May 6, 2018

Celebrating First Friday and the Feast of St. Monica in Windsor Terrace, Brooklyn

Detail of the 12th Station of the Cross
Jesus dies on the Cross
Oremus, Deus, mærintium consolátor et in te sperántium salus, qui beátæ Mónicæ pias lácrimas in conversióne film sui Augustini misericórditer suscepisti: da nobis utriúsque intervéntu; peccáta nostra deploráre, et gratiæ tuæ indulgéntiam invenire. Per Dominus nostrum lesum Christum, Filius tuum: qui tecum vivia etregnat in unitate Spiritus Sancti Deus, per omnia saecula saeculorum. Amen —The Collect at the Mass*
Friday evening I joined some sixty parishioners at beautiful Holy Name of Jesus Church (245 Prospect Park West) in Windsor Terrace, Brooklyn for Solemn High Traditional Latin Mass for the Feast of St. Monica, patron saint of wives, difficult marriages, widows, victims of abuse and adultery, despondent mothers, and the conversion of relatives. 
Arriving early, I made my usual prayers of thanks, praise, and intercession for the happy repose of the souls of my ancestors. Being the first Friday of the month, I also carried out my Holy Hour of Reparation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, which included the Act of Consecration to the Sacred Heart by St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, meditating on the Stations of the Cross, and Eucharistic Adoration.
The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus
Photos by New York Scugnizzo
The Most Holy Sacrifice of the Mass was sung by Celebrant and Homilist Fr. Stephen Saffron, Parochial Vicar at St. Anselm; Fr. Joseph Zwosta, Deacon; and Mr. James Barret, Subdeacon. The sacred ministers were dutifully assisted by Robert Jurman (MC), Brian Hilley, Arthur Grange, Patrice Legute, Joseph Siano and Lorenzo Tinio. The motets and Mass setting were composed by choir director David Adam Smith and gloriously chanted by Catherine Hedberg, Kate Maroney, Heitor Caballero, Art Bryan Manabat, Andrew Padgett and Sean Salamon.
Thank you Rev. Lawrence D. Ryan, Pastor and members of the Holy Name congregation for your continued warmth and hospitality. Special thanks to Cindy Brolsma and organizers for your hard work and dedication. Once again, it was a great joy to celebrate our faith together. 
* O God, the consoler of the afflicted, and the salvation of those who hope in thee, who mercifully accepted the pious tears of the blessed Monica for the conversion of Augustine, her son; grant us by the intercession of both to deplore our sins and to obtain the grace of thy pardon. Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God work without end. Amen