Dominican Liturgy: 2020

Tuesday, December 22, 2020

Dominican Rite Ordo for 2021 (English)

Greetings and Merrie Christmas,

Through the kindness of Breviarium S.O.P., I am happy to announce that the Dominican Rite Ordo for 2021 is now available at Dominican Liturgy Publications. This Ordo is intended for use by anyone who prays the 1962 Dominican Rite Breviary.

It includes a complete calendar for the Dominican Rite liturgical year 2021. In addition, it includes the collect prayers for the Dominican blesseds who are not on the calendar (so that a votive commemoration can be made of their feast), obits of the deceased Masters General, and announcements of days when Dominican Tertiaries (Lay Dominicans) can obtain plenary indulgences. Finally, it contains an English translation of the Office of Prime, which was omitted from the 1967 English translation of the Dominican Breviary.

Saturday, November 28, 2020

Answer Key for Scanlon & Scanlon's Latin Grammar Available

Greetings to our readers who are interested in learning Ecclesiastical Latin. There are many books out to help you learn Ecclesiastical Latin but most require an instructor or tutor. Many seminarians, priests, and lay people want to learn Latin but do not have a readily available instructor. In my years of teaching Latin, I am convinced that the best book for liturgical Latin remains Cora and Charles Scanlon’s Latin Grammar for Reading the Missal and Breviary, first published in 1944 by B. Herder Book Co., and still in print from TAN Books.

The one problem with this book is that there was no available full Answer Key. I am happy to announce that we have now published one for all the exercises of every lesson. You may order copies of this Key from Dominican Liturgy Publications, which also has available many other resources for the Dominican Rite and the Latin liturgy.

Sunday, November 8, 2020

Dominican Rite Calendar for 2021

Sample Page of the Calendar

I am pleased to announce that the Dominican Rite Liturgical Calendar for 2021 is now available here. This continues the annual publication of the calendar at Dominican Liturgy, where downloads of the current and older calendars are always available on the left sidebar. I am posting this early so that readers who notice any errors can email me and let me know about them.

This calendar has adjusted the dates and rankings of post-1962 Dominican saints and blesseds to conform to changes in the Order's calendar promulgated November 30, 2019. These changes are minor because most of the Dominican saints currently celebrated were already on the calendar in 1962 and so are celebrated as they were at that time.

The calendar also includes an extensive appendix giving all the local feasts for every diocese in the United States where there is a Dominican friars community. United States national feasts are listed as such in the calendar itself. Finally there is a list of all the Dominican saints and blesseds only celebrated in particular provinces listing the province(s) for each.

May this calendar facilitate the offering of the prayers of the Mass and Office to Our Blessed Lord. St. Dominic, pray for us!

Tuesday, August 4, 2020

Eighteenth Sunday after Trinity in the Medieval "Baltic Rite"

Readers may be interested in this video of a representation of the Sunday Mass of the Eighteenth Sunday after Trinity in the use of Hamburg-Bremen, which was that of the Baltic region and Scandinavia in the middle ages. I have had to divide the video because of its size and the limits of Blogger uploading. The first video shows the Mass from the priest's preparation to the Creed. The second shows the Mass from the people's Offertory Procession to the final blessing. If you want to view the video as a single file, click here. If you would like a program in Latin and English, click here.

As you watch the first part, you will notice a number of interesting rubrical differences from the Mass of the St. Pius V. In particular, the singing of the Creed before the sermon. In this video I have cut the sermon, as well as a scholarly introduction and the people's prayers (Apostle's Creed, Our Father, Hail Mary, Sign of the Cross) because they are in Swedish. If you want to see these, you may at this YoutTube link, which has the entire video. As you can see in the program, the Mass follows the order of chants and readings used in the North before the Tridentine reform. They come mostly from the 17th and 18th Sundays after Pentecost. Also note the variants in the Latin text, including one in the Gloria. You will notice the priest removing his vestments to preach during the Creed.

And here is the second half, beginning with the Offertory Procession:

Of special interest is the people's Communion. Only two people go to Communion (on the altar steps because of the Rood Screen), since this is not one of the four "General Communions" that were typical of medieval practice. The ambry-tabernacle is also authentic and still in the church. Virtually all the art, as well as the manuscript altar Missal, are actual medieval artifacts. Note also the manner of giving the Blessing with the paten and the absence of the Last Gospel---only added in the 1500s. The date of this Mass given at the beginning of the Video would be October 5, 1450.

Finally, those familiar with the Dominican Rite, which is also part of this northern liturgical family, will a number of things in common, such as the extension of the priest's arms after the Consecration. You can read more about this lovely little church at Endre, Sweden, here.

Sadly, I do not know the origin of this project, but I believe it was put together by a professor of liturgy at the University of Copenhagen. They certainly went to great lengths to make it authentic.

Saturday, July 4, 2020

External Solemnity of St. Domiinic on August 9?

I have received an inquiry as to whether the First Class Feast of St. Dominic, which in the Dominican Rite falls on August 4, may be celebrated on the following Sunday as an "External Solemnity." The Dominican Rite Missal (of 1933 or 1965) contains no provisions for "external solemnities" as it was intended for use by Dominicans in our own priories. What about use in parishes? Years ago, the then liturgist of the Order, Fr. Pierre-Marie Gy, O.P., explained to a friar of my province that the principle to be applied is that, when the Dominican Rite rubrics are vague or do not treat a matter, recourse is to be made to the Roman Rite (here that of 1962) as the "mother rite."

Here are the pertinent provisions of the General Instruction of the Roman Missal (1962) in English:

V - Votive Masses on the External Solemnity of Feasts

356. The "external solemnity" of any feast means the celebration of the feast without an office, for the good of the faithful, either on the day on which the feast is impeded, or on a Sunday when the feast occurs during the week, or on some other established day.

357. An external solemnity either belongs to a feast by right or is granted by a special indult.

358. An external solemnity belongs by right only to:
   a) the feast of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, on the 3rd Sunday after Pentecost;
   b) the feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary of the rosary, on the first Sunday of October;
   c) feasts of the 1st or 2nd class which are connected with some special liturgical service, if that liturgical service is transferred to a Sunday with the approval of the Holy See, only for the Mass which is celebrated in connection with the aforesaid liturgical service;
   d) the feast of a duly constituted principal patron;
   e) the anniversary of the dedication of the church itself in which the Mass is said;
   f) the titular feast of the church itself;
   g) the titular feast of the order or congregation;
   h) the feast of the holy founder of the order or congregation;
   i) feast of the 1st and 2nd class which are celebrated with an especially large attendance by the faithful; of this matter the local ordinary is the judge.

So, it is permitted to celebrate the Dominican Rite Mass of St. Dominic on the following Sunday. As a first-class Mass, the Sunday would not be commemorated by a second collect as first class feasts only permit an extra collects for "privileged memories" (e.g. ferials in Advent and Lent) and Sundays after Pentecost are not privileged. In addition, one should remember that an "External Solemnity" is a Votive Mass, not a transferred feast. So, if you have a celebration of St. Dominic on the following Sunday, the Mass and Office on August 4 is still that of St. Dominic.

It might also be useful treat another question here as well. Can the celebration of the the major feasts in the U.S. that are not holy days of obligation, which are moved to Sunday in the New Rite, also be celebrated in Dominican Rite on the Sunday? These feasts are Epiphany, Ascension, and Corpus Christi. Following the same principle, as there is permission granted to do so by the Holy See in the rubrics of the New Missal, and that would be equivalent to the permission of 358c above, it is my opinion that they may be so celebrated. As holy days of obligation are matters of canon law, not rubrics, the current discipline as to Mass obligation applies, not that in force in 1962.

One final matter for those using the 1962 Dominican Rite Breviary: the Office is not transferred under the rubrics for an external solemnity. Rather, the Office of the proper Sunday is used, which would be the 10th after Pentecost (1962 Missal) or the 8th after the Octave of Trinity (1933 Missal). And the Mass and Office of the proper day of the feast remain those of the feast. And remember in any case that one is never obligated to celebrate an External Solemnity Votive Mass; such Masses are merely an option.

May God grant all the brethren his choicest blessings on the feast of St. Dominic, whichever day they celebrate it on.

Tuesday, June 30, 2020

"Beware the Litanies of the Friars Preachers, for they work wonders!"

Although not much in use these days, the Dominican Order has its own ancient and venerable Litany to the Most Blessed Virgin Mary, Litaniae B. Mariae Virginis Ab Ordine Receptae, historically used during times of grave need and tribulation.

These gained their fame for their efficacy during the XIIIth century, when the Order provoked certain jealousies and concerns as she rose in prestige. Troubles began in earnest in 1254, when some prelates prevailed upon the Holy Father, Pope Innocent IV, to publish his bull, “Etsi animarum”, which imposed severe restrictions on the Order of Friars Preachers, such as not being able to hear the confessions of the faithful, not being able to bury the faithful, not being able to celebrate Holy Mass publicly nor offer other sacraments, under penalty of excommunication. This would obviously be the death of the Order. Until he paid heed to those who slandered the honor of the Order, the Holy Father had actually been a great protector of our Order.

The Master of the Order of that time, Bl. Humbert of Romans, greatly troubled and pained over what was happening to his beloved Order, was at a loss. And so he knelt before an image of the Most Holy Virgin, and in tears asked for her help and intercession. The Virgin replied to him, "From this very moment, the Order has been freed." A few days later, Pope Innocent IV died in Naples, sixteen days after issuing his bull against the Dominicans, which his successor, Pope Alexander IVth, quickly annulled with his own bull, “Nec insolitum,” on the 31st of December, 1254.

During these trying times, the Order also suffered persecution from the secular Masters of the University of Paris, led by William of Saint-Amour, who sought to expel the mendicants from their ranks, and even distributing flyers against the Order, to attempt to turn the faithful against them. The same Bl. Humbert of Romans, in the General Chapter of 1256, ordered that the Seven Penitential Psalms be prayed, along with the Litany with other prayers to the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Dominic. A few days later, in Rome, as the brethren were praying the Litany, a friar fell into a trance, and had a vision of Our Lord over the altar, with Our Lady at His side, who was asking her Son to heed the petitions of the friars. A few days later, over the course of ten days, Pope Alexander IV intervened decisively in favor of the friars, and against those who calumnied the Order.

A historian from that era commented that thanks to these Litanies, not only did the great persecutions against the Order come quickly to a favorable end, but the Order itself increased in honor, leading some rather surprised cardinals to remark, "Cavete a Litaniis Fratum Prædicatorum qui mirabilia faciunt” (“Be careful with the Litanies of the Friars Preachers -- they work wonders”).

Readers will easily note the longer petitions, which all begin "Sancta Maria", and not by title alone, with some interesting titles and honors from older forms of piety that might strike our ears as odd or excessive, but for this author, the additional triplet of "Daughter of God," "Daughter of Joachim," and "Daughter of Anne," as well as the three-fold "She-lamb" petitions are quite beautiful.

Many thanks to the English student friars and those of Traditio Spiritualis Sacri Ordinis Prædicatorum, we present the Litany here for use... with caution.

℣: Deus in adjutorium meum intende.
℟: Domine ad adjuvandum me festina.

℣: Kýrie, eléison.
℟: Kýrie, eléison.
℣: Christe, eléison.
℟: Christe, eléison.
℣: Kýrie, eleison.
℟: Kyrie, eleison.
℣: Christe, audi nos.
℟: Christe, audi nos.
℣: Christe, exáudi nos.
℟: Christe, exáudi nos.

℣: Pater de Cælis Deus,
℟: miserére nobis.
℣: Fili Redémptor mundi Deus,
℟: miserére nobis.
℣: Spiritus Sancte Deus,
℟: miserére nobis.
℣: Sancta Trinitas, unus Deus,
℟: miserére nobis.

℣: Sancta María,
℟: ora pro nobis.
℣: Sancta María Mater Christi Sanctíssima,
℟: ora pro nobis.
℣: Sancta Maria Dei Génitrix Virgo,
℟: ora pro nobis.
℣: Sancta María Mater innúpta,
℟: ora pro nobis.
℣: Sancta María Mater invioláta,
℟: ora pro nobis.
℣: Sancta María Virgo vírginum,
℟: ora pro nobis.
℣: Sáncta María Virgo perpétua,
℟: ora pro nobis.
℣: Sáncta María Grátia Dei Plena,
℟: ora pro nobis.
℣: Sáncta María ætérni Régis fília,
℟: ora pro nobis.
℣: Sáncta María Chrísti Máter et Spónsa,
℟: ora pro nobis.
℣: Sáncta María Spíritus Sáncti Témplum,
℟: ora pro nobis.
℣: Sáncta María Cælórum Regina,
℟: ora pro nobis.
℣: Sáncta María Angelórum Domina,
℟: ora pro nobis.
℣: Sáncta María scala Dei,
℟: ora pro nobis.
℣: Sáncta María porta Paradísi,
℟: ora pro nobis.
℣: Sáncta María nostra Máter et Dómina,
℟: ora pro nobis.
℣: Sáncta María nostra spes vera,
℟: ora pro nobis.
℣: Sáncta María nova Máter,
℟: ora pro nobis.
℣: Sáncta María ómnium fidélium fídes,
℟: ora pro nobis.
℣: Sáncta María cáritas Dei perfécta,
℟: ora pro nobis.
℣: Sáncta María imperátrix nostra,
℟: ora pro nobis.
℣: Sáncta María fons dulcédinis,
℟: ora pro nobis.
℣: Sancta María Mater Misericórdiæ,
℟: ora pro nobis.
℣: Sáncta María Máter ætérni Príncipis,
℟: ora pro nobis.
℣: Sáncta María Máter veri consílii,
℟: ora pro nobis.
℣: Sáncta María Máter veræ fídei,
℟: ora pro nobis.
℣: Sáncta María nostra resurréctio,
℟: ora pro nobis.
℣: Sáncta María per quam renovátur ómnis creatura,
℟: ora pro nobis.
℣: Sáncta María génerans ætérnum Lúmen,
℟: ora pro nobis.
℣: Sáncta María ómnia portántem pórtans,
℟: ora pro nobis.
℣: Sáncta María vírtus divínæ Incarnatiónis,
℟: ora pro nobis.
℣: Sáncta María cubíle thesáuri cæléstis,
℟: ora pro nobis.
℣: Sáncta María génerans factórem ómnium,
℟: ora pro nobis.
℣: Sáncta María consílii cæléstis arcánum,
℟: ora pro nobis.
℣: Sáncta María nostra sálus vera,
℟: ora pro nobis.
℣: Sáncta María thesáurus fidélium,
℟: ora pro nobis.
℣: Sáncta María pulchérrima Dómina,
℟: ora pro nobis.
℣: Sáncta María íris plena lætítia,
℟: ora pro nobis.
℣: Sáncta María Máter veri gáudii,
℟: ora pro nobis.
℣: Sáncta María íter nóstrum ad Dóminum,
℟: ora pro nobis.
℣: Sáncta María advocátrix nostra,
℟: ora pro nobis.
℣: Sáncta María stella cæli claríssima,
℟: ora pro nobis.
℣: Sáncta María præclárior luna,
℟: ora pro nobis.
℣: Sáncta María sólem lúmine víncens,
℟: ora pro nobis.
℣: Sáncta María ætérni Dei Máter,
℟: ora pro nobis.
℣: Sáncta María délens ténebras ætérnae nóctis,
℟: ora pro nobis.
℣: S. María délens chyrógraphum nostræ perditiónis,
℟: ora pro nobis.
℣: Sáncta María fons veræ sapiéntiæ,
℟: ora pro nobis.
℣: Sáncta María lúmen réctæ sciéntiæ,
℟: ora pro nobis.
℣: Sáncta María inæstimábile gáudium nóstrum,
℟: ora pro nobis.
℣: Sáncta María præmium nóstrum,
℟: ora pro nobis.
℣: Sáncta María cæléstis pátriæ desidérium,
℟: ora pro nobis.
℣: Sáncta María spéculum divínæ contemplatiónis,
℟: ora pro nobis.
℣: Sáncta María ómnium Beatórum beatíssima,
℟: ora pro nobis.
℣: Sáncta María ómni láude digníssima,
℟: ora pro nobis.
℣: Sáncta María clementíssima Dómina,
℟: ora pro nobis.
℣: Sáncta María consolátrix ad te confugiéntium,
℟: ora pro nobis.
℣: Sáncta María plena pietáte,
℟: ora pro nobis.
℣: Sáncta María ómni dulcédine superabúndans,
℟: ora pro nobis.
℣: Sáncta María pulchritúdo Angelórum,
℟: ora pro nobis.
℣: Sáncta María flos Patriarchárum,
℟: ora pro nobis.
℣: Sáncta María humílitas Prophetárum,
℟: ora pro nobis.
℣: Sáncta María thesáurus Apostolórum,
℟: ora pro nobis.
℣: Sancta María laus Mártyrum,
℟: ora pro nobis.
℣: Sáncta María glorificátio Sacerdótum,
℟: ora pro nobis.
℣: Sáncta María décus Vírginum,
℟: ora pro nobis.
℣: Sáncta María castitátis lílium,
℟: ora pro nobis.
℣: Sáncta María super ómnes féminas benedicta,
℟: ora pro nobis.
℣: Sáncta María reparátio ómnium perditórum,
℟: ora pro nobis.
℣: Sáncta María laus ómnium iustórum,
℟: ora pro nobis.
℣: Sáncta María secretórum Dei cónscia,
℟: ora pro nobis.
℣: Sáncta María sanctíssima ómnium feminárum,
℟: ora pro nobis.
℣: Sáncta María præclaríssima Dómina,
℟: ora pro nobis.
℣: Sáncta María margárita cæléstis Sponsi,
℟: ora pro nobis.
℣: Sáncta María palátium Chrísti,
℟: ora pro nobis.
℣: Sáncta María Immaculáta Vírgo,
℟: ora pro nobis.
℣: Sáncta María témplum Dómini,
℟: ora pro nobis.
℣: Sáncta María glória Ierúsalem,
℟: ora pro nobis.
℣: Sáncta María lætítia Israel,
℟: ora pro nobis.
℣: Sáncta María fília Dei,
℟: ora pro nobis.
℣: Sáncta María Sponsa Chrísti amantíssima,
℟: ora pro nobis.
℣: Sáncta María stella máris,
℟: ora pro nobis.
℣: Sáncta María diadéma in cápite summi Régis,
℟: ora pro nobis.
℣: Sáncta María ómni honóre digníssima,
℟: ora pro nobis.
℣: Sáncta María ómni dulcédine plena,
℟: ora pro nobis.
℣: Sáncta María regni cæléstis méritum,
℟: ora pro nobis.
℣: Sáncta María cæléstis vitae iánua,
℟: ora pro nobis.
℣: Sáncta María porta cláusa et pátens,
℟: ora pro nobis.
℣: Sáncta María per quam intrátur ad Dóminum,
℟: ora pro nobis.
℣: Sáncta María immarcescíbilis rosa,
℟: ora pro nobis.
℣: Sáncta María ómni mundo pretiósior,
℟: ora pro nobis.
℣: Sáncta María ómni thesáuro desiderábilior,
℟: ora pro nobis.
℣: Sáncta María áltior cælo,
℟: ora pro nobis.
℣: Sáncta María Ángelis múndior,
℟: ora pro nobis.
℣: Sáncta María Archangelórum lætítia,
℟: ora pro nobis.
℣: Sáncta María ómnium Sanctórum exsultátio,
℟: ora pro nobis.
℣: Sáncta María honor, et laus, et glória, et fidúcia nostra,
℟: ora pro nobis.
℣: Sáncta María exténde mánum túam et tange cor nóstrum, ut illúmines et líberes nos peccatóres,
℟: ora pro nobis.

℣: Fília Dei, María,
℟: nos réspice.
℣: Fília Ióachim, María,
℟: nos dílige.
℣: Fília Annæ, María,
℟: nos suscípe.
℣: Ágna Dei, tu porta spei,
℟: porta nos ad Fílium.
℣: Ágna Dei, nos iúngas ei,
℟: virginále lílium.
℣: Ágna Dei, da requiéi régnum,
℟: post exílium.

℣: Ora pro nóbis, Sáncta Dei Génetrix.
℟: Ut digni efficiámur promissiónibus Chrísti.

℣: Dignáre me laudáre te, Virgo sacráta.
℟: Da mihi virtútem contra hóstes tuos.

℣: Dómine, exáudi oratiónem méam.
℟: Et clámor méus ad te véniat.

Oratio
Defénde, qǽsumus, Dómine Deus, intercedénte beata
et gloriósa Dei Genetríce María cum ómnibus
Sanctis tuis, nostram ab ómni adversitáte Dómum et Ordinem,
et ab hóstium tuére cleménter insidiis. Per
Chrístum Dóminum nóstrum.
℟: Amen.

℣: O God, come to my assistance.
℟: Lord, make haste to help me.

℣: Lord, have mercy.
℟: Lord, have mercy.
℣: Christ, have mercy.
℟: Christ, have mercy.
℣: Lord, have mercy.
℟: Lord have mercy.
℣: Christ, hear us.
℟: Christ, hear us.
℣: Christ, graciously hear us.
℟: Christ, graciously hear us.

℣: God the Father in Heaven,
℟: have mercy on us.
℣: God the Son, Redeemer of the world,
℟: have mercy on us.
℣: God the Holy Spirit,
℟: have mercy on us.
℣: Holy Trinity, one God,
℟: have mercy on us.

℣: Holy Mary,
℟: pray for us.
℣: Holy Mary, Mother most Holy of Christ,
℟: pray for us.
℣: Holy Mary, Virgin Mother of God,
℟: pray for us.
℣: Holy Mary, maiden Mother,
℟: pray for us.
℣: Holy Mary, Mother inviolate,
℟: pray for us.
℣: Holy Mary, Virgin of Virgins,
℟: pray for us.
℣: Holy Mary, ever Virgin,
℟: pray for us.
℣: Holy Mary, full of the grace of God,
℟: pray for us.
℣: Holy Mary, daughter of the eternal King,
℟: pray for us.
℣: Holy Mary, Mother and Bride of Christ,
℟: pray for us.
℣: Holy Mary, Temple of the Holy Spirit,
℟: pray for us.
℣: Holy Mary, Queen of Heaven,
℟: pray for us.
℣: Holy Mary, Lady of the Angels,
℟: pray for us.
℣: Holy Mary, ladder of God,
℟: pray for us.
℣: Holy Mary, door of Heaven,
℟: pray for us.
℣: Holy Mary, our Mother and Lady,
℟: pray for us.
℣: Holy Mary, our true hope,
℟: pray for us.
℣: Holy Mary, new Mother,
℟: pray for us.
℣: Holy Mary, faith of all the faithful,
℟: pray for us.
℣: Holy Mary, perfect charity of God,
℟: pray for us.
℣: Holy Mary, our empress,
℟: pray for us.
℣: Holy Mary, font of sweetness,
℟: pray for us.
℣: Holy Mary, Mother of Mercy,
℟: pray for us.
℣: Holy Mary, Mother of the everlasting Prince,
℟: pray for us.
℣: Holy Mary, Madre of true counsel,
℟: pray for us.
℣: Holy Mary, Mother of true faith,
℟: pray for us.
℣: Holy Mary, our resurrection,
℟: pray for us.
℣: Holy Mary, through whom all creatures are renewed,
℟: pray for us.
℣: Holy Mary, who brings forth the eternal Light,
℟: pray for us.

℣: Holy Mary, bearer of the Bearer of all,

℟: pray for us.
℣: Holy Mary, strength of the divine Incarnation,
℟: pray for us.
℣: Holy Mary, chamber of heavenly treasures,
℟: pray for us.
℣: Holy Mary, who brings forth the Maker of all,
℟: pray for us.
℣: Holy Mary, secret of heavenly counsel,
℟: pray for us.
℣: Holy Mary, our true salvation,
℟: pray for us.
℣: Holy Mary, treasure of the faithful,
℟: pray for us.
℣: Holy Mary, Lady most fair,
℟: pray for us.
℣: Holy Mary, rainbow full of joy,
℟: pray for us.
℣: Holy Mary, Mother of true rejoicing,
℟: pray for us.
℣: Holy Mary, our path to the Lord,
℟: pray for us.
℣: Holy Mary, our advocate,
℟: pray for us.
℣: Holy Mary, star most bright of the heavens,
℟: pray for us.
℣: Holy Mary, more illustrious than the moon,
℟: pray for us.
℣: Holy Mary, overwhelming the Sun with light,
℟: pray for us.
℣: Holy Mary, Mother of Eternal God,
℟: pray for us.
℣: Holy Mary, destroying the darkness of eternal night,
℟: pray for us.
℣: Holy Mary, blotting out the decree of our damnation,
℟: pray for us.
℣: Holy Mary, font of true wisdom,
℟: pray for us.
℣: Holy Mary, light of right knowledge,
℟: pray for us.
℣: Holy Mary, our inestimable joy,
℟: pray for us.
℣: Holy Mary, our prize,
℟: pray for us.
℣: Holy Mary, desire of the heavenly homeland,
℟: pray for us.
℣: Holy Mary, mirror of divine contemplation,
℟: pray for us.
℣: Holy Mary, most blessed of all the Blessed,
℟: pray for us.
℣: Holy Mary, most worthy of all praise,
℟: pray for us.

℣: Holy Mary, most clement Lady,

℟: pray for us.
℣: Holy Mary, consoler of all who fly to thee,
℟: pray for us.
℣: Holy Mary, full of pity,
℟: pray for us.
℣: Holy Mary, overflowing with all sweetness,
℟: pray for us.
℣: Holy Mary, beauty of the Angels,
℟: pray for us.
℣: Holy Mary, flower of the Patriarchs,
℟: pray for us.
℣: Holy Mary, humility of the prophets,
℟: pray for us.
℣: Holy Mary, treasure of the Apostles,
℟: pray for us.
℣: Holy Mary, praise of Martyrs,
℟: pray for us.
℣: Holy Mary, glorification of priests,
℟: pray for us.
℣: Holy Mary, beauty of Virgins,
℟: pray for us.
℣: Holy Mary, lily of chastity,
℟: pray for us.
℣: Holy Mary, blessed above all women,
℟: pray for us.
℣: Holy Mary, recourse of those who are lost,
℟: pray for us.
℣: Holy Mary, praise of all the just,
℟: pray for us.
℣: Holy Mary, knower of the secrets of God,
℟: pray for us.
℣: Holy Mary, most holy of all women,
℟: pray for us.
℣: Holy Mary, most noble Lady,
℟: pray for us.
℣: Holy Mary, pearl of the heavenly Spouse,
℟: pray for us.
℣: Holy Mary, palace of Christ,
℟: pray for us.
℣: Holy Mary, Immaculate Virgin,
℟: pray for us.
℣: Holy Mary, temple of the Lord,
℟: pray for us.
℣: Holy Mary, glory of Jerusalem,
℟: pray for us.
℣: Holy Mary, joy of Israel,
℟: pray for us.

℣: Holy Mary, daughter of God,

℟: pray for us.
℣: Holy Mary, most Beloved Spouse of Christ,
℟: pray for us.

℣: Holy Mary, Star of the Sea,

℟: pray for us.
℣: Holy Mary, Diadem on the head of the sovereign King,
℟: pray for us.
℣: Holy Mary, most worthy of all honor,
℟: pray for us.
℣: Holy Mary, full of all sweetness,
℟: pray for us.
℣: Holy Mary, reward of the heavenly kingdom,
℟: pray for us.
℣: Holy Mary, gate of heavenly life,
℟: pray for us.
℣: Holy Mary, door both closed and open,
℟: pray for us.
℣: Holy Mary, through whom we come to the Lord,
℟: pray for us.
℣: Holy Mary, rose that cannot wilt,
℟: pray for us.
℣: Holy Mary, more precious than the whole world,
℟: pray for us.
℣: Holy Mary, more desirable than all treasure,
℟: pray for us.
℣: Holy Mary, higher than Heaven,
℟: pray for us.
℣: Holy Mary, purer than the Angels,
℟: pray for us.
℣: Holy Mary, joy of the Archangels,
℟: pray for us.
℣: Holy Mary, exaltation of all Saints,
℟: pray for us.
℣: Holy Mary, our honor, praise, glory and trust,
℟: pray for us.
℣: Holy Mary, extend thy hand and touch our hearts, that you may enlighten us sinners,
℟: pray for us.

℣: Holy Mary, daughter of God,
℟: look upon us.
℣: Holy Mary, daughter of Joachim,
℟: love us.
℣: Holy Mary, daughter of Anne,
℟: receive us.
℣: She-lamb of God, you, gateway of hope,
℟: carry us to your Son,
℣: She-lamb of God, you, join us to Him,
℟: virginal lily.
℣: She-lamb of God, you, give us the rest of the Kingdom,
℟: after this our exile.

℣: Pray for us, oh Holy Mother of God,
℟: That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

℣: Make me worthy to praise thee, Sacred Virgin.
℟: Strengthen me against thy enemies.

℣: O Lord, hear my prayer.
℟: And let my cry come unto Thee.

Prayer
We beseech Thee, Lord God,
that through the intercession
of the blessed and glorious ever-Virgin Mary and all Your saints,
that You defend from all adversity our Congregation and our Order
and that You protect it from all the snares of our enemies. Through Christ our Lord.
℟: Amen.

Monday, March 9, 2020

Dominican Rite Absolution Cards Available

A couple weeks again a Dominican priest from another province who regularly hears confessions at a local Extraordinary Form parish told me that he did not now that there was a Dominican form for the absolution in the Sacrament of Confession and Reconciliation. I gave him one of the wallet cards that I made up for this a few years ago. I still have about a dozen of these cards available.

If you are a Dominican priest (or transitional deacon) and would like one of these cards, please mail a stamped self-addressed envelope to me at my St. Albert the Great Priory, Oakland CA, address and I will use it to drop a plastic-laminated card to you in the mail. If you are a Dominican brother (or any other interested person) do the same, indicating you are not a priest or deacon, and I will mail you an un-laminated copy.

For those interested in the Dominican Rite absolution as it compares to the Extraordinary Form Roman, I have prepared a Latin and an English parallel comparison below. I might point out some interesting differences. The Dominican form pronounces (if needed), the absolution from censures before hearing the confession. This reflects the logic that censures need to be removed before a sacrament can be received. The Roman simply combines this absolution with the the absolution from sins. The Dominican absolution from sins places the rite in an ecclesiastical and sacramental context, restoring the penitent to the "communion and union" of the Faithful. It also has an eschatological component as it references not only this earthly existence but also the soul's presence before the divine throne in heaven. The Roman, omitting the part on censures, is very concise.

The are also a couple interesting, although less striking, differences. The Dominican absolution is given with a triple Sign of the Cross, something reserved to bishops in the Roman liturgy. And the closing prayer, optional in both, adds reference to the penitent's future intentions and St. Dominic to the simpler Roman form. Finally, the optional prayers for Divine Mercy that come after an expression of sorrow, both taken from the Prayers at the Foot of the Altar, each reflect the form of the these take in each respective rite.

Here is the Latin:

Here is the English version:

I hope that readers who do not hear confessions will find this comparison of interest.

Photo Post: The Old Rite in a New Place

At Camberwell, Victoria, Australia, the Dominican Friars of the Province of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary have just celebrated the Dominican Rite for the first time since the Dominican Rite was abandoned in favor of the Roman Ordinary Form by the Order.

This Solemn High Mass, fittingly, was the Mass of St. Thomas Aquinas on his traditional feast day of March 7th, January 28th being the old feast of the translation of his relics, now the universal feast, so that his feast would fall outside of Lent in the Ordinary Form.

The celebrant was Fr. Thomas Azzi, OP, assisted by Fr. Christopher Dowd, OP as deacon, and Fr. Robert Krishna, OP as subdeacon.

The Dominican Church at Monash University

The altar is prepared

The ministers process toward the entrance

The procession arrives at the altar

Officium and Kyrie

The subdeacon prepares to bring the sacred vessels

The subdeacon pours the wine and water, after asking for the priest's blessing ("Benedicite")

Fr. Azzi, OP, preaching on the Universal Doctor

Incensing the altar

Incensing the ministers

Sanctus candles are lit

The priest blesses the host right before Consecration at the word "benedixit"

Elevation of the Host

Elevation of the Chalice

Unde et memores

The deacon offers the Pax to be kissed.

Absolution at Second Confiteor.

Purification of Vessels is finished

Postcommunion Prayer

Final blessing

An excellent turnout!

We thank Mr. Nicholas Morlin for sharing these pictures with us.

Wednesday, February 5, 2020

Photo Post: Dominican Rite Solemn Mass, Oakland CA, 2/1/20

I am pleased to present a series of photographs of the Dominican Rite Solemn Mass of St. Ignatius of Antioch celebrated at Saint Albert the Great Priory in Oakland CA on his traditional feastday, February 1. The celebrant of this Mass was Fr. Vincent Kelber, O.P., Director of the St. Jude Shrine at St. Dominic's Church in San Francisco. The ministers, choir, and servers were all students of the Western Dominican Province: deacon, Br. Gregory Liu, O.P.; subdeacon, Br, Matthew Heynen; senior acolyte, Br. John Peter Anderson, junior acolyte, Br. Columban Mary Hall; thurifer, Br. Pawel Jamroz. The organist was Fr. James Moore, O.P.

As St. Ignatius is a third-class feast, the cross was not carried at the Gospel, and the Creed was not sung (it is only sung on third-class feasts of Apostles and the Blessed Virgin in the Dominican Rite).