What Does The Prayer Really Say?
W D T P R S

From rogueclassicism:

ante diem vi idus decembres

Rites in honour of Tiberinus and Gaia—not a lot is known about these rites; Tiberinus had a temple on the Tiber island and presided over the Tiber (of course); Gaia seems to have originally given the Campus Martius (a.k.a. Campus Tiberinus) to the Roman people.

65 B.C.—birth of the poet Horace (Quintus Horatius Flaccus)

From a reader:

With the upcoming Feast of the Nativity of our Lord, I’m trying to decide on the perfect gift for an “on the fence” protestant, who by all counts, agrees with all things Catholic…he just needs a “nudge” and I think a good book on conversion would do the trick.

Any suggestions? I’m sure there are others in my shoes with non-Catholic friends/family or those with fallen away Catholics (or cafeteria Catholics for that matter!). Perhaps a poll would help.

 

My immediate inclination is to suggest a very nice Rosary.  They move the heart.

I wish that Queen of Peace Rosaries was still up and running.  The finest rosaries I have seen, hands down.

Just askin’ ....

Are you looking at blogs less these days?  More?

I received a wonderful and timely note:

Father,

I won’t clog up your busy time with a long email, but I wanted you to know how much I appreciate all that you do via the internet.  I have been reading your blog for a long time, and although I am not a commenter, like so many others I visit daily and really value what you have to say.

I want to especially thank you for your podcasts.  I have four kids, so computer time is scarce, and I had started listening to the archived files in the last few weeks, when my wife surprised me with a new Ipod.  So, I spent the weekend downloading all 75 (now 76!) podcazts onto it and am enjoying listening to these-  the bonus is that my teenage son, who is discerning a vocation, has downloaded them as well and is listening on his own time.

Anyway, keep up the good, good work.  I will continue to pray for you.

That keeps me going a while longer.

Pray for vocations.

Ahhhhh

Horrible Outlook problems today.   Soooooo irritating!

I think I’ll go to the library and run errands before the snowstorm strikes.

In the meantime, I will experiment with my Twitter ap on my phone. @fatherz

 

From a reader:

Last month you had a post about a priest’s letter to his parishioners about a dropped host.
 
I’m wondering, what was the instruction that he printed on the other side of this letter? [Hmmm…. I don’t know.]

I’m upset because yesterday an extraordinary minister of the Eucharist  [actually "of Holy Communion"...] dropped a host on the floor, and when I pointed it out to him (I had received in a different line—from a priest who didn’t see this) he told me "Yes, I’ll take care of it later" and then finished giving Communion to those in his line. When he was done he picked up the host, but no attempt was made to purify the place on the floor or indeed to prevent people from walking there (from the other line).
 
I keep wondering if I should have indeed deferred to his indication that he would "take care of it"—and I can’t find anything that says what the procedure should be! So even in speaking with the priest later, I felt at a loss.
 
Even at the Benedictine Abbey where we often go, and where Communion is given on the tongue to kneeling communicants, occasionally the host will fall. It seems that it should be better known what the procedure is, if there is one!

The problem is that so much was jettisoned after the Council that people don’t know what to do anymore.  Once upon a time (and now happily again) the rule were spelled out for these occasions, instructing priests about what to do.  Of course in those days there were no ministers of Communion, unnecessary or not.  Whatever happened could be witnessed by the priest and handled on the spot. 

In effect, the process of distribution should have immediately halted there. "Whoever" should have picked up the Host and either consumed it or gone to the priest or else gone to the place (altar, credence table, sacristy) where there is a small cup to purify fingers and put it in there to dissolve.  A purificator or paten should have been placed over the spot, to keep in unmolested.  After Mass the priest should have taken care of it.

This is yet another problem with the too frequent employment of Ministers of Communion.  They don’t know what to do.  This is the task of priests and deacons, and perhaps real acolytes.

The Holy Father was just at the Piazza di Spagna for the annual bestowing of the wreath of laurels on the statue of the Immaculate Conception.

From a priest reader:

After long delay, we’ve introduced Our Lady of Guadalupe into our calendar as a Feast, but now we have a problem: finding chants and texts! What is done in your community for Mass (Ordinary form) and Office regarding the Feast proper? Our choirmaster is especially interested in what chants are used from the Graduale. If you are able to give some insight a quick response (December 12th is this week!!) would be much appreciated.

 

Anyone?

From a reader:

Dear Father,
 
First of all,  thank you for your blog.  It’s a wonderful resource for a "revert" like myself, and I read it often.  I have a question about what happened at today’s Mass, which seemed a bit "off".    I’m not a liturgical nitpicker by any means, but today instead of the Second Sunday of Advent liturgy, the readings and Gospel were those of tomorrow’s great feast, the Immaculate Conception.  The vestments, however, were purple.  That did seem of synch to me. 
 
Also, am I correct in assuming that Sunday’s liturgy takes precedence over any feast, unless the feast itself falls on the Sunday?  There have been years when the Immaculate Conception falls on a Sunday, and then of course  these readings and Gospel are used.  However, there seemed to be an over-emphasis on Mary (whom I love and honour dearly), and not much on the Second Sunday of Advent.
 
I’d be interested in reading your thoughts on this.  At this parish there’s generally a lot of improvisation and ad-libbing in the liturgy.  I guess they haven’t gotten the memo:  Say the Black, do the Red!

Unless there is something particular happening, some directive from the bishop, this was very strange.

Sunday was the 2nd Sunday of Advent.  Today, 8 December is the Immaculate Conception.  On Sunday evening, we would have used 1st Vespers of the Immaculate Conception and, I suppose the anticipated Mass for Immaculate Conception, but then the vestments would have been white.

Someone didn’t get the memo.

Perhaps they need a reminder?

....not…

 

It was flash time, and they didn’t mind at all.

As a matter of fact, the chickadee took a nap.  I kid you not.  Usually these fluffy eating machines are in constant motion.  This one just sat there for about five minutes and ignored the world.







The chickadees and nuthatches are hanging out together again.  Here is a classic nuthatch pose.



Here is Mr. House Finch.



The Mourning Doves are around, as well.  But they prefer the sidewalk and sheltered area near the door where the dropped seed accumulates.