The Blessed Virgin Mary. Queen Of Heaven. Queen Of The Angels.

   

English: Crowning of The Virgin Mary in Heaven

by The Holy Trinity.

Español: Coronación de la Virgen.

Deutsch: Die Krönung Marias.

Artist: Diego Velázquez (1599–1660).

Date: Circa 1645.

Current location: Prado Museum, Madrid, Spain.

Source/Photographer: https://www.museodelprado.es/en/the-collection/

online-gallery/on-line-gallery/obra/the-coronation-of-the-virgin/

(Wikimedia Commons)

   

Ember Wednesday. The Impression Of The Stigmata Of Saint Francis.

This Article is taken from the excellent Blog, THE SAINT LAWRENCE PRESS LTD

Iona Abbey,

Scotland.

Image: SHUTTERSTOCK

Today is Ember Wednesday in September or, sometimes, referred to as the Michaelmas Ember Wednesday. Traditionally, it was a Day of Fast and Abstinence. Today is also the Double Feast of The Impression of the Stigmata of Saint Francis. The Liturgical colour of the Feast is White.

At Mattins the lessons in the first nocturn are proper to the feast with the responsories from the Common of Confessors. In the third nocturn the eighth responsory is proper to the feast and the ninth lesson is of the Ember Wednesday. The Te Deum is sung. At Lauds after the collect of the feast a commemoration of the Ember Wednesday is sung.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of the Ember Wednesday, the Common Preface is sung and the last Gospel is of the Ember Wednesday.

Private Masses may be of the Ember Wednesday with violet vestments. The Mass texts are proper, the second collect is of the feast and the dismissal is Benedicamus Domino. In Cathedral and Collegiate churches there are two Masses. The first, of the feast, is after Terce. There is no commemoration of the Ember Day and the last Gospel is In principio. After None the Mass of the Ember Day is sung without commemoration of the feast. The deacon and sub-deacon wear violet folded chasubles rather than dalmatic and tunicle.

Vespers are of the following feast of St. Joseph of Cupertino with a commemoration of the preceding feast. The liturgy of the Ember Wednesday ends with None so there is no commemoration of it at Vespers.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' Ember Wednesday is postponed a week due to the novel way introduced of calculating the first Sunday of the month. Today is a IV class ferial day with the Mass of the preceding Sunday. At Lauds and Low Mass there is a commemoration of the Impression of the Stigmata of St. Francis.

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Durham Cathedral.

Illustrations from Wikipedia - the free encyclopaedia,

unless otherwise stated.

Durham Cathedral.

Photo: 30 January 2011.

Source: Own work.

Author: Domstu.

(Wikimedia Commons)

The Nave,

Durham Cathedral,

Durham, England.

Photo: 13 August 2010.

Source: Own work.

Author: Oliver-Bonjoch.

(Wikimedia Commons)

Durham Cathedral.

The Gaurdian Newspaper's

Readers' choice

for Britain's best building.

Available on YouTube at

http://youtu.be/34moa66Xo7U.

Saint Stephen's Cathedral, Passau, Germany.

Text and Illustrations from Wikipedia - the free encyclopaedia,
unless otherwise stated.

Deutsch: Die größte Orgel Europas mit 17.774 Pfeifen

im St. Stephansdom zu Passau, Deutschland.

English: The largest Church Pipe Organ in Europe,

with 17,774 Pipes, 

in Saint Stephen's Cathedral,

Passau, Germany.

Français: Le plus grand orgue d'Europe avec 17.774 tuyaux

dans la Cathédrale St. Stephan de Passau, Allemagne.

Polski: Największe organy w Europie z 17.774 piszczałkami,

znajdujące się w bazylice pw. św. Stefana w Passau w Niemczech.

Photo: 28 July 2007.

Source: Own work.

Author: Tobi 87.

(Wikimedia Commons)

Deutsch: Dom St. Stephan und Domplatz in Passau.

English: St. Stephan's Cathedral in Passau.

Français: Cathédrale Saint-Étienne à Passau.

Italiano: Cattedrale di Passavia a Passavia.

Photo: 29 March 2007.

Source: Own work.

Author: Aconcagua.

(Wikimedia Commons)

Saint Stephen's Cathedral (German: Dom St. Stephan) is a Baroque Church, from 1688, in Passau, Germany, dedicated to Saint Stephen. It is the Seat of the Catholic Bishop of Passau and the main Church of his Diocese.

The Nave,

Saint Stephen's Cathedral,

Passau, Germany.

Photo: 5 November 2007.

Source: Dom St. Stephan - Passau.

Author: Karsten Juhl.

(Wikimedia Commons)

Since 730 A.D., there have been many Churches built on the site of the current Cathedral. The current Church, a Baroque building, around 100 metres (328 ft) long, was built from 1668 to 1693, after a fire, in 1662, destroyed its predecessor, of which only the Late-Gothic Eastern Side remains. The Cathedral's overall Plan was made by Carlo Lurago, its Interior decoration by Giovanni Battista Carlone, and its frescos by Carpoforo Tencalla.

English: The Pulpit,

Saint Stephen's Cathedral, Passau, Germany.

Deutsch: Passau - Dom St. Stephan, Kanzel.

Photo: August 2005.

Source: Own work.

Author: de:User:Gunterius.

(Wikimedia Commons)

Over time, Passau Cathedral has acquired the largest Organ outside of the United States. The Organ currently has 17,774 Pipes and 233 Registers, all of which can be played with the Five-Manual General Console in the Gallery. Portions of the Organ have their own mechanical-action or electric-action Consoles, for a total of six Consoles. [Editor: The Passau Cathedral Organ was, for many years, the world's largest Church Organ, but it has now been superceded by the First Congregational Organ in Los Angeles, California, United States of America.

Deutsch: Passau, Altstadt mit Dom St. Stephan.

English: Passau. Old Town and Saint Stephan's Cathedral.

Photo: 9 September 2006.

Source: Own work.

Author: Aconcagua.

(Wikimedia Commons)

The Cathedral has eight large Bells, in the Bell Rooms, in the North and South Towers. The heaviest,"Pummerin", at 7550 kg, cast in 1952, and "Sturmerin", weighing 5300 kg, cast in 1733, hang in the South Tower. The other six Bells hang in the North Tower. They include: "Misericordia", weighing 6000 kg, the Angelus Bell, "Predigerin", "Elfuhrglocken", the Choir Bell, and "Dignitar". A ninth Bell, the "Zeichenglocke" hangs near the Sacristy Door.

Europe's largest Organ,

Saint Stephen's Cathedral,

Passau, Germany.

"Toccata and Fugue in D minor"

by J.S. Bach.

Available on YouTube at

http://youtu.be/YgLwrnSOMyA

The Seven Sorrows Of The Blessed Virgin Mary. Feast Day 15 September.

The Seven Sorrows of The Blessed Virgin Mary.
Feast Day 15 September.

Double of the Second-Class.

White Vestments.

Text and Illustrations from Wikipedia - the free encyclopaedia,
unless otherwise stated.

English: Our Lady of Sorrows. 1816.

Español: Nuestra Señora de los Dolores. 1816.

Fernando Estévez de Salas,

Parroquia de San Juan Bautista, Villa de La Orotava.

Photo: 2 April 2010.

Source: Own work.

Author: JosuHdez.

(Wikimedia Commons)

Our Lady of Sorrows (Latin: Beata Maria Virgo Perdolens), the Sorrowful Mother or Mother of Sorrows (Latin: Mater Dolorosa, at times just Dolorosa), and Our Lady of the Seven Sorrows or Our Lady of the Seven Dolours, are names by which The Blessed Virgin Mary is referred to in relation to Sorrows in her Life.

As Mater Dolorosa, it is also a key subject for Marian Art in the Catholic Church.

The Seven Sorrows of Mary are a popular Roman Catholic Devotion. There are Devotional Prayers which consist of Meditations on her Seven Sorrows. Examples include the Servite Rosary, or the Chaplet of the Seven Sorrows of Our Lady. Also, there is a corresponding Devotion to the Seven Joys of Mary. The term "Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary" refers to the combined Devotion of both the Immaculate Heart and the Seven Sorrows of Mary, as first used by the Franciscan Tertiary, Berthe Petit.

Image: SHUTTERSTOCK

The Seven Sorrows (or Dolours) are events in the Life of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which are a popular Devotion and are frequently depicted in art. It is a common Devotion for Catholics to say, daily, one Our Father and seven Hail Marys for each of the Seven Sorrows, which are:

The Prophecy of Simeon. (Luke 2:34-35) or the Circumcision of Christ;

The Flight into Egypt. (Matthew 2:13);

The Loss of the Child Jesus in the Temple. (Luke 2:43-45);

Mary Meets Jesus on the Way to Calvary.;

Jesus Dies on the Cross. (John 19:25);

Mary Receives the Body of Jesus in Her Arms. (Matthew 27:57-59);

The Body of Jesus Is Placed in the Tomb. (John 19:40-42).

These Seven Sorrows should not be confused with the five Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary.

Artist: Titian (1490–1576).

Title: Mater Dolorosa with open hands.

Date: 1555.

Current location: Prado Museum, Madrid, Spain.

Source/Photographer: http://www.museodelprado.es/

imagen/alta_resolucion/P00444.jpg.

(Wikimedia Commons)

The Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows was originated by a Provincial Synod of Cologne, in 1413, as a response to the iconoclast Hussites. It was designated for the Friday after the third Sunday after Easter. It had the title: Commemoratio angustiae et doloris Beatae Mariae Virginis. Before the 16th-Century, the Feast was Celebrated only in parts of Northern Europe.

Pergolesi's

Stabat Mater.

Available on YouTube 

at

http://youtu.be/vLKw6kSOqIw.

Earlier, in 1233, seven youths in Tuscany, Italy, founded the Servite Order (also known as the "Servite Friars", or the "Order of the Servants of Mary"). Five years later, they took up the "Sorrows of Mary, standing under the Cross", as the principal devotion of their Order.

Over the Centuries, several devotions, and even Orders, arose around Meditation on Mary's Sorrows. The Servites developed the two most common Devotions to Our Lady's Sorrows, namely the Rosary of the Seven Sorrows and the Black Scapular of the Seven Dolours of Mary. The Black Scapular is a symbol of the Confraternity of Our Lady of Sorrows, which is associated with the Servite Order. Most devotional Scapulars have requirements regarding ornamentation or design. The devotion of the Black Scapular requires only that it be made of black woollen cloth.

English: Our Lady, who softens evil hearts. Russian icon, 19th-Century.

Русский: Икона "Умягчение злых сердец".

Source: http://days.pravoslavie.ru.

Author: Unknown.

(Wikimedia Commons)

On 2 February, the same day as the Great Feast of the Meeting of the Lord, Orthodox Christians and Eastern Catholics commemorate a wonder-working icon of the Theotokos (Mother of God), known as "the Softening of Evil Hearts" or "Simeon's Prophecy."

It depicts the Virgin Mary at the moment that Simeon the Righteous says: "Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own Soul, also . . ." (Luke 2:35). She stands with her hands upraised in Prayer, and seven swords pierce her heart, indicative of the Seven Sorrows. This is one of the few Orthodox icons of the Theotokos which do not depict the Infant Jesus. The Refrain "Rejoice, much-sorrowing Mother of God, turn our sorrows into joy and soften the hearts of evil men !" is also used.

The first Altar to the Mater Dolorosa was set up in 1221 at the Monastery of Schönau. Especially in Mediterranean countries, parishioners traditionally carry statues of Our Lady of Sorrows in Processions on the days leading to Good Friday.

No Feast in her honour was included in Pope Saint Pius V's 1570 Tridentine Calendar. Vatican approval for the Celebration of a Feast, in honour of Our Lady of Sorrows, was first granted to the Servite Order in 1667.

English: Our Lady of Sorrows, El Viso del Alcor, Seville, Spain.

Español: Nuestra Señora de los Dolores. Capilla del Sagrario

de la Iglesia Parroquial de Santa María del Alcor.

El Viso del Alcor (Sevilla). Procesiona bajo palio

en la tarde noche del Viernes Santo

Photo: 8 December 2007.

Source: Own work.

Author: Ajjb.

(Wikimedia Commons)

By inserting the Feast into the Roman Catholic Calendar of Saints in 1814, Pope Pius VII extended the celebration to the whole of the Latin Church. It was assigned to the third Sunday in September. In 1913, Pope Pius X moved the Feast to 15 September, the day after the Feast of the Cross. It is still observed on that date.

Another Feast, originating in the 17th-Century, was extended to the whole of the Latin Church in 1727. It was originally celebrated on Friday in Passion Week, one week before Good Friday. In 1954, it still held the Rank of Major Double (slightly lower than the Rank of the 15 September Feast) in the General Roman Calendar.

In 1962, the Feast was reduced to a Commemoration.

By 1969, the Vatican had come to consider it a duplication of the 15 September Feast, and the Passion Week Feast was omitted in that year's revision of the Roman Catholic Calendar of Saints.

Each celebration was called a Feast of "The Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary."

The 15 September Feast, that now combines and continues both of them, is known as the Feast of "Our Lady of Sorrows" (Beatae Mariae Virginis Perdolentis). The Sequence, known as Stabat Mater, may be sung at Mass on that day.

Archetypal Gothic Lady of Sorrows from a triptych

by the Master of the Stauffenberg Altarpiece, Alsace, circa 1455.

Title: La descente de Croix, les larmes de Marie (detail).

Current location: Unterlinden Museum, France.

Source/Photographer: Own work, Alsace, Haut-Rhin, Colmar,

Musée d'UnterLinden : la descente de Croix,

les larmes de Marie., vincent desjardins, 2008-12-27.

(Wikimedia Commons)

Our Lady of Sorrows, depicted as "Mater Dolorosa" (Mother of Sorrows), has been the subject of some key works of Roman Catholic Marian Art. Mater Dolorosa is one of the three common artistic representations of a sorrowful Virgin Mary, the other two being Stabat Mater ("The Mother Stood") and Pietà.

In this iconography, Our Lady of Seven Sorrows is at times simply represented in a sad and anguished mode by herself, her expression being that of tears and sadness. In other representations, the Virgin Mary is depicted with seven swords in her heart, a reference to the prophecy of Simeon, at the Presentation.

Our Lady of Sorrows is the Patron Saint of:

Slovakia;

the Congregation of Holy Cross;

the village of Mola di Bari and the Molise region of Italy;

the State of Mississippi, USA;

Dolores, in the Philippines;

Lanzarote, Canary Islands.

Mater Dolorosa (Berlin-Lankwitz).

The Seven Sorrows Of The Blessed Virgin Mary. Feast Day 15 September.

The Seven Sorrows of The Virgin.

Artist: Albrecht Dürer (1471–1528).

Date: Circa 1496.

Current location: Alte Pinakothek, Munich, Germany.

Source/Photographer: Web Gallery of Art.

(Wikimedia Commons)

The Exaltation Of The Holy Cross. Feast Day, Today, 14 September.

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

The Exaltation of The Holy Cross.
Feast Day 14 September.

Greater-Double.

Red Vestments.

The Exaltation of The Holy Cross.

Illustration: UNA VOCE OF ORANGE COUNTY

On 14 September 335 A.D., there took place the Dedication of Constantine's Basilica, which enclosed both Calvary and The Holy Sepulchre. "At this date," says Etheria, "The Cross was discovered. And the anniversary is celebrated with as much Solemnity as Easter or The Epiphany."

Such was the origin of The Feast of The Exaltation of The Cross. "When I shall be raised on high, I shall draw everything unto Me" (Gospel), Jesus had said.

It is because The Saviour humbled Himself, being obedient even to the Death of The Cross, that God exalted Him and gave Him a name above all other names (Epistle). Wherefore, we must glory in the Cross of Jesus, for He is our Life and our Salvation (Introit) and He protects His servants against the wiles of their enemies (Offertory, Communion, Postcommunion).

Towards the end of the reign of Phocas [Editor: Byzantine Emperor, 602 A.D. - 610 A.D.], Chosroes, King of Persia, says the legend of The Breviary, took Jerusalem, where he put to death several thousand Christians and carried off to Persia The Cross of Our Lord Jesus Christ, which Saint Helen had placed on Mount Calvary.

Heraclius, the successor of Phocas, had recourse to many Fasts and Prayers, imploring with great fervour the help of God. He assembled an army and defeated Chosroes. He then insisted on the restitution of The Cross of The Lord.

Thus, the precious Relic was recovered after an interval of fourteen years. On his return to Jerusalem, Heraclius carried it on his shoulders, in great pomp, to the Mount where the Saviour, Himself, had borne it (629 A.D.).

An extraordinary Miracle marked the occasion. Heraclius, who was loaded with ornaments of gold and precious stones, was held back by an invisible force at the entrance gate of Mount Calvary, and vain were his efforts to enter.

As the Emperor and all those who witnessed the scene were astonished, Zacharias, Bishop of Jerusalem, said to him: "Consider, O Emperor, that, with these triumphal ornaments, you are far from imitating the poverty of Jesus Christ and His humility in bearing His Cross."

Heraclius, thereupon, doffed his splendid garb and walked barefoot with a common cloak on his shoulders to Calvary, where he again deposited The Cross. The Feast of the Exaltation of The Holy Cross on the original spot, the anniversary of which was celebrated on this day, became of great importance.

Let us join, in spirit, the Faithful, who, in the Church of The Holy Cross, at Rome, Venerate on this day the Relics of The Sacred Wood, exposed for the occasion, so that, having been privileged to adore it on this Feast, when we rejoice for its Exaltation, we may, likewise, possess for all Eternity the Salvation and Glory that The Cross has won for us (Collect, Secret).

Mass: Nos autem gloriari oportet in Cruce Domini nostri Jesu Christi. (But it behoves us to glory in The Cross of Our Lord Jesus Christ).

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