Friday, February 27, 2009

Comparison of Prayers - 1st Sunday of Lent

"The Three Temptations of Christ" by Sandro Botticelli


Collect (Opening Prayer)

Official Latin from the 1969 & 2002 Roman Missals
Orémus. Concéde nobis, omnípotens Deus, ut, per ánnua quadragesimális exercítia sacraménti, et ad intellegéndum Christi proficiámus arcánum, et efféctus eius digna conversatióne sectémur.
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, through our observance of Lent, help us to understand the meaning of your Son’s death and resurrection, and teach us to reflect it in our lives.
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. Grant to us, Almighty God, that, through the annual exercises of this holy forty-day obligation, we may both advance in understanding the mystery of Christ, and by worthy conduct may strive after its effects.
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
Fac nos, quaésumus, Dómine, his munéribus offeréndis conveniénter aptári, quibus ipsíus venerábilis sacraménti celebrámus exórdium.
Per Christum Dóminum nostrum.

Official 1973 I.C.E.L. Translation (Used at Mass in English)
Lord, make us worthy to bring you these gifts. May this sacrifice help to change our lives.
We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord.

My Own Literal Translation
Make us, we humbly beseech You, O Lord, to be suitably prepared by these gifts which are about to be offered, by which we celebrate the beginning of this venerable holy season.
Through Christ our Lord.

Preface
Preface of the temptation of the Lord.

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 quadragínta diébus, terrénis ábstinens aliméntis, formam huius observántiæ ieiúnio dedicávit, et, omnes evértens antíqui serpéntis insídias, ferméntum malítiæ nos dócuit superáre, ut, paschále mystérium dignis méntibus celebrántes, ad pascha demum perpétuum transeámus.
Et ídeo cum Angelórum atque Sanctórum turba hymnum laudis tibi 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.
His fast of forty days makes this a holy season of self-denial. By rejecting the devil’s temptations he has taught us to rid ourselves of the hidden corruption of evil, and so to share his paschal meal in purity of heart, until we come to its fulfillment in the promised land of heaven.
Now we join the angels and saints as they sing 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 for forty days, abstaining from earthly food, established the form of this observance by a fast, and, overthrowing all the insidious acts of the ancient serpent, He taught us to rise above the corruption of evil, so that, celebrating the Paschal Mystery with worthy dispositions, we may at last pass on to the everlasting Paschal Feast.
And so with the Host of Angels and Saints we sing the hymn of praise to You, saying without end:
Holy, Holy, Holy ...

Post-Communion Prayer

Official Latin from the 1969 & 2002 Roman Missals
Orémus. Cælésti pane refécti, quo fides álitur, spes provéhitur et cáritas roborátur, quaésumus, Dómine, ut ipsum, qui est panis vivus et verus, esuríre discámus, et in omni verbo, quod procédit de ore tuo, vívere valeámus.
Per Christum Dóminum nostrum.

Official 1973 I.C.E.L. Translation (Used at Mass in English)
Let us pray. Father, you increase our faith and hope, you deepen our love in this communion. Help us to live by your words and to seek Christ, our bread of life,
who is Lord for ever and ever.

My Own Literal Translation
Let us pray. . Having been refreshed by this Heavenly Bread, by Which faith is sustained, hope is advanced, and love is strengthened, we humbly beseech You, O Lord, that we may learn to hunger for Him, Who is the Living and True Bread, and may have strength to live in every word, which comes from Your mouth.
Through Christ our Lord.

RS

Thursday, February 26, 2009

Plenary Indulgence on Fridays of Lent

Reposting:

"Christ on the Cross" by Jacques-Louis David


I would note that we can obtain a plenary indulgences for ourselves. However, we can offer that plenary indulgence for a soul in purgatory instead. This would be a great act of charity and spiritual almsgiving to do during Lent. In my case since I am consecrated to Our Lady under the consecration of Saint Maximilian Kolbe, I try to obtain a plenary indulgence and offer it to Our Lady asking her to apply it to the soul in purgatory most in need. So, I highly encourage all readers to do this and to spread the info with friends and family as well. If we help the souls to be released from purgatory and enter Heaven, they will help us to get to Heaven as well. And nowadays, we can all use all the help we can get.

You can obtain a plenary indulgence every Friday in Lent by saying the following prayer before a Crucifix after receiving Holy Communion. The other usual requirements for a plenary indulgence also apply:
1) Receive communion (ideally on the same day the indulgence act is done)
2) Go to confession (within a week before or after the indugenced act)
3) That one pray for the Pope's intentions (usually by saying an Our Father and a Hail Mary)
4) That one be free from all attachment to sin, even venial sin.

Prayer before a Crucifix
(Latin and English versions)

En ego, o bone et dulcíssime Iesu,
ante conspéctum tuum génibus me provólvo,
ac máximo ánimi adóre te oro atque obtéstor,
ut meum in cor vívidos fídei, spei, et caritátis sensus,
atque veram peccatórum meórum pæniténtiam,
eáque emendándi firmíssimam voluntátem velis imprímere;
dum magno ánimi afféctu et dolóre
tua quinque vúlnera mecum ipse consídero
ac mente contémplor,
illud præ óculis habens,
quod iam in ore ponébat tuo David prophéta de te, o bone Iesu:
Fodóderunt manus meas et pedes meos:
dinumeravérunt ómnia ossa mea.

Behold, O kind and most sweet Jesus,
I cast myself upon my knees in Thy sight,
and with the most fervent desire of my soul I pray and beseech Thee
that Thou wouldst impress upon my heart lively sentiments of Faith, Hope, and Charity,
with true repentance for my sins, and a firm purpose of amendment,
whilst with deep affection and grief of soul I ponder within myself
and mentally contemplate
Thy five most precious Wounds;
having before my eyes the words which David in prophecy spoke concerning Thyself, O good Jesus:
“They have pierced my hands and feet;
they have numbered all my bones.”

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

“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

#22 Prayer before a Crucifix
On any Friday during Lent a plenary indulgence is granted the Christian faithful who, after Communion, devoutly recite the above prayer before an image of Jesus Christ crucified. On other days of the year the indulgence is a partial one.
- Handbook of Indulgences, Grants


(Makes me wonder if this can be obtained before a "resifix?" You know, those ones where Christ is risen, sort of floating before a cross, which are sadly in many churches nowadays? I mean, the indulgence does say "before an image of Jesus Christ crucified" [my emphasis]. I'll let those concerned about it write the apostolic penitentiary on that one. If you are worried about it, get a holy card of the Crucifixion and take that with you and say the prayer looking at that after Holy Communion.)

RS

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Ash Wednesday and Lent

Repost from last year.

"Christ in the Desert" by Ivan Kranskoi

Browsing through the Catholic Encyclopedia, I found a few articles that are definitely worth a read to get a better understanding of the season of Lent.

Since tomorrow is Ash Wednesday, a good place to start is the entry on:

Ash Wednesdsay

(As a side note, I think I found a potential answer about the difference in the US and Rome. From the above article, it says that the faithful received ashes in the form of a cross upon their forehead, and that clerics would receive ashes in the form of a cross upon their tonsure (top of their head). One problem is that "tonsure" no longer exists. Another problem is that so many modernists don't like to distinguish between clerics and laity (as if that is something bad or clericalist). Not sure what or why the differences today.)

With that comes the observance upon Ash Wednesday (and Good Friday) of the:

Fast

On fascinating part mentions how fasting has been seen not only as just a religious observance, but also one of natural virtue as it fosters temperance.

It also explains many of the differences we have heard of in fasting, whether it be be not eating at all, having only one meal (The Black Fast), or having one normal meal with two small meals. Overall the conclusion becomes what is demanded by Church law and most importantly common sense.

Then this brings us fully into the season of:

Lent

Which shows a rather varied form of observance throughout the Church in both East and West due to Lent's rather "late" development compared to other annual feasts like Epiphany.

One interesting perspective was something of Saint Gregory the Great in looking at the fasting of Lent as a tithe to God:

"In the time of Gregory the Great (590-604) there were apparently at Rome six weeks of six days each, making thirty-six fast days in all, which St. Gregory, who is followed therein by many medieval writers, describes as the spiritual tithing of the year, thirty-six days being approximately the tenth part of three hundred and sixty-five."

And here are the relavent Canons on fasting and abstinence:

BOOK IV, PART III, TITLE II, CHAPTER II.

Days of Penance

Can. 1249 The divine law binds all the Christian faithful to do penance each in his or her own way. In order for all to be united among themselves by some common observance of penance, however, penitential days are prescribed on which the Christian faithful devote themselves in a special way to prayer, perform works of piety and charity, and deny themselves by fulfilling their own obligations more faithfully and especially by observing fast and abstinence, according to the norm of the following canons.

Can. 1250 The penitential days and times in the universal Church are every Friday of the whole year and the season of Lent.

Can. 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.

Can. 1252 The law of abstinence binds those who have completed their fourteenth year. The law of fasting binds those who have attained their majority, until the beginning of their sixtieth year. Pastors of souls and parents are to ensure that even those who by reason of their age are not bound by the law of fasting and abstinence, are taught the true meaning of penance.

Can. 1253 The conference of bishops can determine more precisely the observance of fast and abstinence as well as substitute other forms of penance, especially works of charity and exercises of piety, in whole or in part, for abstinence and fast.

All of these articles are definitely worth a read, and can help give us a proper understanding and more focused observance of Lent.

RS

Friday, February 20, 2009

Comparison of Prayers - 7th Sunday Per Annum

aka 7th Sunday of Ordinary Time

Collect (Opening Prayer)

Official Latin from the 1969 & 2002 Roman Missals
Orémus. Præsta, quaésumus, omnípotens Deus, ut, semper rationabília meditántes, quæ tibi sunt plácita, et dictis exsequámur et factis.
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 keep before us the wisdom and love you have revealed in your Son. Help us to be like him in word and deed,
for he 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, always meditating upon rational things, which are pleasing to You, we may carry them out in both words and deeds.
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
Mystéria tua, Dómine, débitis servítiis exsequéntes, súpplices te rogámus, ut, quod ad honórem tuæ maiestátis offérimus, nobis profíciat ad salútem.
Per Christum Dóminum nostrum.

Official 1973 I.C.E.L. Translation (Used at Mass in English)
Lord, as we make this offering, may our worship in Spirit and truth bring us salvation.
We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord.

My Own Literal Translation
Carrying out Your Mysteries as Your dutiful servants, O Lord, we humbly beg You, that, what we offer to the honor of Your Majesty, may advance our salvation.
Through Christ our Lord.

Post-Communion Prayer

Official Latin from the 1969 & 2002 Roman Missals
Orémus. Præsta, quaésumus, omnípotens Deus, ut illíus capiámus efféctum, cuius per hæc mystéria pignus accépimus.
Per Christum Dóminum nostrum.

Official 1973 I.C.E.L. Translation (Used at Mass in English)
Let us pray. Almighty God, help us to live the example of love we celebrate in this eucharist, that we may come to its fulfillment in your presence.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.

My Own Literal Translation
Let us pray. Grant, we beseech You, Almighty God, that we may obtain the effect of Him, Whose promise we have received through these Mysteries.
Through Christ our Lord.

RS

Sunday, February 15, 2009

Liturgy "By The Books"

Just a quick post on two articles I just saw that reinforce the idea of liturgy "by the books"

The first is from Father Angelo of the Fransciscan Friars of the Immaculate. I'm not linking because he gave my blog a "plug" but because of the idea he supports as well:

"Roman Sacristan" at Mary Victrix Blog

The other is from a usual great source, Father Z at What Does the Prayer Really Say:

What happens when we get out of the way

Thanks for the prayers, and please keep them up. The discernment time is going well so far.

RS

Friday, February 13, 2009

Comparison of Prayers - 6th Sunday Per Annum

aka 6th Sunday of Ordinary Time

"The Sermon on the Mount" by Carl Heinrich Bloch

Collect (Opening Prayer)

Official Latin from the 1969 & 2002 Roman Missals
Orémus. Deus, qui te in rectis et sincéris manére pectóribus ásseris, da nobis tua grátia tales exsístere, in quibus habitáre dignéris.
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, you have promised to remain for ever with those who do what is just and right. Help us to live in your presence.
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 declare that You remain in upright and sincere hearts, grant to us by Your grace to become as those in whom You wish to dwell.
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
Hæc nos oblátio, quaésumus, Dómine, mundet et rénovet, atque tuam exsequéntibus voluntátem fiat causa remuneratiónis ætérnæ.
Per Christum Dóminum nostrum.

Official 1973 I.C.E.L. Translation (Used at Mass in English)
Lord, we make this offering in obedience to your word. May it cleanse and renew us, and lead us to our eternal reward.
We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord.

My Own Literal Translation
May this oblation cleanse and renew us, we beseech You, O Lord, and by following Your Will may it be the cause of our eternal reward.
Through Christ our Lord.

Post-Communion Prayer

Official Latin from the 1969 & 2002 Roman Missals
Orémus. Cæléstibus, Dómine, pasti delíciis, quaésumus, ut semper éadem, per quæ veráciter vívimus, appetámus.
Per Christum Dóminum nostrum.

Official 1973 I.C.E.L. Translation (Used at Mass in English)
Let us pray. Lord, you give us food from heaven. May we always hunger for the bread of life.
Grant this through Christ our Lord.

My Own Literal Translation
Let us pray. Having been fed by these Heavenly delights, O Lord, we humbly beseech You, that we may always hunger for them, through which we truly live.
Through Christ our Lord.

RS

Friday, February 06, 2009

Comparison of Prayers - 5th Sunday Per Annum

aka 5th Sunday of Ordinary Time

"The Miraculous Draught of Fishes" by Raphael

Collect (Opening Prayer)

Official Latin from the 1969 & 2002 Roman Missals
Orémus. Famíliam tuam, quaésumus, Dómine, contínua pietáte custódi, ut, quæ in sola spe grátiæ cæléstis innítitur, tua semper protectóne muniátur.
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, watch over your family and keep us safe in your care, for all our hope is in you.
Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, on God, for ever and ever.

My Own Literal Translation
Let us pray. Guard Your family, we beseech You, O Lord, with constant merciful love, so that, those who rely on the sole hope of Heavenly grace, may always be preserved by Your protection.
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
Dómine Deus noster, qui has pótius creatúras ad fragilitátis nostræ subsídium condidísti, tríbue, quaésumus, ut étiam æternitátis nobis fiant sacramémtum.
Per Christum Dóminum nostrum.

Official 1973 I.C.E.L. Translation (Used at Mass in English)
Lord our God, may the bread and wine you give us for our nourishment on earth become the sacrament of our eternal life.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.

My Own Literal Translation
O Lord our God, You Who established these creatures above all others to be the aid of our frailty, grant, we beseech You, that they may also become for us the Sacrament of eternity.
Through Christ our Lord.

Post-Communion Prayer

Official Latin from the 1969 & 2002 Roman Missals
Orémus. Deus, qui nos de uno pane et de uno cálice partícipes esse voluísti, da nobis, quaésumus, ita vívere, ut, unum in Christo effécti, fructum afferámus pro mundi salúte gaudéntes.
Per Christum Dóminum nostrum.

Official 1973 I.C.E.L. Translation (Used at Mass in English)
Let us pray. God our Father, you give us a share in the one bread and the one cup and make us one in Christ. Help us to bring your salvation and joy to all the world.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.

My Own Literal Translation
Let us pray. O God, You Who wished us to be participants of this One Bread and this One Chalice, grant to us, we beseech You, to live in such a way, that, as we have been made one in Christ, we may joyfully bring forth fruit for the salvation of the world.
Through Christ our Lord.

RS

Sunday, February 01, 2009

Black History Month

A history lesson for Black History Month.



RS