Monday, July 16, 2018
My First Latin Mass
Mass went about the way I expected based on what I have read about the Latin Mass online. I was a bit surprised about how fast it went. Mass took about 30 minutes, which is not unusual as far as daily Mass goes, however, it sure seemed like it was going at light speed.
Takeaways from my Mass Experience
1) I need to change my mindset when attending the Latin Mass. In the Novus Ordo Mass there is a great deal of responses and singing that the people attending the Mass do. In the Latin Mass (at least the low Mass) most of those responses still happen, but they are between the priest and the server. This leaves the people attending Mass to focus more internally on prayer and on Jesus Christ. It is just a different focus. Not bad, just different.
2) After only one time at a Latin Mass, I am 100% convinced that the most appropriate way to receive the Body of Christ is on my knees, in font of the altar, with the priest placing Him on my tongue. In the 3 seconds it took for this to happen, I felt that I was briefly transported to heaven. This was, for me, the high point of the whole experience.
3) I need to read the readings ahead of time. During Mass the readings are said in rapid fire Latin.
Any Disappointments?
Yeah, there was no chant. I love chant.
Tuesday, June 19, 2018
Ss. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Mankato, MN
Mass was wonderful. The priest used quite a bit of chant, which seems like a little thing, but it really helps me enter more deeply into the Mass. Father prayed Eucharistic prayer #1. This is my favorite prayer. Especially this part:
Almighty God, we pray that your angel may take this sacrifice to your altar in heaven. Then, as we receive from this altar the sacred body and blood of your Son, let us be filled with every grace and blessing.This parish did something interesting during communion they brought our a kneeler and placed it in the front. People had the option of kneeling and receiving the body of Christ on the tongue. I have never seen this odne before. It might have something to do witht he fact that this Parish has a regularly scheduled Extraordinary Form Mass.
After Mass we stayed to look at the many beautiful statues . Guess who we found?
Monday, June 04, 2018
The Saint Aloysius Gonzaga Project
Meet St. Alyosius: I suspect that this statue was purchased as a blank and that someone painted him by hand. I am unable to find any images of him in this color, furthermore, these colors are not the usual color for this type of Catholic dress.
It has been a while...
I am not going to lie, Pope Benedict's resignation and Pope Francis' election left me in a disillusioned state. I am happy to report that, unlike past times, I did not run away from my faith when things that I did not like happened.. I continued to go to Mass, receive the Sacraments, and to pray. These things, in my opinion, are key to getting through the rough spots in life.
We have some changes coming to our parish that I think are going to be very good. Like all change there will be tough moments, however, the potential good that may come is enough to restore a bit of that initial excitement that I once had. I also have a new project that I will be starting soon having to do with Saint Aloysius Gonzaga. It will be a huge challenge for me, but I am going to give it my best shot. More on that in another post...
Dave
Monday, March 17, 2014
Saint Apollonia
Saint Apollonia was an Christian virgin of, advanced age, living in Alexandria, Egypt. She was killed by pagans during a local persecution around the year 249. The details of her demise were documented in Eusebius's Historia Ecclesiae (Church History). He records a letter that was sent from Dionysius, Bishop of Alexandria to Fabius, Bishop of Antioch. Dionysius laments the treatment of several of his people. Of Apollonia he says:
"At that time Apollonia, parthénos presbytis (mostly likely meaning a deaconess) was held in high esteem. These men seized her also and by repeated blows broke all her teeth. They then erected outside the city gates a pile of fagots and threatened to burn her alive if she refused to repeat after them impious words (either a blasphemy against Christ, or an invocation of the heathen gods). Given, at her own request, a little freedom, she sprang quickly into the fire and was burned to death."
As far as historical documents go, this is all that is really known about Apollonia, however, after she was proclaimed a saint, her story evolved. She went from a woman of advanced years to a young maiden. Instead of having her teath knocked out, they were pulled out one at a time. Here is the legend that grew from her martyrdom:
The child grew into a maiden as lovely and graceful as a flower, and as good and pure as she was beautiful. The family of a Roman magistrate quite naturally conformed to the established religion of the state, but the mother never ceased to talk to her daughter about the wonderful circumstances of her birth, and about Christ and the Holy Virgin to whom she had addressed her prayers. Apollonia drank in all the details, and as she got older there sprang up in her heart a strong desire to be baptized and become a Christian. And Heaven did not leave her helpless. An angel came to her one day and led her out of Alexandria into the desert to the cell of Leonine, a disciple of Saint Anthony. Apollonia told him her story and her wish to be a Christian, and Leonine baptized her forthwith. Hardly had he done so than another angel swooped down from Heaven, and throwing a garment of shining white about Apollonia cried: “This is Apollonia, the servant of Jesus; Go, now, to Alexandria and preach the faith of Christ.
Apollonia returned home filled with ecstasy and zeal. She went among the people and preached to them with wonderful eloquence, making many converts. Before long complaints concerning her and her doings began to pour in on her father. Why did he, a Roman magistrate, allow his daughter to break so flagrantly the laws of the Empire?
Pray to the Lord for us
Lest for our offenses and sins we be punished By diseases of the teeth."
-or-
“Eternally omnipotent God, for whose honor blessed Apollonia, virgin and martyr, steadfastly suffered the horrible crushing-out of her teeth, grant Thou as we desire, that we may be made happy in commemoration of her, thru whose most pious intercession we were freed from toothache and all imminent evils. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.”
References
http://saints.sqpn.com/saint-apollonia-the-patron-saint-of-dentistry/
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01617c.htm
http://britishlibrary.typepad.co.uk/digitisedmanuscripts/2014/02/happy-st-apollonias-day.html
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Prayers that need to be revived
O God, our refuge and our strength, look down with mercy upon the people who cry to Thee; and by the intercession of the glorious and immaculate Virgin Mary, Mother of God, of Saint Joseph her spouse, of the blessed Apostles Peter and Paul, and of all the saints, in Thy mercy and goodness hear our prayers for the conversion of sinners, and for the liberty and exaltation of the Holy Mother the Church. Through the same Christ Our Lord.
Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle; be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray: and do thou, O Prince of the heavenly host, by the power of God, thrust into hell Satan and all the evil spirits who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.
Monday, August 15, 2011
Bonfire of the Vanities: My Experimental 'Spirit of Vatican II' Liturgy
Bonfire of the Vanities: My Experimental 'Spirit of Vatican II' Liturgy
Saturday, July 30, 2011
St Joseph's cathedral
St. Joseph's Cathedral in Sioux Falls, SD has been reopened after a long renovation. From the picture below it looks wonderful. My family and I usually attend Mass there when we stay in Sioux Falls. I can't wait to see it in person.
St Peter Chrysologus
Saturday of week 17 of the year
or Saint Peter Chrysologus, Bishop, Doctor
St Peter Chrysologus (380 - 450)
He was born and died in Imola in northern Italy. He was made bishop of Ravenna, the new capital of the Roman Empire, and was responsible for many of the building works there. The name ?Chrysologus? means ?golden speech?, and was given to Peter because he was such a gifted preacher; unfortunately, most of his writings have perished, and only a collection of short sermons remains.
--From RC Calendar iPad app