Salve, Sancta Parens

Part 1 of Madeleine's Baptism Day

Before Madeleine's Baptism we were blessed to have a Low Mass offered in the Traditional Latin Rite, almost as a 'turtle dove' of thanksgiving for the birth of our first child (in a similar vein to Mary's own ritual offering following the birth of our Saviour). Fr. Philip Cleevely, as ever, conducted himself beautifully and reverently before the glorious Lady Altar in the Birmingham Oratory. This was a touching, intimate affair, a 'private Mass' in which we could really prayerfully contemplate the blessings God has bestowed upon us, whilst offering ourselves back to Our Lord in union with His perfect sacrifice. It was one of only a few times when I have not bothered to follow the Mass in my Missal (partly because I left it at home). This reminded me that the Mass is aesthetically a truly beautiful thing; that it is not always necessary for us to understand what is being said. The comfort is knowing the action being performed, and being able to unite ourselves with that in our own intimate way.

Confiteor Deo Omnipoténti, beátæ Maríæ, semper Vírgini, beáto Michaéli Archángelo, beáto Joánni Baptístæ, sanctis Apóstolis Petro et Paulo, omnibus Sanctis, et tibi, Pater, quia peccávi nimis cogitatióne, verbo, et ópere...

I confess to almighty God, to blessed Mary ever Virgin, to blessed Michael the archangel, to blessed John the Baptist, to the holy apostles Peter and Paul, to all the Saints, and to you, Father, that I have sinned exceedingly in thought, word and deed...

mea culpa, mea máxima culpa...

through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault...

The public prayer of the Church is undoubtedly the Liturgy. It is therefore often argued that we should all have an 'active' part in it. However, I am content to give the Priest the room to be able to conduct this, whilst I prayerfully meditate upon the mysteries being conferred. I consider this to be actuosa participatio ("actual" or more commonly known as "active participation," as envisaged by II Vatican Council). This is why the opening prayer of the Mass is traditionally referred to as the Collect, because it gathers up the prayers of all the faithful present and offers them in union to God through Jesus Christ. I prefer, therefore, to have a grasp on all the unchanging prayers of the Mass (the Ordinary) and to be able to recognise their intention and timing in the Mass, and to concentrate only on the parts in the Missal that pertain to that individual Mass or Feast day (the Proper). For Madeleine's Baptism the Proper was for the Votive Mass of the Blessed Virgin Mary appropriate to the Season.

Admittedly I was sorry to not have produced a Mass sheet with these prayers printed out so that the small gathering of faithful could interpret it. But, alas, for many to know when these prayers are actually being said is very difficult. The traditional Rite of Mass (so-called Tridentine Rite) was the almost universal Rite in the Latin Church pre-1965, and as such the faithful had their whole life to delve deeper into the prayers and mysteries contained within. To expect a small gathering of family and friends to grasp it in one go is, therefore, a little much to ask. I had not expected so many people to turn up to a 'Latin Mass' since it's meant to be off-putting nowadays! Perhaps for some of those present who did not follow in a Missal, the following translations will be helpful. I do hope that the Mass created an impression on everyone, as it did on me. My younger brother of 13 years old stated that "it wasn't too bad, and was quite quick" which, as far as I'm concerned, is a huge personal success! Having shared the most stunning picture of communion from this Mass, I am happy to show you the rest of the photos to give a sense of the wonderful, edifying atmosphere that day.

Introit. SALVE, sancta Parens, eníxa puerpera Regem: qui cælum terrámque regit in sæculórum. Ps. 44, 2. Eructávit cor meum verbum bonum: dico ego opera mea Regi.	HAIL, holy Parent, that didst bring forth the King, Who ruleth heaven and earth for ever and ever. Ps. My heart hath uttered a good word: I speak of my works to the King.
Collect. GRANT us Thy servants, we beseech Thee, O God, to enjoy perpetual health of mind and of body: and by the glorious intercession of blessed Mary ever virgin, to be delivered from present sadness, and to rejoice in everlasting gladness. Through our Lord…
Lesson. Ecclus. 24, 14-16. From the beginning, and before the future age I shall not fail; and in the holy habitation established, and in the holy city likewise I rested, and in Jerusalem is my power. And I took root in an honourable people, and in the portion of my God is the inheritance thereof, and in the fullness of the Saints my abode.
Gradual. BENEDICTA et venerábilis es, Virgo María, quæ sine tactu pudóris invénta es mater Salvatóris. V. Virgo Dei Génitrix, quem totus non capit orbis, in tua se clausit víscera factus homo. Tract. Gaude, María, Virgo, cuncta hæreses sola interemísti. V. Quæ Gabriélis Archángeli dictis credisísti. V. Dum virgo Deum et Hóminem genuísti: et post partum Virgo invioláta permanísti. V. Dei Génitrix, intercéde pro nobis.	BLESSED and honourable art thou, O Virgin Mary, who without spot wert found the Mother of the Saviour. V. Virgin Mother of God, He whom the whole world cannot hold, enclosed Himself in thy womb being made man. Tract. Rejoice, O Virgin Mary, thou alone hast destroyed all heresies. V. Who didst believe the words of the Archangel Gabriel. V. Whilst a virgin thou didst bring forth God and Man: and after childbirth didst remain a Virgin inviolate. V. Mother of God, intercede for us.
Gospel. Luke 11, 27-28. AT THAT TIME, as Jesus was speaking to the multitudes, a certain woman from the crowd, lifting up her voice, said to Him, “Blessed is the womb that bore Thee, and the breasts which Thou hast sucked.” But He said, “Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.
Offertory. FELIX namque es, sacra Virgo María, et omni laude digníssima, quia ex te ortus est sol justítiæ, Christus Deus noster.	HAPPY indeed art thou, O sacred Virgin Mary, and most worthy of all praise, for out of thee arose the Sun of Justice, Christ our Lord.
Secret. THROUGH thy favour, O Lord, and the intercession of blessed Mary ever virgin, may this oblation conduce to our present and future prosperity and peace. Through our Lord...
Preface. VERE dignum et justum est, æquum et salutáre nos tibi semper, et ubíque grátias ágere: Domine sancte, Pater omnipotens, ætérne Deus: Et te in Veneratione beátæ Maríæ semper Vírginis collaudáre, benedícere et prædicáre. Quæ et Unigénitum tuum Sancti Spíritus obumbratióne concépit: et virginitátis glória permanénte, lumen ætérnum nostrum. Per quem majestátem tuam laudant Angeli, adórant Dominatiónes, tremunt Potestátes, Cæli, cælorúmque Virtútes, ac beáta Sérephim, sócia exsultatíone concélebrant. Cum quibus et nostras voces, ut admítti júbeas, deprecámur, súpplici confessióne dicéntes: Sanctus, sanctus, sanctus...	IT is truly meet and just, right and available to salvation that we should always and in all places give thanks to Thee, O holy Lord, Father almighty, eternal God: and when venerating the Blessed Mary, ever Virgin, should praise and bless and glorify Thee. Who by the overshadowing of the Holy Ghost, conceived Thine only-begotten Son; and the glory of her virginity still remianing, brought forth the eternal light of the world, Jesus Christ our Lord. By whom the Angels praise Thy majesty, the Dominations adore it, the Powers tremble before it, the Heavens, the heavenly Seraphim, with common jubilee glorify it. Together with whom we beseech Thee that we may be admitted to join our humble voices, saying: Holy, holy, holy...
Communion antiphon. BEATA víscera Maríæ Vírginis, quæ portavérunt Ætérni Patris Fílium.	BLESSED is the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which bore the Eternal Father’s Son.
Post-communion. HAVING partaken, O Lord, of this aid to our salvation, grant, we beseech Thee, that always and everywhere we may be protected through the patronage of blessed Mary, she in whose honour we have made these offerings unto Thy Majesty. Through our Lord...

For the above text I used a portable 1956 Sunday Missal (Brepols' Catholic Press, Belgium) which omits the actual Latin text in the Propers except in the parts of the Mass which can be sung (to presumably encourage participation). Its a nice little Missal which has served me excellently, being genuinely small enough to fit in the pocket. I found it as a dusty relic in my Chaplaincy, complete with the prayers at the foot of the altar crossed out in biro (to fit the 1965 changes). Hopefully the Latin Mass Society will soon be producing such Missals for all of their members.

Part 2: The Baptism
Part 3: The Consecration

All the colour photos contained in this post are courtesy of Mr. Peter Gosling and are copyrighted to him.