In this month of dearly departed souls, father Ripperger, so do speak rips veil from our eyes, so we can see more clearly the state of our soul.
Thank you, QVBB. I was at All Souls Day Mass this morning, so lovely! There was a brief reading from the Book of Wisdom, so I studied more when I got home and I am offering it here, in increments broken down over several days. Yes, on Father Chad! For those interested, more of his work can be found at his website:
https://sensustraditionis.org/artist/fr-chad-ripperger/
Week 41
WISDOM 6:12‐16
Wisdom is bright, and does not grow dim.
By those who love her she is readily seen,
and found by those who look for her.
Quick to anticipate those who desire her, she makes herself known to them.
Watch for her early and you will have no trouble;
you will find her sitting at your gates.
Even to think about her is understanding fully grown;
be on the alert for her and anxiety will quickly leave you.
She herself walks about looking for those who are worthy of her
and graciously shows herself to them as they go,
in every thought of theirs coming to meet them.
Week 42
Come, thou Fount of every blessing
Robert Robinson, 1758
Swaffham, Norfolk
1 Come, thou Fount of every blessing;
tune my heart to sing thy grace;
streams of mercy, never ceasing,
call for songs of loudest praise.
Teach me some melodious sonnet,
sung by flaming tongues above;
praise the mount! I’m fixed upon it,
mount of God’s unchanging love!
2 Here I raise my Ebenezer;
hither by thy help I’m come;
and I hope, by thy good pleasure,
safely to arrive at home.
Jesus sought me when a stranger,
wandering from the fold of God;
he, to rescue me from danger,
interposed his precious blood.
3 O to grace how great a debtor
daily I’m constrained to be!
Let that grace now, like a fetter,
bind my wandering heart to thee.
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,
prone to leave the God I love;
here’s my heart; O take and seal it;
seal it for thy courts above.
Week 43
Feast of St. Archangel Michael
In Honor of the Orthodox Celebration: November 21, 2023
With thanks to Divergent
Prayer
St. Michael the Archangel,
defend us in battle.
Be our defense against the wickedness and snares of the Devil.
May God rebuke him, we humbly pray,
and do thou,
O Prince of the heavenly hosts,
by the power of God,
thrust into hell Satan,
and all the evil spirits,
who prowl about the world
seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.
O glorious prince St. Michael,
chief and commander of the heavenly hosts,
guardian of souls, vanquisher of rebel spirits,
servant in the house of the Divine King
and our admirable conductor,
you who shine with excellence
and superhuman virtue deliver us from all evil,
who turn to you with confidence.
Further Study
Orthodox Teaching:
Week 44
First Sunday of Advent
Handel’s Messiah
1753 Foundling Hospital Version
Libretto by Charles Jennens (1700-1773)
Messiah was first performed in Dublin on 13 April 1742
December 19, 2020
San Francisco, California
Grace Cathedral
AMERICAN BACH SOLOISTS • AMERICAN BACH CHOIR
Jeffrey Thomas, conductor:
PART ONE (0:01:30) 0:01:31 SINFONY
SCENE I 0:05:05 Recitative, accompanied - Tenor - Comfort ye, my people 0:08:06 Aria - Tenor - Ev’ry Valley shall be exalted 0:11:29 Chorus - And the Glory of the Lord shall be revealed
SCENE II 0:14:26 Recitative, accompanied - Bass - Thus saith the Lord of Hosts 0:15:45 Aria – Alto - But who may abide the Day of his coming? 0:19:45 Chorus - And he shall purify the Sons of Levi
SCENE III 0:22:26 Recitative - Alto - Behold, a Virgin shall conceive 0:22:53 Aria - Alto & Chorus - O thou that tellest good Tidings to Zion 0:28:11 Recitative, accompanied - Bass - For behold, Darkness shall cover the Earth 0:29:56 Aria - Bass - The People that walked in Darkness have seen a great Light 0:33:21 Chorus - For unto us a Child is born
SCENE IV 0:37:26 Pifa (“Pastoral Symphony”) 0:38:25 Recitative - Soprano - There were Shepherds abiding in the Field 0:38:39 Arioso - Soprano - And lo, the Angel of the Lord came upon them 0:38:59 Recitative - Soprano - And the Angel said unto them, Fear not 0:39:45 Recitative, accompanied - Soprano - And suddenly there was with the Angel a Multitude of the heav’nly Host 0:40:03 Chorus - Glory to God in the Highest
SCENE V 0:42:19 Aria - Soprano - Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Sion 0:47:12 Recitative - Alto - Then shall the Eyes of the Blind be open’d 0:47:48 Duet – Alto & Soprano - He shall feed his Flock like a shepherd 0:53:32 Chorus - His Yoke is easy, his Burthen is light
PART TWO (0:55:46)
SCENE I 0:55:55 Chorus - Behold the Lamb of God 0:59:01 Aria - Alto - He was despised and rejected of Men 1:09:17 Chorus - Surely he hath borne our Griefs 1:10:58 Chorus - And with His Stripes we are healed 1:12:48 Chorus - All we, like Sheep, have gone astray 1:16:31 Recitative, accompanied - Tenor - All they that see him laugh him to scorn 1:17:14 Chorus - He trusted in God 1:19:28 Recitative, accompanied - Tenor - Thy Rebuke hath broken his Heart 1:21:23 Aria - Tenor - Behold, and see
SCENE II 1:22:51 Recitative, accompanied - Soprano - He was cut off out of the Land of the Living 1:23:13 Aria - Soprano - But Thou didst not leave his Soul in Hell
SCENE III 1:25:59 Chorus - Lift up your Heads
SCENE IV 1:28:56 Recitative - Tenor - Unto which of the Angels said He at any time 1:29:13 Chorus - Let all the Angels of God worship Him
SCENE V 1:30:49 Aria - Alto - Thou art gone up on High 1:33:52 Chorus - The Lord gave the Word 1:35:03 Aria - Soprano - How beautiful are the Feet of them that preach the gospel of peace 1:37:26 Chorus - Their Sound is gone out into all Lands
SCENE VI 1:38:53 Aria - Bass - Why do the Nations so furiously rage together? 1:40:18 Chorus - Let us break their Bonds asunder
SCENE VII 1:42:12 Recitative - Tenor - He that dwelleth in Heaven shall laugh them to scorn 1:42:27 Aria - Tenor - Thou shalt break them with a Rod of Iron 1:44:33 Chorus - Hallelujah!
PART THREE (1:48:11)
SCENE I 1:48:23 Aria - Soprano - I know that my Redeemer liveth 1:55:27 Chorus - Since by Man came Death, by Man came also the Resurrection of the Dead
SCENE II 1:57:25 Recitative, accompanied - Bass - Behold, I tell you a Mystery 1:57:59 Aria - Bass - The trumpet shall sound
SCENE III 2:06:40 Recitative - Alto - Then shall be brought to pass the Saying that is written 2:07:00 Duet - Alto and Tenor - O Death, where is thy Sting? 2:08:08 Chorus - But Thanks be to God 2:10:50 Aria - Alto - If God is for us, who can be against us?
SCENE IV 2:15:21 Chorus - Worthy is the Lamb that was slain 2:18:39 Chorus - Amen. 2:23:02
I honor you Doctoorrr…And i thank you.Be well.
May you face the darkness,and win over the lightness.
Yes.So many.Challenges…but have you challenge the dark in your own…?Have you faced your own deamones Doctoorr?For example,and especially the “shiny ones”?
Thanks for these songs, Di…yes it’s an ongoing process to face darkness and overcome in His Light. May God be honored in all we do and say this Holy Advent Season.
I pray you enjoy Handel’s Messiah, posted above for you and all of our beloved fellow Gizas. Love in Jesus, Alicia
Week 45
Second Sunday of Advent
Read-along
Isaiah Chapter 40:1-31
KJV
Audio/Text
Prepare the Way for the Lord
1 Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God.
2 Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the LORD’S hand double for all her sins.
3 The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
4 Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain:
5 And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.
The Word of the Lord Stands Forever
6 The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field:
7 The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the LORD bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass.
8 The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.
Here is Your God!
9 O Zion, that bringest good tidings, get thee up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God!
10 Behold, the Lord GOD will come with strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him: behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him.
11 He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.
12 Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and meted out heaven with the span, and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance?
13 Who hath directed the Spirit of the LORD, or being his counseller hath taught him?
14 With whom took he counsel, and who instructed him, and taught him in the path of judgment, and taught him knowledge, and shewed to him the way of understanding?
15 Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the balance: behold, he taketh up the isles as a very little thing.
16 And Lebanon is not sufficient to burn, nor the beasts thereof sufficient for a burnt offering.
17 All nations before him are as nothing; and they are counted to him less than nothing, and vanity.
18 To whom then will ye liken God? or what likeness will ye compare unto him?
19 The workman melteth a graven image, and the goldsmith spreadeth it over with gold, and casteth silver chains.
20 He that is so impoverished that he hath no oblation chooseth a tree that will not rot; he seeketh unto him a cunning workman to prepare a graven image, that shall not be moved.
21 Have ye not known? have ye not heard? hath it not been told you from the beginning? have ye not understood from the foundations of the earth?
22 It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in:
23 That bringeth the princes to nothing; he maketh the judges of the earth as vanity.
24 Yea, they shall not be planted; yea, they shall not be sown: yea, their stock shall not take root in the earth: and he shall also blow upon them, and they shall wither, and the whirlwind shall take them away as stubble.
25 To whom then will ye liken me, or shall I be equal? saith the Holy One.
26 Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things, that bringeth out their host by number: he calleth them all by names by the greatness of his might, for that he is strong in power; not one faileth.
27 Why sayest thou, O Jacob, and speakest, O Israel, My way is hid from the LORD, and my judgment is passed over from my God?
28 Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding.
29 He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.
30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:
31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
Thanks for posting this Dr Hill, looking forward to watching this!
So good to see you two! Yes, here’s the link to Handel’s Messiah, posted earlier, for easy access:
Week 46
Third Sunday of Advent: Listen-Read-Speak/Sing
Isaiah: Chapter 61
KJV
Audio
Listen/Soak In:
Read 1:
Is 61:1-2A, 10-11
The spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me,
because the LORD has anointed me;
he has sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor,
to heal the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives
and release to the prisoners,
to announce a year of favor from the LORD
and a day of vindication by our God.
I rejoice heartily in the LORD,
in my God is the joy of my soul;
for he has clothed me with a robe of salvation
and wrapped me in a mantle of justice,
like a bridegroom adorned with a diadem,
like a bride bedecked with her jewels.
As the earth brings forth its plants,
and a garden makes its growth spring up,
so will the Lord GOD make justice and praise
spring up before all the nations.
Responsorial Psalm:
R. (Is 61:10b) My soul rejoices in my God.
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord;
my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has looked upon his lowly servant.
From this day all generations will call me blessed:
R. My soul rejoices in my God.
the Almighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his Name.
He has mercy on those who fear him
in every generation.
R. My soul rejoices in my God.
He has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has come to the help of his servant Israel
for he has remembered his promise of mercy,
R. My soul rejoices in my God.
Audio
Listen/Soak In:
1 Thessalonians: Chapter 5
KJV
Read 2:
1 Thes 5:16-24
Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing.
In all circumstances give thanks,
for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.
Do not quench the Spirit.
Do not despise prophetic utterances.
Test everything; retain what is good.
Refrain from every kind of evil.
May the God of peace make you perfectly holy
and may you entirely, spirit, soul, and body,
be preserved blameless for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The one who calls you is faithful,
and he will also accomplish it.
,
Alicia’s “Chaplain’s Prayer Corner”: Say/Sing Aloud 3x to the patient, or while walking the hospital, as desired:
Affirming Prayer for Healing:
May the very God of peace sanctify you completely.
May your spirit, soul, and body
be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Affirming Prayer for the Recipient/Patient to Say/Sing 3x, or, while resting,
as many times as desired:
May the very God of peace sanctify me completely.
May my spirit, soul, and body
be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Affirming Prayer for Family/Care Team: Aloud 3x, or as members desire:
May the very God of peace sanctify us completely.
May our spirit, soul, and body
be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Week 47
Fourth Sunday of Advent
Tantum Ergo
Therefore So Great
17th century Corsican Chant, translated from earlier Franciscan manuscripts. Generally attributed to St Thomas Aquinas c. 1264, but based by Aquinas upon various earlier fragments.
With thanks to Floriani:
Latin:
Tantum ergo sacramentum
Veneremur cernui,
et antiquum documentum
novo cedat ritui.
Præstet fides supplementum
sensuum defectui.
Genitori genitoque
laus et jubilatio,
Salus, honor, virtus quoque
sit et benedictio!
Procedenti ab utroque
compar sit laudatio!
Amen.
English Version:
Down in adoration falling,
Lo! the Sacred Host we hail,
Lo! o’er ancient forms departing
Newer rites of grace prevail;
Faith for all defects supplying,
Where the feeble senses fail.
To the Everlasting Father,
And the Son Who reigns on high
With the Holy Ghost proceeding
Forth from Each eternally,
Be salvation, honour, blessing,
Might, and endless majesty.
Amen.
Scripture Reflection:
John 15:26: “But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me.”
Week 48
Latin:
O Filii et Filiae
- O filii et filiae,
Rex caelestis, Rex gloriae,
morte surrexit hodie, alleluia.
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.
- Et mane prima sabbati,
ad ostium monumenti
accesserunt discipuli, alleluia.
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.
- Et Maria Magdalene,
et Jacobi, et Salome,
venerunt corpus ungere, alleluia.
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.
- In albis sedens Angelus,
praedixit mulieribus:
in Galilaea est Dominus, alleluia.
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.
- Et Joannes Apostolus
cucurrit Petro citius,
monumento venit prius, alleluia.
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.
- Discipulis adstantibus,
in medio stetit Christus,
dicens: Pax vobis omnibus, alleluia.
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.
- Ut intellexit Didymus,
quia surrexerat Jesus,
remansit fere dubius, alleluia.
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.
- Vide, Thoma, vide latus,
vide pedes, vide manus,
noli esse incredulus, alleluia.
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.
- Quando Thomas Christi latus,
pedes vidit atque manus,
Dixit: Tu es Deus meus, alleluia.
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.
- Beati qui non viderunt,
Et firmiter crediderunt,
vitam aeternam habebunt, alleluia.
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.
- In hoc festo sanctissimo
sit laus et jubilatio,
benedicamus Domino, alleluia.
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.
- De quibus nos humillimas
devotas atque debitas
Deo dicamus gratias, alleluia.
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.
English Translation:
O sons and daughters
I. O sons and daughters of the King,
Whom heavenly hosts in glory sing,
Today the grave has lost its sting, Alleluia!
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.
II. That Easter morn, at break of day,
The faithful women went their way
To seek the tomb where Jesus lay, Alleluia!
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.
III. And Mary Magdalene
and Jacob, and Salome,
they came to anoint the body, Alleluia!
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.
IV. An angel clad in white they see,
Who sit and speaks unto the three,
“Your Lord will go to Galilee.” Alleluia!
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.
V. And John the Apostle
outran Peter,
and came first to the sepulchre, Alleluia!
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.
VI. That night the apostles met in fear;
Among them came their master dear
And said, “MY peace be with you here.” Alleluia!
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.
VII. When Thomas first the tidings heard
That they had seen the risen Lord,
He doubted the disciples’ word. Alleluia!
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.
VIII. "My pierced side, O Thomas, see,
And look upon my hands, my feet;
Not faithless but believing be." Alleluia!
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.
IX. No longer Thomas then denied;
He saw the feet, the hands, the side;
“You are my Lord and God!” he cried. Alleluia!
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.
X. How blest are they who have not seen
And yet whose faith has constant been,
For they eternal life shall win. Alleluia!
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.
XI. On this most holy day of days
Be laud and jubilee and praise:
To God your hearts and voice raise. Alleluia!
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.
XII. Of him to which we
raise our hearts.
Let us give thanks to God, Alleluia.
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.
Week 49
With thanks to the St. Michael Center for Spiritual Renewal
Prayer time with Father Stephen Rosetti, Monsignor and Exorcist for the Archdiocese of Washington:
I Am Loved (Longer Version)
In the Holy Name of Jesus, I know that I am a beloved daughter/son of our Heavenly Father. May the Precious Blood of Jesus cover me. In His Most Holy Name and covered in His Precious Blood, I bind all evil spirits of doubt, fear, despair, unforgiveness, unworthiness, and self-hatred.
I renounce you; I reject you; I rebuke you; and I cast you out. (3x)
I hold the TRUTH from God that I am a beloved daughter/son of the Heavenly Father. I claim that in and through the sacraments I have received, that the Triune God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit dwells in me and that I have inestimable value in God’s eyes. I know that I am beloved because I have been created in the image and likeness of God. I know that I am beloved because God the Father has sent His Son Jesus Christ into the World because of that love. And I know that Jesus Christ died out of his personal love for me, and, in His infinite mercy, my sins are forgiven.
I forgive all those who have told me that I am worthless, unworthy, or never good enough. I ask God to forgive them and bless them.
I am a beloved daughter/son of our Heavenly Father
And for that LOVE and that TRUTH, I give Him thanks.
Amen
Here is another great prayer for protection.
— Sr. Mary Joseph Calore, SSCJ (@sscjusa) January 15, 2024