Happy Birthday Church!

Sunday we celebrate the Feast of Pentecost when God sent the Spirit upon the apostles and they went forth to fulfill the Lord's great commission. The Sequence is the Veni Sancte Spiritus. I have always loved the simplicity of the Taize setting.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmxXwAgkhWQ&feature=player_embedded

Ordering the Roman Missal

The Diocese will offer an opportunity for parishes to order copies of the Roman Missal from the USSCB at a discount. Because we have a publication membership we are able to get a substantial discount. Information for ordering will be available at the June Ministry Days and will be sent by e-mail to our various parish and litugy distribution lists.

The Ascension

This weekend we celebrate the Feast of the Ascension. The artwork is from the beautiful St. John's Bible and illustrates a section from the Great Commission where Jesus commands his disciples to go "to the ends of the earth" and preach the Gospel.

The link is to the Palestrina setting of the words, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the heavens?"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubTFKW24_ZI&feature=player_detailpage

The Feast of the Ascension

Don't forgot. The Feast of the Ascension is transferred to next Sunday. Use the prayers and readings for the Easter weekday or the memorial of Marcellinus and Peter (they are both mentioned in the Roman Canon).

If You Love Me

Beautiful words from Jesus in the Gospel: "I will not leave you orphaned, I will come back to you."

Challenging words of Jesus in the Gospel: "If you love me you will keep my commandments."

Thomas Tallis' setting of the challenging words as performed at the Ecumenical Service at Westminster Abbey during the Pope's visit to Great Britain.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lq9iH2t2OOA&feature=player_detailpage

How to dispose of Old Copies of the Sacramentary

The most recent Newsletter of the Committee on Divine Worship has the following on disposing of old sacramentaries.

"The Secretariat of Divine Worship has received a number of timely inquiries regarding the disposition of copies of the current Sacramentary once the new Roman Missal, Third Edition has been implemented.

There is relatively little written about exactly what to do with liturgical books which have been replaced by updated or revised editions, but some related writings, as well as some common sense, can provide some context. The Book of Blessings, no. 1343, indicates that the Sacramentary, the Lectionary, and other liturgical books are counted among those articles used in the Sacred Liturgy which ought to be blessed using the rite provided for that purpose, the Order for the Blessing of Articles for Liturgical Use (nos. 1241 - 1359). The Latin De Benectionibus, editio typica, however, does not explicitly mention the Missale among the articles that are properly blessed.

Whether or not the Sacramentary has been blessed by an official rite, it is appropriate to treat it with care as it has been admitted into liturgical use. Its disposal should be handled with respect. The Secretariat recommends burying the Sacramentary in an appropriate location on church grounds, or perhaps in a parish cemetery if there is one. Some have even suggested following a custom used in various Eastern Churches whereby liturgical books or Bibles are placed in the coffin of the deceased as a sign of devotion and love for the Liturgy. In lieu of burying old liturgical books, they could be burned, and the ashes placed in the ground in an appropriate location on church grounds. It is advisable to retain a copy of the Sacramentary for parish archives of liturgical libraries.

Looking ahead to the reception of the Roman Missal, Third Edition, the above-mentioned blessing from the Book of Blessings could be used to bless the Missal before their first use on the First Sunday of Advent, November 27, 2011. The blessing could take place during a Mass on the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ the King, at the last weekday Mass prior to the First Sunday of Advent, or outside Mass at a separate gathering of liturgical ministers or other parish leaders.

Many parishes will also replace hymnals and other participation aids (such as hand missals) in light of updates editions corresponding to the new Roman Missal. While the Blessing of Articles for Liturgical use also mentions hymnals, it might be difficult to appropriately dispose of a large number of copies of such books. After setting aside an appropriate number of copies for archives and libraries, other copies could be stored for use by prayer or study groups in the parish, offered to parishioners for their own private devotional use, or donated to other small communities that could effectively make use of them. Due to copyright agreements, annual hymnals and participation aids should be discarded after their prescribed period of use and cannot be retained for other uses in parishes."

Sunday Reflection

This past Sunday we heard Jesus identify himself as "the way, the truth and the life." Did your community sing the wonderful hymn by Ralph Vaugh Williams of the text by George Herbert? Here is acclaimed baritone Thomas Allen at the BBC Proms.

The painting is "The Adoration of the Mystical Lamb" from an alterpiece in the Cathedral of St. Bavo in Ghent, Belgium.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNMnGNL0-uw&feature=player_detailpage#t=324s