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Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Te Deum laudamus: te Dominum confitemur



At no other time of the year is the "Te Deum" googled or searched more than now. We will sing it tonight. There is a Mass at 11:00pm for the Solemnity of the Mother of God, a holy day of obligation.

There is no greater joy on New Years Eve than to bring in the New Year honoring our Mother Mary and receiving the Eucharist - the ultimate in leaving the world behind. Bring a dish to pass after the Mass and Rosary (about 12:20am). By the time that is done, those typical "Detroit celebrations" have usually ended and we head to the school.

From the Treasury of Latin Prayers site on the Te Deum, the hymn after which this blog get's it's name.


Te Deum, also sometimes called the Ambrosian Hymn because if its association with St. Ambrose, is a traditional hymn of joy and thanksgiving. First attributed to Sts. Ambrose, Augustine, or Hilary, it is now accredited to Nicetas, Bishop of Remesiana (4th century). It is used at the conclusion of the Office of the Readings for the Liturgy of the Hours on Sundays outside Lent, daily during the Octaves of Christmas and Easter, and on Solemnities and Feast Days. The petitions at the end were added at a later time and are optional. A partial indulgence is granted to the faithful who recite it in thanksgiving and a plenary indulgence is granted if the hymn is recited publicly on the last day of the year.



Te Deum laudamus: te Dominum confitemur.
Te aeternum Patrem omnis terra veneratur.
Tibi omnes Angeli; tibi caeli et universae Potestates;
Tibi Cherubim et Seraphim incessabili voce proclamant:
Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus, Dominus Deus Sabaoth.
Pleni sunt caeli et terra maiestatis gloriae tuae.
Te gloriosus Apostolorum chorus,
Te Prophetarum laudabilis numerus,
Te Martyrum candidatus laudat exercitus.
Te per orbem terrarum sancta confitetur Ecclesia,
Patrem immensae maiestatis:
Venerandum tuum verum et unicum Filium;
Sanctum quoque Paraclitum Spiritum.
Tu Rex gloriae, Christe.
Tu Patris sempiternus es Filius.
Tu ad liberandum suscepturus hominem, non horruisti Virginis uterum.
Tu, devicto mortis aculeo, aperuisti credentibus regna caelorum.
Tu ad dexteram Dei sedes, in gloria Patris.
Iudex crederis esse venturus.
Te ergo quaesumus, tuis famulis subveni: quos pretioso sanguine redemisti.
Aeterna fac cum sanctis tuis in gloria numerari.

V. Salvum fac populum tuum, Domine, et benedic hereditati tuae.
R. Et rege eos, et extolle illos usque in aeternum.

V. Per singulos dies benedicimus te.
R. Et laudamus nomen tuum in saeculum, et in saeculum saeculi.

V. Dignare, Domine, die isto sine peccato nos custodire.
R. Miserere nostri, Domine, miserere nostri.

V. Fiat misericordia tua, Domine, super nos, quemadmodum speravimus in te.
R. In te, Domine, speravi: non confundar in aeternum.


O God, we praise Thee, and acknowledge Thee to be the supreme Lord.
Everlasting Father, all the earth worships Thee.
All the Angels, the heavens and all angelic powers,
All the Cherubim and Seraphim, continuously cry to Thee:
Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Hosts!
Heaven and earth are full of the Majesty of Thy glory.
The glorious choir of the Apostles,
The wonderful company of Prophets,
The white-robed army of Martyrs, praise Thee.
Holy Church throughout the world acknowledges Thee:
The Father of infinite Majesty;
Thy adorable, true and only Son;
Also the Holy Spirit, the Comforter.
O Christ, Thou art the King of glory!
Thou art the everlasting Son of the Father.
When Thou tookest it upon Thyself to deliver man,
Thou didst not disdain the Virgin's womb.
Having overcome the sting of death, Thou opened the Kingdom of Heaven to all
believers.
Thou sitest at the right hand of God in the glory of the Father.
We believe that Thou willst come to be our Judge.
We, therefore, beg Thee to help Thy servants whom Thou hast redeemed with Thy
Precious Blood.
Let them be numbered with Thy Saints in everlasting glory.

V. Save Thy people, O Lord, and bless Thy inheritance!
R. Govern them, and raise them up forever.

V. Every day we thank Thee.
R. And we praise Thy Name forever, yes, forever and ever.


And, one of my most favorite versions of a part of this prayer (I call it the Turbocharged Te Deum). You gotta see the little kids singing. There is one boy in the front whose tonsils are about to come out he's singing so hard! And, look at those pipes!



More References on the Te Deum

EWTN's page on the Te Deum

Indepth history at the Catholic Encyclopedia online



Other:


Te Deum Laudamus! Home



The obedient are not held captive by Holy Mother Church; it is the disobedient who are held captive by the world!

Meditation for the Sixth Day of Christmas....

The other day, I pointed you to the blog of Fr. Scott Bailey, C. SS. R. where he has been providing daily meditations through this Christmas season. It's good to surf around the web for the latest and greatest Catholic news. It's even better if you take the time to stop and smell the flowers. Meditations provided by Father (ultimately the words of St. Alphonsus) are simply beautiful. If you haven't followed my advice or are late coming, here is what you have been missing....




MEDITATION VI: Jesus sleeping.

Very short and painful were the slumbers of the Infant Jesus. A manger was his cradle, straw was his bed, and Straw his pillow; so that Jesus was constantly interrupted in his sleep by the hardness of this rough and painful little bed, and by the severe cold of the cave. Notwithstanding all this, nature succumbing to its wants, the sweet babe from time to time slept amidst his
sufferings.

But the sleep of Jesus differed very much from that of other children. The slumbers of other children are useful for the preservation of life, but not for the operations of the soul, because the soul, being buried in sleep with the senses, cannot then work; but such was not the sleep of Jesus Christ: I sleep, and my heart watches (Cant. 5:2). His body was asleep, but his soul was watching; because in Jesus there was united the person of the Word, who could not sleep, nor be influenced by the slumber of the senses. The Holy Infant slept therefore; but while he slept he thought of all the sufferings he was to endure for our sake during all his life and at his death. He thought of the labors he was to undergo in Egypt and in Nazareth during his miserable and despised life; he thought more particularly on the scourges, the thorns, the ignominies, the agonies, and on that miserable death that he should at last suffer upon the cross; and whilst he was sleeping he offered all this to his Eternal Father to obtain for us pardon and salvation; so that while our Savior was sleeping he was meriting for us and appeasing his Father, and obtaining graces for us.

....read the ending at the Evening Devotions blog!
Go to the Evening Devotions homepage for more...


Te Deum Laudamus! Home

The obedient are not held captive by Holy Mother Church; it is the disobedient who are held captive by the world!

Upcoming Events...

I have several things to pass along so scroll through here if you are in local metro Detroit.

Mass Schedule, including Last Chance Orchestra Mass


Wednesday, December 31:

6:30 a.m.; 7:30 a.m. (These do not fulfill the obligation for Holyday)

4:00 p.m. (Mass for the Holyday of Obligation)

11:00 p.m. (Mass for the Holyday of Obligation); this Mass is followed by

Benediction at Midnight with Pot Luck, for those who wish, in the gym)

Thursday, January 1st, New Year’s Day:

6:30 a.m; 9:30 a.m (Latin Tridentine); 12:00 noon (no evening Mass)

Saturday, January 3rd:

7:30 a.m. (This does not fulfill the Sunday obligation)

4:00 p.m. (Mass of Epiphany)

Sunday January 4th:

6:30 a.m (Epiphany)

9:30 a.m (Epiphany; new rite Latin)

12:00 noon (Tridentine, Latin Orchestral Mass; Most Holy Name of Jesus



January 3rd, 2009: Day of Remembrance for Fr. John A. Hardon, SJ

    Father Hardon Day of Remembrance Saturday, January 3, 2009
    Assumption Grotto Catholic Church
    13770 Gratiot Avenue, Detroit, Michigan

    4:00 PM Holy Sacrifice of the Mass with Fr. Matthew Hincks,
    ORC. Followed by prayer for Canonization of Servant
    of God John Hardon and the Holy Rosary

    5:45 PM Potluck Dinner in School Lounge
    A video of Fr. Hardon will be shown afterward

    Please bring a dish according to the first letter of your
    last name:
    A-G: Main Dish or Side Dish
    H-O: Snacks, Soft drinks, Dips
    P-Z: Dessert, Cups, Plates, Plasticware
More info on Fr. Hardon:



Last, but not least is a pro-life summit coming up locally (click the pic to enlarge).




Te Deum Laudamus! Home

The obedient are not held captive by Holy Mother Church; it is the disobedient who are held captive by the world!

Latin High Mass Training Video (special offer for priests and seminarians)

A new training video is available through SanctaMissa.org - the website run by Canons Regular of St. John Cantius in Chicago where one of Grotto's own is studying as seminarian. Brother Matthew Schuster is seen in several of the video shots, as well as in still pictures on various webpages (he is seen in the snapshot I took from the video at the bottom of this post, to the far right, standing sideways).

The priests and brothers of the Canons Regular of St. John Cantius serve in parishes and help Catholics to rediscover a profound sense of the Sacred through solemn liturgies, devotions, sacred art and music, as well as instruction in the heritage of the Church, catechetics and Catholic culture.

The music alone in the DVD is well worth the purchase (St. John Cantius has many choirs who focus on the great classics and chant, as well as orchestra. Here is a list of the background music on the DVD.

  • Missa de Angelis, Kyriale VIII
  • Offertoire sur des Noëls, l’Organiste Pratique livraison 1, Op. 39 - No. 6, Felix-Alexandre Guilmant (1837-1911)
  • Vom Himmel hoch Friedrich Wilhelm Zachau (1663-1712)
  • Ave Maria, Josquin des Pres (c. 1450 to 1455 – 1521)
  • In Dulci Jubilo, Op. 28, No. 41, Marcel Dupré (1886-1971)
  • O Magnum Mysterium, Francis Poulenc, (1899 – 1963)
  • Hodie Christus Natus Est, Jan Peeters Sweelinck (1562 – 1621)
  • Gaudete Christus est Natus, Swedish Melody from ‘Piae Cantiones’ (1582)
If you are in the Chicago area, it is a must to stop in for Mass, and other devotions, especially on Sundays when you can hear some of the choirs. Click here for a complete schedule of daily liturgical and other devotions.

The DVD is not just for priests and seminarians. It's for anyone - altar servers, sacristans, church musicians and more. But, priests and seminarians can get the DVD for free with the purchase of other items (see the DVD link for details).

If you are unaware of this religious order and their website, and have an affection for a sense of the sacred in the liturgy, then you will want to spend more time perusing the material available through the site. Much is available online free and you can support their work with your purchases. Click on the various links I am providing and bookmark them. Here are just a few samples:





For Grotto-goers, another picture of Bro. Matthew taken December 23, 2008 where many other beautiful Christmas pics are posted (and he appears quite happy.....can't wait to visit this fine parish with my camera someday):




Te Deum Laudamus! Home

The obedient are not held captive by Holy Mother Church; it is the disobedient who are held captive by the world!

Sunday, December 28, 2008

Christmas 2008 - Midnight Mass in Extraordinary Form at Grotto: Photopost 3



After the altar is incensed, the priest, and other members in the sanctuary are incensed, followed by the faithful. In the photo above, the humeral veil is now draped over the shoulders of the subdeacon who uses it to hold the paten from the close of Offertory until after the Pater Noster.


The priest prays the words of Consecration....

The Elevation of the Host permits all to briefly adore Our Lord in the Eucharist.


The priest consumes the Body of Christ with Deacon and Subdeacon off to either corner, bowed in reverence.

More Pictures:

To view even more pics of this event, visit my smugmug gallery for Midnight Mass 2008 and view it in slideshow mode.


Te Deum Laudamus! Home

The obedient are not held captive by Holy Mother Church; it is the disobedient who are held captive by the world!

Saturday, December 27, 2008

Meditations during the Twelve Days of Christmas


The red backdrop discussed in a 2008 photopost combox is shown in this 2006 picture. It has not been used since seen here.


I don't always get around to the many blogs I have linked, but want to refer you to one in particular where a priest is offering reflections during the twelve days of Christmas. I plan to get over there myself tonight and read up. Consider doing the same each day he is offering something.

Keeping Christ in Christmas is more than a bumper sticker. It means spending time each day in quiet meditation. What a great way to do so here:

Go visit Fr. Scott Bailey, C. SS. R. at his blog: Evening Devotions and....bookmark it to check back throughout the year.


Te Deum Laudamus! Home

The obedient are not held captive by Holy Mother Church; it is the disobedient who are held captive by the world!

Christmas 2008 - Midnight Mass in Extraordinary Form at Grotto: Photopost 2

I'm continuing to edit the photos in batches so that I can free up time to do some other things while I have some time off. Once again, as a note, I am having some difficulty with picture quality and I'm not sure if there is something wrong with the camera or not. I took some test pictures last night and have not yet looked at them.

This post covers the reading of the Epistle (first pic, through the homily).



Below, the Deacon (Fr. Paul Ward), kneeling holds up the Gospel before the Priest (Fr. Wolfgang Seitz, ORC).


He provides a ceremonial kiss to the celebrant's hand in what are called, the solita oscula. When the deacon hands something to the priest, he kisses the thing then the hand of the priest. When he receives something, he kisses the priest's hand, then the thing. It is, as I said, ceremonial. In some old texts, I've seen it referred to as a "liturgical kiss". But, we always keep in mind that the hand of the priest will soon confect the Body and Blood of Christ. Hence, it is not the hand of a mere man that the deacon kisses, but a man who, during the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is in persona Christi.

The Word of God is now incensed by the Deacon as the Subdeacon (Fr. John Bustamante) holds it.

The Priest turns towards the Word of God to hear it, the maniple on his left arm now clearly visible.


The Subdeacon brings the Book back to the priest, who kisses it in an act of love and reverence.

Altar boys, deacons, and priests in choir, listen to the homily......

Priest, Deacon and Subdeacon listen to the homily. But, wait...who delivered the homily?



We see our pastor, Fr. Perrone getting ready to conduct the orchestra and choir ahead of one of the numbers.



Fr. Perrone then emerged from the left side of the sanctuary and delivered a wonderful homily which I will try to get.



He then made his way to the back of the Church to begin the Credo...

I know for a fact, he did not bilocate. I was in the balcony and can verify he was not with the orchestra while he was giving us the homily.

More pictures to come when I edit them.

Update: See photopost 3 for a set of links to all photos taken.


Te Deum Laudamus! Home

The obedient are not held captive by Holy Mother Church; it is the disobedient who are held captive by the world!

Friday, December 26, 2008

Christmas 2008 - Midnight Mass in Extraordinary Form at Grotto: Photopost 1


A photo taken at Midnight Mass as the Gloria was well underway in the orchestra Mass. Alexandre Guilmant's 3rd Solemn Mass was conducted by Grotto's pastor, Rev. Eduard Perrone. During longer versions of the Gloria or Credo, the priests will sit - a signal the faithful follow, as well. As you will see below, in the Extraordinary Form, or Traditional Latin Mass, those wearing biretta's will tip them at the name of Jesus.

If you want to catch an orchestra or symphony Mass, there are still two opportunities: The 9:30am Mass on December 28th (Extraordinary Form), and the Noon Mass on Epiphany (Ordinary Form). These Masses will run between 1.5 and 2 hours, so plan accordingly. However, the time flies by very fast. Also, you will want to get there about 30-45 minutes ahead of the Mass (the sooner the better with regards to parking and seating).

This Solemn High Mass in the Extraordinary Form was celebrated by Rev. Wolfgang Seitz, ORC. Rev. Paul Ward and Rev. John Bustamante, both Grotto associates, were Deacon and Subdeacon respectively.

You may wonder why there are no pictures of the orchestra. This has much to do with contractual issues so you won't see many, if at all.

Clicking on any pic will enlarge it, but I have recently discovered some kind of camera problem that is causing a haze or lack of clarity upon enlarging. More on this later.




A closeup of the above pic reveals a beautiful, detailed reflection, only hindered somewhat by the camera problem I am currently having.





Grotto altar boys will be dressed in the celebratory white cassocks with red shoulder capes throughout the Christmas season.

The Infant Jesus is draped, awaiting the blessing of the Creche which takes place before the Mass begins.




After the blessing took place, all left the Sanctuary and re-emerged moments later in the aisle, ready to process in for the beginning of Mass.


Several of these photos below may look alike. However, if you look carefully, you will notice that the formation of the three priests is different, as well as their position relative to the altar. Each of these things happen at specific points in the liturgy. I hope to come back to it in a future post which is why I am collecting photographs of these things. For example, the first two pics take place during the Confiteor - the first one of the celebrant, and the second part normally done by altar servers. There are times they bow straight forward, and other times they bow toward's each other. Understanding when these things happen during the respective prayers can signal a casual observer to know exactly where we are in the Mass. This is true throughout the Traditional Latin Mass when things like elbow movements can give you a clue as to which prayers are being recited silently.






These last two shots were taken during the Gloria, in wihch the celebrant chose to sit after he recited it from start to finish at the altar and awaited the orchestra to finish. It is a good time to sit in quiet meditation. At the name of Jesus, not only do the priests and deacons remove their birettas, but all should bow their heads in reverence for the name of Our Lord. This is exemplified by the altar boys who can often teach us subtle cues with regards to reverence.



More photos to come, but I need more time to process them.

Te Deum Laudamus! Home

The obedient are not held captive by Holy Mother Church; it is the disobedient who are held captive by the world!

Thursday, December 25, 2008

Merry Christmas!

A photo taken of the Spanish Infant in Grotto's Sanctuary last year.


It's a little after 4:00am and I have just walked in the door after spending half the night (literally) at Assumption Grotto (ok - so I stayed for a while with friends in the school lounge singing Christmas Carols, led by Fr. Perrone).

I took pictures at Midnight Mass, but they must undergo some processing.

Have a blessed Christmas Day!

Te Deum Laudamus! Home

The obedient are not held captive by Holy Mother Church; it is the disobedient who are held captive by the world!