Saturday, March 25, 2006
Lady Day
The Annunciation To Our Blessed Lady
"Ave, gratia plena! Dominus vobiscum."
Sandro Botticelli c. 1489
Memling c. 1489
Mattias Grunewald c. 1515
Federico Barocci c. 1594
Philippe de Champaigne c1644
Dante Garielle Rosetti 1850
"Ecce ancilla Domini.
Fiat mihi secundum verbum tuum."
"Et Verbum Caro factum est.
Et habitavit in nobis."
"Ave, gratia plena! Dominus vobiscum."
Sandro Botticelli c. 1489
Memling c. 1489
Mattias Grunewald c. 1515
Federico Barocci c. 1594
Philippe de Champaigne c1644
Dante Garielle Rosetti 1850
"Ecce ancilla Domini.
Fiat mihi secundum verbum tuum."
"Et Verbum Caro factum est.
Et habitavit in nobis."
Saturday of the Third Week Of Lent
Station Church: S. Susanna alle Terme di Diocleziano
Devotions for a Lenten Saturday holy hour:
Divine Mercy Chaplet
Seven Penitential Psalms
Prayer of St. Thomas More
Threnus Prayer of Saint Augustine
Stabat Mater Dolorosa
Litany of Our Lady of Sorrows
Sorrowful Mysteries
Devotions for a Lenten Saturday holy hour:
Divine Mercy Chaplet
Seven Penitential Psalms
Prayer of St. Thomas More
Threnus Prayer of Saint Augustine
Stabat Mater Dolorosa
Litany of Our Lady of Sorrows
Sorrowful Mysteries
Friday, March 24, 2006
A Great Image For A Lenten Friday
Big hat tip to Daniel Mitsui at The Lion And the Cardinal
Vanity, Death, and Damnation by Hans Memling
Musée des Beaux-Arts, Strasbourg, c. 1485
"Vanitas vanitatum, omnia vanitas."
Vanity, Death, and Damnation by Hans Memling
Musée des Beaux-Arts, Strasbourg, c. 1485
"Vanitas vanitatum, omnia vanitas."
Half Way To Easter
We are now, roughly, at the mid-point of Lent. It is a good time to reassess how you are doing on your Lenten commitments, and to recommit yourself to the sacrifices you had pledged almost 3 and a half weeks ago. As it is a Friday, it is a particularly good day to be certain that you don't eat meat, and that you pray the Stations of the Cross.
If you are like me, and trying for a meatless Lent, without even a let up for Sundays, then by now frustration is setting in. I know I'd practically kill for a nice thick slice of rare prime rib. To help you along the last 6 weeks, try some of the non-meat recipes at Recta Ratio: The Yahoo Group. Here is a brief sample (there are plenty more in the Recipes and Menus file at the Group):
Bruschetta
1 French baguette
3 tomatoes, seeded and chopped
1 onion, minced
1 clove garlic, chopped
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1 pinch salt
1 pinch ground black pepper
8 ounces mozzarella cheese
In a small mixing bowl, combine tomatoes, onion, garlic, basil, oregano, and salt and pepper. Mix well, cover, and refrigerate.
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
Cut the loaf of French bread into 12 slices on the diagonal. Arrange the bread on a baking sheet and toast in the oven for 5 minutes, or until golden brown. Reduce the oven's temperature to 250 degrees F (120 degrees C).
Spoon equal amounts of the tomato mixture onto the toasted slices of bread. Top with slices of mozzarella. Place the pan of bread back into the oven until the cheese has melted just slightly and is oozing over the tomatoes, approximately 2 minutes. Serve immediately.
Codfish Cakes
2 cups salt cod
3 cups peeled, diced potatoes
1 egg, beaten
1/4 t pepper
cream
Soak cod overnight. Drain. Pull apart into
flakes or shreds. Boil with potatoes until
potatoes are tender. Drain and mash together
potatoes and fish. Beat in egg, pepper and
a little cream if necessary to make mixture
light and fluffy. Drop by tablespoons into
hot (370 deg) deep fat and cook until golden
brown. Or pat into cakes and pan fry in hot
greased pan, turning once to brown both sides.
Serves 6.
Eggplant Parmiagna
1 large or 2 medium eggplants
Several T salt
2 beaten eggs or ½ c milk, buttermilk, or thinned yogurt
1 to 1½ c bread crumbs, cornmeal, or flour
Oil for frying
2 cups Italian or grilled tomato sauce
¾ c mozzarella cheese, sliced or grated
½ c parmesan cheese, grated
Cut the eggplant into ½-inch slices. Sprinkle both sides of each slice with salt, lay out on the plates or tray, and let stand for 30-60 minutes (less if the eggplant is fresh). Wash off the salt and immediately blot each slice dry.
Heat ½-inch of oil in the frying pan and cover plates or tray with several layers of paper towels.
Put the eggs or milk in one bowl and the bread crumbs or flour in the other. Coat each slice of eggplant with the liquid, followed by the crumbs.
Fry a single layer of eggplant slices until golden brown, turn, and fry the other side. When the eggplant is tender, transfer to the paper towels, and turn to remove excess oil. Repeat with remaining slices, adding more oil to pan as needed.
Preheat oven to 350°.
Cover the bottom of the baking dish with a few spoonfuls of tomato sauce. Layer slices of eggplant, sprinkle with half of the mozzarella and all of the parmesan. Cover with tomato sauce, add the remaining eggplant, then the sauce, and top with the rest of the mozzarella.
Bake for 30 minutes, until heated through and bubbly.
Eggs and Onions
1/2 cup white sweet onion (peeled & chopped)
3 eggs (large)
1/2 cup shredded cheese of choice
1 tablespoon butter
In a large non-stick skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add onions and cook, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned (about 10 minutes or so).
In a small bowl, stir eggs until blended, pour over onions.
Add cheese. Cook, stirring and folding eggs, onions and cheese until fully cooked and cheese melted.
Serve hot.
Spinach Squares
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
2 eggs
1 cup milk
1 Tbs. butter, melted
2 cups shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
1 pkg. (box) frozen chopped spinach, thawed
1 green onion, chopped
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, stir together flour, baking powder, salt, pepper, and nutmeg.In a separate bowl, whip eggs, then whip in milk and melted butter. Stir in cheese, spinach, and onion.Pour over flour mixture; stir just until combined. Pour into greased 11x7" baking dish. Bake for 30 minutes or until set. Let cool for 10 minutes; slice into squares and serve.
Aioli
4 large garlic cloves
2 large egg yolks
1 teaspoon dry mustard
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon white pepper
1 cup olive oil
1 1/2 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
Have all ingredients at room temperature. Peel garlic. Combine garlic, egg yolks, mustard, salt and pepper in blender jar. Cover and blend at medium speed until smooth. With motor running, remove cover and SLOWLY pour in HALF the oil in a small steady stream. Stop the motor and scrape down sides of jar. Cover and turn to medium speed. Uncover and add lemon juice, then remaining oil in slow stream as before, stopping motor to scrape down sides of jar occasionally as sauce thickens. Chill. Serve with hot or cold fish.
To prepare the sauce with a hand or electric mixer: Use a narrow deep bowl (a one-quart glass measurer makes a good container, or use smaller bowl supplied with large electric mixer). Beat in oil VERY SLOWLY, especially at the beginning, being sure oil is completely blended before adding more. When thick, crush garlic cloves over sauce and mix well. Chill.
Make some french fries in your deep fat fryer, and dip in the aoili.
Carrot Puree With Ginger and Orange
3 pounds carrots, peeled cut into 1/2 inch rounds
2 tablespoons honey
1/3 cup fresh orange juice
1/2 cup butter, cut into pieces, room temperature
1 1/2 tablespoons minced peeled fresh ginger
1 tablespoon grated orange peel
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1. Boil carrots and 1 1/2 tablespoons honey in large pot of salted water. Stop when carrots are very tender, about 25 min. Drain well.
2. Return carrots to same pot; stir over medium heat until any excess moisture evaporates.
3. Meanwhile, bring orange juice to simmer in heavy small saucepan over medium heat. Add butter, ginger and orange peel; whisk until butter melts. Whisk in lemon juice and remaining honey.
4. Puree half of carrots and half of juice mixture in processor until smooth. Transfer to large bowl. Repeat with remaining carrots and juice mixture.
5. Season to taste with salt and pepper. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate. Rewarm carrots in microwave oven on high about 4 minutes or rewarm in saucepan over medium-low heat, stirring frequently.)
Straw And Hay
8 oz. plain lignuini
8 oz. spinach linguini
4 T butter
4 T extra-virgin olive oil (first cold pressed prefered)
6 cloves of garlic, peeled and diced fairly small
A significant amount of grated Parmesan cheese
basil to taste
freshly ground black pepper to taste
Boil the linguini until it is al dente. While the water is boiling, heat a frying pan. Add the butter and olive oil. When it it hot, add the garlic, and fry until it is a golden brown. When the linguini in boiled and drained, add the contents of the frying pan to the linguini. Add as much basil, black pepper, and grated parmesan as you like (I like a fair amount of each). Toss until the linguini is well coated. You can add more parmesan over the top if you like (and I do).
Check out Dymphna's Well for more Lenten recipes.
If you are like me, and trying for a meatless Lent, without even a let up for Sundays, then by now frustration is setting in. I know I'd practically kill for a nice thick slice of rare prime rib. To help you along the last 6 weeks, try some of the non-meat recipes at Recta Ratio: The Yahoo Group. Here is a brief sample (there are plenty more in the Recipes and Menus file at the Group):
Bruschetta
1 French baguette
3 tomatoes, seeded and chopped
1 onion, minced
1 clove garlic, chopped
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1 pinch salt
1 pinch ground black pepper
8 ounces mozzarella cheese
In a small mixing bowl, combine tomatoes, onion, garlic, basil, oregano, and salt and pepper. Mix well, cover, and refrigerate.
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
Cut the loaf of French bread into 12 slices on the diagonal. Arrange the bread on a baking sheet and toast in the oven for 5 minutes, or until golden brown. Reduce the oven's temperature to 250 degrees F (120 degrees C).
Spoon equal amounts of the tomato mixture onto the toasted slices of bread. Top with slices of mozzarella. Place the pan of bread back into the oven until the cheese has melted just slightly and is oozing over the tomatoes, approximately 2 minutes. Serve immediately.
Codfish Cakes
2 cups salt cod
3 cups peeled, diced potatoes
1 egg, beaten
1/4 t pepper
cream
Soak cod overnight. Drain. Pull apart into
flakes or shreds. Boil with potatoes until
potatoes are tender. Drain and mash together
potatoes and fish. Beat in egg, pepper and
a little cream if necessary to make mixture
light and fluffy. Drop by tablespoons into
hot (370 deg) deep fat and cook until golden
brown. Or pat into cakes and pan fry in hot
greased pan, turning once to brown both sides.
Serves 6.
Eggplant Parmiagna
1 large or 2 medium eggplants
Several T salt
2 beaten eggs or ½ c milk, buttermilk, or thinned yogurt
1 to 1½ c bread crumbs, cornmeal, or flour
Oil for frying
2 cups Italian or grilled tomato sauce
¾ c mozzarella cheese, sliced or grated
½ c parmesan cheese, grated
Cut the eggplant into ½-inch slices. Sprinkle both sides of each slice with salt, lay out on the plates or tray, and let stand for 30-60 minutes (less if the eggplant is fresh). Wash off the salt and immediately blot each slice dry.
Heat ½-inch of oil in the frying pan and cover plates or tray with several layers of paper towels.
Put the eggs or milk in one bowl and the bread crumbs or flour in the other. Coat each slice of eggplant with the liquid, followed by the crumbs.
Fry a single layer of eggplant slices until golden brown, turn, and fry the other side. When the eggplant is tender, transfer to the paper towels, and turn to remove excess oil. Repeat with remaining slices, adding more oil to pan as needed.
Preheat oven to 350°.
Cover the bottom of the baking dish with a few spoonfuls of tomato sauce. Layer slices of eggplant, sprinkle with half of the mozzarella and all of the parmesan. Cover with tomato sauce, add the remaining eggplant, then the sauce, and top with the rest of the mozzarella.
Bake for 30 minutes, until heated through and bubbly.
Eggs and Onions
1/2 cup white sweet onion (peeled & chopped)
3 eggs (large)
1/2 cup shredded cheese of choice
1 tablespoon butter
In a large non-stick skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add onions and cook, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned (about 10 minutes or so).
In a small bowl, stir eggs until blended, pour over onions.
Add cheese. Cook, stirring and folding eggs, onions and cheese until fully cooked and cheese melted.
Serve hot.
Spinach Squares
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
2 eggs
1 cup milk
1 Tbs. butter, melted
2 cups shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
1 pkg. (box) frozen chopped spinach, thawed
1 green onion, chopped
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, stir together flour, baking powder, salt, pepper, and nutmeg.In a separate bowl, whip eggs, then whip in milk and melted butter. Stir in cheese, spinach, and onion.Pour over flour mixture; stir just until combined. Pour into greased 11x7" baking dish. Bake for 30 minutes or until set. Let cool for 10 minutes; slice into squares and serve.
Aioli
4 large garlic cloves
2 large egg yolks
1 teaspoon dry mustard
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon white pepper
1 cup olive oil
1 1/2 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
Have all ingredients at room temperature. Peel garlic. Combine garlic, egg yolks, mustard, salt and pepper in blender jar. Cover and blend at medium speed until smooth. With motor running, remove cover and SLOWLY pour in HALF the oil in a small steady stream. Stop the motor and scrape down sides of jar. Cover and turn to medium speed. Uncover and add lemon juice, then remaining oil in slow stream as before, stopping motor to scrape down sides of jar occasionally as sauce thickens. Chill. Serve with hot or cold fish.
To prepare the sauce with a hand or electric mixer: Use a narrow deep bowl (a one-quart glass measurer makes a good container, or use smaller bowl supplied with large electric mixer). Beat in oil VERY SLOWLY, especially at the beginning, being sure oil is completely blended before adding more. When thick, crush garlic cloves over sauce and mix well. Chill.
Make some french fries in your deep fat fryer, and dip in the aoili.
Carrot Puree With Ginger and Orange
3 pounds carrots, peeled cut into 1/2 inch rounds
2 tablespoons honey
1/3 cup fresh orange juice
1/2 cup butter, cut into pieces, room temperature
1 1/2 tablespoons minced peeled fresh ginger
1 tablespoon grated orange peel
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1. Boil carrots and 1 1/2 tablespoons honey in large pot of salted water. Stop when carrots are very tender, about 25 min. Drain well.
2. Return carrots to same pot; stir over medium heat until any excess moisture evaporates.
3. Meanwhile, bring orange juice to simmer in heavy small saucepan over medium heat. Add butter, ginger and orange peel; whisk until butter melts. Whisk in lemon juice and remaining honey.
4. Puree half of carrots and half of juice mixture in processor until smooth. Transfer to large bowl. Repeat with remaining carrots and juice mixture.
5. Season to taste with salt and pepper. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate. Rewarm carrots in microwave oven on high about 4 minutes or rewarm in saucepan over medium-low heat, stirring frequently.)
Straw And Hay
8 oz. plain lignuini
8 oz. spinach linguini
4 T butter
4 T extra-virgin olive oil (first cold pressed prefered)
6 cloves of garlic, peeled and diced fairly small
A significant amount of grated Parmesan cheese
basil to taste
freshly ground black pepper to taste
Boil the linguini until it is al dente. While the water is boiling, heat a frying pan. Add the butter and olive oil. When it it hot, add the garlic, and fry until it is a golden brown. When the linguini in boiled and drained, add the contents of the frying pan to the linguini. Add as much basil, black pepper, and grated parmesan as you like (I like a fair amount of each). Toss until the linguini is well coated. You can add more parmesan over the top if you like (and I do).
Check out Dymphna's Well for more Lenten recipes.
Congratulations, Cardinal O'Malley
Allow me to just echo the message of Save Holy Trinity on this joyous occasion for Boston:
Statement of the Committee to Preserve Holy Trinity Parish
On the Elevation of Archbishop Sean P. O'Malley to the Cardinalate
23 March 2006
Holy Trinity Parish in Boston's South End extends its prayerful best
wishes to Archbishop O'Malley on the occasion of his elevation to the
cardinalate tomorrow.
United in fidelity to the Holy Father and all that our Holy Mother
the Church teaches, we wish to continue to work under the guidance of
our newly-created cardinal to rebuild the Archdiocese of Boston.
Parishioners of Holy Trinity feel that they can best do this by
remaining a parish.
Archbishop O'Malley, let us remain a parish: keep Holy Trinity open.
Archbishop O'Malley, keep Holy Trinity open so that homeless older
people will still find a place that welcomes them during the day.
Archbishop O'Malley, keep Holy Trinity open so that at-risk youth
will still find a haven where they can get their lives together.
Archbishop O'Malley, keep Holy Trinity open so that top-quality
sacred music will still be performed at liturgies and in public concerts.
Archbishop O'Malley, keep Holy Trinity open so that German Catholics
can still worship together and preserve the traditions of their
ancestors.
Archbishop O'Malley, keep Holy Trinity open so that the offering of
Holy Mass in the traditional Latin form can still inspire young men
to enter the priesthood.
Archbishop O'Malley, keep Holy Trinity open for the glory of God and
the salvation of souls.
Archbishop O'Malley, keep Holy Trinity open and come pray with us:
Gelobt sei Jesus Christus; Laudetur Jesus Christus; Praised be Jesus
Christ.
Friday Of the Third Week Of Lent
Station Church: S. Lorenzo in Lucina
Devotions for a Lenten Friday holy hour:
Dies Irae
Divine Mercy Chaplet
Seven Penitential Psalms
Prayer of St. Thomas More
Threnus Prayer of Saint Augustine
Devotions To the Holy Cross
Stations of the Cross
Devotions for a Lenten Friday holy hour:
Dies Irae
Divine Mercy Chaplet
Seven Penitential Psalms
Prayer of St. Thomas More
Threnus Prayer of Saint Augustine
Devotions To the Holy Cross
Stations of the Cross
Thursday, March 23, 2006
A Visit To Clear Creek
Notes Of A Thirsty Scribe visited the traditional Benedictine monastery at Clear Creek, Oklahoma, and finds it just what you would expect, holy, silent, sacred, and growing.
Unlike Barroux, the monks do not go in for the traditional tonsure. But they do say the Office according to the Roman Breviary, chanted in Latin. They use the 1962 Missal for Mass.
Their current setting is temporary. They have great plans for a very traditional monastery with what looks to me like a Romanesque oratory. Pray for their success.
Unlike Barroux, the monks do not go in for the traditional tonsure. But they do say the Office according to the Roman Breviary, chanted in Latin. They use the 1962 Missal for Mass.
Their current setting is temporary. They have great plans for a very traditional monastery with what looks to me like a Romanesque oratory. Pray for their success.
Diocese Of Arlington Now Has Two Indult Masses
Where there were none before. That is excellent news. The traditional Latin Mass continues to grow. Let us just hope that when Cardinal O'Malley comes back from Rome, he will have had a personal wigging from the Holy Father about keeping Boston's German parish, and the perfect home of the traditional Latin Mass, open as far as the eye can see.
The blessings are not unmixed with curses, however, as Bishop Loverde has authorized the use of altar girls in the diocese as well. Bad hit, that.
The blessings are not unmixed with curses, however, as Bishop Loverde has authorized the use of altar girls in the diocese as well. Bad hit, that.
Thursday Of the Third Week Of Lent
Station Church: Ss. Cosma e Damiano in Via Sacra (Fori Imperiali)
Devotions for a Lenten Thursday holy hour:
Dies Irae
Divine Mercy Chaplet
Seven Penitential Psalms
Prayer of St. Thomas More
Threnus Prayer of Saint Augustine
Devotion To the Holy Face
Devotions for a Lenten Thursday holy hour:
Dies Irae
Divine Mercy Chaplet
Seven Penitential Psalms
Prayer of St. Thomas More
Threnus Prayer of Saint Augustine
Devotion To the Holy Face
Wednesday, March 22, 2006
My First Relic
A few weeks ago, I had, on coming out of church, picked up a holy card (actually more like a little 4-page prayer pamphlet the size of a holy card) with the Novena to the Sacred Heart said daily by Saint Pio. I had tucked it into my Missal without giving it a second thought, since Saint Pio's feast does not fall until September.
But yesterday afternoon I was bringing my ribbons forward, since the 1959 St. Joseph's Daily Missal I use for the TLM has daily Mass for the weekdays of Lent in the beginning with the Sunday Masses, and I was a couple of days behind. Then I happened to notice the St. Pio prayer card, and that there was something slightly lumpy on the bottom of the first page, right below the picture of St. Pio. There was a brown piece of cloth less than half the size of a pinkie nail attached with a sticker on the second page.
My heart raced for a few seconds. Was this a tiny fragment of one of Saint Pio's Capuchin robes? The color was right. The thought of having in my possession something a great saint and stigmatic had worn was pretty overwhelming.
Then reason re-asserted itself. While we can assume that in his long religious life, Saint Pio had many robes, at least one a day for a week over 50 years, and that, as they wore out they were grabbed by his followers and turned into relics, even a moderate press run of a single prayer card would exhaust the supply of authentic relics of St. Pio's robes. And something so valuable certainly would not be left in a stack at the door of St. Clement's for me to pick up gratis.
Then I remembered that I had seen holy cards with little relics like this before. The gift shop of the Society For the Propagation Of the Faith on Franklin Street sells holy cards of Saint Thomas More, with the same little pieces of brown cloth. And St. Thomas More was a layman. If he wore a brown gown, it would not have been the only one he wore.
What the brown cloth really is, is just a cloth that has been drawn over something that belonged to Saint Pio. Maybe it was drawn across the door of his cell. Maybe it was drawn across his tomb.
But still, this is the first relic I have ever had in my possession, and I cherish it even though it is obviously the lowest rank of relic going.
Maybe it is a sign that Saint Pio, who, like the Cure of Ars, could read souls like an open book, and I should do some talking soon.
But yesterday afternoon I was bringing my ribbons forward, since the 1959 St. Joseph's Daily Missal I use for the TLM has daily Mass for the weekdays of Lent in the beginning with the Sunday Masses, and I was a couple of days behind. Then I happened to notice the St. Pio prayer card, and that there was something slightly lumpy on the bottom of the first page, right below the picture of St. Pio. There was a brown piece of cloth less than half the size of a pinkie nail attached with a sticker on the second page.
My heart raced for a few seconds. Was this a tiny fragment of one of Saint Pio's Capuchin robes? The color was right. The thought of having in my possession something a great saint and stigmatic had worn was pretty overwhelming.
Then reason re-asserted itself. While we can assume that in his long religious life, Saint Pio had many robes, at least one a day for a week over 50 years, and that, as they wore out they were grabbed by his followers and turned into relics, even a moderate press run of a single prayer card would exhaust the supply of authentic relics of St. Pio's robes. And something so valuable certainly would not be left in a stack at the door of St. Clement's for me to pick up gratis.
Then I remembered that I had seen holy cards with little relics like this before. The gift shop of the Society For the Propagation Of the Faith on Franklin Street sells holy cards of Saint Thomas More, with the same little pieces of brown cloth. And St. Thomas More was a layman. If he wore a brown gown, it would not have been the only one he wore.
What the brown cloth really is, is just a cloth that has been drawn over something that belonged to Saint Pio. Maybe it was drawn across the door of his cell. Maybe it was drawn across his tomb.
But still, this is the first relic I have ever had in my possession, and I cherish it even though it is obviously the lowest rank of relic going.
Maybe it is a sign that Saint Pio, who, like the Cure of Ars, could read souls like an open book, and I should do some talking soon.
Having Some Computer Difficulties
So posting may be a little more sparse than usual for the next few days.
Wednesday Of the Third Week Of Lent
Station Church: S. Sisto (SS. Nereo e Achilleo)
Devotions for a Lenten Wednesday holy hour:
Dies Irae
Divine Mercy Chaplet
Seven Penitential Psalms & the prayers against the Seven Deadly Sins
Prayer of St. Thomas More
Threnus Prayer
Seven Prayers of St. Gregory
Devotions for a Lenten Wednesday holy hour:
Dies Irae
Divine Mercy Chaplet
Seven Penitential Psalms & the prayers against the Seven Deadly Sins
Prayer of St. Thomas More
Threnus Prayer
Seven Prayers of St. Gregory
Tuesday, March 21, 2006
Holy Father's Apostolic Exhortation To Call For Greater Liturgical Solemnity, More Use of Latin and Gregorian Chant
That is the good news.
But will Father Flapdoodle at St. Swishy's and his liturgical director Randy take the hint?
But will Father Flapdoodle at St. Swishy's and his liturgical director Randy take the hint?
Visit St. Vitus' Cathedral, Prague
The Official Line On the Crusades Becoming More Nuanced
No longer are the Crusades to be exclusively depicted in Vatican pronouncements as a shameful thing that Catholics must apologize for. The Vatican is sponsoring a conference which, given who is participating, will rehabilitate the Crusaders as martyrs of the Faith who fought in a just cause.
Deo Gratias!
Deo Gratias!
Tuesday Of the Third Week Of Lent
Station Church: S. Pudenziana al Viminale
Devotions for a Lenten Tuesday holy hour:
Dies Irae
Divine Mercy Chaplet
Seven Penitential Psalms
Prayer of St. Thomas More
Threnus Prayer of Saint Augustine
Devotion of the Seven Last Words
Devotions for a Lenten Tuesday holy hour:
Dies Irae
Divine Mercy Chaplet
Seven Penitential Psalms
Prayer of St. Thomas More
Threnus Prayer of Saint Augustine
Devotion of the Seven Last Words
Monday, March 20, 2006
March Madness Update
BC's basketball team has made it through two rounds, and is in the Sweet Sixteen for the first time in 12 years!
Feast Of Saint Joseph
Litany of Saint Joseph
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 Trinity, one God,
Have mercy on us.
Holy Mary,
Pray for us.
Holy Joseph,
Pray for us.
Noble Son of the House of David,
Pray for us.
Light of the Patriarchs,
Pray for us.
Husband of the Mother of God,
Pray for us.
Chaste Guardian of the Virgin,
Pray for us.
Foster-father of the Son of God,
Pray for us.
Sedulous Defender of Christ,
Pray for us.
Head of the Holy Family,
Pray for us.
Joseph most just,
Pray for us.
Joseph most chaste,
Pray for us.
Joseph most prudent,
Pray for us.
Joseph most valiant,
Pray for us.
Joseph most obedient,
Pray for us.
Joseph most faithful,
Pray for us.
Mirror of patience,
Pray for us.
Lover of poverty,
Pray for us.
Model of all who labor,
Pray for us.
Glory of family life,
Pray for us.
Protector of Virgins,
Pray for us.
Pillar of families,
Pray for us.
Consolation of the afflicted,
Pray for us.
Hope of the sick,
Pray for us.
Patron of the dying,
Pray for us.
Terror of the demons,
Pray for us.
Protector of the holy Church,
Pray for us.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,
have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,
have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,
have mercy on us.
V. He made him master of his house,
R. And ruler of all his possesions.
Let us pray:
O God, Thou wert pleased to choose Saint Joseph as the husband of Mary and the guardian of Thy Son. Grant that, as we venerate him as our protector on earth, we may deserve to have him as our intercessor in heaven. We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
The extensive patronage of Saint Joseph.
Yummy Zeppole di San Guiseppe
Check the Desserts, Vegetables and Sides, and Breads subfiles of Recta Ratio: The Yahoo Group's recipes section for Pasta di San Guiseppe, Pane di San Guiseppe, fried Zeppole, and Anginetti Cream Puffs.
Read about St. Joseph's Day altars, a Sicilian custom.
And since St. Joseph is patron of husbands, married people, and families we should remind ourselves about the heinous sins of divorce, and separation. And read this excellent essay on male headship in marriage, from The Cornell Society For A Good Time.
Mel Gibson's Apocalypto
"After what I experienced with The Passion, I frankly don't give a flying f___ about much of what those critics think."
Go for it, Mel.
Go for it, Mel.
Before I Forget
Great new snack I tried this morning. I was in the store looking for I don't know what, but when my eyes hit upon Hershey's Really Nuts, which are peanuts covered in cocoa powder, I knew I had found what I wanted for today. They taste great. Two difficulties. First a little salt could be added. Second, the cocoa powder comes off on your fingers. But if you have a wetnap handy, and a sea salt grinder, there is no problem.
Monday Of the Third Week Of Lent
Station Church: S. Marco al Campidoglio
Devotions for a Lenten Monday holy hour:
Dies Irae
Divine Mercy Chaplet
Seven Penitential Psalms
Prayer of St. Thomas More
Threnus Prayer of Saint Augustine
Devotion of the Five Sacred Wounds
Devotions for a Lenten Monday holy hour:
Dies Irae
Divine Mercy Chaplet
Seven Penitential Psalms
Prayer of St. Thomas More
Threnus Prayer of Saint Augustine
Devotion of the Five Sacred Wounds
Sunday, March 19, 2006
Thought-Provoking Essay
I'm slow at getting to this, but Phillip Longman has penned for USA Today an op-ed on The Liberal Baby Bust. Does the left's proclivity towards secularism, abortion, birth control, small families, feminism, and homosexuality spell its demographic doom?
I had never really thought about things in those terms. Here in Boston, one encounters so many students who have fully embraced the "progressive" world view, so many young effeminate young men (and so few genuinely masculine young men), and so few young women who value having a family over a high-powered career in the business world that one is tempted to think that what we used to consider "normative" families no longer exist.
One thing I think Longman overlooks is that these unregenerative "progressives" have a lot of money. Their ability to fund institutions that will perpetuate their world view and sustain their influence long after they are gone ought not to be ignored.
I had never really thought about things in those terms. Here in Boston, one encounters so many students who have fully embraced the "progressive" world view, so many young effeminate young men (and so few genuinely masculine young men), and so few young women who value having a family over a high-powered career in the business world that one is tempted to think that what we used to consider "normative" families no longer exist.
One thing I think Longman overlooks is that these unregenerative "progressives" have a lot of money. Their ability to fund institutions that will perpetuate their world view and sustain their influence long after they are gone ought not to be ignored.
And March 19th Would Be the Feast of Saint Joseph
But since it is Sunday, we celebrate the Foster Father of Our Lord and the Most Chaste Spouse of Our Blessed Lady tomorrow. Plus the 25th is Lady Day!
Before I Head Off For Mass
I just checked in with Jay Anderson, and found that the blessed event has indeed taken place. Stop on over and say hi to Mary Virginia Anderson. God bless her and her folks!
The Third Sunday Of Lent
Station Church: S. Lorenzo fuori le Mura
Devotions for a Lenten Sunday holy hour:
Divine Mercy Chaplet
Seven Penitential Psalms
Prayer of St. Thomas More
Psalter of St. Jerome
Threnus Prayer of St. Augustine
From The Liturgical Year, by Abbot Prosper Gueranger:
"The Third Sunday Of Lent"
Ever since the promulgation of the Gospel, the power of satan over the human body has been restricted by the virtue of the cross, at least in Christian countries; but this power resumes its sway as often as faith and the practice of Christian piety lose their influence. And here we have the origin of all those diabolical practices, which, under certain scientific names, are attempted first in secret, and then are countenanced by being assisted at by well-meaning Christians. Were it not that God and His Church intervene, such practices as these would subvert society. Christians! remember your baptismal vow; you have renounced satan: take care, then, that by a culpable ignorance you are not dragged into apostasy. It is not a phantom that you renounced at the font; he is a real and formidable being, who, as our Lord tells us, was a murderer from the beginning (Jn. 8:44).
But if we ought to dread the power he may be permitted to have over our bodies; if we ought to shun all intercourse with him, and take no share in practices over which he presides, and which are the worship he would have men give him: we ought, also, to fear the influence he is ever striving to exercise over our souls. See what God's grace has had to do in order to drive him from our soul! During this holy season, the Church is putting within your reach those grand means of victory-fasting, prayer, and almsdeeds. The sweets of peace will soon be yours, and once more you will become God's temple, for both soul and body will have regained their purity. But be not deceived; your enemy is not slain. He is irritated; penance has driven him from you; but he has sworn to return. Therefore, fear a relapse into mortal sin; and in order to nourish within you this wholesome fear, meditate upon the concluding part of our Gospel.
Our Saviour tells us that when the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through places without water. There he writhes under his humiliation; it was added to the tortures of the hell he carries everywhere with him, and to which he fain would give some alleviation by destroying souls that have been redeemed by Christ. We read in the old Testament that sometimes, when the devils have been conquered, they have been forced to flee into some far-off wilderness: for example, the holy Archangel Raphael took the devil, that had killed Sara's husbands, and bound him in the desert of upper Egypt (Tob. 8:3). But the enemy of mankind never despairs of regaining his prey. His hatred is as active now as it was at the very beginning of the world, and he says: "I will return into my house, whence I came out." Nor will he come alone. He is determined to conquer; and therefore, he will, if he think it needed, take with him seven other spirits, even more wicked than himself. What a terrible assault is being prepared for the poor soul, unless she be on the watch, and unless the peace, which God has granted her, be one that is well armed for war! Alas! with many souls the very contrary is the case; and our Saviour describes the situation in which the devil finds them on his return: they are swept and garnished, and that is all! No precautions, no defence, no arms. One would suppose that they were waiting to give the enemy admission. Then satan, to make his repossession sure, comes with a sevenfold force. The attack is made; but there is no resistance, and straightways the wicked spirits entering in, dwell there; so that the last state becometh worse than the first; for before there was but one enemy, and now there are many.
Devotions for a Lenten Sunday holy hour:
Divine Mercy Chaplet
Seven Penitential Psalms
Prayer of St. Thomas More
Psalter of St. Jerome
Threnus Prayer of St. Augustine
From The Liturgical Year, by Abbot Prosper Gueranger:
"The Third Sunday Of Lent"
Ever since the promulgation of the Gospel, the power of satan over the human body has been restricted by the virtue of the cross, at least in Christian countries; but this power resumes its sway as often as faith and the practice of Christian piety lose their influence. And here we have the origin of all those diabolical practices, which, under certain scientific names, are attempted first in secret, and then are countenanced by being assisted at by well-meaning Christians. Were it not that God and His Church intervene, such practices as these would subvert society. Christians! remember your baptismal vow; you have renounced satan: take care, then, that by a culpable ignorance you are not dragged into apostasy. It is not a phantom that you renounced at the font; he is a real and formidable being, who, as our Lord tells us, was a murderer from the beginning (Jn. 8:44).
But if we ought to dread the power he may be permitted to have over our bodies; if we ought to shun all intercourse with him, and take no share in practices over which he presides, and which are the worship he would have men give him: we ought, also, to fear the influence he is ever striving to exercise over our souls. See what God's grace has had to do in order to drive him from our soul! During this holy season, the Church is putting within your reach those grand means of victory-fasting, prayer, and almsdeeds. The sweets of peace will soon be yours, and once more you will become God's temple, for both soul and body will have regained their purity. But be not deceived; your enemy is not slain. He is irritated; penance has driven him from you; but he has sworn to return. Therefore, fear a relapse into mortal sin; and in order to nourish within you this wholesome fear, meditate upon the concluding part of our Gospel.
Our Saviour tells us that when the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through places without water. There he writhes under his humiliation; it was added to the tortures of the hell he carries everywhere with him, and to which he fain would give some alleviation by destroying souls that have been redeemed by Christ. We read in the old Testament that sometimes, when the devils have been conquered, they have been forced to flee into some far-off wilderness: for example, the holy Archangel Raphael took the devil, that had killed Sara's husbands, and bound him in the desert of upper Egypt (Tob. 8:3). But the enemy of mankind never despairs of regaining his prey. His hatred is as active now as it was at the very beginning of the world, and he says: "I will return into my house, whence I came out." Nor will he come alone. He is determined to conquer; and therefore, he will, if he think it needed, take with him seven other spirits, even more wicked than himself. What a terrible assault is being prepared for the poor soul, unless she be on the watch, and unless the peace, which God has granted her, be one that is well armed for war! Alas! with many souls the very contrary is the case; and our Saviour describes the situation in which the devil finds them on his return: they are swept and garnished, and that is all! No precautions, no defence, no arms. One would suppose that they were waiting to give the enemy admission. Then satan, to make his repossession sure, comes with a sevenfold force. The attack is made; but there is no resistance, and straightways the wicked spirits entering in, dwell there; so that the last state becometh worse than the first; for before there was but one enemy, and now there are many.
