Happy Independence Day!

Prayer for Our Nation
Composed by John Carroll, Archbishop of Baltimore

We pray, Thee O Almighty and Eternal God! Who through Jesus Christ hast revealed Thy glory to all nations, to preserve the works of Thy mercy, that Thy Church, being spread through the whole world, may continue with unchanging faith in the confession of Thy Name.

We pray Thee, who alone art good and holy, to endow with heavenly knowledge, sincere zeal, and sanctity of life, our chief bishop, Pope N., the Vicar of Our Lord Jesus Christ, in the government of his Church; our own bishop, N., all other bishops, prelates, and pastors of the Church; and especially those who are appointed to exercise amongst us the functions of the holy ministry, and conduct Thy people into the ways of salvation.

We pray Thee O God of might, wisdom, and justice! Through whom authority is rightly administered, laws are enacted, and judgment decreed, assist with Thy Holy Spirit of counsel and fortitude the President of these United States, that his administration may be conducted in righteousness, and be eminently useful to Thy people over whom he presides; by encouraging due respect for virtue and religion; by a faithful execution of the laws in justice and mercy; and by restraining vice and immorality. Let the light of Thy divine wisdom direct the deliberations of Congress, and shine forth in all the proceedings and laws framed for our rule and government, so that they may tend to the preservation of peace, the promotion of national happiness, the increase of industry, sobriety, and useful knowledge; and may perpetuate to us the blessing of equal liberty.

We pray for his excellency, the governor of this state, for the members of the assembly, for all judges, magistrates, and other officers who are appointed to guard our political welfare, that they may be enabled, by Thy powerful protection, to discharge the duties of their respective stations with honesty and ability.

We recommend likewise, to Thy unbounded mercy, all our brethren and fellow citizens throughout the United States, that they may be blessed in the knowledge and sanctified in the observance of Thy most holy law; that they may be preserved in union, and in that peace which the world cannot give; and after enjoying the blessings of this life, be admitted to those which are eternal.

Finally, we pray to Thee, O Lord of mercy, to remember the souls of Thy servants departed who are gone before us with the sign of faith and repose in the sleep of peace; the souls of our parents, relatives, and friends; of those who, when living, were members of this congregation, and particularly of such as are lately deceased; of all benefactors who, by their donations or legacies to this Church, witnessed their zeal for the decency of divine worship and proved their claim to our grateful and charitable remembrance. To these, O Lord, and to all that rest in Christ, grant, we beseech Thee, a place of refreshment, light, and everlasting peace, through the same Jesus Christ, Our Lord and Savior.

Amen.

Pennsylvania Dutch Country gets weekly TLM

From Dr. Rudolph Masciantonio, Chairman of the Philadelphia Chapter of the Latin Liturgy Association, Inc.

Sodales:

There is a regularly scheduled Traditional Latin Mass now at St. Anthony of Padua Church in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. The church is located at 501 Orange Street; the telephone number is 717-394-0669. This location in the Diocese of Harrisburg has been described by LLA member D. Toler (to whom we are very grateful for this information!) as “very accessible to people living out in Chester County” in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.

Currently this Holy Mass is celebrated on Saturdays at 6:00 p.m. However, beginning Sunday, July 12, 2009 the time will be 1:30 p.m. on Sundays. The celebrant is Fr. Pang Tscheou. Currently this is a Low Mass but sometime in September it will become a High Mass.

I am very pleased to bring this information to your attention. Thank you for giving it your attention and for spreading the word about this location.

Sanguis Christi, pax et dulcedo cordium, salva nos!

Most cordially yours,
Rudy Masciantonio

A New Direction

I have to make an apology for not having posted much this year. For the past several months I've been looking for work and that has taken up most of my available time. (I ask for your prayers in this.) I haven't even been keeping up with what is going on in the 'Catholic blog world'. As well, I have recently been invited to help in a big way with the weekly Missa Cantata (in the extraordinary form) at Saint Paul's, Christian Street beginning this fall, so I won't have much free time to church hop. Therefore, what I've decided to do with this blog is to turn it into what it already has been functioning as for the last few months--a message board for events and subjects pertaining to the Archdiocese of Philadelphia's traditional Roman Catholic community. I'll still be posting photos of local churches (and ones from trips) when I can, as well as putting up articles of interest from The Catholic Standard and other newspapers. I thank you for your support thus far. God bless.

Words of Wisdom

"An Irish pastor is supposed to have told his congregation that the doctrines of the faith are conundrums devised by God to keep us humble. Some insufficiently instructed Catholics seem to accept this view. They believe in the Trinity, the pope, the seven sacraments, indulgences and possibly guardian angels, for the good, but insufficient, reason that all these tenets seem to be imposed by ecclesiastical authority.

This authoritarian, extrinsicist view of faith can easily breed a sense of emptiness and indifference. Some imagine that it makes little difference what God has revealed so long as we believe it. Devout Christians sometimes say, unconscious of the implied blasphemy: “I’d be just as glad to believe that there are five or ten persons in God as that there are three.” Such an attitude reflects a dangerous failure to appreciate the intimate connection between the act of faith and its doctrinal content.

The content of faith, especially in central matters such as the Trinity and the Incarnation, cannot be divorced from faith itself. Faith is not an empty sack that can equally well be filled by anything God chooses to say. The doctrines are articulations of what faith, in its inner reality, already is. They illuminate the inherent structure of any act of faith."

--Avery Robert, Cardinal Dulles

Archdiocese of Philadelphia gets first weekly High Mass in the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite

I'm pleased to announce that, at long last, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia will have its first weekly High Mass (in the extraordinary form of the Roman Rite) beginning on Sunday, October 25, 2009--the Feast of Christ the King. This Mass will be celebrated at Saint Paul's Church, Christian Street every Sunday at 12 noon. The announcement was made by the pastor at to-day's High Mass ending the Year of St. Paul, proclaimed last year by the Holy Father.

All men and young men interested in serving (no experiece required) should contact the pastor, Fr. Gerald Carey, at 215-923-0355.

The parish can be reached from north of the city vîa the Delaware Expressway (I-95) by taking the Columbus Boulevard Exit, turning right onto Columbus Boulevard, and right onto Christian Street; from south of the city vîa the Delaware Expressway (I-95), exiting onto PA-611 toward Pattison Avenue, making a slight left onto Broad Street, following Broad Street for about 2 miles, and making a right onto Christian Street; or from west of the city vîa the Schuylkill Expressway (I-76), merging onto the Vine Street Expressway (I-676), exiting at Broad Street, turning right onto Broad Street and following it all the way around City Hall, then turning left onto South Street, and right onto 10th Street. There is limited parking (approximately 25 spaces) in the church's parking lot directly across the street.

The church is also accessible vîa public transportation. If coming from the suburbs, take the train into Market East Station (Reading Terminal); exit onto Market Street in front of the Pennsylvania Convention Center. From 12th & Market Streets, catch the 23 Bus southbound to Oregon Station in South Philadelphia. Exit the bus at 12th & Christian and walk two blocks east to St. Paul's Church. For other information visit www.septa.com and click on "Plan My Trip".

Reminder

Latin Missa Cantata (Mass in the Extraordinary Form) has been scheduled for 3:00 PM on Sunday, June 28, 2009 in anticipation of the Feast of SS. Peter & Paul at the Saint Paul's Church, Christian Street between 9th & 10th Streets in South Philadelphia.

Feast of the Sacred Heart

"The thoughts of His Heart are from generation to generation: to save their souls from death, and to feed them in the time of dearth." --Psalm 32: 1.

TLM at the Carmel in Philadelphia

A very detailed message from Dr. Rudolph Masciantonio, Chairman of the Philadelphia Chapter of Latin Liturgy Association, Inc.

Sodales:

With Dr. Lucy Carroll (Director of the Carmelite Monastery Choir and a Member of our LLA Philadelphia Chapter Advisory Council), I am delighted to tell you that a High Mass will be offered at the Carmelite Monastery located at 66th Avenue & Old York Road (just off Broad Street) on Thursday, July 16, 2009, the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. The Missa Cantata (solemn form) will be celebrated by the Rev. Kevin McGoldrick. This Holy Mass will culminate at the monastery with the annual novena to Our Lady of Mount Carmel.

The Holy Rosary will be said at 6:45 p.m., followed by the sung Litany of Loretto in Latin at 7:00 p.m., organ music 7:15 p.m. and Holy Mass at 7:30 p.m. This being a Carmelite house, the feast day will include the Asperges and a Sequence in the Mass.

The Monastery Choir will be joined by guest soprano Dolores Ferraro and will be led by Dr. Lucy Carroll, Organist/Director.

Organ preludes include Toccata per le'elevazione by Giovanni Paolucci and Fugue in G minor by Marc-Antione Charpentier.

The entrance hymn sung by all will be Hail Holy Queen. The Asperges will be chanted. The Introit Gaudeamus omnes in Domino will be chanted by the choir. The Kyrie & Gloria will be sung by the congregation from the Missa de Angelis. The special sequence for this Mass, the Flos Carmeli--a traditional Carmelite chant--will be sung by the sisters. The Gradual Benedicta es venerabilis by Grassi will be sung by the women of the choir. The Alleluia will be chanted by the choir. Credo III will be chanted by the choir. The Offertory will be sung by the Choir men, tone 2 Recordare Virgo Mater. Offertory motets are: Ecce Panis Angelorum by Théodore Dubois (sung by Mrs. Ferraro and choir altos) and Cantate Domino by Giuseppe Pitoni (sung by the choir). The Sanctus will be sung by the congregation from the Missa de Angelis.The Agnus Dei will be sung by choir with Mrs. Ferraro from Schubert's Mass in G. The Communion verse Regina mundi will be chanted by the choir. Communion motets, sung by the choir, are: O Bone Jesu by Marco-Antonio Ingegneri, Gaudent in Caelis by Tomás Luis de Victoria, and O Sacrum Convivium by Roberto Remondi. The antiphon Salve Regina will be sung by all as will the recessional hymn, viz. the novena hymn to Our Lady of Mount Carmel.

The Monastery is accessible by SEPTA Bus Route C (if you are coming from Center City, South Philadelphia, or Lynnewood Gardens) and Bus Route K (if you are coming from Germantown or Frankford). (N.B. the Broad Street Subway does not go up this far.) There is parking in the lot located on Sixty-sixth Avenue, as well there is parking on the street. All are invited. We would be grateful for your help in publicizing this opportunity. Thank you very much for giving this notice your attention.

Ipsa Virgo Virginum intercedat pro nobis ad Dominum!

Most cordially,
Dr. Rudolph Masciantonio

Feast of SS. Peter & Paul in South Philadelphia

More from Dr. Rudolph Masciantonio, the Chairman of the Philadelphia Chapter of Latin Liturgy Association, Inc.

Sodales:

I am delighted to tell you that a traditional Latin Missa Cantata (Mass in the Extraordinary Form) has been scheduled for 3:00 PM on Sunday, June 28, 2009 in anticipation of the Feast of SS. Peter & Paul at the Saint Paul's Church, Christian Street between 9th & 10th Streets in South Philadelphia.

Parking will be available across the street from the church. The church, which is very close to the 9th Street in the Italian Market, is readily accessible vîa SEPTA.

The music director for this TLM will be Nicholas Beck who is Music Director at Mater Ecclesiæ in Berlin, New Jersey. Robert Ridgell will be the organist. Father Gerald Carey, the Pastor of St. Paul Parish, will celebrate the Mass. The proper of the Mass will be sung to Gregorian chant. The Mass setting will be the familiar Missa de Angelis sung by the choir and the congregation. Special polyphonic motets will be sung at the Offertory and at Holy Communion.

Our Sovereign Pontiff, Pope Benedict XVI has made available a Plenary Indulgence for those who celebrate this Jubilee Year of St. Paul by participation in such a solemn celebration in connection with the Feast of SS. Peter & Paul.

Thank you for giving this message your attention and for publicizing this wonderful liturgical opportunity. We are very grateful to Father Carey for making it available.

Sancti Petre et Paule, orate pro nobis!

Most cordially yours,

Dr. Rudolph Masciantonio

Feast of the Most Holy Trinity (Trinity Sunday)

Benedictus sit Deus Pater, unigenitus que Dei Filius, Sanctus quoque Spiritus: quia fecit nobiscum misericordiam suam. --Tobias 12. 6.

First Mass at Home Parish

This morning I went to St. Anastasia's Church, Newtown Square for a TLM. My friend Tim, whose third cousin is the pastor emeritus of the parish, accompanied me. Here are some photos from Fr. Brian Austin's first Mass at his home parish. Fr. Austin just finished his studies at Our Lady of Guadalupe Seminary in Denton, Nebraska and was ordained to the priesthood last weekend by Fabrian Bruskewitz, Bishop of Lincoln. Fr. Austin will soon be moving to St. Martha's House in the Diocese of Venice in Florida, where he will be assigned a parish by the FSSP.































Courtesy of one of my readers (Mr. Richard Kephart of Malvern, Pennsylvania), more photos can be seen by clicking HERE and a few video clips can be seen by clicking HERE. Many thanks to Mr. Kephart.

Whitsunday (Pentecost)

Happy Whitsunday!