"Let us amend and do better for those things in which we have sinned through ignorance lest, suddenly prevented by the day of death, we seek time for penance, and be not able to find it. Attend, O Lord, and have mercy: for we have sinned against Thee. "
- Response chanted by the choir during the reception of ashes Last Friday, the Diocese of Santa Rosa received the great blessing of two new deacons: Deacon John Plass and Deacon Thomas Stuart. We thank God for these men who have answered His call and pray that they may be truly men of God. The gratitude and awe evoked by the sight of these virtuous young men prostrate before God in humble supplication during the Litany of the Saints was surpassed only by that evoked when the Bishop silently laid his sacred and anointed hands on their heads, consecrating them to the clerical state. May God bless our new deacons with fidelity and perseverance!
O salutaris Hostia,
Quae caeli pandis ostium: Bella premunt hostilia, Da robur, fer auxilium. Uni trinoque Domino Sit sempiterna gloria, Qui vitam sine termino Nobis donet in patria. Amen. In the second half of the year, the six months from Trinity to Advent, the Holy Ghost whose reign begins at Pentecost, comes to repeat to us what our Lord Himself has taught in the first half, the six months from Advent to Trinity Sunday.
This morning, the bright spring flowers and relics were absent from the altar, the white and gold of the Easter season were muted by the black vestments, and the hauntingly beautiful chants of the Requiem Mass filled the chapel as we united our hearts to the great prayer, the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, offered for the repose of the soul of a dear friend.
"Spiritual elevation to union with God through the power of Christ is what this holy night accomplishes...we must believe firmly that now, at Easter, God enters the world and our souls, to consecrate and sanctify." Fr. Pius Parsch
Resurrexit sicut dixit! Alleluia! May the grace of the resurrection of our Lord fill your hearts this joyous season! As might be imagined, the Sacred Triduum is a most beautiful and very full time for the Sisters. Living as we do at the service of the Sacred Liturgy, there was scarcely a breather between Palm Sunday and the present moment for side duties (such as blogging), but now that we are basking in the glow of the Easter season, there may be time to share a little about our Holy Week and Easter, beginning with a few highlights.
O God, who through thine only-begotten Son didst on this day overcome death and open unto us the gates of everlasting life: prosper with thine aid the desires which thou didst anticipate with thine inspiration. Through the same Lord. Amen. - Collect
“…All the mysteries were lived by Jesus for us, in order to grant us to be, some day, with him where He is by right – in the glory of His Father. Yes, each of us can say with St. Paul: Christ ‘loved me and have Himself up for me.’ And His immolation on the cross was not only the crowning point of the mysteries of His earthly life. It was for me, because He loved me, that He accomplished everything.” - Blessed Columba Marmion
The Son of God has come down upon the earth, in order to restore man to Life; and yet, here we have this creature of death daring to summon his Divine Benefactor before a human tribunal, and condemning him to Death! And Jesus is silent! - Dom Gueranger
|
Categories
All
Archives
October 2020
|