The voice of the bell...

 The bells they sound on Bredon

And still the steeples hum -

'Come all to Church, good people',

Oh, noisy bells, be dumb;

I hear you, I will come. -  A.E. Housman

"Ringing the bells also gave notice to those unable

to attend the Mass (the sick, slaves, outside guards, etc)

that something divine and miraculous

was taking place inside of the church building.

The voice of the bell would allow people

to stop what they were doing

to offer an act of adoration to God. 

Additionally, the bells provided the ancillary benefit

of focusing (or re-focusing) the attention of the faithful

inside the church to the miracle

that was taking place atop the altar of sacrifice."

Excerpt from Sanctus Bells by Matthew D Herrera

The Last Mass of St Benedict, Fray Juan Rizi (Spain, 17th c)

"For bells are the voice of the church;

They have tones that touch and search

The heart of young and old."

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

The Lord has done marvelous deeds!

SOLEMNITY of the

IMMACULATE CONCEPTION

December 8

 

Sing to the Lord a new song,

for He has done marvelous deeds.  Psalm 98:1

 

God chose Mary the Immaculate to be "a model of holiness" ... At Mary's conception, a new way of being human happens, and we are "chosen, destined" to share it.  Adam and Eve were tricked by the serpent's "conception." The yes of Mary at the Annunciation, the culmination of the Immaculate Conception, undoes the disobedience of Eden and makes paradise a possibility once again for us.

 (From Magnificat, Vol 15, No 10, Dec 2013)

 

 

Glorious things are spoken of you, O Mary, for from you arose the sun of justice, Christ our God (Communion Antiphon - today's liturgy).

 

The Immaculate Conception (detail): Sassoferrato

 

Preface: The Mystery of Mary and the Church

(today's Liturgy)

It is truly right and just, our duty and our salvation ,

always and everywhere to give you thanks,

Lord, holy Father, almighty and eternal God.

For you preserved the most Blessed Virgin Mary

from all stain of original sin,

so that in her, endowed with the rich fullness

    of your grace,

you might prepare a worthy Mother for your Son

and signify the beginning of the Church,

his beautiful Bride without spot or wrinkle.

She, the most pure Virgin, was to bring forth a Son,

the innocent Lamb who would wipe away our offenses;

you placed her above all others

to be for your people an advocate of grace

and a model of holiness.

And so, in company with the choirs of Angels,

we praise you, and with joy we proclaim:  Holy, …

“To the maternal intercession of Mary, the Virgin of expectation, let us entrust our path toward the Lord, while we continue our Advent itinerary of making our heart and our life ready for the coming of Emmanuel, God-with-us. “ - Benedict XVI, 12/05/11, Noon Angelus

Click here: Catholic Fire: The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception

Incl Brief overview - What is the IC? YouTube

 

 O fairest Virgin Mary, intercede for us!

 

TODAY:

Episcopal Ordination of

The Most Reverend Andrew Cozzens

 

 

 

Monday, December 9, 2013

2:00 PM

Cathedral of Saint Paul

St Paul, Minnesota