Musée De La Visitation, Moulins, France.

Illustration: MUSÉE-VISITATION

From NEW LITURGICAL MOVEMENT
of 13 September 2012.

Our Post from yesterday, about the Liturgical treasury of the French Cathedral of Le Puy-en-Velay, resulted in the following being brought to our attention, which shows The Visitation Museum in Moulins, France, where "nearly ten thousand Chalices, Chasubles, and silk Liturgical items have been produced and preserved by The Sisters of The Visitation of Holy Mary."

Sacred Silk and other displays of

The Visitation Museum, France.

Available on YouTube at

YOU TUBE

Magnificent embroidery skills on display at

MUSÉE DE LA VISITATION

The  following Text from MUSÉE-VISITATION

The Museum of The Visitation is a private organisation run by the Association "Regard sur la Visitation", whose goals are: Safeguarding and promoting the artistic and Religious heritage of the Monasteries of The Order of The Visitation; create and maintain a Museum, in Moulins, France, dedicated to The Order of The Visitation and its heritage.

To achieve its objectives, the Museum relies on a Scientific Committee consisting of historians, researchers and professionals in the Museum World. Eighty-seven Monasteries of The Sainte Marie Visitation Order, settled in nineteen Countries of Europe, Middle East, North and South America, decided to save their artistic patrimony by deposing some masterpieces into The Museum of Moulins, France. Moulins is the City where Sainte Jeanne de Chantal Fremyot, the Co-Foundress of The Order, died.

Superb needlework on display at

MUSÉE DE LA VISITATION

Year after year, the number of pieces has increased considerably and now it exceeds 8,000. Encompassing a period that extends from the 15th- to the 21st-Century, these pieces relate the history and the patrimony of a Monastic Order which was present in France (160 Foundations) and which extends all over the World.

"All Heart" — Burning Love of The Sacred Heart.

http://visitationspirit.org/2013/06/o... -- "Behold this Heart that has so greatly loved people." 

These words of Jesus Christ to the humble Sister Margaret Mary Alacoque, Centuries ago, are echoed in the beautiful Vestments, Liturgical objects, and other artifacts at a special exhibit displayed  in 2013 at The Musée de la Visitation, Moulins, France.

The Museum hosted "A tout coeur," (All Heart), an exhibition of works of art and love centered around The Devotion to The Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Order the book (in French) on The Museum's Sacred Heart exhibit at http://www.visitationspirit.org/allheart.

Available on YouTube at

YOU TUBE

The Collection is as various as the furniture and objects necessary for life in a Community. Some pieces have prestigious origins; Relics of famous Saints, donations of illustrious or Royal people. Others are the fruits of the patient work of The Visitandines, women having left society for a life of Prayer, following The Rules defined by their Co-Founder, Saint Francis de Sales.

You can hear the interview of Gérard Picaud, administrator of the Museum, by Elodie Courtejoie from Canal Académie.

Chasubles on display.

Illustration: MUSÉE DE LA VISITATION

British Aircraft Carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth To Urgently Sail To Arctic Circle, In Coming Days, To Support Air Transport Mission.

Text and Illustration: UKDJ

Zephyrinus has only just received this report of recent Royal Navy Operational Deployments, dated 22 December 2017.

British Aircraft Carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth is to sail to the Arctic Circle in the coming days to support a Multinational Air Transport Mission.

The new 70,600 tonne Carrier has not yet entered Operational Service, but it’s understood that she is being hurried into Service for this Mission, with an MOD spokesperson describing the efforts of the crew as those of "good girls and boys".

According to Foreign Office spokesman Nicholas Kringle:

“We’ve received an urgent Request For Assistance (RFA) to support a Multi-National Air Transport Mission being launched from a currently undisclosed location within the Arctic Circle.

As such, HMS Queen Elizabeth is being urgently deployed to provide emergency provisions and a "back up" option, should the cargo aircraft involved need to land and refuel.”

This comes not long after it was announced that the Royal Air Force will reportedly be on High Alert in the coming days, in order to track cargo flights from the Arctic region.

The move has been prompted by an incident around a year ago, in which RAF Typhoon aircraft escorted a Lapland-registered aircraft (flying from the Arctic region) over the UK’s major cities.

The pilot of the craft was said to be under the influence of alcohol and very “festive”; this is especially dangerous due to the sheer volume of cargo the aircraft was carrying. This is expected to happen again.

An MOD spokesman had this to say:

“Interception is part of what the Quick Reaction Force (QRA Force) do. We have to identify and confirm who or what is flying through our airspace, or approaching our airspace, and since the craft appears at the same time each year, we have a fairly good idea who will be flying, but we don’t take any chances.”

The Ministry of Defence used satellites with infra-red sensors to track the aircraft last time this happened. It is understood that the heat from an animal's very shiny red nose was clearly visible.

It was at this point that RAF aircraft began escorting the bit, bright red, craft, over every British City, Town and Village.

UPDATE: We understand that the provisions, that HMS Queen Elizabeth has been loaded with, include Brandy and small biscuits and carrots.

"Ave Maria". Olga Szyrowa (Soprano). Pasja (Passion of the Christ). 2004.

"Ave Maria".

Olga Szyrowa (Soprano).

Pasja (Passion of the Christ).

2004.

Available on YouTube at

YOU TUBE

It would be extremely interesting if any of our Polish or Russian Readers could shed some light on the career of Olga Szyrowa, please.

Zephyrinus has received several requests for information on this wonderful Soprano, but, unfortunately, there is no information available on the Internet.

So, help, please, from our Polish and Russian Readership on the career of Olga Szyrowa.

Please leave information in the Comments Box.

Octave Of Saint John. Apostle And Evangelist. Today, 3 January.

Text from The Saint Andrew Daily Missal,
unless otherwise stated.

Octave of Saint John.
   Apostle and Evangelist.
   3 January.

Simple.

White Vestments.

Saint John the Apostle and Evangelist.

Illustration: UNA VOCE OF ORANGE COUNTY

Artist: René de Cramer.

"Copyright Brunelmar/Ghent/Belgium".

Used with Permission.

Vespers: Antiphon: Iste est. Versicle: Valde.
Mass: In médio.
Creed: Is not said.
Preface: Of The Apostles.

12th-Century Sung Mass (Missa Cantata) For Christmas Day.

Basilica of Notre-Dame de Paris, France.

Léonin probably lived and worked at this Cathedral in the 12th-Century.

Photo: 22 March 2014.

Source: Own work.

Author: Lolowaro, from Paris, France.

(Wikimedia Commons)

12th-Century Sung Mass (Missa Cantata) for Christmas Day.

Composed by: 

Léonin.

Sung by: Ensemble Organum.

Available on YouTube at

YOU TUBE

The following Text is from Wikipedia - the free encyclopaedia.

Léonin (also Leoninus, Leonius, Leo) (fl. 1150s — d. ? 1201) was the first known significant composer of Polyphonic Organum. He was probably French, probably lived and worked in Paris at the Notre Dame Cathedral and was the earliest member of the Notre Dame School of Polyphony and the Ars Antiqua Style who is known by name.

The name Léonin is derived from "Leoninus," which is the Latin diminutive of the name Leo; therefore, it is likely that Léonin's given French name was Léo.

All that is known about him comes from the writings of a later student at the Cathedral, known as Anonymous IV, an Englishman who left a Treatise on Theory and who mentions Léonin as the composer of The Magnus Liber, the "Great Book" of Organum.

Much of The Magnus Liber is devoted to Clausulae — Melismatic portions of Gregorian Chant, which were extracted into separate pieces, where the original note values of the Chant were greatly slowed down, and a fast-moving upper part is superimposed.

Léonin might have been the first Composer to use the Rhythmic Modes, and maybe he invented a notation for them. According to W.G. Waite, writing in 1954: "It was Léonin's incomparable achievement to introduce a rational system of Rhythm into Polyphonic Music for the first time, and, equally important, to create a method of notation expressive of this Rhythm."

The Magnus Liber was intended for Liturgical use. According to Anonymous IV, "Magister Leoninus (Léonin) was the finest composer of Organum; he wrote the great book (Magnus Liber) for the Gradual and Antiphoner for the Sacred Service." All of The Magnus Liber is for two voices, although little is known about actual performance practice. The two voices were not necessarily soloists.

According to Anonymous IV, Léonin's work was improved and expanded by the later composer Pérotin. See also Medieval music.

The Musicologist, Craig Wright, believes that Léonin may have been the same person as a contemporaneous Parisian Poet, Leonius, after whom Leonine verse may have been named. This could make Léonin's use of Meter even more significant.

Octave Day Of Saint Stephen. First Martyr. Today, 2 January.

Text from The Saint Andrew Daily Missal,
unless otherwise stated.

Octave of Saint Stephen.
   First Martyr.
   2 January.

Simple.

Red Vestments.

The Martyrdom of Saint Stephan.

Illustration: UNA VOCE OF ORANGE COUNTY

Artist: René de Cramer.

“Copyright Brunelmar/Ghent/Belgium”.

Used with Permission.

Mass: Sedérunt príncipes (as on The Day of The Feast, with the exception of the following):
Collect: Omnípotens sempíterne Deus.
Creed: Is not said.
Preface: For Christmas.

Stoning of Saint Stephen. 

Altarpiece of the Church of San Giorgio Maggiore, Venice, Italy.

This File: 12 April 2013.

User: Smeat75

Author: Jacopo & Domenico Tintoretto.

(Wikimedia Commons)

Feast Of The Holy Name Of Jesus. 2 January.

Text from The Saint Andrew Daily Missal,
unless otherwise stated.

Feast of The Holy Name of Jesus.
   Sunday occurring between 1 January and 6 January,
   otherwise on 2 January.
   [Editor: In 2018, The Feast Day is 2 January.]

Double of The Second-Class.

White Vestments.

In The Name of Jesus, let every knee bow, 

of those that are in Heaven (Angels),

on Earth (men), and under the Earth (devils).

Illustration: UNA VOCE OF ORANGE COUNTY

Artist: René de Cramer.

“Copyright Brunelmar/Ghent/Belgium”.

Used with Permission.

The Church, having made known to us The Incarnation of The Divine Son, now unfolds to us the Glories of His Name.

Among the Jews, a child received his name at the Rite of Circumcision. For this Feast, The Church uses the same Gospel as that of The Circumcision, emphasising the latter part which records that "His Name was called Jesus" (Gospel) as God "did bid that His Name be called Jesus" (Collect). The name means "Saviour" and we read: "There is no other name under Heaven given to men, whereby we must be saved" (Epistle).

The origin of this Feast goes back to the 16th-Century, when it was already observed by The Franciscan Order. In 1721, during the Pontificate of Pope Innocent XIII, its observance was extended to the whole Church.

If we wish to "see our names written in Heaven under The Glorious Name of Jesus" (Postcommunion), that name must be often on our lips, here below.

An Indulgence of Twenty Days may be gained by all who bow the head with reverence when speaking or hearing The Names of Jesus and Mary, while Pope Saint Pius X granted 300 Days to those who piously Invoke Them with the lips, or at least in the heart.

If The Feast occurs on a Sunday, every Parish Priest Celebrates Mass for the people of his Parish.

Mass: In nómine Jesu.
Preface: For Christmas.

"Nowell". "Wyle New Year Watz So Yep That Hit Watz Newe Cummen . . ."

This Article is taken from, and can be read in full at, A CLERK OF OXFORD

"The Adoration of the Shepherds".

Artist: Gerard van Honthorst (1590–1656).

Date: 25 December 1622.

Current location: Wallraf-Richartz-Museum, Cologne, Germany.

Source/Photographer: The Yorck Project: 10.000 Meisterwerke der Malerei.

DVD-ROM, 2002. ISBN 3936122202.

Distributed by DIRECTMEDIA Publishing GmbH.

Permission: http://mail.wikipedia.org/pipermail/wikide-l/2005-April/012195.html.

(Wikimedia Commons)

Nowell !!!

This is the salutation of The Angel Gabriel to The Blessed Virgin Mary.

Available on YouTube at

YOU TUBE

For this New Year, three Mediaeval Texts which play on three words appropriate for the Season: Nowell; New; Yule.

"Christe Redemptor Omnium" in an Anglo-Saxon Hymnal.

(BL Cotton Vespasian D XII, f. 33).

First, William Herebert's 14th-Century version of the Christmas Hymn, "Christe Redemptor Omnium" (for the Latin Text, see this page).

Cryst, buggere of alle ycoren, the Fadres olpy Sone,

On toforen ey gynnyng boren over alle speche and wone.

Thou lyht, thou Fadres bryhtnesse, thou trust and hope of alle,

Lust what thy folk thorouout the world to thee byddeth and kalle.

Wrouhte of oure hele, nou have in thyne munde

That of o mayde wemles thou toke oure kunde.

Thys day berth wytnesse, that neweth uche yer,

That on alyhtest from the Fader, of sunne make ous sker.

Hym hevene and erthe and wylde se and al that ys theron,

Wrouhte, of thy comynge, hereth wyth blisfol ron.

And we, nomliche, that beth bouht wyth thyn holy blod

For thys day singeth a neowe song and maketh blisfol mod.

Weole, Louerd, beo wyth thee, yboren of o may,

Wyth Fader and the Holy Gost withouten endeday.

Amen.

"Christe Redemptor Omnium", with Old English gloss.

(BL Cotton Vespasian D XII, f. 34).

Christ, buyer of all chosen, The Father's only Son,

One before the beginning born, above all speech and wone.

Thou light, Thou Father's brightness, Thou trust and hope of all,

Hear what Thy folk throughout the World to Thee Pray and call.

Author of our salvation, have now in Thy mind

That of a maid sinless Thou took our kind. [nature]

This day bears witness, which renews every year,

That one alights from The Father, from sin to make us sker. [clean, pure, bright]

Him Heaven and Earth and wild sea and all that is therein,

Author of Thy coming, praise with joyful song.

And we, especially, who are bought with Thy Holy Blood

For this day sing a new song and make joyful mod. ["celebrate with glad hearts"]

Glory, Lord, be with Thee, born of a may,

With Father and The Holy Ghost, without an ending day.

Amen.

A Very Happy And Prosperous New Year To Readers Of This Blog. "Big Ben" Strikes Again.

The Elizabeth Tower, 

at the North End of The Palace of Westminster, London.

"Big Ben" is the nickname of The Great Bell of the Clock, 

located in The Elizabeth Tower,

which rings out the chimes.

Photo: 11 August 2014.

Source: Own work.

Author: Diego Delso.

(Wikimedia Commons)

"Big Ben" Strikes Twelve.

Happy New Year.

Available on YouTube at

YOU TUBE

The main Bell, officially known as The Great Bell, is the largest Bell in the Tower and part of The Great Clock of Westminster. The Bell is better known by the nickname "Big Ben".

The original Bell was a 16 ton (16.3-tonne) Hour Bell, cast on 6 August 1856, in Stockton-on-Tees, by John Warner and Sons. The Bell was named in honour of Sir Benjamin Hall, and his name is inscribed on it. However, another theory, for the origin of the name, is that the Bell may have been named after a contemporary heavyweight boxer, Benjamin Caunt. It is thought that the Bell was originally to be called Victoria, or Royal Victoria, in honour of Queen Victoria, but that an MP suggested the nickname during a Parliamentary Debate; the comment is not recorded in Hansard.

Since the Tower was not yet finished, the Bell was mounted in New Palace Yard. Cast in 1856, the first Bell was transported to the Tower on a trolley, drawn by sixteen horses, with crowds cheering its progress. Unfortunately, it cracked beyond repair while being tested and a replacement had to be made.

Engraving of the second 'Big Ben', 

from The Illustrated News of The World of 

4 December 1858.

Date: 14 November 2009 (original upload date).

Source: Transferred from en.wikipedia;

Transferred to Commons by User:Igitur using CommonsHelper.

Author: Original uploader was Jack1956 at en.wikipedia.

(Wikimedia Commons)

The Bell was re-cast on 10 April 1858, at The Whitechapel Bell Foundry, as a 13½ ton (13.76-tonne) Bell. This was pulled 200 ft (61.0 m) up to The Clock Tower’s Belfry, a feat that took eighteen hours. The Bell is 7 feet 6 inches (2.29 m) tall and 9 feet (2.74 m) diameter. This new Bell first chimed in July 1859. In September 1859, it, too, cracked when hit by the Hammer, a mere two months after it officially went into service.

According to the Foundry's manager, George Mears, Denison had used a hammer more than twice the maximum weight specified. For three years, Big Ben was taken out of commission, and "The Hours" were struck on the lowest of The Quarter Bells, until it was re-installed. To make the repair, a square piece of metal was chipped out from the rim, around the crack, and the Bell given an eighth of a turn, so the new Hammer struck in a different place.

Big Ben has chimed with a slightly different tone ever since and is still in use today, complete with the crack. At the time of its casting, Big Ben was the largest Bell in The British Isles until "Great Paul", a 16¾ ton (17 tonne) Bell, currently hung in Saint Paul's Cathedral, was cast in 1881.

Whenever Big Ben is out of service, for repair or maintenance, its replacement is "Great Tom", which is hung in the nearby Saint Paul's Cathedral.

The Circumcision Of Our Lord And Octave Of The Nativity. Feast Day 1 January.

Text from The Saint Andrew Daily Missal,
unless otherwise stated.

The Circumcision of Our Lord and 

   Octave of The Nativity.
   Feast Day 1 January.

Station at Saint Mary's-beyond-the-Tiber.

Indulgence of 30 years and 30 Quarantines.

Double of The Second-Class.

Privileged Octave Day.

White Vestments.

The Circumcision of Our Lord.

Illustration: UNA VOCE OF ORANGE COUNTY

Artist: Rene de Cramer.

“Copyright Brunelmar/Ghent/Belgium”.

Used with Permission.

In The Liturgy of today, three Feasts are really included.

The first Feast, that which was known in the ancient Sacramentaries as "On The Octave-Day of Our Lord". So, The Mass is largely borrowed from those of Christmas.

By the second Feast, we are reminded that it is to Mary, after Almighty God, that we owe Our Lord, Himself. For this reason, formerly a second Mass was Celebrated in the Basilica of Saint Mary Major, in honour of The Mother of God. Some traces of this Mass remain in the Collect, Secret and Postcommunion, which are the same as in The Votive Mass of The Blessed Virgin Mary. The Psalms at Vespers are also the same as on The Feasts of Our Lady.

The third Feast is The Circumcision, which has been kept since the 6th-Century A.D. Moses commanded that all the young Israelites should undergo this rite on the eighth day after birth (Gospel). It is a type of Baptism, by which a man is spiritually circumcised.

"See," says Saint Ambrose, "how the whole sequence of The Old Law foreshadowed that which was to come; for circumcision signifies the blotting out of sins. He who is spiritually circumcised, by the rooting up of his vices, is judged worthy of The Lord's favour.

"While speaking of the first drops of His Sacred Blood that Our Redeemer shed for the cleansing of our Souls, The Church emphasises the thought of the cutting out of all that is evil in us". "Jesus Christ . . . gave Himself for us that He might redeem us from all iniquity and cleanse us" (Epistle). "O Lord
. . . cleanse us by these Heavenly Mysteries" (Secret). "May this Communion, O Lord, purify us from sin" (Postcommunion).

Every Parish Priest celebrates Mass for the people of his Parish.

Mass: Puer natus est nobis.
Preface: For Christmas.
Communicantes: For Christmas.

And The Winner In This Year's Pulpit-Of-The-Year Award Is . . .

The Pulpit, Saint Stephen's Cathedral, Passau, Germany

Illustration: PINTEREST

Saint Sylvester. Pope And Confessor. Feast Day, Today, 31 December.

Text from The Saint Andrew Daily Missal,
unless otherwise stated.

Saint Sylvester I.
   Pope and Confessor.
   Feast Day 31 December.

Double.

White Vestments.

English: Pope Saint Sylvester I and Emperor Constantine.

San Silvestro Chapel at Santi Quattro Coronati, Rome, Italy.

עברית: דוד שי מאשדוד הוא היה הסילבסטר הוא היה מרביץ ליהודים ושובר להם את הרגליים

Date: 1247.

Author: Unknown Mediaeval artist in Rome, Italy.

(Wikimedia Commons)

If 31 December falls on a Sunday, The Mass of The Sunday within The Octave of The Nativity of Our Lord is said, with a Commemoration of Saint Sylvester.

The Church reproduces in her Liturgy all phases of The Life of her Divine Founder.

When only just born, The Infant God is persecuted by Herod: The Church, still in her cradle, sends to Heaven her First Martyr in the person of the Deacon, Stephen, and her First Twenty-Five Popes die Martyrs.

English: The Oratory of Saint Sylvester, 

at the Basilica Santi Quattro Coronati, Rome, Italy.

Italiano: Roma, Santi Quattro Coronati: oratorio di S. Silvestro.

Photo: 21 May 2008.

Source: Own work.

Author: Lalupa.

(Wikimedia Commons)

Returned from Egypt, Jesus grows in age and wisdom at Nazareth, where the years pass in quietness: Under the Pontificate of Sylvester I (314 A.D. - 345 A.D.), The Church, after three hundred years of Persecution, begins to enjoy liberty, which is her greatest boon.

She spreads in The Roman Empire, and The Council of Nicea (325 A.D.) establishes triumphantly, against Arius, The Doctrine of The Divinity of The Saviour, of which The Liturgy of The Season of Christmas is full.

At The First Council of Nicea, The Breviary tells us, The Catholic Faith on the subject of The Divinity of Christ was explained by three hundred and eighteen Bishops; Arius and his sect being condemned. At the request of The Fathers, Sylvester confirmed again this Council in a Synod held at Rome, and in which Arius was condemned again.

English: Christ-in-Glory fresco 

in the Oratory of Saint Sylvester,

at the Basilica Santi Quattro Coronati, Rome, Italy.

Italiano: Roma, Santi Quattro Coronati: oratorio di S. Silvestro - 

storie di Costantino e Silvestro (XIII sec.).

Photo: 21 May 2008.

Source: Own work.

Author: Lalupa.

(Wikimedia Commons)

According to the legend of The Breviary, Sylvester decreed also that the Bishop alone should consecrate the Chrism; that, in the administration of Baptism, the Priest should anoint with The Holy Oils the crown of the head of the person being Baptised; that Deacons should wear the Dalmatic and have a Maniple of linen on the left arm; and, finally, that The Sacrifice of The Mass should be offered up upon an Altar Cloth of linen.

He fixed also a certain period for those who should receive Holy Orders, during which they must exercise successively their Order in The Church, before being raised to a higher degree.

Sylvester ruled The Church twenty-one and a half years. He was buried in the Cemetery of Priscilla on The Salarian Way.

Every Parish Priest celebrates Mass for the people of his Parish.

Mass: Sacerdótes tui, Dómine.
Second Collect: Of The Octave of The Nativity of Our Lord.
Epistle: Testificor.
Gospel: Sint lumbi.
Creed.
Preface: For Christmas.
Communicantes: For Christmas.

English: Emperor Constantine, suffering from leprosy, 

dreams of Saints Peter and Paul. 

Fresco in The Oratory of Saint Sylvester, 

at the Basilica Santi Quattro Coronati, Rome, Italy.

Italiano: Roma, Santi Quattro Coronati, oratorio di S. Silvestro:

Costantino, colpito da lebbra, sogna i santi Pietro e Paolo.

Photo: 21 May 2008.

Source: Own work.

Author: Lalupa.

(Wikimedia Commons)

The following Text is from Wikipedia - the free encyclopaedia.

Pope Sylvester I (died 31 December 335 A.D.), whose name is also spelled "Silvester", was the Head of The Catholic Church from 31 January 314 A.D., to his death in 335 A.D. He succeeded Pope Miltiades. He filled The See of Rome at an important era in the history of The Catholic Church, yet very little is known of him.

The accounts of his Papacy, preserved in The Liber Pontificalis (7th- or 8th-Century A.D.), contain little more than a record of the gifts said to have been conferred on The Church by Emperor Constantine I, but it does say that he was the son of a Roman, named Rufinus.During his Pontificate were built the great Churches founded at Rome by Constantine, e.g. the Basilica of Saint John Lateran, Santa Croce in Gerusalemme, Saint Peter's Basilica, and several Cemeterial Churches over the graves of Martyrs.

Pope Sylvester did not attend The First Council of Nicaea, in 325 A.D., but he was represented by two Legates, Vitus and Vincentius, and he approved The Council's decision.

Sunday Within The Octave Of The Nativity Of Our Lord.

Text from The Saint Andrew Daily Missal,
unless stated otherwise.

Sunday Within The Octave
   Of The Nativity Of Our Lord.

Semi-Double.

White Vestments.

Altar Frontal (Antependium) designed by Charles Eamer Kempe.

Illustration: MEDIEVAL CHURCH ART

This Mass is said on the Sunday, if this falls on 29 December, 30 December, or, 31 December. In this case, every Parish Priest Celebrates Mass for the people of his Parish.

It is said on 30 December (a Week-Day), if the Sunday falls on 25 December, 26 December, 27 December, or, 28 December.

The Mass tells us that "The Word that came down from Heaven during the night" (Introit) of Christmas is "The Son of God, Who has Come that we might participate of His heritage and receive the adoption of sons" (Epistle).

Before His Coming, man was as "a child, who, during his minority, differeth nothing from a servant" (Epistle). On the contrary, now that The New Law has emancipated him from the tutorship of The Old Law, "he is no longer a servant, but a son" (Epistle).

In revealing to us this supernatural filiation of Christ, which affects our Souls more especially at this Season of Christmas, The Liturgy makes The Divinity under the aspect of Paternity resplendent in our eyes. Also, the the worship of The Sons of God is summed up in that word spoken with Jesus, "Father !" (Epistle).

The Gospel also discloses to us the glorious mission which the future has in store for this Child, the manifestation of which begins today in the Temple.

"It is the King" (Gradual), "Whose reign" (Alleluia) "will reach the very depths of the heart" (Gospel). For all, it will be a touchstone, a stumbling block, for those who will persecute Him (Communion), a cornerstone "for many in Israel" (Gospel).

Mass: Dum médium.

Second Collect: Of The Octave of The Nativity.

Preface: For Christmas.

Communicantes for Christmas: During The Octave.

An Inspiration To All Sacristans. Saint Thérèse Of Lisieux.

Saint Thérèse Of Lisieux, as Sacristan.

Illustration: PINTEREST

You Know How Some People Like To Illuminate Their House Around Christmas . . .

Seen in Ramsgate Harbour, Kent,

Published with permission of The Skipper.

"The Prayer".

"The Prayer".

Sung by: Celine Dion and Josh Groban.

Available on YouTube at

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"O Mio Babbino Caro". Maria Callas.

"O Mio Babbino Baro".

From Giachommo Puccini's

"Gianni Schicchi".

Sung by: Maria Callas.

Available on YouTube at

YOU TUBE

Saint Thomas Of Canterbury. Bishop And Martyr. Feast Day 29 December.

Text from The Saint Andrew Daily Missal,
unless otherwise stated.

Saint Thomas of Canterbury.
   Bishop and Martyr.
   Feast Day 29 December.

Double.

Red Vestments.

Canterbury Cathedral, 

where Saint Thomas was murdered on 29 December 1170.

Photo: 2006.

Source: http://www.wyrdlight.com

Attribution must say: WyrdLight.com

Author: Antony McCallum: Who is the uploader, photographer,

full copyright owner and proprietor of WyrdLight.com

(Wikimedia Commons)

This miniature, from an English Psalter, presents an account of the murder of Saint Thomas of Canterbury. Three of the four Knights attack the Archbishop, who is kneeling in Prayer

before the Altar. One of the Knights kicks Saint Thomas to the floor, and sends his Mitre flying.

Artist: Anonymous.

Date: Circa 1250.

Current location: Walters Art Museum,

Baltimore, Maryland, 

United States of America.

Credit line: Acquired by Henry Walters.

Source/Photographer: Walters Art Museum.

(Wikimedia Commons)

If 29 December falls on a Sunday, The Mass of The Sunday within The Octave of The Nativity is said, with a Commemoration of Saint Thomas.

The Season of Christmas, by manifesting to us The Divine Filiation of The Child in The Crib, as the Epistle of The Day reminds us, shows that He is a Priest. His Priesthood consists in making The Life of God penetrate our Souls and in defending, even at the cost of His Life, The Divine Rights of this Beloved Spouse.

The Feast of Saint Thomas Becket shows us that, in participating in The Dignity of The Christ Priest, as Archbishop of Canterbury, he knew how to prove himself, like Christ, The Shepherd, who defends His flock against the ravages of the wolf (Gospel).

A Seal of The Abbot of Arbroath, Scotland, showing the murder of Saint Thomas Becket.

Arbroath Abbey was Founded eight years after the death of Saint Thomas and Dedicated to him. Arbroath Abbey became the wealthiest Abbey in Scotland.

Date: Mediaeval Seal. Photo from the 1850s.

Source: Cosmo Innes and Patrick Chalmers (eds.), Liber S. Thome De Aberbrothoc; Registrorum Abbacie De Aberbrothoc, Volume 2, Edinburgi (Bannatyne Club) 1848-1856, front.

(Wikimedia Commons)

Henry II, King of England, wished him (Thomas) to sanction customs contrary to the liberties of The Church. Saint Thomas knew that to make this Divine Society subservient to the secular power would be to violate her very constitution, and so he declared that "as a Priest of Jesus Christ, he would willingly suffer death in defence of The Church of God".

He was slain in his Cathedral by the King's soldiers on 29 December 1170.

Against those who seek to enslave The Church, let us neither employ the craft of politics nor the weapons of warfare, but, after the example "of the glorious Thomas, who fell by the swords of the wicked in the defence of The Church" (Collect), let us know how to withstand them resolutely with all the moral strength that the defence of The Rights of God inspires.

Mass: Gaudeámus omnes in Dómino.
Second Collect: Of The Octave of The Nativity.
Preface: For Christmas.
Communicantes: For Christmas.

The Sarum Rite (The Use Of Salisbury). At Candlemas (Purification Of The Blessed Virgin Mary). Feast Day 2 February.

The Sarum Use.

Illustration: ORTHODOX WESTERN RITE

The Sarum Use at Candlemas.

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This Article is dated February 2008 and is taken from ASPICIENTES IN JESUM

Sarum Candlemas

For a while I worked as a Priest in Oxford, and there became involved in a couple of Celebrations of The Use of Sarum. Both were videoed, in an amateurish way, and I thought it worth Posting at least some of this to YouTube, where you can still see those posts of The Coronation of Pope John XXIII that I posted last year. 

A clip from The Offertory of the second Sarum Mass (Candlemas 1997) was Posted to YouTube a while ago, and much appreciated; now it seems time to put up some more.

The Sarum Use is the Mediæval English Rite of most Mediæval English Dioceses, and by the close of Catholic England at the death of Queen Mary was The Use for the whole Country (King Henry VIII had made it compulsory for everyone, and I don't suppose that The Hereford Use, or, The Bangor Use, etc, had much done to them to revive their own Uses, unless anyone out there knows different).

"Quam Pulchra Es".

The Sarum Use Chant.

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The Sarum Use is notable for great sumptuousness, being far more elaborate than, say, a Tridentine Mass. On greater occasions, such as Candlemas, it has four Vested Sacred Ministers (Priest, Deacon, Sub-Deacon, and Acolyte — Candle Bearers are known as Taperers).

In The Entrance Procession, you can see here a Beadle, with Gown and Rod, three Processional Crosses (the central one carried by the Acolyte), two Thuribles, Acolytes, Banners, Assisting Clergy, three Cantors in Copes (the "Rulers of The Choir"), MC (probably not authentic, but necessary in view of the fact that we hadn't done this regularly) Sacristan, carrying the to-be-blessed Paschal Candle, Sub-Deacon, Deacon, and Priest, behind each other despite the fact that The Celebrant wears a Cope (when wearing a Cope, he would, normally, be escorted to his Right by The Deacon holding the Cope). Vestments are white, throughout, (whereas the custom at Rome until 1962 was to do The Blessing and Procession in Violet).

First, the Church's Candles are Blessed with a lot of rapid Latin Prayers at The Epistle Side (The Sarum "South Horn"). These differ from The Roman Use, and include a Preface-style Prayer sung to The Sarum Simple Tone. The ordinary Chants of The Mass do differ a bit.

"Terribilis Est Locus Iste".

The Sarum Use Chant.

By The Victoria Consort.

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The Ritual is very clearly laid out in extant books, even with Fortuescue-type diagrams to show where everyone should stand. Therefore, I am confident that the Ceremony you will see in these clips is at least 85%-90% authentically "as it would have been".

Most of the things we couldn't get right were to do with the shape of some of the Vestments, for instance — those are firmly Roman Copes that The Rulers of The Choir are wearing, and occasions where The Rubrics aren't clear and we had to make an educated guess.

There are no genuflections in The Sarum Use — or at least none are mentioned in the books. It is possible that by 1558 they would have been introduced. But we stuck by the book.

The clip ends just as The Celebrant turns to Bless the People's Candles, which they hold in their hands — only the Clergy receive them directly from the Priest.

"A Solis Ortus Cardine".

12th-Century Chant from The Sarum Use.

Sung by Maddy Alabaster.

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The following Text is from Wikipedia - the free encyclopaedia,

The Sarum Rite, also known as The Use of Salisbury, was a variant ("Use") of The Roman Rite, widely used for The Ordering of Christian Public Worship, including The Mass and The Divine Office.

It was established by Saint Osmund, Bishop of Salisbury, and Richard Poore, in the 11th-Century, and was originally The Local Form used in the Cathedral and Diocese of Salisbury, England.

It later became prevalent throughout Southern England, and came to be used throughout most of England, Wales, Ireland, and (later) Scotland, until the reign of Queen Mary I and King Philip. Although abandoned after the 16th-Century and The Protestant Reformation, it was a notable influence on the pattern of Anglican Liturgy, represented in The Book of Common Prayer.

Occasional interest in, and attempts at, restoration of The Liturgy by Anglicans and Catholics have not, however, produced a general revival.

Highlights of The Sarum Use Mass

at Saint Thomas's Anglican Church, Toronto, Canada.

Candlemas, 2 February 2010.

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