Extraordinary Community News

"I will go in unto the Altar of God
To God, Who giveth joy to my youth"
Tridentine Community News (October 7, 2012):

The Prayers After Low Mass

In 1884 Pope Leo XIII ordered a set of prayers that came to be known as the “Leonine Prayers” to be said after every Low Mass. There are varying accounts regarding the actual reasons that prompted the requirement for these prayers, ranging from praying for the sovereignty of the Holy See prior to the creation of the Vatican City State, to the conversion of Russia. We suggest that Catholics today simply take the prayers at face value: Prayers to St. Michael and to our Lady for ourselves and for the defense of Holy Mother Church are eminently appropriate.

The 1962 Missal no longer includes these prayers, thus they are technically optional since 1962 rubrics are currently in force. However, the Leonine Prayers are not like other parts of the Mass; indeed, they are not even a part of the Mass. They take place after Mass, and like any other popular devotion are left entirely to custom. Most every Low Mass site in the English speaking world continues to say the Leonine Prayers after ordinary Low Masses. They tend only to be omitted after Requiems, Bishops’ Masses, and when time is tight.

In our region, the Prayers After Low Mass are currently prayed in English, largely because only the English version is included in the ubiquitous Red Missals. However, elsewhere, and particularly in Europe, they are often if not usually prayed in Latin. In the interest of exposing our readers to the text of those original Latin prayers, we present them below. Something for our communities to consider is whether to pray them in Latin ourselves from time to time, of course only when a handout containing them is provided.

Ave María, grátia plena, Dóminus tecum. Benedícta tu in muliéribus, et benedíctus fructus ventris tui, Jesus. Sancta María, Mater Dei, ora pro nobis peccatóribus, nunc, et in hora mortis nostræ. Amen. (three times)

Salve Regina

Salve Regína, Mater misericórdiæ, vita, dulcédo, et spes nostra, salve. Ad te clamámus, éxsules fílii Evæ. Ad te suspirámus, geméntes et flentes in hac lacrimárum valle. Eia ergo, Advocáta nostra, illos tuos misericórdes óculos ad nos convérte. Et Jesum, benedíctum fructum ventris tui, nobis, post hoc exílium, osténde. O clemens, o pia, o dulcis Virgo María.

℣. Ora pro nobis, sancta Dei Génitrix. ℟. Ut digni efficiámur promissiónibus Christi.

Orémus. Deus, refúgium nostrum et virtus, pópulum ad te clamántem propítius réspice; et intercedénte gloriósa et immaculáta Vírgine Dei Genitríce María, cum beáto Joséph, ejus Sponso, ac beátis Apóstolis tuis Petro et Paulo, et ómnibus Sanctis, quas pro conversióne peccatórum, pro libertáte et exaltatióne sanctæ Matris Ecclésiæ, preces effúndimus, miséricors et benígnus exáudi. Per eúmdem Christum Dóminum nostrum. ℟. Amen.

Prayer to St. Michael the Archangel

Sancte Míchaël Archángele, defénde nos in praélio. Contra nequítiam et insídias diáboli esto præsídium. Ímperet illi Deus, súpplices deprecámur: tuque, Princeps milítiæ cæléstis, Sátanam aliósque spíritus malígnos, qui ad perditiónem animárum pervagántur in mundo, divína virtúte, in inférnum detrúde. ℟. Amen.

℣. Cor Jesu sacratíssimum, ℟. Miserére nobis. (three times)

Next St. Albertus Mass

The next Tridentine Mass at St. Albertus Church will be in two weeks, on Sunday, October 21 at noon. As usual, a reception will follow the Mass in the rectory.

Flint Anniversary Mass

The Tridentine Community at All Saints Church in Flint will celebrate its 24th Anniversary with a Solemn High Mass on Sunday, October 21 at 4:00 PM. The celebrant will be Fr. Joseph Lee, FSSP. A dinner will follow the Mass at the Social Hall of nearby Our Lady of Lebanon Maronite Church.

Tridentine Masses This Coming Week

• Mon. 10/08 7:00 PM: Low Mass at St. Josaphat (St. Bridget of Sweden, Widow)
• Mon. 10/09 7:00 PM: Low Mass at Assumption-Windsor (St. John Leonardi, Confessor)
• Thu. 10/11 7:00 PM: High Mass at St. Alphonsus-Windsor (Maternity of the Blessed Virgin Mary) First Mass in the Extraordinary Form in over 40 years.
• Thu. 10/11 7:00 PM: High Mass at St. Josaphat (Maternity of the Blessed Virgin Mary)
• Sun. 10/14 Noon: Pontifical Mass at Assumption Grotto (Twentieth Sunday After Pentecost) Celebrant: Bishop Alexander Sample
• Sun. 10/14 2:00 PM: Pontifical Mass at Assumption-Windsor (Twentieth Sunday After Pentecost) Celebrant: Bishop Eugene LaRocque

[Comments? Please e-mail tridnews@detroitlatinmass.org. Previous columns are available at http://www.detroitlatinmass.org. This edition of Tridentine Community News, with minor editions, is from the St. Josaphat (Detroit) and Assumption (Windsor) bulletin inserts for October 7, 2012. Hat tip to A.B., author of the column.]