The latin

Pange, lingua, gloriosi
Corporis mysterium,
Sanguinisque pretiosi,
quem in mundi pretium
fructus ventris generosi
Rex effudit Gentium.
Nobis datus, nobis natus
ex intacta Virgine,
et in mundo conversatus,
sparso verbi semine,
sui moras incolatus
miro clausit ordine.
In supremae nocte coenae
recumbens cum fratribus
observata lege plene
cibis in legalibus,
cibum turbae duodenae
se dat suis manibus.
Verbum caro, panem verum
verbo carnem efficit:
fitque sanguis Christi merum,
et si sensus deficit,
ad firmandum cor sincerum
sola fides sufficit.
Tantum ergo Sacramentum
veneremur cernui:
et antiquum documentum
novo cedat ritui:
praestet fides supplementum
sensuum defectui.
Genitori, Genitoque
laus et jubilatio,
salus, honor, virtus quoque
sit et benedictio:
Procedenti ab utroque
compar sit laudatio.
Amen. Alleluja.

Feast of Corpus Christi

Pange Lingua Gloriosi Corporis Mysterium.  If you type those words into a search engine you’ll find that this is a hymn written by St. Thomas Aquinas for the feast of Corpus Christi.  The last 3 stanzas of this hymn, unfortunately, do not fit on the walls of Corpus Christi Church in this case, but then again, the church actively completes this hymn by mass offerings and benediction.

 

Sing, my tongue, the Savior's glory, of His flesh the mystery sing; of the Blood, all price exceeding, shed by our immortal King, destined, for the world's redemption, from a noble womb to spring. Of a pure and spotless Virgin born for us on earth below, He, as Man, with man conversing,

 

stayed, the seeds of truth to sow; then He closed in solemn order wondrously His life of woe. On the night of that Last Supper, seated with His chosen band, He the Pascal victim eating, first fulfills the Law's command; then as Food to His Apostles gives Himself with His own hand. Word-made-Flesh, the bread of nature by His word to Flesh He turns; wine into His Blood He changes; what though sense no change discerns? Only be the heart in earnest, faith her lesson quickly learns.Down in adoration falling, Lo! the sacred Host we hail; Lo! o'er ancient forms departing, newer rites of grace prevail; faith for all defects supplying, where the feeble senses fail. To the everlasting Father, and the Son who reigns on high, with the Holy Ghost proceeding forth from Each eternally, be salvation, honor, blessing, might and endless majesty. Amen. Alleluia.

Donations to charities

Seems these days that there are all sorts of organizations trying to raise money for their causes – the big question is how to help and yet not be sending money to just about every worthy cause out there.  Yes there are plenty in need and giving alms, fasting etc are all to help us come closer to God.   Give till it hurts, or in Steve Green’s words, “give till it tickles”.  Maybe that’s why there is the guideline of a tithe, i.e. 10%, that guides you in determining how much is ‘enough’.   The major challenge is finding the right places and being willing to sacrifice 10% of your income.  Something to think about and possibly what will then make it easy to say to those organizations, ‘I’ve given the amount I’m going to give this year already’.  Now is that gross or net?

3rd meaning in John 3:16?

When I first read the footnotes in my bible related to John 3:16, it indicated that gave was a reference both to the incarnation as well as the crucifixion.  See http://www.usccb.org/nab/bible/john/john3.htm#foot7.  I wondered, since many things related to God comes in 3′s, indicating completeness, whether or not this includes an ongoing giving: that of Christ in the Eucharist. i.e. God who is beyond time, being the creator of it and seeing past, present, and future as one, ‘gave’ in the incarnation, ‘gave’ in Christ’s eternal sacrifice at his crucifixion, and ‘gives’/'continues to give’ when we receive communion.  God never stops giving for He is Love.

3rd Sunday of Advent. Monstrance/Ostensorium design.

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us. I’ve seen some monstrances that have the Blessed Virgin Mary holding up Christ for all to see and adore. All the ones I’ve seen also appear to have rays encircling the host, which I suppose is standard design. I always wondered if there could be other designs, such as one where the image is one of Mary encircling and caring for him as in her womb. She would be facing her belly and her arms encircling the portion that would carry the blessed host to be adored. Of course we could see a heavenly glow of rays encircling that portion too…

What we can do that angels can’t.

We’re made in the image of God. What does that mean? It includes free will – the ability to choose between good and evil. Angels are neither male nor female, though many images depict them as such. They have no bodies and they cannot participate in ‘procreation’. This is an amazing privilege for humans vs the privileges given to angels. The love between a man and woman is meant to be pro-creative, as an ‘imperfect’ image of God, the love between the Father and the Son is the Holy Spirit. The love between a man and woman is intended to bring about a new life to be truly in the image of God.

Why I decided to blog.

I’ve seen many changes to the internet over the years and usually have little to say regarding newer technology.  This is an interesting way to express yourself though, and even though most people may not care – I’ll try not to blabber too much, I thought it’d be an interesting way to express some of my thoughts for others to ponder as well.  I may either beat a topic to death or hopefully provide a new light into otherwise unthought of ideas/angles and hopefully get people to think.  This blog could contain wild and crazy ideas that I come up with when pondering life.

Feast of the Immaculate Conception

Dec 8th, 2008

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Immaculate_Conception

Seems quite natural that God preserved her free from original sin. God doesn’t make junk. The original intention for humanity was sinless. It is as though Adam & Eve spilled an ink bottle and the stain of original sin is passed to all subsequent generations, but God the Holy Spirit blows into that ink to clear a spot, and Mary is conceived there and preserved from that stain.

Hello world!

Martha said to him, “I know he will rise, in the resurrection on the last day.”
- John 11:24

Find the following yourself at http://www.usccb.org/nab/bible/

John 3:11-24

1 John 3:11-24