If you are interested in the liturgical year as it is observed by those who follow the traditional Church calendar in effect in 1962 or in the history of the changes to the calendar, I think you might be interested in this extract from today’s Ancient Liturgies San Francisco Update newsletter, which I edit for the Benedict XVI Institute of Sacred Music and Divine Worship. Maggie Gallagher, Executive Director of the institute, has the final say on the newsletter’s contents, and she emails them out under her name. In each newsletter, I keep track of the times and locations of the “ancient liturgies,” in the San Francisco Bay Area, including traditional Latin Masses, Eastern rite liturgies, and reverent novus ordo liturgies—such as the weekly new Mass sung in Latin with Gregorian Chant and Renaissance polyphony at which the St. Ann Choir sings in Palo Alto. In addition, I pass on information about happenings of interest to the newsletter's readers, and I write about the current feasts.
Even if you don’t care for liturgical matters, you might like the art I also include. This issue includes a painting by James Tissot of the Ascension, and in honor of May the month of Mary, I included the three images from the Third Annual Marian Art Exhibition at Star of the Sea Church in San Francisco. One of them is a painting by the talented Bernadette Carstensen, Artist in Residence for the Benedict XVI Institute, and two of them are by me. My images each include a poem and a drawing.
If you would like to get on the email list for the Ancient Liturgies San Francisco Update, send me an email here.
EARLY MAY, THE MONTH OF MARY, 2024
News:
—Northern California 12th Annual Sacred Liturgy Conference
—Schedule update for Sacred Heart Church in Hollister
—How to check the TLM availability for Most Holy Rosary Chapel in San Rafael—Some images from the Third Annual Star of the Sea Church’s Marian Art Exhibition at Stella Maris Academy, San Francisco
Reminders:
—Spring schedule for Dominican rite Masses at St. Albert the Great Priory in Oakland
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Those who follow the liturgical calendar of 1962 observe Rogation Days on the Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday before the Feast of the Ascension. The 1969 Vatican document “Norms for the Liturgical Year” directed that each National Conference of Bishops should determine the times and manner for observing the Rogation Days. The U.S. Bishops indicate their determination by an omission: Rogation Days do not currently appear in the official liturgical calendar for the U.S. at the USCCB website.
“Rogation” comes from the Latin rogare meaning to ask. Rogation Days (from the Catholic Encyclopedia online) are "days of prayer, and formerly also of fasting, instituted by the Church to appease God's anger at man's transgressions, to ask protection in calamities, and to obtain a good and bountiful harvest. Even though processions are far fewer and the penitential practices of fast and abstinence are no longer required, the faithful are encouraged to recite the Litany of the Saints on these days.
If we enter into the significance of this week in the liturgical year, we share what must have been a sadness experienced by Our Lady and Christ's disciples during these last three days before Christ ascended to heaven.
ASCENSION THURSDAY
MAY 9, 2024
From the website of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
"In the archdioceses and dioceses within the Ecclesiastical Provinces of Boston, Hartford, New York, Newark, Omaha, and Philadelphia, the Ascension of the Lord always falls on Thursday of the Sixth Week of Easter and is a Holyday of Obligation. In all other archdioceses and dioceses, the Ascension of the Lord is transferred to the Seventh Sunday of Easter."
Those that follow the liturgical calendar of 1962 celebrate the Feast of the Ascension on the traditional weekday of Thursday, because Christ ascended to heaven on Thursday Forty Days after Easter.
"Thursday, May 9 is the Feast of the Ascension of Our Lord, a first-class feast and one of the most ancient and venerable solemnities of the liturgical year. It is during this day’s Mass that the glorious Paschal Candle loses its flame, symbolizing Christ’s departure from this world. The May letter of Canon Matthew Talarico, U.S. Provincial Superior of the Institute, reminds us that this beautiful feast points us to a difficult but necessary reality of the Christian life, that of growing to spiritual maturity: “…as the saints tell us, our own ascension into heaven will be an arduous climb up the mountain of Christian perfection. We can no longer be beginners in the spiritual life who thrive on the sweet consolations of God, but rather, like the Apostles, we must learn to love God without the sweetness. As we climb that mountain of the spiritual life, we must persevere in prayer even when it seems we are not being heard. We must continue on ahead, one foot in front of the other, even when we don’t see how or why. In those moments, think of the Ascension, and your heart will recover its joy. Our Lord in His Risen Body is now gloriously reigning in heaven. He sees your needs. He intercedes for you. He is preparing a particular place in heaven just for you, so that where He is now, you one day will be!” — Canon Benjamin Norman, Chaplain of the St. Margaret Mary Church Apostolate of the Institute of Christ the King.
"The Ascension as seen from the Mount of Olives" (1886-1894) by James Tissot. At the Brooklyn Museum, Purchased from the artist by public subscription. Free to copy. For more about the image, go here.
In the foreground of the image, you see the footprints of Our Lord. The Ascension took place on the Mount of Olives, where the Passion began. On the grounds of a present-day chapel in honor of the Ascension at that site, you can see the depression left by one of His feet.
From Fr. Mark G. Mazza, Pastor
Immaculate Heart of Mary Church
Belmont
In the Gospel of John 16:5-14 we hear Jesus promising to send the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete. Jesus says: “But when He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will teach you all truth (Cum autem venerit ille Spiritus veritatis, docebit vos omnem veritatem).”
During the month of Our Lady, let us unite our hearts, minds, and souls with Mary our Mother, the woman, the human, who exemplifies discipleship to us. She was at Pentecost with the apostles. She is with us during these difficult times, morally, spiritually, and physically. Please pray your rosaries, especially with your families! Pray the Litany of Loreto! Study sound Catholic doctrine! Renounce and confess all sins! Embrace the love poured forth from the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary.”
You can read the entire newsletter here.