Quare nos non potúimus ejícere eum? Et Jesus dixit illis: hoc genus in nullo potest exíre nisi in oratióne et jejúnio...

Today is the Wednesday Ember Day in September and the feast of the Martyrs Saints Eustachius and his Companions. At Barroux, the Ember Day Mass will be sung, and presumably it will be the one provided in the Roman Missal, Exsultate Deo adiutori nostro, which will be sung at Saint-Eugène, too, although as of Tuesday evening before Compline there is no evidence of this either at the Schola's website or on YouTube.

Nor is there this morning. I can pull the pdf from last year, I suppose. If I've understood correctly and Saint-E. will stream Holy Mass this morning. Today is a day of especial penitence and fasting; it is also the dread anniversary and I had been planning on dining on steak and potatoes on it, prior to realising the coincidence with the Ember Day. We shall see; there is no earthly reason why I cannot 'celebrate' tomorrow rather than today.

The Ember Day Mass was indeed live-streamed from Saint-E. yesterday. By the time ten o'clock arrived I was, alas, preoccupied with other things; it didn't occur to me to check in again until the evening. The video recording is here. And I won't miss tomorrow's Mass. The page at the Schola's website is here, and the libellum for Holy Mass is here. 

Lectio 4
Eustachius, qui et Placidus, genere, opibus et militari glória inter Romanos insígnis, sub Trajano imperatóre magistri militum titulum meruit. Cum vero sese aliquándo in venatióne exercéret ac fúgientem miræ magnitúdinis cervum insequerétur, vidit repénte inter consistentis feræ córnua excélsam atque fulgentem Christi Dómini e cruce pendentis imáginem. Cujus voce ad immortalis vitæ prædam invitatus, una cum uxore Theopista ac duobus párvulis fíliis Agapito et Theopisto, christianæ milítiæ nomen dedit.

R. Sancti tui, Dómine, mirábile consecúti sunt iter, serviéntes præcéptis tuis, ut inveniréntur illǽsi in aquis válidis:
* Terra appáruit árida: et in Mari Rubro via sine impediménto.
V. Quóniam percússit petram, et fluxérunt aquæ, et torréntes inundavérunt.
R. Terra appáruit árida: et in Mari Rubro via sine impediménto.

Lectio 5
Mox ad visiónis prístinæ locum, sicut ei Dóminus præceperat, regréssus, illum prænuntiántem audívit quanta sibi deinceps, pro ejus gloria, perferenda essent. Quocirca incredibiles calamitátes mira patiéntia perpéssus, brevi in summam egestátem redáctus est. Cumque clam se subducere cogerétur, in itinere cónjugem primum, deínde étiam líberos sibi miserabíliter ereptos ingemuit. Tantis obvolutus ærumnis, in regióne longinqua villicum agens longo témpore delituit, donec, cælésti voce recreátus ac nova occasióne a Trajano conquisítus, íterum bello præfícitur.

R. Vérbera carníficum non timuérunt Sancti Dei, moriéntes pro Christi nómine:
* Ut herédes fíerent in domo Dómini.
V. Tradidérunt córpora sua propter Deum ad supplícia.
R. Ut herédes fíerent in domo Dómini.

Lectio 6
Illa in expeditióne, liberis simul cum uxore insperato receptis, victor Urbem ingénti ómnium gratulatióne ingréditur. Sed paulo post inánibus diis pro parta victoria sacrificáre jussus, constantíssime rénuit. Cumque variis artibus ad Christi fidem ejurandam frustra tentarétur, una cum uxore et liberis, leónibus objícitur. Horum mansuetúdine concitátus imperátor, æneum in taurum subjectis flámmis candéntem eos immítti jubet, ubi divinis in laudibus consummato martyrio, duodecimo Kalendas Octobris ad sempitérnam felicitátem convolárunt. Quorum illæsa córpora, religióse a fidélibus sepúlta, póstmodum ad ecclésiam eórum nómine erectam honorofice transláta sunt.

R. Tamquam aurum in fornáce probávit eléctos Dóminus, et quasi holocáusti hóstiam accépit illos: et in témpore erit respéctus illórum:
* Quóniam donum et pax est eléctis Dei.
V. Qui confídunt in illum, intélligent veritátem, et fidéles in dilectióne acquiéscent illi.
R. Quóniam donum et pax est eléctis Dei.
V. Glória Patri, et Fílio, * et Spirítui Sancto.
R. Quóniam donum et pax est eléctis Dei.

Lectio 7
Léctio sancti Evangélii secúndum Lucam.
Luc 6:17-23.
In illo témpore: Descéndens Jesus de monte, stetit in loco campéstri, et turba discipulórum ejus, et multitúdo copiósa plebis ab omni Judǽa, et Jerúsalem, et marítima, et Tyri, et Sidónis. Et réliqua.

Homilía sancti Ambrósii Epíscopi
Lib. 5. in Lucam. Cap. 6., post init.
Advérte ómnia diligénter, quómodo et cum Apóstolis ascéndat et descéndat ad turbas. Quómodo enim turba nisi in húmili Christum vidéret? Non séquitur ad excélsa, non ascéndit ad sublímia. Dénique ubi descéndit, invénit infírmos: in excélsis enim infírmi esse non possunt. Hinc étiam Matthǽus docet in inferióribus débiles esse sanátos. Prius enim unusquísque sanándus est, ut paulátim virtútibus procedéntibus ascéndere possit ad montem; et ídeo quemque in inferióribus sanat, hoc est, a libídine révocat, injúriam cæcitátis avértit. Ad vúlnera nostra descéndit: ut usu quodam et cópia suæ natúræ, compartícipes nos fáciat esse regni cæléstis.

R. Propter testaméntum Dómini, et leges patérnas, Sancti Dei perstitérunt in amóre fraternitátis:
* Quia unus fuit semper spíritus in eis, et una fides.
V. Ecce quam bonum et quam jucúndum habitáre fratres in unum.
R. Quia unus fuit semper spíritus in eis, et una fides.

Lectio 8
Beáti páuperes, quia vestrum est regnum Dei. Quátuor tantum beatitúdines sanctus Lucas Domínicas posuit, octo vero sanctus Matthǽus: sed in illis octo istæ quátuor sunt, et in quátuor istis illæ octo. Hic enim quátuor velut virtútes ampléxus est cardináles: ille in illis octo mýsticum númerum reserávit. Pro octáva enim multi inscribúntur Psalmi: et mandátum áccipis octo illis partem dare fortásse benedictiónibus. Sicut enim spei nostræ octáva perféctio est, ita octáva summa virtútum est.

R. Sancti mei, qui in carne pósiti, certámen habuístis:
* Mercédem labóris ego reddam vobis.
V. Veníte benedícti Patris mei, percípite regnum.
R. Mercédem labóris ego reddam vobis.
V. Glória Patri, et Fílio, * et Spirítui Sancto.
R. Mercédem labóris ego reddam vobis.

Lectio 9
Commemoratio Feriae
Léctio sancti Evangélii secúndum Marcum
Marc 9:16-28.
In illo témpore: Respóndens unus de turba dixit ad Jesum: Magíster, áttuli fílium meum ad te habéntem spíritum mutum. Et réliqua.

Homilía sancti Bedæ Venerábilis Presbýteri
Liber 3, cap. 38 in Marcum 9.
Dæmoníacum hunc, quem descéndens de monte Dóminus sanávit, Marcus quidem surdum mutúmque, Matthǽus vero lunáticum fuísse commémorat. Signíficat autem eos, de quibus scriptum est: Stultus ut luna mutátur. Qui nunquam in eódem statu permanéntes, nunc ad illa vítia mutáti, crescunt atque decréscunt. Qui muti sunt, non confiténdo fidem; surdi, nec ipsum aliquátenus veritátis audiéndo sermónem. Spumant autem, cum stultítia tabéscunt; stultórum namque et languéntium atque hébetum est, spumas salivárum ex ore dimíttere. Strident déntibus, cum iracúndiæ furóre flamméscunt: aréscunt, cum ótio torpénte languéscunt, et nulla virtútis indústria confortáti enérviter vivunt.

 

 Te Deum.

 

Introitus. Ps. 80, 2, 3, 4 et 5. Exsultáte Deo, adjutóri nostro: jubiláte Deo Jacob: súmite psalmum jucúndum cum cíthara: cánite in inítio mensis tuba, quia præcéptum in Israël est, et judícium Deo Jacob. Ps. ibid., 6. Testimónium in Joseph pósuit illud, cum exíret de terra Ægýpti: linguam, quam non nóverat, audívit. ℣. Glória Patri.

Flectámus génua. ℞. Leváte.

Oratio. Misericórdiæ tuæ remédiis, quǽsumus, Dómine, fragílitas nostra subsístat: ut, quæ sua conditióne attéritur, tua deméntia reparétur. Per Dóminum.

Léctio Amos Prophétæ.
Amos 9, 13-15.
Hæc dicit Dóminus Deus: Ecce, dies véniunt: et comprehéndet arátor messórem, et calcátor uvæ mitténtem semen: et stillábunt montes dulcédinem, et omnes colles culti erunt. Et convértam captivitátem pópuli mei Israël: et ædificábunt civitátes desértas et inhabitábunt: et plantábunt víneas et bibent vinum eárum: et fácient hortos et cómedent fructus eórum. Et plantábo eos super humum suam: et non evéllam eos ultra de terra sua, quam dedi eis: dicit Dóminus, Deus tuus.

Graduale. Ps. 112,5-7. Quis sicut Dóminus, Deus noster, qui in altis hábitat, et humilia réspicit in cœlo et in terra? ℣. Súscitans a terra ínopem et de stércore érigens páuperem.

Oratio. Præsta, quǽsumus, Dómine, famíliæ tuæ supplicánti: ut, dum a cibis corporálibus se ábstinet, a vítiis quoque mente jejúnet. Per Dóminum.

Léctio libri Esdræ.
Neh. vel 2 Esdr. 8, 1-10.
In diébus illis: Congregátus est omnis pópulus quasi vir unus ad platéam, quæ est ante portam aquárum: et dixérunt Esdræ scribæ, ut afférret librum legis Moysi, quam præcéperat Dóminus Israéli. Attulit ergo Esdras sacérdos legem coram multitúdine virórum et mulíerum, cunctísque qui póterant intellégere, in die prima mensis séptimi. Et legit in eo apérte in platéa, quæ erat ante portam aquárum, de mane usque ad médiam diem, in conspéctu virórum et mulíerum et sapiéntium: et aures omnis pópuli erant eréctæ ad librum. Stetit autem Esdras scriba super gradum lígneum, quem fécerat ad loquendum. Et apéruit librum coram omni pópulo: super univérsum quippe pópulum eminébat: et cum aperuísset eum, stetit omnis pópulus. Et benedíxit Esdras Dómino, Deo magno: et respóndit omnis pópulus: Amen, Amen: élevans manus suas: et incurváti sunt et adoravérunt Deum proni in terram. Porro levítæ siléntium faciébant in pópulo ad audiéndam legem: pópulus autem stabat in gradu suo. Et legérunt in libro legis Dei distíncte et apérte ad intellegéndum: et intellexérunt, cum legerétur. Dixit autem Nehemías, et Esdras sacérdos et scriba, et levítæ interpretántes univérso pópulo: Dies sanctificátus est Dómino, Deo nostro, nolíte lugére et nolíte flere. Et dixit eis: Ite, comédite pínguia et bíbite mulsum, et míttite partes his, qui non præparavérunt sibi: quia sanctus dies Dómini est, et nolíte contristári: gáudium étenim Dómini est fortitúdo nostra.

Graduale. Ps. 32, 12 et 6. Beáta gens, cujus est Dóminus Deus eórum: pópulus, quem elégit Dóminus in hereditátem sibi. ℣. Verbo Dómini cœli firmáti sunt: et spíritu oris ejus omnis virtus eórum.

✠ Sequéntia sancti Evangélii secúndum Marcum.
Marc. 9, 16-28.
In illo témpore: Respóndens unus de turba, dixit ad Jesum: Magíster, áttuli fílium meum ad te, habéntem spíritum mutum: qui, ubicúmque eum apprehénderit, allídit illum, et spumat et stridet déntibus et aréscit: et dixi discípulis tuis, ut ejícerent illum, et non potúerunt. Qui respóndens eis, dixit: O generátio incrédula, quámdiu apud vos ero? quámdiu vos pátiar? Afférte illum ad me. Et attúlerunt eum. Et cum vidísset eum, statim spíritus conturbávit illum: et elísus in terram, volutabátur spumans. Et interrogávit patrem ejus: Quantum témporis est, ex quo ei hoc áccidit? At ille ait: Ab infántia: et frequénter eum in ignem et in aquas misit, ut eum pérderet. Sed si quid potes, ádjuva nos, misértus nostri. Jesus autem ait illi: Si potes credere, ómnia possibília sunt credénti. Et contínuo exclámans pater pueri, cum lácrimis ajébat: Credo, Dómine: ádjuva incredulitátem meam. Et cum vidéret Jesus concurréntem turbam, comminátus est spirítui immundo, dicens illi: Surde et mute spíritus, ego præcípio tibi, exi ab eo: et ámplius ne intróëas in eum. Et exclámans et multum discérpens eum, éxiit ab eo, et factus est sicut mórtuus, ita ut multi dícerent: Quia mórtuus est. Jesus autem tenens manum eius, elevávit eum, et surréxit. Et cum introísset in domum, discípuli ejus secréto interrogábant eum: Quare nos non potúimus ejícere eum? Et dixit illis: Hoc genus in nullo potest exíre nisi in oratióne et jejúnio.

Offertorium. Ps. 118, 47 et 48. Meditábor in mandátis tuis, quæ diléxi valde: et levábo manus meas ad mandáta tua, quæ diléxi.

Secreta. Hæc hóstia, Dómine, quǽsumus, emúndet nostra delícta: et ad sacrifícium celebrándum, subditórum tibi córpora mentésque sanctíficet. Per Dóminum.

Communio. 2. Esdr. 8, 10. Comédite pínguia et bíbite mulsum, et míttite partes his, qui non præparavérunt sibi: sanctus enim dies Dómini est, nolíte contristári: gáudium étenim Dómini est fortitúdo nostra.

Postcommunio. Suméntes, Dómine, dona cœléstia, supplíciter deprecámur: ut, quæ sédula servitúte, donánte te, gérimus, dignis sénsibus tuo múnere capiámus. Per Dóminum.

Am listening to the Mass Terriblement of Pierre Barbingant (fl 1460; the Christian name is uncertain and I seem to be having difficulty spelling the surname correctly); it is said to be the first parody based on a secular song. I have an album of Beauty Farm's going and of course it is one published sans livret so I'm relying on the Wikipedia page only at this point. The entire W. page, apart from the notes.

Barbingant (maybe Pierre; fl. c. 1460) was a French composer to whom is attributed the earliest known surviving parody mass, a three-voice mass based on the virelai "Terriblement suis fortunée". [1][2] Barbignant's chanson "Au travail suis" was the base of a parody mass by Ockeghem. His works are included in the Opera Omnia of the slightly later composer Jacob Barbireau, choirmaster at Antwerp, but the two composers are separated in musicology after 1960. [3]

That song attributed to Barbingant is the basis? ground? (there is a proper word but I can't retrieve it) of Ockegham's parody Mass Au travail suis.

Noticed this brief essay by Dr Aurelio Porfiri at his Substack page when I finally got to the email, in which he comments on Saturday's Solemn High Mass at Saint-Eugène celebrated by Cardinal Burke. I had to sign up for the paid version in order to read it so will put the text here. Unfortunately, I am at the limit of what I can afford for Substack et al-- e.g., The Pillar is raising its monthly rate, eh-- so after the week's free trial I will be reduced yet again to being a reader of Porfirian snippets via email.

I happened to see a video on YouTube, which concerned a traditional Mass celebrated by Cardinal Raymond Burke in Paris on 16 September 2023 for the SOS Chrétiens d'Orient association.

The songs of the Mass were performed by the Schola Sainte Cecile directed by Henri de Villiers. The choir and orchestra, in addition to some parts in Gregorian chant, performed pieces by French authors, especially Marc-Antoine Charpentier (1643-1704). I learned about this Mass from the YouTube video, so it was a casual viewing. Yet after a few minutes of the video, it was clear to me how the beauty and solemnity of the music and the ritual opened the doors to the whole truth, that truth which is the fruit of the work of the Holy Spirit.

The great English art critic John Ruskin observed, following the writer Robert Southey: “No man was ever yet convinced of any momentous truth without feeling in himself the power, as well as the desire of communicating it”.  Here, that music in that liturgy communicated to us that whoever had prepared it truly believed in the truth of what was announced. Ultimately, the splendor of the Catholic rite is a manifestation of the absolute truth that is God, manifested in Jesus Christ who is in fact Splendor Paternae Gloriae, as a beautiful hymn by Saint Ambrose tells us. In fact in this liturgy there was a luminosity that was not only visual, but also sonorous, it was a luminosity that shed light on all human faculties, it was a liturgy that enveloped and involved.

As I have said several times, today the real problem is that of truth and until we understand this, we would have difficulty understanding the state of religious prostration into which we are forced in our times. The liturgies of recent decades denounce that the whole truth is not fully believed and therefore is not manifested. A great thinker like Romano Amerio in his Iota Unum warns that the great problem of the Church is not when she is unworthy of the truth she announces, this is part of our human unworthiness; the big problem is when she loses this truth.

Today we live in a time in which a liquid Christianity has so watered down the contents of the faith as to make it almost evanescent. Christianity is not openly denied, but is evaporated so that sooner or later it disappears completely without us realizing it.

Cardinal Burke's Paris Mass, like others celebrated with equal dignity and solemnity, reminds us that Jesus defended the woman who poured precious perfume on him. What was offered to God was not a waste because that sacrum facere was not only a duty for us, but also a necessity, as only in the glow of that light could we hope that our steps would be illuminated.

LDVM