The Meditation. Septuagesima January 28 th, 2018 A.D. The Presentation of Christ in the Temple (1460)

Transcription

1 The Meditation Septuagesima January 28 th, 2018 A.D. The Presentation of Christ in the Temple (1460) By Giovanni Bellini: Italian Renaissance painter Mary presenting the infant Jesus to the aged Simeon, who had been promised by God that he would not die until he saw the Messiah himself. Joseph stands in the background center. It s speculated that the man at the right of Simeon is Bellini himself, and others are members of his family

2 2. The Introit Prayer for Septuagesima The sorrows of death compassed me, the pains of hell came about me, the snares of death overtook me: and in my tribulation I made my prayer unto the Lord, and he regarded my supplication out of his holy temple. I will love thee, O Lord, my strength: The Lord is my stony rock, my fortress, and my Savior. For Who is God, but the Lord? Who hath any strength, except our God? (Psalm 18) Preparation As we enter the Season of Pre-Lent, or Gesima -tide as the Kalendar calls it, we leave the waning celebratory atmosphere of Christmas and Epiphany-tide and begin to prepare, both our thoughts and hearts, for the Penitential season of Lent. How good Holy Church is to give to her children this little season before hand, so we can think about and decide how we will observe this year s Lenten Fast and accompanying obediences. We can start right here in today s meditation, by giving some consideration to our overall humanity, and how desperate it is in the need for amendment between itself and the loving God Who created all of it. Mankind in general, is steeped in sin. When we remove our rose-colored glasses, stop telling ourselves how wonderful we are, and seriously comprehend this short truth, our attitudes toward God will change markedly. We all are members of a sinful race; a species that has become expert in inflicting so much hurt and evil upon itself and creation, and very little that is good. The guilt coming through such knowledge should weigh each of us down. It s an awe-inspiring thought, and yet a crushing thought for those who chose to realize it. The Psalmist echoes this when he says: O God, thou knowest my foolishness; and my sins are not hid from thee. Let not them that wait on thee, O Lord God of hosts, be ashamed for my sake: let not those that seek thee be confounded for my sake, O God of Israel. Because for thy sake I have borne reproach; shame hath covered my face. (Psalm 69; Vss. 5 7). We, your children O God, believe in the forgiveness of sins; have mercy upon us! Though we, as fallen creatures, have been raised up again in Christ, we have not regained the supernatural powers which were conferred upon us in the Garden of Eden, and lost by original sin. We still have nothing that we can call our own, except an inclination to evil, which in our humanity, brings corruption and death. It s true that, as St. Paul writes: I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. (Philippians; Chap 4, Vs. 13) but, it s equally true that; of myself I can do nothing*. If only we could see our spiritual poverty, and our need for humble, submission to God s loving yet chastening Hand, we would know the great importance of His forgiveness of all our sins against our Heavenly Father, our fellow human-beings, and not least our overwhelming pride and vanity!

3 3. The collective sins of humanity are being forgiven... one soul at a time in forgiving our individual sins. He has compassion for all... all have simply but to ask. The Holy Bible is a great romance Novel about God s love for mankind. This is especially so when we read the Song of songs, the Canticle of Moses, and many of the Psalms; Psalms 78 and 106 particularly come to mind. The Old Testament story and history of Israel is that of every human soul. First, comes God s invitation and mankind s approach, followed by a time of mutual love. Then there are trials, lack of faith and trust, and rebellion and punishment, producing repentance and a return to God, who grants his full forgiveness and that not once, or twice... but seventy times seven! We would ask our Lord if there is any limit to His patience and mercy, and the reply is that there is no limit for those who love Him! One of our saints for the coming week wrote of patience: The virtue of patience is the one which most assures us of perfection. ** What is God, if not Perfection? As we enter into the Pre-Lenten season, and begin in our hearts and minds, to frame what kind of spiritual journey we ll take during the coming Lent of 2018, let s heed the sense of urgency in which St. Augustine of Hippo writes: Do not delay; do not insist on shutting the door which is opened for you, which the hand of your loving Father has thrown wide. What are you waiting for? You should be delighted if He opened when you knocked; but He has opened it without that, and will you still remain without? You do not know what will happen tomorrow. You have heard the command that you should not delay in your mercy towards others, and will you be cruel to yourself? You should not delay in giving bread to the needy, and will you delay in receiving your own pardon? Give your soul this alms; in fact, I will go further and will not ask you to give it, simply that you should not reject the Hand that gives it to you. *** Let us, in our prayers beseech our Blessed Lord to punish us until we have learned our lesson: and then put away His anger and forgive us all our sins and accompanying guilt! O Lord, who didst forgive Israel seventy-times seven and brought her back to thy tabernacle, have mercy upon us! We are but children, incapable of using the treasures of salvation that thou didst grant us. The songs of Heaven do not ring true here below; ours are more often psalms of penitence, of hope in thy mercy. In thee O Lord, have I put my trust; Let me not be confounded in eternity! O Lord, hear my prayer; and let my crying come unto you! Meditation Notes: *Ref. to: St. John; Chap. 5 Vs. 30 **St. Francis de Sales (Feast: January 29 th ) Letters to Persons in the World; Ch. 1 ***St. Augustine of Hippo: (Prolegomena: 76, )

4 4. Priory Kalendar For the week of: January 28 th to February 4 th - A.D In Gesima - tide Sunday, January 28 th..... Septuagesima (70 days before Eater) Comm, St. Amadeus; Abt. O.C.O th cent. Switzerland Monday, January 29 th.... St. Francis de Sales: Bp, C. & Doct th cent. Comm. St. Glasius II; Po. & Monk. O.S.B th cent. Tuesday, January 30 th... St. Bathildis; Q. Wid. & Nun, O.S.B.- 7 th cent England & France. Comm. Beheading of King Charles I of England by Protestants under Cromwell Wednesday, January 31 st. St. John Bosco; Conf. & founder of Salesian Order 19 th cent. Thursday, February 1 st... St. Ignatius of Antioch; Bp & Myr. - 2 nd cent. Comm. St. Bridget (Brigid): V. & Myr. - 5 th cent. Kildare, Ireland Friday, February 2 nd... Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Candlemas Day) Saturday, February 3 rd... St. Blaise (Blasius); Bp. & Myr. - 4 th cent. Armenia Mass and Blessing of Throats today Sunday, February 4 th.... Sexagesima (60 days before Easter) Comm. St. Gilbert of Sempringham; Abt. O.S.B. & founder of Gilbertine Order- 12 th cent. England January 29th January 31 st February 1 st St. Francis de Sales St. John Bosco St. Bridgid of Kildare

5 5. How are we to keep this Gesima -tide? To help us understand what this season means, perhaps the greatest source is the great 19 th century abbot of Solesmes Benedictine monastery, Dom Prosper Gueranger, OSB. Dom Gueranger, Abbot of Solesmes from 1837 to 1875, was one of the leading monastics and liturgists of his generation, and his writings were highly influential both in France and abroad. He is perhaps best known today through the pages of his voluminous work The Liturgical Year which he began writing in 1841 in order to make the riches of the liturgy more widely known by the faithful. (from the Introduction to The Liturgical Year) Dom Gueranger devoted a whole volume of The Liturgical Year (Volume 4), to Septuagesima. This 15- volume set was re-printed by St. Bonaventure Publications in 2005, but is currently out of print. Copies and sets can be obtained through Amazon, but be prepared to pay a hefty price. Dom Gueranger referred to Septuagesima as a season of transition, inasmuch as it includes the period between two important seasons Christmas and Lent. In the chapter entitled The History of Septuagesima, Dom Gueranger added, The Church therefore, has instituted a preparation for the holy time of Lent. She gives us three weeks of Septuagesima, during which she withdraws us, as much as may be, from the noisy distractions of the world, in order that our hearts may be the more readily impressed by the solemn warning she is to give us, at the commencement of Lent, by marking our foreheads with ashes. (Ch.1, Pg. 2) To sum it up, Dom Gueranger advises his readers how to prepare for Lent during the three weeks of Septuagessima-tide: By entering into the spirit of the Church in sober, mournful preparation for the penances of Lent. By growing in holy fear of God. By considering what original sin and our own sins have done to deserve God s judgments. By rising up from indifference in our spiritual life. By realizing our need for the saving sacrifice of Christ that we will remember in great detail during Lent.

6 KALENDAR KEY: 6. Abt. = Abbot, Abs. = Abbess, Abp = Archbishop, Anc. = Anchorite, Ancs. = Anchoress, Ap. = Apostle, Bl. = Blessed, Br. = Brother, Bp. = Bishop, Card. = Cardinal, C. or Conf. = Confessor, Comm. = Commemoration/Commemorate, Dcn. = Deacon, Doct. = Doctor of the Church, Ev. = Evangelist, H. = Hermit, LBr. = Lay Brother, LSr. = Lay Sister, K. = King, Mat. = Matron, M. = Monk, M.M. = Month s Mind ( Requiem for the recently departed on the 30 th day after death or burial). Myr. = Martyr, N. = Nun, Obl. = Oblate, P. = Priest, Po. = Pope, Pr. = Prior, Prs. = Prioress, R. = Recluse, RM = Requien Mortuorum, ( Mass and Offices for the departed once a month as designated on Kalendar). SDcn. = Sub Deacon, Q. = Queen, Ven. = Venerable, Vir.=Virgin, W. = Widow. FASTING KEY: A = Abstinence, F = Fast, F & A = Fast and Abstinence RELIGIOUS ORDER ABBREVIATIONS: C.O = Congregation of the Oratory (Oratorians), C.P. = Congregation of the Passion (Passionists), C.S.J. = Congregation of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits), Er. Cam. = Camaldolese Hermits, F.P. O. = Franciscans of the Primitive Observance, O. Car. = Carmelite Order, O. Cart. Carthusian Order, O.C.D. = Order of Discalced Friars (Carmelites), O.F.A. = Augustinian Order, O.F.M = Order of Friars Minor (Franciscans), O.F.M. Cap = Capuchin Order, O.P. = Order of Preachers (Dominicans also called Blackfriars ), O. Praem. = Order of Cannons Regular (Norbertines), O.S.B. = Order of St. Benedict (Benedictines), O.Ss. S. = Bridgettines, O.S.U = Ursulines, O.C.O. = Order of the Cistercian Observance (Trappists/Trappistines), O.C.S.O. = Cistercian Order of the Strict Observance (Trappists/ Trappistines). Tert. = Tertiary (Third Order religious). About the Meditation and About Us The Meditation is an online apostolate of Our Lady of Seven Sorrows Priory in Raymond, Maine, USA. We are an Anglican-Catholic Benedictine contemplative community that follows the Holy Rule of St. Benedict, the 5 th century Father of Western Monasticism. We are resident within the Diocese of the Northeast (DNE), of the Anglican Church in America (ACA), a member of the worldwide Traditional Anglican Communion (TAC). The Meditation is a weekly online offering that is sent out free of charge to anyone who desires to receive it. Subscribers may copy and pass along The Meditation to their families and friends, or send us their e-address (with their permission) to add to our subscription list so they may receive it directly from us. Each issue is sent out as a BCC (Blank Copy) in respect to subscriber privacy and online security. To subscribe, contact us at: klamarre@maine.rr.com To read past issues of the Meditation, please go to our website at: and you can find them in the section marked Meditations on the homepage. PLEASE NOTE: In respect to our contemplative vocation and the animals in our rescue and rehab center, we do not have guest or bathroom facilities and do not regularly receive visitors. Fr. Kevin is available to hear confessions and give spiritual direction by appointment only. Please contact via to make an appointment.

7 7. Feasts, Fasts, and Other Things By Br. A. Chip Munk, O.S.B. The Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary also called Candlemas February 2 nd

8 8. This feast, in the Eastern Church, and in some Anglican jurisdictions, is treated as a feast of Our Lord, and is given the title of: The Presentation of Christ in the Temple. Commonly called the Purification of St. Mary the Virgin *The feast is listed in this fashion and can be found on page 231 in the 1928 Book of Common Prayer. The Feast, in most of the West, is included among the feasts of the Blessed Virgin Mary, though the Mass and the Office text focuses rightly on her Son. We treat this day as a Marian Feast-day, and follow the liturgy accordingly as a priory dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary The 40 th day after the celebration of Christ s birth was observed with special solemnity in Jerusalem by the end of the fourth century, and from there, no doubt, it spread throughout the Eastern Church. This festival, in time, spread to the West, being one of those that Pope Sergius I ordered to be solemnized in Rome around 700 A.D. A procession with candles was made before Mass on that same day, February 2 nd, where the day was also known as Candlemas Day... more about that in a bit. The Law of God, given by Moses to the Hebrew people, ordained that Forty days after the birth of a boy (eighty days for a girl), the mother should present herself at the Temple and make an offering, whereupon she would be cleansed from legal uncleanliness. The Blessed Virgin clearly did not come within the intent of this law: but she chose to observe it, both out of respect for God s Law, and because her family and neighbors would expect it of her. Being poor, she made the offering apportioned for the poor (see Leviticus: Chap 12, Vs. 8 and St. Luke; Chap. 2, Vs. 24). Her visit to the Temple for this purpose is also commemorated in the Church in the Blessing of a Woman after Childbirth; commonly called the Churching of Women (See Page 305 of the 1928 Book of Common Prayer for this ceremony titled: The Thanksgiving of Women after Childbirth ) The Christian rite does not infer any idea of purification, for the honorable begetting of a child does not incur any form of impurity, the ritual of giving thanks is in keeping with the harsh reality of the high mortality of both mother and child that existed in childbirth both in those times, and even to some extent our own. The Purification is rather a feast wherein the inseparable association of Mary with Jesus is emphasized; and its real object is made clear in the antiphon to the Magnificat at the office of Second Vespers of the day: Today the blessed Virgin Mary presented the child Jesus in the temple and Simeon, filled with the Holy Spirit, received him into his arms, and began to bless God, whom he blessed unto all eternity. Candlemas; the traditional name for this feast, derives its name from the candlelight procession in the church on this day recalling Simeon s words: A light to lighten the Gentiles (St. Luke: Chap. 2, Vs. 39) This very old feast taking place in the still dark days of winter, was also the day in which the candles for the new Church Year, as well as those to be used in the homes of parishioners, were blessed with a ceremony. The feast was very popular in England by It was suppressed during the English Reformation, and was revived during the time of the Anglo-Catholic Movement in the early 1800 s and is observed today by traditional Anglo-Catholic jurisdictions (and individual parishes), and those of the Anglican/Roman Catholic Ordinariate. A procession forms before the Mass of that Day, in keeping with Catholic tradition. All the candles are blessed and processional candles are then lit, and the antiphon, Christ is the light of the nations is intoned in either Latin or the vernacular. The celebrant acclaims: Let us go forth in peace to meet the Lord, in reference to the origin of the feast when Christ was met and escorted into the temple, and in meeting Christ in the Eucharist. It can be a very dramatic service when the use of candlelight serves as its sole form of illumination!

9 9. Candlemas (1551) painting by Simon Bening ( )- Flemish miniturist Note the procession gathering inside the church *By comparison, The Anglican Missal American Edition and the People s Anglican Missal list the Feast as both a feast of our Lord and Our Lady, therefore giving latitude to diocesan and parish tradition. The Presentation of Christ in the Temple Illumination from the Luttrell Psalter ( ) The Luttrell Psalter was commissioned by Sir Geoffrey Luttrell ( ), lord of Irnham in Lincolnshire, England. It is one of the most lavishly illuminated psalters of that period.

10 10. The Feast of St. Blaise February 3rd Some thoughts on Sacramentals The Blessing of throats in a parish Church on the Feast of St. Blaise Feb. 3rd The candles are no sooner blessed on February 2nd, and then they are put to work the very next day on February 3rd... the Feast of St. Blaise or Blasius. Blaise, before becoming a bishop, was a practicing physician. The art of healing was, at that time, frequently combined with priestly activity for pastoral reasons and in imitation of our Lord. He is venerated as a miracle-worker and is numbered among the Fourteen Holy helpers. This saint s assistance is invoked in spiritual distress resulting from the withholding of grave sins, and also against throat illnesses. The latter devotion stems from his miraculous cure of a child that was choking on a fish bone lodged in its throat. It is for protection against illnesses of the throat that the Church on his feast day of February 3rd, holds the St. Blaise Blessing. This occasion of the bestowal of the St. Blaise Blessing, the blessing of throats, gives us an opportunity to think a little about blessings in general. The Church shows her motherly love not only in a profusion of spiritual gifts through the Eucharistic Sacrifice (The Mass), but also through the Sacraments, and the Divine Office. Holy church also shows concern for us in our daily needs as well. This is done through the sacramentals; or you may use the term blessings or consecrations. These little sacraments if you will, may be divided into three classes according to their three-fold purpose, that is to say; a.) to ready prerequisites for divine worship; b.) to enhance the externals of a cultus*; c.) to sanctify daily life.

11 11. To the first class belong those blessings by which places and things are permanently set aside for use in the divine worship of God. Whatever is intended exclusively for divine service must be sanctified and segregated from the world, for the world belongs to the devil. The second set of sacramentals serves to make the worship of God more attractive and edifying. This group would include the whole array of rites and ceremonies as well as such objects as incense, candles, holy water, sacred vestments and vessels, and other sanctuary appointments. The purpose of the third category is to channel the manifold blessings of redemption into every compartment of human activity. These manifold blessings are still little known and appreciated by those believing themselves to be Catholics, and even more so since the liturgical changes of the late 1960 s. There is scarcely an object of daily use, occasion, or circumstance for which the Church does not have a special blessing; or any misfortune over which she is at a loss to provide solace and healing. Among such sacramentals are yesterday s Blessing of the Candles and today s St. Blaise Blessing. There are the blessing of homes on Epiphany; of wine on the Feast of St. John, of food on Easter, of the land on Rogation Day, and so forth. There are various ritual books for priests to use which contain blessings for nearly everything, or adaptations of blessings, that can be used to fit a need. Every priest should have a copy of a Ritual Book for immediate use. One of the finest ritual books still in print and available today is; A Manual for Priests (ISBN: ) published by the Preservation Press. This book would make a fine gift for any man about to be ordained to the Sacred priesthood! Living the liturgy is not complete for any Catholic Christian without an understanding and use of the Church s sacramentals. Br. Chip The Blessing of Throats (excerpted from: A Manual For Priests; Page 158) If this blessing is given immediately after Mass, the Priest will be vested in alb and stole of the color of the Mass: at other times he should be vested in cassock, surplice, and red stole. Placing the two candles in the form of a Cross, the Priest applies them to the throats of those who desire the blessing (who should be kneeling at the Altar Rail). Priest: Through the intercession of Blessed Blasius, may God free thee from all affections of the throat, and from all other ailments; In the Name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. This blessing should be thought of not only as a blessing of the throat, but also as a blessing for bodily health in general, as is given by the Priest imparting the blessing. *Cultus: The service expressly offered to God through sacred signs and inward dispositions of adoration, praise thanksgiving, and petition which acknowledges God s supreme power.

12 12. Feasts, Fasts, and Other Things from: The Chipmunk s Nutshell Library is presented by Br. A. Chip Monk, O.S.B. A very learned munk of Our Lady of Seven Sorrows Priory in Raymond, Maine, USA Goin Nuts with Brother Sylvester By Br. Raymond A. Crowe How Br. Sylvester Tailgates! Not much needs to be said friends, the photo speaks for itself! - Photo by Br. Raymond Goin Nuts with Br. Sylvester is an occasional presentation of observations made by Br. Raymond A. Crowe, O.S.B. of our little Brother Sylvester A. Squirrell, O.S.B. as he goes about his day here at the Priory.

13 13. Animal News by Sr. Mary Francis, O.S.B. Sleep in Heavenly peace Sleep in Heavenly peace. Our animal cemetery in the silent peace that is Winter. PAX

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