Triple-Feature in Today's "Collect"
Here are three beautiful prayers taken from today's Mass - beautiful, and also politically/ecumenically incorrect in today's world.
It's so strange and foreign-sounding to have a prayer actually mention that mythical category of peoples known as the errantibus. But as I understand it, they do exist, and there is a God who extends to them the light of His truth in order that they should leave the path they are on, and return to the path of righteousness (justitia).
Conversion is like that, unfortunately. The very verb convertere means "to turn around"; but turning implies a preceding recognition that the current "forward" direction is a bit off-course.
And what is involved in that recognition of error? Here is the most complex and tangled web: humilitas. The essence of salvation is the process of conversion, but conversion requires humility, which itself is the precise opposite of pride.
How appropriate that the essence of salvation should be the opposite of the essence of sin. "I was wrong" is the salvific counterpart to Lucifer's non serviam.
This is why hardly anyone converts today - it's not primarily an intellectual thing, it primarily an act of the will.
This one just flies in the face of ecumenical sensitivies, with it's very familial and well-worn path "to Jesus through Mary." These objections make the least amount of sense to me, though - how can you reject so loving a Mother?
I've always had a special appreciation for motherhood, I guess, so it just seems second-nature at this point to look to Mary for help; I don't understand the dichotomy that says you can only go to Jesus or Mary, as though the two were mutually exclusive. I certainly never experienced this in my home when I was growing up: I had a relationship with both my mom and my dad, and in some areas, my relationship with my mom was better than it was with my dad.
And you know something? My dad never got mad at me for going to my mom with requests; he never once voiced his fear that somehow I was detracting from his role as a father by asking my mom if I could do this, that, or the other thing.
So I go to Jesus; and when I go to Him, I find Him just as the shepherds and wise-men found Him: with His mother (cf. Matt. 2:11, Lk. 2:16).
Or, said another way, when I go to Mary, I find her just as the disciples at Cana found her: standing at His side and saying, "Do whatever he tells you." (Jn. 2:5)
I get that some people are innocently unaware of the Church's true teaching on Mary (I am thinking here of those people who heard from someone who heard from someone that the Church thinks Mary is divine, etc.), and that's just a necessary-yet-unfortunate part of Genesis 3:15 being played out in history (inimicitias ponam inter te et mulierem ...) - but I do not understand those people who are fully aware of the Church's teaching, more-or-less comprehend it, and still rail against it.
Flailing away at the world's Mater purissima et Mater pulchrae dilectionis is just plain perverse. It's as unnatural as watching that three year old in the store screaming at his mother that he hates her.
This prayer affirms something that 98% of Americans violently denounce: that true religious freedom and liberty comes at the price of first destroying all adversity and error, in every place. True religious liberty is not possible in a climate of religious pluralism and so-called tolerance.
Side note: we do not practice tolerance today. Tolerance is leaving other religions in peace while still acknowledging and giving preferential treatment to the one true religion. Our Americanist version of tolerance presupposes (at least implicitly) that there is no such thing as "one true religion."
And so what we have today is religious slavery for all, freedom for all that is irreligious, and the occasional permission granted to non-Christian religions to do their thing.
I would share with you what they prayed in the Novus Ordo Mass today, but too much sugar is bad for you.
Deus, qui errántibus, ut ín viam possint redíre justítiae, veritátis tuae lumen osténdis: da cunctis, qui christiána professióne censéntur, et illa respúere quae huic inimícaè spurnè sunt nómini; et ea quae sunt apta sectári. Per Dóminum nostrum, etc.
R. Amen.
(O God, who to the erring, that they might return to the way of justice, Thou dost show the light of Thy truth: grant to all who are enrolled among the professing Christians that they may spurn all that is inimicable to that name, and follow what is becoming [to that name])
It's so strange and foreign-sounding to have a prayer actually mention that mythical category of peoples known as the errantibus. But as I understand it, they do exist, and there is a God who extends to them the light of His truth in order that they should leave the path they are on, and return to the path of righteousness (justitia).
Conversion is like that, unfortunately. The very verb convertere means "to turn around"; but turning implies a preceding recognition that the current "forward" direction is a bit off-course.
And what is involved in that recognition of error? Here is the most complex and tangled web: humilitas. The essence of salvation is the process of conversion, but conversion requires humility, which itself is the precise opposite of pride.
How appropriate that the essence of salvation should be the opposite of the essence of sin. "I was wrong" is the salvific counterpart to Lucifer's non serviam.
This is why hardly anyone converts today - it's not primarily an intellectual thing, it primarily an act of the will.
Concéde nos fámulos tuos, quaesumus, Dómine Deus, perpétua mentis et córporis sanitáte gaudére: et, gloriósa beátae Maríae semper Vírginis intercessióne, a praesénti liberári tristítia, et aetérna pérfrui laetítia. Per Dóminum nostrum Jesum Christum, etc.
R. Amen.
(Grant to us, Thy servants, Lord God, in perpetual mental and bodily health to rejoice; and, through the glorious intercession of blessed Mary ever-Virgin, to be liberated from present sorrow, and to partake of eternal joy.)
This one just flies in the face of ecumenical sensitivies, with it's very familial and well-worn path "to Jesus through Mary." These objections make the least amount of sense to me, though - how can you reject so loving a Mother?
I've always had a special appreciation for motherhood, I guess, so it just seems second-nature at this point to look to Mary for help; I don't understand the dichotomy that says you can only go to Jesus or Mary, as though the two were mutually exclusive. I certainly never experienced this in my home when I was growing up: I had a relationship with both my mom and my dad, and in some areas, my relationship with my mom was better than it was with my dad.
And you know something? My dad never got mad at me for going to my mom with requests; he never once voiced his fear that somehow I was detracting from his role as a father by asking my mom if I could do this, that, or the other thing.
So I go to Jesus; and when I go to Him, I find Him just as the shepherds and wise-men found Him: with His mother (cf. Matt. 2:11, Lk. 2:16).
Or, said another way, when I go to Mary, I find her just as the disciples at Cana found her: standing at His side and saying, "Do whatever he tells you." (Jn. 2:5)
I get that some people are innocently unaware of the Church's true teaching on Mary (I am thinking here of those people who heard from someone who heard from someone that the Church thinks Mary is divine, etc.), and that's just a necessary-yet-unfortunate part of Genesis 3:15 being played out in history (inimicitias ponam inter te et mulierem ...) - but I do not understand those people who are fully aware of the Church's teaching, more-or-less comprehend it, and still rail against it.
Flailing away at the world's Mater purissima et Mater pulchrae dilectionis is just plain perverse. It's as unnatural as watching that three year old in the store screaming at his mother that he hates her.
Ecclésiae tuae, quaesumus, Dómine, preces placátus admítte: ut, destrúctis adversitátibus et erróribus univérsis, secura tibi sérviat libertáte Per Dóminum nostrum Jesum Christum, etc.
R. Amen.
(The prayers of Thy Church, we beseech Thee, O Lord, mercifully to receive; that, having destoyed all adversity and all error in every place, securely and with liberty she may serve Thee.)
This prayer affirms something that 98% of Americans violently denounce: that true religious freedom and liberty comes at the price of first destroying all adversity and error, in every place. True religious liberty is not possible in a climate of religious pluralism and so-called tolerance.
Side note: we do not practice tolerance today. Tolerance is leaving other religions in peace while still acknowledging and giving preferential treatment to the one true religion. Our Americanist version of tolerance presupposes (at least implicitly) that there is no such thing as "one true religion."
And so what we have today is religious slavery for all, freedom for all that is irreligious, and the occasional permission granted to non-Christian religions to do their thing.
I would share with you what they prayed in the Novus Ordo Mass today, but too much sugar is bad for you.
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