The Simpsons

The Pieta

Enguerrand Quarton. Pietà of Villeneuve-lès-Avignon. 1455.
Oil on wood.
Musée du Louvre. Paris, France.

Bowties are cool!

Islamic Art

The Shortest Horror Story Ever

The last man on Earth sat alone in a room. There was a knock on the door.
- Fredric Brown

ATTENTION: PANDA PANDEMONIUM!!!

PLEASE reblog this if you know someone(or are related to someone) who has been eaten by pandas.Pandas are nearly unstoppable and, in case you didn’t know,they can also breathe fire. 93% of people won’t reblog this because they have already been eaten by pandas, 6% of people are sitting in their showers armed with fire extinguishers,and the remaining 1% are awesome and will reblog.

Egyptian Revolution

HAHAHAHAHAHA! LOL! That is toooooooooooo funny!!! LOL!

The Doctor, the Master, and the Companions Dance

Here is one of the best YouTube vids I have ever seen!

A Man for All Seasons (Whole Movie)

This is one of my favorite movies!

A Man for All Seasons, the whole movie!

Liszt Ferenc - Benedictus

Liszt Ferenc (1811-1886): Missa Choralis, S.10 (1865) - V. Benedictus
Ensemble Vocal Audite Nova, Jean Soi Risse

45 Years of Doctor Who and Eleven Doctors TRIBUTE!!!

45 Years of Doctor Who and Eleven Doctors TRIBUTE!!! (by Timeforthaunted)

Litany of the Saints

Litany of the Saints (by kolbe1019)

Beautiful tune! One of the best I’ve heard!

A Memory of Light!

This is how excited I am for the final Wheel of Time book, A Memory of Light!

Scheduled for November 2011… I pray it stays on schedule!!!!

Knights of Ni

Mass Propers for St. Athanasius

St. Athanasius of Alexandria, Bishop & Confessor (373)
Rank: Feast Color: White
Wednesday, May 4th, 2011
(Transferred from May 2nd)

Introit.
Antiphon. In the midst of the congregation he opened his mouth and the Lord filled him with the spirit of wisdom and understanding; * he clothed him with the spirit of wisdom and understanding, yea he clothed him with a robe of glory, alleluia, alleluia! (Ecclesiasticus 15:5-6)
Psalm. It is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD, * and to sing praises unto thy Name, O Most Highest;
To tell of thy loving-kindness early in the morning, * and of thy truth in the night season;
Upon an instrument of ten strings, and upon the lute; * upon a loud instrument, and upon the harp.
For thou, LORD, hast made me glad through thy works; * and I will rejoice in giving praise for the operations of thy hands.
O LORD, how glorious are thy works! * thy thoughts are very deep.
An unwise man doth not well consider this, * and a fool doth not understand it.
When the ungodly are green as the grass, and when all the workers of wickedness do flourish, * then shall they be destroyed for ever; but thou, LORD, art the Most Highest for evermore.
For lo, thine enemies, O LORD, lo, thine enemies shall perish; * and all the workers of wickedness shall be destroyed.
But my horn shall be exalted like the horn of an unicorn; * for I am anointed with fresh oil.
Mine eye also shall see his lust of mine enemies, * and mine ear shall hear his desire of the wicked that arise up against me.
The righteous shall flourish like a palm-tree, * and shall spread abroad like a cedar in Lebanon.
Such as are planted in the house of the LORD, * shall flourish in the courts of the house of our God.
They also shall bring forth more fruit in their age, * and shall be fat and well-liking;
That they may show how true the LORD my strength is, * and that there is no unrighteousness in him. (Psalm 92)
Doxology. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy Ghost;
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, * world without end. Amen.
Antiphon. In the midst of the congregation he opened his mouth and the Lord filled him with the spirit of wisdom and understanding; * he clothed him with the spirit of wisdom and understanding, yea he clothed him with a robe of glory, alleluia, alleluia! (Ecclesiasticus 15:5-6)

Collect.
V. Blessed is the man that endureth temptation,
R. For when he is tried he shall receive the crown of life. Alleluia! (James 1:12)

Let us pray,
Uphold thy Church, O God of truth, as thou didst uphold thy servant Saint Athanasius, to maintain and proclaim boldly the catholic faith against all opposition, trusting solely in the grace of thine eternal Word, who took upon himself our humanity that we might share his divinity; who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, now and ever. Amen.

Lesson. (Wisdom 7:7-14)
Wherefore I prayed, and understanding was given me; I called upon God, and the spirit of wisdom came to me. I preferred her before scepters and thrones, and esteemed riches nothing in comparison of her. Neither compared I unto her any precious stone, because all gold in respect of her is as a little sand, and silver shall be counted as clay before her. I loved her above health and beauty, and chose to have her instead of light: for the light that cometh from her never goeth out. All good things together came to me with her, and innumerable riches in her hands. And I rejoiced in them all, because wisdom goeth before them: and I knew not that she was the mother of them. I learned diligently, and do communicate her liberally: I do not hide her riches. For she is a treasure unto men that never faileth: which they that use become the friends of God, being commended for the gifts that come from learning.

Gradual. (John 16:33b/Psalm 112)
In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; * I have overcome the world.
In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; * I have overcome the world.
Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD; * he hath great delight in his commandments.
His seed shall be mighty upon earth; * the generation of the faithful shall be blessed.
Riches and plenteousness shall be in his house; * and his righteousness endureth for ever.
Unto the godly there ariseth up light in the darkness; * he is merciful, loving, and righteous.
In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; * I have overcome the world.
A good man is merciful, and lendeth; * and will guide his words with discretion.
For he shall never be moved: * and the righteous shall be had in everlasting remembrance.
He will not be afraid of any evil tidings; * for his heart standeth fast, and believeth in the LORD.
In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; * I have overcome the world.
His heart is stablished, and will not shrink, * until he see his desire upon his enemies.
He hath dispersed abroad, and given to the poor. * and his righteousness remaineth for ever; his horn shall be exalted with honor.
The ungodly shall see it, and it shall grieve him; * he shall gnash with his teeth, and consume away; the desire of the ungodly shall perish.
In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; * I have overcome the world.

Epistle. (II Corinthians 4:5-14)
We preach not ourselves, brethren, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake. For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our heart, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. For we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. So then death worketh in us, but life in you. We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak; knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.

Tract. (Matthew 5:10)
Alleluia, alleluia. Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake, * for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Alleluia.

Gospel. (Matthew 10:23-32)
At that time: Jesus said unto his disciples, "When they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come. The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord. It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household? Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known. What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops. And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? And one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows. Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven."

Homily. (St. Athanasius of Alexandria)
It is written in the Law, Ye shall appoint you cities to be cities of refuge for you, that in these cities they which were pursued to put them to death might enter and be safe. And in the latter days when he was come, even that very Word of the Father, which had spoken aforetime unto Moses, he gave again the same commandment : When they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another. And a while afterward, he said : When ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the Prophet, stand in the Holy Place (whoso readeth, let him understand), then let them which be in Judaea flee unto the mountains ; let him which is on the housetop not come down to take anything out of his house ; neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes. The Saints, therefore, knowing these words of the Lord, have obeyed them in their lives. What the Lord hath now commanded by his own Mouth, he commanded through his Saints before that he himself was come in the flesh, and to obey this commandment worketh in a man perfection, since whatever God commandeth is a thing which it behoveth man to do. For this cause, that very Word of God which was made flesh for our sake thought it meet when they sought him (even as at this present time, they are seeking us), to hide himself, and, when they persecuted him, to fly and escape from their laying in wait for him ; although when that time came which he had himself decreed, and wherein he willed, as touching the Body, to suffer for us all, he willingly gave himself up to his enemies. Holy men of God, therefore, have learnt to take example from their Savior (and the Same is and hath been the Teacher of all such, whether of old time, or in these latter days), and know how that it is lawful to baffle their persecutors by flying from them, and by lying hid when they seek them. For since they know not the day nor the hour wherein an all-seeing God hath ordained their end, they do not daringly give themselves into the power of such as hate them, but rather, knowing it to be written, My times are in thy hand, and that The Lord killeth and maketh alive, they endure unto the end, they wander about, as saith the Apostle, in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, they wander in deserts, and hide in dens and caves of the earth, until either their appointed time come, or until more plainly God, the real Appointer of times, speaketh unto them, and chaineth up the persecutors, or manifestly giveth them over into the hands of the same, as may be his own good pleasure.

Sequence.
1. O thou whose all-redeeming might
crowns every chief in faith's true fight,
on this commemoration day
hear us, good Jesus, while we pray.

2. In faithful strife for thy dear Name
thy servant earned the saintly fame,
which pious hearts with praise revere
in constant memory year by year.

3. Earth's fleeting joys he counted nought,
for higher, truer joys he sought,
and now, with angels round thy throne,
unfading treasures are his own.

4. O grant that we, most gracious God,
may follow in the steps he trod;
and, freed from every stain of sin,
as he hath won may also win.

5. To thee, O Christ, our loving King,
all glory, praise and thanks we bring;
whom with the Father we adore
and Holy Ghost for evermore.
Amen.

Offertorium. (Psalm 89:2021)
I have found David my servant; with my holy oil have I anointed him. * My hand shall hold him fast, and my arm shall strengthen him. Alleluia!

Secreta.
Grant, O Lord, that our devout observance of this yearly festival of thy Confessor and Bishop Saint Athanasius may render us, thy servants, pleasing unto thee, O Lord, we pray, and by this holy sacrifice, may we all receive the bountiful gifts of thy grace, through thy Son, Jesus Christ our Lord who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

Preface.
Verily it is meet, right, salutary, and our bounden duty that we should at all times, and in all places, give thanks unto thee, O Lord, Holy Father, Almighty and Everlasting God for thou are greatly glorified in the assembly of thy Saints. All thy creatures praise thee, and thy faithful servants bless thee, confessing before the rulers of this world the great Name of thine only Son and our Savior, Jesus Christ. Therefore with Angels and Archangels, and all the company of Heaven, we laud and magnify thy glorious Name, evermore praising thee, and saying,

Communio. (Matthew 10:27)
"What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light," saith the Lord, * "and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye on the house-tops." Alleluia!

Post-Communion.
O God, who rewardest the souls of them that put their trust in thee, grant, we beseech thee, that we who keep the solemn feast of Saint Athanasius thy Bishop and Confessor, may by his prayers obtain some part of thy mercy won by the merits and death of Jesus Christ, thy only Son, our Lord, who livest and reignest, with the Father, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God, now and ever. Amen.

Mass Propers for St. Joseph the Workman

St. Joseph the Workman, Guardian of the Holy Family (26)
Rank: Feast Color: White
Tuesday, May 3rd, 2011
(Transferred from May 1st)

Introit.
Antiphon. Wisdom rendered to the righteous a reward of their labors, guided them in a marvelous way, * and was unto them for a cover by day, and a light of stars in the night season. Alleluia! (Wisdom 10:17)
Psalm. Except the LORD build the house, * their labor is but lost that build it.
Except the LORD keep the city, * the watchman waketh but in vain.
It is but lost labor that ye haste to rise up early, and so late take rest, and eat the bread of carefulness; * for so he giveth his beloved sleep.
Lo, children, and the fruit of the womb, * are an heritage and gift that cometh of the LORD.
Like as the arrows in the hand of the giant, * even so are the young children.
Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them; * they shall not be ashamed when they speak with their enemies in the gate. (Psalm 127)
Doxology. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy Ghost;
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, * world without end. Amen.
Antiphon. Wisdom rendered to the righteous a reward of their labors, guided them in a marvelous way, * and was unto them for a cover by day, and a light of stars in the night season. Alleluia! (Wisdom 10:17)

Collects.
V. And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age,
R. Being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph. Alleluia! (Luke 3:23)

Let us pray,
O God, who in thine unspeakable providence didst vouchsafe to choose blessed Saint Joseph for thy foster-father and to be spouse of thy most holy Mother, grant, we beseech beseech thee, O Lord, that we who revere him who was protector of the Holy Family may have him as our protector here upon earth through his intercession in Heaven, where thou livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen.

V. Is not this the carpenter's son? Alleluia!
R. Is not his Mother called Mary? Alleluia, alleluia! (Matthew 13:55a)

Let us pray,
O God, the creator of the universe, who hast imposed upon all men the obligation of labor, may the example and intersession of that blessed workman Saint Joseph help us to accomplish the tasks which thou hast set forth before us to perform, and may we also attain unto that heavenly reward which thou hast given unto thy foster-father, and hast promised to those who love thee as he did, for thou livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen.

Lesson. (Genesis 49:1-2, 22-26)
At that time Jacob called unto his sons, and said, "Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you that which shall befall you in the last days. Gather yourselves together, and hear, ye sons of Jacob; and hearken unto Israel your father. Joseph is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well; whose branches run over the wall. The archers have sorely grieved him, and shot at him, and hated him. But his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob; (from thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel:) Even by the God of thy father, who shall help thee; and by the Almighty, who shall bless thee with blessings of heaven above, blessings of the deep that lieth under, blessings of the breasts, and of the womb. The blessings of thy father have prevailed above the blessings of my progenitors unto the utmost bound of the everlasting hills: they shall be on the head of Joseph, and on the crown of the head of him that was separate from his brethren."

Gradual. (Psalm 89:29/Psalm 89:1-4, 26-28)
His seed also will I make to endure for ever, * and his throne as the days of heaven.
His seed also will I make to endure for ever, * and his throne as the days of heaven.
My song shall be alway of the loving-kindness of the LORD; * with my mouth will I ever be showing thy truth from one generation to another.
For I have said, "Mercy shall be set up for ever; * thy truth shalt thou stablish in the heavens."
His seed also will I make to endure for ever, * and his throne as the days of heaven.
I have made a covenant with my chosen; * I have sworn unto David my servant:
Thy seed will I stablish for ever, * and set up thy throne from one generation to another.
His seed also will I make to endure for ever, * and his throne as the days of heaven.
He shall call me, "Thou art my Father, * my God, and my strong salvation."
And I will make him my firstborn, * higher than the kings of the earth.
My mercy will I keep for him for evermore, * and my covenant shall stand fast with him.
His seed also will I make to endure for ever, * and his throne as the days of heaven.

Epistle. (Colossians 3:14-24)
And above, brethren, put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them. Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord. Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged. Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eye-service, as men-pleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God;and whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.

Tract. (Matthew 25:21)
Alleluia, alleluia. Well done, thou good and faithful servant, * enter into the joy of thy Lord. Alleluia.

Gospel. (Matthew 13:54-58)
At that time, when Jesus had come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, "Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works? Is not this the carpenter's son? Is not his Mother called Mary? And his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas? And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things? And they were offended in him." But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honor, save in his own country, and in his own house. And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.

Homily. (St. Bernard of Clairvaux)
Who and what manner of man this blessed Joseph was, we may conjecture from that title which the providential ordering of God bestowed upon him. He was chosen to the honor of being called, and of being supposed to be, the father of God. What he was we may also conjecture from the very name Joseph, which is to be interpreted as Increase. Wherefore let us liken him to that great man after whom he was named, the Patriarch Joseph. This latter sojourned in Egypt, even as he did. From this latter he not only inherited a name, but an example of chastity which he more than equaled, so that he was like unto the Patriarch Joseph in grace and innocence. If the Patriarch Joseph (sold by his brethren through envy, and forced into servitude in Egypt) was a type of Christ sold by his brethren and handed over to the Gentiles, the other Joseph (forced through the envy of Herod to flee into Egypt) did in actual fact bring Christ amongst the Egyptian Gentiles. The first Joseph (keeping faith with his lord) would not carnally know his lord's lady. The second Joseph (spiritually knowing the Lady who was the Mother of his Lord to be virgin) kept faithfully virgin toward her. To the first Joseph was given to know dark things in the interpretation of dreams. To the second Joseph was given in sleep to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven. The first Joseph laid by bread, not for himself only, but for all the people. The second Joseph received into his keeping the Living Bread which came down from heaven, and he kept the same, not for himself only, but for all the world. Without doubt, good and faithful was this Joseph who espoused the Mother of the Savior. Yea, I say unto you, he is that faithful and wise servant whom the Lord hath made ruler over his Household. For the Lord appointed him to be the comfort of his Mother, the keeper of his own body, and, in a word, the chief and most trusty helper on earth in carrying out the eternal counsels.

Sequence.
1. By the Creator,
Joseph was appointed
spouse of the Virgin,
guardian of the Incarnate;
he by his caring
ministered to Jesus,
source of salvation.

2. Christ in whose presence
hosts of hell must tremble,
Ruler of all things,
Lord of earth and heaven,
Monarch of monarchs,
to his earthly father
freely wast subject.

3. To God eternal be
all praise and glory,
who to Saint Joseph
gave supernal honor,
grant that we also
may like him be faithful
in our obedience.
Amen.

Offertorium. (Psalm 90:17)
The glorious majesty of the LORD our God be upon us: * prosper thou the work of our hands upon us; O prosper thou our handy-work. Alleluia!

Secreta.
May these offerings that we have labored with our hands to make, which we now lay before thee in sacrifice, O Lord, be a pledge of unity and peace through the intercession of blessed Saint Joseph, whose son Jesus Christ our Lord liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

Preface.
Verily it is meet, right, salutary, and our bounden duty that we should at all times, and in all places, give thanks unto thee, O Lord, Holy Father, Almighty and Everlasting God and most especially do we praise thee as we honor the memory of Blessed Joseph, chosen guardian of thy Son and protector of the Holy Family: for, as a just man, he wast given by thee to be the spouse of the Virgin Mother of God, and as a faithful and prudent servant, he wast set over the family chosen to host thy Son on earth, so that with fatherly care he might guard thine Only-Begotten Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, conceived in the womb of the most pure Virgin by the overshadowing and operation of the Holy Ghost. Therefore with Angels and Archangels, and all the company of Heaven, we laud and magnify thy glorious Name, evermore praising thee, and saying,

Communio. (Psalm 89:24)
My truth also and my mercy shall be with him; * and in my Name shall his horn be exalted, alleluia, alleluia!

Post-Communion.
We who have been refreshed at the fountain of divine blessing, beseech thee, O Lord our God, that as thou dost gladden us by the example and life of blessed Saint Joseph, so by his intercession thou wouldst make us to be partakers of everlasting glory, through his Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, who livest and reignest, with the Father, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God, now and ever. Amen.

Mass Propers for St. Mark

St. Mark of Judea, Evangelist & Martyr (80)
Rank: Festival Color: Red
Monday, May 2nd, 2011
(Transferred from April 25th)

Introit.
Antiphon. Go ye into all the world, alleluia, * and preach the Gospel unto every creature, alleluia! (Mark 16:15)
Psalm. Hear my law, O my people; * incline your ears unto the words of my mouth.
I will open my mouth in a parable; * I will declare hard sentences of old;
Which we have heard and known, * and such as our fathers have told us;
That we should not hide them from the children of the generations to come; * but to show the honor of the LORD, his mighty and wonderful works that he hath done.
He made a covenant with Jacob, and gave Israel a law, * which he commanded our forefathers to teach their children;
That their posterity might know it, * and the children which were yet unborn;
To the intent that when they came up, * they might show their children the same;
That they might put their trust in God; * and not to forget the works of God, but to keep his commandments. (Psalm 78:1-7)
Doxology. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy Ghost;
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, * world without end. Amen.
Antiphon. Go ye into all the world, alleluia, * and preach the Gospel unto every creature, alleluia! (Mark 16:15)

Collect.
V. O LORD, the very heavens shall praise thy wondrous works;
R. And thy truth in the congregation of the saints. Alleluia! (Psalm 89:5)

Let us pray,
O almighty God, who hast instructed thy holy Church with the heavenly doctrine of thy Evangelist Saint Mark; give us grace that, being not like children carried away with every blast of vain doctrine, we may be established in the truth of thy holy Gospel; through the same Jesus Christ, thy Son, our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

Lesson. (Ezekiel 1:4-5, 10-14)
At that time, I looked, and, behold, a whirlwind came out of the north, a great cloud, and a fire infolding itself, and a brightness was about it, and out of the midst thereof as the color of amber, out of the midst of the fire. Also out of the midst thereof came the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance; they had the likeness of a man. As for the likeness of their faces, they four had the face of a man, and the face of a lion, on the right side: and they four had the face of an ox on the left side; they four also had the face of an eagle. Thus were their faces: and their wings were stretched upward; two wings of every one were joined one to another, and two covered their bodies. And they went every one straight forward: whither the Spirit was to go, they went; and they turned not when they went. As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like burning coals of fire, and like the appearance of lamps: it went up and down among the living creatures; and the fire was bright, and out of the fire went forth lightning. And the living creatures ran and returned as the appearance of a flash of lightning.

Gradual. (Psalm 29:1-2a/Habakkuk 3:2-4, 8c-9, 13a)
Ascribe unto the LORD, O ye mighty, ascribe unto the LORD worship and strength; * ascribe unto the LORD the honor due unto his Name.
Ascribe unto the LORD, O ye mighty, ascribe unto the LORD worship and strength; * ascribe unto the LORD the honor due unto his Name.
O Lord, when I heard speak of thee, * I was afraid.
The work that thou hast taken in hand, * shalt thou perform in his time, O Lord.
And when thy time cometh, thou shalt declare it. * In thy very wrath thou thinkest upon mercy.
Ascribe unto the LORD, O ye mighty, ascribe unto the LORD worship and strength; * ascribe unto the LORD the honor due unto his Name.
God cometh from Theman, * and the Holy One from the mount of Pharan.
His glory covereth the heavens, and the earth is full of his praise.
His shine is as the sun, * and beams of light go out of his hands, there is his power hid.
Thou sattest upon thine horse, * and thy chariots had the victory.
Thou shewedst thy bow openly, * like as thou hadst promised with an oath unto the tribes.
Ascribe unto the LORD, O ye mighty, ascribe unto the LORD worship and strength; * ascribe unto the LORD the honor due unto his Name.
Thou camest forth to help thy people, * to help thine Anointed.
But as for me, I will be glad in the Lord, * and will rejoice in God my Savior.
The Lord God is my strength, * he shall make my feet as the feet of hearts:
And he which giveth the victory, shall bring me to my high places * singing upon my psalms.
Ascribe unto the LORD, O ye mighty, ascribe unto the LORD worship and strength; * ascribe unto the LORD the honor due unto his Name.

Epistle. (Ephesians 4:7-16)
Brethren, unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. Wherefore he saith, "When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men." (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things? And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: that we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; but speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: from whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

Tract. (Psalm 21:3)
Alleluia, alleluia. Thou, O Lord, shalt meet him with the blessings of goodness, * and shalt set a crown of pure gold upon his head. Alleluia.

Gospel. (John 15:1-11)
At that time, Jesus said unto his disciples, "I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: he that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full."

Homily. (St. Augustine of Hippo)
Brethren, this passage of the Gospel, wherein the Lord saith that he is the vine, and that his disciples are the branches, is to be taken in the sense wherein it is also said that he is the head of the Church, and that we are his members ; members verily of him who is the Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus. A vine and its branches are of one and the same nature. Wherefore, being God, of whose nature we are not, he was made man to the end that might have in himself our human nature (that is, this vine) whereof we men can be made branches. Why doth he say : I am the true vine? By adding the word True, doth he mean that he is literally a vine? Surely not, for he could not be called a vine in the literal sense, but only by way of similitude, like as elsewhere he is called a Sheep, a Lamb, a Lion, a Rock, a Cornerstone, and other things of the like kind. Now these things are true in the sense that they are what they seem to be, but when he is called by the name of them, he is so called by way of similitude. However, in this respect they differ from the similitude of the vine which he used in this passage. For herein he hath regard to another Scriptural similitude, namely, of something which seemed to be a vine, and was not, as it is written : I had planted thee a noble vine, wholly a right seed ; how then art thou turned into the degenerate plant of a strange vine unto me? For how can that be called a true vine of which grapes are expected and it bringeth forth thorns? I am the true vine, saith he, and my Father is the husbandman. Is then the vine one with the husbandman as Christ is with his Father? For Christ is the vine in the sense that he saith : My Father is greater than I. But according to that his other saying : I and my Father are one : he himself is the husbandman. However, he is not an husbandman in the literal sense of one who serveth as the vine-dresser, but in this sense, namely, that from within the vine itself he giveth increase in growth and fruitage. For neither is he that planteth anything, neither is he that watereth, but God that giveth the increase. But verily Christ is God ; for the Word was God. Therefore he and the Father are one. And albeit the Word was made flesh, which afore he was not, nonetheless he ceased not to be what he was, namely, God.

Sequence.
1. The saint who first found grace to pen
the life which was the Life of men,
and shed abroad the Gospel's ray,
his fame we celebrate today.

2. Lo, drawn by Pentecostal fire,
his heart conceived its great desire,
when pure of mind, inspired, he heard
and with his hand set forth the Word.

3. Then, clearly writ, the Godhead shone
serene and fair to look upon;
and through that record still comes power
to lighten souls in death's dark hour.

4. O holy mind, for wisdom fit
wherein that Life of lives stood writ,
may we through minds of like accord
show forth the pattern of our Lord.

5. And so may all whose minds are dark
be led to truth by good Saint Mark,
and after this our earthly strife
stand written in the Book of Life.
Amen.

Offertorium. (Pslam 64:10)
The righteous shall rejoice in the LORD, and put his trust in him, alleluia; * and all they that are true of heart shall be glad. Alleluia!

Secreta.
We offer these our gifts, O Lord, on this festival of blessed Saint Mark the Evangelist, praying that as he was given grace to preach the holy Gospel of thy Son, so by his example and at his intercession we too may become proclaim thy holy Gospel in word and in deed, through the same, thy Son, Jesus Christ our Lord; who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

Preface.
Verily it is meet, right, salutary, and our bounden duty that we should at all times, and in all places, give thanks unto thee, O Lord, Holy Father, Almighty and Everlasting God, through the great Shepherd of thy Flock, Jesus Christ our Lord; who after his resurrection sent forth his Apostles to preach the Gospel and to teach all nations; and promised to be with them always, even unto the end of all ages. Therefore with Angels and Archangels, and all the company of Heaven, we laud and magnify thy glorious Name, evermore praising thee, and saying,

Communio. (Matthew 28:20)
Teach all nations to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you, alleluia! * And, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world, alleluia, alleluia!

Post-Communion.
May these holy mysteries, O Lord, we pray, be to us a continual safeguard, and by the intercession of blessed Saint Mark the Evangelist, may they ever defend us from all adversity, through Jesus Christ, thy Son, our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

Mass Propers for the First Sunday after Easter

First Sunday after Easter
Rank: Festive Sunday Color: Gold/White
Sunday, May 1st, 2011

Introit.
Antiphon. As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the Word, alleluia; * that ye may grow thereby. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia! (I Peter 2:2)
Psalm. Sing we merrily unto God our strength; * make a cheerful noise unto the God of Jacob.
Thou calledst upon me in troubles, and I delivered thee; * and heard thee what time as the storm fell upon thee.
I am the LORD thy God, who brought thee out of the land of Egypt: * open thy mouth wide, and I shall fill it.
With the finest wheat-flour; * and with honey out of the stony rock would I satisfy thee. (Psalm 81:1, 7a, 10, 16b)
Doxology. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy Ghost;
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, * world without end. Amen.
Antiphon. As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the Word, alleluia; * that ye may grow thereby. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia! (I Peter 2:2)

Collects.
V. "In the day of my Resurrection," saith the Lord,
R. "I will go before you into Galilee." Alleluia! (cf. Mark 14:28)

Let us pray,
Grant, we beseech thee, Almighty God, that we who have celebrated the solemnities of the Lord's Resurrection, may, by the help of thy grace, bring forth the fruits thereof in our life and conversation; through the same Jesus Christ, thy Son, our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

V. Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us! Alleluia!
R. Therefore let us keep the feast with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. Alleluia! (I Corinthians 5:7b, 8)

Let us pray,
Almighty Father, who hast given thine only Son to die for our sins, and to rise again for our justification, grant us so to put away the leaven of malice and wickedness, that we may always serve thee in pureness of living and truth; through the merits of the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

Lesson. (Ezekiel 37:1-14)
The hand of the LORD was upon me, and carried me out in the Spirit of the LORD, and set me down in the midst of the valley which was full of bones, and caused me to pass by them round about: and, behold, there were very many in the open valley; and, lo, they were very dry. And he said unto me, "Son of man, can these bones live?" And I answered, "O Lord GOD, thou knowest." Again he said unto me, "Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, 'O ye dry bones, hear the Word of the LORD.' Thus saith the Lord GOD unto these bones: Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live. And Iwill lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and ye shall live; and ye shall know that I am the LORD." So I prophesied as I was commanded: and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold a shaking, and the bones came together, bone to his bone. And when I beheld, lo, the sinews and the flesh came up upon them, and the skin covered them above: but there was no breath in them. Then said he unto me, "Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, 'Thus saith the Lord GOD: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live.'" So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army. Then he said unto me, "Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel: behold, they say, 'Our bones are dried, and our hope is lost: we are cut off for our parts.' Therefore prophesy and say unto them, 'Thus saith the Lord GOD: Behold, O my people, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel. And ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I have opened your graves, O my people, and brought you up out of your graves, and shall put my Spirit in you, and ye shall live, and I shall place you in your own land: then shall ye know that I the LORD have spoken it, and performed it,' saith the LORD."

Gradual. (Psalm 33:6/Psalm 33:1-22)
By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; * and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.
By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; * and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.
Rejoice in the LORD, O ye righteous; * for it becometh well the just to be thankful.
Praise the LORD with harp; * sing praises unto him with the lute, and instrument of ten strings.
Sing unto the Lord a new song; * sing praises lustily unto him with a good courage.
For the word of the LORD is true; * and all his works are faithful.
He loveth righteousness and judgment; * the earth is full of the goodness of the LORD.
By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; * and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.
He gathereth the waters of the sea together, as it were upon an heap; * and layeth up the deep, as in a treasure-house.
Let all the earth fear the LORD: * stand in awe of him, all ye that dwell in the world.
For he spake, and it was done; * he commanded, and it stood fast.
By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; * and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.
The LORD bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought, * and maketh the devices of the people to be of none effect, and casteth out the counsels of princes.
The counsel of the LORD shall endure for ever, * and the thoughts of his heart from generation to generation.
Blessed are the people whose God is the Lord JEHOVAH; * and blessed are the folk that he hath chosen to him, to be his inheritance.
By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; * and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.
The LORD looketh down from heaven, and beholdeth all the children of men; * from the habitation of his dwelling, he considereth all them that dwell on the earth.
He fashioneth all the hearts of them, * and understandeth all their works.
There is no king that can be saved by the multitude of an host; * neither is any mighty man delivered by much strength.
A horse is counted but a vain thing to save a man; * neither shall he deliver any man by his great strength.
By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; * and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.
Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, * and upon them that put their trust in his mercy;
To deliver their soul from death, * and to feed them in the time of dearth.
Our soul hath patiently tarried for the LORD; * for he is our help and our shield.
For our heart shall rejoice in him; * because we have hoped in his holy Name.
Let thy merciful kindness, O LORD, be upon us, * like as we do put our trust in thee.
By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; * and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.

Epistle. (I John 5:4-12)
Brethren, whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth. For there are Three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these Three are One. And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one. If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son. He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.

Tract. (John 20:26)
Alleluia, alleluia. After eight days, the door being shut, * Jesus stood in the midst of his disciples and said: Peace be unto you. Alleluia.

Gospel. (John 20:19-31)
At that time, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, "Peace be unto you." And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord. Then said Jesus to them again, "Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you." And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, "Receive ye the Holy Ghost: Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained." But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said unto him, "We have seen the Lord!" But he said unto them, "Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe." And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, "Peace be unto you." Then saith he to Thomas, "Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing." And Thomas answered and said unto him, "My Lord and my God!" Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his Name.

Homily. (St. Gregory the Great)
The first question to strike the mind when we hear this Gospel Lesson is: How was it that the Body of the risen Lord was a real body, if it was able to pass through closed doors into the assembly of the disciples. But we ought to know that the works of God no longer seem wonderful when they are understood by man's reason, and that the worth of faith is lost as soon as the object of faith hath passed into the certainty of human demonstration. Nevertheless, those very works of our Redeemer which are in themselves impossible to be understood, must be thought over in connection with other of his works; so that wonderful things may be confirmed by things more wonderful still. The Body of the Lord, which came into the assembly of the disciples through closed doors, was the same which, at its birth, had become manifest to the eyes of men in a wondrous way, by passing out of the cloister of the Virgin's womb without breaking the seal of her virginity. What wonder is it if that Body which had come out of the Virgin's womb, without hindrance to her virginity, albeit it was then a Body on its way to die, now that it was risen again from the dead and was thereby instinct for ever with undying life (what wonder is it, I say), if that Body passed through closed doors? But since the beholders doubted of the reality of that Body which they saw, he shewed unto them his hands and his side, and allowed them to handle that same Flesh which had just passed through the closed doors. In this there were two strange things manifested, yea, things which according to our understanding are contrary the one to the other. His risen Body was incorruptible and yet palpable. For whatever can be touched, must needs be subject to corruption; and whatever is not subject to corruption, cannot be touched. But, in a way altogether wonderful and incomprehensible, our Redeemer after his Resurrection revealed himself in a Body at once palpable and incorruptible. Yea, he revealed himself in an incorruptible Body, that we might learn to seek a like glorification; and in a palpable body, for the strengthening of our faith. He revealed himself in a Body at once incorruptible and palpable, that he might thereby make manifest the fact that his risen Body was unaltered in nature, albeit transfigured in glory. Then said Jesus unto them again: Peace be unto you; as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. That is - As my Father, who is God, hath sent me, who am God, even so do I, who am Man, send you, who are men. The Father sent the Son, whom he appointed to be made man for the redemption of man. Him he willed to send into the world to suffer, albeit this Jesus whom he sent to suffer was the Son whom he loved. And the Lord Jesus sendeth his chosen Apostles into the world, not to be happy in the world, but, as he had been himself sent, to suffer. As the Father loveth the Son and yet sendeth him to suffer, even so doth the Lord love his disciples, albeit he sendeth them unto the world, to suffer therein. And therefore it is well said: As my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. That is - Even though I send you into the wild storm of persecution, I do love you all the same; yea, I not only do have a love for you; but I love you with a love like unto that wherewith the Father loveth me, who sent me into the world to bear agony therein.

Sequence.
1. Ye sons and daughters of the King,
Whom heavenly hosts in glory sing,
Today the grave hath lost its sting:
Alleluia!

2. On that first morning of the week,
Before the day began to break,
The Marys went their Lord to seek:
Alleluia!

3. An angel bade their sorrow flee,
For thus he spake unto the three:
"Your Lord is gone to Galilee":
Alleluia!

4. That night the Apostles met in fear,
Amidst them came their Lord most dear
And said: "Peace be unto you here":
Alleluia!

5. When Thomas afterwards had heard
That Jesus had fulfilled His word,
He doubted if it were the Lord:
Alleluia!

6. "Thomas, behold My side," saith He,
"My hands, My feet, My Body, see;
"And doubt not, but believe in Me":
Alleluia!

7. No longer Thomas then denied;
He saw the feet, the hands, the side;
"Thou art my Lord and God," he cried:
Alleluia!

8. Blessed are they that have not seen
And yet whose faith hath constant been,
In Life eternal they shall reign:
Alleluia!

9. On this most holy day of days
To God your hearts and voices raise
In laud and jubilee and praise:
Alleluia!

10. And we with holy Church unite,
As evermore is just and right,
In glory to the King of Light:
Alleluia!

Offertorium. (Matthew 28:2, 5, 6)
The Angel of the Lord descended from heaven, * and said unto the women: He whom ye seek is risen, as he said. Alleluia.

Secreta.
Accept, O Lord, we beseech thee, the offerings which thy Church, in her gladness, doth offer unto thee, and grant to her, upon whom thou hast bestowed the cause of so great a gladness, the fruit of perpetual joy, through Jesus Christ, thy Son, our Lord; who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

Preface.
Verily it is meet, right, salutary, and our bounden duty that we should at all times, and in all places, give thanks unto thee, O Lord, Holy Father, Almighty and Everlasting God, but chiefly are we bound to praise thee for the glorious Resurrection of thy Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, for he is the very Paschal Lamb which was offered for us and hath taken away the sin of the world, who, by his death, hath destroyed Death, and by his rising again, hath restored to us everlasting life. Therefore with Angels and Archangels, and all the company of Heaven, we laud and magnify thy glorious Name, evermore praising thee, and saying,

Communio. (John 20:27)
Reach hither thy hand, and behold the print of the nails, alleluia! * And be not faithless but believing, alleluia, alleluia!

Post-Communion.
Grant, we beseech thee, O Lord our God, that these holy mysteries which thou hast given unto us for the assurance of our salvation, may both in this life and in the life which is to come be profitable unto us for the healing of our souls, through Jesus Christ, thy Son, our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

Dmitri Shostakovich's Fifth Symphony

Dmitri Shostakovich's Fifth Symphony

The Exsultet

The Easter Exsultet sung in English

Mass for a Double Choir

Unaccompanied Mass for a Double Choir by Frank Martin

1. Kyrie


2. Gloria


3. Credo


4. Sanctus


5. Agnus Dei

WTC Lost?

Okay, so ABC's Lost is REALLY getting on my nerves! I am no longer glued to the TV, no longer on the edge of my seat, no longer thrilled to find out what's next. Why? Simple... they have substituted storyline for false mystery and extended action scenes.

What do I mean by 'false mystery' true mystery comes from plot driven dialogue and reasonably logical developments. Always something that Lost was good at until this season. Instead of creating mystery they are just making the course of the plot purposely ambiguous and posing questions not by giving tantalizing bits of information but by moving forward in a vacuum of information. Instead of withholding information altogether, the dialog and plot should lend one to ask, "I wonder what that means?" not "What's going on, now?"

For a season promised to answer all our questions, Season 6 has a LOT to be desired. One of my biggest questions is about the Others stealing the children and holding them in special schools (remember all the way back to the end of Season 2 if you can.) And along with the question of the children with the Others is the apparent power of astral projection that Walt has. He appeared to more than one person on the Island and it couldn't have been the Evil Locke-Monster because he needs a dead body to make a template and there was no dead body of Walt's to use.

Finally I could care less who joins which side for how long... blah, blah, blah. TELL ME ABOUT JACOB, THE TEMPLE, THE OTHERS' PURPOSE ON THE ISLAND, THE CHILDREN, WHY PEOPLE CAN'T HAVE BABIES ON THE ISLAND, THE TIME TRAVEL WHEEL, AND THE MAGNETIC ENERGY, oh... and tell me about that weird boy who keeps talking to the Evil Locke-Monster. Is all this going to get answered satisfactorily in the THREE EPISODES REMAINING??? I seriously doubt it!

Murder in the City

Cool Song!