Author Topic: “Lest Ye Do Penance!” (Fr. MacDonald) (Read 175 times)

SeanJohnson · « **on:** April 25, 2020, 08:49:16 AM »

The greater Litanies - 4/25

http://tradcatresist.blogspot.com/2020/04/litany-of-saints.html?m=1

This Saturday, April 25^th is the day of The Greater Litanies. This day is the day that St. Peter entered Rome and gave that city the inalienable privilege of being the capital of Christendom. The Feast of St. Peter entering Rome long ago ceased to be kept because it often fell during the Octave of Easter when it could not be kept. St. Gregory the Great determined that the Church of St. Peter should be the Station of the Greater Litany which was always to be celebrated on this day.

The Litanies and the Procession are penitential, even though we are still celebrating the joy of Easter. They are to appease the wrath of God on sinful mankind, and to ask Him for the blessings needed for body and soul. Besides this day the Litanies are chanted in procession on the Rogation Days, normally the three days before Ascension Thursday.

The litany of the saints is a very efficacious prayer. The Church makes use of it on solemn occasions to beg God to be merciful to us, through the intercession of the whole court of heaven. This devotion can be used now to ask God to deliver us from the burden of this corona virus. Often abstinence has been attached to the day of the greater litanies as they are penitential. Not fasting however because it is during the joys of Paschal time.

The procession is led by a cross bearer carrying a crucifix, the standard of Christian soldiers. Followed by the clergy and the faithful. The litany is chanted in Latin, often repeating each invocation twice, and the responses are also chanted. Violet is the liturgical colour because it is penitential. After the litanies are psalms and other prayers.

What can we do? That depends on the different circuмstances in different places. In many places public gatherings are forbidden. If a public procession is possible, one should be held. If there is no one to chant the litanies in Latin, say them in English. Families could have their own processions reciting the Litanies and prayers. If a procession is not possible the litanies and prayers should still be said. During this time of world-wide crisis, we should recite these litanies often and if possible, have processions often. Even if the procession is only the family. For those having the red hymnal the litanies and prayers are on pages 310-320, in English. Otherwise they are in some missals for the rogation days.The litanies begin Kyrie Eleison, as their purpose is call down on us the Mercy of God.

Fr Edward MacDonald

josefamenendez · « **Reply #1 on:** April 25, 2020, 08:59:29 AM »

Thank you for this

Author Topic: “Lest Ye Do Penance!” (Fr. MacDonald) (Read 175 times)

SeanJohnson

“Lest Ye Do Penance!” (Fr. MacDonald)

josefamenendez

Re: “Lest Ye Do Penance!” (Fr. MacDonald)