Ruminations of an Amateur Monastic
We come to the last of the O Antiphons, for tomorrow is Christmas Eve, the Vigil of the Nativity. I mentioned yesterday that the O Antiphons were arranged backwards into the song Veni, Veni Emmanuel. This was by design, for the Antiphons themselves are a backwards acrostic. The first letters of the Messianic titles — Emmanuel, Rex, Oriens, Clavis, Radix, […]
» Read moreAdvent is my favourite of the liturgical seasons, I think. These holy days feel like holy days, probably the only season that affects me like that. I suspect it’s childhood memories that make it so. With Christmas literally days away, we hear the penultimate O Antiphon this evening. I mentioned a couple of days ago that the antiphons might sound […]
» Read moreJust came back from a neighbour’s solstice party, a strange but wonderful concatenation of Christians and pagans. I am more impressed than ever with the various types in the pagan faiths that are echoes or pre-echoes of the coming of Christ, the Light of the World. “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; Upon those who […]
» Read moreChristmas is closer and closer each day, and we continue pleading with the Lord to make haste. Lead us from our prison of sin and darkness and death! It’s dark outside now as I’m posting this at scarcely six o’clock. The winter solstice, the longest night of the year, is nigh. This year, it’s even a more tangible symbol of […]
» Read moreBy now some of you might be thinking that the O Antiphon words might be sounding kind of familiar, even though you’re not really up on your Gregorian Chant. In fact, these antiphons are some of the earliest attested antiphons in the Divine Office, being mentioned in passing in the works of Saint Boethius in the early sixth century. The […]
» Read moreToday is the second “O” antiphon, O Adonai. These videos, which I will be embedding each day until Christmas, were recorded by the Dominican student brothers at Oxford in 2006. O Adonái, et Dux domus Israël, qui Móysi in igne flammæ rubi apparuísti, et ei in Sina legem dedísti: veni ad rediméndum nos in bráchio exténto. Englished: O Adonai, and […]
» Read moreAs Advent draws to its end, we begin the “O” antiphons at Vespers. These days, I’m praying the Office on the train, so no chant for us any more. Today being my birthday, I went home early, and so prayed Vespers around 4:00PM. Hopefully some day we can chant Vespers again in a parish (or at least chapel) setting. But […]
» Read moreI‘m still processing these past days, but here are some initial impressions. A Time of Thanksgiving From the first of July until the end of November I was unemployed. I’d had a few interviews, but nothing all that promising. When I was called in for a second round of interviews at a major law firm in Seattle, it was an […]
» Read moreJust got home from a conversation with Fr. Beuzer. As before, he’s given me much to think about and much to pray about. Although we had a fairly far-ranging discussion, talking about everything from my job search to Alaska, it all revolved around the Lectio assignment he gave me the last time we talked, the first chapter of the Gospel […]
» Read moreJust returned from noon Mass for the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed, otherwise known as All Souls. Of course, one can pray for the souls of the departed at any time, but this day has been specially set aside since the Clunaic reforms of the late 10th century. There are some days I think the Church really needs another […]
» Read moreHappy Feast of All Saints! This is the day where we celebrate all the saints, known and unknown. In the old days, they were referred to as the Church Triumphant. I’m just back from Mass, and I find myself questioning the wisdom of those who thought that since All Saints falls on a Monday, it should not be a Holy […]
» Read moreThere are two kinds of people – those who know the value of silence and those who do not. The silent man may be moved to speak, to shout, and even perhaps to bellow in righteous indignation if the circumstances require. He may do so reluctantly or even with fear, but when he is roused he is terrible and, because […]
» Read moreToday I attended the funeral of a young woman named Renae Fusako Stewart. I have never met this woman, though by God’s Grace I may meet her yet. She was a convert, having asked for Baptism while in hospital after suffering a stroke. She was, by all accounts a cheerful and engaging young woman. Her health suffered terribly after her […]
» Read moreThis is a new start on what I hope will be a spiritual journal as I discern my possible vocation to the diaconate. This site has been moved in its entirety from it original site at http://mundus-tranquillare-hic.blogspot.com/. The old site will be shut down at some point. The phrase that just occurred to me as I was typing this was […]
» Read moreToday I met Fr. Vincent Beuzer of the Society of Jesus. My pastor, Fr. Sacco, had recommended him to me as a spiritual adviser. I called him this afternoon, and we met at 3:00 at Bellarmine, where he is a resident with the other Jesuit Fathers. The object of our talk was to determine whether or not God was calling […]
» Read moreEnjoy! I wonder what (if any) version of this will be sung in my parish today? Veni Sancte Spiritus Veni, Sancte Spiritus,et emítte caélituslucis tuae rádium. Veni, pater páuperum,veni, dator múnerum,veni, lumen córdium. Consolator óptime,dulcis hospes animae.dulce refrigerium. In labóre réquies,in aestu tempéries,in fletu solácium. O lux beatíssima, reple cordis íntimatuórum fidélium. Sine tuo númine,nihil est in hómine,nihil est innoxium. […]
» Read moreAbba Lot went to see Abba Joseph and said to him, ‘Abba, as far as I can I say my little office, I fast a little, I pray and meditate, I live in peace and as far as I can, I purify my thoughts. What else can I do?’ Then the old man stood up and stretched his hands towards […]
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