Overheard in the Sacristy

– I took Oreo to the county shelter Friday to renew his license and get vaccinated. I spent 40 minutes looking for the new facility. When I finally arrived at the shiny clean window I was greeted in the usual surly government-worker style. [Well excuse me for having you work for your paycheck.] I paid the $50 fee and was given $50 in change—all five-dollar bills! Anyway…Oreo watered their xeriscape on his way out…poetic justice I suppose.

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РGot to the parish Saturday noon to find the parking lot littered with half-drunk cups of once hot chocolate left over from the Ma̱anitas celebration from the wee hours of the night before. Grrr.

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– Found the Gregorian Chant cards all over the floor around the pews. I didn’t know they sang in Latin last night.

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– Wow! The Saturday Mass was fantastic, it was certainly the best Guadalupe Mass I have ever experienced. The Latin propers were sung for the first time in forty years for this feast.

INTROIT: Sedulius — Salve, sancta parens, eníxa puérpera Regem: qui cÅ“lum, terrámque regit in sæcula sæculórum. (Ps. 44: 2) Eructávit cor meum verbum bonum: dico ego ópera mea Regi. v. Gloria Patri et Filio et Spiritui Sancti sicut erat in principio et nunc, et semper, et saecula saeculorum. Amen.

Hail holy Mother, who in childbirth didst bring forth the King Who ruleth Heaven and earth world without end. (Ps. 44: 2) My heart hath uttered a good word; I speak my works to the King. v. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost, as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

GRADUAL: Canticles 6: 9 — Quæ est ista, quæ progréditur quasi auróra consúrgens, pulchra ut luna, elécta ut sol? V. [Ecclus. 50: 8] Quasi arcus refúlgens inter nébulas glóriæ, et quasi flos rosárum in diébus vernis. Allelúja, allelúja. V. (Cant. 2: 12) Flores apparuérunt in terra nostra, tempus putatiónis advénit. Allelúja.

Who is she that cometh forth as the morning rising, fair as the moon, bright as the sun? V. [Ecclus. 50: 8] As the rainbow giving light in the bright clouds, and as the flower of roses in the days of spring. Alleluia, alleluia. V. (Cant. 2: 12) The flowers have appeared in our land, the time of pruning is come. Alleluia.

OFFERTORY: 2 Paralipomenon 7: 16 — Elégi, et sanctificávi locum istum, ut sit ibi nomen meum, et permáneant óculi mei, et cor meum ibi cunctis diébus.

I have chosen, and have sanctified this place, that My name may be there, and My eyes and My heart may remain there forevermore.

COMMUNION: Psalm 147: 20 — Non fecit táliter omni natióni: et judícia sua non manifestávit eis.

He hath not done in like manner to every nation: and His judgments He hath not made manifest to them.

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– The Spanish/Latin Novus Ordo Mass was preceded by a Rosary procession around the church grounds led by Matachines [bands of Mexican mummers who wander from village to village or from house to house dancing and hosting several Roman Catholic celebrations.]

All-in-all: December 12 was a fine example of the hermeneutic of continuity in the Latin Rite with appropriate inculturation and popular devotion.

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– My feet officially died Saturday at 8:00 p.m. Mountain Standard Time. I felt like a government worker.

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– Today’s 10:00 a.m. English/Latin Novus Ordo Mass was packed. A fine way to rejoice on the Third Sunday of Advent in Rose vesture!

Propers and Hymns:

OFFERTORY:  Psalm 84: 2-3 — Benedixísti, Dómine, terram tuam; avertísti captivitátem Jacob, remisísti iniquitátem plebis tuæ.

Lord, Thou hast blessed Thy land: Thou hast turned away the captivity of Jacob: Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of Thy people.

COMMUNION: Isaias 35: 4 — Dícite: Pusillánimes, confortámini et nolíte timére: ecce Deus noster véniet, et salvábit nos.

Say, ye faint-hearted and fear not: behold our God will come, and will save us.

O COME, DIVINE MESSIAH

O come, divine Messiah! The world in silence waits the day When hope shall sing its triumph, And sadness flee away.

Dear Savior haste; Come, come to earth, Dispel the night and show your face, And bid us hail the dawn of grace.

O come, divine Messiah! The world in silence waits the day When hope shall sing its triumph, And sadness flee away.

VENI, VENI EMMANUEL

Veni, veni Emmanuel, Captivum solve Israel, Qui gemit in exilio Privatus Dei Filio. Gaude, gaude! Emmanuel nascetur pro te, Israel.

Veni, o Jesse Virgula; Ex hostis tuos ungula, De specu tuos tartari Deduc et antro barathri. Gaude, gaude! Emmanuel nascetur pro te, Israel.

Veni, veni, o Oriens Solare nos adveniens; Noctis depele nebulas Dirasque noctis tenebras. Gaude, gaude! Emmanuel nascetur pro te, Israel.

Veni clavis Davidica; Regna reclude caelica; Fac iter tutum superum, Et claude vias inferum. Gaude, gaude! Emmanuel nascetur pro te, Israel.

Veni, veni Adonai, Qui populo in Sinai Legem dedisti vertice, In majestate gloriae. Gaude, gaude! Emmanuel nascetur pro te, Israel.

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– Ahhh, Sunday afternoon; finally some rest. God is good.  Oreo! Fetch my slippers, and some eggnog. Good boy!