Traditional Latin Mass: Philippine Edition

Extraordinary Form of the Latin Rite celebrated by Most Rev. Jose Palma on March 26. 2012

What a beautiful image after Pope Benedict issued Summorum Pontificum. Hoping that this may be celebrated state-wide. I see both forms of the Mass are equal, being of that the Ordinary Form borrows heavily from the Extraordinary Form.

(Photo from the official blog of the Society of Saint Joseph Ecclesia Dei - Philippines, via Rorate Caeli Blog)

August 22: Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary

August 22
Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Memorial

Extraordinary Form: Solemnity of the Immaculate Heart of Mary

LITURGICAL NOTES: After the blessed feast of Assumption of the Blessed Virgin, Ven. Paul VI revised the Calendar and put instead after the Assumption, the Queenship of Mary.

"And all generations will call me blessed..." That's why we Catholics have great respect to the Blessed Virgin Mary: She is part of the saving work of God, bringing forth the Son of God by the overshadowing of the Holy Spirit; She remained Virgin forever and a symbol of purity and humility and obedience; and because God exalted her, she made her queen of heaven. For the angel tells her that her Son will be King over the house of Jacob forever. As described in the Psalms, "The queen  stands by your side, arrayed in gold..."

O Queen of Heaven, pray for us to God.

August 21: Saint Pius X

In Memory of the Holy Saints of God:

Pope Saint Pius X

Giuseppe Sarto was born at Riese (Italy) in 1835 and died at Rome on 20 August 1914. After being bishop of Mantua and patriarch of Venice, he was elected pope in 1903. In pursuit of his motto, “to renew all things in Christ,” he initiated reforms of the liturgy and of canon law and took stern measures against “modernist” trends in theology. His efforts to avert world war were frustrated. He is remembered for his poverty and for his promotion of liturgical participation, especially of frequent communion, to which he admitted young children. - ICEL Roman Missal 1998

The Church commemorates this blessed Vicar of Christ every August 21st. Let's look on the prayers from the Extraordinary Form and the Ordinary Form and reflect on these prayers in union with the liturgical readings suggested for this memorial.

Ordinary Form, Roman Missal 2010:

O God, who to safeguard the Catholic faith
and to restore all things in Christ,
filled Pope Saint Pius the Tenth
with heavenly wisdom and apostolic fortitude,
graciously grant
that, following his teaching and example,
we may gain an eternal prize.

Through our Lord Jesus ChristExtraordinary Form, Roman Missal 1965 is as same as the Ordinary Form, with being his memorial celebrated every September 3.

"Behold a great priest, who in his days pleased God; therefore, in accordance with his promise, the Lord gave him growth for the good of his people." (Entrance Antiphon). This was a great priest, a high priest of Jesus, his vicar on earth, successor of Peter. He was raised to the altars because of his love for the Holy Mass and for the safeguarding of the Church's unaltered doctrine and took measures about it. We thank God for filling him "with heavenly wisdom and apostolic fortitude," asking Him "that, following his teaching and example, we may gain an eternal prize." (Collect) Promoting the Faith everywhere, through the Gospel and the Eucharist and living it in our daily lives fulfills also our role as laity of the prophetic function.

As the blessed Pius the Tenth opened for younger children communion and recommended frequent communion, we are called to that, "we may celebrate these divine mysteries with sincere reverence and receive them in a spirit of faith." (Prayer Over the Offerings). Let us draw near to the Sacrament with such spirit of faith and reverence, kneeling before the King of kings. Celebrating the Holy Mass with love and constant devotion. And by the frequent receiving of Christ's Most Holy Body and Blood, "we may be made constant in the faith and be of one accord in your love." (Prayer After Communion)

The liturgical readings suggested for this day I would like to focus is on the Gospel of John, "Do you love me? Feed my lambs.": Jesus to Peter. We may also "feed" others with the Word of God, sharing with them the Eucharist, pointing out to the Lamb who is calling us, "Follow me."

20th Sunday In Ordinary Time: "I am the living Bread"

In the First Reading (Prv 9:1-6), we heard "Come, eat of my food, and drink of the wine I have mixed! Forsake foolishness that you may live; advance in the way of understanding." We are called to understand the mystery of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ and to people "who have prepared for those who love you good things which no eye can see" (Collect) as by "loving you in all things and above all things, we may attain your promises, which surpass every human desire." (Collect).

The Psalm Response invites us to "Taste and see the goodness of the Lord." (Ps. 34). "Taste and see" may seem figuratively but reflecting on the Gospel, "I am the living bread which came down from heaven", etc., we are called by Christ to eat his flesh and drink his blood because He himself affirms (as the Jews quarreled among themselves, "How can this man give us his flesh to eat"), "For my flesh is true food, and my blood, true drink." This affirmation from the Gospel of John about the Eucharist is done by Jesus. He didn't said "Hey, this is a symbol of my body" or he just stopped on the question of the Jews.

In our participation of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, let us offer to God our sacrifices, "by which is brought about a glorious exchange, that, by offering what you have given, we may merit to receive your very self." (Prayer over the Offerings) so that, "Made partakers of Christ through these Sacraments," we may ask the Lord "that, conformed to his image on earth, we may merit also to be his coheirs in heaven." (Prayer after Communion). Singing "With the Lord there is mercy; in him is plentiful redemption." (Communion Antiphon, Ps. 130:7) which the blessed Paul the Apostle says to thank the Lord in our hearts in the name of Jesus to God our Father (Cf. Second Reading, Eph. 5:15-20).

Introduction

Welcome to my blog! I'll hope that you may ponder new things on reflections about the Faith, the Church and her Liturgy. This is dedicated to the glory of the Triune God, to the blessed Mary ever-Virgin and to St. John Paul II of happy memory. God bless you all!