share our JOY

JOY{filled}family

striving to radiate Him always

Vigil of All Saints

by Filed Under: 10 October Saints, All Hallow's Eve, All Saints Day, The Liturgical Year Leave a Comment

October 31st is the Vigil of All Saints Day. Traditionally, it is a day of fasting and partial abstinence.

One of my sons dressed as his namesake, a beloved saint who was a fierce priest, with his hero, another beloved priest.

➕

In the first ages, during the night before every feast, a vigil was kept. In the evening the faithful assembled in the place or church where the feast was to be celebrated and prepared themselves by prayers, readings from Holy Writ (now the Offices of Vespers and Matins), and sometimes also by hearing a sermon. On such occasions, as on fast days in general, Mass also was celebrated in the evening, before the Vespers of the following day. Towards morning the people dispersed to the streets and houses near the church, to wait for the solemn services of the forenoon. This vigil was a regular institution of Christian life and was defended and highly recommended by St. Augustine and St. Jerome. – The Catholic Encyclopedia 1909

➕
Collect of the Vigil All Saints

O Lord, our God, multiply Thy graces upon us, and grant that joy may follow in the holy praise of those whose glorious festival we anticipate. Through our Lord Jesus Christ Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen.

➕
Canticum Magnificat (from Vespers on the Vigil of All Saints)
{Antiphon from the Proper of Saints}
Ant. O ye Angels, * ye Archangels, ye Thrones and Dominions, ye Principalities and Powers, ye mighty ones of the heavens, ye Cherubim and Seraphim, O ye Patriarchs and Prophets, ye holy Teachers of the Law, O ye Apostles, O all ye Martyrs of Christ, ye holy Confessors, ye Virgins of the Lord, ye Hermits, O all ye holy children of God, make intercession for us.

Let us prepare our souls for the graces heaven is about to shower upon the earth in return for its homage.

Tomorrow the Church will be so overflowing with joy, that she will seem to be already in possession of eternal happiness; but today she appears in the garb of penance, confessing that she is still an exile.

Let us fast and pray with her; for are not we too pilgrims and strangers in this world, where all things are fleeting and hurry on to death?

Year by year, as the great solemnity comes round, it has gathered from among our former companions new saints, who bless our tears and smile upon our songs of hope.

Year by year the appointed time draws nearer, when we ourselves, seated at the heavenly banquet, shall receive the homage of those who succeed us, and hold out a helping hand to draw them after us to the home of everlasting happiness.

Let us learn, from this very hour, to emancipate our souls; let us keep our hearts free, in the midst of the vain solicitudes and false pleasures of a strange land: the exile has no care but his banishment, no joy but that which gives him a foretaste of his fatherland.

With these thoughts in mind, let us say with the Church the Collect of the vigil.

➕

Domine Deus noster, multiplica super nos gratiam tuam: et, quorum prævenimus gloriosa solemnia, tribue subsequi in sancta professione lætitiam. Per Dominum.

O Lord our God, multiply thy grace upon us; and grant us in our holy profession to follow the joy of those, whose glorious solemnity we anticipate. Through our Lord.

domprospergueranger #theliturgicalyear #vigilofallsaints

Procession & litany if saints

The councils of Spain and Gaul, as early as the sixth century, (Concil. Gerund, an. 517, can. 3; Lugdun. II. an. 567, can. 1.) mention a custom then existing, of sanctifying the commencement of November by three days of penance and litanies, like the Rogation days which precede the feast of our Lord’s Ascension.

The fast on the Vigil of All Saints is the only remaining vestige of this custom of our forefathers, who, after the institution of the feast, advanced the triduum of penance, so as to make it a preparation for the solemnity itself. “Let our devotion be complete,” is the recommendation of a contemporaneous author; “let us prepare ourselves for this most holy solemnity by three days of fasting, prayer and almsdeeds.” (Inter Opera ALUINI, Epist. xci. ad calcem.)

When extended to the entire world, the feast became complete; it was made equal to the greatest solemnities, and widened its horizon till it reached the infinite, embracing uncreated as well as created sanctity. Its object was now, not only Mary and the martyrs; not only all the just children of Adam, but moreover the nine choirs of Angels, and above all the Holy Trinity Itself, God who is all in all, the King of kings, that is, of the Saints, the God of gods in Sion. Hear now the Church awakes her children on this day: Come let us adore the Lord, the King of kings, for he is the crown of all the Saints.” (Invitatory of the Feast.) Such was the invitation addressed by our Lord himself to St. Mechtilde, the chantress of Helfta, the privileged one of his divine Heart: “Praise me, for that I am the crown of all the Saints.” The virgin then beheld all the beauty of the elect and their glory drawing increase from the Blood of Christ, and resplendent with the virtues practiced by him; and responding to our Lord’s appeal, she praised with all her might the blissful and ever adorable Trinity, for deigning to be to the Saints their diadem and their admirable dignity. (Liber specialis gratiae, P . I. cap . xxxi.) – Dom Prosper Gueranger

Ember Days of September

by Filed Under: 09 September Saints, Ember Days, The Liturgical Year Leave a Comment

The Ember Days of September are upon us!

“For the third time this year, Holy Church comes claiming from her children the tribute of Penance, which, from the earliest ages of Christianity, was looked upon as a solemn consecration of the Seasons.” #domprospergueranger #domgueranger

➕

Ember days (corruption from Latin Quatuor Tempora, four times) are the days at the beginning of the seasons ordered by the Church as days of fast and abstinence.

They were definitely arranged and prescribed for the entire Church by Pope Gregory VII (1073-1085) for the Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday after 13 December (S. Lucia), after Ash Wednesday, after Whitsunday, and after 14 September (Exaltation of the Cross).

The purpose of their introduction, besides the general one intended by all prayer and fasting, was to:

• thank God for the gifts of nature
• teach men to make use of them in moderation
• assist the needy

– 1917 Catholic Encyclopedia

The Christian Life

by Filed Under: Lent, The Liturgical Year Leave a Comment

The fundamental rule of Christian life is, as almost every page of the Gospel tells us, that we should live out of the world, separate ourselves from the world, hate the world.

The world is that ungodly land which Abraham, our sublime model, is commanded by God to quit. It is that Babylon of our exile and captivity, where we are beset with dangers.

The beloved disciple cries out to us: ‘Love not the world, nor the things which are in the world. If any man love the world, the charity of the Father is not in him.’

Our most merciful Jesus, at the very time when He was about to offer Himself as a sacrifice for all men, spoke these awful words: ‘I pray not for the world.’

When we were baptized, and signed with the glorious & indelible character of Christians, the condition required/accepted of us, was that we should renounce the works and pomps of the world (expressed under the name of Satan); and this solemn baptismal promise we have often renewed…

The world is everything that is opposed to our Lord, that refuses to recognize Him, and that resists His divine guidance.

Those false maxims which tend to weaken the love of God in our souls; which recommend the vanities that fasten our hearts to this present life; which cry down everything that can raise us above our weaknesses or vices; which decoy and gratify our corrupt nature by dangerous pleasures, which, far from helping us to the attainment of our last end, only mislead us—all these are ‘the world.’

This world is everywhere, and holds a secret league within our very hearts. Sin has brought it into this exterior world created by God for Himself, and has given it prominence. Now, we must conquer it, and trample upon it, or we shall perish with it.

There is no being neutral; we must be its enemies, or its slaves…

Let us also tremble for ourselves; that our courage may not fail us, let us ponder those consoling words, which our Savior…addressed to His eternal Father…: ‘Father! I have given them Thy word, and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, as I also am not of the world. I pray not, that Thou shouldst take them out of the world, but that Thou shouldst keep them from evil.’

Dom Prosper Gueranger

A few spiritual reads and journals have been selected. The others will finalize their selections in the next few days, within the Septuagesima Season in preparation for Lent.

What spiritual reading have you selected for this Lent or years past?

➕
“Spiritual reading is the food of the soul, which renders it dauntless and strong against all temptation, which prompts it with holy thoughts and ardents desires for heaven, which enlightens the mind, strengthens the will, and sites comfort in all afflictions, which, in conclusion, procures that true and holy joy which is found in God alone.” St. Ambrose

Christmastide

by Filed Under: 12 December, Christmas, The Liturgical Year Leave a Comment

Christmas continues (despite what the world declares) and we remain at the Crib of Jesus, our Master.

➕
In the mystery of Christmastide, this Light is given to us, so to speak, softened down; our weakness required that it should be so.

It is indeed the Divine Word, the Wisdom of the Father, that we are invited to know and imitate; but this Word, this Wisdom, are shown us under the appearance of a Child.

Let nothing keep us from approaching him.

We might fear were he seated on a throne in his palace; but he is lying on a crib in a stable!

Were it the time of his Fatigues, his Bloody Sweat, his Cross, his Burial, or even of his Glory and his Victory, we might say we had not courage enough: but what courage is needed to go near him in Bethlehem, where all is sweetness and silence, and a simple Little Babe!

Come to him, says the Psalmist, and he enlightened!

O happy Crib of Bethlehem!

–Dom Prosper Gueranger

Rorate Mass & Gaudete Sunday

by Filed Under: 12 December, Advent, Rorate, The Church’s Year, The Liturgical Year, Third Sunday in Advent Leave a Comment

There is no exercise which is more pleasing to God, or more meritorious, or which has greater influence in infusing solid piety into the soul, than the assisting at the holy sacrifice of the Mass. If this be true at all the various seasons of the Christian year, it is so, in a very special manner, during the holy time of Advent. The faithful, therefore, should make every effort in order to enjoy this precious blessing, even on those days when they are not obliged to it by the precept of the Church. #domprospergueranger

The Rorate Mass offered at our Parish the First Saturday of Advent in 2021

➕

The beauty and austerity of the morning can not be put into words. The senses are drawn in more than ever before.

Some years we all go and other times one of us stays behind with the littles.

We wake up at 3am to prepare for this Holy Mass and depart at 4:30am, arriving before the gates open.

We remind the children about the darkness that we will be surrounded with in the Church, the world, and that which is placed before us for this Holy Mass. We impress the necessity for us to trust in the maternal love of Our Lady for all our needs as we prepare for Holy Mass.

Holy Mass begins and all the worries fade. The darkness is almost unnoticeable as all the senses are drawn into the true light. It’s all a beautiful preparation for the Christchild.

Divine Infant King Jesus, come down into our hearts! 🙏🏼

The following Advent reflection is one worth reading for all.

➕
Everyone who acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father.
—Mt. 10:32

Meditation

Our Lord may be the occasion of fall in different ways and notably by human respect. As the name indicates, human respect is the respect of man, but an exaggerated respect, a respect which leads us to renounce doing good to our neighbor by fear of displeasing him.

This subject is especially pertinent insofar as Catholics today are easily singled out and ridiculed.

The desire which we have of pleasing men and the exaggerated fear which we have of displeasing them can make us not dare to bear witness to our Faith. As Bourdaloue says, “We are ashamed to declare ourselves [Christians] and we do not see that this shame is in itself more shameful than the declaration we would have to make. A word, a mockery troubles us, and we do not consider by what or by whom we are letting ourselves be troubled. By what? Since there is nothing more frivolous than mockery when it is attacking virtue. By whom? Since it is by vain men whose blame or approval ought to matter to us but little.”

Under pretext of not shocking people, we may be leaving them in their mediocrity. Human respect puts a muzzle on us and prevents us from being apostles.

Let us acknowledge that this excessive timidity is unworthy of a Catholic and let us strive to make up for it in the future.

Lord Jesus, give me the grace to overcome human respect when Thy honor is at stake. I wish from now on to defend the Catholic Faith, with humility and prudence but also with strength and constancy.

Prayer

O Jesus, who left the imprint of Thy holy Face on the veil of St. Veronica, deign so to imprint Thy features on my soul that, fortified by the courage of this holy woman, never again may I let myself be drawn down by cowardly human respect.
—Way of the Cross, 6th station
➕

This meditation is taken from #adventtoepiphany

I pray that your Advent has been fruitful thus far and that you have a blessed Gaudete Sunday. 💜💗

Second Sunday in Advent

Third Sunday in Advent

Let us enter into her spirit, and be glad on this third Sunday of her Advent, because our Lord is now so near unto us. Tomorrow we will resume our attitude of servants mourning for the absence of their Lord and waiting for Him; for every delay, however short, is painful and makes love sad.

The Station is kept in the basilica of St. Peter, at the Vatican. This august temple, which contains the tomb of the prince of the apostles, is the home and refuge of all the faithful of the world; it is but natural that it should be chosen to witness both the joy and the sadness of the Church.

The Night Office commences with a new Invitatory. The voice of the Church no longer invites the faithful to come and adore in fear and trembling the King, our Lord, who is to come. Her language assumes another character; her tone is one of gladness; and now, every day, until the Vigil of Christmas, she begins her Nocturns with these grand words:

The Lord is now nigh; come, let us adore. #domprospergueranger

Subscribe to our Newsletter