You're gonna love this: The Blessing of Herbs and Fruits for the Assumption - Part 1 of 2

Tridentine Community News (August 7, 2011):

Next Sunday, August 14, all are invited to bring fruits, herbs, and flowers before Mass to St. Josaphat and Assumption-Windsor for the Blessing for the Feast of the Assumption. This tradition is associated with Our Lady because she is seen in biblical imagery as a vine; flowers represent her virtue; and Our Lord is her fruit. The Extraordinary Form Roman Ritual specifies that the blessing be prayed by the priest entirely in Latin; below we present an English translation:

* * *

℣. Our help is in the name of the Lord.
℟. Who made heaven and earth.

Psalm 64

Praise, O God, is due Thee in Sion, * and a vow must be offered Thee in Jerusalem.
Hear my prayer; * all flesh cometh unto Thee.
Iniquities overwhelm us, * but pardon Thou our transgressions.
Blessed be the man whom Thou dost elect and adopt, * that he may dwell in Thy courts.
We will be filled with the goodness of Thy house; * holy is Thy temple and wonderful in righteousness.
Hear us, God our Savior, * the Confidence of all ends of the earth and the sea afar off.
Girded with power, Thou settest fast the mountains by Thy strength, * Thou stillest the roaring of the seas and of their waves.
The nations are dismayed at Thy signs; also they who dwell in uttermost parts; * to the east and to the west Thou givest joy.
Thou hast helped the land with plenteous rain; * Thou hast in many ways enriched it.
God’s rain hath filled the earth and provided food, * for then does it grow.
Fill Thou the furrows, multiply their crops; * gentle rain-drops gladden the buds.
Thou crownest the year with Thy good things, * and Thy fields overflow with plenty.
The beautiful places of the wilderness grow rich, * and the hills are surrounded with joy.
The mountains are clothed with sheep, the vales abound with wheat; * they shout for joy, and sing a hymn of praise.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

℣. The Lord will be gracious.
℟. And our land bring forth its fruit.
℣. Thou waterest the mountains from the clouds.
℟. The earth is replenished from Thy rains.
℣. Giving grass for cattle.
℟. And plants to the servitors of men.
℣. Thou bringest forth wheat from the earth.
℟. And wine to cheer men’s heart.
℣. Oil to make his face lustrous.
℟. And bread to strengthen his heart.
℣. He sends His command, and heals their suffering.
℟. And snatches them from distressing want.
℣. O Lord, hear my prayer.
℟. And let my cry come unto Thee.
℣. The Lord be with you.
℟. And with thy spirit.

Let us pray.
Almighty, everlasting God, by Thy Word alone Thou hast made heaven, earth, sea, all things visible and invisible, and hast adorned the earth with plants and trees for the use of men and animals. Thou appointest each species to bring forth fruit in its kind, not only to serve as food for living creatures, but also as medicine to sick bodies. With mind and word we earnestly implore Thy unspeakable goodness to bless  these various herbs and fruits, and add to their natural powers the grace of Thy new blessing. May they ward off disease and adversity from men and beasts who use them in Thy name. Through our Lord, Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, forever and ever.
℟. Amen.

[To be continued next week.]

Fifth Mass Site in Diocese of Lansing Debuts

A fifth Tridentine Mass site is debuting in our neighboring Diocese of Lansing, Michigan, at the historic St. Joseph Shrine in Brooklyn, Michigan, southwest of Ann Arbor on US 12 in the Irish Hills lakes area. Associate Pastor Fr. Tom Wasilewski, ordained in 2010, will offer the first Mass, a Low Mass, this Tuesday, August 9 at 8:30 AM. Additional Tridentine Masses may be scheduled if there is support.

Masses for the Feast of the Assumption

The Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary will be celebrated at St. Josaphat Church with a High Mass on Monday, August 15 at 7:00 PM. On Sunday, August 14 at 2:00 PM, Assumption Church in Windsor will offer a High Mass for the External Solemnity of the Assumption, the patronal feast of the parish. The rubrics of the Extraordinary Form permit the moving of a parish’s patronal feast to the nearest Sunday. Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament will follow the Mass.

Next Mass at St. Albertus: August 21

The next Tridentine Mass at St. Albertus Church will be held in two weeks, on Sunday, August 21 at noon.

Tridentine Masses This Coming Week

Mon. 08/08 7:00 PM: Low Mass at St. Josaphat (St. John Vianney, Confessor)

Tue. 08/09 7:00 PM: Low Mass at Assumption-Windsor (Vigil of St. Lawrence, Martyr)

[Comments? Please e-mail tridnews@stjosaphatchurch.org. Previous columns are available at www.stjosaphatchurch.org. This edition of Tridentine Community News, with minor editions, is from the St. Josaphat bulletin insert for August 7, 2011. Hat tip to A.B.]