#Traditional Catholic Latin Hymn

[mysticalblizzardcolor]

Asperges me - latin, choir

Sprinkling Holy Water Asperges me -latin, choir 

https://youtu.be/ztazRUtAM7M?si=p-8YoxERZsEJR6IZ via @YouTube 

  #GregorianChant #TraditionalCatholicLatinHymns #CatholicTwitter #Baptism #Vatican #MountAthos #Greece #ByzantineArt #NYC #Brooklyn #Queens #Bronx #StatenIsland #LongIsland #WashingtonDC #USA 

[jameslmartello]

Crux Fidelis (Faithful Cross) - Good Friday Hymn - Harmonized - Chant No...

[why-bless-your-heart]

@parlaypeach if you're interested in how the Mass is broken down:

The Entrance Antiphon is usually from the Psalms, although most parishes will replace this with a hymn as the priest enters the sanctuary. The priest will then greet and bless the congregation before leading them in the "Confiteor," a prayer that's a public confession (I confess to Almighty God and to you, my brothers and sisters, that I have greatly sinned. In my thoughts and in my words, in what I have done and in what I have failed to do, through my fault, my fault, my most grieveous fault. Therefore I ask blessed Mary ever-virgin, all the angels and saints, and you, my brothers and sisters, to pray for me to the Lord Our God, amen.) The priest says a short prayer and leads the congregation into the Kyrie Eleison, or "Lord Have Mercy." (Kyrie Eleison, Christe Eleison, Kyrie Eleison.) Then the Gloria is sung, and the priest says another short prayer before it's time for the readings.

Sunday Mass has three readings. The first reading is from the Old Testament, and is followed by the reading or singing of one of the Psalms. The second reading is from the New Testament, and is followed by the singing or recitation of the Alleluia. The Gospel is read by either the priest or a deacon, and afterwards a short sermon is given about the readings of the day. (In the traditional Latin rite, this is also when the readings are given in the vernacular.) After the sermon is completed the priest leads the congregation in reciting the Nicene creed (or Apostle's creed, if pressed for time) and the next prayer will begin the liturgy of the Eucharist. Traditionally those who were not yet able to receive would leave the Church at this time, but that's not common practice these days.

There's usually an offertory hymn as the collection plate is passed. The communion bread and wine are carried up to the altar and given to the priest, with the other offerings from the congregation behind. Then the Eucharistic Prayers begin. The congregation sings the "Sanctus," just like the entrance into Jerusalem at the start of Jesus' passion. "Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Hosts, Heaven and Earth are full of Your Glory, Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is He Who comes in the name of the Lord, Hosanna in the highest." Then comes the consecration, using the words from the Last Supper. After the consecration, the congregation prays the "Our Father," offer each other a sign of peace, and sings the "Agnus Dei," "Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us." The priest holds up the Eucharist in the same way that Pontius Pilate presented Christ to the people and says the words of St. John the Baptist, "Behold the Lamb of God." Then reminds us, "Behold Him who takes away the sins of the World. Happy are they who are called to the supper of the Lamb." To which the congregation replies in the words of the faithful centurion, "Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed." Another hymn is usually sung as the congregation processes up to receive the Body & Blood, and then they return to their seats for prayer and thanksgiving. Sometimes people leave at this point, but it's generally frowned upon. My family calls it a "Judas Exit," since he's the only one who left the Last Supper early.

There's a concluding prayer, any parish announcements, a final blessing, and then a recessional hymn as the priest leaves the church. It's good practice to stay behind and pray a little bit on your own. It's common practice to greet the priest and deacon afterwards and thank them. And that's a Catholic Mass!

[spacefinch]

Finch Rambles: Kurt/Kitty headcanons

Context: I recently watched X-Men Evolution and my favorite characters ended up being Kitty Pryde (Shadowcat) and Kurt Wagner (Nightcrawler). I started shipping them, not even realizing I wasn't the only one who had that idea. Several tumblr posts and 14-year-old YouTube edits later, I can safely say I love this ship. So here's some headcanons!

Notes: If I reference music or films or video games that were technically released after the early 2000's, that is on purpose. My modern-day headcanons exist in a quantum decade that is the early 2000's, the 2010's, and a bit of the 2020's all in one.

They are friends AND lovers. None of that "more than friends" nonsense. You can be in a romantic relationship with someone and still be friends with them-- and that's exactly what Kurt and Kitty have.

I know in the finale of X-Men Evo, the writers TRIED to convince us that Kitty was going to go out with Lance Alvers, but I don't buy it. My headcanon is that they broke up soon after the whole Apocalypse incident. (Lance does have some heroic moments, but for the most part, he's a jerk. Kitty deserves better than him.)

In the comics, Kurt calls Kitty "Katzchen" which basically means "little cat" in German. So I think he would do this in the X-Men Evo verse as well.

The two of them have learned everything they can about each other's religions. (Canonically, Kitty is Jewish and Kurt is Catholic.)

Correct me if I'm wrong, but in Judaism, the Sabbath (or Shabbat or Shabbos) goes from Friday evening to Saturday evening every week, and during that time, you're not supposed to work. Kitty of course would observe this tradition. Kurt is her "shabbos goy," whatever that means (from what I've read, I assume it's a non-Jewish friend who can run errands or do work on the Sabbath).

Kurt likes listening to hymns. It always makes him feel relaxed. He also likes classical music. His favorite composers are J.S. Bach and that Richard (I think that's his first name) Wagner.

They share a lot of the same favorite movies and shows: Pirates of the Caribbean, Star Wars (one time they both dressed up as Jedi), Star Trek, The Prince of Egypt, Lord of the Rings, and quite a few anime shows.

Their favorite animes are Sailor Moon, Inuyasha, and most of the Studio Ghibli movies.

I feel like Kitty would listen to a wide range of music. Her X-Men Evo incarnation seems like the type to like pop music, but I think she'd also listen to artists like Laufey and Zee Avi. (Look up both of them, I love their music).

Kitty has plushies of every kind of cat Pokemon, and she always carries around a 3DS in her bag so she can play Pokemon XY. Her favorite Pokemon are Delcatty and Salamence.

Kurt grew up watching the Pokemon anime and playing the games (both in German). It took him some time to learn the English names of all the different Pokemon. His favorite Pokemon is Liepard.

They often coordinate Halloween costumes. Some instances include:

Captain Pryde and First Officer Wagner of the USS Tenebris. (For a Star Trek cosplay. The name of the starship (which means "dark") was suggested by Scott, who I HC is a major Trekkie and probably also takes Latin classes).

Two Jedi, complete with lightsabers. Kurt chose to wield two lightsabers.

Characters from "Pirates of the Caribbean."

More notes:

They both use their mutant abilities to scare the heck out of each other (and other people). Being able to teleport or phase through walls is very good for that sort of stuff.

One night, when she was having her midnight snack, Kitty heard a stray cat meowing outside and decided to bring it in. Kurt (a fellow midnight snacker) soon found out about the cat. Both kids got really attached to the cat within an hour of meeting it, but tried to keep it hidden because they were worried the professor and/or Logan wouldn't approve. Turns out they had nothing to worry about. Everyone loves the X-Cat (still need to think of a proper name).

They OFTEN spy on Scott and Jean's dates (some of which they're responsible for setting up). Sometimes they use their mutant powers of stealth, other times they'll just wear Team Rocket-esque disguises.

I don't have any specific headcanons on how Kurt and Kitty started dating, but a good number of the other X-Men were like "FINALLY."

They're part of the fencing club at Bayville High (which has a fencing club because I say so).

Both Kurt and Kitty will head-bump each other to show affection. Kurt came up with the idea after reading about cat behavior. His reasoning was "We both love cats, and we both behave a bit like cats as well."

They both have read Warrior cats, and have the most blatantly self-insert OCs for the series.

If it's April Fool's day and they are around, nobody is safe. Heck, it doesn't even have to be April Fool's day for them to prank their friends (or each other).

Kurt was the first one to fall in love (I HC that he had a crush on Kitty from the moment they met). It would be a while before Kitty realized her feelings, but when she did, her initial reaction was "THIS idiot? Really?"

I feel like they would for the most part remain on good terms with people they've dated in the past. The definite exception is Lance Alvers.

They're the equivalent of a bonded pair of cats. Do not separate them.

[bookofjudith]

my toxic trait is when i get stressed I listen to almost exclusively latin chants and traditional catholic hymns. cue the john mulaney i was raised catholic i don't know if you can tell that from the everything about me!

[hieromonkcharbel]

It is often an amazing thing how the providence of God manifest itself in our lives; despite our incessant attempt to construct and control the circumstances of our lives. Often our lives can feel like a long string of unconnected events, mistakes, or chaotic upheavals. Our willfulness and pride would make this not far from the truth. We are often the carpenter of our own crosses as St. Philip Neri said and the source of instability in our lives. Yet God in his desire to draw us to himself will use this instability. It reveals poignantly the destructiveness of our pride and leads us in our poverty to cling to God who alone is our salvation.

It is deeply humbling - for even in His corrections and willingness to allow us to endure many afflictions, God renews our souls and bestows upon us graces precisely at the times when we need them or are able to embrace them. Although we seem to act at cross purposes, over and over again God reveals that His wisdom is not that of man's.

Many years ago I read the book quoted below and experienced a stirring of desire for exactly what Abbot Boniface was seeking to establish in northern California. As a young man having just entered the Church and knowing nothing of the Eastern rite churches, I could not imagine ever having the opportunity of visiting the monastery let alone becoming one of the brotherhood. I make no pretense of understanding what will develop moving forward in the years to come. Rather, I count myself blessed more than I deserve and desiring only to serve the providence of God in the moment; which is exactly where I must, but have often failed, live. . . .

*********

Here lies one of the main functions of monasticism: to remind the Church, by its very existence in her bosom, of her primary, contemplative dimension and to add to it the most effective form of witness as her secondary goal. So, monasticism combines in one harmonious blending the fullness of what the Eastern traditional calls "contemplative" and "active" life -- i.e., the life of prayer, praise, and celebration, along with the practice of virtues and asceticism as a preparation and witness to this life of prayer and praise. And so, monasticism tries to practise fully the Imitatio Christi, for He is the Founder of our religion, the Cornerstone of the Church and, hence, the real Root to whom we have to return in all the work of resourcing that Vatican II asked from all the Churches. Christ spent almost his whole life in God-filled hiddenness and only three years in telling the world why He did so, and during all three of these years He continued this consecration to his Father by constantly withdrawing from the crowd in intense prayer . . . .

Most of the Eastern Churches have lived for centuries under relentless persecutions. What kept them going and faithful to Holy Tradition was their lofty ideal of deification as goal of all Christian life, and especially the thriving power of all Eastern spirituality:it has always been the task of monasticism to keep this power strong and pure. It is not only or primarily concerned with incarnation into Church-as-institution now, but it draws the Church forward to the Lord's return "free from earthly cares" (as we sing in the Cherubic Hymn of the Byzantine Liturgy), since it is the monk who has kept alive the icon of the virgin and the martyr. Only, as Solzhenitsyn warned the West in his famous address at Harvard University in 1982, there is now one deep difference with the past: “What we are facing in the West is a world without God... this is the great fact of culture," where God is even seen as an embarrassment and Christ and his Church are rationalized away into ridicule and the rebellion of her own leaders. If now, in this almost apocalyptic context, we have no "paradigm shift" of our latinized religious institutes back to their monastic wellspring and paradigm, one could doubt if our vulnerable Eastern Catholic Churches would survive in the choking secularism that will soon be upon them.

The "Book of Faith" - the new catechism of the Belgian Bishops - summarizes the whole approach that we have tried to convey here as the basis for the contribution monasticism to the renewal of the Eastern religious institutes: The monks live out in practice that God is greater than all the rest, that God alone is enough, now already."

Archimandrite Boniface Luykx

Eastern Monasticism and the Future of the Church

[sag-dab-sar]

Our Lady of Sorrows - 5th Sorrow: Mary Stands At The Cross

Holy Week, Christian Tradition

Eastern Christianity & Western Christianity Holy Week usually do not align as the former uses the Julian Calendar and the latter uses the Gregorian Calendar.

[Art: Via Crucis by Raul Berzosa Fernandez 1979]

The 5th sorrow is Mother Mary having to watch her son be torturously executed; and all she can do is watch unable to help her very own son. It is the defining moment of Mary "Our Lady of Sorrows" development.

"The seven founders of the Servite Order, in 1239 [AD], five years after they established themselves on Monte Senario, took up the sorrows of Mary, standing under the Cross, as the principal devotion of their order" — Catholic Encyclopedia Link

"Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, “Woman, here is your son,” and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home." — John 19:25-27 NIV

Parallel Verses about the bystanders who watched

"Many women were there, watching from a distance. They had followed Jesus from Galilee to care for his needs. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of Zebedee’s sons." — Matthew 27:55-56 NIV

"Some women were watching from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joseph, and Salome. In Galilee these women had followed him and cared for his needs. Many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem were also there." — Mark 15:40-41 NIV

"But all those who knew him, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things." — Luke 23:49 NIV

The Gospel of John is the only one that describes these women, including Mother Mary, as directly near the cross. Out of four Biblical accounts this seems to be the most 'popular' among Christian tradition.

The Gospels of Matthew and Mark mentions Mary Magdelene; Mary the mother of James & Joseph, and Salome the Apostle (mother of Zebedee's sons); as well as "many other women" but Mother Mary is not mentioned by name. The Gospel of Luke only mentions "many women". All three Gospels other than John mention as watching from a distance the various things (eclipse, earthquake) happen during Jesus' death.

Jesus tells John the Apostle to care for his mother, and tells his mother to consider John her own son. It is widely understood that the Gospel of John is very different in details compared to the "synoptic Gospels" of Matthew, Mark, and Luke.

The Seven Sorrows were compiled in medieval Europe so it makes sense that the most 'popular' account would be the one to make the list and the one that founded the concept of Mary Our Lady of Sorrows.

The Bystanders at The Cross in the Apocrypha

"But all those who were the acquaintance of Christ, stood at a distance, as did the women who had followed Jesus from Galilee, observing all these things." — Gospel of Nicodemus 8:11

Stabat Mater Hymn

This was a very popular aspect of The Passion of Christ which led to the "Stabat Mater" Hymn composed in the 13th century, the same century as the first devotions of Our Lady of Sorrows that focused on her standing at the cross. The Hymn may be preformed during Good Friday. Many composers have created their own arrangements for the hymn.

✝️ Full Hymn Version from St Michael's Abbey — Link

✝️ Choir Version (not sure source) — Link

✝️ Vivaldi's Stabat Mater (10 Stanzas) Solo Version by Andreas Scoll — Link

Because Tumblr formatting isn't the best I collapsed all the stanzas

Original Latin

(1) Stabat mater dolorósa juxta Crucem lacrimósa, dum pendébat Fílius. (2) Cuius ánimam geméntem, contristántem et doléntem pertransívit gládius. (3) O quam tristis et afflícta fuit illa benedícta, mater Unigéniti! (4) Quae mœrébat et dolébat, pia Mater, dum vidébat nati pœnas ínclyti. (5) Quis est homo qui non fleret, matrem Christi si vidéret in tanto supplício? (6) Quis non posset contristári Christi Matrem contemplári doléntem cum Fílio? (7) Pro peccátis suæ gentis vidit Jésum in torméntis, et flagéllis súbditum. (8) Vidit suum dulcem Natum moriéndo desolátum, dum emísit spíritum. (9) Eja, Mater, fons amóris me sentíre vim dolóris fac, ut tecum lúgeam. (10) Fac, ut árdeat cor meum in amándo Christum Deum ut sibi compláceam. (11) Sancta Mater, istud agas, crucifíxi fige plagas cordi meo válide. (12) Tui Nati vulneráti, tam dignáti pro me pati, pœnas mecum dívide. (13) Fac me tecum pie flere, crucifíxo condolére, donec ego víxero. (14) Juxta Crucem tecum stare, et me tibi sociáre in planctu desídero. (15) Virgo vírginum præclára, mihi iam non sis amára, fac me tecum plángere. (16) Fac ut portem Christi mortem, passiónis fac consórtem, et plagas recólere. (17) Fac me plagis vulnerári, fac me Cruce inebriári, et cruóre Fílii. (18) Flammis ne urar succénsus, per te, Virgo, sim defénsus in die iudícii. (19) Christe, cum sit hinc exire, da per Matrem me veníre ad palmam victóriæ. (20) Quando corpus moriétur, fac, ut ánimæ donétur paradísi glória.

Formal Equivalence—"the principle approaches to translation, prioritizing respectively the meaning or the literal structure of the source text"—English version offered by Wikipedia:

(1) The sorrowful mother was standing beside the Cross weeping, while the Son was hanging. (2) Whose moaning soul, depressed and grieving, the sword has passed through. (3) O how sad and stricken was that blessed [woman], mother of the Only-begotten [one]! (4) Who was mourning and suffering, the pious Mother, while she was watching the punishments of the glorious son. (5) Who is the person who would not weep, if he had seen the mother of Christ in such great suffering? (6) Who would not be able to be saddened to behold the Mother of Christ grieving with the Son? (7) For the sins of his people she saw Jesus in torments, and subjected to lashes. (8) She saw her sweet Son dying forsaken, while he sent forth [his] spirit. (9) Come now, O Mother, fountain of love Make me feel the power of sorrow that I might mourn with you. (10) Grant that my heart may burn in loving Christ the God that I might please him. (11) O Holy Mother, may you do that, fix the wounds of the cross mightily in my heart. (12) Of your wounded son [who] so deigned to suffer for me, Share [his] penalties with me. (13) Make me cry dutifully with you, to suffer (with him) on the cross, as long as I shall have lived. (14) To stand by the Cross with you, to unite me to you in weeping [this] I desire. (15) O noble Virgin of virgins, Be not bitter with me now, Make me mourn with you. (16) Grant that I might bear the death of Christ, Make [me] kindred in the passion, and contemplate the wounds. (17) Make me injured by the wounds, make me drunken by the Cross, and by the blood of the Son. (18) Lest I be consumed burned by flames, through you, O Virgin, may I be defended on the day of judgement. (19) O Christ, when it is time to depart hence, grant me to come through the Mother, to the palm of victory. (20) When the body will decay, grant that it may be bestowed on [my] soul the glory of paradise.

English translation by Edward Caswall preserves the trochaic tetrameter rhyme scheme and sense of the original text but is not a literal translation:

(1) At the Cross her station keeping, Stood the mournful Mother weeping, Close to Jesus to the last: (2) Through her heart, his sorrow sharing, All his bitter anguish bearing, now at length the sword has pass'd. (3) Oh, how sad and sore distress'd Was that Mother highly blest Of the sole-begotten One! (4) Christ above in torment hangs; She beneath beholds the pangs Of her dying glorious Son. (5) Is there one who would not weep, Whelm'd in miseries so deep, Christ's dear Mother to behold? (6) Can the human heart refrain From partaking in her pain, In that Mother's pain untold? (7) Bruis'd, derided, curs'd, defil'd, She beheld her tender Child All with bloody scourges rent; (8) For the sins of his own nation, Saw Him hang in desolation, Till His Spirit forth He sent. (9) O thou Mother! fount of love! Touch my spirit from above, Make my heart with thine accord: (10) Make me feel as thou hast felt; Make my soul to glow and melt With the love of Christ my Lord. (11) Holy Mother! pierce me through; In my heart each wound renew Of my Saviour crucified: (12) Let me share with thee His pain, Who for all my sins was slain, Who for me in torments died. (13) Let me mingle tears with thee, Mourning Him who mourn'd for me, All the days that I may live: (14) By the Cross with thee to stay; There with thee to weep and pray; Is all I ask of thee to give. (15) Virgin of all virgins blest!, Listen to my fond request: Let me share thy grief divine; (16) Let me, to my latest breath, In my body bear the death Of that dying Son of thine. (17) Wounded with his every wound, Steep my soul till it hath swoon'd, In His very blood away; (18) Be to me, O Virgin, nigh, Lest in flames I burn and die, In his awful Judgment day. (19) Christ, when Thou shalt call me hence, Be Thy Mother my defence, Be Thy Cross my victory; (20) While my body here decays, May my soul thy goodness praise, Safe in Paradise with Thee.

[Art: Pietro Perugino's depiction of Mary at the Cross, 1482]

"I grieve for thee O Mary, most sorrowful, in the martyrdom which thy generous heart endured in standing near Jesus in His agony. Dear Mother, by thy afflicted heart, obtain for me the virtue of temperance and the gift of counsel." — Prayer of Fifth Sorrow, Short Version

🗡️Notes

• The Seven Sorrows — Link

• I prefer the shorter version of the 7 Sorrows Prayers that I found here — Link

• My Non-Christian Worship of Mary — Link

• Divider by @/firefly-graphics — Link

[flatbstanley]

Your Guide to Catholic Weddings

Y’all, I love a good wedding. In recognition of this fact, I thought we’d take a break from the heavier stuff and peek into the future. You may recognize some brides and bridesmaids, but no spoilers—you won’t see who they’re marrying.

Also, I’m writing from a US perspective. There are Catholics around the globe, so in reality there’s much, much more variation than you’ll see here. But this post reflects my experience as someone who’s experienced Catholic culture in multiple parts of the US.

All right—let’s take a walk down the aisle!

The Traditionalist Catholic Wedding

Format: A simple marriage ceremony followed by a full Latin Mass. One popular tradition at the end of the Mass is for the bride to place her bouquet in front of a statue of the Virgin Mary and spend a few moments in prayer.

Attire: For the bride and bridal party, shoulders and upper arms MUST be covered. Wraps or cardigans may be used to accomplish this if a suitable dress can’t be purchased off the rack (particularly for bridesmaids). Head coverings are required for women, and accordingly, elaborate bridal veils are common.

Music: The Mass itself is usually chanted. For the processional, popular choices include Charpentier’s “Te Deum”, Parry’s “I Was Glad,” and various hymns to Mary. There’s also “O God Beyond All Praising,” one of the very few post-1960 hymns deemed acceptable to traditionalist Catholics.

Fun fact: The Catholic Church actively discourages the bride being walked down the aisle by her father, saying that it’s a relic of a time when women were treated as property. In the US it’s permitted as a matter of “local custom,” but many traditional Catholic brides opt to walk with both parents or with their soon-to-be spouse.

The Standard Issue Catholic Wedding

Format: A brief wedding ceremony inserted into a typical Catholic Mass.

Attire: A little more modest than a non-Catholic wedding, but you can get away with bare shoulders, depending on the priest. Veils are treated as a fashion choice rather than a required covering.

Music: Recorded music and secular songs (except for some classical pieces) are strictly prohibited, but within that parameter, choices vary widely depending on the couple’s preferences and the abilities of the musicians. Popular choices for the processional are “Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring,” “Canon in D,” Clarke’s “Trumpet Voluntary,” and various works by Handel.

Fun fact: It's customary to invite the priest to the reception (where copious amounts of alcohol will be served—Jesus turned water to wine at a wedding, after all!). At the most recent wedding I attended, the priest was last seen donning a purple cowboy hat and joining a conga line.

The "Oops, I Married a Protestant" Wedding

Format: Similar to a standard Catholic wedding, but you only get the first half of the Mass: the Liturgy of the Word, aka Bible readings. Also a few prayers, most notably the Lord's Prayer.

Attire: Same as the standard Catholic wedding.

Music: Similar to a standard Catholic wedding, but priests are generally more agreeable to including Protestant hymns when one party is, in fact, a Protestant.

Fun fact: The Church has no issues with a Catholic and a Protestant having a full Mass for their wedding, but somebody will have to tell Grandma that she can't take communion in a Catholic church even though she's been doing it in her own church for 80 years. You may also have to endure complaints from Protestant relatives regarding the "Catholic calisthenics" - sit down, stand up, kneel, stand up...

The Catholic Beach Wedding

Format: Catholic weddings MUST take place in a church. This can present a problem if your heart is set on a beach wedding. But if you have the money and the logistical know-how, there’s a solution: Find a Catholic church located near the ocean and have your wedding there.

Attire: Ranges from traditional to modern, but generally on the loose, flowing side due to the beach setting. Also, expensive—if you have the funds for a destination wedding, there’s generally money to burn on a gown.

Music: You have two choices: take your chances on the local musicians, or fly in the musicians of your choice (provided that the hosting church will even allow that). Aren’t logistics fun?!?

Fun fact: Because most priests are reluctant to perform weddings for people they don’t know, Catholic beach weddings are usually BYOP—Bring Your Own Priest. Given the massive amount of paperwork that is required to perform a wedding outside your home diocese, the poor guy will probably need a beach vacation after everything you’ve put him through.

[musingmelsuinesmelancholy]

What is “folk-Catholicism”? How do you manage to work as a witch & incorporate Catholicism? I know I’ve heard of “Christian Witchcraft” before, but idk I thought “Catholics” were more strict? Genuinely curious. Stay Blessed

Folk Catholicism refers to local traditions, which may or may not be approved of by the church. For example: laying mums on our dead’s graves during La Toussaint, the veneration of Saint Guinefort (this was not approved of by the church) or visiting holy wells, such as the grotto of Massabielle, or burying a statue of Saint Joseph to aid in selling one’s home, or invoking Mary to ward off the Good Folk.

I simply use catholic rite and folk magic in my practice! The church doesn’t decide whether or not this works after all, they only decide what’s heretical or not 😛 while this isn’t orthodox after christianization folk magicians would’ve considered themselves Christian. They would not have considered what they were doing “witchcraft”. The Catholic Church was more tolerant of folk magicians, as far as I’m aware, than (keeping in mind southern folk practicioners are largely Protestant) the later Protestant churches. Emma Wilby explains this very well in her books! If you look at historical folk magic it will be Christian, cunning folk often using bits and pieces of Latin hymns or prayers.

A lot of the my ancestral veneration involves Catholicism.

If you look at traditions like cultus sabatti they use Christian lore and heresy. Like honoring Cain, Azael, Eve etc. Or using the lore of the watchers in their understanding of the Pale Folk. I use heresy and inversion as well, such as inverting the pater noster, calling on eve as “bone mother/woman” for certain works or inverting psalms.

I think it’s important to keep in mind that the concept of witchcraft, as we understand it today, evolved in a Christian context.

If you wanna know more I’d recommend reading Emma Wilby, Carlo Ginzburg, Claude Lecoutuex and Alexander Carmichael.

Thanks for the ask! I hope my explanation made sense.

[mysticalblizzardcolor]

Parce Domine - Gregorian Chant - Lent Hymn - Ash Wednesday - A Capella C...

Parce Domine - Gregorian Chant - Lent Hymn - Ash Wednesday - A Capella C... 

https://youtu.be/r7bQl3IubU0?si=U-32XLnQ59aF48fH via @YouTube 

#GregorianChant #CatholicTwitter #EpiscopalChurch #CatholicHymns #Christ #NYC #Brooklyn #Queens #Bronx #StatenIsland #LongIsland #WashingtonDC #USA #ThursdayMorning  

[orthodoxadventure]

The Trisagion Hymn [Part 1 of 2]

The solemn singing of the Trisagion, the thrice-holy hymn praising the Most Holy Trinity, is one of the most important and oldest of our Orthodox hymns. The story told about the origin of this hymn connects it to an earthquake that shook Constantinople sometime in 450AD. The earthquake proved catastrophic and people gathered in the streets and began praying, asking God to have mercy on them, singing Kyrie eleison or Lord, have mercy. During this tragedy a small boy came forward and said that, in a vision, he had heard the hymn of the angels gathered around the throne of God, singing what we today call the Trisagion: Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. The people took up this chant and the aftershocks ceased. Clearly based on the song of the angelic Seraphim heard by the Prophet Isaiah (6:5), by the end of the 6th century, the Trisagion had been incorporated into the text of the Liturgy. Today, the Trisagion constitutes the last part of the Great Doxology at Matins and should also be part of every Orthodox Christian's morning and evening prayers. It is even sung in Greek and Latin on Holy Friday at St. Peter's Basilica in the Roman Catholic Church.

In the Orthodox tradition the Trisagion is primarily understood as a hymn to the Most Holy Trinity. St. John of Damascus (676-749AD) wrote a whole book explaining the meaning of the hymn! This teaching is best summed up in a hymn written by the Emperor Leo the Wise (866-912AD) for the feast of Pentecost, which we still sing at Vespers on that day.

"Come, people of all nations, and let us worship God in three persons: the Son in the Father, with the Holy Spirit. For the Father, before time began, begot the Son, co-eternal and co-reigning with Him; and the Holy Spirit was in the Father, and glorified with the Son; one power, one essence, one God, whom we all worship as we sing: Holy God, who created all things through the Son, with the co-operation of the Holy Spirit! Holy Might, through whom we have come to know the Father, and through whom the Holy Spirit came into the World! Holy Immortal, the Comforting Spirit, who proceeds from the Father and rests in the Son! Holy Trinity, glory to you!"

[Source of text: The Divine Liturgy of our Father among the Saints John Chrysostom (with Commentary and Notes)]

[saucy-mesothelioma]

My cousin got married today, and honest to god I couldn't be happier for her. Her and her siblings are the only part of our extended family my brother and I are close to, so seeing her so happy was just everything to me. Despite being a pretty traditional Catholic wedding (so a lotta Latin hymns and ceremony), the dinner was genuinely so much fun. They played music from Stardew Valley, Slay the Princess, and Legend of Zelda, their first dance together was to Merry-Go-Round-Of Life, they cut their goose wedding cake with the Master Sword they got, and my brother and I surprised her with the Napoleon Dynamite dance which she thankfully loved.

Our dynamic has always been more of best friends rather than family, but I genuinely don't think I've ever seen her so happy in her life, nor have I ever been so happy for her. I'm not very open with my emotions and I'm honestly very adverse to marriage, but watching how happy she was just made me feel so glad like I haven't been in ages.

[failbluedot]

Exploring the Rich Traditions of Global Christmas Carols

Christmas carols are a cornerstone of holiday celebrations across the globe, with each culture adding its unique flavor to the music of the season. From the serene hymns sung in European cathedrals to the lively and rhythmic carols from Africa and Latin America, Christmas music offers a rich tapestry of cultural expression. These global carols not only capture the essence of the Christmas spirit but also reflect the diverse traditions, languages, and histories of the regions from which they originate.

One of the most famous and widely recognized Christmas carols is “Silent Night” (Stille Nacht), which originated in Austria in the early 19th century. Written by Joseph Mohr and composed by Franz Xaver Gruber, the song was first performed on Christmas Eve in 1818 at a small church in Oberndorf. Since then, “Silent Night” has been translated into over 300 languages and dialects, making it a global symbol of peace and serenity during the holiday season. Its gentle melody and message of hope have resonated with people around the world, ensuring its place as a beloved Christmas classic.

In contrast to the calm and reflective tone of “Silent Night,” Spain and Latin American countries bring a lively and festive spirit to their Christmas celebrations with carols such as “Feliz Navidad.” José Feliciano’s cheerful and upbeat song, written in 1970, has become a holiday favorite across cultures. Sung in both Spanish and English, it embodies the multicultural nature of Christmas and the joy that the holiday season brings to people of all backgrounds. With its simple but catchy lyrics, “Feliz Navidad” is a reminder of the universal desire to spread goodwill and happiness during the Christmas season.

In African countries, Christmas carols often reflect the rich musical traditions of the continent. For example, in South Africa, carols are influenced by traditional African rhythms and melodies. “Siyahamba,” a popular South African hymn, is sung during Christmas as a song of faith and celebration. Its rhythmic, call-and-response style reflects the vibrant musical heritage of South Africa and has gained popularity beyond its borders as a song of unity and joy.

Similarly, the Caribbean islands offer their own distinct take on Christmas caroling, with the inclusion of instruments such as steel drums and maracas. In places like Trinidad and Tobago, the holiday season is marked by “parang” music, a folk style of music that blends Spanish, Venezuelan, and indigenous influences. Parang groups go from house to house, singing lively Christmas songs accompanied by traditional instruments. These songs are full of energy and celebration, often turning Christmas Eve into a lively street party. The upbeat rhythms and festive spirit of parang music highlight the Caribbean’s unique approach to Christmas traditions.

For more information, visit the official website www.christmascarolthegift.org

In the Philippines, where Christmas is celebrated with great enthusiasm, the local caroling tradition known as “Ang Pasko Ay Sumapit” is a reflection of the country’s deep Catholic roots and festive spirit. Filipino Christmas carols often blend religious themes with joyous, upbeat melodies, and they are performed throughout the Christmas season, which is one of the longest in the world. Filipino communities celebrate with parades, light displays, and family gatherings, with caroling serving as a central part of the holiday festivities. Children and adults alike go from house to house, singing carols in exchange for treats or small gifts, a practice that fosters a strong sense of community and togetherness.

In Northern Europe, Christmas carols are often tied to ancient traditions and religious rituals. In countries like Finland and Sweden, carols such as “Jul, Jul, Strålande Jul” are sung in churches, bringing a sense of solemnity and reverence to the holiday. The long, cold winters of Scandinavia are offset by the warmth of these carols, which emphasize the light and hope that Christmas brings. The blend of sacred and secular themes in these songs reflects the deep connection between Christmas and cultural traditions in the region.

Another unique aspect of global Christmas carols is how they adapt to the linguistic and cultural nuances of each region. In Japan, for instance, Christmas is not a traditional religious holiday, but carols have still found a place in the festive season. Songs like “Jingle Bells” and “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” are popular in Japan, though the celebration of Christmas there is more about gift-giving and romantic dinners than religious observance. The influence of Western culture has brought Christmas carols to new audiences in countries like Japan, where the holiday is embraced in a modern and commercial context.

The diversity of Christmas carols around the world underscores the universal themes of love, joy, and community that are central to the holiday season. Whether sung in a cathedral, a village square, or around the family table, these carols are a reminder of the shared human desire for peace, hope, and connection. Through the lens of global Christmas carols, it becomes clear that, despite cultural differences, the spirit of Christmas remains a powerful force that unites people across the world.

[dylandrego]

Learn the Alma Redemptoris Mater in Latin & Understand it in English!

https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-r3hv4-16a3282 The Alma Redemptoris Mater is a deep and rich part of Catholic tradition, and we would do well to fall in love with these beautiful Marian hymns and antiphons. By honoring our Blessed Mother, we draw closer to Christ. With the Latin learning guide I’ve created and made available on my Patreon page, my hope is that you’ll understand and remember…

[beyondtheplenty]

//TE DEUM.

The «Te Deum» is a Christian hymn of praise and thanksgiving. Its name comes from the first Latin words «Te Deum laudamus», meaning «We praise you, O God». This hymn is often used in liturgical contexts, particularly in the Catholic, Anglican and some Protestant traditions, to thank and praise God for his greatness and blessings. The «Te Deum» is traditionally attributed to Saint Ambrose, archbishop of Milan in the fourth century, and Saint Augustine, although its exact authorship remains uncertain. It is one of the oldest Christian hymns still in use today.