Recta Ratio

Affectionate Salutations to Mary

I greet thee, Mary,
Daughter of God the Father.
I greet thee, Mary,
Mother of the Son of God.
I greet thee, Mary,
Spouse of the Holy Spirit.

I greet thee, Mary,
Temple of the Blessed Trinity.
I greet thee, Mary,
White Lily of the resplendent Trinity.
I greet thee, Mary,
Fragrant Rose of the heavenly court.
I greet thee, Mary,
Virgin full of meekness and humility, of whom the
King of Heaven willed to be born and nourished by thy milk.
I greet thee, Mary,
Virgin of virgins.
I greet thee, Mary,
Queen of Martyrs, whose soul was pierced by the sword of sorrows.
I greet thee, Mary,
Lady and Mistress, to whom all power has been given in Heaven and on earth.
I greet thee, Mary,
Queen of my heart, my sweetness, my life and all my
hope.
I greet thee, Mary,
Mother most amiable.
I greet thee, Mary,
Mother most admirable.
I greet thee, Mary ,
Mother of beautiful love.
I greet thee, Mary ,
Conceived without sin.
I greet thee, Mary ,
Full of grace, the Lord is with thee,
blessed art thou among women,
and blessed be the Fruit of thy womb.

Blessed be thy spouse,
Saint Joseph.
Blessed be thy father,
Saint Joachim.
Blessed be thy mother,
Saint Anne.
Blessed be thy Angel,
Saint Gabriel.
Blessed be the Eternal Father,
Who has chosen thee.
Blessed be thy Son,
Who has loved thee.
Blessed be the Holy Ghost,
Who has espoused thee.
May all those who love thee bless thee.

O Blessed Virgin, bless us all in the
name of thy dear Son. Amen.

The "Affectionate Salutations to Mary" were promoted in this version by the Servant of God, Father Paul of Moll [1824.1896]. The venerable Father Paul assured one of his friends that those who devoutly venerate Mary with these affectionate salutations may rely on her powerful protection and blessing. Once while giving a copy of these Salutations to a girl, Father Paul said to her, "These Salutations are so beautiful! Say them every morning. From on high, in Heaven, the Blessed Virgin will then give you her blessing. Yes, yes, would to God that you could see her! The Blessed Virgin blesses you then; I know it quite well." He said further that it is impossible not to be heard favorably when we recite these Salutations to Mary for the conversion of sinners.

Labels: Restorationists

Remember, O Beloved Jesus,
Who for the love of me didst agonize on the Cross,
and from that throne of truth didst announce the
completion of the work of our Redemption, through which,
from being the children of wrath and perdition,
we are become the children of God and the heirs of Heaven:

Have mercy on all the faithful in their agony,
and on me also when I shall be in that extremity,
and, through the merits of Thy Precious Blood,
detach us entirely from the world and from ourselves,
and at the moment of our agony give us grace
sincerely to offer Thee the sacrifice of our life
in expiation for our sins. Amen.

Labels: Restorationists

Today is the feast of the father of all Catholic monks.

The Golden Legend on Saint Anthony

The Catholic Encyclopedia

May the intercession of Blessed Abbot Anthony, we beseech Thee, O Lord, commend us unto Thee, that what we cannot have through our own merits, we may obtain through his patronage. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, world without end. Amen.

Saint Anthony, pray for me!

Labels: Restorationists

At Elizabeth Clare's Catholic Rosaries and Prayer Chaplets, I came across this interesting description of how relics are classified:

Relics of Christian Saint’s fall into categories: the First Class Relic is the body or a portion of the body of a Saint (bone, flesh, or hair). These are considered so precious that they are rarely entrusted to individuals, but are placed in Faith Communities. The Second Class Relic is an item or piece of an item used by the Saint while on the body (clothing, Bible, Breviary, Mass vestments, and so on). Again, Second Class Relics are considered so precious that they are rarely entrusted to individuals, but are placed in Faith Communities. Third Class Relics typically fall into 2 categories. The first category is a piece of cloth touched to a First or Second Class Relic of the Saint. The second category, in cases where there is no known existing relic of a saint, the cloth has been touched to the shrine of the saint. Generally, the Third Class Relic is a piece of cloth, but it need not be, as long as the item so touched conveys Holiness and is touched with the intent that it be a Third Class Relic. Third Class Relics may be given to individuals, and may be sold. Fourth Class Relics are virtually the same as Third Class Relics and may be sold also.

The Third Class Relics on the Medals we use are the same Third Class Relics you would purchase if you traveled to the Shrine of the Saint and purchased a Third Class Relic there. On the back of each medal you will find the small piece of cloth set in red, which is the relic itself. Around the relic is engraved “EX INDUMENTIS” Latin for touched cloth. These medals are all made in Italy.

Relics, when properly reverenced can be powerful Sacramentals and they are not to be taken lightly. These precious gifts from our Holy Saints can afford us much protection from harm. However, these Relic Medals should always be blessed by a Deacon or Priest of the Roman Catholic Church in order for them to become Sacramentals.

But I would add a note of caution. Wikipedia notes:

The phrase Ex indumentis is Latin for "from the clothing", most commonly used when referring to 2nd Class holy relics of saints or blessed individuals.

In proper ecclesiastical phraseology, ex indumentis should only be used when referring to an article or fragment of clothing that was owned or used by a saint (or similarly blessed individual).

In recent years, numerous contemporary manufacturers of relic medals, holy plaques, saint statues and religious trinkets have begun to label their items as being ex indumentis even though they are not such; rather, they are merely pieces of inexpensive cloth or canvas that are purported to have been touched to an actual relic of the saint, then stamped out en-masse to be attached to their souvenir medals or statues.

True examples of genuine ex indumentis relics are considered to be treasures of the faithful and should be venerated in accordance with theological laws. Unauthentic examples of ex indumentis relics have no sacramental value.

What prompted all of this interest in relics is that I have come into possession of what looks to be my second relic. My first, as I have noted before, is clearly a Third-Class relic, a piece of cloth touched to something possessed or used by the great saint Padre Pio. it is embedded in a plastic holy card, and I have no reason to think it is anything other than an ordinary Third Class relic, since, right next to it in the Catholic goods store were seemingly identical pieces of what looks like brown felt, on a holy card for St. Thomas More.

This new relic may be second or third class. It is a heavy but small medal, with an image of Blessed Frederic Janssoone, OFM (1838-1916). On the back there is the red sealing wax (?) surrounding a piece of coursely woven brown cloth. The words "Ex Indumentis" partially encircle the relic.

The fact that it is coursely woven brown cloth of the type that might have been used in a Franciscan habit argues for it being a Second Class relic, a tiny fragment of a garment Blessed Frederic wore in his lifetime. On the other hand, I have no way of knowing that it isn't, in fact, just a piece of cloth touched to one of his known possessions, as I am sure my Padre Pio relic is. That would make it a Third Class relic.

Read more about Blessed Frederic Janssoone, OFM here, here, and here.

His feast will be August 5th, though he died on August 4th.

Blessed Frederic Janssoone, please pray for me!

Labels: Restorationists

Make that 17-0, 16 regular season wins, and a first-round playoff victory against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Meanwhile, the San Diego Chargers knocked off the defending champion Indianapolis Colts, and will face the Patriots next Sunday in Foxborough. the winner goes to the Super Bowl to face the winner of the Packers/Giants game.

GO PATS!!!!!

Labels: Football Weekend Report

Boston is in the midst of a heavy wet snowfall, that might amount to 6 or more inches. Our little January thaw did not last.

Lady walking a dog this morning on Boston Common, from The Boston Globe

Labels: New England Things

At the altar of the Sistine Chapel.

Well, after all the references to doing so in his books, and in his contributions to the books of others on the subject, this can't be too surprising. Hopefully, this will contribute to a greater solemnity in the celebration of the Novus Ordo Mass.

So, for those, myself among them, disappointed that the Holy Father did not, as widely rumored, celebrate according to the Extraordinary Form during Advent, we have a more gradual move towards tradition.

BTW, even without any familiarity with Latin, or paying attention to what was going on in the Papal Mass, you know he was celebrating in the Ordinary Form, because he was saying Mass for the Baptism of the Lord, which is not liturgically observed in the Extraordinary Form when January 13th falls on the Sunday after Epiphany. The Mass of the Holy Family is said then, instead. Why, I don't know. But it just is.

Labels: Restorationists