Save Our Gesimas

The title above became the motto of members from various denominations who were intent upon resisting the changes to the calendar prompted, for the most part,  by the actions of the Second Vatican Council. With Vatican II the doors were thrown open and change began to happen. Before Vatican II Catholics, Anglicans and Lutherans used the same titles for the Sundays and Seasons of the year.

Modern Lutheran calendars now extend Epiphany up until the Sunday before Ash Wednesday. After the feast of the Baptism of The Lord, Rome designates the Sundays as in Ordinary Time.The Sundays in Lent are so designated by number; but without the traditional name. Following Easter, the Sundays are designated as the _TH Sunday of Easter. After Trinity and Pentecost the Sundays are again part of Ordinary Time.

The Thrivent Calendar and, I suppose, other Synodical calendars, are similar. The exception being that we do not use thee designation of "Ordinary Time." However, the Sundays following Pentecost are so named. My preference is to designate the Sundays following Holy Trinity according their historic designations.

Since I have been an almost charted of the SOG Society, I will continue to employ the calendar and nomenclature of the historic use. The parish that I belong to (Bethany LC in Fort Wayne, IN) retains the use of the historic calendar. We DO save our Gesima's.

I invite your comments and reactions to this post.

Too Long Silent

I have no excuse for being silent for many months. I intend to be more diligent in posting to this blog as well as updating the Lexorandi web site.

Most of the silence was caused by computer failure. Due to a destructive virus I lost all my data, and my backup files were not easy to reinstall. My E-mail was also left in limbo for a while. I was not ignoring anyone. Mail to Lexorndi was restored today.- several hundred messages were downloaded. It was no surprise that most of these messages were junk.

I thank you for your patience, and I invite you to rejoin this reactivated blog.

Dcn. Muehlenbruch

The Feast of the Holy Trinity

The Athanasian Creed  --  Quicunque Vult

Whoever will be saved shall, above else, hold the catholic faith. Which faith, except everyone keeps whole and undefiled, without doubt he will perish eternally.

And the catholic faith is this, that we worship one God in three persons and three persons in one God, neither confusing the persons nor dividing the substance.

For there is one person of the Father, another of the Son, and another of the Holy Spirit. But the Godhead of the Father, of the Son, and the holy Spirit is all one: the glory equal, the majesty coeternal.

Such as the Father is, such is the Son, and such is the Holy Spirit. The Father incomprehensible, the Son incomprehensible, and the Holy Spirit incomprehensible.

The Father eternal, the Son eternal, and the Holy Spirit eternal.  And yet they are not but one eternal. As there are not three uncreated nor three incomprehensibles but one uncreated and one incomprehensible.

So likewise the Father is almighty, the Son almighty, and the Holy Spirit almighty. And yet they are not three almighties but one almighty.

So the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Spirit is God. And yet they are not three Gods but one God.

So likewise the Father is Lord, the Son is Lord, and the Holy Spirit is Lord. And yet they are not three Lords but one Lord. For we are compelled by the Christian truth to acknowledge every person by himself to be both  God and Lord. 

So we cannot by the catholic faith say that there are three Gods or three Lords. The Father is made of none, neither created not begotten. The Son is of the Father alone, not made nor created but begotten. The Holy Spirit is of the Father and of the Son, neither made nor created nor begotten but proceeding.

So there is one Father, not three Fathers; one Son not three Sons; one Holy Spirit not three Holy Spirits.  And in this Trinity none is before or after another; none is greater of less than another; but the whole three persons are coeternal together and coequal, so that in all things, as is aforesaid, the Unity in Trinity and the Trinity in Unity is to be worshiped. He, therefore, that will be saved is compelled thus to think of the Trinity.

Furthermore, it is necessary to everlasting salvation that he also believe faithfully the incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ. For the right faith is that we believe and confess that our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is God and man; God of the substance of the Father, begotten before the world; and man of the substance of his mother, born in the world;  

Perfect God and perfect man, of a reasonable soul and human flesh subsisting;  Equal to the Father as touching his Godhead and inferior to the Father as touching hie manhood;  Who, although he is God and man, yet he is not two but one Christ: One, not by conversion of the Godhead into flesh but by taking the manhood into  God; One altogether, not by confusion of substance but by unity of person.

For as the reasonable soul and flesh is one man so God and man  is one Christ; Who suffered for our salvation, descended into hell, rose again the third day from the dead. He ascended into heaven, he sits at the right hand of the Father, God Almighty, from whence he will come to judge the living and the dead.

At whose coming all men will rise again with their bodies and will give an account of theiur own works. And they that have done good will go into life everlasting; and they that have done evil, into everlasting fire.

This is the catholic faith which, except a man believe faithfully and firmly, he cannot be saved.

Whitsunday -- the Feast of Pentecost

Our Lord Jesus Christ, being seated on the right hand of God, sent, as He had promised, the Holy Ghost upon the Apostles, who, after His Ascension, continued  in prayer at Jerusalem, in company with the Blessed Virgin, awaiting the performance of His promise.

Let us pray in like manner with the Church: "Come O Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Thy faithful and kindle in them the fire of Thy love."

Spiritus Domini replevit orbem terrarum, alleluia: et hoc quod continet omnia, scientim habet vocis, alleluis, alleluia, alleluira, -- essurgat Deus, et dissipentur inimic ejus: et fugiant, qui oderunt eum, a facie.

Gloria Patri....

***

Der Geist des Herrrn erfüllt den Erdkreis, alleluia. Er, der das All zusammenhält, kennt jede Sprache, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. Gott stehe auf, zerstieben sollen Seine Feinde; vor Seinen Anblick sollen  fliehen, die Ihn hassen.

Ehre sei....

***

The Spirit of the Lord filleth the world: halleljah!
Let the righteous be glad: let them rejoice before God: yea, let them eceddingly rejoice. Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

Let God arise: let His enemies be scattered: let them also that hate Him flee before Him.

Glory be to the Father....

Unbelief is a Wonderful Thing.

Gottesdienst Online has a reference to http://puritycommunion.org/landing/. The topic is "Purity Communion." Bread & Wine wafers and sanitary dispensers prevent the spread of germs among the communicants.

The theologian J. S. Bach had this to say about Holy Communion (Was Gott tut daß ist wohl getan) "No poison can be in the cup that my Physician sends me."

Need I say more?

May 6 - St. John Before the Latin Gate

The Martyrology presents stories, both fact and fictional, about the Saints and the days upon which they are commemorated. One that I find to be quite interesting is this particular commemoration of St. John, the Apostle and Evangelist. He may have endured many torments; but he died in exile on the Isle of Patmos.The commemoration of St. John on this day presents a strange legend.

It is said that St. John was bound and brought to Rome from Ephesus by order of Domitian, and the Senate condemned him to be taken to that (Latin) gate and placed in a cauldron of boiling oil, from which he came out more healthy and vigorous than before.

This is but a sample of the legends contained in the Martyrology.

Sts. Philip and James, Apostles - May 1

From the Roman Martyrology:

The birthday of the blessed apostles Philip and James. James, after having converted nearly all of Scythia to the faith of Christ, went to Hieropolis, a city in Asia, where he was fastened to a cross and stoned, and thus ended his life gloriously. James, who is also called the brother of our Lord, was the first bishop of Jerusalem. Being hurled down from a pinnacle of the temple, his legs were broken, and being struck on the head with a dyer's staff, he expired and was buried near the temple.

The Anglican Breviary provides this narrative:

Philip was born in the town of Bethsaida, and was among the first of the twelve Apostles called by the Lord Christ, For the Evangelist saith that first, is was Andrew who brought Peter, and next came Philip. Again we read: Philip findeth Nathaniel, and saith unto him, We have found him to whom Moses in the Law, and the Prophets, did write. And so it was that Philip brought Nathaniel to the Lord.

 According to the early  Fathers of the Church, Philip, after he had received the Holy Ghost, took Scythia, by lot, as the land wherein he was to preach the Gospel, and brought many of that people to believe in Christ. At the last he came to Hierapolis in Phrygia, and there on a certain first day in May, in the first Christian century, for Christ's Name's sake, he was fastened to a cross and stoned to death. His body was buried at that place, and afterwards it was brought  to Rome and laid in the Basilica of the Twelve Apostles, beside the body of the blessed Apostle James, the brother of the Lord. Wherefore they are commemorated together on this day.

We learn from Hegesippus that when James was ninety-six years old, and had most holily governed the Church of Jerusalem for thirty years, ever most constantly preaching Christ the Son of God, he laid down his life for the faith. According to this account, he was first stoned, and afterward taken to a pinnacle of the Temple, and from thence was cast down, whereby his legs were broken, and he was well nigh killed; but he lifted up his hands toward heaven, and prayed to God for the salvation of his murderers, saying: Lord, forgive them, for they know not what they do! And as he said this, one that stood by smote him grievously upon the head with a fuller's club, so that he resigned his spirit to God.

An Interesting Note:

My copy of the Martyrology is pre-Vatican Council II.  Sts. Philip and James are in their proper place on May 1. The Anglican Breviary agrees with this, as does the Lutheran calendars.

However, after Vatican II Rome has made a few adjustments to their calendar. Sts. Philip and James are now commemorated on May 11, and St. Joseph the Worker is commemorated on May 1.   (Curious how this is also "international" Labor Day.)

Jubilate - Easter III

Jubilate Deo omnis terra, alleluia: psalmum dicite nomini, ejus alleluia.
Ps: Dicite Deo, quam terribilia sunt opera tua Domine:
      in multitudine virtutis tuae mentientur tibi inimici tui.
V. Gloria Patri etc.

Make a joyful noise unto God, all ye lands: sing forth the glory of His name; make His praise glorious.
Ps. Say unto God, How terrible art Thou in Thy works:
      through the greatness of Thy power shall Thine enemies submit themselves unto Thee.
   Glory be to the Father, ect.

Collect:
Almighty God, who showest to them that be in error the light of Thy truth to the intent that they may return into the way of righteousness, grant unto all then that are admitted into the fellowship of Christ's religion that they may eschew those things that are contrary to their profession and follow all such things as are agreeable to the same; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth, etc.

Sexagesima

Awake, why sleepest Thou. O Lord! Arise, cast us not off forever.
Wherefore hidest Thou Thy face: and forgettest our affliction?
Our soul is bowed down to the dust: arise for our help and redeem us.
Ps. We have heard with our ears, O God: our fathers have told us what work Thou didst in their days.
Glory be to the Father, etc.

Septuagesima Sunday

I am trying to locate the copyright holder of a collection of the Proper of the Service according to the Common Service Book and the Evangelical Lutheran hymn Book. This volume contains the Introits, Graduals/Tracts, and proper Offertories, set to Gegorian notation. I would like to expand this to include the proper Post-Communion collects also. Beginning with this post, I will post the suggested proper Offertories.

For Septuagesima, set to Tone IV:

It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord: and to song praises unto Thy Name, O Most High.
-----
If any of you who follow these posts know how to track down copyright owners, please let me know. However, this not the only reason for you to reply to to me.

The Birth of Our Lord

From the Martyrology:

In the year from the creation of the world, when in the beginning 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 founding 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.

Christmas and the Freedom from Religion Foundation

It seems strange to me that groups such as the Freedom From Religion Foundation go all out to remove all traces of something that they insist does not exist in the first place.

Andrew Seidel, the group’s constitutional consultant, states that “It’s a group endorsing religion over a public right of way” in Pitman, NJ. The sign says "Keep Christ in Christmas."

The stated reason for wanting the sign removed from over a county road is the concept of the separation of church and state. According to my reading of the Constitution, there is no defined division between the church and the state. There is only the declaration that the government "shall pass no law effecting the establishment of religion (no official state church).

Based upon the following quote, action taken against organized religion seems to be unnecessary and a waste of effort:

“At this season of the Winter Solstice, may reason prevail. There are no gods, no devils, no angels, no heaven or hell. There is only our natural world. Religion is but myth and superstition that hardens hearts and enslaves minds,” said Seidel.

The Festival of All Saints

From the Roman Martyrology:

The Festival of All Saints, which Pope Boniface IV, after the dedication of the Pantheon, ordained to be kept generally and solemnly every year, in the city of Rome, in honor of the blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, and of the holy martyrs. It was afterwards decreed by Pope Gregory IV that this feast, which was then celebrated in many dioceses, but at different times, should be on this day kept by the whole Church in honor of all saints.

It could only happen in California!

Host Bible Study Fined: Oh, California. Apparently group Bible studies are so dangerous they cannot take place without a permit.

A southern California couple has been fined $300 dollars for holding Christian Bible study sessions in their home, and could face another $500 for each additional gathering. City officials in San Juan Capistrano, Calif. say Chuck and Stephanie Fromm are in violation of municipal code 9-3.301, which prohibits “religious, fraternal or non-profit” organizations in residential neighborhoods without a permit.

You can read the full story on Glenn Beck's site The Blaze!

The Exaltation of the holy Cross - September 14

History states that Chosroes, king of Persia, carried away the relic of the True Cross to Persia; but Heraclius, ascending the throne of Judea, defeated Chosroes and himself carried the holy Cross to the Basilica on Calvary. A.D. 629. (From a 1957 edition of the Roman Missal.)

The Introit: Gal. 6:14 & Ps. 66:2.

The Collect: O God, who didst will that Thy Son should suffer for us upon the Tree of the Cross, that Thou mighest drive far from us the power of the enemy, grant unto us, Thy servants, that as we have known on earth the mysteries of our redemption, so may be accounted worthy to receive the fruits thereof in heaven; through the same Jesus Christ, etc. Amen.

The Epistle: Phil. 2:5-11.
The Gradual: Phil. 2:8,9.
The Gospel: John 12:31-36.

Office Hymn: TLH 168, SBH 75.

Saint Laurance Martyr

From the Roman Martyrology: The Tenth Day of August.

At Rome, on the Tiburtine Way, the birthday of the blessed archdeacon Lawrence, a martyr during the persecution of Valerian. After much suffering from imprisonment, from scourging with whips set with iron or lead, from hot metal plates, he at last completed his martyrdom by being slowly consumed on an iron instrument made in the form of a gridiron. His body was buried by blessed Hippolytus and the priest Justin in the cemetery of Cyriaca, in the Agro Verano....

From holy Card of Saint Laurence:

Saint Laurence was one of the seven deacons who served the Church in Rome in the second half of the third century. Three days after the martyrdom of Pope St. Sixtus whom he had served faithfully, Laurence was apprehended by the Roman prefect who demanded from him the treasures of the Church. Laurence gathered the poor of Rome and presented them as the Riches of the Church. This so infuriated the prefect that he ordered that Laurence be roasted alive on a gridiron. In the midst of his torture he cheerfully admonished: "Let my body be turned, one side is broiled enough."

Few martyrs have been venerated so intensely or universally as Saint Laurence whose Feast occurs on August 10. He is the patron of cooks.

From the Anglican Missal:

O Lord, who knowest us to be sore beset by reason of our sins: mercifully grant that, like as thou didst enable thy blessed servant Lawrence to overcome the fires of his torments; so may we by thy grace assuage the flames of our temptations. Through.....

Why the Long Silence?

In my July post I said that I would be more active in posting; but you may have noticed an extended period of nothing being posted.

My computer died shortly after my last post. I finally managed to get everything transfered to a new computer; but it took a while to restore E-mail addresses, stored mail and browser bookmarks.

A word to the wise - do not forget to make backups of all files. Had I done so, I would have had an easier time getting back up and working.

The Long Silence is Ended....

After four months of writer's block (my story, and I'm sticking to it), I intend to post on a more regular basis. I seem to have been lost in the doldrums; but I did continued to follow my usual blogs. Something must have given my Muse a good swift kick to get me back at it.

I invite my Rev. Fathers and Brother to cross-post on Writ-in-Red and/or suggest topics that might be considered on this blog. Feedback is always a stimulant to discussion.

I must confess that it has been 46 years since I began my study of theology, liturgics and rubrics. This is when Concordia Senior College was still a viable part of the LCMS system. It has been 39 years since I received my diploma from the St. Louis Seminary. I know that was a difficult time for St. Louis; but the synod/church has survived. Therefore, I am "Old School."

If you will, help me to understand and discuss the "New School" views, this could lead to interesting discussions.

Pax et Gaudiam.

Seeing is not always believing.

As if the themes and variations in write your own liturgies are not enough to give you pause, the things you see posted on parish signboards sometimes bring you to a full stop.

When walking past the nearby LCMS parish, I could not believe what I read on their sign. It seemed so out of place, and a bit less than Lutheran.

This is what was on that sign:

"Saint Valentine suffered and died for your Christian Marriage."

February 14th -St. Valentine, Priest and Martyr.

Omer Englebert, in The Lives of the Saints, has this small note:

"In medieval days it was believed that birds began to pair on February 14th, whence the origin of the custom of sending 'Valentines'."

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.