Prayer for the Royal Wedding

Prayer for the Royal Wedding.

Heavenly Father,

we ask your blessing

upon his Royal Highness, Prince William and Catherine

as they pledge their love for each other in marriage.

May your love unite them through their lives.

Grant them the strength to serve you,

our country and the Commonwealth

with integrity and faithfulness.

Through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

A hymn by Fr Faber, suitable to times of trouble

The Blogosphere is buzzing with rumours about a document expected from Rome on the Traditional Mass. Will it help, or hinder? Encourage others, or drive us all back into the catacombs? Is this the start of a new Golden Age, or is the End upon us.

The best advice, as always, is "to hope, to pray, and don't worry." And to resolve to act in accordance with our consciences, informed and enlightened by the Faith which does not pass away.

For we put not our trust in princes, or in any work of man - even bishops (considered as men, rather than their office, of course). For our trust is in the Lord, and His Immaculate Mother; sure in the promise that the gates of Hell will not prevail, even when it appears that they already have!

1. O purest of creatures!
Sweet mother, sweet maid;
the one spotless womb
wherein Jesus was laid.
Dark night hath come down
on us, mother, and we
look out for thy shining,
sweet star of the sea.

2. Deep night hath come down on
this rough-spoken world.
And the banners of darkness
are boldly unfurled;
and the tempest-tossed Church,
all her eyes are on thee.
They look to thy shining,
sweet star of the sea.

3. He gazed on thy soul,
it was spotless and fair;
for the empire of sin,
it had never been there;
none ever had owned thee,
dear mother, but he,
and he blessed thy clear shining,
sweet star of the sea.

4. Earth gave him one lodging;
‘twas deep in thy breast,
and God found a home where
the sinner finds rest,
his home and his hiding-place,
both were in thee;
he was won by thy shining,
sweet star of the sea.

5. Oh, blissful and calm
was the wonderful rest
that thou gavest thy God
in thy virginal breast;
for the heaven he left
he found heaven in thee,
and he shone in thy shining,
sweet star of the sea.

6th Sunday after Epiphany

6th Sunday after Epiphany



"God," says St. Paul in the night office for this Sunday, "hath spoken to us by His Son, whom He hath appointed heir of all things." Who being the brightness of His glory and the figure of His substance and upholding all things by the word of His power, making purgation of sins, sitteth on the right hand of the majesty on high. "To which of the angels hath he said at any time: Thou art my Son, to-day have I begotten Thee!" And again, when He bringeth the first begotten into the world he saith: "And let all the angels of God adore Him " (First Nocturn, Introit).

St. Athanasius remarks that the Apostle affirms the superiority of Christ to the angels, by way of showing the difference between the nature of the Son and that of His creatures (Second Nocturn). Similarly the Mass for to-day brings out the divinity of our Blessed Lord. He is God because He utters things hidden in God and unknown to the world (Gospel). His word, compared by Him to a tiny seed cast into the field of the world, and to a little leaven in the lump, is divine because it calms our passions and brings forth in our hearts those marvels of faith, hope and charity of which we read in the Epistle.

Of the Church, stirred to greater effort by our Lord's words, we have an excellent figure in the three measures of meal, the whole of which was leavened by the expanding force of the yeast (Gospel), and in the mustard tree, the largest of its kind, where the birds of the air gladly come for shelter.

We must constantly meditate on our Lord's doctrine, that like leaven it may pervade and transform our hearts, and like the mustard tree may spread abroad its fruits of holiness in those of our neighbour.

May God's kingdom, to which Christ its King has called us, be extended even more and more.


Adorate Deum omnes Angeli ejus: audivit et laetata est Sion, et exsultaverunt filiae Judas. * Dominus regnavit, exsultet terra, laetentur insulae multae.
Adore God, all ye his Angels: Sion heard and was glad, and the Daughters of Juda rejoiced. * The Lord hath reigned, let the earth rejoice, let many islands be glad.
(Psalm 96:7-8,1 from the Introit of Mass)

Praesta, quaesumus, omnipotens Deus: ut semper rationabília meditántes, quae tibi sunt plácita et dictis exsequámur, et factis.
Grant, we beseech Thee, almighty God, that ever meditating on the truths Thou hast proposed for our intelligence, we may in every word and work of ours, do that which is pleasing to Thee. (Collect)

The continuation of the holy Gospel according to Matthew.

At that time, Jesus spoke to the multitudes this parable: "The kingdom of Heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field: but when it is grown up, it is greater than all herbs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and dwell in the branches thereof." Another parable He spoke to them: "The kingdom of Heaven is like to leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, until the whole was leavened." All these things Jesus spoke in parables to the multitudes: and without parables He did not speak to them: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying: "I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter things hidden from the foundation of the world."
(St Matthew 13:31-35)

Latina Vulgata: Latin Words no. 8.

Aemulatio/aemulationis (f) - zeal, jealousy.

A feminine noun of the third declension. Two slightly different meanings. It can mean 'zeal' or keenness; or it can have overtones of jealousy and envy.

Related to the English word 'emulation', which nowadays tends to mean 'trying to equal by imitation' but has an older meaning also of 'jealous rivalry'.

Scio enim promptum animum vestrum: pro quo de vobis glorior apud Macedonas. Quoniam Achaia parata est ab anno praeterito, et vestra aemulatio provocavit plurimos.
For I know your forward mind: for which I boast of you to the Macedonians. That Achaia also is ready from the year past, and your emulation [zeal] hath provoked very many.
2 Corinthians 9:2. Used here to mean zeal.

Testimonium enim perhibeo illis, quod aemulationem Dei habent, sed non secundum scientiam.
For I bear them witness, that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.
Romans 10:2. Once again, zeal.

Sicut in die honeste ambulemus: non in comesationibus et ebrietatibus, non in cubilibus et inpudicitiis, non in contentione et aemulatione.
Let us walk honestly, as in the day: not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and impurities, not in contention and envy.
Romans 13:13. Here it means jealousy or envy.

Sed dico: numquid Israel non cognovit? Primus Moses dicit: ego ad aemulationem vos adducam in non gentem; in gentem insipientem in iram vos mittam.
But I say: Hath not Israel known? First, Moses saith: I will provoke you to jealousy by that which is not a nation; by a foolish nation I will anger you.
Romans 10:19. Jealousy.

Related forms

1. aemulator/aemulatoris (m) - zealous observer or imitator.

Et proficiebam in Judaismo supra multos coetaneos in genere meo, abundantius aemulator existens paternarum mearum traditionum.
And I made progress in the Jews' religion above many of my equals in my own nation, being more abundantly zealous for the traditions of my fathers.
Galatians 1:14.

2. aemulor/aemulari/aemulatum - to be zealous for, to be desirous of; or to be jealous. A deponent verb of the 1st declension.

Aemulantur vos non bene: sed excludere vos volunt, ut illos aemulemini. Bonum autem aemulamini in bono semper: et non tantum cum praesens sum apud vos.
They are zealous in your regard not well: but they would exclude you, that you might be zealous for them. But be zealous for that which is good in a good thing always: and not only when I am present with you.
Galatians 4:17-18. Three uses in the same passage. The first is present indicative; the second is present subjunctive as part of a causal clause; the third is a present imperative

Et patriarchae aemulantes Ioseph vendiderunt in Aegyptum et erat Deus cum eo.

Acts 7:9. Present participle. Meaning of 'being jealous of'.

Aemulor enim vos Dei aemulatione. Despondi enim vos uni viro virginem castam exhibere Christo.
For I am jealous of you with the jealousy of God. For I have espoused you to one husband that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.
2 Corinthians 11:2. Present tense. Despite the translation, the meaning is more zeal than envy.And the patriarchs, through envy, sold Joseph into Egypt; and God was with him.

Latin of the Introits. Second Sunday after Epiphany - Omnis terra adoret Te.

Today's introit is taken from Psalm 65.

Omnis terra adoret Te, Deus, et psallat Tibi: psalmum dicat nomini tuo, Altissime. * Jubilate Deo, omnis terra, psalmum dicite nomini ejus: date gloriam laudi ejus.
Let all the earth adore Thee, O God, and sing to Thee: let it sing a psalm to Thy name, O most High. * Shout with joy to God, all the earth, sing ye a psalm to His name: give glory to His praise.

Omnis - all. Agrees with terra, which it modifies.
terra - land or earth. Subject of the verb adoret.
adoret - may it adore. The verb is adoro/adorare/adoravi/adoratum. This is the subjunctive, indicating wish or desire.
Te - Thee/you. Accusative case, since it is the direct object of the verb adoret.
Deus - O God. Vocative case, since God is being addressed.

et - and
psallat - may it sing. Subjunctive of the verb psallo/psallere which means to psalm or to sing with the harp.
Tibi - to Thee. Dative case.

psalmum - a psalm. Accusative case, as direct object of the verb dicat.
dicat - May it say. Subjunctive of the verb dico/dicere/dixi/dictum - to say. The subject of the verb is still terra.
nomini - to the name. Dative of nomen - name.
tuo - Thy/your. Dative to agree with nomini, which it modifies.
Altissime - O most high. Vocative case since it is an address. Altus is high. Altissimus is the superlative form - indicating most high or very high or highest. See grammatical note below.

Jubilate - Rejoice (plural form). Imperative form of the verb jubilo/jubilare/jubilavi/jubilatum, indicating a direct command.
Deo - to God. Dative case of Deus.
omnis - all. Modifies terra.
terra - land or earth. Vocative case.

psalmum - a psalm. As before.
dicite- say (plural). Imperative form of the verb dico. In the previous sentence dicat was used; here there is a direct command.
nomini - to the name. As above.
ejus - his or of him.

date - give (plural). Imperative of the verb do/dare/dedi/datum - I give.
gloriam - glory. Accusative case as direct object of the verb date.
laudi - to the praise. Dative case of laus/laudis - praise.
ejus - his.


Grammatical Note - Comparison of Adjectives.


There was an example of a superlative form in this introit - altissimus, meaning most high or very high.

Comparison of adjectives has three forms - standard, comparative, and superlative.


Altus - high
Altior - higher or quite high.
Altissimus - highest or very high.

The endings -ior and -issimus are characteristic of the comparative and superlative forms, though these do decline (change slightly their endings) like other adjectives, depending on the gender, number and case of the noun that is being modified. So in the introit, we actually have Altissime, since it is vocative case - O most high.


Some adjectives don't compare regularly. A good example is bonus - good.


Bonus - good
Melior - better or quite good.
Optimus - Best or very good.

Latina Vulgata: Latin Words no. 7.

Adversor/adversari/adversatum - to resist, be contrary to

A deponent verb (passive in form, but active in meaning) of the first declension.

Derived from the preposition ad and the verb versor - passive of verso - which has the sense to stay, to live, to dwell.

Any object is in the dative, as will be seen in the examples.

Link with the English words, 'adverse' or 'adversary'.

Caro enim concupiscit adversus spiritum: spiritus autem adversus carnem; haec enim invicem adversantur: ut non quaecumque vultis illa faciatis.
For the flesh lusteth against the spirit: and the spirit against the flesh; for these are contrary one to another: so that you do not the things that you would.
Galatians 5:17 - present tense.

Qui et Dominum occiderunt Jesum, et prophetas, et nos persecuti sunt, et Deo non placent, et omnibus hominibus adversantur.

Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and the prophets, and have persecuted us, and please not God, and are adversaries to all men.
1 Thess 2:15 - present tense. Omnibus hominibus is in the dative.
 
Qui adversatur, et extollitur supra omne quod dicitur Deus, aut quod colitur, ita ut in templo Dei sedeat, ostendens se quia sit Deus.
Who opposeth, and is lifted up above all that is called God, or that is worshipped, so that he sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself as if he were God.
2 Thess 2:4 - present tense.

Fornicariis, masculorum concubitoribus, plagiariis, mendacibus, perjuris, et si quid aliud sanae doctrinae adversatur.

For fornicators, for them who defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and whatever other thing is contrary to sound doctrine.
1 Timothy 1:10 - present tense. Sanae doctrinae is in the dative.

Videns ergo Noemi quod obstinato Ruth animo decrevisset secum pergere, adversari noluit, nec ultra ad suos reditum persuadere.
Then Noemi, seeing that Ruth was steadfastly determined to go with her, would not be against it, nor persuade her any more to return to her friends.
Ruth 1:18 - present infinitive of the verb, used with noluit.

Non supergaudeant mihi qui adversantur mihi inique: qui oderunt me gratis et annuunt oculis.
Let not them that are my enemies wrongfully rejoice over me: who have hated me without cause, and wink with the eyes.
Psalms 34:19 - present tense. Mihi is in the dative.

Latina Vulgata: Latin Words no. 6

Adulescens/adulescentis (m) - young man.

Adolescens is a variant spelling.

A noun of the third declension, masculine, meaning young man. It is, in fact, the present participle of the verb adulesco - to grow, grow up.

Clear connection with the English word 'adolescent'.

Dicit illi adulescens: omnia haec custodivi quid adhuc mihi deest.
The young man saith to him: All these have I kept from my youth, what is yet wanting to me?
Matthew 19:20. Nominative case.


Et accessit et tetigit loculum. Hi autem qui portabant steterunt. Et ait: adulescens tibi dico surge.
And he came near and touched the bier. And they that carried it stood still. And he said: Young man, I say to thee, arise.
Luke 7:14. Vocative case.


Adulescens autem quidam sequebatur illum, amictus sindone super nudo. Et tenuerunt eum.
And a certain young man followed him, having a linen cloth cast about his naked body. And they laid hold on him.
Mark 14:51. Nominative case.


The comparative form adulescentior, meaning the younger, appears a couple of times in the Vulgate, either as a noun or as an adjective.

Et dixit adulescentior ex illis patri pater da mihi portionem substantiae quae me contingit et divisit illis substantiam.

And the younger of them said to his father: Father, give me the portion of substance that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his substance.

Luke 15:12. Used as a noun in the nominative case.

Adulescentiores autem viduas devita. Cum enim luxuriatae fuerint in Christo, nubere volunt.

But the younger widows avoid. For when they have grown wanton in Christ, they will marry:

1 Timothy 5:11. Used as an adjective to qualify viduas.

Related form - adulescentia/ae (f), which means youth - not an individual youth, but youth in the abstract.

Nemo adulescentiam tuam contemnat sed exemplum esto fidelium in verbo in conversatione in caritate in fide in castitate.

Let no man despise thy youth: but be thou an example of the faithful, in word, in conversation, in charity, in faith, in chastity.

1 Timothy 4:12. Accusative case.

Related form - adulescentula/ae (f) - young woman.

Ut prudentiam doceant adulescentulas, ut viros suos ament filios diligant.
That they may teach the young women to be wise, to love their husbands, to love their children.
Titus 2:4. Accusative plural.