What is the Mass and a little on the Dies irae

=) hello all! I'm resting from everything on molecular biology now. =\

too much! too much! -- or perhaps because I haven't finished revising enough of the concepts. I am of the opinion that lots of things taught and thought in molecular biology is SPECULATION - especially when they start rambling on, on comparative genomics and how everything fits the stupid evolution model that all 'good' geneticists these days have to assume that evolution is correct. These evolutionists have to read St, Thomas Aquinas and see his treatise on the Unmoved Mover - God the Creator. Scientists today have to study medieval philosophy! One of the lamentable facts of the 20th Century is the fact that: We have all forgotten about God. =( and also, as I heard one Sunday, that we have all lost the sense of sin. =(

All I can say is that, Faith and Reason are not mutually exclusive.

And they are definitely not independent.

What happened to the good old days (perhaps?) when we had good scientists around - e.g. Louis Pasteur, who once said that the more he studied, the more his faith approached that of a Breton peasant woman, meaning that the more he delved into science the easier it was to have a simple and complete belief in and trust in God. =D!!!

(It has been the same for me.)

I read this in an article in the Journal, The Angelus, March 2001, in an article by Rev. Fr. Juan Carlos Iscara titled Prometheus' Gift - A moral primer on Genetic Engineering, and I quote:

"..it is impossible (and therefore useless) to argue with one who denies - as many scientists do - the absoluteness and immutability, and even the existence of basic principles of the natural and moral order.." "Cum negante principio nequit disputari!""

The bold phrase is latin for: "It is impossible to argue with somebody who denies the priniciple!"

Here is a post from a friend, halfway across the world. He delves into the evolution debate very nicely, in my opinion.

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Please do forgive me for being a little morbid here, writing about death and all, but I think that the most important thing for any person to do, perhaps, is to think of what you would have liked to do/perhaps have achieved/accomplished on your deathbed.

Death comes as a thief and we do not know when our death will be.

It has been on my thoughts all these while, because,

to us Catholics, death is not the final end, death is just the final step where your physical life (because we have bodies) on earth ends. Death is the most important point in the time of a soul's life because that is the moment where particular judgement occurs. Catechism teaches us that there are 2 judgements, 1)particular judgement - judgement of that particular soul, his life and whether the soul can attain eternal life, 2)general judgement - this is expounded by St, John in the last book of the Catholic bible - the Apocalypse.

In my opinion, a Catholic who lives on earth, lives only for this day, his/her deathbed. Because it is at this point in time where everything really matters. I've blogged about this sometime back, here's the link. There's something from the Imitation of Christ(really good book, helped me alot!) there. =)

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Here is something that His Holiness, Pope Saint Pius X said, which will answer the question, as per the title of the post, on what is the Mass.

"The Holy Mass is a prayer itself, even the highest prayer that exists. It is the sacrifice, dedicated by our Redeemer at the Cross, and repeated every day on the altar. If you wish to hear Mass as it should be heard, you must follow with eye, heart, and mouth all that happens at the altar. Further, you must pray with the Priest the holy words said by him in the Name of Christ and which Christ says by him. You have to associate your heart with the holy feelings which are contained in these words and in this manner you ought to follow all that happens at the altar. When acting in this way you have prayed Holy Mass."

The Dies irae is the sequence from the Mass of the Dead, and it is said on Nov 2, All Souls' Day and is also said in all the Masses for the Dead.

Very subtle are the main themes and contemplations on death. =)

Day of wrath

and doom impending

David's word

with Sibyl's blending,

Heaven and earth

in ashes ending.

O what fear

man's bosom rendeth,

When from heaven

the Judge descendeth,

On whose sentence

all dependeth.

Wonderous sound

the trumpet's flingeth,

Through earth's sepulchres

it ringeth,

All before the throne

it bringeth.

Death is struck,

and nature quaking,

All creation

is awaking,

To its Judge

an answer making.

Lo, the book

exactly worded,

Wherein all

hath been recorded,

Thence shall judgement

be awarded.

When the Judge

His seat attaineth,

And each hidden deed arraigneth,

Nothing unavenged

remaineth.

What shalt I, frail man,

be pleading?

Who for me, be interceding

When the just

are mercy needing?

King of majesty, tremendous,

Who dost free salvation

send us,

Fount of pity,

then befriend us.

Think, kind Jesus,

my salvation

Caused Thy wondrous

Incarnation,

Leave me not, to reprobation.

Faint and weary

Thou hast sought me,

On the Cross

of suffering bought me,

Shall such grace

be vainly brought me?

Righteous Judge,

for sin's pollution

Grant Thy gift, of absolution,

Ere that day,

of retribution.

Guilty now,

I pour my moaning,

All my shame

with anguish owning,

Spare, O God,

Thy suppliant groaning.

Through the sinful woman

shriven,

Through the dying thief

forgiven,

Thou to me

a hope hast given.

Worthless are

my prayers and sighing,

Yet, good Lord,

in grace complying,

Rescue me

from fires undying.

With Thy sheep,

a place provide me,

From the goats afar,

divide me,

To Thy right hand,

do Thou guide me.

When the wicked

are confounded,

Doomed to flames

of woe unbounded,

Call me

with Thy Saints surrounded.

Low I kneel

with heart's submission,

See, like ashes,

my contrition,

Help me in my last condition.

Ah! that day

of tears and mourning,

From the dust

of earth returning,

Man for judgement

must prepare him,

Spare, O God,

In mercy spare him.

Lord, all-pitying, Jesus blest,

Grant them Thine eternal

rest. Amen.

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Today, incidentally, is the 13th of October, 2006 - the 89th Anniversary of the "Miracle of the Sun" at Fatima. - I'll post more about this in the next post - i hope, if I have the time =).

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May the Divine Asistance always remain with us, And may the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

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God Bless all!

In Christo et Maria,

-rachelannethérèse