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Six Seminarians Wow Our Weekend

On Friday night, Fr. Sandquist brought down six first and second-year seminarians from CMRI’s recently-acquired Iowa location to help us prepare for Candlemas and a High Mass for the Feast of the Purification, as well as lend their muscles to a chapel workday: Joe (Nebraska), Dominic (MN), Adam (MI), William (MI), Caleb (Scotland), and Frederic (France).

Saturday morning was dedicated to removing the Christmas decorations and Nativity, followed by server and choir practice. Then sheetrock projects began as the ladies boxed up the large Nativity figures. That complete, the women organized an assembly line to pull nails from salvaged oak baseboards. After the de-nailed boards were stained, seminarians whisked them off to be cut and then nailed in place while others taped so that a second coat could be applied. Fr. Sandquist took to his hands and knees to finish the staining–the baseboards and, he ruefully noted afterward, his hands. Between all the sheetrock dust, the blue tape, and everything being pulled away from the walls, including the altar, it looked like we couldn’t possibly be ready for mass on Sunday, but of course it all came back together with many hands making light work.

Sunday’s Candlemas ceremony and high mass were simply glorious. We couldn’t have asked for a more gorgeous day for our procession either. It was 69 degrees with sunny, blue skies. The seminarians were thrilled with the fantastic weather after enduring a tough winter in Iowa. All the practice paid off, and everything went smoothly. The choir finished with a stunning Stella Matutina. Afterward Adam asked if it was too loud, and I assured him that it was exquisite, and the volume was perfect. Truly, we congregants zoomed heavenward in a musical chariot powered by their strong male voices, sonorous with Marian devotion.

Below is a photo gallery from the Asperges, Candlemas ceremony, and procession:

Below is a photo gallery from the Mass for the Purification, with the final two photos depicting the new location of the statues of Sts. Peter and Paul and a zoomed-in look at the altar with the newly-acquired Jesus and Mary statues.

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High Mass and a Procession for Candlemas

A7AA70DE-E256-4E3A-B960-F84805F9BD36This Sunday Fr. Sandquist will do the blessing of the candles ceremony and then, with four seminarians, lead us on a procession. It is our chapel’s very first one, and so it is quite exciting!

Here the Priest recites Five Orations, each ending thus: Per omnia saecula saeculorum. R: Amen. Then the Priest blesses the candles with holy water and incense. During the distribution of the candles, the Choir sings the following Antiphon, which is repeated after each Verse of the Canticle Nunc dimittis:

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During the Procession, Chanters and Choir alternate in singing the Verses of the following Antiphons. If time warrants, the Litany of the Blessed Virgin also may be sung.

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When we return, all giddy, we will have the high mass.

Then the Mass is celebrated. During the Gospel, and from the beginning of the Canon to the Communion, the faithful hold the lighted candles in their hands.

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To Honor Christ as God, King, and Man: Fr. Goffine’s Epiphany in a Nutshell

Excerpted from The Church’s Year, by Rev. Fr. Leonard Goffine

Why is this day called Epiphania Domini, or Apparition of the Lord?

Because the Church wishes to bring before our mind the three great events in the life of Christ, when He made known to man His divinity, the coming of the wise men from the East, through whom He revealed Himself to the Gentiles as the Son of God; His baptism, on which occasion His Divinity was made known to the Jews, and His first miracle at the marriage of Cana, by which He revealed Himself to His disciples.

Why did the kings offer gold, frankincense and myrrh?

Because it was the ancient Eastern custom, never to appear without presents before a prince or king, and the three kings, as the holy Fathers universally teach, enlightened by the Holy Ghost, desired by their presents to honor Christ as God,  as king, and as man,  Of this the venerable Bede writes: “The first of the kings, Melchior, offered gold to Christ the Lord and king; the second, named Caspar, frankincense to the divinity of Christ; and the third, Balthasar, myrrh, by which was expressed that Christ the Son of man, must die.”

How can we bring similar offerings to Christ?

We offer gold to Him, when we love Him with our whole heart, and out of love to Him, present Him our will by perfect obedience and continual self-denial, as our will is our most precious treasure.  We also offer Him gold when we assist the poor by alms given in His name.  We offer Him frankincense when we devoutly and ardently pray to Him, especially when we meditate upon His omnipotence, love, goodness, justice and mercy.  We offer Him myrrh when we avoid carnal desires, mortify our evil inclinations and passions, and strive for purity of body and soul.

magi
Adoration of the Magi, Fra Angelico
1423-24
Tempera and gold on panel, 63 x 54 cm
Abegg-Stiftung, Bern