SUBJECT: RELIGION!!!!!!! AND MUSIC!!!!!!!

Wherein Papa Z rants . . .

Advent is upon us, and Christmas is near. Some of the most beloved church music will be sung over the next 6-8 weeks. Advent Lessons and Carols; Christmas Lessons and Carols; "Messiah" Sing-Alongs, etc., will be enjoyed by many.

HOWEVER, WOE to you who thinks that you actually know the words of your favorite Christmas Carol by heart! Your Missalette publishers know better than you do! Inclusive language -- not only horizontal, but vertical -- is now the norm! I know, I know, we mustn't hurt anyone's feelings by actually using phrases like "God made Man" or "Born to raise the sons of earth" or "God in Man made manifest". Better, of course, to artificially contort beloved texts in order to utterly confuse people in the name of "political correctness"!

To top it all off, the liturgical contortionists at GIA edit texts differently from those at OCP (who edit texts differently from Word, etc.) So there is no continuity even amongst the revisionists!

If modern day hymn-writers (and I'm using the term VERY loosely) want to compose politically correct, inclusive-language un-singable music for the rest of the year, I suppose that can't be helped. (There's a reason why Catholics don't sing -- but that's another post!) But for Christmas? Please just leave us alone!

Advent Blessings,

Papa Z.

SUBJECT: RELIGION!!!!!!!

A reader (I guess I'm up to 9.63 now) asked that I post the text of the Revised Translation of the Nicene Creed. So . . . here it is! Comments are welcome!

I believe in one God,
the Father almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all things visible and invisible.

I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ,
the Only Begotten Son of God,
born of the Father before all ages.
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father;
through him all things were made.
For us men and for our salvation
he came down from heaven,

At the words that follow up to and including and became man, all bow.

and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary,
and became man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate,
he suffered death and was buried,
and rose again on the third day
in accordance with the Scriptures.
He ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory
to judge the living and the dead
and his kingdom will have no end.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son,
who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified,
who has spoken through the prophets.
I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church.
I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins
and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead
and the life of the world to come. Amen.

Blessings,

Papa Z.

SUBJECT: RELIGION!!!!!!!

Veni, veni Emmanuel;
Captivum solve Israel,
Qui gemit in exilio,
Privatus Dei Filio.

Refrain
Gaude! Gaude! Emmanuel,
Nascetur pro te, Israel!

Veni, veni, O Oriens;
Solare nos adveniens,
Noctis depelle nebulas,
Dirasque noctis tenebras.
Refrain

Veni, Clavis Davidica!
Regna reclude caelica;
Fac iter tutum superum,
Et claude vias inferum.
Refrain

Veni, veni Adonai!
Qui populo in Sinai,
Legem dedisti vertice,
In maiestate gloriae.
Refrain

Blessings,

Papa Z.

SUBJECT: RELIGION!!!!!!!

Happy New Year!

Today is the First Sunday of Advent in the Year of Grace 2012!

Today is also the day when the Revised Translation of the Roman Missal is finally implemented.

While realizing that the Revised Translation is controversial in some circles, and while also realizing that no translation is -- or can ever be perfect -- this represents a dramatic improvement in the English text.

Being the brilliant theologian that I am (grin!) I greatly appreciate the revised texts, especially in the Penitential Act, the Nicene Creed, and the Invitation to Communion.

Mass today was, for me, a very moving event. Not only did I have to pay closer attention to the responses of the people, I also paid closer attention to the prayers of the priest. Here is an example:

Here is the OLD text for the Collect for the 1st Sunday of Advent:

All-powerful God,
increase our strength of will for doing good
that Christ may find an eager welcome at his coming
and call us to his side in the kingdom of heaven.

Here is the NEW, REVISED text we used today:

Grant your faithful, we pray, almighty God,
the resolve to run forth to meet your Christ
with righteous deeds at his coming,
so that, gathered at his right hand,
they may be worthy to possess the heavenly kingdom.

WOW!

What a powerful difference!

I look forward with eager anticipation hearing the revised collects, prefaces, and texts as the year progresses.

All Advent Blessings to my 7.35 readers,

Papa Z.

SUBJECT: FREEDOM

Today is Veteran's Day.

There are some special veterans in my heart this day, and I suspect that my 6.2 readers have veterans special to them on their hearts as well. I'm about to head over to the parish school where four of my children are students, for the annual Veteran's Day assembly, put together each year by the 2nd grade teacher, himself a veteran of the Marine Corps. (Teaching 2nd grade! Isn't that great?)

One of my favorite Catholic blog sites is Whispers in the Loggia. There is a wonderful piece today entitled In Remembrance, and Gratitude. I commend it to my readers.

Thanks to all veterans, past and present, and God Bless America!

Blessings,

Papa Z.