Angeli et amici: In festo S. Ignatii Confessoris

Once upon a time, that impeccably influential institution, the Brompton Oratory, held a liturgical congress which would be crowned by the special celebration of a Solemn High Mass.

Into the sublime sacristy enter the sacred ministers: an Italian Jesuit, an American Jesuit, and a Jesuit scholastic. 

Busy polishing a thurible, the surly sexton stops, looks up and mutters, "Eh, what's this, a joke?"

 

In the appendix to the perennially potent, reliably resourceful Roman Ritual many a religious congregation, institute and order have graciously shared with the secular clergy some of their most beautifully bountiful blessings. While not generally lauded for their acumen in liturgical praxis, the sons of Ignatius have bestowed to the august treasury a modest contribution.

 

BLESSING OF WATER IN HONOR OF ST. IGNATIUS, CONFESSOR

P: Our help is in the name of the Lord.

R: Who made heaven and earth.

P: Blessed be the name of the Lord.

R: Both now and forevermore.

P: Lord, heed my prayer.

R: And let my cry be heard by you.

P: The Lord be with you.

R: And with your spirit.

Let us pray. Holy Lord, almighty Father, everlasting God, who, in pouring out the grace of your blessing on the bodies of the sick, encompass your creatures with your generous love; hearken as we call on your holy name, and by the prayers of Blessed Ignatius, your confessor, free your servants from illness and restore them to health, and then hasten their convalescence by your sure hand, strengthen them by your might, shield them by your power, and give them back in full vigor to your holy Church; through Christ our Lord. Amen. (He then immerses a medal or a reliquary of St. Ignatius in the water, and holds it so until the following prayer is concluded) Lord, bless this water, that it be a saving remedy for men; and grant that, by the prayers of Blessed Ignatius, whose medal [or relics] is [are] now immersed in it, all who will drink this water may have health in body and protection in soul; through Christ our Lord. Amen.

As befits the respectable reputation of the Society of Jesus, the preceding prayer is a pragmatic paragon of pithy practical prose. But if extraordinary pulchritudinous poesy is paramount it is best to remember the old sacristan's proverb: "A good Jesuit liturgy is one where no one gets hurt....especially the celebrant!"  

 Mr. Screwtape

Angeli et amici: In festo S. Joseph Sponsi B.M.V. Confessoris, I. classis

Once upon a time in the sweltering summer of 1968 on the storied stoop of a tired tenement that had seen better bucolic days a small group of Puerto Rican migrants gathered to share some company including one very visibly pregnant but quite content young lady. The local boorish busybody impetuously came up and derisively scoffed, "Well there goes another one for Welfare." Forthwith a young, lean and visibly perturbed blue collar worker stood up and quite calmly replied while pointedly holding up his left hand, "Lady, Welfare didn't make that baby, I did!"

The liturgical feast day of Saint Joseph, glorious patron of the Church Universal and after whom the above proud parental protagonist (may his memory be eternal) was named after, in many Catholic countries and territories including Spain, Portugal, Liechtenstein, Canton Tincino of Switzerland, Honduras, Bolivia, Antwerp in Belgium, Andorra, and, last but not least especially in terms of this present e-pistle, Italy is designated and dignified in the civil order and properly culturally celebrated as "Father's Day".

In this year of grace 2013 this feast takes upon an additionally appropriate avocation as the day which the former Jorge Mario Cardinal Bergoglio formally and liturgically inaugurates his ministry as Bishop of Rome, Vicar of Jesus Christ, Successor of the Prince of the Apostles, Supreme Pontiff of the Universal Church, Primate of Italy, Archbishop and Metropolitan of the Roman Province, Sovereign of the State of Vatcian City, Servant of the Servants of God, the one and only Holy Father, Pope Francis the First. In this annoying age of sanctimonious social media there are a myriad of many voluminously vociferous voices exhaustingly expostulating obnoxious opinions both dexter and sinister and everywhere in between on the choice of the College of Cardinals in Sacred Conclave. It is not the pious place of this twerpy typist to engage such nutty nonsense (especially since one is having such a decidedly difficult time locating Albegensiens, those fun friends of Saint Dominic, to participate in pilgrimage to the feet of the first Pope who is a son of Saint Ignatius). Suffice it to say that we should fasten our seatbelts as this will be a very interesting Pontificate guiding the Barque of Peter. Perhaps the clearest indication would be the old sacristan's proverb, "A good Jesuit liturgy is one where nobody gets hurt!"

V. Oremus pro Pontifice nostro Francisco. R. Dominus conservet eum, et vivificet eum, et beatum faciat eum in terra, et non tradat eum in animam inimicorum eius. [Ps 40:3]   

Deus, omnium fidelium pastor et rector, famulum tuum Francisco, quem pastorem Ecclesiae tuae praeesse voluisti, propitius respice: da ei, quaesumus, verbo et exemplo, quibus praeest, proficere: ut ad vitam, una cum grege sibi credito, perveniat sempiternam. Per Christum, Dominum nostrum. Amen.

 

V. Let us pray for Francis, our Pope. R. May the Lord preserve him, and give him life, and make him blessed upon the earth, and deliver him not up to the will of his enemies. [Ps 40:3]

O God, Shepherd and Ruler of all Thy faithful people, look mercifully upon Thy servant Francis, whom Thou hast chosen as shepherd to preside over Thy Church. Grant him, we beseech Thee, that by his word and example, he may edify those over whom he hath charge, so that together with the flock committed to him, may he attain everlasting life. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

 Mr. Screwtape