2009-12-29

Thomas a Becket

Today is the fifth day in the Octave of Christmas, with the commemoration of Thomas Becket. Becket was Archbishop of Canterbury in the 12th century, and was martyred by the English king's (his onetime friend's) thugs for his defence of the rights of the Church. King Henry's (the second of that name) men came into his own cathedral and murdered him as he prepared for Vespers. It is a good saint story, and well portrayed by Peter O'Toole in Becket; well worth watching today if you haven't before.

Liturgically, this day is a good example of why Catholics need exposure to the Extraordinary Form. I was always puzzled by what to do with this day, and others like it. During the octave of Christmas, Lenten weekdays, and 17-24 December, memorials are outranked and thus not celebrated. The table of precedence does, however, say that "Optional memorials, as described in the instructions indicated for the Mass and office, may be observed even on" those days I just mentioned. I couldn't figure out how to do this, even though I read through the GILH every Advent, and have been saying the Office for close to three years now.

Only this year, after learning how to say the EF Office, have I figured it out. I had read GILH 239 multiple times before, but never understood what it meant. It reads:
During privileged seasons, if it is desired to celebrate the office of a saint on a day assigned to his or her memorial:

a. in the office of readings, after the patristic reading (with its responsory) from the Proper of Seasons, a proper reading about the saint (with its responsory) may follow, with the concluding prayer of the saint;

b. at morning prayer and evening prayer, the ending of the concluding prayer may be omitted and the saint's antiphon (from the proper or common) and prayer may be added.

That's a commemoration. The Proper of Seasons says its a commemoration. But if you haven't been exposed to the EF, you aren't going to know what the heck a commemoration is or how to do it, even with the GILH sitting right in front of you. I read that paragraph several times, understanding the words, but not knowing what they meant. Having done commemorations in the EF, the paragraph makes perfect sense to me now. But without that exposure, it was a mystery.


Commemorations are a wonderful way for the sanctoral and temporal cycles to be reconciled. Rather than one cycle being left out in the cold, with commemorations both are fit into a given celebration. It is a classic example of the Catholic preference for both/and over either/or.

So, this is how you do the Office today:

At Matins, the two readings for the proper of seasons, followed by the reading for Thomas Becket, followed by the Te Deum, followed by the collect for Thomas Becket, followed by the Benedicamus Domino.

Lauds is concluded in this way:

Pater noster...

All-powerful and unseen God the coming of your light into the world has made the darkness vanish. Teach us to proclaim the birth of your Son Jesus Christ,

Whoever hates his life in this world keeps it safe for life everlasting.

Almighty God, you granted the martyr Thomas the grace to give his life for the cause of justice. By his prayers make us willing to renounce for Christ our life in this world so that we may find it in heaven. Per DNIC...

Dominus nos benedicat....


Vespers is concluded in this way:

Pater noster...

All-powerful and unseen God the coming of your light into the world has made the darkness vanish. Teach us to proclaim the birth of your Son Jesus Christ,

The saints find their home in the kingdom of heaven; their life is eternal peace.

Almighty God, you granted the martyr Thomas the grace to give his life for the cause of justice. By his prayers make us willing to renounce for Christ our life in this world so that we may find it in heaven. Per DNIC...

Dominus nos benedicat....


The other Hours are normal and are not affected by the commemoration.

I hope this explains how to commemorate in the OF, so that you can now do it on the 31st for Sylvester, and during the season of Lent. Moreover, I hope it inspires you to dig into the EF for yourself.

Merry Christmas!

2009-12-25

Christmas reflections

A merry and very blessed Christmas to all of you!

1. For the recessional for today's Mass of the Dawn at the Cathedral, the hymn was "Good Christian Men, Rejoice". If you've not heard it, seek it out. The tempo is charming, and there was a lyric that really struck my heart: Now ye need not fear the grave. Christmas is so beautiful! God become man, and fully revealed to the world, no longer hid in the womb of his Mother, this Incarnation is what makes possible the sacrifice of this man's life which made possible our salvation. Our salvation can indeed be found in the Nativity, as this hymn so joyfully proclaims.

2. From Pope Benedict's homily today: "To awake, then, means to develop a receptivity for God: for the silent promptings with which he chooses to guide us; for the many indications of his presence. There are people who describe themselves as "religiously tone deaf". The gift of a capacity to perceive God seems as if it is withheld from some. And indeed – our way of thinking and acting, the mentality of today’s world, the whole range of our experience is inclined to deaden our receptivity for God, to make us "tone deaf" towards him."

This selection from our Holy Father is a good explanation for the Spirituality Year in which I am at the seminary. We have a media fast this year--we're not allowed the use of cell phones, landlines, internet, tv, radio, etc. Basically all electronics. Only on the weekend may we use these. And on Sunday their use is only for communication--eg no tv on Sunday. The whole point of our media fast is to help us awaken to God's voice in our lives. The guy who is using his cell all day, with the radio or the tv on in the background all day, is not terribly likely to be listening to see if God is calling him to a priestly vocation. It is much too easy to distract ourselves with all the super-cool gadgets we have. If I have my phone with me, I can text people all the time and never have to face silence, which may have include an encounter with my conscience or with God. Our media fast is truly a good.

2009-12-13

A Thought

"Our liturgy contains incomparably more than what our hearts are ready to feel." (Abraham Joshua Heschel)

Written of the liturgy of the Old Covenant...how much more true of the New and Everlasting Covenant.

2009-12-06

Another Huy Update

Here is another update on Huy's continued recovery to the fullness of health:

A recent CAT scan showed he has scar tissue on 75% of his lungs (down from 90%) and his lung capacity (how much he can fill his lungs) is right at 30%. All aspects continue to improve, however. His strength is returning and he has been cleared to drive. He is eating well. Huy has some high blood pressure, but they hope that will diminish over time.

In all – he is on the (slow) road to recovery. He is grateful for your ongoing prayers – and grateful for Our Lady’s care and Our Lord’s healing touch.