Recta Ratio

Chapter III

That It Is Profitable to Communicate Often


The Voice of the Disciple:


Behold I come unto Thee, O Lord, that I may be blessed through Thy gift, and be made joyful in Thy holy feast which Thou, O God, of Thy goodness hast prepared for the poor. Behold in Thee is all that I can and ought to desire, Thou art my salvation and redemption, my hope and strength, my honour and glory. Therefore rejoice the soul of Thy servant this day, for unto Thee, O Lord Jesus, do I lift up my soul. I long now to receive Thee devoutly and reverently, I desire to bring Thee into my house, so that with Zacchaeus I may be counted worthy to be blessed by Thee and numbered among the children of Abraham. My soul hath an earnest desire for Thy Body, my heart longeth to be united with Thee.

Give me Thyself and it sufficeth, for besides Thee no consolation availeth. Without Thee I cannot be, and without Thy visitation I have no power to live. And therefore I must needs draw nigh unto Thee often, and receive Thee for the healing of my soul, lest haply I faint by the way if I be deprived of heavenly food. For so Thou, most merciful Jesus, preaching to the people and healing many sick, didst say, I will not send them away fasting to their own homes, lest they faint by the way. Deal therefore now to me in like manner, for Thou left Thyself for the consolation of the faithful in the Sacrament. For Thou art the sweet refreshment of the soul, and he who shall eat Thee worthily shall be partaker and inheritor of the eternal glory. Necessary indeed it is for me, who so often slide backwards and sin, so quickly wax cold and faint, to renew, cleanse, enkindle myself by frequent prayers and penitences and receiving of Thy sacred Body and lest haply by too long abstinence, I fall short of my holy resolutions.

For the imaginations of man's heart are evil from his youth, and except divine medicine succour him, man slideth away continually unto the worse. The Holy Communion therefore draweth us back from evil, and strengtheneth us for good. For if I now be so negligent and lukewarm when I communicate [or celebrate], how should it be with me, if I receive not this medicine, and sought not so great a help? [And though I am not every day fit nor well prepared to celebrate, I will nevertheless give diligent heed at due season, to receive the divine mysteries, and to become partaker of so great grace]. For this is the one principal consolation of the faithful soul, so long as it is absent from Thee in mortal body, that being continually mindful of its God, it receiveth its Beloved with devout spirit.

Oh wonderful condescension of Thy pity surrounding us, that Thou, O Lord God, Creator and Quickener of all spirits, deignest to come unto a soul so poor and weak, and to appease its hunger with Thy whole Diety and Humanity. Oh happy mind and blessed soul, to which is granted devoutly to receive Thee its Lord God, and in so receiving Thee to be filled with all spiritul joy! Oh how great a Lord doth it entertain, how beloved a Guest doth it bring in, how delightful a Companion doth it receive, how faithful a Friend doth it welcome, how beautiful and exalted a Spouse, above every other Beloved, doth it embrace, One to be loved above all things that can be desired! O my most sweet Beloved, let heaven and earth and all the glory of them, be silent in Thy presence; seeing whatsoever praise and beauty they have it is of Thy gracious bounty; and they shall never reach unto the loveliness of Thy Name, Whose Wisdom is infinite.

Or the Eve of Whitsunday.

Looking forward to it. Doesn't seem to be as much hype as the previous movies had pre-release.

June 4th, the release date is also my second Blog-o-versary.

Sounds pretty cool, especially chanting in Latin from old books.

He was born on this date in 1874.

Today would also be Bobe Hope's 101st birthday.

John Allen says the Holy Father wants it and it will probably eventually emerge from the Vatican bureaucracy. And, unlike the 1961 letter, will apply to the orders as well as the secular priesthood (and the problem in the orders is worse than in the secular priesthood)and will, unquestionably be still applicable as it is "post-Vatican II" (the argument being that Vatican II, or its ubiquitous and ever-malleable "spirit" trumps disciplinary documents issued before the Council). That is the good news.

The bad news is that it will be meaningless, and any bishop or order that wants to ordain gays to the priesthood will just ignore it altogether or kill its intended effect with semantics as it is unlikely to define "homosexual."

From yeoldewoburn.com:

Mary: The Queen Of Heaven

"She lives now and is protecting us. She is there [in heaven], body and soul, with the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. She is the same person who was born in Palestine, who gave herself to God while still a child, who received the message from St. Gabriel the Archangel, who gave birth to our Savior, and who stood beside him at the foot to the Cross. In her, all ideals become a reality. But we should never think that this sublime greatness of hers makes her inaccessible to us. She is one who is full of grace and the sum of all perfections...and she is also our Mother."

Let us offer to our Mother today:

The "Hail Holy Queen" at each hour.

V. Thou art all fair, O Mary.
R. Thou art all fair, O Mary.

V. And the original stain is not in thee.
R. And the original stain is not in thee.

V. Thou art the glory of Jerusalem.
R. Thou, the joy of Israel.

V. Thou art the honor of our people.
R. Thou art the advocate of sinners.

V. O Mary.
R. O Mary.

V. Virgin most prudent.
R. Mother most tender.

V. Pray for us,
R. Intercede for us with Jesus Christ our Lord .

V. In thy conception, Holy Virgin, thou wast immaculate.
R. Pray for us to the Father, Whose Son thou didst bring forth.

V. O Lady! aid my prayer,
R. And let my cry come unto thee.

Let us pray

Holy Mary, Queen of heaven, Mother of our Lord Jesus Christ, and mistress of the world, who foresakest no one, and despisest no one, look upon me, O Lady! with an eye of pity, and entreat for me of thy beloved Son the forgiveness of all my sins; that, as I now celebrate, with devout affection, thy holy and immaculate conception, so, hereafter, I may receive the prize of eternal blessedness, by the grace of Him whom thou, in virginity, didst bring forth, Jesus Christ our Lord: Who with the Father and the Holy Spirit, liveth and reigneth, in perfect Trinity, God, unto the ages of ages.
Amen.


V. Tota pulchra es, Maria.
R. Tota pulchra es, Maria.

V. Et macula originalis non est in te.
R. Et macula originalis non est in te.

V. Tu gloria Ierusalem.
R. Tu laetitia Israel.

V. Tu honorificentia populi nostri.
R. Tu advocata peccatorum.

V. O Maria.
R. O Maria.

V. Virgo prudentissima.
R. Mater clementissima.

V. Ora pro nobis.
R. Intercede pro nobis ad Dominum Iesum Christum.

V. In conceptione tua, Immaculata fuisti.
R. Ora pro nobis Patrem cuius Filium peperisti.

V. Domina, protege orationem meam.
R. Et clamor meus ad te veniat.

Oremus

Sancta Maria, regina caelorum, mater Domini nostri Iesu Christi, et mundi domina, quae nullum derelinquis, et nullum despicis: respice me, domina, clementer oculo pietatis, et impetra mihi apud tuum dilectum Filium cunctorum veniam peccatorum: ut qui nunc tuam sanctam et immaculatam conceptionem devoto affectu recolo, aeternae in futurum beatitudinis, bravium capiam, ipso, quem virgo peperisti, donante Domino nostro Iesu Christo: qui cum Patre et Sancto Spiritu vivit et regnat, in Trinitate perfecta, Deus, in saecula saeculorum. Amen.

No blogging Monday. Today, Tomorrow, and Sunday I will be around, the Lord willing, part of the time.

Good work, Bishop McManus.

From Catholic World News.

Opposition to this atrocity should be systematic and comprehensive. Do not yield an ounce of legitimacy to this crap. Root and branch opposition now and forever more.

A happy day for anyone who has ever lived with a Saint Bernard.

Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.


Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.

God, the Father of heaven,
Have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world,
Have mercy on us.
God the Holy Ghost,
Have mercy on us.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us.
Holy Virgin of virgins,
pray for us.
Mother of the Crucified,
pray for us.
Sorrowful Mother,
pray for us.
Mournful Mother,
pray for us.
Sighing Mother,
pray for us.
Afflicted Mother,
pray for us.
Foresaken Mother,
pray for us.
Desolate Mother,
pray for us.
Mother most sad,
pray for us.
Mother set around with anguish,
pray for us.
Mother overwhelmed by grief,
pray for us.
Mother transfixed by a sword,
pray for us.
Mother crucified in thy heart,
pray for us.
Mother bereaved of thy Son,
pray for us.
Sighing Dove,
pray for us.
Mother of Dolors,
pray for us.
Fount of tears,
pray for us.
Sea of bitterness,
pray for us.
Field of tribulation,
pray for us.
Mass of suffering,
pray for us.
Mirror of patience,
pray for us.
Rock of constancy,
pray for us.
Remedy in perplexity,
pray for us.
Joy of the afflicted,
pray for us.
Ark of the desolate,
pray for us.
Refuge of the abandoned,
pray for us.
Shield of the oppressed,
pray for us.
Conqueror of the incredulous,
pray for us.
Solace of the wretched,
pray for us.
Medicine of the sick,
pray for us.
Help of the faint,
pray for us.
Strength of the weak,
pray for us.
Protectress of those who fight,
pray for us.
Haven of the shipwrecked,
pray for us.
Calmer of tempests,
pray for us.
Companion of the sorrowful,
pray for us.
Retreat of those who groan,
pray for us.
Terror of the treacherous,
pray for us.
Standard-bearer of the Martyrs,
pray for us.
Treasure of the Faithful,
pray for us.
Light of Confessors,
pray for us.
Pearl of Virgins,
pray for us.
Comfort of Widows,
pray for us.
Joy of all Saints,
pray for us.
Queen of thy Servants,
pray for us.
Holy Mary, who alone art unexampled,
pray for us.

Pray for us, most Sorrowful Virgin,
That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

O God, in whose Passion, according to the prophecy of Simeon, a sword of grief pierced through the most sweet soul of Thy glorious Blessed Virgin Mother Mary: grant that we, who celebrate the memory of her Seven Sorrows, may obtain the happy effect of Thy Passion, Who lives and reigns world without end. Amen.

From yeoldewoburn.com:

The Assumption

Mary: Taken Up To Heaven

"Mary has gone to heaven in both body and soul, and the angels rejoice. I can imagine, too, the delight of St. Joseph, her most chaste spouse, who awaited her in paradise. Yet what of us who remain on earth? Our faith tells us that here below, in our present life, we are pilgrims, wayfarers. Our lot is one of suffering, of sacrifices, and privations. Nonetheless, joy must mark the rhythm of our steps. 'Serve the Lord with joy' - there is no other way to serve him."

Let us offer to our Mother today:

A smile when someone corrects us or misjudges us.

Catholics For Bush

For the record, Recta Ratio endorsed President Bush's re-election last year, and remains firm for re-election, maintaining and deepening the Republican majority in both houses of Congress, continued prosecution of the global war on Moslem ism, more conservative justices on the Supreme Court and elsewhere in the federal judiciary, and more tax cuts (front-loaded, this time, please).

Catholics For Bush also has a Yahoo Club which you can join here.

I did not see this in the major Boston papers this morning, but Brother Fidelis, the Franciscan charged with buggering several altar boys in the 1960s and 1970s at Our Lady of Mount Carmel parish, copped a guilty plea yesterday, after pleading not guilty in 2002.

Nothing to link to yet.

If the market stays hot. Some of the property, like Holy Trinity, is very much commercially desirable.

That should put the Archdiocese on a decent financial footing. Eliminate drains on the budget, and add a lot of cash.

Whether it is good evangelization to retreat like this is another matter.

I think it is not, and would rather see the Church hold on to what it has, and work hard through promotion of traditional devotions and better catechesis to expand the pool of practicing Catholics, and the pool of priests. I am a Reaganite. I've always been of the "Supply Creates It's Own Demand" school of thought. If you keep them open and offer Catholic Classic, not Catholic Lite, they will come. Just as good hefty front-loaded tax cuts spur the economy and grow the base, getting serious about the Faith expands the pool of the Faithful by bringing in the wavering seekers.

He has been appointed archpriest of a basilica in Italy.

No big deal. Nothing to get het up about.

A Roman martyr.

Bringing the Word of God to the heathen English.

Hail, Mary, Mother of God, glorious treasury of the whole world, inextinguishable lamp, crown of virginity, scepter of orthodoxy, indissoluble temple, place of Him whom no place can contain, mother and virgin, through whom the Gospels said "Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord".

Hail, for thou hast possessed in thy holy virginal womb the infinite and immeasurable one; thou, Mary, through whom the Holy Trinity is glorified and adored; through whom the precious Cross is celebrated and throughout the world adored; through whom the heavens rejoice; through whom the angels and archangels are glad; through whom demons are put to flight; through whom the tempter, the devil, is cast down from heaven; through whom fallen creation is restored to heaven; through whom all struck with the madness of idolatry have come to the knowledge of the truth; through whom holy Baptism is given to believers; through whom the oil of gladness is poured out; through whom the Church is established throughout the world; and through whom the nations are lead to repentance.

Thou art the one through whom the only-begotten Son of God shines forth His light upon those who are in darkness and sit in the shadow of death; through whom the Apostles preached salvation to the nations; through whom the dead are raised; and through whom kings reign by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Behold all creation rejoices! May we revere and adore this union of God and man in the Son of Mary, and as we tremble at and pay honor to the indivisible Trinity, let us sing the praises of Mary ever Virgin, the holy temple of God, and of God Himself, her Son and spotless Bridegroom, for to Him be glory forever.
Amen.


Salve a nobis, Deipara Maria, venerandus totius orbis thesaurus, lampas inextinguibilis, corona virginitatis, sceptrum rectae doctrinae, templum indissolubile, locus eius qui loco capi non potest, mater et virgo, per quam is benedictus in sanctis Evangeliis nominatur, qui venit in nomine Domini.

Salve, quae immensum incomprehensumque in sancto virgineo utero comprehendisti: per quam sancta Trinitas glorificatur et adoratur; per quam pretiosa crux celebratur et in universo orbe adoratur; per quam caelum exsultat; per quam angeli et archangeli laetantur; per quam daemones fugantur; per quam tentator diabolus caelo decidit; per quam prolapsa creatura in caelum assumitur; per quam universa creatura, idolorum vesania detenta, ad veritatis agnitionem pervenit; per quam sanctum baptisma obtingit credentibus; per quam exsultationis oleum, per quam toto terrarum orbe fundatae sunt Ecclesiae, per quam gentes adducuntur ad paenitentiam.

Per quam unigenitus Dei Filius iis, qui in tenebris et in umbra mortis sedebant, lux resplenduit; per quam prophetae praenuntiarunt; per quam Apostoli salutem gentibus praedicarunt; per quam mortui exsuscitantur; per quam reges regnant, per sanctam Trinitatem.

Ecce igitur omnia gaudent; contingat autem nobis ut unionem revereamur et adoremus, ac indivisam Trinitatem tremamus et colamus, Mariam semper Virginem, sanctum videlicet Dei templum, eiusdemque Filium et sponsum immaculatum laudibus celebrantes: quoniam ipsi gloria saecula saeculorum.
Amen.

From yeoldewoburn.com:

Mary: Mother Of Fair Love

"This is what explains Mary's life - her love. A complete love, so complete that she forgets herself and is happy just to be there where God wants her, fulfilling with care what God wants her to do. That is why even her slightest action is never routine or vain but, rather, full of meaning. Mary, our Mother, is for us both an example and a way. In the ordinary circumstances in which God wants us to live, we have to try to be like her."

Let us offer to our Mother today:

The resolution to say, before going to sleep every night, three Hail Marys.

Blog From the Core is two today! Ad Multos Annos, Lane!

These are in Lowell and Lawrence.

O Mary, blessed lady who was given grace, mother of our life and our salvation, may we have access to thy Son through thee, so that He who was given to us through thee, may receive us through thee. May thy purity excuse the fault of our corruption. May thy humility, which is pleasing to God, implore pardon for our vanity. May thy abundant charity cover the multitude of our sins, and may thy glorious fruitfulness confer upon us an abundance of merits. Our Lady, our Mediatrix, our Advocate, reconcile us to thy Son, commend us to thy Son, and present us to thy Son. O blessed Lady, through the grace thou hast found, through the prerogatives thou hast merited, through the mercy thou didst give birth to, grant us that by thy intercession, He, who deigned to share in our infirmities and misery, will makes us sharers of His glory and blessedness, Jesus Christ, thy Son, our Lord, who is above all blessed God forever.
Amen.

Per te, O Maria, accessum habeamus ad Filium, o benedicta inventrix gratiae, genetrix vitae, mater salutis, ut per te nos suscipiat, qui per te datus est nobis. Excuset apud ipsum integritas tua culpam nostrae corruptionis, et humilitas Deo grata nostrae veniam impetret vanitati. Copiosa caritas tua nostrorum cooperiat multitudinem peccatorum, et fecunditas tua gloriosa fecunditatem nobis conferat meritorum. Domina nostra, Mediatrix nostra, Advocata nostra: tuo Filio nos reconcilia, tuo Filio nos commenda, tuo Filio nos repraesenta. Fac, o benedicta, per gratiam quam invenisti, per praerogativam quam meruisti, per misericordiam quam peperisti, ut, qui te mediante fieri dignatus est particeps infirmitatis et miseriae nostrae, te quoque intercedente participes nos faciat gloriae suae et beatitudinis, Iesus Christus, Filius tuus Dominus noster, qui est super omnia Deus benedictus in saecula.
Amen.

from yeoldewoburn.com:

Mary: The Way To Jesus

"Mary does the immense favor of bringing to the cross, of placing face to face with the example of the Son of God, those who come close to her and contemplate her life. It is in this confrontation that Christian life is decided. And her Mary intercedes for us so that our behavior may lead to a reconciliation of the younger brother - you and me - with the firstborn Son of the Father.

"Many conversions, may decisions to give oneself to the service of God have been preceded by an encounter with Mary. Our Lady has encouraged us to look for God, to desire a change, to lead to new life."

Let us offer to our Mother today:

Teaching someone how to say the Holy Rosary.

I just loaded 12 images scanned from the Book of Kells into a new Photo Album on the Book of Kells. I hope to do the same with the Lindisfarne Gospels and the Book of Darrow. And, of course, if I can find new Book of Kells images in a format that Yahoo will accept, I'm there, too. I'll be editing the images to provide context shortly, though you don't get much space for comments.

I also have a new, second default front page image, St. Dominic by Fra Angelico (it is a detail from The Mocking of Christ). You might see that on the front page often after May is over, as it goes well with the title, Recta Ratio. St. Dominic is pictured in contemplation over a book of the Gospels (he is probably reading the Passion story as he is portrayed as being there, as is the Blessed Mother, who he was also undoubtably thinking of, perhaps seeing the Mocking through her eyes).

Recall that the Dominicans greatly expanded the number of doctors of theology in Europe. When St. Dominic started out, there were a couple of dozen holders of that degree. When the Dominicans were at their peak, if I recall correctly, shortly after St. Dominic's , there were hundreds of doctors of theology, most of them Dominicans, as he greatly encouraged his followers to seek the deepest education so that they might be effective preachers. So Recta Ratio, Right Reason, goes very well with this image of St. Dominic.

And I've always liked Fra Angelico.

Perhaps I will rotate the front page image between these two images, the Immaculate Heart of Mary and St. Dominic), or maybe a few more as well. I do plan to have special front page images for feast days.

If you have ever happened to log in while I was loading new images, you would probably see that the front page image changes every time I load a new image. That is how I do it, load them as front page images, then move them to an album and rename them. I haven't had any luck putting the images in coherent order yet. I have tried several times, but the changes do not take in Yahoo, for who knows what reason.

That also is on the agenda.

But I am also seeking out more images for all subjects, and seeking to expand the number of subjects. And the Prayers section of the Files area is growing daily, in May mostly in the Marian Prayers folder.

And I will someday go through Recta Ratio's archive and drag over my "Best Of" blogs. It is just that I am having so much fun learning how to handle images that copying and pasting text will seem like old hat.

From WBZ Radio.

Sadly, Holy Trinity is on the list, but its closure is delayed for a year (why?). Speculation is that the delay is because of canon law challenges to the process of closing in the downtown cluster, or so that a proper permanent home in the city (from the closed parishes) can be found for the Tridentine Mass community, so we are not wandering the Archdiocese like a bunch of nomads (which would end my participation effectively, as the Latin Mass is accessible to me as long as it stays in Boston, close to downtown).

In Salem, St. James will remain open, Thanks be to God. St. Joseph's a parish with a hideous modern church, and the only remaining Catholic school in Salem, will close. St. Thomas, on the Peabody/Salem line, will close.

If St. James does not want to be on the list of parishes that close next time, they would be well-advised to recruit heavily from former St. Thomas worshippers: send everyone in the St. Thomas neighborhood a card inviting them to attend St. James, maybe even have whoever is eventually appointed pastor visit every family with a Catholic-sounding name there. Lot of work, but St. John Vianney did it.

My parish of birth, Sacred Heart in Malden, and the parish of my childhood, Our Lady of the Assumption, Lynnfield, are safe, and were never in jeopardy. I was suprised that St. Maria Goretti, a small parish in Lynnfield, was not merged into Our Lady of the Assumption, but is staying open.

List not posted yet.

Sacred Hearts in Lexington, the heterodox parish in Lexington near Wilson Farms (from what Deacon Rizzuto, who was sentenced there before he became Cardinal Law's deacon, told me: no kneelers, etc.) is closing. Lexington's St. Bridget's the staging ground for Battle of Lexington re-enactors, and apparently more orthodox than its cross-town neighbor, stays open.

Gate of Heaven Parish in South Boston will stay open. This is the parish that had tried to resist its closing by encouraging more people to get their butts into the pews on Sunday. Apparently it worked.

I hae not seen anything yet on Holy Trinity or the Salem situation. Saw something about Lynn parishes, but have never cared much about Lynn: wouldn't know one from another.

Mass attendance is not the only thing flagging in the US in the last 35 years.

Popular devotions have fallen off as the generation that last practiced them regularly has aged into the nursing home and the grave, and no one has stepped up to replace them.

The Holy Father himself has helped renew traditional devotions by raising more recognized saints to the altars, by adding the Luminous Mysteries to the Rosary, and by encouraging the Divine Mercy Chaplet.

I am a great believer in these devotions, along with the Stations, Eucharistic Adoration, various Litanies (the Holy Name and the Blessed Virgin are the two I say to myself most often) and regular reading from the Psalter and the Liturgy of the Hours. Instead of sniffing at these devotions and patronizing those who practice them as adherents of an obsolescent piety (as has been the case far too often in the lat 35 years), clergy ought to follow the Holy Father's advice and encourage them everywhere: parish, chapel, convent, and monastery.

Sounds ghastly. You can't improve on the TV version. It was perfect.

Otto-Da-Fe has it right, as usual.

The bad news was being FedExed to parishes this morning, and the official list is not expected to be posted much before noon.

Time to pray for parishes that are on the list, that those deserving be spared.

from yeoldewoburn.com:

Mary: Our Mother

"Find our for yourself by personal experience the meaning of Mary's maternal love. It is not enough just to know that she is our Mother, and to think and talk about her as such. She is your Mother and you are her child. She loves you as if you were her only child in this world. Treat her accordingly. Tell her about everything that happens to you; honor her and love her. No one will do it for you or as well as you."

Let us offer to our Mother today:

Many affectionate thoughts and prayers, by saying "Mary, my mother" each time we pause in our work.

Now Hell is vanquished; every chain
of sin is broken; Christ again
returning, victor over death,
the gates of heaven openeth.

We mortals saw Him, till He passed
into the heavens, where at last,
partaker of God's glory bright,
He sitteth on the Father's right.

From thence He sheds the promised boon,
the Holy Spirit, on His own
in fiery tongues of love, o'erspread
above each sad disciple's head.

The Virgin, from the flesh set free,
is borne beyond the stars; where she
receives from heaven's joyous throngs
the welcome of angelic songs.

Twice six the stars that crown her brow;
the gracious Mother reigneth now
beside her Son's eternal throne
O'er all creation as her own.

All glory, laud, and honor be,
o Jesu, Virgin-born to Thee;
All glory, as is ever meet,
To Father and to Paraclete.
Amen.

Jam morte, victor, obruta,
ab inferis Christus redit,
fractisque culpae vinculis,
caeli recludit limina.

Visus satis mortalibus
ascendit ad caelestia,
dextraeque Patris assidet
consors Paternae gloriae.

Quem iam suis promiserat,
Sanctum daturus Spiritum,
linguis amoris igneis
maestis alumnis impluit.

Soluta carnis pondere
ad astra Virgo tollitur,
excepta caeli iubilo,
et Angelorum canticis.

Bis sena cingunt sidera
almae parentis verticem:
throno propinqua Filii
cunctis creatis imperat.

Iesu, tibi sit gloria,
qui natus es de Virgine,
cum Patre, et almo Spiritu,
in sempiterna saecula.
Amen.

The list of closing parishes comes out tomorrow.

Surprisingly, the Boston Globe offers an even-handed, even positive view,of the Holy Trinity community, and suggests some reasons for keeping the Latin Mass there.

At least this is the first assurance I have heard that the Tridentine Mass will continue in the Archdiocese, and will not just be swept away if Holy Trinity closes. Though I don't like the idea of taking it out of Boston, or taking it on the road (either of which would pretty much end my participation for reasons I don't feel like going into).

Of course the Cathedral might be nice and provide a higher profile (and be almost equally convenient for me, personally), but it would not be as perfect a location as Holy Trinity. And there is that pesky low altar in the way at the Cathedral. Is there still a rail?

Glad to see that someone echoed my idea about turning Holy Trinity over to the FSSP. Too bad the Archbishop rejected it, for no really good reason.

The gladness of thy Motherhood,
the anguish of thy suffering,
the glory now that crowns thy brow,
O Virgin Mother, we would sing.

Hail, blessed Mother, full of joy
in thy consent, thy visit too;
joy in the birth of Christ on earth,
joy in Him lost and found anew.

Hail, sorrowing in His agony
the blows, the thorns that pierced His brow;
the heavy wood, the shameful Rood
Yea! Queen and chief of Martyrs thou.

Hail, in the triumph of thy Son,
the quickening flames of Pentecost;
shining a Queen in light serene,
when all the world is tempest-tost.

O come, ye nations, roses bring,
culled from these mysteries divine,
and for the Mother of your King
with loving hands your chaplets twine.

All glory, laud, and honor be,
O Jesu, Virgin-born to Thee;
All glory, as is ever meet,
To Father and to Paraclete.
Amen.

Te gestientem gaudiis,
te sauciam doloribus,
te iugi amictam gloria,
o Virgo Mater, pangimus.

Ave, redundans gaudio
dum concipis, dum visitas;
et edis, offers, invenis,
Mater beata, Filium.

Ave, dolens, et intimo
in corde agonem, verbera,
spinas crucemque Filii
perpessa, princeps martyrum.

Ave, in triumphis Filii,
in ignibus Paracliti,
in regni honore et lumine,
Regina fulgens gloria.

Venite, gentes, carpite
ex his rosas mysteriis,
et pulchri amoris inclitae
Matri coronas nectite.

Iesu, tibi sit gloria,
qui natus es de Virgine,
cum Patre, et almo Spiritu,
in sempiterna saecula.
Amen.

Mary: Help Of Christians

"Yes, we are still pilgrims, but our Mother has gone on ahead, where she points to the reward of our efforts. She tells us that we can make it. If we are faithful, we will reach home. Not only is the Blessed Virgin our model, but she is also the Help of Christians. And as we besiege her with our petitions - 'Show that you are our Mother' - she cannot help but watch over her children with motherly care."

Let us offer to our Mother today:

In addition to the mysteries of the day, one more part (five decades) of the Holy Rosary.

Mary: Queen Of The Apostles

"If we take our Lady's hand, she will make us realize more fully that all men are our brothers - because we are all sons of that God whose daughter, spouse, and mother she is. Our neighbors' problems must be our problems. Christian fraternity should be something very deep in the soul, so that we are indifferent to no one. Mary, who brought up Jesus and accompanied him through his life and is now beside him in heaven, will help us to recognize Jesus as he crosses our path and makes himself present to us in the needs of others."

Let us offer to our Mother today:

A kind word, a friendly conversation, a helping hand to persons with whom we live and work.

Flower of Carmel,
Tall vine blossom laden;
Splendor of heaven,
Childbearing yet maiden.
None equals thee.

Mother so tender,
Who no man didst know,
On Carmel's children
Thy favors bestow.
Star of the Sea.

Strong stem of Jesse,
Who bore one bright flower,
Be ever near us
And guard us each hour,
who serve thee here.

Purest of lilies,
That flowers among thorns,
Bring help to the true heart
That in weakness turns
and trusts in thee.

Strongest of armor,
We trust in thy might:
Under thy mantle,
Hard press'd in the fight,
we call to thee.

Our way uncertain,
Surrounded by foes,
Unfailing counsel
You give to those
who turn to thee.

O gentle Mother
Who in Carmel reigns,
Share with your servants
That gladness you gained
and now enjoy.

Hail, Gate of Heaven,
With glory now crowned,
Bring us to safety
Where thy Son is found,
true joy to see.
Amen.

Flos Carmeli,
vitis florigera,
splendor caeli,
virgo puerpera
singularis.

Mater mitis
sed viri nescia
Carmelitis
esto propitia
stella maris.

Radix Iesse
germinans flosculum
nos ad esse
tecum in saeculum
patiaris.

Inter spinas
quae crescis lilium
serva puras
mentes fragilium
tutelaris.

Armatura
fortis pugnantium
furunt bella
tende praesidium
scapularis.

Per incerta
prudens consilium
per adversa
iuge solatium
largiaris.

Mater dulcis
Carmeli ,
plebem tuam
reple laetitia
qua bearis.

Paradisi
clavis et ianua,
fac nos duci
quo, Mater, gloria
coronaris.
Amen.