Requiem aeternum dona eis Domine

Please pray for the eternal repose of the soul of Mr John Andrew Bianco, beloved fiancee of our dear friend Amanda, who died suddenly at the weekend. Please remember him at the Altar of God.

Incline Thine ear, O Lord, to our prayers, in which we humbly entreat Thy mercy; bring to the country of peace and light the soul of thy servant John, which Thou hast summoned to to go forth from this world, and bid him to be numbered with Thy Saints. Through our Lord Jesus Christ Thy Son, Who with Thee liveth and reigneth in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, for all ages of ages. Amen.

Inclina, Domine, aurem tuam ad preces nostras, quibus misericordiam tuam supplices deprecamur: ut animam famuli tui Joanni, quam de hoc saeculo migrare jussisti, in pacis ac lucis regione constituas, et Sanctorum tuorum jubeas esse consortem. Per Dominum nostrum Jesum Christum Filium tuum, qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitate Spiritus Sancti, Deus, per omnia seacula seaculorum. Amen.

Ego sum resurrectio et vita: qui credit in me, etiam si mortuus fuerit, vivet; et omnis, qui vivit et credit in me, non morietur in aeternum.

Non moriar, sed vivam, et narrabo opera Domini. (Psalmus 117:7 - Offertory 4th Sunday after Epiphany)

Requiem aeternum dona eis Domine: et lux perpetua luceat eis. Requiescat in pace. Fidelium animae, per misericordiam Dei, requiescant in pace. Amen.

May we thus assure you, dear Amanda, of constant prayer and supplication.

Iraqi Refugee Crisis Update

Readers in the US

The American Institute of Philanthropy lists the top charities helping Iraqi refugees. You can view the list here.

Catholic Relief Services are doing a great deal of work to help refugees in Syria, Jordan, Turkey and Lebanon. Read more about it here.

Readers in Australia

Aid to the Church in Need Australia is running an appeal for the support of its work in Iraq. Read more about it here.

Readers in the UK

In addition to the ACN appeal I mentioned in my previous post; the Barnabus Fund is seeking donations for its work in Northern Iraq helping Christian refugees there re-establish their lives. You can read more about it here.

Petition

For citizens of the UK or its dependent territories there is an online petition to the PM Tony Blair to do more to help Iraq’s Christians. You can sign it here. Unfortunately the petition is not open to non UK citizens but that doesn't mean you can't do anything. Please write to your government representatives and raise this issue with them.

Iraqi Priest Discusses Life in Baghdad

View this fascinating video here. Despite everything that has happened to the Christians in Iraq his hope and charity are inspiring. Pray for him and his flock.

Whatever you thought of the Iraq war or of what is happening now is not important - there is a real need to do something to help the Iraqi Christians and if you can do nothing else remember them in your prayers. It may seem like a far off place and a people of whom we know little - but these people share the same Catholic Faith as us. We must do something.

Matthew 25:31-46

With fear and trembling

It's quite a thing to be terrified of bees when they get off so well liturgically.

Preparing to Say Goodbye

To the Alleluia.

There is so much happening this week - Candlemas, Blessing of throats, Benedictine visit - and in other non-liturgical areas. Aside from all this, the calendar says that it's almost time to bid a farewell to the Alleluia. There are a number of accounts as to how this takes place, from a procession and burial, a burning of an alleluia wreath, or extra antiphons. Most accounts point out that the clergy seem to opt out of it - but we have such reverently creative servers, so I hope that they come up with something. It all seems rather soon, doesn't it? I'm all for an Alleluia (burial) plot, without the childish wailing. I wonder what the Dom will think?

That means the Ave Regina Caelorum will be coming back - and I still don't know the Alma Redemptoris Mater - but I suppose I have until Friday night...

One can't be glummy on the eve of the feast of St Francis de Sales! Even his name makes you smile! :)

Qualis est his? Quis ut Deus?

Can you please pray a Pater, an Ave, and a Gloria for me. God bless you.

Glorificamus Te

Thank the Lord for small joys. It is always a treat when you flick on the radio and hear 'Gloria in excelsis Deo' being intoned - especially with your favourite intonation - 'Glor-ree-ah in ec-shellll-sis Day-ay-ay-oh!' Even when the particular arrangement isn't attractive and sounds like a cross between Broadway, German folk music, and a national anthem - with an operatic solo now and again.

Convertere, anima mea in requiem tuam: quia Dominus benefecit tibi.

An Urgent Appeal

As a traditionalist Catholic I have sometimes been accused of wanting to cut myself off from the mainstream Church and live in a trad cocoon. I've never agreed with that interpretation. It might fit some people in the SSPX or the sedevacantists but I've always seen the traditionalists as being an active part of the Church. In the hope that others share this view I present the following appeal to help the Roman Catholics of Iraq.

There is an urgent crisis in the Middle East. The Christian population of Iraq (the vast majority of whom are Chaldean Rite or Melkite Rite Roman Catholics) are facing a catastrophe. This, one of the oldest Christian communities in the world faces extinction unless we help them. Before the war in 1991 there were nearly one and a half million Christians in Iraq. Since then this number has nearly halved as they have been either forced or driven to emigrate. The fall of Saddam Hussein’s regime has lifted the lid on the ethnic and religious rivalries and hatreds that exist amongst Iraq’s diverse communities. Despite the sympathy of Iraq’s other religious leaders, the Christians are being assailed from many angles. They are caught between the Sunni/Shia rivalry and are attacked as ‘infidels’ by those who want to establish an Islamic state. They are seen as collaborators with the occupation despite the fact that they have largely stayed out of politics. Because many Christians were found amongst the professional classes they are attacked for their imagined wealth – this despite the fact that the majority are as poor as any other Iraqis. Priests have been kidnapped – one, a Syrian Orthodox priest, was martyred in Mosul, this despite his family paying the ransom. In Baghdad the seminary has been forced to relocate to the Kurdish north after the rector was kidnapped (he was released – Deo Gratias). But the suffering is not confined to Iraq; many Christians have fled to Syria (where Christians make up 10% of the population), to Jordan and to other countries in the region. These people are often desperately poor and are usually unable to find work or gain access to social services. The local Churches are doing what they can to help but they are swamped by the sheer demand.

As traditionalists we can, and we must, help our Catholic brothers and sisters in Iraq. Firstly, we must pray for them and for their intentions. Pray the Rosary or pray for the intercession of Our Lady and the Saints. Arrange Mass intentions for the Iraqi Christians. Raise the issue in your Church communities - maybe you can collectively do something to help. Too often people know nothing about what is happening.

Aid to the Church in Need is running a Middle East appeal. In the UK you can send donations marked for the Middle East to: ACN, 1 Times Square, Sutton, Surrey SM1 1LF. Tel. 020 8642 8668. There are other organisations providing assistance but I do not have contact details for them.

There must be other things that can be done. I know that, taken individually, what we do may not seem like much but we CAN make a real difference if enough people spare a moment for our Iraqi brethren

Delights, Delicacies, Domes and Dictionaries.

Today I had the most delightsome* lunch in the company of our subdeacon, thurifer and dearest Perpetua, which concluded with a giant bowl or rather plate of chocolate ice cream. But not to be outdone, the four of us then journeyed to the beautiful Basilica of Our Lady of Victories, one of the few churches in Melbourne which has not been subject to the whims of a parish council or the winds of liturgical innovation, where amidst stain glass depicting the Battle of Lepanto, Sts. John Vianney and Pius X, we stopped to rest a little while and revive our drooping spirits.

JJSS (Lactantius with grateful thanks to Perpetua for permitting me to write this under her name.)

* This word was coined by Omar, the thurifer referred to above, and is a hybrid of delightful and wholesome. Feel free to use it next time in a sentence. ICEL is already showing interest in it.

Benedictine Visit

"Dom Christopher Andrews OSB, a newly ordained Benedictine monk of Our Lady of Clear Creek Monastery in Tulsa, Oklahoma, will be visiting us on the weekend of 3rd – 4th February. Fr Christopher is a New Zealander, and the first from this Region to be solemnly professed and ordained for one of the family of traditional Benedictine houses associated with Fontgombault Abbey, in France. Father will celebrate the Solemn Mass on Sunday 4th February, as well as preach and confer first blessings at both Burke Hall and Caulfield. Clear Creek also has its first Australian member (currently in simple vows) - Br James Middeldorp of Adelaide. We hope that Fr Christopher will be able to present a short talk on traditional Benedictine life during his visit. He will also be available to speak with anyone considering a monastic vocation."

Very exciting news! Something to wait for in prayerful anticipation. However, for whatever reason, I can't seem to be able to navigate the Clear Creek website? Please say a prayer for the safe success of Father's visit.

Dom Christopher's Solemn Mass will be that of Septuagesima - and therefore, liturgically at least, the second anniversary of my first Classical Roman Liturgy. I remember this only really from a discussion in the car that morning on the way to the church. Jude mentioned that that Sunday it happened to be 'Septuagesima' - and I said, "Sep-choo-a-what?" What a perfect feast to discover the Classical Liturgy.

For the past few days, I have been feeling rather glum, and at times, grumpy. I'd been planning a loaded post with a sharp direction, but it has been discharged by tomorrow's Epistle - one of my favourite lines about outdoing evil by doing the good, so therefore, will your charity mount upon your enemy's head like hot coals. How can you not but love those who hate you - spending more time and energy upon you, than those who love you?

PS Epiphany water is powerful stuff! Deo gratias!

Te Deum...

etc.

My god-daughter elect Maria Regina was born in Norway on Sunday. Her mother says it was fairly easy, although the little one was two weeks late. Hopefully the trend will not continue!

She is sister to my first god-daughter Cecilia Kristin, and the family is undergoing certain difficulties right now, so please keep them in your prayers.

Cheers.

JMR Xx

At the Pictures

Over this weekend I have twice visited the cinema.

Yesterday, I was scandalised by libertine "pagan" penguins. Happy Feet is not a family movie.

On Friday night I went to see Apocalypto, and I was deeply impressed. The film is exceptionally brutal, but the scenes seek to express cold facts rather than gratuitous violence. The film bears similarity to the Passion, with comparable film techniques and sound track.

I am quite convinced that thoughtful Catholics will gain the most out of this film. It is rated MA 15+ in Australia, but I would not take anybody 18 and under. Perhaps only those who have reached 21, with a few exceptions.

I will not say too much more, but the film has much Catholicity weaved throughout it. Respect and love for the family, and fruitfulness (the crude sections of the film are to do with the propagation of the family, so I suppose it lessens their crassness). There are allusions to the Mass, the Sacred Heart, to Baptism, to the Blessed Mother, to Light overcoming the darkness, of the Nunc Dimittis, of the Babylonian captivity, and Pharonic slavery, to the Mosaic Exodus, and the stark and pure blackness of a world enslaved without Christ. At the end of the film you will want to shout "Christus Vincit". Gratuitous grace.

Watch for the final thing you see in the film, and for the old man telling stories around the fire, who seems as though his outfit has Miraculous Medals hanging on it - though I can't be positive. There are some 'prophecies' given in the film, somewhat in the same style as in the Passion - watch for the last one - I think it says something about a judgement with fire. I can't remember. I seem to remember 'fire' - if what I am saying is accurate, then I am sure that you will understand what that means by the end of the film.

I recommend this film. It will certainly help you appreciate the 'warring' psalms a little better!

A nice instance happened yesterday, too. Jude and I were having lunch and as we went to pay the bill, the owner commented on how taken he was when he saw us crossing ourselves and praying before our meal. He was Syrian Orthodox, and in Australia for 13 years and had never seen anyone here do that. It was lovely, because right at this time three years ago, I was first very taken by some friends crossing themselves and praying before their every meal, and so decided finally to take the Faith seriously. Deo gratias.

Please say a prayer for my father, it is his birthday today! (14th)

Prayers please

for a dear friend of ours. Juventutemites will know to whom I refer, other readers please join this intention. He has just made a very difficult decision and could do with some support right now, I assume.

+

Pater noster...

Et ne nos inducas in tentationem
Sed libera nos a malo.

Ave Maria...

Gloria Patri...

Amen.

Deo gratias!

I have the most wonderful news. My two dear friends who were recently married in November, are now with child, whose birth is expected in mid August. The Lord has answered earnest prayers without delay - let us bless Him forever.

Please remember Louise, Steven, and their child in your prayers.

TrAdelaide - the city of churches, filled with babies! It's extremely fitting that the baby will be here in time for this year's Christus Rex Pilgrimage! (We knew it - Thanks be to God!)

In te speravi, Domine: dixi: Tu es Deus meus, in manibus tuis tempora mea.
In Thee, O Lord, have I hoped: I said, Thou art my God; my times are in Thy hands.

Offertory from the (glorious) Nuptial Mass according to the Classical Roman Rite.

Registration costs for WYD2008

These are now available on the WYD2008 site.

See here

Classical Roman Rite in the Sale Diocese

This week Father Tattersall will be conducting a pastoral mission to the Victorian diocese of Sale. Father will be in staying at St Joseph’s Parish, 1215 Bunyip Rd, Iona, as a guest of the Parish Priest, Fr Michael Willemsen.

Confessions will be heard and Mass in the Classical Roman Rite will be celebrated at St Joseph’s Iona as follows:

• Thursday 11th January at 7.30pm (preceded by confessions 6.30pm – 7.15pm)
• Friday 12th January at 7.30pm (confessions 6.30pm – 7.15pm)
• Saturday 13th January at 11.00am (Sung) (confessions 10.00am – 10.30am) Our Lord's Baptism
• Sunday 14th January at 9.00am (confessions 8.00am – 8.45am)

At 8.15pm on Friday 12th January, Fr Tattersall will give a talk in the St Joseph’s Parish hall: ‘The current Church situation and Pope Benedict XVI’. All are welcome.

Father is very grateful to both Fr Willemsen and Bishop Coffey for this important opportunity. Ubi Petrus, ibi Ecclesia. Please pray for the success of this mission.

Look Up

So I gave the blog a virtual 'chalk blessing'. I hope that nobody minds...

Vigil of the Epiphany

The solemn blessing of the Epiphany water will be taking place this evening. As I would say on the street, it's 'full on'. You'll see foes scampering away. Aside from the profound exorcism, there are a number of psalms, the blessing of salt, and a Te Deum at the end. I'm really enjoying all these Te Deums! It is beautiful.

The new Juventutem (FIJ) site will be launched in the next week.

Short Update

Returning quickly from the last page of the first chapter, I suggest that you all acquire for yourselves a copy of The Heresy of Formlessness as soon as possible.

Now I must get off the internet and back to real paper!

Much Placated

My copy of The Heresy of Formlessness has arrived, and I can't wait to begin! I had a week or so off over the Octave which allowed me some good reading time. Here are some humourous pieces from along the way:

From A Dictionary for Catholics from the Catholic Truth Society, London 1912:

Duel: A hostile meeting of two or other even number of persons with time and place previously arranged; all taking part in it incur excommunication, and if killed are denied a Christian burial.

Make a note!

And from English Monks and the Suppression of the Monasteries by Geoffrey Baskerville:

"That a good deal of decorative work was done by many of the religious of this period cannot be doubted. But it was probably of an amateur kind like the excessively nasty sweets which are confected by nuns nowadays." p 43.

"The Prior of Woodbridge, Suffolk, made a similar complaint to the Bishop of Norwich. 'Two of my canons frequent the town without my leave...one of whom gets drunk and won't get up for mattins.'" p 80.

I have just begun the above book, and the whole feudal set-up is a surprise to me, granted however I don't really know much about these things. It is quite disappointing after reading Dom Camm! Pages of Olde Englysh text are great reading.

Midnight Mass 2006 at St. John Cantius

A child is born.....a savior for the world.

http://amasimp.phanfare.com/album/181360