Regina Caeli, Laetare, Alleluia!

Regina caeli, laetare, alleluia!
Quia quem meruisti portare, alleluia!
Resurrexit sicut dixit, alleluia!
Ora pro nobis Deum, alleluia!

Passion Sunday

Annuntio Vobis Gaudium Magnum

Annuntio vobis gaudium magnum: Habemus Papam;

Eminentissimum ac reverendissimum Dominum,
Dominum Georgium Marium Sanctæ Romanæ Ecclesiæ Cardinalem Bergoglio, 

Qui sibi nomen imposuit Franciscum.

 

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Like many Catholics, I heard a name I was not expecting when the Cardinal Protodeacon made his announcement yesterday. Also, like many Catholics, I spent a significant amount of time yesterday on the internet trying to learn everything I could about our new Holy Father.

If you read the more popular blogs on traditional Catholicism, you most likely found a mixed reaction to His Holiness in the comboxes. Apparently, the reaction of the average, tradition-minded Catholic ranges from joy, to worry that Pope Francis will not continue or maintain the great works of liturgical reform begun by Pope Benedict XVI, to comments that amounted to (frankly) scandal and sins against the theological virtues. Having broken my cardinal rule of websurfing ("Thou shalt not read the comments to good blogs"), I did not sleep well.

This morning I prayed the Rosary. I decided to meditate on the Joyful Mysteries instead of the Luminous Mysteries this morning, and something struck me that I had never really noticed before -- the connection between the Eucharist and the Joyful Mysteries. That's probably obvious to others, but I had never really thought about it before. Of course, the Incarnational theme ties all of the Joyful Mysteries to Our Lord's presence in the Eucharist. But then one reaches the fourth Joyful Mystery, the Presentation, when Our Lord is offered to God in the temple. And then the fifth Joyful Mystery, where we join Our Lady as she finds Our Lord in the temple.

All of that brought me to a resolution: I am going to go to St. Peter's Cathedral in Jackson today to hear Mass at 12:05 p.m. and then go to St. Francis of Assisi in Madison at 5:00 p.m. for Eucharistic adoration. I intend to pray for, and in thanksgiving for, Pope Francis, and to ask the prayers of St. Peter, St. Francis of Assisi, and St. Francis Xavier as Pope Francis takes up the Petrine ministry. Habemus Papam! I invite any who are in the area and so inclined to join me.

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The Cardinal Protodeacon spoke yesterday of joy and this morning I meditated on joy, but joy can be an odd companion to worry. But then again, joy can also feel like an odd companion to fasting and penance when we reach Laetare Sunday in Lent. The Liturgy is, inter alia, a great teacher, and on this Thursday of the Fourth Week of Lent, there is no difference:

Introit (1962 Missale Romanum)

Lætétur cor quæréntium Dóminum: quaerite Dóminum, et confirmámini: quaerite fáciem eius semper. Confitémini Dómino, et invocáte nomen eius: annuntiáte inter gentes ópera eius. Glória Patri, et Fílio, et Spirítui Sancto. Sicut erat in princípio, et nunc, et semper, et in saecula saeculórum. Amen. Lætétur cor quæréntium Dóminum: quaerite Dóminum, et confirmámini: quaerite fáciem eius semper.

Rejoice, O hearts that seek the Lord! Look to the Lord, and be strengthened; seek His face evermore. Give thanks to the Lord, invoke His Name; make known among the nations His deeds. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Rejoice, O hearts that seek the Lord! Look to the Lord, and be strengthened; seek His face evermore.

Collect (1962 Missale Romanum)

Præsta, quaesumus, omnípotens Deus: ut, quos ieiúnia votíva castígant, ipsa quoque devótio sancta lætíficet; ut, terrénis afféctibus mitigátis, facílius coeléstia capiámus. Per Dominum nostrum Iesum Christum, Filium tuum: qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitate Spiritus Sancti Deus, per omnia saecula saeculorum. Amen.

Grant, we beseech Thee, almighty God, that we who are chastising the flesh by fasting, may rejoice in this holy practice and thus, with earthly passions subdued, we may the more readily direct our thoughts to heavenly things. Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

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Et dixit illis angelus: Nolite timere: ecce enim evangelizo vobis gaudium magnum, quod erit omni populo: quia natus est vobis hodie Salvator, qui est Christus Dominus, in civitate David. Et hoc vobis signum: invenietis infantem pannis involutum, et positum in præsepio.

Luke 2:10-12

Venite, adoremus.

Sancta Maria, Ora pro nobis.
Sancte Joseph, Ora pro nobis.
Sancte Petre, Ora pro nobis.
Sancte Francisce, Ora pro nobis.

Oremus pro Pontifice nostro Francisco:
Dominus conservet eum, et vivificet eum, et beatum faciat eum in terra, et non tradat eum in animam inimicorum eius.

Deus, omnium fidelium pastor et rector, famulum tuum Francisco, quem pastorem Ecclesiæ tuæ præesse voluisti, propitius respice: da ei, quæsumus, verbo et exemplo, quibus præest, proficere: ut ad vitam, una cum grege sibi credito, perveniat sempiternam. Per Christum, Dominum nostrum. Amen.

What earlier generations held as sacred, remains sacred . . . . It behooves all of us to preserve the riches which have developed in the Church’s faith and prayer, and to give them their proper place.
Pope Benedict XVI, Cover Letter to the Apostolic Letter Summorum Pontificum

Una Voce Mississippi is a Roman Catholic lay organization that operates within the Diocese of Jackson. Our mission is to promote a restored sense of beauty and reverence in the Church’s liturgy. In particular, Una Voce promotes the liturgical use of Latin and the sacred music tradition of the Church (what the Second Vatican Council called “a treasure of inestimable value”), including Gregorian Chant and Polyphony. Finally, we are committed to supporting the availability within our diocese of Mass in the extraordinary form of the Roman Rite (sometimes called the Traditional Latin Mass or “Tridentine Mass”).

As Pope Benedict wrote of Mass in the extraordinary form in his letter accompanying Summorum Pontificum, people have discovered this liturgical form, felt its attraction and found in it a form of encounter with the Mystery of the Most Holy Eucharist. This sublime and sacred liturgy has always been known for its beauty, reverence, silence, and mystery. We are committed to supporting any priest interested in celebrating Mass in the extraordinary form by funding workshops or other educational materials and providing any necessary resources. In addition to this support, Una Voce Mississippi pledges the prayers of its members for the Bishop and all the priests of the Diocese of Jackson. Una Voce further aims to educate our members and the local Catholic community about this beautiful and ancient form of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

If you share our longing for a renewal of beauty, awe, and mystery in the liturgy, please consider joining us.