Christmas in Rome A.D. 2007...

Non Angli sed angeli?

As usual, it was another stellar Christmas in Rome.

A packed Midnight Mass was celebrated by the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter at the well-known Church of Ss. Trinita' dei Pellegrini in Rome's historic center. The chaplain of the F.S.S.P. Rome apostolate sang the Mass and preached. The deacon was an Englishman while the subdeacon was an American. Altar servers hailed from Italy, U.S.A. and Canada. The ceremony was lovely and the choir was frankly the best.

After the Mass all had an opportunity to kneel at the communion rail to reverence this statue of the baby Jesus. With exertion I tried to pray for everyone - including all those faithful Catholics in the far pockets of the world. Thank you to all for your faithfulness and I send my love and prayers from the Urbs Caput Orbis this Christmas as ever!

Christmas in Rome...

Here one can see the baby Jesus statue on its stand placed in front of the tabernacle for Midnight Mass. See below for a closer look of its relic.

Christmas in Rome...

Highly esteemed relics can be seen all over Catholic Europe (once I even saw the veil of the B.V.M. in Chartres).

This statue of the baby Jesus even contains a precious relic of Christendom (it reads: Ex Pannis D.N. (from the Swaddling Clothes of our Lord).

Christmas in Rome...

For Midnight Mass in Rome it's common to see little candles like this on the stairs of churches.

Nice little extras like this always count. We placed these on the stairs before Mass and they helped to add to the holiday cheer - and invited others into the church.

Christmas in Rome...

The F.S.S.P. always do a fine job with liturgy.

You can see here the craftsmanship with this old altar missal - even the noil page tabs are made of watered moiré silk...

Can we again print nice liturgical books like this even today?

Christmas in Rome...

Just before Midnight Mass, all offered a silent prayer in the sacristy. Here one can see the habit of an "archconfraternity."

Many parishes in Italy have archconfraternities. This particular one, at the Church of Ss. Trinita' dei Pellegrini, was founded by St. Philip Neri.

Christmas in Rome...

Here you can see the antependium which was placed on the front of the marble altar.

You can notice, too, the veiled baby Jesus statue which was unveiled just after the intonation of the Gloria. The carpet, handmade, dates from 1857!

Christmas in Rome...

After the recessional, once in the incense-filled sacristy, all bowed to the crucifix and then knelt for the blessing extended to minor ministers and servers, archconfraternity members, etc.

Christmas in Rome...

If you want to see some more nice photos from the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter Christmas celebrations in Rome, then see here: http://www.fsspinurbe.blogspot.com/ .

Christmas in Rome...

Every Christmas eve in Rome, for me, consists of a barnstorming tour which includes vespers at the Russicum as well as a visit to St. Mary Major (to see the true creche), etc.

The next time you find yourself in Rome be sure to attend vespers on a Saturday night at the Russicum which is just across the street from St. Mary Major.

Christmas in Rome...

Today the Pope greeted the world with his traditional Urbi et Orbi blessing. But what was different about it?

Not since 1963/64 had such visible (remember that all knowledge comes to us through the senses) glory been seen on the loggia of the Basilca of St. Peter! To many this is the look of a Pharaoh, but to us who know better it is the look of a Pontiff!

In the 1960s they did away with a greater part of the pomp and decoration sourrounding the popes (and the Mass for that matter, too). This was always sad. The papacy provides a spectacle found nowhere else on the planet. A long-standing predilection was then put into play of "papal moderation" which spells "catholicity moderation."

"People were weary of too much learning, too much power...they were tired of greatness, prestige and words." (The Romans by Michael Sheridan) . They were ready for the simple and the ugly. Thus the avocado green.

Mons. Gänswein, if you are reading this, kindly thank His Holiness for the mitre, cope and throne seen today! Now we just need the drooping tendrils of the customary ostrich feathered fans...and the la sedia gestatoria! All the best and salutami la Sua Santita' - benedictam Nativitatem tibi!

Christmas in Rome...

The Carabinieri (military police) band did a great job playing for the Pope today, as they do every Christmas and Easter for the Urbi et Orbi blessing.

One great change this year, though, They went back to the way they had it in the old days with the troops up the steps in the Piazza S. Pietro instead of in a huge blocked off area amidst the crowds.

Christmas in Rome...

It was great to see the different armed forces of the Republic of Italy march in honor to salute the Pope on Christmas morning.

Christmas in Rome...

We all know about that unanimous and collective action taken by the apostles: "...and they all fled," abandoning our blessed Lord in the garden of Gethsemane.

Then there are these warriors from the Urban College in Rome in the habit of their collegio (which they wear until they are ordained deacons)!

Since the fractious 1960s, with the political ferment of the era, many of the national colleges in Rome did away with their habit while the Urbanianum, to the glory of Mother Church, has maintained this tradition.

Next? Perhaps the Pontifical North American College in Rome will return to their uniform (or perhaps no if it's left to a board of directors)...

Christmas in Rome...

For the Pope the Carabinieri band played the Inno Pontificio (the national anthem of the Vatican City State) by the French composer Charles Gounod (who died in 1893).

If you have never heard this lovely hymn, then see if you can hear it somewhere on the internet!

The clerical "cape" in Rome...

When I was a kid my pastor was the famed American church musician, Msgr. R. J. Schuler, Ph.D. He was always known as an elegant man of great taste. During the winter months he often wore the cappa nigra (as seen here).

A very blessed Christmas to all...!

A very Merry Christmas to all and a Happy New Year a.D. 2008! I wish you all the best and many blessings, peace and prosperity in the coming year!

P.S. Rememer to keep Christ in CHRISTmas! And happy "o" antiphons! Venite adoremus...

Feast of St. Lucia in Rome...

The feast of St. Lucy in Rome is always a delight. If you go to her Gonfalone parish in the afternoon, you will stand in awe as many, many hundreds and hundreds of Romans (mostly elderly women) flock to this church to buy candles on the steps and then to wait in line to touch the candles to this reliquary. In this same church there are two relics of St. Lucy (buried in Venice but died in Sicily).

Feast of St. Lucia in Rome...

Oopus, I guess somebody forgot to wear their mitre...and dalmatic...?

Feast of St. Lucia in Rome...

Okay everybody, repeat after me: "Say the black, do the red."

Feast of St. Lucia in Rome...

Feast of St. Lucia in Rome...

Be generous this and every Christmas...!

Everybody has a credit card and everybody has internet. And everybody gives a little extra this time of the year.

Did you know that two American priests labor in the Far East of Russia? They are proven men - they have been there since 1992.

Click here and make an online Christmas donation and enable them to further save souls: www.vladmission.org .

Originale per tradizione...

This photo was taken in the Basilica of St. Peter (in the chapel of the canons). I took it so as to illustrate how a candle can be painted - and how they are painted in the Vatican.

We have so many artists in our communities who can't find employment. Let's employ them to decorate our mighty temples - put the talent to work for His Kingdom.

"There's no place like home [Rome] for the holidays!

Everyone has their favorite time to visit Rome. For me, it's Christmas and New Year's.

The holiday cheer fills the air and makes me always think of how in many ways il Natale di Roma dura tutto l'anno!

If you're like me, you will wander from church to church to see each creche display while humming "I'm dreaming of a white Christmas just like the ones I used to know" or "It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas everywhere you go!" or "I'll be home for Christmas you can plan on me...if only in my dreams!"

Feast of Immaculate Conception in Civitavecchia...

Archconfraternities are big in Italy. I come from a Protestant nation, but I sure wish we had them back home (such a lay witness they are - on the streets - and each with an apostolate).

Feast of Immaculate Conception in Civitavecchia...

Some practical liturgical practices can always be learned by us from what is done in Catholic Italy. For example, this is how to fasten a processional banner to a pole.

Feast of Immaculate Conception in Civitavecchia...

It's not the same withouth the cappa magna so allora (Eccelenza, se sta leggendo questo blog, vogliamo la cappa magna la prossima volta-dai, ti prego!)

In Italy the mayor often walks next to the prelate in the procession and then often offers a few words at the end. Sadly, in America, with our goofy seperation of Church and State, this would likely never be seen.

Feast of Immaculate Conception in Civitavecchia...

Somebody once asked me where the best place to order a processional banner from was and my reply was simple: "In Rome or better yet, order one from Fatima, Portugal, when you go there (about 1,000 euro dollars for one such as this)."

Feast of Immaculate Conception in Rome...

Italians are a deeply liturgical people. The fire dept. always places the wreath on the arm of the statue.

This lovely statue looks to the sea in the Port of Rome, Civitavecchia (70 km from Rome).

Feast of Immaculate Conception in Rome...

Italains love processions. When a procession is led here they always have a big guy carry speakers such as this.

Feast of Immaculate Conception in Civitavecchia...

This is the new hand-picked bishop of the port of Rome (T. Card. Bertone, a fellow Salesian, got him in).

Our glorious German Pope is using the vast Salesian power-house to network (return) orthodoxy throughout the Italian peninsula.

There are some leaders who don't inspire followers. This guy inspires the heck out of people and inspires me more than any other bishop alive.

As I gazed at him I prayed: "Lord Jesus, put me on the cross with this guy as he's a warrior for Mother Church."

Feast of Immaculate Conception in Civitavecchia...

Italians are a very sentimental people. After the wreath and flowers were laid, upon his return to the dais, His Excellency invited all the kids to join him on the dais for the blessing. The crowd roared with cheers and this sweet little angel ran up!

Feast of Immaculate Conception in Civitavecchia...

Once all the kids were on the dais His Excellency pronounced his blessing and then there were more cheers from the excited crowd.

Feast of Immaculate Conception in Civitavecchia...

In Italy there's always a Borsalino in the mix. This year marks their 150th anniversary and so they have great offers in Rome at the Borsalino stores for the holidays(www.borsalino.com).

Feast of Immaculate Conception in Civitavecchia...

Despite the cold His Excellency made a point to mix with the crowd and greet all the families.

You can see he wears the cappa nigra (black cape) and a preaching stole.

2007 Rome F.S.S.P. Christmas Schedule

If you will be in Rome this Christmas and so desire to attend Midnight Mass according to the usus antiquior, then please see here for the horarium: http://www.fsspinurbe.blogspot.com/ .

Saint Olaf: King of Norway...

If you're from Norway here's a great screensaver for your computer from the Basilica of Sts. Ambrogio and Carlo on the Via del Corso in Rome.

Feast of St. Ambrose in Rome...

His Eminence arrived in the misty Roman rain. You can see that he is attended to by his driver, without his secretary (he carries his own mitre). He wears the greca overcoat and the 1940s fedora (www.borsalino.com).

Feast of St. Ambrose in Rome...

After His Eminence arrived we went behind the main altar to offer a silent prayer with him in front of the reliquary containing the heart of St. Charles Borromeo (Pope John Paul II was named after St. Charles - baptized Karl).

Feast of St. Ambrose in Rome...

Here's a taste of vestments from the Lombardia parish in Rome, Sts. Ambrose and Charles.

Feast of St. Ambrose in Rome...

Feast of St. Ambrose in Rome...

Feast of St. Ambrose in Rome...

Everybody has their favorite church in Rome. For most Americans it's Il Gesu or Santa Maria Maggiore.

Then there's those of us who have our favorite sancutary in Rome. The mother of all sancuarties here is in the Basilica of Ambrogio and Carlo on the Via del Corso (where Pope John XXIII was consecrated bishop).

This sanctuary is all glory.

Feast of St. Ambrose in Rome...

The rector of the Basilica of Sts. Ambrose and Charles has hundreds of apologetics tracts that he was written and put into many languages in the rear of his church - available to all free of charge - along with great prayer booklets including this one in Latin.

We need more pastors such as this - get these things into the hands of the faithful (vademecum booklets are the best)!

Feast of St. Ambrose in Rome...

The Lombards know fashion and style and that is why Milan will always be the fashion capital of the world.

Can we ever get wicked damask like this in America (made in China?)...

Feast of St. Nicholas in Rome...

"As children we all waited for Saint Nicholas to bring us presents. The communists wanted to deprive him of his sanctity, so they invented Grandfather Frost. Unfortunately, in the West, Nicholas has now become popular in the context of consumerism."

-Rise, Let Us Be On Our Way by Pope John Paul II

Feast of St. Nicholas in Rome...

The archpriest of the Mass was the famous Msgr. Ignacio Barreiro-Carrambula. He's the director of the Human Life International Rome office.

We all remember Pope John Paul II's words to Fr. Paul Marx: "You are doing the most important work in the world."

We, too, can do our part to end abortion through prayer and fasting.

Feast of St. Nicholas in Rome...

Here we see the first master looking like a monsignor in this choir cassock. When you see two clerics attend to a prelate as first and second master during a Sung Mass you will sometimes see that they are dressed as monsignori in this manner.

Feast of St. Nicholas in Rome...

It's always fun to watch the prelate as he vests (he's a Cardinal Deacon of the Basilica of San Nicola in Carcere).

Feast of St. Nicholas in Rome...

The celebrant was Zenon Cardinal Grocholewski, Prefect of the Cong. for Catholic Education. As you might know, he's known for being a Latin scholar.

He sang the Mass, in Latin, according to the Novus Ordo Missae.