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Sunday 23 December 2018

Our Lady's Expectation

Today, as well as being the Fourth Sunday of Advent, is the ancient Expectatio Partus of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

The machinations of Annibale Bugnini were well on their way in the middle 1950’s with the planned reforms given to us by Pope John XXIII in the Missal of 1962 revisions. There was a removal of certain Octaves, a simplification of Feasts and a virtual elimination of Commemorations. These are additional Collects, Secrets and Postcommunions in the Mass. They can be when a particular Mass for a Saint was a First Class or on certain other days such as Ferials in Advent, and so on. On Sundays, there were, prior to 1962, three of these, the one Proper to the Day, generally one of the Blessed Mother and a third for the Pope or the priest’s choice. It could be confusing for the faithful as these were not printed in hand missals, and translations were never provided. It was an easy target for the radical reformers and because we are frozen at 1962 as per Summorum Pontificum, you might only hear them at Mass in an independent chapel that might refuse the Missal of 1962. The Society of St. Pius X, Fraternity of  St. Peter would follow 1962.

Commemoration of the EXPECTATION OF OUR LADY

Collect— O God, Who didst will that at the message of an angel Thy word should take flesh in the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary: grant that we, Thy suppliants, who believe her to be truly the Mother of God, may be helped by her intercession with Thee. Through the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. 
Secret—Strengthen in our minds, O Lord, we beseech Thee, the mysteries of the true faith, that, confessing Him Who was conceived of the Virgin to be true God and true man, we may deserve, through the power of His saving resurrection, to attain everlasting joy. Through the same Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, Forever and ever. 
Postcommunion—Pour forth, we beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy grace into our hearts, that we, to whom the incarnation of Christ Thy Son was made known by the message of an angel, may, by His passion and cross, be brought to the glory of His resurrection. Through the same Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God Forever and ever

For those attending Mass according to the modernist Rite of Pope Paul VI you will notice something interesting. The Collect, which originated as the Postcommunion prayer of the Mass for December 18, as above, is the familiar prayer recited at the Angelus.


Pour forth, we beseech you, O Lord,
your grace into our hearts,
that we, to whom the incarnation of Christ your Son
was made known by the message of an angel,
may by his passion and cross
be brought to the glory of his resurrection.
Through the same Christ Our Lord. Amen.


Before the 2011 correction of the horrid and often Pelagian translations of the prayers in the Third Typical Edition of the Roman Missal, it read:

Lord, fill our hearts with your love, and as you revealed to us by an angel the coming of your Son as man, so lead us through his suffering and death to the glory of his resurrection.

Seriously? How did those of those originate from the same Latin text but reveal two different results? The simple people of faith for a thousand years knew this prayer by heart. We think of it when we see the painting by Jean Francoise Millet, The Angelus. 

Image result for the angelus painting

We see more clearly how evil was the spirit of the radicalistic reformers and modernists before and following Vatican II. Our ancestors, in their simple times, knew more than us. We have no excuse to not know what was stolen from us. This was evident this past week in reading the Office from the Divino Afflatu of St. Pius X, Pope and singing the Mass yesterday for the Ember with its Lessons, Graduals, Canticle of the Three Children and Tract.


Here is a little history on the Feast from the Catholic Encyclopedia.

(Exspectatio Partus B.V.M.)


Celebrated on 18 December by nearly the entire Latin Church. Owing to the ancient law of the Church prohibiting the celebration of feasts during Lent (a law still in vigour at Milan), the Spanish Church transferred the feast of the Annunciation from 25 March to the season of Advent, the Tenth Council of Toledo (656) assigning it definitely to 18 December. It was kept with a solemn octave. When the Latin Church ceased to observe the ancient custom regarding feasts in Lent, the Annunciation came to be celebrated twice in Spain, viz. 25 March and 18 December, in the calendars of both the Mozarabic and the Roman Rite (Missale Gothicum, ed. Migne, pp. 170, 734). The feast of 18 December was commonly called, even in the liturgical books, "S. Maria de la O", because on that day the clerics in the choir after Vespers used to utter a loud and protracted "O", to express the longing of the universe for the coming of the Redeemer (Tamayo, Mart. Hisp., VI, 485). The Roman "O" antiphons have nothing to do with this term, because they are unknown in the Mozarabic Rite. This feast and its octave were very popular in Spain, where the people still call it "Nuestra Señora de la O". It is not known at what time the term Expectatio Partus first appeared; it is not found in the Mozarabic liturgical books. St. Ildephonsus cannot, therefore, have invented it, as some have maintained. The feast was always kept in Spain and was approved for Toledo in 1573 by Gregory XIII as a double major, without an octave. The church of Toledo has the privilege (approved 29 April 1634) of celebrating this feast even when it occurs on the fourth Sunday of Advent. The "Expectatio Partus" spread from Spain to other countries; in 1695 it was granted to Venice and Toulouse, in 1702 to the Cistercians, in 1713 to Tuscany, in 1725 to the Papal States. The Office in the Mozarabic Breviary is exceedingly beautiful; it assigns special antiphons for every day of the octave. At Milan the feast of the Annunciation is, even to the present, kept on the last Sunday before Christmas. The Mozarabic Liturgy also celebrates a feast called the Expectation (or Advent) of St. John the Baptist on the Sunday preceding 24 June.

A few years ago, I discovered the text to a wonderful hymn by Father Faber of the Oratory, a contemporary of Blessed John Henry Newman, Cong. Orat. Faber was a prolific hymn-writer, the most famous of which is Faith of Our Fathers.  We will sing of Our Lady's Expectation at the end of Mass today.

Our Lady's Expectation 

Like the dawning of the morning
On the mountains’ golden heights,
Like the breaking of the moon-beams
On the gloom of cloudy nights;
Like a secret told by Angels,
Getting known upon the earth,
Is the Mother’s Expectation
Of Messiah’s speedy birth.

Thou wert happy, Blessed Mother,
With the very bliss of Heaven,
Since the Angel’s salutation
In thy raptured ear was given;
Since the Ave of that midnight,
When thou wert anointed Queen,
Like a river over-flowing
Hath the grace within thee been.

On the mountains of Judea,
Like the chariot of the Lord,
Thou wert lifted in thy spirit
By the uncreated Word;
Gifts and graces flowed upon thee
In a sweet celestial strife
And the growing of thy Burden
Was the lightening of thy life.

And what wonders have been in thee
All the day and all the night,
While the angels fell before thee,
To adore the Light of Light.
While the glory of the Father
Hath been in thee as a home,
And the sceptre of creation
Hath been wielded in thy womb.

And the sweet strains of the Psalmist
Were a joy beyond control,
And the visions of the prophets
Burnt like transports in thy soul;
But the Burden that was growing,
And was felt so tenderly,
It was Heaven, it was Heaven,
Come before its time to thee.

Oh the feeling of thy Burden,
It was touch and taste and sight;
It was newer still and newer,
All those nine months, day and night.
Like a treasure unexhausted,
Like a vision unconfess’d,
Like a rapture unforgotten,
It lay ever at thy breast.

Every moment did that Burden
Press upon thee with new grace;
Happy Mother! Thou art longing
To behold the Saviour’s Face!
Oh his Human face and features
Must be passing sweet to see
Thou hast seen them, happy Mother!
Ah then, show them now to me.

Thou hast waited, Child of David,
And thy waiting now is o’er;
Thou hast seen Him, Blessed Mother,
And wilt see Him evermore!
O His Human Face and Features,
They were passing sweet to see;
Thou beholdest them this moment,
Mother, show them now to me. Amen.



16 comments:

Osusanna said...

Thank you Vox. When I can't go to a Latin Mass I read the prayers from my old missal; they were so rich and beautiful, and even the little blurbs before the prayers were educational. Makes me so sad for what was stolen. I feel the V2 faithful are so deprived. I'm just not sure they care. I guess it's like trying to force someone to like poetry. Happy Rorate Sunday.

Anonymous said...

I totally agree with you, O. I'm Ukrainian Greek Catholic but am familiar with the TLM. When trying to explain this to my young NO co-workers, they look at me like I'm from Mars. It's like being robbed of your inheritance and not caring about it. You have to feel sorry for them because they weren't catechized properly. It makes me wonder what would happen if they realized that they WERE robbed. They'd be heartbroken.

A blessed Nativity to everyone.

Margaret

Dorota Mosiewicz-Patalas said...

Did you hear/read?
There is an article in Washington Post by Ruth Everhart about Virgin Mary's purity being offensive to rape victims. She means all women, it is clear from this perfectly timed article. Yet another voice joining Jorge Bergoglio in his war against impossible standards.

She sounds exactly like him:
“Most people have thoughts and feelings about their sexual selves. Having a body is complicated. It involves trial and error.”

This is one reason why, according to Bergoglio, most Catholic marriages are invalid. People do not know what they are doing when saying those vows. We need room for trial and error,

It must be the Church's fault. Or is the fault of those the Church puts on a pedestal?

Nothing about this article at this time in human history is not perfectly planned by servants of Satan, This comes exactly when Justin Trudeau's government replaces Religious Freedom Office with Office on Human (especially sodomite, paedophile and transgender) Rights,

Kathleen1031 said...

Truly you are correct, we have been robbed. I was a Baptist as a child, and became a Catholic at age 26, quite some time ago now. In our area there is no TLM, save for a brief time this past year when we did have an available priest. Despite my interest, great interest, I often do not understand the mysterious language of propers, antiphons, etc., that so many well-versed Catholics such as yourselves speak. There really is no "how to" for getting up to speed on Catholicism, such as is discussed here and other places. There are snippets one can learn, but frankly, it is pretty overwhelming, and once you start talking about the 1962 versus the 1960, or the various Missals, well, it all seems impossible sometimes.
But with all that said, what we do know is that the NO Mass is a thin shell of the richness and depth of the Mass before VII. That we know for sure, and we respond to the Extraordinary Form and absolutely love it. I guess that's something anyway. Pass along what you know to somebody.

Vox Cantoris said...

Dear Kathleen1031,

I always appreciate your comments! God bless you.

It's been a hard time to convert to Catholicism; it is hard enough for us cradle Catholics who have had to learn much on our own, so don't feel too bad.

The Novus Ordo also has Propers, Introit, Gradual or Responsorial Psalm Offertory and Communion. The problem is one document that was issued in 1967 which allowed hymns to substitute for these verses of Holy Scripture. It is the single worst liturgical document short of the Novus Ordo in 1969 itself as it has led to the dictatorship of bad church music, poorly composed and sung and of dubious theology.

Find the best priest you can, the best parish you can. The most important thing is to worship God in dignity and prayer and to receive the Sacraments. There is a link at the left from a wonderful Deacon called Latin Mass Propers. Every day, you can read them. You can also go to the top right tab that says "Divine Office 1960", once there, you will see some links including the daily Mass text. These can help tremendously.

God bless you.

Vox

Vox Cantoris said...

Darota,

What insanity!

Vox

Anonymous said...

Vox,

This is another reason why all Catholics should make the Five First Saturdays. The intention for the second First Saturday is to make reparation to the Immaculate Heart of Mary for blasphemies against Her Perpetual Virginity.

The Fatima Center website www.fatima.org has lots of resources for anyone who wants to know about or make the Five First Saturdays.

Thank you for all your hard work defending Our Lord, Our Lady and the Church.

Wishing you and yours a blessed Nativity.

Yours in Christ the King,

Margaret

P.S. Btw, what is the proper name of your wife? Some other posts called her Frankie.

Anonymous said...

Dear Vox,

I am a retired Catholic church organist and choir director. Many years ago, I discovered "Like the Dawning" and reset the words to a hymn in the old St. Basil missal. Despite the fact that, at the time, I was playing the NO, my choir learned it and we always sang it on the fourth Sunday of Advent. It is so beautiful. I was so fortunate to end my career playing and directing a Latin Mass choir. I could still be playing, but I refuse to play any more NO liturgies. They are faith-destroying.

May you have a blessed and holy Christmastide.
Jeannette

Vox Cantoris said...

Dear Jeannette,

It is a wonderful hymn. I do not know the name of the tune which I used, it has been impossible to find it. I transcribed it from a 25 year old recording of the Santa Barbara Community Choir with a soloist, Sue Ann Pinter, I believe is her name. I took the melody and made an arrangement to go with it. We did all 8 verses, the people were very moved by it and coincidentally, not knowing I had programmed this, the Priest even preached a little on the "ancient feast of Our Lady's expectation!"

After 30 years of working for the "Reform of the Reform" of the Novus Ordo in parish life, I recently threw in the towel. I now devote my time fully to the traditional Rite.


God bless you and a blessed "Christmastide" which is a term which I would expect nothing less from, than a fellow church musician!

Mary Ann said...

Hi, I was looking for music to Our Lady's Expectation, and this sheet music is the hymn of what I was looking for: https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1_R1Ay4dzOs/WFajvxGuA9I/AAAAAAAADoU/IIcie0z_VA0pK9zuYLXlsHx52UJbHbb-QCLcB/s1600/Expect%2B1.jpg

When I clicked on it, I came to this website, but no more sheet music.

Please how do I get a copy of this sheet music?

Thank you,
Mary

Anonymous said...

The Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles, have a lovely version of this on their Advent CD.
Only the 1st, 2nd and last verse, but still very beautiful. It's become an Advent favorite around here.

mazara said...

Our Lady's Expectation. https://youtu.be/NOVnl4WGG14

Anonymous said...

https://www.google.com/search?q=Our+Lady%27s+Expectation+hymn+music&client=ms-android-huawei&prmd=inv&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj3rqic5bbfAhWXSxUIHYUKAGEQ_AUoAXoECA0QAQ&cshid=1545597064397&biw=360&bih=600#imgrc=xcoTwra6d5wWLM&imgdii=-VtO_cfpbEsdBM

Johnno said...

And here's where eliminating all this reverence eventually got us...

Portuguese Bishop denies perpetual virginity of Mary
http://wdtprs.com/blog/2018/12/portuguese-bishop-denies-perpetual-virginity-of-mary/

"Jesus is not the son of a virgin woman, both Father Borges and Bishop Linda explain. He was conceived by Mary and Joseph like any other person and he is “truly man”. Virginity is only associated with Mary as a metaphor to prove that Jesus was a very special person."

"Bp. Linda told Observador that “we should never refer to the physical virginity of the Virgin Mary”: “The Old Testament says many times that Jesus would be born from a damsel, daughter of Israel, who would be simple, poor and humble. But, in truth, that is only a reference to that woman’s total devotion to God. The gift of being mother of God was given to Mary because because she had an undivided heart. What matters is the total donation”, Bp. Linda explains. And he adds: “There certainly exist women with a broken hymen [which is associated to the physical sign of a woman losing her virginity] who are more virgin in the sense of total devotion to God that other women with an intact hymen”."

"So, to say that Jesus was born of a virgin woman is a theological truth but not necessarily a biological truth. Fr. Borges even adds that “theology is not a treatise in biology” and that the virginity of Mary only serves to “underline the importance of Jesus as God’s special son”: “Mary and Joseph only later realized the special son they had had. Any mother is amazed at her sons and with Mary and Joseph the same thing happened. Our Lady is special because she converted to the message of Jesus. Sometimes she understood it, sometimes she didn’t”, Fr. Borges concludes."

Anonymous said...

Like a Ray of sunshine passes through glass without damaging it or changing its structure, so did the Son of God come forth from the womb of His Mother, Mary, Eternal Virgin.

Anonymous said...

The Early Church Fathers upheld from oral and historical text that Our Holy Mother was the perpetual Virgin Mother of God Theotokas and they also described Her as the EVER VIRGIN Mary.

It is high time for men and women ,especially Churchmen to stop thinking with their genitalia.
Remember Jesus instructed his Apostles there is not sexuality in heaven when they asked him of a widow re marries to whom does she belong to in the Afterlife.
We should all be thinking in terms of our Eternal Home rather than the here and now.
Dante rightly depicted Hell with unquenchable fires and perverted lust.
The pure of heart will see God.