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Archive for March, 2016

St. Augustine on the Psalms

Posted in Holy Week, Uncategorized on March 24, 2016| Leave a Comment »


KingDavid-PsalterStAugustine

From the Tenebrae service last evening, a reading from St. Augustine’s Commentary on the Psalms that is most appropriate for the Triduum.

“Hear my prayer, O God; do not hide yourself from my petition. Listen to me and answer me. I mourn in my trial and am troubled.”

These are the words of one disquieted, in trouble and anxiety. He prays under much suffering, desiring to be delivered from evil. Let us now see under what evil he lies; and when he begins to speak, let us place ourselves beside him, that, by sharing his tribulation, we may also join in his prayer.

“I mourn in my trial,” he says, “and am troubled.”

When does he mourn? When is he troubled? He says, “In my trial.” He has in mind the wicked who cause him suffering, and he calls this suffering his “trial.” Do not think that the evil are in the world for no purpose, and that God makes no good use of them. Every wicked person lives either that he may be corrected, or that through him the righteous may be tried and tested.

Would that those who now test us were converted and tried with us; yet though they continue to try us, let us not hate them, for we do not know whether any of them will persist to the end in their evil ways. And most of the time, when you think you are hating your enemy, you are hating your brother without knowing it.

Only the devil and his angels are shown to us in the Holy Scriptures as doomed to eternal fire. It is only their amendment that is hopeless, and against them we wage a hidden battle. For this battle the Apostle arms us, saying, “We are not contending against flesh and blood,” that is, not against human beings whom we see, “but against the principalities, against the powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world.” So that you may not think that demons are the rulers of heaven and earth, he says, “of the darkness of this world.”

He says, “of the world,” meaning the lovers of the world — of the “world,” meaning the ungodly and wicked — the “world” of which the Gospel says, “And the world knew him not.”

“For I have seen unrighteousness and strife in the city.”

See the glory of the cross itself. On the brow of kings that cross is now placed, the cross which enemies once mocked. Its power is shown in the result. He has conquered the world, not by steel, but by wood. The wood of the cross seemed a fitting object of scorn to his enemies, and standing before that wood they wagged their heads, saying, “If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross.” He stretched out his hands to an unbelieving and rebellious people. If one is just who lives by faith, one who does not have faith is unrighteous. Therefore, when he says “unrighteousness,” understand that it is unbelief. The Lord then saw unrighteousness and strife in the city, and stretched out his hands to an unbelieving and rebellious people. And yet, looking upon them, he said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”
 

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Holy Week-Sacrament of Penance

Posted in Holy Week, Lent, Uncategorized on March 23, 2016| Leave a Comment »


confession-drawing-01There will be a number of opportunities for Confession during this Holy Week. A priest will be available in the hour before the services of Tenebrae (Wednesday, 5:15 p.m.-6:15 pm); Maundy Thursday (5:15 p.m.-6:15 p.m); Good Friday (10:45 a.m.-11:45 a.m.) and Vigil (Saturday 6:45 p.m.-7:45 p.m.). You may make your confession in the confessional in the Penance Chapel located along the corridor on the far side of the church by the entrance drive, by coming to the rail to the right of the priest seated in the crossing or face-to-face.  Please let the priest know your preference.  Maundy Thursday typically is the busiest period so you may wish to arrive a bit early.

 If the Penance Chapel doors or the door to the sanctuary is closed, please wait outside until you are called.

To assist you with your preparation and confession, I have reproduced a portion of one of the older St. Augustine Prayer Books and our parish pamphlet. This includes a guide for the examination of conscience.  Copies of the parish Guide to Confession will be on hand.

Copies of the truly great devotional, the Traditional St. Augustine’s Prayer Book, are available to purchase from the Anglican Parishes Association.

PENANCE

THE THREE ELEMENTS OF REPENTANCEThe part of the person approaching this sacrament is repentance. True repentance has three elements:

1. CONTRITION or sorrow for sin. This can be obtained only at the foot of the Cross. We may not have an emotion of sorrow, but when we see what our sins have done to Jesus, we shall be sorry.

2. CONFESSION of all known sin. This involves a careful examination of our conscience. We cannot confess our sins until we see exactly how we look to the all-seeing eye of God.

3. SATISFACTION & AMENDMENT OF LIFE. We must intend to lead a new or better life. This intention is shown by our acceptance and performance of the penance imposed by the Priest in confession.

SELF-EXAMINATION¶ Before self-examination, say this prayer:
O Holy Spirit, Source of all light, Spirit of wisdom, of understanding, and of knowledge, come to my assistance and enable me to make a good confession. Enlighten me, and help me now to know my sins as one day I shall be forced to recognize them before thy judgment seat. Bring to my mind the evil which I have done and the good which I have neglected. Permit me not to be blinded by self-love. Grant me, moreover, heartfelt sorrow for my transgressions, knowing how deeply they have wounded the living Heart of my Heavenly Father; and help me to make a good confession that all stain of guilt may be washed away in the Precious Blood of my Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

Think of yourself as God’s child, and of the wickedness of following Satan rather than your loving Father. Do not be in a hurry, and do not vex yourself because you cannot remember everything. Be honest with God and with yourself; this is all God asks of you.

Write down briefly what you remember of your sins. Don’t try to depend on your memory. If there is any question you do not understand, let it alone, and go on, to the Next one.

Do not fret about your sins. Remember, you are trying to recall them in order that you may be forgiven, not that you may be condemned, “A broken and contrite heart, O God, shalt thou not despise.”

1. Pride

Thou shalt have none other gods but me.Have you been more interested in self than in God?
Have you made it your chief aim to be always on top?
What have you been vain about; personal appearance, clothes, personality, possessions, your family, ability, success in games or in studies?
Have you scorned other people for their misfortunes, their sins, stupidity, or other weaknesses?
Scorned other people’s religion?
Talked too much; called attention to yourself?
Been sorry for yourself, self-pitying?
Refused to admit when you were in the wrong? Refused to apologize?
Been resentful or suspicious of others through over-sensitiveness?
Have you been stubborn and self-willed? In what ways?

II. IdolatryThou shalt not make to thyself any graven image, nor the likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or in the earth beneath, or in the water under the earth; thou shalt not bow down to them, nor worship them.

Have you put another person before God’s law; by not going to church, or by committing some other sin to please that person?
Have you wanted popularity so much that you have not said your prayers, or done some other good things, for fear of being laughed at?
Have you loved money or clothes too much; or even sinned to get them?
Gone to mediums, fortune-tellers or astrologers?

III. Profanity

Thou shalt not take the Name of the Lord thy God in vain.Have you sworn? (Especially, have you misused the Holy Name of Jesus?)
Have you given way to anxiety, instead of turning to God for help?
Been worried, afraid, allowed yourself to get into a panic?
Allowed yourself to feel that it was impossible even for God to help you?

IV. Irreverence
Remember that thou keep holy the Sabbath day.Have you missed Mass on Sunday, when you could have gone?
Have you failed to say your prayers morning and night? Or to say them earnestly?
Have you always kept Sunday as you think it ought to be kept?
Have you done some unnecessary work on Sunday?
Have you always tried hard to worship God when in church?
Or have you sometimes been irreverent? Or joked about holy things?
Have you ever been ashamed of your Religion: ashamed of Jesus?

V. Disobedience
Honour thy father and thy mother.Have you been grateful enough for all your parents have done for you?
Did you ever disobey them, or others who were over you; or did you ever obey them slowly and reluctantly?
Have your actions ever caused them anxiety or shame?
Have you ever deliberately disobeyed God or ignored His desires for you? In what way?
Have you ever shown disregard for the laws of the Church? For the laws of the land?
Have you contributed as much as you ought to the support or the happiness of your parents?
What sins have you committed with regard to your wife (husband), children, or other members of your family?
Have you given as much care and attention as possible to the religious life of your family; for example, with regard to Grace at Meals, Family Prayers, Church going, etc.?
Have you seen that your children had adequate and continuous religious instructions?
Have you been just and generous to people in your employment, or under your authority in business? In what ways have you failed?
Have you tried to dominate the lives of others unduly? How?

VI. Hate

Thou shalt do no murder.Have you killed anyone, either in outward deed, or in your heart?
Have you wished that someone was dead? Have you been angry unjustly? Struck people? Or hurt them by ridicule or contempt?
Have you ever cursed people?
Have you gossiped about people?
Is there anyone whom you now hold a grudge against? Or are unwilling to forgive? (Think how often God has forgiven you; and ask Him to help you to forgive and love your enemies for His sake.)
Have you refused to help people who were in real need of help? ignored the sick or the poor? Not tried to be friendly with people, especially with people who are not very popular?
Have you been afraid to stand up for a person when others were mistreating him?
Have you ever taught (or tempted) another person to sin?

VII. Impurity

Thou shalt not commit adultery.Have you been impure in thought, word or deed? (You need not talk much about it, but make it quite plain to the Priest just what kind of sins you mean; whether they were done alone; or with a man or woman; and, if possible, how often.?
Have you looked at evil pictures? Or read bad passages in books? Have you ever used the Bible in this way?
Have you been immodest in actions, or in dress?
Have you been lazy in prayers, work, or study? Neglected business, family, or social duties?
Have you ever eaten, drunk, or smoked more than was good for you?
Have you neglected the days of fasting or abstinence?
Broken rules or resolutions which you have made for yourself?
Allowed yourself to be over engrossed in light reading, the movies, or other pastimes, to the exclusion of worthwhile things?
Have you been cowardly in sickness or pain?
Been unmindful of the suffering of the world?

VIII. Theft

Thou shalt not steal.Have you ever stolen anything? What things?
Have you shared in stolen goods?
Have you cheated in business, games, or lessons?
Have you been over-extravagant; gambled or bet too much?
Tried hard to pay all your debts?
Contracted debts unnecessarily?
Have you remembered that God has given you all you have?
Have you thanked Him enough?
Have you given as much as you ought to the Church or to charities?
Have you been stingy?
Have you wasted time?

IX. Deceit

Thou shalt not bear false witness.How many lies have you told?
Have you exaggerated too much?
Been deceitful, unfair, a hypocrite?
Allowed others to receive blame for your faults?
Been harsh toward others, or in speaking of others, for sins which you also have committed?

X. Discontent

Thou shalt not covet.Have you been jealous of others, because they had more things, or more money; or because they were better looking or more successful; or because someone loves them more than you?
Been grieved at the prosperity or attainments of others?
Been dejected because of the position, talents, or fortune of others?
Have you been glad when they failed, or were in trouble?
Glad when you heard people speak ill of them?
Have you allowed yourself to be sad and discouraged at times and not always fought to be brave and joyful?
Have you tried to accept loss or sorrow or had things at the Hand of God?
Have you thought that God does not love you? Have you ever given up trying to be good?

Prayer after Self-ExaminationO my God, how great are my sins! Would that I had never offended thee. If by carelessness or ignorance I have forgotten anything in my self-examination, show it to me now that I may make a good confession. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

CONTRITIONO my God, I cry unto thee with the prodigal: Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. But now, O God, give me true sorrow of heart for my many sins whereby I have grieved thee, and enable me to make a full confession to thy priest, that I may receive perfect remission of them, through thine infinite goodness. Amen.

O God, I am very sorry that I have sinned against thee who art so good. Forgive me for Jesus’ sake, and I will try to sin no more. Amen.

O God, I love thee with my whole heart and above all things and am heartily sorry that I have offended thee. May I never offend thee any more. Oh, may I love thee without ceasing, and make it my delight to do in all things thy most holy will. Amen.

FORM FOR CONFESSION

¶ When your turn comes, kneel in the confessional or other place where the Priest is sitting, and say immediately:

Bless me, Father, for I have sinned.

¶ When the Priest has given you his blessing, say, without further delay: 

I confess to God Almighty, to all the Saints, and to you, Father, that I have sinned exceedingly in thought, word, and deed, by my fault, by my own fault, by my own most grievous fault. Especially, I accuse myself of the following sins since my last confession which was ………….. ago.

¶ Then, without exaggerating or extenuating the offenses of which you may be conscious, tell them, as if to God himself, with a humble, sorrowful and contrite heart. When you have finished telling your sins, say:

For these and all my other sins which I cannot now remember, I am heartily sorry, I firmly purpose amendment, and ask pardon of God, and of you, Father, penance, counsel and absolution. Wherefore, I beg Blessed Mary, all the Saints, and you, Father, to pray for me to the Lord our God. Amen.

¶ Listen attentively to anything the Priest may choose to say; humbly accept the penance he imposes and when he raises his hand in absolution, make the sign of the cross.

SATISFACTION, AMENDMENT OF LIFE¶ Return to your place and make your thanksgiving for your absolution.I thank thee, my God, for giving me the forgiveness of my sins, through the Precious Blood of Jesus Christ my Saviour. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy Name.

O most merciful God, who in forgiving our sins, rememberest them no more against us forever, accept my unworthy thanks for thy great goodness in blotting out my transgressions. Let the grace of this absolution strengthen and sustain me, and may the pitifulness of thy great mercy defend me evermore from all assaults of the enemy. Amen.

¶ Then perform the penance the Priest assigned to you as follows:O Lord God, I desire to offer thee the penance which thou hast given me by the word of thy minister. It is as nothing compared to the sins which I have committed: nevertheless, I unite it to the sufferings of my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and offer it as an act of adoration of thy devine majesty, of sorrow for my sins (especially ………), and of supplication for the virtues of …………..

¶ then say your penance.O my God, I resolve to show my thanks to thee for receiving me as thy forgiven child, by fighting against sin in the future. I resolve by thy grace to avoid what is wrong, to believe what is true, to do what is right, and to continue thy faithful soldier and servant unto my life’s end.

May the holy Mother of God, my Guardian Angel, and my holy Patron, join with me in giving thanks unto the Lord for his great goodness, and loving-kindness, in pardoning mine iniquity. And may the eternal Father, of his boundless mercy and by the life and death of his dear Son, enable me to persevere unto the end, and + die in his favour. Amen.

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Tenebrae-Wednesday, March 23rd, 6:30 p.m.

Posted in Holy Week, Lent, Liturgy, Uncategorized on March 23, 2016| Leave a Comment »


Tenebrae

We precede the Triduum with Tenebrae (Latin for “shadows” or “darkness”) which is a religious service celebrated in Holy Week on the evening before or early morning of  Maundy Thursday.   Rich in symbolism, the service of Tenebrae incorporates the use of light and darkness to invoke the spiritual reality recalled within the prayer. For instance, as the service is celebrated (on the morning of Good Friday in its earliest days), the candles used for lighting are successively extinguished so that by the end only one candle is left burning. While the church found itself in darkness, the lone candle, the light of the one who would sacrifice himself for the life of the world, would remain and be seen as the light in darkness. Hope was restored for God’s faithful ones.

Tenebrae will begin at 6:30 pm.  At St. Alban’s, we use a somewhat shorter version as included below which you may feel free to use.  For chants from the Psalter, we use the notation from the Sarum Psalter Noted.  I have set the people’s portion of the antiphons in bold.

Blessings of Holy Week,

Canon Nalls

Tenebrae of Wednesday Evening

(Mattins & Lauds of Maundy Thursday)

The following are said by each worshiper in silence:

O Lord, open thou my mouth that I may bless thy holy Name;  cleanse also my heart from all vain, evil and wandering thoughts;  enlighten my understanding, enkindle my affections that I may be able worthily, attentively and devoutly to recite these Offices, and may be meet to be heard in the presence of thy divine Majesty;  through Christ our Lord.  Amen.

O Lord, in union with that divine intention with which thou thyself on earth didst render praise to God, I offer to thee these Hours.

The Lord’s Prayer

The Hail Mary

The Apostles Creed (page 15)

 The antiphons are said in unison; the psalms are read responsively.  One candle on the stand is extinguished at the end of each psalm.

Mattins.

Nocturn I.

[Antiphon 1]  The zeal of thine house hath even eaten me:  and the rebukes of them that rebuked thee are fallen upon me.

Psalm 69 (page 421)

[Antiphon 1]  The zeal of thine house hath even eaten me:  and the rebukes of them that rebuked thee are fallen upon me.

[Antiphon 2]  Let them be turned backward, and put to confusion, that wish me evil.

Psalm 70 (page 424)

[Antiphon 2]  Let them be turned backward, and put to confusion, that wish me evil.

[Antiphon 3]  Deliver me, O my God, out of the hand of the ungodly.

Psalm 71 (page 425)

[Antiphon 3]  Deliver me, O my God, out of the hand of the ungodly.

 Lesson 1:  Lamentations of Jeremiah 1.1

Nocturn II.

[Antiphon 1]  He shall deliver the poor when he crieth:  the needy also, and him that hath no helper.

Psalm 72 (page 426)

[Antiphon 1]  He shall deliver the poor when he crieth:  the needy also, and him that hath no helper.

[Antiphon 2]  They speak of wicked blasphemy:  their talking is against the Most High.

Psalm 73 (page 428)

[Antiphon 2]  They speak of wicked blasphemy:  their talking is against the most High.

[Antiphon 3]  Arise, O God:  and maintain my cause.

Psalm 74 (page 430)

[Antiphon 3]  Arise, O God:  and maintain my cause.

 Lesson 2:  From the Treatise on the Psalms  by St. Augustine the Bishop

 Nocturn III.

[Antiphon 1]  I said unto the fools, Deal not so madly:  speak not with a stiff neck.

Psalm 75 (page 431)

[Antiphon 1]  I said unto the fools, Deal not so madly:  speak not with a stiff neck.

[Antiphon 2]  The earth trembled, and was still:  when God arose to judgement.

Psalm 76 (page 432)

[Antiphon 2]  The earth trembled, and was still:  when God arose to judgement.

[Antiphon 3]  In the time of my trouble:  I sought the Lord.

Psalm 77 (page 433)

[Antiphon 3]  In the time of my trouble:  I sought the Lord.

Lesson 3: I Corinthians 11.17

  Lauds.

[Antiphon 1]  Mayest thou be justified in thy saying:  and clear when thou art judged.

Psalm 51 (page 403)

[Antiphon 1]  Mayest thou be justified in thy saying:  and clear when thou art judged.

[Antiphon 2]  The Lord as a lamb, is led to the slaughter, and he opened not his mouth.

Psalm 90 (page 453)

[Antiphon 2]  The Lord as a lamb, is led to the slaughter, and he opened not his mouth.

[Antiphon 3]  My heart within me is broken:  all my bones shake.

Psalm 36 (page 383)

[Antiphon 3]  My heart within me is broken:  all my bones shake.

[Antiphon 4]  Thy right hand, O Lord, is become glorious in power, who didst admonish us today to refresh ourselves in remembrance of thee.

The Song of Moses.  Exodus 15.1

I WILL sing unto the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea.

[2] The LORD is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father’s God, and I will exalt him.

[3] The LORD is a man of war: the LORD is his name.

[4] Pharaoh’s chariots and his host hath he cast into the sea: his chosen captains also are drowned in the Red sea.

[5] The depths have covered them: they sank into the bottom as a stone.

[6] Thy right hand, O LORD, is become glorious in power: thy right hand, O LORD, hath dashed in pieces the enemy.

[7] And in the greatness of thine excellency thou hast overthrown them that rose up against thee: thou sentest forth thy wrath, which consumed them as stubble.

[8] And with the blast of thy nostrils the waters were gathered together, the floods stood upright as an heap, and the depths were congealed in the heart of the sea.

[9] The enemy said, I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil; my lust shall be satisfied upon them; I will draw my sword, my hand shall destroy them.

[10] Thou didst blow with thy wind, the sea covered them: they sank as lead in the mighty waters.

[11] Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?

[12] Thou stretchedst out thy right hand, the earth swallowed them.

[13] Thou in thy mercy hast led forth the people which thou hast redeemed: thou hast guided them in thy strength unto thy holy habitation.

[14] The people shall hear, and be afraid: sorrow shall take hold on the inhabitants of Palestine.

[15] Then the dukes of Edom shall be amazed; the mighty men of Moab, trembling shall take hold upon them; all the inhabitants of Canaan shall melt away.

[16] Fear and dread shall fall upon them; by the greatness of thine arm they shall be as still as a stone; till thy people pass over, O LORD, till the people pass over, which thou hast purchased.

[17] Thou shalt bring them in, and plant them in the mountain of thine inheritance, in the place, O LORD, which thou hast made for thee to dwell in, in the Sanctuary, O Lord, which thy hands have established.

[18] The LORD shall reign for ever and ever.

[19] For the horse of Pharaoh went in with his chariots and with his horsemen into the sea, and the LORD brought again the waters of the sea upon them.

[20] But the children of Israel went on dry land in the midst of the sea.

[Antiphon 4]  Thy right hand, O Lord, is become glorious in power, who didst admonish us today to refresh ourselves in remembrance of thee.

[Antiphon 5]  He offered up himself because he did will it, who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the Tree.

Psalm 147 (page 522)

[Antiphon 5]  He offered up himself because he did will it, who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the Tree.

[Antiphon to Benedictus]  Now he that betrayed him gave him a sign, saying:  Whom I shall kiss, that same is he;  hold him fast.

            Benedictus.  (page 14)

One candle on the altar is extinguished at the end of every other verse.

[Antiphon to Benedictus]  Now he that betrayed him gave him a sign, saying:  Whom I shall kiss, that same is he;  hold him fast.

All:  Christ for our sake became obedient unto death.

The last remaining lit candle on the stand is hidden.

THE LORD’S PRAYER

Almighty God, we beseech thee graciously to behold this thy family, for which our Lord Jesus Christ was contented to be betrayed, and given up into the hands of wicked men, and to suffer death upon the Cross;  who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end.  AMEN.

The hidden candle is shown, and all leave in silence.

For your cnvenience

A Reading from the Treatise of Saint Augustine the Bishop on the Psalms

“Hear my prayer, O God; do not hide yourself from my petition. Listen to me and answer me. I mourn in my trial and am troubled.”

These are the words of one disquieted, in trouble and anxiety. He prays under much suffering, desiring to be delivered from evil. Let us now see under what evil he lies; and when he begins to speak, let us place ourselves beside him, that, by sharing his tribulation, we may also join in his prayer.

“I mourn in my trial,” he says, “and am troubled.”

When does he mourn? When is he troubled? He says, “In my trial.” He has in mind the wicked who cause him suffering, and he calls this suffering his “trial.” Do not think that the evil are in the world for no purpose, and that God makes no good use of them. Every wicked person lives either that he may be corrected, or that through him the righteous may be tried and tested.

Would that those who now test us were converted and tried with us; yet though they continue to try us, let us not hate them, for we do not know whether any of them will persist to the end in their evil ways. And most of the time, when you think you are hating your enemy, you are hating your brother without knowing it.

Only the devil and his angels are shown to us in the Holy Scriptures as doomed to eternal fire. It is only their amendment that is hopeless, and against them we wage a hidden battle. For this battle the Apostle arms us, saying, “We are not contending against flesh and blood,” that is, not against human beings whom we see, “but against the principalities, against the powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world.” So that you may not think that demons are the rulers of heaven and earth, he says, “of the darkness of this world.”

He says, “of the world,” meaning the lovers of the world — of the “world,” meaning the ungodly and wicked — the “world” of which the Gospel says, “And the world knew him not.”

“For I have seen unrighteousness and strife in the city.”

See the glory of the cross itself. On the brow of kings that cross is now placed, the cross which enemies once mocked. Its power is shown in the result. He has conquered the world, not by steel, but by wood. The wood of the cross seemed a fitting object of scorn to his enemies, and standing before that wood they wagged their heads, saying, “If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross.” He stretched out his hands to an unbelieving and rebellious people. If one is just who lives by faith, one who does not have faith is unrighteous. Therefore when he says “unrighteousness,” understand that it is unbelief. The Lord then saw unrighteousness and strife in the city, and stretched out his hands to an unbelieving and rebellious people. And yet, looking upon them, he said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”
 

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