Oh boy, tomorrow is going to be quite something! At Blackfen we have started to have a monthly Missa Cantata on Saturday mornings (the usual Saturday morning Mass is, dare I say it, "just" a Low Mass!) Tomorrow's scheduled Missa Cantata just happens to coincide with Candlemas... the Feast of the Presentation of Our Lord in the Temple (also previously known as the Purification of Our Lady.) This means a big procession (if the snow holds off) and candles.Fr. Z has popped over for a visit, and no doubt he will be making an appearance. I haven't quite worked out the Celebrant, Deacon and Sub-deacon bits, so I'm as yet unsure who does what and when... but I'm more than happy to learn!
I'm particularly pleased that I'm able to hear Mass tomorrow, as Candlemas was the occasion on which my patron saint, St. Anne Line, was arrested. Someone noted the presence of lots of people at the house she kept for Fr. Gerard (they were gathering for this feast day) and reported them to the authorities. The priests were able to escape, but the presence of the vestments and sacred vessels and everything set up for Mass was enough to secure a conviction.This Sunday is also the feast of St. Blaise. The tradition of blessing throats on the feast of St. Blaise (using candles from Candlemas, I believe) is one to which I am very attached: trying to teach with laryngitis is no joke, so invoking the protection of St. Blaise makes good sense!
And then, next Saturday, we have the visit to the parish of the Day With Mary team. I blogged about my book-buying tendencies during their visit last year...
My cup, as they say, runneth over...
12 comments:
Awesome! I've only been to a Low Mass but never anything "higher" than that. Tomorrow I'm going to the "High Solemn Latin Mass" at the B'ham Oratory, but that will be done in the Ordinary form (though awesome nonetheless). Haha, I'm getting jealous.
By the way, I think that it's not going to be Missa Cantata but a High Mass since Missa Cantata is basically a sung Low Mass and so has only a celebrant and an altar sever (no deacons and sub-deacons).
Tomas - Fr Tim and Fr Z will be around, but I don't know if they've got a third priest... so it might be a Missa Cantata
I had never heard of the blessing of the throat on the feast of St Blaise until I started reading blogs. What happens when one of those whose throat has been blessed gets a minor or serious throat ailment; does this shake their Faith?
I'm not sure I can get anywhere for Candlemas before tonight, so hope you have a beautiful celebration.
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Cherish it !!
But remember amidst it all ; you have returned to that single sacrifice upon calvary...
I have an article which I cut out of an old copy of the Latin Mass Magazine regarding the 40 Martyrs of England & Wales, and it lists their individual feast days as they were kept before their canonisation in 1970. I'm sure that you'll be interested to know that St. Anne Line's feast day was traditionally kept... guess when... 3rd FEBRUARY!!! (although her day of Martyrdom is the 27th Feb). So, can I be the first to wish you a Happy Patronal Feast Day, as well best wishes for St. Blaise! :c).
Thanks Jason! I usually celebrate her martyrdom (I'm afraid that, as I say the NO Office, I generally follow the NO calendar too) but feel especially close to her if I can get to Mass on Candlemas.
I had no idea she had a feast on 3rd February!! I'm fond of St Blaise too, so that makes for another perfect day!
And then there's also her feast day according to the Catholic Bishops Conference of England & Wales who have placed her on the 30th August, along with those other glorious Martyrs, St. Margaret Clitherowe and St. Margaret Ward. 3 days in the year in which to celebrate your Patron; now that can’t be bad! :c)
Four now! Candlemas, 3rd Feb, 27th Feb and 30th August... The 3rd Feb one is new to me, so thanks!!!
Years ago, I remember a priest who did the traditional blessing of throats on the feast of St.Blaise.
Unfortunately. he had a bad cold, and after the ceremony, he lost his voice. He couldn't speak for two days.
True story.
Victoria - I know someone who always get an irritation in the throat about half an hour after the blessing thereof - it actually strangthens her faith!
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