Earthquakes and other calamities afflicted the diocese of Vienne in Dauphiny (France) in the fifth century, and St. Mamertus, who was bishop of that diocese, instituted a penitential procession with public supplications on the Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday before Ascension Day. In 816, Pope Leo III introduced it into Rome, and soon after it became a general observance throughout the Church.
The Litany of the Saints, the Psalms, and the Prayers sung during the procession on these days are supplications: hence the name of Rogation Days (rogare, to ask) applied to them. The object of these rogation supplications is to appease the anger of God and avert the scourges of His justice, and to pray for the harvest.
A similar function is observed on April 25, on the feast of St. Mark, but this is of Roman origin. It is called the Greater Litanies in contrast to the Lesser Litanies of the Rogation Days; but in practice there is no difference between them...
St. Peter of Verona was a famous preacher of the Dominican Order. From childhood he was conspicuous for his refutation of heretics and his singular innocence. He longed to die for the faith, and his prayer was heard in 1252.
The Treasury of Latin Prayers contains the full Litany of the Saints, together with Psalm 69 [70], in English and in Latin - most appropiate for these days.
Incredible news! Just this past Saturday I mentioned a Peruvian Cardinal who has banned the practice of receiving Communion in the hand, and now it comes to my attention (thanks to the New Liturgical Movement) that a certain Bishop Athanasius Schneider has published an article in L'Osservatore Romano, which article is a summary of his soon to be published book Dominus Est.
Topic: a return to receiving Communion on the tongue rather than in the hand.
Publisher: the official Vatican Press, Libreria Editrice Vaticana.
Preface written by: Archbishop Malcolm Ranjith, the second in command (behind Arinze) of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Disciple of the Sacraments. Ranjith fully agrees that Communion in the hand should probably be suppressed!
This is a book to look forward to! In the meantime, the good bishop's article summarizing his book is made available by Musica Sacra here: Historical-Liturgical Notes on the Rite of the Eucharist by the Most Reverend Athanasius Schneider, Auxiliary Bishop of Karaganda, Kazakhstan. Viva Bishop Schneider! Deo Gratias!
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