Catechesis, Pentecost

TLM for Pentecost Sunday

The feast of Pentecost, or Whitsunday, will be observed ed in a Solemn High Mass in the traditional Latin form at St. Stanislaus Church, State Street at Eld Street in New Haven, on Sunday, June 5, at 2:00 pm. The celebrant will be The Reverend Peter Lenox, Episcopal Vicar for Liturgy and Worship, the Diocese of Bridgeport; the deacon will be The Reverend Robert L. Turner, Pastor of St. Ambrose Parish, North Branford; and the subdeacon will be Mr. William V. Riccio, Jr.

Pentecost is celebrated on the 50th day (the seventh Sunday) after Easter Sunday. It commemorates the descent of the Holy Ghost upon the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Apostles and other followers of Jesus Christ while they were in Jerusalem celebrating the Feast of Weeks, as described in the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 2:1-31).

We read in the Gospel at the Mass on this great feast that our Lord foretold the coming of the Paraclete to his disciples, and the Epistle shows us the realization of that promise.  God descended upon the Cenacle, and a mighty wind which blew suddenly upon the house, together with the appearance of tongues of fire within, were the wonderful tokens of His coming.

Taught by the “Light of Thy Holy Ghost” (Collect at Mass) and filled by the gifts of the same Spirit poured out upon them (Sequence), the apostles became new men to go forth and renew the whole world (Introit). In the words of the Alleluia: “Come Holy Ghost, fill the hearts of Thy faithful, and kindle in them the fire of Thy love,” let us fervently pray that the Holy Ghost will come down upon us.

Music for the service, sung by members of the Schola Cantorum of the Saint Gregory Society, will include the Gregorian Mass Ordinary I, “Lux et origo,” motets by Claudio Monteverdi and Guillaume Dufay, the proper Gregorian chants, and organ music by Jacques Boyvin and Eugène Gigout.

 

 

 

 

Ascension

Ascension Rogationtide 2022

May 23, 24, 25, 2022 are the days designated for the Ascension Rogationtide. Three brief days of penance prior to the great feast of the Lord of the Ascension. A very interesting liturgical history of these days is noted at the link below.

Dom Prosper Gueranger, in slightly sarcastic mood.

“The main part of the Rogation rite originally consisted (at least in Gaul), in singing canticles of supplication whilst passing from place to place [..] We learn from St. Cæsarius of Arles that each day’s Procession lasted six hours; and that when the clergy became tired, the women took up the chanting. The faithful of those days had not made the discovery, which was reserved for modern times, that one requisite for religious processions is that they be as short as possible.”

More on the Rogation liturgical observance may be found here.

Easter, News

Solemn High Mass for the Fifth Sunday after Easter

The Fifth Sunday after Easter will be celebrated in a Solemn High Mass in the traditional Latin form at St. Stanislaus Church, State Street at Eld Street, in New Haven on Sunday, May 22, at 2:00 pm. The celebrant will be The Reverend Richard G. Cipolla, Pastor Emeritus of St. Mary’s Church, Norwalk; the Deacon will be The Reverend Peter Lenox, Director of Liturgy, the Diocese of Bridgeport; and the Subdeacon will be Mr. James Onofrio.

The proper texts of the liturgy for this Sunday’s Mass continue to sing of Christ’s victory and of the salvation of Christian people whom He has redeemed. During the Rogation Days that follow, the Church exhorts us to pray in “His name” and ask for what is necessary for us, salvation first and foremost; these prayers will unfailingly be granted us “that our joy may be full.”

We must ask, too, that we may be worthy to enter with Him into His Father’s kingdom, while acknowledging that prayer that is sincere implies generosity: St. Jame’s Epistle reminds us that it is not enough merely to pray; we must also be “doers of the Word.”

Music for the service, sung by the Schola Cantorum of The Saint Gregory Society, will include the Gregorian Mass Ordinary for Eastertide (Vatican Edition I: “Lux et origo,”) the antiphon “Regina caeli laetare,” the hymn “Ad regias agni dapes,” the proper Gregorian chants, and organ music by J. S. Bach and Herbert Howells.