Hodie Christus Natus Est

Dominus dixit ad me: Filius meus est tu, ego tu, hodie genui te.
Der Herr spricht zu Mir: "Mein Sohn bist du, heute habe Ich Dich gezeugt."
The Lord said unto Me: "Your are My Son, this day have I begotten Thee."

Two of theChristmas Masses are named, in German:
The first of the Christmas Masses - Missa in nocte - is Engelamt - Mass of the angels.
The Second Mass - Missa in aurura - is Hirtenamt - Mass of the Shepherds.

One of the curious customs of the Christmas octave is that the preface of the Nativity is used at all Masses celebrated during the octave. St. Stephen, St. John, the Holy Innocents, (St. Thomas of Canterbury and St. Sylvester) all use the Nativity preface. The Lutheran Magdeburg Cathedral Book, the Roman Rite and the Anglican Missal all agree on this.

The Collect of the Nativity is also added to the Collect of the day being celebrated. In this way the Octave of the Nativity is commemorated in all other Masses.

Blessed are they who see Christmas through the eyes of a child.

May this be your gift at Christmas.

From the Martyrology for Christmas Day

The reading of the Martyrology for a given day is always anticipated, being read on the preceding day. Therefore, this portion of the martryology for Christmas Day may be read prior to the beginning of the Christmas Midnight Mass. It presents the time line of the Incarnation.

In the year from the creation of the world, when God created heaven and earth, five thousand one hundred and ninety-nine; from the flood, two thousand nine hundred and fifty-seven; from the birth of Abraham, two thousand and fifteen; from Moses and the coming of the Israelites out of Egypt, one thousand five hundred and ten; from the anointing of King David, one thousand and thirty-two; in the sixty-fifth week, according to the prophecy of Daniel; in the one hundred and ninety-fourth Olympiad; in the year seven hundred and fifty-two from the foundation of the city of Rome; in the forty-second year of the empire of Octavian Augustus, when the whole world was at peace, in the sixth age of the world, Jesus Christ, eternal God, and Son of the eternal Father, desirous to sanctify the world by His most merciful coming, having been conceived of the Holy Ghost, and nine months having elapsed since His conception, is born in Bethlehem of Juda, having become Man of the Virgin Mary. The Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ according to the flesh.

O Emmanuel

The greater antiphons at the Magnificat are begun on December 17, and are said , each on its day, until the day before the vigil of Christmas. If a feast is celebrated, they are said after the collect of the feast, for a commemoration of Advent. These antiphons are best known in the form of the hymn Veni Immanuel. Lutheran Worship, hymn 31, includes all seven of these versified antiphons. These antiphons are listed below in Latin, in English translation, and in verse. The hymn includes the refrain Gaude, gaude, Immanuel Nascetur pro te Israel, Rejoice, rejoice, Emmanuel shall come to thee O Israel.

December 23 - O Emmanuel
O Emmanuel, Rex et legifer noster, exspectatio gentium, et Salvator earum: veni ad salvandum nos, Domine Deus noster.

O Emmanuel, our King and Lawgiver, the Expected of nations and their Savior: Come, and save us, O Lord our God.

O come, O come, Emmanuel, And ranson captive Israel, That morns in lonely exile here, Until the Son of God appear. Refrain.

O Rex Gentium

The greater antiphons at the Magnificat are begun on December 17, and are said , each on its day, until the day before the vigil of Christmas. If a feast is celebrated, they are said after the collect of the feast, for a commemoration of Advent. These antiphons are best known in the form of the hymn Veni Immanuel. Lutheran Worship, hymn 31, includes all seven of these versified antiphons. These antiphons are listed below in Latin, in English translation, and in verse. The hymn includes the refrain Gaude, gaude, Immanuel Nascetur pro te Israel, Rejoice, rejoice, Emmanuel shall come to thee O Israel.

December 22 - O Rex Gentium
O Rex gentium, et desideratus earum, lapisque angularis, qui facis utraque unum: veni, et salve hominem, quem de limo formasti.

O King of Gentiles, and their Desire, the cornerstone that binds two into one: Come and save mankind whom You have fashioned out of clay.

O come Desire of Nations, bind In one the hearts of all mankind, And bid their sad divisions cease, And be Thyself the King of Peace. Refrain.

O Oriens,

The greater antiphons at the Magnificat are begun on December 17, and are said , each on its day, until the day before the vigil of Christmas. If a feast is celebrated, they are said after the collect of the feast, for a commemoration of Advent. These antiphons are best known in the form of the hymn Veni Immanuel. Lutheran Worship, hymn 31, includes all seven of these versified antiphons. These antiphons are listed below in Latin, in English translation, and in verse. The hymn includes the refrain Gaude, gaude, Immanuel Nascetur pro te Israel, Rejoice, rejoice, Emmanuel shall come to thee O Israel.

December 21 - O Oriens
O Oriens, speldor lucis aeternae, et sol iustitae: veni, et illumina sedentes in tenebris, et in umbra mortis.

O Dayspring, splendor of Light eternal and Sun of Justice: Come, and enlighten those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death.

O come, Thou Dayspring from on high, And cheer us by Thy drawing nigh, Disperse the gloomy clouds of night, And death's dark shadows put to flight. Refrain.

O Clavis David

The greater antiphons at the Magnificat are begun on December 17, and are said , each on its day, until the day before the vigil of Christmas. If a feast is celebrated, they are said after the collect of the feast, for a commemoration of Advent. These antiphons are best known in the form of the hymn Veni Immanuel. Lutheran Worship, hymn 31, includes all seven of these versified antiphons. These antiphons are listed below in Latin, in English translation, and in verse. The hymn includes the refrain Gaude, gaude, Immanuel Nascetur pro te Israel, Rejoice, rejoice, Emmanuel shall come to thee O Israel.

December 20 - O Clavis David
O clavis David, et sceptrum domus Israel; qui aperis, et nemo claudit; claudis, et nemo aperit: veni, et educ vinctum de domo carceris, sedentem in tenebris, et umbra mortis.

O Key of David and scepter of the house of Israel, Who opens and no one closes, Who closes and no one opens: Come, and deliver him from the chains of prison who sits in darkness and in the shadow of death.

O come, Thou Key of David, come, And open wide our heavenly home, Make safe the way that leads on high, And close the path to misery. Refrain.

O Radix Iesse

The greater antiphons at the Magnificat are begun on December 17, and are said , each on its day, until the day before the vigil of Christmas. If a feast is celebrated, they are said after the collect of the feast, for a commemoration of Advent. These antiphons are best known in the form of the hymn Veni Immanuel. Lutheran Worship, hymn 31, includes all seven of these versified antiphons. These antiphons are listed below in Latin, in English translation, and in verse. The hymn includes the refrain Gaude, gaude, Immanuel Nascetur pro te Israel, Rejoice, rejoice, Emmanuel shall come to thee O Israel.

December 19 - O Radix Iesse,

O radix Iesse, qui stas in signum populorum, super quem continebunt reges os suum, quem gentes deprecabuntur: veni ad liberandum nos, iam noli tardare.

O Root of Jesse, standing as an ensign before the peoples, before Whom all kings are mute, to Whom the nations will do homage: Come quickly to deliver us.

O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free Thine own from Satin's tyrany, That trust Thy mighty power to save, And bring them victory o'er the grave. Refrain.

O Adonai

The greater antiphons at the Magnificat are begun on December 17, and are said , each on its day, until the day before the vigil of Christmas. If a feast is celebrated, they are said after the collect of the feast, for a commemoration of Advent. These antiphons are best known in the form of the hymn Veni Immanuel. Lutheran Worship, hymn 31, includes all seven of these versified antiphons. These antiphons are listed below in Latin, in English translation, and in verse. The hymn includes the refrain Gaude, gaude, Immanuel Nascetur pro te Israel, Rejoice, rejoice, Emmanuel shall come to thee O Israel.

December 18 - O Adonai

O Adonai, et Dux domus Israel, qui Moysi in igne flammae furi apparuisti, et ei in Sina legem dedisti: veni ad redimendum nos in bracchio extendo.

O Adonai and ruler of the house of Israel, Who appeared to Moses in the burning bush and gave him the Law on Sinai: Come with an outstretched arm and redeem us.

O come, O come, Thou Lord of Might, Who to Thy tribes on Sinai's height, In ancient times didst give the Law, In cloud and majerty and awe. Refrain.

O Sapientia

The greater antiphons at the Magnificat are begun on December 17, and are said , each on its day, until the day before the vigil of Christmas. If a feast is celebrated, they are said after the collect of the feast, for a commemoration of Advent. These antiphons are best known in the form of the hymn Veni Immanuel. Lutheran Worship, hymn 31, includes all seven of these versified antiphons.
These antiphons are listed below in Latin, in English translation, and in verse. The hymn includes the refrain "Gaude, gaude, Immanuel Nascetur pro te Israel - Rejoice, rejoice, Emmanuel shall come to thee O Israel."

December 17 - O Sapientia

O Sapientia, quae ex ore Altissimi prodiisti, attingens a fine usque ad finem, fortiter suaviterque disponens omnia: veni ad docendum nos viam prudentiae.

O Wisdom, proceeding from the mouth of the Most High, reaching from the beginning even unto the end, mightliy ordering all things: Come and teach us the way of prudence.

O come, Thou Wisdom from on high, Who orders all things mightliy, To us the path of knowledge show, And teach us in her ways to go. Refrain.

Christianity Disrespects non-Christians

It is inevitable. Our Lord Himself said that "When they kill you, thay will think that they are doing God a service."

It seems that there is a town in Pennsylvania that was "required" to remove a Nativity display that had been in place for 57 years; because a (one, singular, individual) citizen deemed it to be offensive to non-Christians. The question was also raised about the "Separation of Church and State"; because the display was in a government building.

If you click on the title above, you will be directed to Glenn Beck's comments on this point. It does seem that this discussion was between Glen and one of his staff; but you will get the point.

It seems that the Devil and his band are working overtime to discredit any and all displays honoring the Nativity of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ simply because these displays "disrespect non-believers.?"

It has always been my opinion that "respect" is not a right; respect is something that is earned. In modern parlance, if you say something negative about someone you "dis" (disrespect) that person. Therefore, respect is seen as a given. How, then, is it "disrespectful" to a person who simple disagrees with the statement you are making?

How can one disrespect a non-Christian merely by displaying a Nativity scene, even on "government" property, simply by it being there: the question of the (so called) separation of Church and State to the contrary notwithstanding?

The Advent Wreath - The Candles Have Names

After purchasing candles for my Advent Wreath, I read the following on the back of the box:

"For Christians, Advent is the joyous and solemn season of preparation for Christmas. It is the celebration of not only the anniversary of the first coming  of Christ, but also the hope and expectation of His second Coming. Advent begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas and lasts for four consecutive weeks.

"The most popular of all Advent customs is the Advent wreath. Many families still celebrate Advent today with a traditional Advent wreath arrangement, made up of a circle of evergreen boughs and five candles - four around the circumference of the wreath and one in the middle.

"The celebration of Advent is marked by lighting a candle on each of the four Sundays. On the first Sunday of Advent, the purple Prophecy candle is lit, reminding us that Christ's Coming was revealed to us by God through the prophets.

The purple Bethlehem candle is lit on the second Sunday, in addition to the first purple, offering light and guidance through the bright Star of Bethlehem.

On the third Sunday, the pink (Rose) Shepherd's candle is also lit, bearing the joy and glad tidings of the coming birth.

The final purple candle is added to the lighting ceremony on the fourth Sunday. This is the Angel's candle signifying Christ's presence is near.

Finally on Christmas Day, we light a large white Christ Candle to celebrate His arrival, the Light of the World."

(This description was found on a box of candles from Root Candles, Medina, Ohio 44256. I do not think that they would have a problem with you sharing this with others.)

I have known how the colors of the candles followed the liturgical colors of the Advent Sundays; but I did not know that the candles were named. I find this to be a prefiguring of the names associated (in German) with the three Masses of Christmas: First Mass - Midnight - Mass of the Angels. Second Mass - Dawn - Mass of the Shepherds. Third Mass - On the Day - (not titled in German) the Mass of His Birth.

A blessed Advent to you all.

St. Cecelia

From the Martyrology for 22 November:

St. Cecilia, virgin and martyr, who, on the 16th of September, purpled with her own blood, departed to her heavenly Spouse....

The collect for her festival would mark this as an early addition to the commemoration of the saints.

O God, which makest us to be glad with the yearly festival of blessed Cecilia thy Virgin and Martyr grant: we beseech thee; that as we do venerate her in our outward office, so may we follow the example of her godly conversation. Through....

Cecilia was early recognized as one of the most illustrious of virgin Martyrs. Therefore, along with Lucy, Agnes, and Agatha, her name is mentioned in the Gregorian Canon. But nothing can now be surely established concerning her, nor of her companions Valerian and Tiburtius, save that they were martyred and buried in Rome, in either the second or third century. The written Acts of St. Cecilia (on which this this Legend and the Propers of her Office are based) were probably compiled toward the end of the fifth century.

Ordo Anno 2011

I have uploaded my calendar for 2011 to LexOrandi. The title of this post will take you directly to the 2011 calendar.

I welcome you questions, comments and suggestions. If you see something that seems to be in error, please let me know. It is not easy to proof read your own work.

The September Ember Days

The calendar that I post on Lexorandi lists the Ember Days for each of the four seasons.

It seems that changes made to the Roman Breviary in the 1960 revisions regards the arrangement of the months from August to November. This seems to have some effect upon their determination of the dates of the September Ember Days.

This year Ember Wednesday is September 22, Ember Friday is September 24, and Ember Saturday is September 25.

By clicking on the title above you can read the entire article on The New Liturgical Movement.

Te Deum Laudamus

Thanks be to God that Rev. Matthew Harrison has been elected to the office of President of the Lutheran Church -- Missouri Synod.

Let us all pray to our heavenly Father, through our Lord Jesus Christ, that the Holy Spirit grant him all that is needful to carry out the work that he has been called to do.

Holy Week and the Holy Cross

Palm Sunday has shown us the Passion of Our Lord according to St. Matthew. On Monday, St. John 12:1-9 is the Gospel. On Tuesday, we hear the Passion according to St. Mark. Wednesday presents the Passion according to St. Luke.

Holy Thursday begins with the Chrism Mass, wherein the Oils to be used during the coming year are blessed and consecrated. The evening Mass in Cena Domini celebrates the institution of the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper. At this Mass, during the Gloria in Excelsis, bells are rung. They will not be heard again until they are rung again during the Gloria in Excelsis in the first Mass of Easter.

It is also customary that the Mass of the Lord's Supper, and after the Good Friday services, the benediction is not given. The Church has always considered the Triduum to be one, uninterrupted Service culminating in the Mass of Easter.

The Paschal Privilege now applies during the Octave of Easter. It has been the custom of the Church that, during the Easter Octave, all remain standing during the prayers and the Consecration in honor of the Resurrection.

May the God and Father of Our Lord Jesus Christ enlighten your hearts during this most Holy Week, and may our Resurrected Lord Jesus Christ grant you the fullness of the blessings of His Resurrection, that you are comforted by and assured of the saving merits of His Sacrifice which has assured your eternal salvation.

Behold the wood of the cross, on which hung the salvation of the world. O come, let us adore Him.

Judica - the First Sunday of the Passion

As if Lent did not already put a damper on the Liturgy by eliminating the Alleluia and the Gloria in Excelsis, the Gloria Patri is now silenced. Crosses and icons are now veiled, candles of unbleached wax replace the usual candles, and processional crosses and candlesticks might also be replaced with wooden ones. The sobriety of Lent becomes even more pronounced. Even so, on March 25, the Feast of the Annunciation of (to) the Blessed Virgin Mary is celebrated by including the Gloria in Excelsis. The Alleluia, however, is replaced by the Tract. The Preface that has stated that, until now, we were to prepare our hearts to celebrate the Paschal Feast, now focuses on the comparison

If my memory is correct, I believe that the Catholic Church, Novus Ordo (VC II), considers Passiontide to begin on Palm Sunday. (If this is incorrect, please let me know.)

The sobriety that predominates during these two weeks is reinforced by the change in the Proper Preface which has stated that we were to prepare our hearts for the Paschal Feast, now focuses on the fact the he who, by a tree once overcame, would now be by a tree overcome.

After Palm Sunday, the Second Sunday of the Passion, the liturgy takes us through the Passion of Our Lord on Holy Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. On Holy Thursday, we revisit the action in Cena Domini which had Our Lord washing His disciples feet and instituting the Holy Sacrament of His Body and Blood, given and shed for us for us for the remission of our sins.

Following the Mass on Holy Thursday, the altars are stripped, to remain unadorned in mourning for the death of Our Lord.

As we wait to celebrate the Resurrection of Our Lord, may we follow His journey during the coming weeks, so that we may rejoice in the fullness of the Liturgy in celebration of His Resurrection.

Holy Days During Lent

I have been asked if it was proper to celebrate the feast days of Saints during Lent. The answer is yes. Although Lent is a time of preparation the Easter, the only time during which such celebrations are prohibited is during Holy Week itself. These days focus solely upon the Passion and Death of Our Lord and Savior. This also holds true for the octave of Easter. All of the days from Easter to Low Sunday (Quasimodogeniti) admit no feast whatsoever. For example, if March 25th, the Annunciation, falls during Holy Week (or Easter week) it is always transferred to the first free day after Low Sunday.

This year, St. Matthias Day (February 24) is the Wednesday after Invocabit. At this Mass the Gloria in Excelsis is sung; but the tract replaces the Alleluia Verse. This would be the pattern for any feast celebrated during Lent; but outside of Holy Week.

The historic Gradual is from Psalm 139:17-18 - How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand.

The Tract is from Psalm 21:2-3 - Thou hast given him his heart's desire, and hast not withholden the request of his lips. For Thou hast prevented him with the blessings of goodness: and setest a crown of pure gold on his head.

A Calendar, Ash Wednesday, and Other Things

A calendar lets you know the times and seasons, the days and the months; but some calendars deliver other assorted bits of information.

Working in a chiefly RC bookstore, I find odd tidbits of information in the strangest of places - calendars. While browsing a diary style calendar, I noticed that is had a number of entries of the "Did You Know" type. I present the following for your consideration.

A. Did you know...
"The Sundays of Lent are considered "Little Easters;" no fasting or penance is necessary on these days. Since Lent has six Sundays, the season is 46 days long in order to assure the full forty days' penance."

And how is this done? With six weeks having only six days of penance (fasting), you have only 36 days during Lent. Where do the other four come in? They start on Ash Wednesday. Ash Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday make up the additional days, for a total of 40.
Add the six Lenten Sundays to the 40 days of fasting and you have 46 days between Ash Wednesday and Easter.

B. Did you know ...
The Easter Octave is a privileged octave. No other feast or commemoration is permitted during the octave. Therefore, the Friday in the Easter Octave is not a day of penance (fasting). (Actually, the same holds true the the Pentecost Octave, but this calendar failed to mention it.)

C. Did you know ...
The practice of substituting the recitation of Psalms or the giving of alms for a portion of the penitential fast is sanctioned in the Irish Synod of 807, which says that the fast of the second day of the week may be 'redeemed' by singing one Psalter or by giving a dinarius to a poor person.

D. Did you know ...
The edict of Milan (315 AD) made Christianity legal in Rome; but it did not become the official faith of the empire until 379 AD.

E. Did you know ...
When water from the Jordan River is used in the ritual for baptism, the blessing over the water is omitted; Jesus blessed it already by permitting himself to be baptized there.

The Presentation of Our Lord & the Purification of Mary

Introit: We have thought of Thy lovingkindness, O God: in the midst of Thy temple.
according to Thy Name, O God, so is Thy praise unto the ends of the earth: Thy right hand is full of righteousness.
Ps: Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised: in the city of our God, in the mountain of His holiness. Glory be to the Father,...

Gradual: We have thought of Thy lovingkindness, O God: in the midst of Thy temple.
according to Thy Name, O God, so is Thy praise unto the ends of the earth. As we have heard, so have we seen in the city of our God, in the mountain of His holiness. Halleluia. I will worship toward Thy holy Temple: and will praise Thy Name. Halleluia.

Offertory: Grace is poured into thy lips: therefore God hath blessed thee forever, and for ages of ages.

Question: How, then, did a groundhog come to have top billing on February 2?

With Appologies for My Calendar

I was advised that I had made a few errors in the 2010 Calendar posted on LexOrandi.org. The corrections to the Sundays after Epiphany have been made. It is not wise to proof read your own writing. I appreciate it that my readers are quick to point out my mistakes. I am pleased to know that I have a number of ghost editors working for me.

The Chair of St Peter at Rome - January 18

With Fr. Weedon commenting that he will not be celebrating this feast, it calls to mind that the 1962 revisions the to Roman calendar are, indeed, a bit curious. The (this) Feast of St. Peter's Chair at Rome (January 18) has been dropped from the calendar. This feast seems to have been associated with the Feast of St. Peter's Chair at Antioch. Thereby creating a singular Feast of St. Peter. This, of course, is not the only "adjustment" that has been made to the calendar.

It seems to be strange to me that if something is not in need of repair, why fix it. Any comments that you might have Re. the "Adjustments" that Rome has made to the historic calendar are solicited posts to this blog.

Announcement of Movable Feasts at Epiphany

Among the many customs of Christmas and Epiphany, this one is the announcement of the movable feasts between the Epiphany and the beginning of Advent.

After the reading of the Gospel, the traditional announcement of the movable holy days of the church year may be made in the following form: (These dates are correct for 2010.)

Dearly beloved brethren, you shall know that as we have rejoiced in the Birth of our Lord Jesus Christ, so there is announced to you by the mercy of God the joyous observance of the Resurrection of the same our Savior:

January 31st is Septuagesima Sunday.

On February 17th Ash Wednesday begins the most holy season of Lent.

On April 4th we shall celebrate with great rejoicing the holy Easter Festival of our Lord Jesus Christ.

May the 13th is the Feast of the Ascension of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

May the 23rd is the Feast of Pentecost.

November the 28th is the First Sunday in the Advent of Our Lord Jesus Christ, to Whom be honor and glory, world without end. Amen.

The Octave of the Nativity

I know that January 1 is the Feast of the Circumcision of Our Lord. This is also the day on which the great I Am finally told us His name. The angel announced that His name was JESUS. This is the name that is above every name, at which every knee should bow, of things above the earth, of things on earth, and of things under the earth.

The confusing title above is how the Roman church identifies this day after the 1962 revision of the calendar. The Feast of the Most Holy Name of Jesus (2nd class) is celebrated on the Sunday between the Octave of the Nativity and Epiphany. If there is no Sunday between thee two days, it is celebrated on January 2.

The only question that comes to my mind is "If it ain't broke, why fix it?"

May the celebration of the birth of Our Lord, and the glory of His holy name, give you peace and blessing throughout the new year.

Pax domini sit semper vobiscum.