At Sunset

Time to reset the ribbons

Time to reset the ribbons, and to do it all again! Back to the starting line ready to race into violets.

Verba autem mea non transibunt dicit Dominus

How the Lord blessed us yesterday! We had the most wonderful day, from the perfect weather, to the delightful company. We were immensely blessed with the opportunity of hosting Monsignor Schmitz for Solemn Mass, and community picnic. I must say that the Monsignor is about the most pleasant person I have had the occasion of speaking with. He is very sweet and generous, and quite glows with joy! I am happy to report that the Monsignor was well fed, for when I offered him some cake, he commented on how well he had been attended with food, and to have more "would not be prudent!" Very sweet!

On top of all of this, Louise and Steven were there, just back from their honeymoon and in Melbourne courtesy of a delayed Air New Zealand flight! What providence when they were not aware of the Monsignor visiting. It was so lovely to see them again - and so soon - and so happy. Some other dear friends publicly announced their engagement yesterday also!

However, I must say that dear little Felicitas Perpetua, who is now just over four months old, was the most impressive on the afternoon. Monsignor gave her a special blessing, and called her a sure "Latinist". It's quite impossible that she be anything else when on her bib there is written the grace before meals in Latin, and hasn't missed her Sunday obligation since conception! :)

Juventutem Australia held a sausage sizzle fundraiser which was quite successful, and very tasty!

As usual, the afternoon fittingly ended with much anticipated Vespers and Benediction - and announcement of upcoming practices for Christmas Matins! Deo gratias in aeternum. What a way to end the liturgical year!

Lastly, a few photographs:

Clergy and servers give reverence to the Monsignor before approaching the altar

Monsignor Schmitz in choir

Last Gospel

The wonderful Eve cooking up a storm!

Myself sheepishly enjoying the said sausages

In the park - makes you smile, doesn't it? Deo gratias!

End of the Liturgical Year

Once again, it is the end of the Liturgical year, and it has gone by in a flash. So much has been happening in the past fortnight, and there has been little time or energy to document any of it.

Msgr Schmitz has arrived safely for his short visit, and thus today will be our picnic and Vespers, Solemn Mass being at 11am. I hear that Msgr Schmitz was able to attend the Victorian Catholic Students Conference yesterday, and I hope that that will encourage some more young people to attend today. I trust that we will have fine weather.

Advent Carols are next Sunday at 7:30pm. I quite confidently think that we have the best choir in Melbourne, so do come!

More and more I am feeling that the most wonderfully Catholic things in our city are the most forgotten. The Liturgy, and Caroline Chisholm Library... Gustate et videte! Please! If thou didst know the gift of God! There is nothing like putting a big fat 2006 due date in some lovely book that hasn't been borrowed since 1957, or reading that Father Trese struggled with thoughts of Polish sausages at the Altar of God.

Father McD is so sweet that on Thursday's feast of St Felicitas he wished me a happy feast, even when it wasn't! Nonetheless, I am happy with any holy help, and I think that's a nice way to end the post.

Have a beautiful Sunday!

CIEL Photos

Photographs from CIEL are now available to view here.

Advent Carols Service: December 3rd

Matins Responsory (I look from afar) (Palestrina)
Come thou Redeemer of the earth (Praetorius)
Adam lay Y Bounden (Boris Ord)
People Look East (Besancon)
Hark a Herald Voice (Monk)
There is no Rose John (Joubert)
A Noble Flower of Judah (Praetorius)
The Truth from Above (R Vaughan Williams)
Rorate Caeli (Christopher Tye)
On Jordan's Bank (Hamburg chorale)
The Angel Gabriel (trad Basque melody)
This is the Record of John (Orlando Gibbons)
Advent Resposory (chant)
Alma Redemptoris (chant)
O come o come Emmanuel (ancient French melody)

Westminster Cathedral this Saturday

Just a reminder about this Saturday:

Annual Requiem Mass in the Traditional Rite
Saturday 18th November at 2.00pm, Westminster RC Cathedral, Victoria St, London SW1.

If you are in London definitely try and make it. The Cathedral Choir (reputedly the best cathedral choir in the country) will be singing the propers and ordinary. The versus populum altar should also be removed returning the Sanctuary to its original appearance.

Tonight...

... there will be a solemn requiem for the repose of the soul of Walter Reid at Corpus Christi, Maiden Lane, which is near Covent Garden in London. Reid was one of those guys you never noticed, because he didn't say anything, ever, to anyone... but he was often present at the Monday evening Masses. Beyond that, I don't know much about him.

The 'Capella Ave Maris Stella' will be singing Victoria's Requiem again. It's a favourite of mine, and we pulled it off well on Sunday last for the Remembrance Sunday Requiem at St. Bede's. The Corpus Christi schola will be filling in all the chanty bits that Victoria didn't set. Various people have spent the last week trying to a) construct a catafalque out of random things; b) get their hands on six unbleached candles; and c) somehow borrow a funeral pall. Quick vote of thanks to the fathers of the London Oratory for their kindness as regards the latter two.

The next special Sunday at St. Bede's will be Gaudete Sunday, 17th December. At least, that's what I hope. I suspect we'll be singing more Victoria.

Someday I'm going to have to start up the cause for his canonisation. After all, there are only two patron saints of musicians so far...

Rather Exciting News!

I am very excited to announce that Monsignor R. Michael Schmitz, STD, Vicar General of the Institute of Christ the King, will be visiting us here in Melbourne on the 24th Sunday after Pentecost, 26th of November! We will be having a community picnic, followed by Vespers and Benediction. As many people as possible are encouraged to attend. Do please come if you can - what a wonderful way to end the Liturgical year!

Father Berg will visit us early next year!

Deo gratias!

Christus Vincit

With thanks to the fine Mr Joee Blogs, enjoy some beautiful pictures and commentary on the "Our Lady of Willesden Old Mass" and "Old Mass at Corpus Christi Maiden Lane," - pictures the work of Mr Flash!

OP collects

Could any of you Dominican enthusiasts out there tell me the Latin text of the collects for the Feasts of All Saints of the Order of Preachers, and of the Patronage of St Thomas Aquinas in Catholic Schools (12th and 13th November in old OP calendar)? Many thanks.

There is a very interesting article by Laurence Pristas in New Blackfriars 86 (2005) on 'The Pre and PostVatican II Collects of the Dominican Doctors of the Church'. Worth a read. This link may work if you are coming from a network which subscribes to Blackwell Synergy online journals. Otherwise... try your local Dominicans?! Actually I have a vague notion that Blackwell publishing was doing a free trial access to its online journals a while ago, so you might be able to find some means of getting the text if you poke about a bit.

Please God, Relief for the Holy Souls

Sacramentum hoc Magnum est in Christo et in Ecclesia

Mr and Mrs Steven Zollo! Aren't they just glorious in the Lord? Deo gratias indeed!

The French Bishops protest against potential freedom for the Old Rite

Hilarious post from Rorate Caeli here.

Tradelaide Bound

It is monastically early, and I am about to make my way to TrAdelaide for a dear friend's wedding. Please pray for Louise and Steven. The Christus Rex Pilgrimage report will be about next week some time - last year's pilgrimage being the very event where the couple met! I've been informed of some rather interesting information that I look forward to share very much!

I hope that you all had wonderful Feasts over the past days. We certainly did.

DOMINE Jesu Christe, Rex gloriae, libera animas omnium fidelium defunctorum de poenis inferni et de profundo lacu: libera eas de ore leonis, ne absorbeat eas tartarus, ne cadant in obscurum: sed signifer sanctus Michael repraesentet eas in lucem sanctam: Quam olim Abrahae promisisti et semini ejus. V. Hostias et preces tibi, Domine, laudis offerimus: tu suscipe pro animabus illis, quarum hodie memoriam facimus: fac eas, Domine, de morte transire ad vitam. Quam olim Abrahae promisisti et semini ejus.

Thank you Holy Mother Church.

It's a long way to the Cathedral, a long way to go...