#Tridentine Latin mass

[catholicmemoirs]

I'm late setting up for Advent.. and it's okay!

It's 1am on December 2nd and our Thanksgiving weekend got ahead of us.

I just got around to bringing up our stack of Advent things, but I really need to get rest since I'm back to work tomorrow after taking the week off.

These are all the Advent countdown things. I didn't get a chance to hang the Jesse Tree countdown cards, so will have to ask my husband for help tomorrow.

The Advent wreath isn't even close. I have to remove old wax and we don't even have the wreath!

The earliest we can do is take our preschooler to go wreath shopping after work tomorrow. I think he'll enjoy taking part in the setup of what we do for Advent.

Lastly, I printed out my liturgical planner since it will take around 2-3 weeks to print and deliver the book copies, so I need to do planning on printables for now. Sadly, I don't have time to post a listing of these, so again they're late for the new liturgical year!

We went to Latin Mass. The Gradual (Psalm 24: 3, 4) literally moved me to tears. The soprano soloist in our schola was so talented, her singing shook me to the core and before I knew it, I had tears streaming down my face. I decided that the Gradual would be my Lectio Divina study for today.

The word "wait" stuck out to me. It's actually an interesting word choice because it could mean "to wait" like waiting for something to happen (passive) or "to wait on someone" like to attend to their commands (proactive), kind of like a handmaid to a queen. The latter drew me in more because there are lots of Scripture from mass that mention people waiting on an important figure. This ties into Mary's fiat acceptance ("I am the handmaid of the Lord") and the Church being Christ's queen. Handmaids are usually specially hand picked by the queen or the king and not a role given to most people. They're usually the queen's most trusted and most loyal people. By waiting on the queen, her handmaids also serve the king.

Anyway, back to Mass. Our baby was asleep peacefully in our arms all the way until Communion where my spiritual director was celebrating mass & he blessed the baby when we were up at the altar rail. It was a really peaceful and holy mass today.

At the end of it all, this is all okay. It will all happen soon enough. Happy Advent!

[intrinsicallydisordered]

Some Catholics look at the world of falling resources, rising poverty, looming climate catastrophe, bellicose international relations, nuclear weapons, and all other forms of human indignity… and seriously think the primary solution is to have more Latin Masses?!

[heresylog]

Low masses are boring AF, high masses are boring AF but you're having you ass blasted by an organ and your choking on an agregious level of incense that summons the local fire department (true story)

I will go to a Trinidentine High Mass for the incense only. My lungs crave the smoke.

[jameslmartello]

[northemoonduringthenight]

Catholic religion, Latin Mass.

[tria-haec]

"Let the oblation about to be offered to Your Holy Name, o Lord, purify us and day by day change us to the living of the heavenly life. Through our Lord ..."

[catholicsaintquotes33ad]

🔥Saint Ignatius, Ora Pro Nobis🔥

[stone-cold-groove]

Missale Romanum - 1915.

[apenitentialprayer]

Liturgical Elements: The Embolism

In the liturgical rubrics of the Mass, the "embolism" refers to a short prayer spoken out loud by the priest after the congregation has collectively recited the Lord's Prayer. According to Nicholas Ayo (The Lord's Prayer: A Survey Theological and Literary, page 196), "the embolism functions like a marginal gloss, an explanation of the last line of the Pater, and an unfolding of its many implications." In reformed liturgy of the Roman Church, the English translation of the embolism is as follows:

Deliver us, Lord, we pray, from every evil; graciously grant peace in our days, that, by the help of Your mercy, we may be always free from sin and safe from all distress, as we await the blessed hope and the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

In the Tridentine form of the Roman Mass, a longer embolism was recited:

Deliver us, we beseech Thee, O Lord, from all evils past, present, and to come; and by the intercession of the Blessed and glorious ever-Virgin Mary, Mother of God, together with Thy blessed Apostles Peter and Paul and Andrew, and all the saints, mercifully grant peace in our days, that sustained by help of Thy mercy we may be always free from sin and safe from all disturbance. Through the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Our Lord, who lives and reigns with Thee in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.

The Ambrosian Rite, being another Latin rite, has an embolism that is unsurprisingly similar to the Tridentine one:

Deliver us, we beseech Thee, O Lord, from all evils past, present, and to come; and at the intercession for us of Blessed Mary who brought forth our God and Lord, Jesus Christ; and of Thy holy Apostles Peter and Paul and Andrew, and of blessed Ambrose Thy confessor and bishop, together with all Thy saints, favorably give peace in our days, that assisted by the help of Thy mercy we may be both delivered from sin and safe from all turmoil. Fulfill this by Him with whom Thou livest blessed and reignest God, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, for ever and ever.

The embolism was not only an element of Roman liturgies, either. Take, for example, this embolism used by the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church (notice how the doxology that follows the modern Roman embolism is instead integrated into this one):

Merciful Lord, lover of all mankind, do not let us be overcome by temptation, but deliver us from the rebellious evil one and his perverse and evil ways. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory belong to You and Your Only Son and Your Holy Spirit, now and always and forever.

Here is the embolism of the Syro-Malabar Church, reflecting the Eastern Syriac rather than Western Syriac tradition:

Lord, God Almighty! Fullness of all goodness! Our Merciful Father! We entreat You for Your mercy. Do not lead us into temptation. Deliver us from the evil one and his hosts. For Yours is the kingdom, the might, the power, and the dominion in heaven and earth, now, always, and forever.

In the Greek liturgies, the embolism only survives in the Liturgy of Saint James, which has the following:

Lord, lead us not into temptation, O Lord of hosts! For Thou dost know our frailty; but deliver us from the wicked one, from all his works, from all his assaults and craftiness; through Thy Holy Name, which we call upon to guard us in our loneliness.

On a final note, Fr. Frederick Holweck, the author of the Catholic Encyclopedia's article on the embolism, thought that the Mozarabic embolism in particular was "very beautiful." In addition to being said after the Our Father at Mass, the following prayer was also said after the Our Father in the Mozarabic Church's Morning and Evening prayers:

Delivered from all evil, strengthened forever in good, may we be worthy to serve Thee, our God and Lord: and put an end, O Lord, to our sins; grant joy to them that are afflicted; bestow redemption upon the captives, health upon the sick, and repose to the departed. Grant peace and safety in all our days, shatter the audacity of our enemies, and hearken, O God, to all the prayers of Thy servants, all faithful Christians, upon this day and at all times. Through Our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, ever through all the ages of ages.

[azspot]

The problem is, in this crazy and chaotic world, we want a God who is like Zeus, detached from the weakness of matter but in control of life’s events. There are movements today in the Catholic Church to return to the Tridentine (Latin Mass), to restore the church to its glorious reign, as if the Middle Ages were the best of all times; to worship a God who reigns above, like a King who has sent ‘his’ Son to save us from this fallen world. This fabricated God–who has nothing to do with Scripture and everything to do with our deep existential fear of nothingness–is the root of our environmental disaster, our inability to cope with artificial intelligence, our exclusion of LGBTQ persons, the persistence of racial inequality and the lack of hope in the world’s future.

Rebirthing Religion

[catholicmemoirs]

Impressive meetings in our humble little parish

I didn't realize how profound our little parish in South San Francisco is.

My family got the courage to stay at the parish dinner for the first time after the Sunday TLM mass. We thought the dinner wasn't being hosted anymore since there was no longer a coordinator, but it was there!

And it was such a blessing of many fateful encounters.

I met with the music director. It turns out she is a professor at the St. Patrick's Seminary here in the Bay Area and a founder of the Catholic Institute of Sacred Music. She is involved in the nation's top Catholic music organizations, especially for Gregorian chant!

I just remember one mass a few years ago, she had appeared with a full schola of around 18 members. Our modest and modern-looking parish was crashed in by Heaven with the most beautiful Gregorian chanting. Since then, she's provided our parish of roughly 50 regular TLM attendees the gift of Gregorian chant with beautiful books, seminars and her generous wisdom and love for the art.

She invited me to come join their practices before the TLM if I'm ever free. I'd love to someday when the kids are older!

Mass was also celebrated yesterday by a priest who visits every so often. I was surprised because he is Chinese. My husband's family also being Chinese, it's not often we see Chinese Catholics. He is so well-versed in the TLM and is exceptionally talented with singing. His Gregorian chanting was very beautiful, some of the most beautiful chanting I've heard from a priest here.

I later learned he is the priest-secretary to our Most Reverend Archbishop Cordileone and also serves as a lecturer at the Seminary and is a Doctor of Canon Law. What an an incredible life!

There are so many incredible people here in the Bay Area that it's so easy to bat an eye and not realize that the person conducting the schola or celebrating mass - let alone the person you sit next to and say hi to every day - holds a doctoral in their field of expertise.

Our Archbishop and Archdiocese are so very blessed, despite San Francisco being in the liberal state that it's in. They need all the prayers to protect them as they continue their mission. 🙏

[ultraheydudemestuff]

St. Stephen Church

1930 W. 54th St.

Cleveland, OH

St. Stephen’s Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic church located at 1930 W. Fifty-fourth Street in the Detroit-Shoreway neighborhood on the west side of Cleveland, Ohio. St. Stephen Roman Catholic Church was founded in 1869 due to a need for a second German parish on the west side of Cleveland. The first German parish, St. Mary's, increased so much that Cleveland was in need of a second parish for German-speaking Catholics. In April 1869 the first bishop of Cleveland, Bishop Louis Amadeus Rappe, appointed Fr. Stephen Falk to have a two-story building built. The building would be used as a church on the upper level and a school on the lower level to accommodate the 200 families from St. Mary's that lived west of 44th Street.

The newly ordained Fr. Casimir Reichlin became the first pastor and said the first Mass of the parish on May 1, 1870. He served as pastor of St. Stephen's for 38 years. In 1873, Fr. Reichlin realized that a new church building was needed to accommodate the growing parish. The Cleveland-based architect firm called Cudell and Richardson was hired to design and build the structure that still stands today as St. Stephen's Roman Catholic Church. Work on the new Gothic style building was begun in 1875, but due to economic depression in the mid-1870s, it was stopped. Parishioners mortgaged their own properties to raise funds for the new church. It was dedicated on November 20, 1881, by the second bishop of Cleveland, Rev. Richard Gilmour. Volunteer German and Hungarian woodworkers completed the interior of the church.

The building is made entirely of stone, mainly Amherst stone. The church is 165 feet long and 74 feet wide. The architect style is Gothic and the shape of the church is cruciform. On each side of the main altar are six enormous wooden pillars that branch out into many columns. The high altar, side altars and pulpit are made entirely of oak wood and decorated with beautiful German woodcarvings. The church pews are also oak. A Mexican onyx and brass Communion rail was installed over the years and the floor of the sanctuary and aisles is made of black and white marble tiles.

Over the next 40 years, the parish added a rectory, convent for the Sisters of Notre Dame and two school buildings including one for and an all girls two-year high school which opened in 1905. After World War II, St. Stephen's parish experienced unprecedented growth due to the population growth in Cleveland and throughout the country. On June 8, 1953, a tornado severely damaged the church structure. Work to restore the building began immediately. The church was reopened on November 6, 1953. In the late sixties, the parish enrollment was at a low due to migration of families to suburban towns. St. Stephen's parish graduated its last high school class in 1970 and the following school year moved the elementary level classes into the old high school building.

St. Stephen's was listed with the National Register of Historic Places on November 11, 1977. In 1986, St. Stephen School combined with St. Michael and St. Boniface Schools and formed Metro Catholic School. In the 2010 round of parish closings in Cleveland, Ohio, due to an unfortunate shortage of priests in the diocese, Bishop Richard Lennon spared St. Stephen's because of its historical significance. St. Stephen's is a fully active Roman Catholic Parish in the Diocese of Cleveland. This means that they have a full parish staff and church council. They have regular Sunday Masses as well as daily Masses. German Mass is offered every first Sunday at 11am. In addition to German and English Masses, St. Stephen's also offers Tridentine Latin Masses every Sunday at 9:30am as well as daily Tridentine Latin Masses at varying times.

St. Stephen's hosts many church events and fund raisers as well as promotes those of other local parishes. St. Stephen's also promotes pro-life events as well as home school events. In keeping with its German tradition, one of the many cultural activities that is offered at St. Stephen's is a German summer camp. This summer camp allows children to be introduced to the German language in a fun setting through crafts, games, and scavenger hunts. The summer camp requires no prior knowledge of the German language. The parish observes “Priesthood Sunday” to celebrate the gift of the holy priesthood in the life of the Catholic Church and encourages parishioners to pray for and submit a note of appreciation to numerous priests.

[northemoonduringthenight]

Catholic Religion: Latin Mass

[catholic-compendium]

The Society of Saint Pius X (SSPX): Faith, Doctrine, Love, Truth in Charity

Society of Saint Pius X (SSPX): Introduction

The Society of Saint Pius X (SSPX) is a traditionalist Catholic organization that has been the subject of much debate and controversy within the Catholic Church. This article will provide an in-depth analysis of the SSPX, exploring its origins, ideology, and controversies surrounding its relationship with the Vatican.

Origins of the SSPX:

The SSPX was founded in 1970 by Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre. He was a French bishop who became disillusioned with what he perceived as the liberalization of the Catholic Church following the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965). Lefebvre believed that the reforms introduced during the council compromised the traditional teachings and practices of the Church. In the end, it forced him to establish a society dedicated to preserving the pre-Vatican II liturgy and doctrines.

SSPX: Ideological Stance

At the core of the SSPX’s ideology is a steadfast commitment to traditional Catholicism. The society opposes many of the changes introduced by Vatican II, including the use of vernacular languages in the Mass, ecumenism, and religious freedom. They advocate for a return to the Tridentine Mass, the Latin liturgy used before the council, and reject what they perceive as a purposeful and detrimental dilution of Catholic doctrine and identity.

Controversies and Relations with the Vatican:

The relationship between the SSPX and the Vatican has been fraught with controversy. In 1988, Archbishop Lefebvre ordained four bishops without papal approval—an act deemed illicit and resulting in his excommunication. This action further strained the already tense relationship between the SSPX and the Holy See.

Efforts to reconcile the SSPX with the Vatican began in the 2000s, culminating in the 2007 lifting of the excommunications by Pope Benedict XVI. However, the society’s refusal to accept certain teachings of Vatican II, particularly those relating to religious freedom and ecumenism, has hindered full reconciliation. The SSPX argues that these teachings contradict traditional Catholic doctrine, making it difficult for them to find common ground with the Church hierarchy.

Challenges with the Stance of SSPX:

Critics suggest that the SSPX’s rejection of Vatican II and its insistence on maintaining pre-Vatican II practices may hinder the Church’s ability to engage with the modern world. They attempt to show that the society’s strict adherence to traditionalism may lead to a lack of pastoral flexibility, possibly alienating those seeking a more contemporary expression of their faith.

Furthermore, the SSPX has been accused of fostering a sense of division within the Church. Some argue that by setting themselves apart from the mainstream Catholic community, the society undermines efforts to foster unity and dialogue among Catholics with differing theological perspectives.

Conclusion:

The SSPX’s steadfast commitment to traditionalism has attracted a dedicated following, but it has also been attacked by liberals and modernists for its resistance to change and potential divisiveness within the Church.

As the Catholic Church attempts to liberalize & modernize the organization, finding common ground between the SSPX and the Vatican presently remains an impossible hurdle. If the Vatican can manage to hold open and unrestricted dialogue and shows a willingness to engage honestly with differing perspectives can the church hierarchy hope to achieve unity and address the concerns raised by traditionalist groups like the SSPX.

[catholicsaintquotes33ad]

The Feast of The Conversion of St. Paul

[docileandlazy]

hi bart if I may add on. I think that that period of distance from the church is important to have. I will never understand why so many denominations are so intent on keeping everyone under wraps. free will and such etc etc but also, if you leave, and then choose to come back, your connection to the faith is stronger than ever. in my experience, at least- I feel so much happier with my life, with my sense of self, and with my future than I ever was. I feel a more profound connection to the divine, I have the actual want and need to worship and be surrounded by holy things. I also went through the whole "I don't know how my friends are going to react" thing with multiple people, since I have a very limited number of catholic friends and was a little embarrassed under the assumption that people would be wary of me for it (which is valid in itself but y'know). I've always had a huge interest and passion for religion in general, but I was pretty secular about it until last year. I have my friend noah and your own posts to thank for making me feel less out of place coming back to this.

I'm also glad to have had my own period of distance, and I feel now that it, plus being led back to faith through my own personal tragedies, was a necessary part of the journey for me.

(p.s. even if you don't 100% identify with catholicism (which I get lol) I hope you enjoy what we have to offer anyway. I wouldn't give up our saints and music and cathedrals and art for the world. being euro-american it's a huge part of my cultural identity + I couldn't imagine what I'd be without the influence that gothic architecture and art had on me growing up. la notre-dame opens again in december which'll be the first time since 2018 I'll get to see her irl again. I do get very emotional about it all. if you haven't already you should check out some Latin prayers since I've been missing tridentine mass)

ANYWAY. you don't have to answer this, that post just resonated with me.

hi romy this ask is so beautiful and actually inspired me slightly to talk abt religion in my anthropology class today <3

Yes I never really got why do so many denominations are so focused on control. I grew up protestant - Baptist specifically, and that was the faith I kept for many years - and good lord the emphasis they had on staying and control was crazy. I did not regularly attend church at all and it mostly came from those I was surrounded with in my personal life (although never my parents, bless them, I love them for the freedom they have allowed me to take in my religious journey). Especially down here in the south there's this emphasis on church being family but there's a fine line between family and control that I have found many churches and denominations cross. It's really sad to me and I often find it is what drives people from Faith in the first place.

I also find that my connection to faith and to the divine is so so much stronger since I myself made the choice to return to faith, and it was not a choice made for me or a choice I felt pressured into.

The catholic faith I find is what I will probably always feel the closest to - God and the saints and the art and the literature all are things I feel such a deep connection to. I've checked out a few Latin prayers but not many, I'll definitely check out more !!

Thank you for the ask romy ily <333