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Regina Coeli

by Filed Under: Easter, Marian Leave a Comment

The Regina Coeli is an Easter hymn dedicated to Our Lady’s Queenship.

During this Eastertide, the Marian hymn used to conclude the Office of Compline is changed from the common Salve Regina (Hail, Holy Queen) to the joyful, Regina Coeli (Queen of Heaven, rejoice!). The Regina Coeli also replaces the Angelus said three times a day (6am, 12pm, and 6pm).

 

Regina Coeli

V. Regina coeli, laetare, alleluia.

R. Quia quem meruisti portare, alleluia.

V. Resurrexit, sicut dixit, alleluia.

R. Ora pro nobis Deum, alleluia.

V. Gaude et laetare, Virgo Maria, alleluia.

R. Quia surrexit Dominus vere, alleluia.

Oremus.

Deus, qui per resurrectionem Filii tui, Domini nostri Iesu Christi, mundum laetificare dignatus es: praesta, quaesumus; ut per eius Genetricem Virginem Mariam, perpetuae capiamus gaudia vitae. Per eundem Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen.

 

Queen of Heaven

V. Queen of Heaven, rejoice, alleluia.

R. For He whom you did merit to bear, alleluia.

V. Has risen, as he said, alleluia.

R. Pray for us to God, alleluia.

V. Rejoice and be glad, O Virgin Mary, alleluia.

R. For the Lord has truly risen, alleluia.

Let us pray.

O God, who gave joy to the world through the resurrection of Thy Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, grant we beseech Thee, that through the intercession of the Virgin Mary, His Mother, we may obtain the joys of everlasting life. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

Below are images and a PDF that can be download for your personal use.

Click image to download PDF for print.

For use as wallpaper on your phone.

Below is an abbreviated explanation about this Marian hymn from The Catholic Encyclopedia.
 
The opening words of the Eastertide anthem of the Blessed Virgin, the recitation of which is prescribed in the Roman Breviary from Compline of Holy Saturday until None of the Saturday after Pentecost inclusively. In choro, the anthem is to be sung standing. 
 
The authorship of the Regina Coeli being unknown, legend says the St. Gregory the Great (d. 604) heard the first three lines chanted by angels on a certain Easter morning in Rome while he walked barefoot in a great religious procession and that the saint thereupon added the fourth line: “Ora pro nobis Deum. Alleluia.” The authorship has also been ascribed to Gregory V, but without good reason. The beautiful plainsong melodies (a simple and an ornate form) are variously given in the Ratisbon antiphonary and in the Solesmes Liber Usualis of 1908, the ornate form in the latter work, with rhythmical signs added, being very attractive. The official or “typical” melody will be found (p. 126) in the Vatican Antiphonary (1911). Only one form of melody is given. The different syllabic lengths of the lines make the anthem difficult to translate with fidelity into English verse. The anthem has often been treated musically by both polyphonic and modern composers.
 
Here are some suggested links of musical variations available on YouTube:

Good Shepherd Sunday

by Filed Under: Easter, Good Shepherd Leave a Comment

Second Sunday After Easter

White – Semi-double

This Sunday is often called Good Shepherd Sunday: the Gospel tells us of the Good Shepherd. Jesus is indeed the Good Shepherd of our souls. He came to give His life for us.

INTROIT Ps. 32. 5, 6 – The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord, alleluia: by the word of the Lord were the heavens made, alleluia, alleluia. — (Ps. 32. 1). Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous: praise is comely for the upright. V.: Glory to the Father . . . — The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord . . .

EPISTLE ¤ I. Peter 2. 21-25 – [St. Peter, Head and Pastor of the Church of Christ, tells us in his Epistle that Jesus is the Shepherd of our souls, which were as sheep going astray.]

Dearly beloved, Christ suffered for us, leaving you an example, that you should follow His steps who did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth. Who when He was reviled, did not revile: when He suffered, He threatened not, but delivered Himself to him that judged Him unjustly: who His own self bore our sins in His body upon the tree: that we, being dead to sins, should live to justice; by whose stripes you were healed. For you were as sheep going astray: but you are now converted to the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.

GOSPEL John 10:11-16. – At that time, Jesus said to the Pharisees: “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.

“I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.”

~~~

Fr. Gabriel of St. Mary Magdalen, O.C.D. Divine Intimacy

The Good Shepherd

Second Sunday after Easter Presence of God

I come to You, O Jesus, my Good Shepherd; lead me to the pastures of eternal life.

Meditation

1. The liturgy today sums up in the gentle figure of the Good Shepherd all that Jesus has done for our souls.

The shepherd is everything to his flock; their life, their sustenance, and their care is entirely in his hands, and if the shepherd is good, they will have nothing to fear under his protection, and they will want for nothing.

Jesus is preeminently the Good Shepherd: He not only loves, feeds and guards His sheep, but He also gives them life at the cost of His own. In the mystery of the Incarnation, the Son of God comes to earth in search of men who, like stray sheep, have wandered away from the sheepfold and have become lost in the dark valley of sin. He comes as a most loving Shepherd who, in order to take better care of His flock, is not afraid to share their lot. Today’s Epistle (1 Peter 2:21-25) shos Him to us as He takes our sins upon Himself that He may heal us by His Passion: “Who His own self bore our sins in His Body upon the tree that we, being dead to sin, should live to justice; by whose stripes you were healed. For you were as sheep going astray; but you are now converted to the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.” (1 Peter 2:24-25) Jesus said, “I am the Good Shepherd, and I give my life for my sheep” and in the Office for Paschal time, the Church chants many times: “The Good Shepherd is risen, He who gave His life for His sheep and who died for His flock.” What could be a better synthesis of the whole work of the Redemption? It seems still more wonderful when we hear Jesus declare: “I am come that they may have life and may have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10) In truth, He could well repeat to each one of us: “What more could I have done for you that I have not done?” (cf. Isaiah 5:4) Oh, would that our generosity in giving ourselves to Him had no limits, after the pattern of HIs own liberality in giving Himself to us!

2. Again Jesus said: “I know Mine, and Mine know Me, even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father” (Gospel: John10:11,16) Although there is no question here of equality, but merely that of a simple comparison, it is nevertheless very consoling and glorious for us to see how Jesus likes to compare His relations with us to those He has with His Father. At the Last Supper also, He said: “As the Father hath loved Me, I also have love you,” and again: “as Thou, Father, in Me, and I in Thee; that they also may be one in Us” (John15:9; 17:21) This shows that between us, the sheep, and Jesus, our Shepherd, there is not only a relation of acquaintance, but also one of love, and better still, of a communion of life, similar to that which exists between the Son and the Father. It is by means of the grace, faith and charity, which the Good Shepherd acquired for us by His death, that we arrive at such intimacy with our God – so deep that it makes us share in His own divine life.

A close relationship of loving knowledge is here established between the Good Shepherd and His sheep — one so intimate that the Shepherd knows His sheep one by one and can call them by name; and they recognize His voice and follow Him with docility. Each sould can say: “Jesus knows me and loves me, not in a general abstract way, but in the concrete aspects of my needs, of my desires, and of my life; for Him to know me and to love is to do me good, to encompass me more and more with His grace, and to sanctify me. Precisely because He loves me, Jesus calls me by name: He calls me when in prayer He opens to me new horizons of the spiritual life, or when he enables me to know my faults and weaknesses better; He calls me when He reprimands me or purifies me by aridity, as well as when He consoles and encourages me by filling me with new fervour; He calls me when He makes me feel the need of greater generosity, and when He asks me for sacrifices or gives me joys, and still more, when He awakens in me a deeper love for Him. Hearing His call, my attitude should be that of a loving little sheep who recognizes the voice of its Shepherd and follows Him always.

Colloquy

“O Lord, You are my Shepherd, I shall not want; You make me lie down in green pastures, You lead me to the water of refreshment, You convert my soul and lead me on the paths of justice. Even though I walk in the ravines, in the dark valleys, I shall fear no evil, for You are with me. Your rod and Your staff are my comfort. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil, my cup runs over.” (cf. Psalm 22 O Lord, my Good Shepherd, what more could You have done for me that You have not done? What could You have given to me that You have not given? You willed to be my food and drink. What more delightful and salutary, nourishing and strengthening pasture could You have found than Your own Body and Blood?

O good Lord Jesus Christ, my sweet Shepherd, what return shall I make to You for all that You have given me? What shall I give You in exchange for Your gift of Yourself to me? Even if I could give myself to You a thousand times, it would still be nothing, since I am nothing in comparison in comparison with You. You, so great, have loved me so much and so gratuitously, I who am so small, so wicked and ungrateful! I know, O Lord, that Your love tends toward the immense, the infinite, because You are immense and infinite. Please tell me, O Lord, how I ought to love You.

“My love, O Lord, is not gratuitous, it is owed to You…. Although I cannot love You as much as I should, You accept my weak love. I can love You more when You condescend to increase my virtue, but I can never give You what You deserve. Give me then, Your most ardent love by which, with Your grace, I shall love You, please You, serve You, and fulfil Your commands. May I never be separated from You, either in time or in eternity, but abide united to You in love, forever and ever.” (Ven. R. Jourdain)

~~~

Resources:

~~~

Good Shepherd, who lays down His Life for His sheep, nourish Your people with the Bread of Life, that we may reflect Your likeness and enjoy the spring of Living Water that never ends. Amen.

Empty Tomb Garden {DIY}

by Filed Under: Easter, Lent 1 Comment

We ought to glory in the cross of our Lord Jesus
Christ: in whom is our salvation, life, and resurrection: by whom we
have been saved and delivered (Gal. 6:14). May God have mercy on
us, and bless us: may He cause the light of His countenance to shine
upon us, and may He have mercy on us (Ps. 66:2). ~ Introit from Holy Thursday

 

We’re entering deeper into Lent – Holy Week with another family tradition. This year we skipped on the wheat grass because the only thing I seem to be able to grow these days is my lil’ one due in weeks.

Below are more pics of our Empty Tomb Gardens over the years and a brief tutorial to make your own Empty Tomb Garden, just in time for Easter Sunday and the complete Easter season.

 

A reminder. “Let us hope that, by God’s mercy, the holy time we are now entering upon will work such a happy change in us, that, on the day of judgment, we may confidently fix our eyes on Him we are now about to contemplate crucified by the hands of sinners. The death of Jesus puts the whole of nature in commotion; the midday sun is darkened, the earth is shaken to its very foundations, the rocks are split: may it be that our hearts, too, be moved, and pass from indifference to fear, from fear to hope, and, at length, from hope to love; so that, having gone down, with our Crucified, to the very depths of sorrow, we may deserve to rise again with Him unto light and joy, beaming with the brightness of His Resurrection, and having within ourselves the pledge of a new life, which shall then die no more!” ~ The Liturgical Year of Don Gueranger

This is a wonderful Lenten/Easter project for the entire family.  All ages will enjoy it.  The Empty Tomb Garden provides a visual reminder of what we are preparing for during Lent, Christ’s Resurrection.

An Easter garden has three essential features:  a mound with at least one cross to represent Calvary; a stone or stone structure to suggest the empty tomb; and lots of live greenery/flowers.

The children will have an opportunity to tend and nurture their gardens during Lent and beyond.  They can meditate on Christ’s passion and offer an ejaculation while tending to their garden.

We adore Thee, O Christ, and we bless Thee.
Because by Thy holy Cross, Thou hast redeemed the world.

The grass will grow within days.  It is wheat grass and can be eaten.  It symbolizes new life.

The children will remove the stone on Easter morning, reveal the buried Alleluia, and rejoice!

 

 

 

DIY EMPTY TOMB GARDEN TUTORIAL

SUPPLIES:

(supplies/prices listed are for a large group of children)

Garden

  • Seed Starting Jiffy Mix ($3.80/bag – 1 bag made 14 mini gardens)
  • Decorative rocks ($5.59/large bag of Mountain Granite from HomeDepot – 80+mini gardens.  $1/small bag of decorative rocks from the Dollar Store – 2-3 mini gardens)
  • Gravel (this is used as a bottom layer, not much is needed.  I took my rock from my home garden)
  • Wheat Berry ($.77/lb – 2lbs – 40 mini gardens.  I found my wheat berries at Winco in the bulk bin foods.)
  • Dessert Plastic Plates or shallow pots ($9.89/100 plates.  I used plastic plates because they were the most economical choice for a large group.  I found my plates at Smart-n-Final)
  • Mini Terracotta Pots ($.24/ea at WalMart)

Crosses

  • Popsicle sticks ($1/150 sticks at the Dollar Store)
  • Brown Paint
  • Hot Glue Gun

Misc.

  • Water
  • Bucket
  • Spray Bottle
  • Hand Shovel

 

 

DIRECTIONS:

Garden

  1. mix the seed starter/soil with waterIMG_1217
  2. position tomb/terracotta pot in the desired location on plate/pot
  3. lay down the gravel on the plate, securing the pot into place.slightly build up the gravel for your hill.IMG_1220
  4. top the gravel with soilIMG_1221
  5. cover the entire soil with the wheat berries.  press the wheat berries into the soil.IMG_1225
  6. add a layer of soil on top of the wheat berries.  press down firmly.  (this step is optional.  it will slow the growth of the wheat grass.)
  7. clean the plate.  remove the wheat berries from areas that you do not want grass to grow.IMG_1227
  8. create a path from the tomb with decorative rocks.  this represents how the disciples ran to the tomb on Easter morning.  add decorative rocks as desiredIMG_1230
  9. insert the crossespapi

IMG_11601 week

The grass grows faster with less top soil.  The garden on the left of both pictures had a thick top soil packed tightly over the wheat berries.


 

Almighty and ever living God, whose Son Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene in a garden and called her to be the first witness of his Resurrection:  we beseech thee to bless this humble garden wherein we have a remembrance of the mighty acts by which we have been saved; grant that all those who see it may ponder and adore the glory of the Cross and the mystery of his Resurrection and may sing with joy the victory hymn; through Jesus Christ our risen Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen ~Station at an Easter Garden

 

Empty Tomb/Easter Gardens:

Easter Blessings

by Filed Under: Easter 1 Comment

 

Surrexit Dominus vere, Alleluia!

The Lord is risen indeed!  ~ Luke 24:34

image

JOY{filled}family Easter 2014

~~~

Christ is Risen, and you, O death, are annihilated!
Christ is Risen, and the evil ones are cast down!
Christ is Risen, and the angels rejoice!
Christ is Risen, and life is liberated!
Christ is Risen, and the tomb is emptied of its dead; for Christ having risen from the dead, is become the first-fruits of those who have fallen asleep.
To Him be Glory and Power forever and ever. Amen!

~ Taken from Easter Sermon By St. John Chrysostom

Easter JOY

by Filed Under: Easter, Family Easter, GFG 9 Comments

 

Easter pic

~~~

Let us all enter into the joy of the Lord! First and last alike receive your reward; rich and poor, rejoice together! Sober and slothful, celebrate the day!
You that have kept the fast, and you that have not, rejoice today for the Table is richly laden! Feast royally on it, the calf is a fatted one. Let no one go away hungry. Partake, all, of the cup of faith. Enjoy all the riches of His goodness!
Let no one grieve at his poverty, for the universal kingdom has been revealed. Let no one mourn that he has fallen again and again; for forgiveness has risen from the grave. Let no one fear death, for the Death of our Savior has set us free. He has destroyed it by enduring it. ~ Easter Sermon by St. John Chrysostom

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