Book Review: Prayers in Honor of Saint Thomas Aquinas, by Thomas O'Sullivan

13. The method and principles by which the old scholastic doctors cultivated theology are no longer suitable to the demands of our times and to the progress of the sciences. -Proposition condemned by Pope Bl. Pius IX, Syllabus of Errors, 13

    In recent years, there has been a kind of renaissance of Thomistic thought, and with it, devotion to St. Thomas Aquinas, and interest in his many works and thought.  In addition, the devotion of the Angelic Warfare Confraternity, which has sought to promote purity and chastity in our world, and as a defense against the flood of unchaste imagery in our day and age, has become more popular among the young, who seem to bear the sad brunt of much of the social media attacks, and the lack of modesty in fashion.  

    Mr. Thomas O'Sullivan recently compiled a small booklet with various traditional prayers, in English and Latin, for use.  Some have been updated and made more consistent in language or biblical translation used, but to me, all of these seem perfectly suitable for use in our days, even if they might not carry the same indulgences granted before.  

    The Six Sundays in Honor of St. Thomas Aquinas provide good, brief lessons on the various virtues of the Angelic Doctor, St. Thomas Aquinas.  St. Thomas Aquinas, and Thomism in general, sometimes get a sort of "ivory tower" or "intellectual nerd" connotation, but while his thought and teaching are certainly deep and sometimes does require intense study, there is much beauty and accessible material that he has bequeathed us - one only need to see all the various liturgical texts and hymns centered on the Feast of Corpus Christi.  

    The search for wisdom and knowledge is not limited within the walls of Ivy League and exclusive  boarding schools - it is available to all who seek to drink deeply from the Font of Wisdom, which is Christ, whose Heavenly Father hid "these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children." (Matthew 11:26)     

    I find the quality of the texts chosen and the translations to be excellent, with good line art to accompany the reader.  It could serve both the individual reader, and perhaps any young person or student.  May St. Thomas aid us all in our search to follow Christ more closely.  

    This booklet may be purchase through Os Justi or Amazon, or wherever else available.

Easter Vesperal for Dominican Use Available

The Easter Season Vesperal for the modern Liturgy of the Hours following the Dominican Use is now available on our left side-bar or here for download in PDF format. This Vesperal gives the Dominican Versions of the Gregorian music assigned for use with the Latin Liturgia Horarum according to the Ordo Cantus Officii (1983) issued by the Sacred Congregation for Divine Worship. Also included are additions and variants provided in the Proprium Officiorum Ordinis Praedicatorum (1982).

In addition to Vespers, the Alleluias that may replace the psalm antiphons of the Liturgia at Office of Readings, Lauds, and the Little Hours are also included, along with the Antiphons at the Benedictus. The music for Vespers of the feasts of the Annunciation and St. Joseph follows the Psalter.

I apologize for the lateness of this posting, especially to those who have been waiting for this material for personal use. A computer problem had to be rectified before I would edit the music for this project and create PDF files. In order to make this available as quickly as possible, I have posted this Vesperal without the Commons of the Saints. I need to complete the revision of the antiphons and responsories to include alleluias. Once this is done an updated version will be posted.