martyrdom.

An older version of the Roman Martyrology has this:

Romæ, via Salaria, natális sanctórum Mártyrum Saturnini senis, et Sisinii Diáconi, sub Maximiáno Príncipe; quos, diu in cárcere maceratos, jussit Urbis Præfectus in equuleum levári et attrahi nervis, fustibus ac scorpiónibus cædi, deínde eis flammas apponi, et, depositos de equuleo, cápite truncari.

At Rome, on the Salarian Way, the birthday of the holy martyr, Saturninus, an aged man, and the deacon Sisinius, in the time of Emperor Maximian. After a long imprisonment, by order of the prefect of the city they were placed on the rack, stretched with ropes, scourged with rods and whips garnished with metal, then exposed to the flames, taken down from the rack and beheaded.

- from breviary.net's Roman Maryrology pages
(Sorry, it's a good site for the old martyrology, but the site is run by sedevacantists).

I'm not sure what happened to St. Saturninus' deacon companion Sisinius in the new Martyrology. I often worry that some parts of legends are automatically thrown out if they can't be proven, rather than keeping them until the can be proven false. I feel that is often the case in the rather snotty comments in the Thurston & Atwater edition of Butler's Lives of the Saints.

A brief article at catholicculture.org had this to say:

St. Saturninus

The Martyrology gives these details: "At Rome on the Via Salaria the death of the holy martyr, the aged Saturninus, and of the deacon Sisinius. Under the emperor Maximianus they suffered long in prison. The prefect of Rome ordered them placed on the rack till their joints were torn loose, then beaten with knotted whips, and burnt with torches; at last removed from the rack, they were beheaded." According to the inscription on his tomb by Pope St. Damasus, Saturninus hailed from Carthage. The Acts of Marcellus say he was condemned as a frail old man to carry sand for the construction of the Baths of Diocletian; but when by his patience and prayer and encouragement he led many to the faith, he was beheaded.

Saint Saturninus was originally buried in the Catacombs, and Pope Saint Damasus wrote a beautiful epitaph on his tomb there:

Epigraph of Pope Saint Damasus for St. Saturninus

Citizen now of Christ, formerly of Carthage,
The moment the sword pierced the Mother's holy breast,
through her blood he changed country, name and lineage,
the birth to the life of the saints made him a Roman citizen.
His faith was wonderful: as his heroic death would later show.
His enemy Gratianus trembled while he tore his holy members;
but though all his venomous rage exploded,
he could not induce you, O Saint, to deny Christ;
indeed through your prayers he even deserved to die a Christian.
This is the will of the suppliant Damasus: venerate this tomb!
[Here it is given to fulfil vows and to pour out chaste prayers,
because it is the tomb of the martyr St Saturninus]
To you, O Martyr Saturninus, I pay my prayerful homage.

source

Here's the collect for his feast (which used to be on the universal calendar before the changes of Vatican II) from the traditional Divine Office:

Orémus.
Deus, qui nos beáti Saturníni Mártyris tui concédis natalício pérfrui: eius nos tríbue méritis adiuvári. Per Dóminum nostrum Iesum Christum, qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte Spíritus Sancti Deus, per ómnia saécula sæculórum. Amen.

Let us pray.
O God, Who givest us to rejoice in the feast of Thy blessed Martyr Saturninus: grant that we may be helped by his merits. Through our Lord Jesus Christ Thy Son, Who livest and reignest with Thee in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, forever and ever. Amen.

I have become devoted to him, and love the fact that in spite of his old age he suffered for Christ, to the point of torture, exile, more torture, and martyrdom. He does show that God chooses the weak to shame the strong.

Sancte Saturníne (et Sancte Sisinie), ora(te) pro nobis.

"To you, O Martyr Saturninus, I pay my prayerful homage" as well.

And to any priests who are saying the extraordinary form of the Mass and can follow the traditional calendar or who say the ordinary form and have a copy of the Roman Martyrology, I invite you to remember him as well.

RS

Is Advent penitential or not?

It appears that a few bloggers have already published thier Advent rants [cough]Fr. Z, Fr. Erik[cough] [LOL], so I am going to re-re-publish this post which appeared last year around this time (I guess this will become a tradition now).

Oh, and I'd like to point out that "Advent Penitential Services" are really unnecessary. I think it'd really be better if the pastor or priests at a parish just make confessions readily available REGULARLY (ie more than 1 hour a week) THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE YEAR, instead of only having an annual or semi-annual "penitential service." These things are not a part of our Catholic tradition. If you offer confession, they will come. Our priest, in a small parish in a small town, hears confessions at least an hour a day at least 6 days a week. And people actually come. And as for penitential services, general absolution is not allowed in these things, so if your priest or pastor does it, he is committing an abuse. Anyway, enough on that rant ... on with the traditional post:

A lot of people have been searching for this, so I am going to re-publish this post.

I'm also updating the post because of a little detail noticed over at The New Liturgical Movement. Saturday evening, at the 1st Vespers of Advent [last year], the pope wore the Penitential Papal Formale:


Looks like that hermeneutic of continuity is showing it's hand again.

You can read NLM's report about it here:

The penitential Papal Formale (it's back)

The following was originally posted 12/4/06.

Wow, ask a simple question ... and what a confusing journey on which you find yourself.

A friend and I wrote to Jimmy Akin asking whether he knew if Advent was penitential. He attempted to answer our emails in his post the next day. To summarize his post, he concludes,

"Bam. So Advent is not a penitential season, at least in the universal law of the Latin Church. Ya coulda fooled me!"

Now, on a technical level I understand his conclusion, and part of it is that the questions that my friend and I asked were different. Basically, my friend asked "legally what are we as the faithful bound to do during Advent?" as in comparison to Lent when we are legally (in Canon law) bound to fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday and abstain from meat on the Fridays of Lent.

So, I thought Jimmy wrong until I re-read and saw that his conclusion is based on the above question and that he did say, "at least in the universal law of the Latin Church." [emphasis mine]

However, my question was a bit more general and focused on the nature of Advent. "Is Advent penitential?" What raised this question for me was from my liturgical studies. In his book "Ceremonies of the Liturgical Year According to the Modern Roman Rite," Msgr. Peter Elliot says right off the bat in his section on Advent, "The season with which the liturgical year begins is not penitential." (p.34, #42).

This statement suprises me. I was raised with the understanding that Advent was sort of like a less rigid Lent. It wasn't as somber or rigorous as Lent, but nonetheless it had a penitential spirit about it. I mean, first off, there seem to be signs in the liturgy. Just as in Lent, the color of the vestments are violet, there is a week where rose may be worn (3rd Sunday of Advent and 4th Sunday of Lent), "the use of the organ and other musical instruments and the decorating of the altar with flowers should be done in a moderate manner, as is consonant with the character of the season, without anticipating the full joy of Christmas (Ceremonial of Bishops, #236), and there is no Gloria on Sundays of Advent. Even in regards to the celebration of Matrimony, "When a marriage is celebrated during Advent or Lent or other days of penance, the parish priest should advise the couple to take into consideration the special nature of these liturgical seasons." That makes it sound like Advent, Lent, and penitential days are pretty much in the same category.

Of course some will say that the violet used in advent is of a different hue, as even our diocesan ordo says "In order to distinguish between this season [of Advent] and the specifically penitential season of Lent, the bluer hues of violet may be used during Advent. Light blue vestments, however, are not authorized for use in the United States." So that statement seems to say that Advent is not specifically penitential as Lent is. However, it should also be noted that this distinction of hues is not a necessity either. The Generial Instruction on the Roman Missals just says that "violet" is to be used for Advent and Lent.

So, off the shelves come the liturgical books. At this point, I am wondering what is the nature of Advent? When did it start? How did it develop? Such a simple question should not be that hard to answer. So, in remembering that one of the reasons why I started this blog was that I was asked to share my liturgical knowledge, I dove into my personal library seeking out info on Advent.

The new "Compendium: Catechism of the Catholic Church" really only says about Advent,

"102. How did God prepare the world for the mystery of Christ? God prepared for the coming of his Son over the centuries. He awakened in the hearts of the pagans a dim expectation of this coming and he prepared for it specifically through the Old Testament, culminating with John the Baptist who was the last and greatest of the prophets. We relive this long period of expectancy in the annual liturgical celebration of the season of Advent."

"
The Catechism of the Catholic Church" says:

"#524. When the Church celebrates the liturgy of Advent each year, she makes presen this ancient expectancy of the Messiah, for by sharing in the long preparation for the Savior's first coming, the faithful renew their ardent desire for his second coming. By celebrating the precursor's birth and martyrdom, the Church unites herself to his desire: "He must increase, but I must decrease."

Hmmm, not very helpful yet. The season of Advent really isn't dealt with on a technical level, so I have few books that deal with the subject.

"The General Norms for the Liturgical Year and the Calendar" say this:

"V. Advent
39. Advent has a twofold character: as a season to prepare for Christmas when Christ's first coming to us is remembered; as a season when that remembrance directs the mind and heart to await Christ's Second Coming at the end of time. Advent is thus a period for devout and joyful expectation.
40. Advent begins with evening prayer I of the Sunday falling on or closest to 30 November and ends before evening prayer I of Christmas.
41. The Sundays of this season are named the First, Second, Third, and Fourth Sundays of Advent.
The weekdays from 17 December to 24 December inclusive serve to prepare more directly for the Lord's birth."

I think a key point here is that the coming of Christ is to be emphasized. Not only in celebrating His first coming when he was conceived and 9 months later born, but also His second coming, which will be the final judgement.

In "The Mass: A Study of the Roman Liturgy" Fr. Adrian Fortesque says this about Advent when looking the how the Gloria developed in the Mass:

"Advent was not considered a penitential season till about the XIIIth century. In the XIIth century it was still kept with white vestments and the Gloria. The omission of the Gloira in Lent and Advent is natural enough from its joyful character."

Interesting. He says that the season developed into a more penitential season.

"The New Dictionary of the Liturgy" by Gerhard Podhradsky, has this for its entry on Advent:

"Advent. adventus=coming. Period of preparation before Christmas, beginning on the fourth Sunday before Christmas.
I. Historical: As a result of eastern influences, a four to eight week period of preparation for Christmas was introduced, first of all in Ravenna about 450 then in regions using the Gallican liturgy, and finally in Rome under Gregory the Great (d. 604). In the early middle ages the Roman four week Advent became almost universal. The model would seem to be Lent, and the reason for its introduction the growing emphaisis on the incarnation (Christmas).

"II. Meaning: The twofold coming of Christ, in human flesh, and in judgement (emphasized by the readngs from Isaiah especially), form the theme of the Advent liturgy. Because the middle ages regarded the Last Day as above all a day of severe judgement, Advent took on a strictly penitential character, which was, however, mitigated by a note of joyous anticipation (hence purple vestments, limited use of the organ, restriction of floral decoration). Advent is designed chiefly, therefore, to keep the Church and its individual members in a state of vigilant readiness for Christ's return, and to keep Christian hope alive to the complete unfolding of the work of Christ ...

III. Customs: In the Roman liturgy, which finally superseded the special Gallican usages, Advent was never a strictly penitential season. Thus a wealth of customs was able to grow up within Advent."

So while it does have a penitential aspect to it, it is not "strictly" penitential as is Lent.

Finally, I scrounged around and from the back corner of my closet I found Father Josef Jungmann's "The Early Liturgy," which has an analysis of the early development of Advent. He says that

"in Gaul as early as the end of the fourth century, we find an Advent lasting three weeks. And by the end of the fith century this Advent has already developed into an Advent much more extensive and intensive than our present Advent - a second Quadragesima [Lent]."

He also says that the earliest records of Advent in Rome are from Saint Gregory the Great's four Advent sermons.

Here's a clue:

"The only thing we can ascertain regarding Rome before the age of Gregory [the Great] is a transformation of the Ember week that falls in the month of December, shortly before Christmas, into a sort of Christmas prelude. ... [Ember seasons] are among the most ancient institutions of the Roman liturgy ... during the months of June, September, and December one week was especially devoted to prayer and fasting."

He goes on to talk about the technicalities of Advent's development in Rome and in Gaul and the Gallic influence that came into Rome. He eventually continues:

"We can say, therefore, that the last weeks of the ecclesiastical year preceding our present Advent represent a sort of pre-Advent. In this pre-Advent period, the idea of the fianl coming of Our Lord, of the parousia, is predominant, as it is in Advent itself. By remembering this second and glorious advent, we prepare ourselves to celebrate the remembrance of the first advent. And this idea is being emphasized once more in our own time. For not only is the feast of All Saints celebrated in this period, but the feast of Christ the King, who is in gloria Dei Patris, is added as background, showing the depths of our hope and expectation."

And then finally! An answer:

"There is yet one more item of our present Roman Advent which we must trace to the Gallican tradition: its penitential character. According to the liturgical books of the early Middle Ages the Roman Advent was not a penitential season. It was simply a period of preparation for, and a joyful expectation of, Christmas. Therefore only the Sundays had the special characteristics of Advent. It was not until after the tenth century, when the Gallic Advent had exerted its influence on the Roman Advent, that it received its present penitental character. Now, however, the Gloria [is] omitted on the Sundays in Advent, purple vestments are worn just as in Lent, and a restriction is placed on the use of flowers and the organ. However, it never became - except in passing - a period of fasting. These are the influences of the old Gallic liturgy, of the ancient quadragesima S. Martini, on the Roman liturgy; it gave to our Advent and to our preparation for Christmas its more serious character."

So in conclusion, it does appear that Advent has a spirit of penance to it. Although it initially wasn't, through Gallic influences, the Roman practice adopted a more penitential practice which eventually became the universal form. This aspect of penance derives from the expectation of Christ's second coming, and thus finds the faithful joyfully preparing themselves for Our Lord's coming at the end of time and the final judgement. This also helps us to prepare for the commemoration of the Lord's first coming which we celebrate at Christmas. This penitential shift is reflected in the liturgical practices of the rite. However, this season is not strictly penitental and thus does not have required fasting as Lent does, but allows for other anticipatory customs as well. Thus, while there is no legal obligation upon the faithful as there is in Lent, if we are going to follow a true "hermeneutic of continuity" then in my opinion it is a penitential season.

Other Advent links:
The History of Advent at intermirifica

Advent in the Catholic Encyclopedia

RS

Comparison of Prayers - 1st Sunday of Advent

"The Prophet Isaiah" by Raphael
Collect (Opening Prayer)

Official Latin from the 1969 & 2002 Roman Missals
Orémus. Da, quaésumus, omnípotens Deus, hanc tuis fidélibus voluntátem, ut, Christo tuo veniénti iustis opéribus occurréntes, eius déxteræ sociáti, regnum mereántur possidére cæléste.
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, increase our strength of will for doing good that Christ may find an eager welcome at his coming and call us to his side in the kingdom of 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. Grant this desire to Your faithful, we beseech You, Almighty God, that, running with just works to meet Your coming Christ, and having been gathered at His right hand, they may be made worthy to possess the Heavenly Kingdom.
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, quaésumus, Dómine, múnera quæ de tuis offérimus colláta benefíciis, et, quod nostræ devotióni concédis éffici temporáli, tuæ nobis fiat praémium redemptiónis ætérnæ.
Per Christum Dóminum nostrum.

Official 1973 I.C.E.L. Translation (Used at Mass in English)
Father, from all you give us we present this bread and wine. As we serve you now, accept our offering and sustain us with your promise of eternal life.
Grant this through Christ our Lord.

My Own Literal Translation
Receive these gifts, we beseech You, O Lord, which, having been bestowed from Your kindness, we offer unto You, and that that which You grant to be accomplished for our temporal devotion, may become for us the reward of Your eternal redemption.
Through Christ our Lord.

Preface
Preface I of Advent

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.
Qui, primo advéntu in humilitáte carnis assúmptæ, dispositiónis antíquæ munus implévit, nobísque salútis perpétuæ trámitem reserávit: ut, cum secúndo vénerit in suæ glória maiestátis, manifésto demum múnere capiámus, quod vigilántes nunc audémus expectáre promíssum.
Et ídeo cum Angelis et Archángelis, cum Thronis et Dominatiónibus, cumque omni milítia cæléstis exércitus, hymnum glóriæ tuæ cánimus, 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.
When he humbled himself to come among us as a man, he fulfilled the plan you formed long ago and opened for us the way to salvation. Now we watch for the day, hoping that the salvation promised us will be ours when Christ our Lord will come again in his 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: through Christ our Lord.
Who, in His first coming in the lowliness of assumed flesh, fulfilled the work of Your ancient arrangement, and opened to us the path to eternal salvation: so that, when He will come again in the Glory of His Majesty, we may then indeed openly take hold of that gift, a promise which we now dare to await with vigilance.
And so, with the Angels and Archangels, with the Thrones and Dominations, and with all the host of the Heavenly Army, we sing the hymn of Your Glory, saying without end:
Holy, Holy, Holy ...

Post-Communion Prayer

Official Latin from the 1969 & 2002 Roman Missals
Orémus. Prosint nobis, quaésumus, Dómine, frequentáta mystéria, quibus nos, inter prætereúntia ambulántes, iam nunc instítuis amáre cæléstia et inhærére mansúris.
Per Christum Dóminum nostrum.

Official 1973 I.C.E.L. Translation (Used at Mass in English)
Let us pray. Father, may our communion teach us to love heaven. May its promise and hope guide our way on earth.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.

My Own Literal Translation
Let us pray. May these frequented Mysteries be beneficial to us, we beseech You, O Lord, by Which You have just now established for us, who walk amidst the things which are passing away, to love Heavenly things and to cling to the things which will endure.
Through Christ our Lord.

RS

Thanksgiving and a meditation of gluttony.

Turbaconducken (Turducken (Turkey stuffed with duck stuffed with chicken) wrapped in bacon). As seen at bacontoday.com.
Just my annual reminder about not being gluttonous on Thanksgiving, with a link to a good article on the nature of gluttony (it's not just eating too much).

Gluttony by Christine Fletcher

I highly recommend the whole article.

RS

Homilies of Pope Saint Leo the Great

Meeting of Pope Saint Leo the Great and Attila the Hun
LM had asked about the Homilies of Pope Saint Leo the Great.

Finding "homilies" was a bit difficult, but searching for "sermons" worked much better:

Sermons of Pope Saint Gregory the Great at New Advent.org

And if you'd like to have them read to you in Latin by Father Reginald Foster you can go here (has Latin text, Latin audio, and English translation texts):

Sancti Leonis Magni Tractus

RS

Amazing pictures from Life Magazine

Second Vatican Council in Saint Peter's
The Life Magazine photo archive is online now and hosted by Google. There are some amazing high quality photos from the last century, even ones from Rome and papal ceremonies. For instance, do a search for "Vatican" and you'll see some amazing pictures. The picture above is just one example (and that's the "small" picture).

LIFE photo archive hosted by Google

Note: Not all their photo descriptions are accurate. This picture is actually in Saint Paul's Outside the Walls, not Saint Peter's. And I've seen several that were at also labeled as being in Saint Peter's when they were actually in the Colosseum!

RS

Partial Indulgences

I've seen some questions about partial indulgences in the comments of Fr. Z's link to my post on plenary indulgences. (Thanks Fr. Z!)

Partial indulgences can always be sought after, any number of times a day. It's pretty much the same thing as doing atonement for your sins (or offering up your sufferings for those in Purgatory).

3 ... Tradition also teaches, however, that an indulgence can be attached to various works of private or public devotion. Therefore such works of charity and repentance which ought to be given greater emphasis in our times can be enriched with an indulgence. But all such works endowed with indulgences should never in any way be set aside or apart from the Mass and the sacraments. The Mass and the sacraments remain the outstanding sources of sanctification and purification - no matter how good any such indulgenced works and patiently endured sufferings may be. Such good works and sufferings become the faithful's offering which is joined to Christ's offering in the Eucharistic Sacrifice ...
- Norms, Handbook of Indulgences.

There are three main ways to obtain partial indulgences.

I. A partial indulgence is granted to the Christian faithful who, while performing their duties and enduring the difficulties of life, raise their minds in humble trust to God and make, at least mentally, some pious invocation.

II. A partial indulgence is granted to the Christian faithful who, prmpted by a spirit of faith, devote themselves or their goods in compassionate service to their brothers and sisters in need.

III. A partial indulgence is granted to the Christian faithful who, in a spirit of penitence, voluntarily abstain from something which is licit for and pleasing to them.

The Church is intent especially upon expressing the three principal ways, longstanding in its practice, which make it possible to fulfill the divine command to repent. These are prayer, fasting, and works of charity - even though fast and abstinence have a had a privileged place. These ways of penance have been shared by all the centuries ...
- Grants, Handbook of Indulgences.

Also, if any of the requirements for a plenary indulgence are lacking, the indulgence is partial.

26. To acquire a plenary indulgence it is necessary to perform the work to which the indulgence is attached and to fulfill the following three conditions: Sacramental Confession, Eucharistic Communion, and prayer for the intention of the Sovereign Pontiff. It is further required that all attachment to sin, even venial sin, be absent.
If the latter disposition is in any way less than perfect or if the prescribed three conditions are not fulfilled, the indulgence will be partial only.
- Norms, Handbook of Indulgences

As always these should be seen in light of our own repentance and in doing penance for the faithful departed souls in Purgatory (a spiritual work of mercy). Our Lord calls us to "repent! For the Kingdom of God is at hand." And these offerings are signs of our repentance.

I guess a partial indulgence is what our parents often told us when we would whine or when we had a minor injury and they would tell us "offer it up!"

My main goal in this is for people to pray for and help the souls in Purgatory. If you can help get them to Heaven by your prayers and sacrifices, they will assuredly help you with their prayers as well.

RS

Plenary Indulgence on Christ the King

Requirements for Obtaining a Plenary Indulgence on Christ the King

- Public recitation of the prayer “Most Sweet Jesus, Redeemer - Act of Dedication of the Human Race to Jesus Christ King” (listed below)

- Say one “Our Father” and one “Hail Mary” for the intentions of the Pope

- Make a Sacramental Confession within a week of (before or after) the Feast of Christ the King

- Worthily receive Holy Communion (ideally on the Feast of Christ the King)

- that one be free from all attachment to sin, even venial sin.

Father Tim Finigan at the Hermaneutic of Continuity blog has a good entry on that last point:

Plenary indulgences not impossible

Most Sweet Jesus, Redeemer - Act of Dedication of the Human Race to Jesus Christ the King

Most Sweet Jesus, Redeemer of the human race, look down upon us humbly prostrate before You. We are Yours, and Yours we wish to be; but to be more surely united with You, behold each one of us freely consecrates himself today to Your Most Sacred Heart. Many indeed have never known You; many, too, despising Your precepts, have rejected You. Have mercy on them all, most merciful Jesus, and draw them to Your Sacred Heart.

Be King, O Lord, not only of the faithful who have never forsaken You, but also of the prodigal children who have abandoned You; grant that they may quickly return to their Father’s house, lest they die of wretchedness and hunger.

Be King of those who are deceived by erroneous opinions, or whom discord keeps aloof, and call them back to the harbor of Truth and the unity of Faith, so that soon there may be but one flock and one Shepherd.

Grant, O Lord, to Your Church assurance of freedom and immunity from harm; give tranquility of order to all nations; make the earth resound from pole to pole with one cry: Praise to the Divine Heart that wrought our salvation; to It be glory and honor forever. Amen.

The “Technical” Stuff

“1. An indulgence is the remission in the eyes of God of the temporal punishment due to sins whose culpable element has already been taken away. The Christian faithful who are rightly disposed and observe the definite, prescribed conditions gain this remission through the effective assistance of the Church, which, as the minister of redemption, authoritatively distributes and applies the treasury of the expiatory works of Christ and the Saints.”
- Handbook of Indulgences, Norms

"20. 1. To be capable of gaining indulgences a person must be baptized, not excommunicated, and in the state of grace at least at the time the prescribed works are completed.
2. Actually to gain indulgences the person must have at least the general intention of doing so and must perform the acts enjoined at the time stipulated and in the manner required according to the tenor of the grant."
- Handbook of Indulgences, Norms

“23. 1. Besides the exclusion of all attachment to sin, even venial sin, the requirements for gaining a Plenary Indulgence are the performance of the indulgenced work and fulfillment of three conditions: Sacramental Confession, Eucharistic Communion, and prayer for the Pope’s intentions.
2. Several Plenary Indulgences may be gained on the basis of a single Sacramental Confession; only one may be gained, however, on the basis of a single Eucharistic Communion and prayer for the Pope’s intentions.
3. The three conditions may be carried out several days preceding or following performance of the prescribed work. But it is more fitting that the Communion and the prayer for the Pope’s intentions take place on the day the work is performed.
4. If a person is not fully disposed or if the prescribed work and the three mentioned conditions are not fulfilled, the Indulgence will only be partial ...”
5. The condition requiring prayer for the Pope’s intentions is satisfied by reciting once the Our Father and Hail Mary for his intentions (Pater Noster and Ave Maria); nevertheless all the faithful have the option of reciting any other prayer suited to their own piety and devotion.”
- Handbook of Indulgences, Norms


Grants:
#27. A plenary indulgence is granted to the faithful, who piously recite the above Act of Dedication of the Human Race to Jesus Christ the King, if it is recited publicly on the feast of our Lord Jesus Christ the King, and piously carry out the precepts in Norm #23 listed above.
- Handbook of Indulgences, Grants
RS

Comparison of Prayers - Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ King of the Universe

Apse Mosaic in Saint Paul's Outside the Walls in Rome
Collect (Opening Prayer)

Official Latin from the 1969 & 2002 Roman Missals
Orémus. Omnípotens sempitérne Deus, qui in dilécto Fílio tuo, universórum Rege, ómina instauráre voluísti, concéde propítius, ut tota creatúra, a servitúte liberáta, tuæ maiestáti desérviat ac te sine fine colláudet.
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 merciful, you break the power of evil and make all things new in your Son, Jesus Christ, the King of the universe. May all in heaven and earth acclaim your glory and never cease to praise you.
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, Who wished to restore all things in Your Beloved Son, the King of the universe, graciously grant, that all creatures, having been freed from slavery, may zealously serve Your Majesty and praise You without end.
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
Hóstiam tibi, Dómine, humánæ reconciliatiónis offeréntes, supplíciter deprecámur, ut ipse Fílius tuus cunctis géntibus unitátis et pacis dona concédat.
Qui vivit et regnat in saécula sæculórum.

Official 1973 I.C.E.L. Translation (Used at Mass in English)
Lord, we offer you the sacrifice by which your Son reconciles mankind. May it bring unity and peace to the world.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.

My Own Literal Translation
Offering to You, O Lord, this Victim of man’s reconciliation, we humbly beseech You, that Your Son Himself may grant the gifts of unity and peace to all peoples.
He Who lives and reigns forever and ever.

Preface
Preface of Christ, the King of the Universe

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:
Qui Unigénitum Fílium tuum, Dóminum nostrum Iesum Christum, Sacerdótem ætérnum et universórum Regem, óleo exsultatiónis unxísti:
ut, seípsum in ara crucis hóstiam immaculátam et pacíficam ófferens, redemptiónis humánæ sacraménta perágeret: et, suo subiéctis império ómnibus creatúris, ætérnum et universále regnum imménsæ tuæ tráderet maiestáti: regnum veritátis et vitæ; regnum sanctitátis et grátiæ; regnum iustítiæ, amóris et pacis.
Et ídeo cum Angelis et Archángelis, cum Thronis et Dominatiónibus, cumque omni milítia cæléstis exércitus, hymnum glóriæ tuæ cánimus, 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.
You anointed Jesus Christ, your only Son, with the oil of gladness, as the eternal high priest and universal king.
As priest he offered his life on the altar of the cross and redeemed the human race by this one perfect sacrifice of peace. As king he claims dominion over all creation that he may present to you, his almighty Father, an eternal and universal kingdom: a kingdom of truth and life, a kingdom of holiness and grace, a kingdom of justice, love, and peace.
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;
Who anointed with the oil of exultation Your only-Begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, as the Eternal Priest and King of the universe:
so that, offering Himself on the Altar of the Cross as an immaculate and pacifying Victim, to carry out the Sacrament of mankind’s redemption: and thus, with all creatures subject to His rule, He might hand over to Your infinite Majesty an eternal and universal Kingdom: a Kingdom of truth and of life; a Kingdom of sanctity and grace; a Kingdom of justice, love, and peace.
And so, with the Angels and Archangels, with the Thrones and Dominations, and with all the host of the Heavenly army, we sing the hymn of Your Glory, saying without end:
Holy, Holy, Holy ...

Post-Communion Prayer

Official Latin from the 1969 & 2002 Roman Missals
Orémus. Immortalitátis alimóniam consecúti, quaésumus, Dómine, ut, qui Christi Regis universórum gloriámur obœdíre mandátis, cum ipso in cælésti regno sine fine vívere valeámus.
Qui vivit et regnat in saécula sæculórum.

Official 1973 I.C.E.L. Translation (Used at Mass in English)
Let us pray. Lord, you give us Christ, the King of all creation, as food for everlasting life. Help us to live by his gospel and bring us to the joy of his kingdom,
where he lives and reigns for ever and ever.

My Own Literal Translation
Let us pray. Having received the Food of immortality, we beseech You, O Lord, that, we who glory in being obedient to the commands of Christ, King of the universe, may be worthy to live with Him in His Heavenly Kingdom without end.
He Who lives and reigns forever and ever.

RS

Funeral Masses, case in point

Remember my little rant a few weeks ago about the loss of the proper perspective on All Soul's Day?

Thinking about All Souls Day

Fr. Z has found a real life example:

A very sad Fr. Z and the promise of a Mass

I've been to funerals where the deceased has been "canonized" by the priest during the Mass: "I'm sure that [insert name here] is in Heaven." We can certainly hope that they are, but we can't know for sure until they are officially canonized by the Church. I'd rather be safe than sorry.

So, please pray for the dead. And this weekend on Christ the King you can get another opportunity to try to obtain a plenary indulgence for a soul in Purgatory. Stay tuned ...

RS

Comparison of Prayers - 33rd Sunday "Per Annum"

Collect (Opening Prayer)

Official Latin from the 1969 & 2002 Roman Missals
Orémus. Da nobis, quaésumus, Dómine Deus noster, in tua semper devotióne gaudére, quia perpétua est et plena felícitas, si bonórum ómnium iúgiter serviámus auctóri.
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 of all that is good, keep us faithful in serving you, for to serve you is our lasting joy.
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. Grant us, we beseech You, O Lord our God, to always be joyful in our devotion to You, which is our perpetual and complete happiness, if we continually serve You, the Author of all good things.
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, ut óculis tuæ maiestátis munus oblátum et grátiam nobis devotiónis obtíneat, et efféctum beátæ perennitátis acquírat.
Per Christum Dóminum nostrum.

Official 1973 I.C.E.L. Translation (Used at Mass in English)
Lord God, may the gifts we offer increase our love for you and bring us to eternal life.
We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord.

My Own Literal Translation
Grant, we beseech You, O Lord, that this service offered in the sight of Your Majesty may both obtain for us the grace of devotion, and acquire for us the reward of a blessed eternity.
Through Christ our Lord.

Post-Communion Prayer

Official Latin from the 1969 & 2002 Roman Missals
Orémus. Súmpsimus, Dómine, sacri dona mystérii, humíliter deprecántes, ut, quæ in sui commemoratiónem nos Fílius tuus fácere præcépit, in nostræ profíciant caritátis augméntum.
Per Christum Dóminum nostrum.

Official 1973 I.C.E.L. Translation (Used at Mass in English)
Let us pray. Father, may we grow in love by the eucharist we have celebrated in memory of the Lord Jesus,
who is Lord for ever and ever.

My Own Literal Translation
Let us pray O Lord, we have consumed the Gifts of this Sacred Mystery, humbly praying, that, those things which Your Son has commanded us to do in His remembrance, may be a help in the increasing of our charity.
Through Christ our Lord.

RS

Prayers for a friend.

For a friend.



Please pray for the repose of the soul of a good friend who passed away today. This has been a rough week.

I don't recommend any other videos by this band, but this video and song are just amazing. And the video actually sort of parallels these last few weeks of his struggle with inoperable cancer.Lyrics.

RS

Benedictine All Souls

"Saint Gregory Delivers the Soul of a Monk"
by Giovanni Battista Crespi
Today is the Commemoration of all the faithful departed of the Benedictine Order.
Please pray for the repose of the souls of all faithful departed Monks, Nuns, and Oblates of the Benedictines.

RS

Benedictine All Saints

"The Glory of Saint Benedict" by Pietro Annigoni
at Monte Cassino
It's not my favorite picture of Saint Benedict, but it is good for today's feast, since it shows Saint Benedict in Heaven surrounded by Benedictine Saints.

Today is the Feast of All the Saints of the Benedictine Order. It's like All Saints but specifically for the Benedictine Order, thus all canonized and uncanonized Benedictines who are in Heaven are honored today. Traditionally, most of the older Orders have an All Saints and All Souls days for their Order. I know the Franciscans have their own, and I'm pretty sure the Cistercians do too.

I've never actually seen it listed in the new calendar, but it is still observed and was given a rank of a Class II feast in the old calendar (which usually translates into a Feast in the new calendar).

So, happy feast day to all my fellow Benedictines.

RS

Tomb of Saint Josaphat

Today is the feast of Saint Josaphat. I've had a devotion to him for awhile, and have tried to visit him every time I go to Rome. He's another Saint who is difficult to get to in Saint Peter's. His remains, as seen above, are in an altar which is in the area reserved for Confessions, and they usually won't let you in unless you are going to confession. I can usually muster up enough Italian to ask to go pray at his tomb, and they usually let me in, I think mainly because I have a beard and they think I am Eastern rite (that defintely was the case once).

On my last trip a month ago I had the great priviledge of learning how to serve the Tridentine Mass. The awesome part was that the second Tridentine Mass I helped serve was a low Tridentine Mass ... in Saint Peter's ... at the altar of Saint Josaphat. It worked out rather Providentially. Father had made arrangements to say Mass, but when we got there, they had not assigned him any altar. They just said to take any altar that was open. So after walking all around and finding every altar taken, we finally ended up at Saint Josaphat, and the priest there was just finishing up his Mass. So, I gently prodded Father in that direction, and that's where we had Mass.

I thought it was pretty appropriate that with Saint Josaphat being a Ruthenian Rite Catholic Bishop that we would say the Tridentine which is much closer to the Eastern Rites (and Tradition) than the Novus Ordo. It was also appropriate that Father Benedict being a monk would say the Mass at the relics of a Martyr who was a monk. Saint Josaphat was also a Martyr for unity between East and West in the Church, and here we had a very beautiful union of East and West and Heaven and earth. You can see the reason they put Saint Josaphat's relics in one of the altars closest to Saint Peter. Definitely a memory I will treasure.

You can read more about Saint Josaphat at Catholic Encyclopedia:

St. Josaphat Kuncevyc at Catholic Encyclopedia

RS

Tomb of Pope Saint Leo the Great

In the Ordinary Form, today is the feast of Pope Saint Leo the Great.



Here you can see where he is buried in the Basilica of Saint Peter in Vatican City. You can usually see it, but it is harder to get up to the alter itself. For some reason, that area of the basilica is usually closed off, so the closest you can get is about 30 yards away. Your best bet to visit the altar is to got to Saint Peter's right when it opens in the morning and attend one of the low private Masses at this altar. I was blessed last year with the opportunity to do this, so I snapped a couple of pictures afterwards.

So, here's just one of the many Saint's buried in Saint Peter's.

I also encourage you read Pope Saint Leo the Great's homilies. They are often very clear and solid expositions of the Faith.

You've got to love a guy who stood up to Attila the Hun.

RS

Basilica of Saint John Lateran

A few pictures of the Basilica of Saint John Lateran.


This is the actual Cathedral of Rome and is where the cathedra of the Pope is.

Cathedra (or chair) of the Pope
The main relics in this Church are pretty important.

The main one is a part of the table from the Last Supper which is high above the Eucharistic Chapel in the left trancept.


The other major relics are up in the top of the baldachino over the papal altar.


The two statues of Saint Peter and Saint Paul hold the heads of these two Saints.

Enjoy.

RS

Comparison of Prayers - Feast of the Dedication of the Basilica of Saint John Lateran

Basilica of Saint John in Lateran
The Pope's Cathedral
The prayers for today all come from the Common of the Dedication of a Church.

I am not quite as confident with my translations this week. But, I still think they are better than the I.C.E.L. translations we currently have ... talk about watered down.

Collect (Opening Prayer)

Official Latin from the 1969 & 2002 Roman Missals
Orémus. Deus, qui de vivis et eléctis lapídibus at ætérnum habitáculum tuæ praéparans maiestáti, multíplica in Ecclésia tua spíritum grátiæ, quem dedísti, ut fidélis tibi pópulus in cæléstis ædificatiónem Ierúsalem semper accréscat.
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, from living stones, your chosen people, you built and eternal temple to your glory. Increase the spiritual gifts you have given to your Church, so that your faithful people may continue to grow in the new and eternal Jerusalem.
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, You Who prepare from living and chosen stones an eternal dwelling place for your Majesty, increase in Your Church the spirit of grace, which You have given, so that the people faithful to You may always be joined to the edifice of the Heavenly Jerusalem.
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
Súscipe, quaésumus, Dómine, munus oblátum, et poscéntibus concéde, ut hic sacramentórum virtus et votórum obtineátur efféctus.
Per Christum Dóminum nostrum.

Official 1973 I.C.E.L. Translation (Used at Mass in English)
Lord, receive our gifts. May we who share this sacrament experience the life and power it promises, and hear the answer to our prayers.
We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord.

My Own Literal Translation
Receive these offered gifts, we beseech You, O Lord, and through our earnest petitioning grant, that the strength of the Sacraments and effect of our vows may be obtained on this occasion.
Through Christ our Lord.

Preface
Preface of the mystery of the Church, which is the Spouse of Christ and the Temple of the Spirit

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 domum oratiónis muníficus inhabitáre dignáris, ut, grátia tua perpétuis fovénte subsídiis, templum Spíritus Sancti ipse nos perfícias, acceptábilis vitæ splendóre corúscans.
Sed et visibílibus ædifíciis adumbrátam, Christi sponsam Ecclésiam perénni operatióne sanctíficas, ut, innumerábili prole mater exsúltans, in glóriam tuam collocétur in cælis.
Et ídeo, cum Sanctis et Angelis univérsis, te collaudámus, 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.
Your house is a house of prayer, and your presence makes it a place of blessing. You give us grace upon grace to build the temple of your Spirit, creating its beauty from the holiness of our lives.
Your house of prayer is also the promise of the Church in heaven. Here your love is always at work, preparing the Church on earth for its heavenly glory as the sinless bride of Christ the joyful mother of a great company of saints.
Now with the saints and all the angels we praise you forever:
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 bountifully deign to dwell within the house of prayer, so that, by sustaining it by Your grace of perpetual help, You Yourself may perfect us, the temple of the Holy Spirit, to shine with the splendor of a pleasing life.
So too the representation of the visible edifice, You sanctify the Church, the spouse of Christ by His everlasting work, so that, as the rejoicing Mother of innumerable offspring, She may be placed in Heaven in Your glory.
And so, with all the Saints and Angels, we sing together to you, saying without end:
Holy, Holy, Holy ...

Post-Communion Prayer

Official Latin from the 1969 & 2002 Roman Missals
Orémus. Deus, qui nobis supérnam Ierúsalem per temporále Ecclésiæ tuæ signum adumbráre voluísti, da, quaésumus, ut, huius participatióne sacraménti, nos tuæ grátiæ templum effícias, et habitatiónem glóriæ tuæ íngredi concédas.
Per Christum Dóminum nostrum.

Official 1973 I.C.E.L. Translation (Used at Mass in English)
Let us pray. Father, you make your Church on earth a sign of the new and eternal Jerusalem. By sharing in this sacrament may we become the temple of your presence and the home of your glory.
Grant this in the name of Jesus the Lord.

My Own Literal Translation
Let us pray. O God, You Who deign to represent to us the Heavenly Jerusalem through the temporal sign of Your Church, grant, we beseech You, that, through the participation of this Sacrament, You may make us a temple of Your grace, and may allow us to enter into the dwelling of Your Glory.
Through Christ our Lord.

RS

How people got here #110508

Usually people visit this blog because they are looking for pictures, translations, feast day information, information about a particular church in Rome, (and happily) indulgence information. But I enjoy looking through some of the searches that people do to end up on my sight. For example, it used to be that if you looked up "LHC end of the world" I would be the first result on google.

One of the most popular posts is due to people searching for the interpetation of forgiving someone 7x70 or 77 times.

I also get a lot of hits of people looking for a picture of the Body of Saint John Vianney.

I get a lot of hits about the Portiuncula Indulgence on August 2nd.

I also get quite a few hits regarding the monastic diurnal, which I highly recommend.

I actually get a lot of hits for my Michael Jackson autograph, but I would bet most people are looking for the pop singer's autograph and not the beer expert's.

I got one search of "'short road to chaos' 'thomas More'"which seems appropriate for this election time reminding me of a quote from Saint Thomas More.

Oddest search of late: "What does Jet Li chant"

LOL.

RS

Election Results

Hmmm. I just wonder. Did the Democrats really win, or did the Republicans just really lose? I almost consider that there was a "liking" vacuum. I really wonder what the results would have been had those people who only voted against the Republicans because they hate Bush (even though he wasn't even running) hadn't voted. I often got the feeling that even some of the most vocal Obama supporters just needed someone to like and since Obama wasn't Bush, he was the guy.

I think the Republican party, and all conservatives, need to wake up and start being clearer about their views and more intelligent in their arguments. Well, I kind of take that back, not Republicans in general, but the Republicans who are actually running for office. They need to be more direct in addressing and forcing issues and more intelligent and direct in their explanation of the issues.

It's also disturbing to see that so many people voted in a racist or sexist way too. Not only people voting for Obama only because he's Black, but also people voting for McCain only because he chose a woman as a running mate. That's frustrating to me that people would not vote on issues but only on accidental appearances. Sad.

In my opinion this could be an odd blessing in disguise. I think this country has had some dangerous curiosity about socialism. I think even if McCain had been elected, it would have only delayed an inevitable Obama or Obama-like election. Maybe this will be the time where America will hopefully see that socialism is not good for the country, not good for the States, and not good for the individuals. I pray that the American people will see the bad fruit they have wrought, and realize that we need to stop this country from heading into a socialistic society based on our hedonistic desires. We weren't made to be slaves to our passions, and our society is already on that slippery slope. But, I'm not going to gloom and doom, I still think this country has the ability to open it's eyes and see just where our society is headed. I pray we can also have the fortitude as individuals to stop being selfish and to turn the country around.

Pleasure is the new opiate of the masses, and the Democrats promise and use that quite a bit. Sadly though, it does not lead to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, but already to leading to death (abortion and euthanasia), slavery (to the passions in sex, homosexual activity, dependance on welfare and social programs, entertainment), and purusit of pleasures (at any cost, even life and liberty).

Well, life goes on, and so we must prepare to fight against anything that will hurt our country no matter which political "side" it comes from. I'd start with the Republican party getting it's act together over these next four years.

RS

Song for November 5th, 2008

This is for Ronny, who would like to sing this song to all those who voted for Obama.

"Head Like A Hole" by Nine Inch Nails

(sorry, couldn't find an embedable version of the video)

RS

Zombie Survival Test

Heh, I guess going through the whole Half-Life/Half-Life 2 series and watching "Shaun of the Dead" help. I'm going to need it to get through the Zobamabies. Found through Fr. Erik Richtsteig's blog



The scary thing is that I've imagined Obama singing the "RE Your Brains" song to me. It's a funny song if you've ever worked in corporate America and like zombie stuff. So head over to Jonathan Coulton's music page and listen to "RE Your Brains." Just go down to "Thing a Week Two" and the last song should be "RE Your Brains", then just click the "Hear" button. It'll be creepy picturing Obama singing it to you.

Note: It is a zombie song, so it does have some descriptions of how zombies attack.

RS

Liturgical "loophole" for another plenary indulgence

Given that in the Extraordinary Form All Souls cannot fall on a Sunday, and so with it being moved to today this year, I would say that it would be possible to obtain another plenary indulgence for a soul in Purgatory today.

I'd also encourage any priests who are saying the Extraordinary Form to say all three Masses which they are allowed to say on this day.

This being the eve of election day, we need all the help from Heaven and Purgatory we can get.

RS

Amateur Catholic Blogger Membership Approved

It took a while (about a year), but I finally got a reply and am now a part of the Amateur Catholic Bloggers. What does that mean? Basically, I get another neat badge to put on my sidebar.

Application posted here:

"Roman Sacristan: Amateur Catholic

Dear http://amateurcatholic.blogspot.com/,
I am a GYS (grizzly young sacristan) seeking relationship with amateur blog membership. I have been plugging away at blogging for about a year and a half (hey, that's about two blog half-lifes!). I like translating the 2002 Missale Romanum, long surfs on the web, liturgically geeky things, and talking about Italy, Rome, and pilgrimages. Hobbies include monastic beers, cooking, theology, and monastic things. Currently working on sanctity and discerning a monastic vocation. Would be willing to post badge. If interested please reply to:
http://romansacristan.blogspot.com
Thanks,
The Roman Sacristan"

RS

Thinking about All Souls Day

Time for a rant
I was just thinking a bit about All Souls Day in relation to getting things ready for the Masses this Sunday. I have to admit, I have been really disappointed with what seems to be a new perspective on the day. It seems like we should stop calling it "All Souls Day" and start calling it "All Saints Part II."

I don't know if it is just me, but when I was looking over the readings, particularly the ones that were "suggested" on the USCCB website, I just found the readings to be completely inappropriate for the occasion.

When I look at All Souls Day, I see a day in which we are focused on praying for all the faithful departed who have died in the state of grace but have had to go to Purgatory. They need our prayers because they are still being purified of their vices, bad habits, and imperfections, which is most likely a suffering. I sort of look at All Souls Day as a really big funeral Mass. And traditionally that is the way it has been treated. In the extraordinary form, you did not have funeral Masses or celebrate All Souls Day on a Sunday. It was just moved to the following Monday. Strangely, I don't think you can have masses for the dead on Sundays in the ordinary form, yet for some reason All Souls Masses can be said on Sunday, even though the Liturgy of the Hours is just taken from what the current Sunday would be if All Souls didn't fall on it.

Like I said, the readings seem totally inappropriate. Instead of helping us understand that those who die most likely have to go through Purgatory, and thus they need our prayers to help release them from their suffering so they can be brought into the Presence of God, the readings seem to overemphasize the resurrection, which is odd because even the damned will be resurrected. The important thing is where we ultimately end up: Heaven or Hell. The readings seem to give the impression that, "when someone dies, they are just shot into the arms of Jesus." The readings seem to tell us they are already saved and in Heaven. It's like the liturgy just says "don't worry about them, they're fine, no reason to pray for them." It's as though they (whoever "they" are) don't want us to think that just maybe we might be punished for our sins, even if it is a temporary punishment for those who die in the state of grace.

Anyway, I just want to re-emphasize that God is a just God and we all will have to make amends for our sins. Yet, God is a merciful God too. However, it is our duty in the Church Militant to pray for and help as much as possible our brethren in the Church Suffering. This is why I try to help explain plenary indulgences and how to obtain them. So, please on All Souls try to obtain a plenary indulgence for a poor soul in purgatory. And always remember to pray for the faithful departed. I especially like to pray for those who are suffering the most in purgatory and for those who have no one to pray for them.

And remember, this also applies to funerals as well. We certainly hope that the person died in the state of grace, but even if they did, we need to pray for them so that if they are in Purgatory, God will be merciful and bring them to Himself.

Anyway, yes, I'm tired and had to rant a bit, but I just wanted to add my reflections on All Souls Day and hopefully correct some of this improper perspective that has crept into the liturgy in the last 40 years.

RS

Weekend Recap

Quick links to all the stuff for this weekend.

How to obtain a plenary indulgence for a soul in Purgatory on All Souls Day

Comparison of Prayers - Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed - Mass III

Comparison of Prayers - Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed - Mass II

Comparison of Prayers - Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed - Mass I

Comparison of Prayers - Solemnity of All Saints

RS

Obtaining a Plenary Indulgence for a soul in Purgatory on All Souls Day

"Saint Gregory Delivers the Soul of a Monk" by Giovanni Battista Crespi
Requirements for Obtaining a Plenary Indulgence for a soul in Purgatory on All Souls Day (Nov. 2nd)

- Piously visit a church to pray for the faithful departed on November 2nd.

- Say one “Our Father” and the “Creed” in the visit to the church

- Say one “Our Father” and one “Hail Mary” for the intentions of the Pope

- Worthily receive Holy Communion (ideally on the same day)

- Make a Sacramental Confession within a week of (before or after) All Souls Day

- that one be free from all attachment to sin, even venial sin.

The “Technical” Stuff

“1. An indulgence is the remission in the eyes of God of the temporal punishment due to sins whose culpable element has already been taken away. The Christian faithful who are rightly disposed and observe the definite, prescribed conditions gain this remission through the effective assistance of the Church, which, as the minister of redemption, authoritatively distributes and applies the treasury of the expiatory works of Christ and the Saints.”
- Handbook of Indulgences, Norms

“22. The prescribed work for gaining a plenary indulgence attached to a church or oratory is a devout visit there, which includes the recitation of the Lord’s Prayer and the Creed (Pater Noster and Credo), unless otherwise stated in a specific grant.”
- Handbook of Indulgences, Norms

“23. 1. Besides the exclusion of all attachment to sin, even venial sin, the requirements for gaining a Plenary Indulgence are the performance of the indulgenced work and fulfillment of three conditions: Sacramental Confession, Eucharistic Communion, and prayer for the Pope’s intentions.
2. Several Plenary Indulgences may be gained on the basis of a single Sacramental Confession; only one may be gained, however, on the basis of a single Eucharistic Communion and prayer for the Pope’s intentions.
3. The three conditions may be carried out several days preceding or following performance of the prescribed work. But it is more fitting that the Communion and the prayer for the Pope’s intentions take place on the day the work is performed.
4. If a person is not fully disposed or if the prescribed work and the three mentioned conditions are not fulfilled, the Indulgence will only be partial ...”
5. The condition requiring prayer for the Pope’s intentions is satisfied by reciting once the Our Father and Hail Mary for his intentions (Pater Noster and Ave Maria); nevertheless all the faithful have the option of reciting any other prayer suited to their own piety and devotion.”
- Handbook of Indulgences, Norms


"67. Visiting a Church or an Oratory on All Souls Day

A PlenaryIindulgence, which is applicable only to the Souls in Purgatory is granted to the Christian faithful who devoutly visit a church or an oratory on (November 2nd,) All Souls Day."
- Handbook of Indulgences, Grants

For some understanding on indulgences themselves see:

The Catechism of the Catholic Church on Indulgences

RS