Imperium SacrumThe Holy Roman Empire in Liturgy The Roman Empire in the West came to an end in 476 A.D., although it continued in the East. When the Pope crowned Charlemagne as Emperor in 800, the ideal, which had never vanished entirely, was restored. Despite many conflicts between the Imperial and Papal powers, there was an underlying unity which was unbreakable. The great Dom Louis Gueranger relays to us this ceremony for the seventh lesson of Christmas Matins (dealing with the order of Caesar Augustus for the census which brought Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem) at St. Peter’s: This seventh Lesson, according to the Ceremonial of the Roman Church, is to be sung by the Emperor, if he happen to be in Rome at the time; and this is done in order to honour the Imperial power, whose decrees were the occasion of Mary and Joseph going to Bethlehem, and so fulfilling the designs of God, which he had revealed to the ancient Prophets. The Emperor is led to the Pope, in the same manner as the Knight who had to sing the fifth lesson; he puts on the Cope; two Cardinal-Deacons gird him with the sword, and go with him to the Ambo. The Lesson being concluded, the Emperor again goes before the Pope, and kisses his foot, as being the Vicar of the Christ whom he has just announced. This was echoed by the prayers of the Roman Missal, until 1955. Among the “Occasional Prayers” (sets of collects, secrets, and post-communions for various intentions, to be said by the priest after finishing the propers), we find the following, “For the Emperor”:
COLLECT
SECRET
POSTCOMMUNION Nor was this the only liturgical treatment the Emperor received. Twice a year, all Catholics came into contact with the Imperial idea. Among the Good Friday Collects was inserted the following: Let us pray also for our most Christian Emperor N., that Our God and Lord may, for our perpetual peace, subject all barbarous nations to him. Let us pray. Let us kneel down. R. Arise. O Almighty and Eternal God, in Whose hands are the powers of all men and the rights of all Kingdoms; graciously look down upon the Roman Empire, that the nations that confide in their fierceness may be repressed by the power of Thy right hand. Through Our Lord. R. Amen. Then again, on Holy Saturday, during the Exsultet, the prayer blessing the Paschal Candle, the priest would chant: Regard also our most devout Emperor N., and since Thou knowest, O God, the desires of his heart, grant by the ineffable grace of Thy goodness and mercy, that he may enjoy with all his people the tranquillity of perpetual peace and heavenly victory. — Charles Coulombe, KCStS
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News of the WorldAUSTRALIAYoung Catholics yearn for traditionSYDNEY - As pilgrims from across the world gather for World Youth Day, more and more young people are seeking to return to more traditional Catholic Latin masses. The Juventutem movement has been quietly gathering momentum in Australia and around the world since the Pope last year recommended that all parishes offer a traditional Latin service alongside the English mass.
QUEBECJudge overrules father’s discipline of unruly childGATINEAU - A judge has overruled a father’s refusal to allow his 12-year-old daughter go on a school trip in punishment for her unruly behavior.
ALBERTATribunal orders evangelical pastor to cease preachingCALGARY - The Alberta Human Rights Tribunal has forbidden evangelical pastor Stephen Boisson from expressing his moral opposition to homosexuality and ordered him to pay $5,000 “damages for pain and suffering” and apologize to the activist who filed the complaint.
CHILEConstitutional Court outlaws morning-after pillSANTIAGO - The Constitutional Court of Chile has voted 5-4 to outlaw the distribution of the morning after pill. The final text of the ruling has yet to be released, as the justices are wrapping up their opinions.
SOUTH AMERICANewspaper: Virgin Mary Prevented Colombia WarBOGOTÁ - The Colombian daily El Tiempo has reported that the high tensions between Colombia on the one side and Venezuela and Ecuador on the other de-escalated after President Uribe of Colombia had a rosary said in the chapel of the Presidential Palace. The prayer specifically implored the protection of Mary as patroness of Colombia, Venezuela, and Ecuador.
AUSTRIAPoll: Austrians desire EU treaty referendumVIENNA - Sixty percent of Austrians want a referendum on the new EU constitutional treaty according to an OGM poll. 85 percent believe they have not been properly informed about the treaty. 47 percent expressed dissatisfaction with the EU, compared to the 44 percent who are happy with the EU.
ARGENTINAShrub fires choke Buenos AiresBUENOS AIRES - The Argentine capital has been smoke-laden for nearly a week due to intentional fires started by farmers to clear shrubland north of the city.
Around the Sphere‘A Sexual Revolution’Jennifer Fulwiler writes of her journey from pro-choice atheist to pro-life Catholic in America magazine.
The BNP’s rise and New Labour’s demise are linkedThe growing success of the British National Party is not due to disaffected Conservative Party supporters but rather Labourites discontented with their party’s leadership, Gary Younge explains at The Guardian.
Zimbabwe & the U.N. CharterThe Russian ambassador slammed the proposed sanctions against Zimbabwe as “is nothing but the council’s attempt to interfere in the internal affairs of a member state” and, as Daniel Larison points out at Eunomia, he is right.
A History of Political TrialsNot a single head of state who has faced trial for his political actions has ever been acquitted, writes John Laughland introducing his new book, A History of Political Trials from Charles I to Saddam Hussein, over on Brussels Journal.
Was World War II just as pointless as Iraq? It makes me feel like a traitor to write this. The Second World War was my religion for most of my life. Brave, alone, bombed, defiant, we, the British, had won it on our own against the most evil and powerful enemy imaginable, writes Peter Hitchens at The Mail on Sunday.
Whatever happened to the good old working man?He got rubbed out of history as being no longer desirable or fashionable to the modern world. And who rubbed him out? His supposed best “comrade”, the Socialist Left - that’s who! So writes Tribunus at Roman Christendom.
Political mythsThe Republicans (and the Democrats) have made the great error of believing their own propaganda, as well as relying on stereotype in stead of reality, writes Daniel Larison at Eunomia.
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