February 28, 2006
Lent
Tomorrow begins the Spiritual Pilgrimage towards Easter Sunday within the Roman Catholic Church (The Eastern Catholic Church started Lent on Monday, with the Eastern Orthodox following suit this coming Monday). Many Catholics and other Christians will sacrifice something in order to make their lives better and more Christ centered. I have often fallen in what I have attempted, but this year I am going to try harder. I often wonder how often these sacrifices have left a permanent character mark on these faithful Christians. Lent should be a time when we examine our lives, make the appropriate sacrifices, and end Lent better than where we started. Once Easter arrives, and we commemorate once again the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead it should not be business as usual. Our God and our Faith demands that we continually rejuvenate our spiritual lives and that we continue to die to this world of sin. We must be apart of this world, but we must not conform to it. What will a life that is happy for eighty years compare to a life of eternal damnation?
Those are my two cents on Lent this year...
Lavdavtvr Jesvs Christvs in Aeternvm...
Posted by cr3do1 at 10:54 AM | Comments (0)
January 03, 2006
The Liturgy
I have been following, at least on some level, the Bishops work on the new translations for the Mass. I found the past meeting of the Bishops in November to be very interesting.
There are a number of points which I want to address...
1. It seems to me that some Bishops in this country think that the laity are stupid or something. Now, I applaud their apparent concern for the feelings of the faithful, but I don't believe they are giving them enough credit. Their justifications for not correctly translating some things in the Mass are because they don't want to burden the laity too much, that the faithful will not understand. I have spoken to some people about these new translations, and most are in favor of it. Most think that the new translations will enhance the Mass and make it more beautiful. It is my belief that if the new translations are presented in a positive light by their Pastors, then the faithful will for the most part overwhelmingly accept them. Give them little books to follow for a year, and they will be just fine and quiet content. 30 years ago the Church changed something which was in force for 500 years; something tells me that the faithful will do just fine.
2. I have also read that some Bishops do not want to translate things such as the Gloria or the Memorial Acclamation correctly because we do not have music written for the new translations. Excuse me, but in 1969, nearly 1000 years of Gregorian Chant was set aside for these new modern translations for which music was written very quickly. It didn't seem to be much of a problem in 1969. BAD excuse. So, GIA get on the ball and start writing new music.
3. It is my opinion that if the Bishops do not want to do it right now, then the whole thing should be set aside until new Bishops come in and want to do it right. 30 years ago it wasn't done right, and now the Vatican is asking that it be corrected. If it isn't right again this time, will we be having the same debate in 30 years from now? It is better to do things right the first time then have to go back and correct mistakes later. That undermines the Church and only make visible within the Church divisions. Discussion on a matter is typically never a bad thing, but when it is apparent there are divisions, this is bad. Luckily, I don't believe the Vatican will accept anything less then a near literal translation.
I applaud the Bishops for their work on this, and I applaud all the more those who are calling for and working on obtaining a good translation.
Posted by cr3do1 at 07:13 PM | Comments (1)
December 28, 2005
Feast of the Holy Innocents
Then Herod perceiving that he was deluded by the wise men, was exceeding angry: and sending killed all the menchildren that were in Bethlehem, and in all the borders thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremias the prophet, saying: A voice in Rama was heard, lamentation and great mourning; Rachel bewailing her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not. - Saint Matthew 2:16-18
Saint Stephen is often considered the first martyr for Christ and in most ways that is true (as the Catholic Encyclopedia says: Martyr by Will, Love, and Blood). The Holy Innocents are often forgotten, however. These Holy Children were killed in Herod's attempt to destroy the Christ child because he wanted to hold on to his power. If Herod knew anything at all about the Christ child, however, he would have realized that Jesus posed no threat to power here. Christ was not interested in temporal power, as so many thought and sadly still thinks today. As a result, the Children of Bethlehem were martyred for Christ. They became the very first to spill their blood because of men's hatred for God. In a moment when we are celebrating giving and receiving gifts, the Church is teaching us an important lesson on this Feast. What is always best for us is not always something we may receive. The Church is also teaching us that we need to pick up our crosses and carry them, that our suffering here on earth will be short compared to the bliss of Heaven. This is the message behind Saint Stephen, the Holy Innocents, and even Saint John the beloved. All three suffered here on earth, all three received something they probably would not have wanted otherwise, but yet all three now enjoy the Heavenly Court. This seems to be the message that the Church is teachings us during this Holy Christmas Octave.
May Saint Stephen, Saint John the beloved, and the Holy Innocents teach us to pick up our crosses and bear them for the sake of the Kingdom of God. Amen.
Posted by cr3do1 at 06:20 PM | Comments (0)
December 23, 2005
December 23 O Antiphon
Here is the last of the great O Antiphons:
O Emmanuel, king and lawgiver, desire of the nations, Savior of all people, come and set us free, Lord our God.
Posted by cr3do1 at 11:34 PM | Comments (0)
December 22, 2005
Papal Ceromonies MUST set the Standard...
Is the Holy Father signaling a change in the way Papal Masses are set up with his declaration today that his Masses need to set the standard? This will be something to watch in the coming weeks...
Additionally, the Holy Father reminded everyone that it is Gregorian Chant which is most fitting for the Liturgy. This is at least the second time, maybe the third, that he has done this.
I suspect a shake up soon...
http://www.cwnews.com/news/viewstory.cfm?recnum=41381
Posted by cr3do1 at 06:29 PM | Comments (1)
December 22nd O Antiphon
O King of all the nations, the only joy of every human heart; O Keystone of the mighty arch of man, come and save the creature you fashioned from the dust.
Posted by cr3do1 at 06:27 PM | Comments (0)
December 21, 2005
December 21st O Antiphon
O Radiant Dawn, splendor of eternal light, sun of justice; come, shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death.
Posted by cr3do1 at 11:29 AM | Comments (0)
December 20, 2005
December 20th O Antiphon
O Key of David, O royal Power of Isreal controlling at your will the gate of heaven: come, break down the prison walls of death for those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death; and lead your captive people into freedom.
Posted by cr3do1 at 12:54 PM | Comments (0)
December 19, 2005
December 19th O Antiphon
O Flower of Jesse's stem, you have been raised up as a sign for all peoples; kings stand silent in your presence; the nations bow down in worship before you. Come, let nothing keep you from coming to our aid.
Posted by cr3do1 at 10:09 PM | Comments (0)
December 18, 2005
December 18th O Antiphon
The O Antiphon for Vespers tonight is:
O sacred Lord of ancient Isreal, who showed yourself to Moses in the burning bush, who gave him the holy law on Sinai mountain: come, stretch out your mighty hand to set us free.
I put together last night that a number of the titles for the O Antiphons are used in the Advent hymn of O Come O Come Emmanuel...
Posted by cr3do1 at 06:47 PM | Comments (0)
December 17, 2005
The O Antiphons
Today begins the great tradition of the Church when the O Antiphons are said. The O Antiphons are special antiphons which the Church has placed in the Divine Office (the Liturgy of the Hours) for Vespers extending from the 17th of December through the 23rd of December. These antiphons express the various ancient scriptural titles used for Christ, and they petition Christ to grant various gifts to his people. They are called the O Antiphons because each one starts with "O". During these final days of Advent, the Church expresses much more joy in the expectation of the appearance of the Christ Child, thus we use the O Antiphons.
The O Antiphon for Vespers of December 17th is:
O Wisdom, O holy Word of God, you govern all creation with your strong yet tender care. Come and show your people the way to salvation.
Posted by cr3do1 at 02:55 PM | Comments (0)
December 09, 2005
The Holy Father pulls the ermine out of the closet...
After 30 years of not being seen on a Pope's body, Pope Benedict XVI pulled out the ermine yesterday.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/1536634/posts
Posted by cr3do1 at 07:52 AM | Comments (0)
July 29, 2005
Gregorian Chant
Here is a cool webpage which has the Chants for just about every Sunday and every Solemnity and Feast. It is a pretty neat site for listening to, and learning the Chant propers of the Mass for days throughout the year.
Posted by cr3do1 at 11:14 PM | Comments (0)
July 12, 2005
Reform of the Reform
Many Progressive Catholics were put to ease when His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI, promised to continue with the reforms of the Second Vatican Council. I am not so sure that they both had the same thing in mind, however.
Benedict, when he was Fr. Joseph Ratzinger was a theologian at the Second Vatican Council, so he has a fairly good idea of what the Council meant. Now, what the Council meant, what was done, and what progressives think the Council meant are all completely separate ideas.
Benedict intends to implement Vatican II the way it should have been, a task which John-Paul II started with the assistance of Cardinal Ratzinger. A very important step in this new springtime is the upcoming Synod of all the Bishops on the Holy Eucharist, which John-Paul II called for and Benedict confirmed. What will be done there will shape the way Catholics adore God for years to come. It will be the biggest step in fully and truly implementing the Vatican Council in regards to the Mass, in my opinion.
The document which was produced from opinions which the Bishops of the world sent to Rome has been released, and I think it is safe to say that the progressives playground is now closed.
Things that will be discussed involved the Direction of Prayer, why Gregorian Chant should be used, who and who can not receive Holy Communion, the language of the Mass, the dignity of the Sanctuary and the Holiness of the Altar, the importance of Sunday, and the importance of the Eucharist in Christians daily lives.
It might end up being a good thing that the US Bishops have done their best in slowing down the release of the new translations of the Roman Missal, because they might have to put some new things in the directions...
A quote so often associated with Pope Benedict is: "The Cafeteria is now closed"
I agree, lets fully and accurately implement the Second Vatican Council. Then the fruits of the Council will be permitted to grow. This year is the 40th Anniversary of the closing of the Council, now is just about the right time for everything to swing back into place.
Long Live Pope Benedict XVI!
Posted by cr3do1 at 12:49 AM | Comments (1)