The Roman Catholic Church has a rich Tradition of Hymns, and other devotional Chants, that have been used for Centuries on Feast Days and at The Liturgy of The Hours (The Divine Office found in The Breviary). Many recent Hymnals retained a few Hymns (e.g., Adoro te Devote, Ave Maria) in either Latin or translated versions; therefore, some Hymns continue to be sung in The Liturgy. Many beautiful Hymns have gradually been forgotten, yet are still sung in Monasteries and fondly remembered by older generations.
A renewed interest in Chant has been followed by an increase in teaching of Chant Hymns to Choirs and Congregations. Contributors to this Web-Site are Schola Directors, who are riding this wave of enthusiasm. We have benefited from, and are grateful to, others, who created Web-Sites with free music and audio downloads, especially for The Mass Ordinaries and Propers.
When teaching, we observed that Choristers were very interested in, and easily learned, Hymns, but we also noted a lack of easily-accessible free downloads. We also learned that recordings are a very effective way of teaching both Choristers and the Congregation.
The Gospel tells us that it was Saint John the Baptist, who, whilst fulfilling his mission of preparing Souls for the coming of Our Lord, pointed out The Messias to his Disciple, Andrew, The latter immediately went to Jesus and became one of His followers.
If The Feast of Saint Andrew (30 November) falls on a Monday, The Mass of The Vigil is said on the previous Saturday, but the Commemoration of Saint Saturninus is made on the Sunday. The same rule holds good for the other Vigils, with the exception of that of Christmas.
If The Feast of Saint Andrew falls on a Sunday, it is Transferred to the first free day.
Mass:Dóminus secus.
The Gloria is never said at Masses with Violet Vestments.
If Advent has not begun, Second Collect: Saint Saturninus. Third Collect: Concéde.
If Advent has begun, Second Collect of The Feria. Third Collect: Saint Saturninus.
Archbishop Fisichella, President of The Pontifical Council for New Evangelisation.
"Papal critics threatened with Excommunication, as Year of Mercy begins", says Life Site News.
Update: Respected Canonist, Ed Peters, has responded to Archbishop Fisichella's remarks. Read about that here.
December 7, 2015 (Voice of the Family) – Archbishop Fisichella, President of the Pontifical Council for New Evangelization, has stirred controversy by suggesting that some criticisms of Pope Francis might result in automatic excommunication.
Archbishop Fisichella made his remarks at a Vatican press briefing while explaining how Pope Francis’s new “Missionaries of Mercy” will operate. The 800 “missionaries” will have the power to absolve from penalties previously reserved to the Holy See.
I would say that we need to understand well ‘physical violence,’ because sometimes words, too, are rocks and stones, and therefore I believe some of these sins, too, are far more widespread than we might think.
Archbishop Fisichella’s comments will be interpreted by many as an attempt to silence faithful Catholics who are deeply concerned by the direction currently being taken by those who hold offices at the highest levels of the Church.
Zephyrinus says: It will be most interesting to get to the bottom of this story and find out if the alleged threats are, in fact, real.
Or, will there now be the usual "misunderstood" quotes, allied with "obfuscation", with a heavy dose of "I can't actually recall saying that", etc, etc.
Ruth was a Moabitess, who married into the Hebrew family of Elimelech and Naomi, whom she met when they left Bethlehem and relocated to Moab, due to a famine. Elimelech and his two sons died, leaving Naomi and her two daughters-in-law as widows.
When Naomi decided to return to Bethlehem, Ruth decided to go with her, despite the fact that Orpah, Naomi's other daughter-in-law, went back home.
Ruth famously vowed to follow Naomi in the following passage:
Ruth went to glean in the fields, where she met Boaz. At the instigation of Naomi, she forced Boaz to declare his intentions regarding Ruth by slipping into the threshing floor at night, uncovering his feet, and lying at his feet (Ruth 3:8), in the Mosaic tradition of having the nearest relative be the kinsman redeemer (Leviticus 25:25-55).
Boaz indicated his desire to marry her, and called Ruth a "woman of noble character". After overcoming the obstacle of having a relative with a stronger claim (per the Mosaic requirements in Deuteronomy 25:7-9), Boaz married Ruth, and they had a son, named Obed.
The genealogy, in the final Chapter of the Book, explains how Ruth became the Great-Grandmother of David: Boaz begot Obed, Obed begot Jesse and Jesse begot David (Ruth 4:17). She is also, thus, the ancestor of Joseph (husband of Mary and foster-father of Jesus), and is one of the five women mentioned in The Genealogy of Matthew (along with Tamar, Rahab, Bathsheba, and Mary).
circa 1910. It is the third Bridge built over The River Thames, after London Bridge
and Putney Bridge. The current Westminster Bridge is the third Bridge to built at Westminster.
It was built in 1739-1750. I bet you didn't know that. Richard Butters saved to Bygone Times In England. The current Bridge, by Thomas Page, in 1862, is painted Green, to match
the Leather Seats in The House of Commons, Westminster.
The First Sunday of Advent. Available on YouTube at YOU TUBE
At Christmas, Jesus will be born into our hearts, for at that time the Anniversary of His Birth will be Celebrated. He refuses nothing to the Prayer of The Church, His Spouse, and thus He will grant to our Souls the same Graces which He gave the Shepherds and the Three Kings.
Christ will come again, also, at the end of time, to "condemn The Guilty to the flames, and to call The Just with a loving voice to Heaven" (Hymn for Matins).
The whole of today's Mass is a preparation for this double Advent of Mercy and Justice. Some parts of it can be applied equally to either (e.g., the Introit, Collect, Gradual, Alleluia), while others refer to our Divine Redeemer's lowly birth, and others, again, (e.g., the Epistle and Gospel), to His coming in the splendour of His power and majesty.
The same welcome will be given to us by Our Lord when He comes to Judge us, as we give to Him now, when coming to redeem us. Let us prepare for the Christmas Feast by Holy Prayers and aspirations and by reforming our lives, that we may be ready for that last great assize, upon which depends the fate of our Soul for all Eternity. And all this with confidence, for those "who wait upon the Lord will never be confounded" (Introit; Gradual; Offertory).
In former times, on this First Sunday of Advent, all the people of Rome made the Station at the Basilica of Saint Mary Major, to assist at The Solemn Mass which the Pope Celebrated, surrounded by his Clergy. This particular Church was chosen because it is Mary who gave us Jesus, and because Relics of the Crib, in which The Blessed Mother placed her Divine Child, are preserved in this Church.
Every Parish Priest says Mass for the people of his Parish.
The Gloria in excelsis is omitted during Advent, except on Feast Days.
When, on The Ferias of Advent, The Mass of The Sunday is said, the Alleluia and its Versicle are not said, but only the Gradual.
Preface: Of The Most Holy Trinity.
During the week: The Common Preface is said.
The Benedicamus Domino is said instead of Ite Missa Est, as is the rule whenever the Gloria in excelsis is omitted.
During Advent and Lent, on Ember Days, Vigils, and Rogation Days, when a Mass of any Feast is said, Commemoration is always made of The Feria.
For the Commemoration ofThe Ferias of Lent, the Collect, Secret, and Postcommunion of the preceding Sunday are said, except on Ember Days, which have Proper Prayers.
Text from Wikipedia - the free encyclopaedia, unless otherwise stated.
Head-piece to The Song of Solomon. Canticles 1:4. Vignette with a winged heart with flowers
and a halo of stars standing upon a skull with snake coiling around it and an orb, a glowing
Hebrew inscription in sky above; letterpress in two columns below and on verso. 1796.
Inscriptions: Lettered below image, "P J de Loutherbourg", "J. Landseer Fec" and publication line: "Published Jany. 1796/ by T. M[ ] Fleet St London". Print made by John Landseer.
The Song of Songs, also known as The Song of Solomon, The Canticle of Canticles, or, simply, Canticles (Hebrew: שִׁיר הַשִּׁירִיםŠîr HašŠîrîm;Greek: ᾎσμα ᾈσμάτων asma asmaton, both meaning "Song of Songs"), is one of The Megillot (Scrolls) of The Ketuvim ("The Writings", the last Section of The Tanakh or Hebrew Bible), and The Fifth of The "Wisdom" Books of The Christian Old Testament.
The only piece of erotic literature in The Bible,
this book was regarded by earlier devotees as an allegory of God's love
for His people. The Text is introduced by A.S. Byatt.
Scripturally, The Song of Songs is unique in its celebration of sexual love. It gives "the voices of two lovers, praising each other, yearning for each other, proffering invitations to enjoy". The two are in harmony, each desiring the other and rejoicing in sexual intimacy; the women (or "daughters") of Jerusalem form a chorus to the lovers, functioning as an audience, whose participation in the lovers' erotic encounters facilitates the participation of the reader.
3 As an apple-tree among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved among the sons. Under its shadow I delighted to sit, and its fruit was sweet to my taste.
4 He hath brought me to the banqueting-house, and his banner over me is love.
ה סַמְּכוּנִי, בָּאֲשִׁישׁוֹת--רַפְּדוּנִי, בַּתַּפּוּחִים: כִּי-חוֹלַת אַהֲבָה, אָנִי.
5 'Stay ye me with dainties, refresh me with apples; for I am love-sick.'
In modern Judaism, the Song is read on The Sabbath during The Passover, which marks the beginning of the grain harvest as well as commemorating The Exodus from Egypt. Jewish Tradition reads it as an allegory of the relationship between God and Israel. Christian Tradition, in addition to appreciating the literal meaning of a romantic song between Man and Woman, has read the poem as an allegory of Christ (The Bridegroom) and His Church (The Bride).
English: Church of Santa Caterina del Sasso, Varese, Italy. Fresco showing
a Lily among Thorns, symbolising The Virgin Mary, according to a quotation
from The Song of Solomon.
Deutsch: Santa Caterina del Sasso ( Varese ). Kirche - Fresko: Lilie unter
Dornen als Symbol der Jungfrau Maria nach einem Zitat aus dem Hohen Lied Salomos.
