Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of St John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta In keeping with the Concordat signed between the Vatican City State and the Sovereign Military Order of Malta (SMOM), the Catholic Church recognizes only one group as the official Order of Malta. The current Prince Grand Master is Fra Matthew Festing and their website is www.orderofmalta.int (with options for English, Spanish, French, German, Russian and Italian translations of the website). There are numerous Order of Malta groups out there that claim some affiliation or descent and even those that call themselves ecumenical. The SMOM has asked that the Church not recognize the validity of these groups. Be advised that the Catholic Church only recognizes one Order of Malta and their ceremonies are coordinated by the bishop s office in each diocese or through an approved chaplain. In keeping with the concordat between the SMOM and the Vatican City State, no other group claiming to be an Order of Malta may use a Catholic Church for investiture services and priests should not accept honors or titles given by these disparate groups. Prayers for the Election of a New Pontiff Following the resignation of the Pope, you are permitted to offer a Mass For the Election of a Pope (Masses for Various Needs and Occasions #4). The vestment color is that proper to the season. You may offer this Mass on a weekday of Lent as long as it does not conflict with a Solemnity or Feast. Gold and White Bunting Upon the election of our new pontiff the entrance to the church/chapel may be decorated with gold and white bunting and the Vatican flag displayed in a prominent place surrounded by flowers (even though we are in Lent). Numerous photos of the new pope will be available online for printing and display until the official portraits are available.
The Sequence Only the Masses on Easter Sunday and Pentecost Sunday require the Sequence. The Sequence is to be sung before the Alleluia and the people remain seated. This transforms the Sequence into a more contemplative meditation on the mystery of the day in preparation for the Gospel (GIRM, 64; Newsletter, Committee on Divine Worship, July 2012). Easter Sunday Sequence: Victimae paschali laudes Pentecost Sunday Sequence: Veni, Sancte Spiritus Symposium on Sacrosanctum Concilium November 8-9, 2013 On Friday, November 8 and Saturday, November 9, 2013 at the Marriott Waterfront hotel in Baltimore, Maryland, the Committee on Divine Worship will hold a scholarly symposium in honor of the fiftieth anniversary of Sacrosanctum Concilium. The symposium begins at 1pm on Friday and will conclude after lunch on Saturday. Keynote speakers will be the Most Reverend Wilton D Gregory, Archbishop of Atlanta, and Fr. Jeremy Driscoll, O.S.B., faculty member at Mount St Angel Seminary in Oregon and the Pontifical Liturgy Institute at Sant Anselmo in Rome. Each keynote will be followed by a panel discussion of experts from various fields of the liturgical apostolate. Those involved in leadership roles in the liturgical apostolate, liturgical scholars, bishops, pastors, composers, and pastoral musicians are invited to participate. Registration will take place in late spring more details to follow (www.usccb.org). NB: The USCCB meeting will be taking place that same weekend at the hotel. Gentle Reminder Gospel Etiquette When introducing the Gospel, Priests and Deacons are to keep their hands joined. At other invocations of The Lord be with you the priest s hands are extended, but in this case they are kept joined. GIRM #134: At the ambo, the Priest opens the book and, with hands joined, says, The Lord be with you... GIRM #175: At the ambo the Deacon greets the people, with hands joined, saying, The Lord be with you.
Veiling of Crosses and Images 5 th Sunday of Lent Approved adaptations to the GIRM #318 In the Dioceses of the United States, the practice of covering crosses and images throughout the Church from [the Fifth Sunday of Lent] may be observed (Passiontide). Crosses remain covered until the end of the celebration of the Lord s Passion on Good Friday, but images remain covered until the beginning of the Easter Vigil. The veiling represents a sort of fasting from sacred depictions which represent the paschal glory of our salvation. The veiling is optional, at the discretion of the local pastor. Liturgical law does not prescribe the form or color of the veil by tradition they have been made of simple, lightweight purple cloth, without ornament. One may choose to veil the cross following the Holy Thursday liturgy in preparation for the Good Friday liturgies. (Newsletter, Committee on the Liturgy, March 2006) (Newsletter, Committee on Divine Worship, August-September 2010) March 10 th Laetare Sunday Laetare is the first word of the Latin Introit (Is. 66:10-11) and sets a tone for the joyful anticipation of the Easter mystery. Rose vestments are optional on the 4 th Sunday (Laetare) of Lent. The altar may be decorated with flowers. Holy Thursday The tabernacle is emptied before Mass begins. The proper reverence is then a profound bow to the altar. The altar is stripped after the Mass and crosses removed or covered in anticipation of the Good Friday service (if not already done). Holy Water may be removed from the fonts to be refilled with the water blessed at the Easter vigil.
Second Sunday of Easter (or Sunday of Divine Mercy) This excerpt from the decree from the Apostolic Penitentiary is provided to help you disseminate proper information regarding the Plenary Indulgence on the Sunday of Divine Mercy. Three conditions for the plenary indulgence And so the Supreme Pontiff, motivated by an ardent desire to foster in Christians this devotion to Divine Mercy as much as possible in the hope of offering great spiritual fruit to the faithful, in the Audience granted on 13 June 2002, to those Responsible for the Apostolic Penitentiary, granted the following Indulgences: a plenary indulgence, granted under the usual conditions (sacramental confession, Eucharistic communion and prayer for the intentions of Supreme Pontiff) to the faithful who, on the Second Sunday of Easter or Divine Mercy Sunday, in any church or chapel, in a spirit that is completely detached from the affection for a sin, even a venial sin, take part in the prayers and devotions held in honour of Divine Mercy, or who, in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament exposed or reserved in the tabernacle, recite the Our Father and the Creed, adding a devout prayer to the merciful Lord Jesus (e.g. Merciful Jesus, I trust in you!"); A partial indulgence, granted to the faithful who, at least with a contrite heart, pray to the merciful Lord Jesus a legitimately approved invocation. For those who cannot go to church or the seriously ill In addition, sailors working on the vast expanse of the sea; the countless brothers and sisters, whom the disasters of war, political events, local violence and other such causes have been driven out of their homeland; the sick and those who nurse them, and all who for a just cause cannot leave their homes or who carry out an activity for the community which cannot be postponed, may obtain a plenary indulgence on Divine Mercy Sunday, if totally detesting any sin, as has been said before, and with the intention of fulfilling as soon as possible the three usual conditions, will recite the Our Father and the Creed before a devout image of Our Merciful Lord Jesus and, in addition, pray a devout invocation to the Merciful Lord Jesus (e.g. Merciful Jesus, I trust in you). If it is impossible that people do even this, on the same day they may obtain the Plenary Indulgence if with a spiritual intention they are united with those carrying out the prescribed practice for obtaining the Indulgence in the usual way and offer to the Merciful Lord a prayer and the sufferings of their illness and the difficulties of their lives, with the resolution to accomplish as soon as possible the three conditions prescribed to obtain the plenary indulgence. Duty of priests: inform parishioners, hear confessions, lead prayers Priests who exercise pastoral ministry, especially parish priests, should inform the faithful in the most suitable way of the Church's salutary provision. They should promptly and generously be willing to hear their confessions. On Divine Mercy Sunday, after celebrating Mass or Vespers, or during devotions in honour of Divine Mercy, with the dignity that is in accord with the rite, they should lead the recitation of the prayers that have been given above.
Book of the Gospels/Evangeliary Be advised that the bishop kisses the Book of the Gospels (Evangeliary), not the binder, paper, loose leaf notebook, plastic covered type written text, etc. When the bishop kisses the Gospel it is out of respect for the Book of the Gospels/Evangeliary. If the Gospel passage is in any other object/holder besides the approved liturgical Book of the Gospels/Evangeliary, the bishop (and priest/deacon) does not reverence it. (GIRM, 60, 349). Only the Book of the Gospels is carried in procession, the Lectionary is not (GIRM, 120d). No quasi Gospel processions if the Gospel you are reading is not in the Book of the Gospels but rather in the binder on the Ambo DO NOT go through the charade of processing with the Book of the Gospels only to irreverently stick the Book of the Gospels on a shelf in the Ambo. The least you can do is make a photo copy of the Gospel passage and put it in the Book of the Gospels. Looking ahead Saturday, November 2, 2013 The Table of Liturgical Days ranks All Souls Day at no. 3 after the Solemnity of All saints, but ahead of Sundays in Ordinary Time (no. 6). On Friday Evening, Masses are that of the Solemnity of All Saints, as is EP II. On Saturday evening, any normally scheduled anticipated Masses should be for the 31 st Sunday in Ordinary Time. (If desired for pastoral reasons, a Mass of All Souls Day outside the usual Mass schedule may be celebrated on Saturday evening.) Since Saturday is a common day for the celebration of Marriage, it should also be noted that Ritual Masses are forbidden on All Souls Day. Though one could celebrate the Mass for All Souls and include the marriage ritual, it would be preferable that the Rite of Marriage outside Mass be the option used. (Newsletter, Committee on Divine Worship, January 2013) Solemnity of Saint Joseph Tuesday, March 19 th Gloria and Creed are recited/sung at Mass. Upon a typical St. Joseph's Day altar [dining table placed against the wall like the traditional altars], people place flowers, limes, candles, wine, fava beans, specially prepared cakes, breads, and cookies (as well as other meatless dishes), and zeppole. Foods are traditionally served containing bread crumbs to represent saw dust since St. Joseph was a carpenter. Because the feast occurs during Lent, traditionally no meat was allowed on the celebration table. The altar usually has three tiers, to represent the trinity. A St Joseph Prayer is included with the newsletter if you wish to publish one in your bulletins.
Sunset Easter Vigil According to the Almanac for March 2013, sunset on March 30, 2013 Sunrise Easter Morning According to the Almanac for March 2013, sunrise will take place on Easter morning at: Pompano Beach: 7:36pm Pompano Beach: 7:13am Port St Lucie: 7:38pm Port St Lucie: 7:13am GENTLE REMINDER The Easter Vigil Of this night s Vigil, which is the greatest and most noble of all solemnities, there is to be only one celebration in each church (Rubrics-Roman Missal, #2). The entire celebration of the Easter Vigil must take place during the night, so that it begins after nightfall and ends before daybreak on the Sunday (Rubrics-Roman Missal, #3), (Norms- 21). Your one Easter Vigil should take place after Sunset on March 30 th. Multiple Masses taking place in the afternoon on March 30 th are prohibited. Pastoral sensitivity or pastoral necessity cannot be used as valid arguments when dealing with the Easter Vigil. It is the most solemn and noble liturgy that we have as Catholics and thus must not be watered down or transformed into a Mass of my own creation. Pastoral suggestions for honoring Saint Patrick 5 th Sunday of Lent March 17 th One may choose to say the Collect from the Memorial of Saint Patrick as the closing prayer for the General Intercessions. One may choose to include a hymn based on Saint Patrick s Breastplate (Lorica) in the music selected for the day. One may choose to print the Breastplate of Saint Patrick (Lorica) in the bulletin for the people to use for personal meditation. I have provided a translation in this newsletter. Collection of Masses of the Blessed Virgin Mary The revised Missal is available from Liturgical Press www.litpress.org
Breastplate (Lorica) of Saint Patrick I arise today through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity, through belief in the Threeness, through confession of the Oneness of the Creator of creation. I arise today through the strength of Christ with His Baptism, through the strength of His Crucifixion with His Burial, through the strength of His Resurrection with His Ascension, through the strength of His descent for the Judgment of Doom. I arise today through the strength of the love of Cherubim in obedience of Angels, in the service of the Archangels, in hope of resurrection to meet with reward, in prayers of Patriarchs, in predictions of Prophets, in preachings of Apostles, in faiths of Confessors, in innocence of Holy Virgins, in deeds of righteous men. I arise today, through the strength of Heaven: light of Sun, brilliance of Moon, splendour of Fire, speed of Lightning, swiftness of Wind, depth of Sea, stability of Earth, firmness of Rock. I arise today, through God's strength to pilot me: God's might to uphold me, God's wisdom to guide me, God's eye to look before me, God's ear to hear me, God's word to speak for me, God's hand to guard me, God's way to lie before me, God's shield to protect me, God's host to secure me: against snares of devils, against temptations of vices, against inclinations of nature, against everyone who shall wish me ill, afar and anear, alone and in a crowd. I summon today all these powers between me (and these evils): against every cruel and merciless power that may oppose my body and my soul, against incantations of false prophets, against black laws of heathenry, against false laws of heretics, against craft of idolatry, against spells of witches and smiths and wizards, against every knowledge that endangers man's body and soul. Christ to protect me today against poison, against burning, against drowning, against wounding, so that there may come abundance of reward. Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ on my right, Christ on my left, Christ in breadth, Christ in length, Christ in height, Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me, Christ in the mouth of every man who speaks of me, Christ in every eye that sees me, Christ in every ear that hears me. I arise today through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity, through belief in the Threeness, through confession of the Oneness of the Creator of creation. Salvation is of the Lord. Salvation is of Christ. May Thy Salvation, O Lord, be ever with us.
Ad Te Beate Ioseph (To you O Blessed Joseph) To you, O blessed Joseph, do we come in our tribulation, and having implored the help of your most holy spouse, we confidently invoke your patronage also. Through that charity which bound you to the immaculate Virgin Mother of God and through the paternal love with which you embraced the Child Jesus, we humbly beg you graciously to regard the inheritance which Jesus Christ has purchased by his Blood, and with your power and strength to aid us in our necessities. O most watchful Guardian of the Holy Family, defend the chosen children of Jesus Christ; O most loving father, ward off from us every contagion of error and corrupting influence; O our most mighty protector, be propitious to us and from heaven assist us in our struggle with the power of darkness; and, as once you rescued the Child Jesus from deadly peril, so now protect God's Holy Church from the snares of the enemy and from all adversity; shield, too, each one of us by your constant protection, so that, supported by your example and your aid, we may be able to live piously, to die holily, and to obtain eternal happiness in heaven. Amen.
Chrism Mass Cathedral of Saint Ignatius Loyola March 26, 2013 11am Bring your diocesan vestment Solemnity of the Annunciation March 25, 2013 falls during Holy Week so the Solemnity of the Annunciation has been transferred to the first available date the Monday following the Octave of Easter. Be advised, in 2013 the Annunciation is observed on April 8 th. Upcoming Ceremonies to mark on your calendars Diocese of Palm Beach Priests Convocation Monday, April 29 th Thursday, May 2 nd Diocese of Palm Beach Ordination to the Priesthood Cathedral of Saint Ignatius Loyola Saturday, May 4, 2013 @ 11am Marian Rosary Festival Emmanuel Catholic Church May 5, 2013 @ 2pm Mary, Guardian of the Faith