Daily Rome Shot 1190

Please remember me when Christmas shopping online and use my affiliate links.  US HEREWHY?  This helps to pay for health insurance (massively hiked for this new year of surprises), utilities, groceries, etc..  At no extra cost, you provide help for which I am grateful.

When I was 7, my grandmother gave me boxed sets of LPs of plays of Shakespeare read by some of the world’s greatest classical actors of the time. I played those things until they were smooth. At first I didn’t understand well what was going on by I was mesmerized by the language. After a while, I got it. This opened up for me all manner of language pathways and imagery. Now I read this, from Epoch. This is very cool. More HERE

Meanwhile, a story about how the Vatican is “on the verge of bankruptcy” and is struggling to pay employee pensions.  HERE  I’m reminded of Margaret Thatcher’s wisdom about Socialism and money.   Perhaps were a little more sanity to come out of Rome, people would give again.  Just an idea.

A story about the ecclesiastical tailor shop in Rome, Gammarelli, which will prepare gear for some of the new Cardinals named in the upcoming consistory.  HERE

At Stream a piece by William Kilpatrick about the open letter Bp. Strickland sent to the US Bishop when they were meeting in Baltimore.  Strickland accused the bishops of silence the face of heresy.  The results from the bishops: crickets.  Is this “The Spartacus Strategy”? HERE

In chessy news… HERE

Black to move and mate in 4.

Posted in SESSIUNCULA |
1 Comment

Send 2024 CHRISTMAS CARDS to Fr. Z!

I always enjoy your Christmas cards.  The notes and letters which describe the year people have had are interesting and, often, moving.  I read them all.

And drawings by kids are great!  Last year I finally started a KID ART PAGE.  I wish I had done this earlier.

If you would like to send me Advent/Christmas greetings or cards, please send by snail mail.

Remember mail?

As I have done in years past, I’ll try to post all the places whence they were mailed from around the world.  Keep in mind that if you don’t include your address, at least your city, I can’t easily do that.

I have a US PO BOX address.

Fr. John Zuhlsdorf
733 Struck St.
PO BOX 44603
Madison, WI 53744-4603

That is the P.O. Box of the Tridentine Mass Society of Madison

Someone will regularly check the P.O. box for me and forward everything.  NB: That will add a little time to how long it takes to reach me… but they do reach me.

If you want to send something time sensitive, or perhaps expensive – like keys to a Bugatti – contact me. HERE   I can give you a faster address!  If you’ve been a regular benefactor and we’ve had contact, you might consider that option.

Please DO NOT send perishable food items. I am sure they would be wonderful but, please, just don’t.

If you put glitter in the card, I’ll recite the Maledictory Psalms against you.

If  I receive something threatening or illegal, I will immediately turn it in to law enforcement.  I’m sorry I have to write that under such a cheery topic, but this is the world we live in, especially in this dreadful craziness going on.

 

Posted in SESSIUNCULA | Tagged
Leave a comment

ADVENTCAzT 2024 – 04: Wednesday 1st Week of Advent: Gabriel

A 5 minute daily podcast to help you in your Advent preparation

Today we hear about how Gabriel, in coming to Zechariah, underscores the fulfilment of the prophecy in Daniel 9. We get some medieval beats as well.

Posted in ADVENTCAzT, ADVENTCAzT, PODCAzT | Tagged , , , ,
Leave a comment

Daily Rome Shot 1189

In churchy news…

We are all glad that Notre-Dame de Paris is open again and that the bells are ringing. But, that altar… and ambo… and… what the….?!?

This is interesting… though I think another famous “world leader” is skipping the event.

Please remember me when Christmas shopping online and use my affiliate links.  US HEREWHY?  This helps to pay for health insurance (massively hiked for this new year of surprises), utilities, groceries, etc..  At no extra cost, you provide help for which I am grateful.

And…

There is a good story at CNA about the Benedictines nuns from Gower Abbey in Missouri (reminder: wonderful music CDs and Sr. Wilhelmina) expanding to an old abbey in English.   A good read.  HERE

Lifesite says that there was/is indeed a document on Francis’ desk which he declined to sign after a conversation with a friend.  It seem that Robert Moynihan was the source behind the Lifesite piece.

And….

In chessy news… HERE

White to move and mate in 2.

Posted in SESSIUNCULA |
5 Comments

ADVENTCAzT 2024 – 03: Tuesday 1st Week of Advent – Oxen and Jesui… Asses

A 5 minute daily podcast to help you in your Advent preparation.

Today we hear about Matins during Advent and also, with the help of Benedict XVI, about Oxen and Asses in our Christmas scenes.

Posted in ADVENTCAzT, ADVENTCAzT, PODCAzT | Tagged , , ,
1 Comment

Coincidence?

Posted in SESSIUNCULA | Tagged
16 Comments

Daily Rome Shot 1188 – TODAY ONLY 30%

Today only 30% off on wines from the Benedictine monks of Le Barroux. No code needed. It happens in the cart. Today only. Help the monks.

ALSO at Remote Chess Academy (he has helped my game) there is up to 80% off on courses ONLY TODAY Monday 2 Dec.  HERE

Welcome registrants:

jfrances
Searcher119611

In churchy news, I just have to do this…

In chessy news… HERE

Black can mate in 2. How fast can you find it?

Posted in SESSIUNCULA |
5 Comments

ADVENTCAzT 2024 – 02: Monday 1st Week of Advent – Dies irae

A 5 minute daily podcast to help you in your Advent preparation

Today we hear from Bl. Ildefonso Schuster about how once upon a time verses were sung before the Introit in honor of St. Gregory the Great. Also, Card. Bacci fills us in about life.

Posted in ADVENTCAzT, ADVENTCAzT, PODCAzT | Tagged , , , , , ,
1 Comment

Daily Rome Shot 1188 – Ecclesiastical EUTHANASIA!

Hey a******900@charter.net! Hey s*****41@nc.rr.com! My notes to you were kicked back. New email?

Are you Christmas shopping?  I like to get it done early so that I don’t have to think about it as Christmas draws near.

Tonight I’ll be lighting new candles for my Advent Wreath from the wonderful Dominicans in Summit!

In churchy news…

Archbp. Vigan has released a new letter.  HERE It is complicated.  There are some interesting points made about moves that Paul VI made to clear out older prelates from their positions (and therefore influence).  I remember one day when I was working in the Pontifical Commission, our boss Card. Innocenti came back from a special consistory for timed-out cardinals with JPII. More than one cardinal, he told us, was really angry about the Paul VI guillotine. We asked Innocenti what he said. He turned red, pounded the desk and said “It’s ecclesiastical euthanasia!”

In chessy news… before saying Mass I’m watching game 6.

White can mate in 2.  How long did it take you? Go HERE for the puzzle in the comment.

Please remember me when shopping online and use my affiliate links.  US HEREWHY?  This helps to pay for health insurance (massively hiked for this new year of surprises), utilities, groceries, etc..  At no extra cost, you provide help for which I am grateful.

Posted in SESSIUNCULA |
4 Comments

The Advent Vespers Hymn – ‘Conditor alme siderum’ or ‘Creator alme siderum’

At Vespers during Advent we priests recite (or ought to) a hymn entitled Conditor alme siderum. This is perhaps from the late 6th or early 7th c. In Pope Urban VIII’s revision of the hymns of the Roman Breviary in 1632, the Advent hymns were greatly altered and this hymn was no exception. The revised hymn, Creator alme siderum, is very different piece. In the Liturgia horarum original hymn has since been restored:

Conditor alme siderum,
aeterna lux credentium,
Christe, redemptor omnium,
exaudi preces supplicum.
Loving Creator of the stars,
eternal Light of believers,
O Christ, redeemer of all,
hear the prayers of supplicants.
Qui condolens interitu
mortis perire saeculum,
salvasti mundum languidum,
donans reis remedium,
You, greatly suffering with us
that the cosmos was perishing from the ruin of death,
saved the weakened world
giving a cure to the condemned,
Vergente mundi vespere,
uti sponsus de thalamo,
egressus honestissima
Virginis matris clausula.
while the evening of the world is verging toward us,
as a Bridegroom having come forth from the chamber, the most virtuous
enclosure of the Virgin Mother.
Cuius forti potentiae
genu curvantur omnia;
caelestia, terrestria
nutu fatentur subdita.
At whose powerful might
All things are bent down at the knee,
things celestial, things earthly,
things subdued making their profession with bowed head.
Te, Sancte, fide quaesumus,
venture iudex saeculi,
conserva nos in tempore
hostis a telo perfidi.
In faith we beg You, O Holy One,
You the Judge of the world about to come,
guard us in this era
from the weapon of the teacherous enemy.
Sit, Christe, rex piissime,
tibi Patrique gloria
cum Spiritu Paraclito,
in sempiterna saecula. Amen.
O Christ, most merciful King,
let there be glory to You,
and to the Father with the Consoler Spirit
forever and ever. Amen.

Here is one poetic translation for the restored, but ancient, text:

Creator of the starry height,
Thy people’s everlasting light,
Jesu, Redeemer, save us all,
Hear thou thy servants when they call.

Thou, sorrowing at the helpless cry
Of all creation doomed to die,
Didst save our lost and guilty race
By healing gifts of heavenly grace.

When earth was near its evening hour,
Thou didst, in love’s redeeming power,
Like bridegroom from his chamber, come
Forth from a Virgin-mother’s womb.

At thy great Name, exalted now,
All knees in lowly homage bow;
All things in heaven and earth adore,
And own Thee King for evermore.

To thee, O Holy One, we pray,
Our Judge in that tremendous day,
Ward off, while yet we dwell below,
The weapons of our crafty foe.

To God the Father, God the Son,
And God the Spirit, Three in One,
Praise, honor, might and glory be
From age to age eternally.

Alternate Third Verse:

Thou cam’st, the Bridegroom of the bride,
As drew the world to eventide;
Proceeding from a virgin shrine,
The spotless Virgin all divine.

Somewhere along the way, the Gregorian chant melodies for many hymns were adjusted, usually by French speakers, and you can hear the influence of French even on the melodies, for the syllabic emphasis shifted around. Today’s hymn is a good example. In the case of Conditor alme siderum, the melody was adjusted in such a way that the second syllable of Conditor receives an emphasis that it did not have before Vatican II.

“But Father! But Father! So what?!??” you say while drumming your fingers. “What difference could that make??? Aren’t you being too picky? It’s because YOU HATE VATICAN II!”

Friends, where you place the syllabic emphasis changes the meaning. Perpend.

There are two verbs in Latin that can give us the word spelled Conditor: condo, condere results in cónditor while condio, condire produces contor. The verb condo, condere, condidi, cónditum, “to bring, lay or put together” in the sense of “establish, build, construct, compose, describe” and, strangely, “hide” is never to be confused with condio, condire, condivi, condí­tum: “to put fruit in vinegar, wine, spices, etc., to preserve, pickle”. Our English word “condiment” comes from condio. BEWARE! This gets confusing because since “to lay up”, as in to pickle or preserve, can also be expressed by condo! There is a connection between the words.

Incautious people might sing the Vespers hymn in such a way that we lift our hearts and minds to the merciful Pickler, rather than the merciful Creator. The inattentive singer of vespers sings us an image of a cosmic cook sealing stars into Ball jars or sprinkling fresh herbs through the heavens.

Let’s play with this a while. We can even learn something about how the ancients ate.

M. Porcius Cato (234-149 B.C. – the “Elder” or the “Censor” to distinguish him from his homonymous grandson), in his no nonsense work about running a farm called De agri cultura (called variously De re rustica), wrote: oleae conduntur [condo] vel virides in muria… (muria… think of Muriatic Acid) which means “green olives persevered/laid down in salt brine.” Remember, I said condo can hit from both sides of the plate.

Also in De agri cultura XVII we find the same Cato’s descriptive chapter entitled Oleae albae quo modo condiantur [condio]… “how light colored olives are to be preserved”. Important stuff in Italy even today. Moreover, in his Natural History, C. Plinius Secundus (A.D. 23-79 – who died perhaps from poisonous gases in Stabiae about 16 km from the eruption of the volcano Vesuvius while trying to get good and close… hah… never a good idea), also called Pliny “the Elder” (to distinguish him from his nephew C. Plinius Caecilius Secundus “the Younger” Pliny (A.D. 62-113) – who described early Christians and their liturgical worship in his letters to the Emperor Trajan and who actually wrote the description of Vesuvius’ eruption at the request of the historian C. Cornelius Tacitus) says: vitis ipsa quoque manditur decoctis caulibus summis, qui et condiuntur [condio] in aceto ac muria, describing the cooked tendrils of grapevines flavored with vinegar and salt brine. Yum.

We need to know all of this just in case during Advent we are called upon to sing the great hymn Cónditor Alme siderum…O Nourishing/Kind Maker of the Stars.

Anyway, here is a nourishing poetic translation:

Creator of the stars of night,
Thy people’s everlasting Light;
Jesu, Redeemer, save us all,
And hear thy servants when they call.

Thou, grieving that the ancient curse
Should doom to death an universe,
Hast found the med’cine, full of grace,
To save and heal a ruin’d race.

Thou cam’st, the Bridegroom of the Bride,
As drew the world to evening-tide;
Proceeding from a Virgin shrine,
The spotless Victim all divine.

At whose dread Name, majestic now,
All knees must bend, all hearts must bow
And things celestial thee shall own,
And things terrestrial, Lord alone.

O thou, whose coming is with dread
To judge and doom the quick and dead,
Preserve us, while we dwell below,
From ev’ry insult of the foe.

To God the Father, God the Son,
And God the Spirit, Three in One,
Laud, honour, might, and glory be
From age to age eternally. Amen.

I wonder sometimes if people have the slightest clue what has been lost to us, even on the level of literature and Western culture. Is it really possible to read classics of Western literature without a working knowledge of the Church’s mighty liturgical texts? I don’t think so. What would someone ignorant of the Church’s Latin liturgy make of this passage from Jean Jacques Rousseau‘s Confessions (Book 3 – 1728-1731)?

“I have always preserved an affection for a certain air of the Conditor alme Syderum, because one Sunday in Advent I heard that hymn sung on the steps of the cathedral (according to the custom of that place) as I lay in bed before daybreak. Mademoiselle Merceret, Madam de Warrens’ chambermaid, knew something of music; I shall never forget a little piece that M. le Maitre made me sing with her, and which her mistress listened to with great satisfaction. In a word, every particular, even down to the servant Perrine, whom the boys of the choir took such delight in teasing. The remembrance of these times of happiness and innocence frequently returning to my mind, both ravish and affect me.

Other than that, Rousseau was a real jerk.

A century earlier, during the humanism of the Renaissance Pope Urban VIII (Barbarini) revised many hymns for the Breviarium Romanum in 1623, including this one, to the point that it is pretty much a different hymn. It seems this version didn’t make it to France for Rousseau to hear. Compare and contrast.

Creator alme siderum,
aeterna lux credentium,
Iesu, Redemptor omnium,
intende votis supplicum.

Qui daemonis ne fraudibus
periret orbis, impetu
amoris actus, languidi,
mundi medela factus es,

Commune qui mundi nefas
ut expiares, ad crucem
e Virginis sacrario
intacta prodis victima.

Cuius potestas gloriae,
Nomenque cum primum sonat,
et caelites et inferi
tremente curvantur genu.

Te, deprecamur ultimae
magnum diei Iudicem,
armis supernae gratiae
defende nos ab hostibus.

Virtus, honor, laus, gloria
Deo Patri cum Filio,
Sancto simul Paraclito,
in saeculorum saecula.

You don’t need much Latin to know that that is pretty different.

These hymns are pretty interesting, aren’t they?

__________

Years ago I made a couple of podcasts in which I dissected the hymn for Vespers during Advent, Conditor or Creator alme siderum, in both the Vetus Ordo of the Roman Rite and the Novus Ordo.

I give a rapid and brutally literal translation and sing the hymns so you can hear the differences.

124 11-11-26 – Advent EF and OF hymns for vespers compared

Posted in ADVENT, Linking Back, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, WDTPRS | Tagged
6 Comments

ADVENTCAzT 2024 – 01: 1st Sunday of Advent – Come, Lord Jesus!

A 5 minute daily podcast to help you in your Advent preparation

We hear today from dom Prosper Guéranger and Ven. Fulton J. Sheen. I toss some of my own comments in.

Posted in ADVENTCAzT, ADVENTCAzT, PODCAzT, SESSIUNCULA |
3 Comments

Daily Rome Shot 1187

Please remember me when shopping online and use my affiliate links.  US HEREWHY?  This helps to pay for health insurance (massively hiked for this new year of surprises), utilities, groceries, etc..  At no extra cost, you provide help for which I am grateful.

HEY!   v.********@stonyhurst.ac.uk  HEY!   a*****.w****@erickson.com –  My thank you notes were kicked back.  New email?

I am not sure that I agree about “only one”, but this is a good choice.

P.D. James – The Children of Men

AVOID THE DREADFUL MOVIE!

In chessy news… HERE

Black to move and mate in 3.

It’s Magnus Carlsen’s Birthday. He is 34 today.

Posted in SESSIUNCULA |
7 Comments

Why was Gregorian Chant suppressed even though the Council commanded that it be used?

Because the Devil hates Latin and Gregorian chant.

From the “Map Psalter” – England (1262-1300)

Those who suppressed Latin and Gregorian chant were doing the work of the Enemy.  They were willing or unwitting (maybe witless) agents.

Posted in Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, Save The Liturgy - Save The World |
11 Comments

Daily Rome Shot 1186 – amazing

Please remember me when shopping online and use my affiliate links.  US HEREWHY?  This helps to pay for health insurance (massively hiked for this new year of surprises), utilities, groceries, etc..  At no extra cost, you provide help for which I am grateful.

In churchy news…

In chessy news… HERE

White can mate in 2. Find it. FAST!

Posted in SESSIUNCULA |
10 Comments

Notre-Dame de Paris

Notre Dame in Paris has been spiffed up.

Who can ever shed from memory the images of the fire?

A great deal of hard and meticulous work has gone into restoring this amazing place, much of it dedicated to other problems that developed over the years and that were unrelated to the fire.

Posted in SESSIUNCULA |
2 Comments

Getting things wrong and then getting it right

I thought you all might like to know about this, posted by Fishwrap.

Fishwrap chose to use a photo of Bp. Baron for this.

So, Jesus “got it wrong”.

Along with that…

It’s as if the first commission on deaconettes never took place (i.e., no evidence for female deacons).   As one in a text group I am in remarked, “It’s like California: the election was three weeks ago and they’re still counting votes!” So, Phoebe was Paul’s FedEx guy. Called “a servant” (Greek diákonon), she is claimed by some to have been sacramentally ordained.  Paul also called Phoebe his “sister”. I strongly suspect that – being a Corinthian – she was not really Paul’s sister, in a literal sense. The term “sister” was used by Paul, as it is today, analogously. So, too, “deacon/servant”. She was really helpful in the community, probably wealthy, and a good person to deliver some mail.

Moving on to more interesting stuff from the internet…

And, for your Thanksgiving Day entertainment…

Posted in SESSIUNCULA |
7 Comments

Daily Rome Shot 1185 – Downs and ups and gratitude

From during my last Roman Sojourn… not turkey, but at least it’s poultry.

And, true “thanksgiving”, though in a muted mode.   It heralds a Requiem I’ll say today.

Speaking of Requiems, you might in your goodness, please pray for the soul of this priest who committed suicide.   I recommend him to the intercession of St. Joseph, to the Queen of Priests, and to the High Priest Himself who will know what truly was going on in his heart and mind in the irreversible moment.  May God have mercy.

Not to be too much of a downer today, I am reminded of all the good Fr. Martins has done, how many have benefited from his apostolate, and that the Enemy is constantly at work to bring down those who are effective.

This…

Here is someone I miss. I am grateful that we had him for as long as we did. What a lasting impact. R.I.P.

In churchy news…

Nah…

In chessy news… nah… but there is a puzzle. HERE

White to move and mate in 4.

UPDATE:

This is nifty…

Posted in SESSIUNCULA |
7 Comments

ASK FATHER: What if Father misses with water during one of the three pours during a Baptism.

From a priest reader…

Thank you for your post: HERE (very helpful; answered a question of mine some time ago).

I have had some discussions with some of our Priests regarding Baptism. Here’s a scenario that came up:

Many times, baby baptisms are unpredictable in that babies constantly move their heads, etc.

Say, during Baptism, Fr. (n), says,

“(N.), I baptize you in the name of the Father, (water pour), and of the Son (water pour, but, say, father sneezes or coughs and misses while pouring or the child thrashes or moves head so the water either misses the head completely or Priest is unclear if it really hit the head, so he repeats, “and of the Son” [water pour]), and of the Holy Spirit.”

I assume the above scenario also applies to the other Sacraments, say, Confession, e.g., during the recitation of the Absolution formula, Father (N.) sneezes and mispronounces a phrase or word so he repeats it correctly, e.g. “And I absolve you from your sins (coughs/sneezes to the point where he’s flustered, so he repeats, “and I absolve you from your sins . . .”).”

Good to go?

Good to go.

Those blips don’t change the essence of the form, it’s meaning, or matter.  Especially if there is a repetition.

In the case of baptism it doesn’t make any difference whether the water is poured once, twice or three times.  This was clarified by the Council of Trent.

Three times can help assure that water has run on the head.   What is critical for validity is that water is used (pouring, immersion, sprinkling) and the Trinitarian form is used.

On a related issue:

From a reader…

I have noticed that priests sometimes add the word “all” to the formula i.e “I absolve you from ALL your sins…”

Would this have any bearing on validity? I hope not.

This does not have any bearing validity.  The priest should stick to the exact form.  However, the addition of “all” merely makes explicit what is implicit in “a peccatis tuis …“.  “I absolve you from your sins” means “from all your sins”, not “from some of your sins”.

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box |
3 Comments

Surprise! I found them. Sorry about that.

I have been wondering why I hadn’t seen “Ask Father” questions for a while.

Then I discovered that an old email filter had decided to work and was funneling questions into an old folder I had made to make it easier to find them.

So… I wasn’t intentionally ignoring you.

There  are over 600 questions sitting in that folder.   I can’t make any promises about them.  I’ll do some triage.

It took the death of a friend of many years and someone trying to hunt up my phone number to give me the news which pulled me eye to something that lead me to the old folder.

So, say a prayer for L.A.L., who died recently.

Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domine, et lux perpetua luceat eis.
Requiescat in pace. 

 

Posted in ASK FATHER Question Box |
1 Comment

Daily Rome Shot 1184 – Pippo Bbono! – UPDATED

Photo from Fr. JJ.   Pippo Bbono!

Welcome Registrant:

aburch

Reminder about this new and useful book. Peter teases out 10 objections to the Vetus Ordo in favor of the Novus.

Turned Around: Replying to the Most Common Objections Against the Traditional Latin Mass – by Peter Kwasniewski

US HERE (and Canada, I think) – UK HERE

The US has a Kindle Version and Audible recording.  The UK also has an audio version.

In churchy news…

Pope Francis then goes on to describe the Document as part of the “ordinary Magisterium of the Successor of Peter” and asks that its authoritative nature be respected as such. “It represents a form of exercising the authentic teaching of the Bishop of Rome”, explains the Pope, adding that “it contains elements of novelty but aligns with what I clarified on October 17, 2015, when I stated that synodality is the proper interpretive framework for understanding hierarchical ministry”.

However, he clarifies that the Document “is not strictly normative” but rather a call for reflection differently applied in each context.

I don’t get it.

In cool news…

In chessy news… HERE

White to move and mate in 2.

 

Please remember me when shopping online and use my affiliate links.  US HEREWHY?  This helps to pay for health insurance (massively hiked for this new year of surprises), utilities, groceries, etc..  At no extra cost, you provide help for which I am grateful.

UPDATE:

I just scrambled to get my mother’s car started.  It wouldn’t turn over due to a low battery (from 2022, so not that old).  I don’t know what might have drained it.   Her neighbor had some sort of service vehicle in the driveway and I ask the guy if he had cables.  He produced a small portable car jump starter. After it was hooked up and warmed up, it did the trick.  Handy.   If you don’t have one you might consider getting one for yourself or as a Christmas gift.  Right now there are BLACK FRIDAY sales.  I looked at THIS ONE and put it on my list.

UPDATE:

I have some additional relics which need reliquaries.   Thinking there might be a BLACK FRIDAY sale for them, too, I looked around and found this, which is like others that I have.  But there is a curious item in the description.   Could it be that it is intended only for St. Lawrence?

 

Posted in SESSIUNCULA |
13 Comments