Saint Rose of Lima

Today is the feast day of Saint Rose of Lima, Secondary Patroness of the Philippines. Unlike the feast of Saint Pudentiana, the other Secondary Patroness of the Philippines, which was completely impeded by the Vigil of Pentecost this year, the feast of Saint Rose of Lima is celebrated this year on its proper day in the calendar of the usus antiquior.

Saint Rose of Lima became patroness of the Philippines by virtue of the bull Sacrosancti apostolatus cura, issued by Clement X on 11 August 1760.

We, remembering, with the great spiritual joy of Our mind, the merits of the aforementioned Blessed Rose, who for a long time and abroad hath filled the whole Church with the sweet odour of Christ, favourably desiring to accede to the pious and devout requests humbly made to Us on this subject by the aforesaid King Charles (II of Spain) and Queen Maria Anna (of Neuburg), and adhering to the footsteps of Our predecessor Clement (IX), by the aforesaid authority, and by the tenor of these presents, select and declare Blessed Rose of Lima, with the same prerogatives, universal and principal patroness of each and every province, realm, isle, and clime of the entire American continent, of the Philippines, and of the Indies.

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Nos, gloriosæ B. Rosæ praedictæ, quæ Ecclesiam universam bono Christi odore longe lateque perfundit, merita magno cum spirituali animi nostri gaudio recolentes, piisque et devotis dictorum Caroli regis et Mariannæ reginæ supplicationibus nobis super hoc humiliter porrectis favorabiliter annuere cupientes, ac memorati Clementis prædecessoris vestigiis inhærentes, eamdem B. Rosam de S. Maria in universam et principaliorem patronam omnium et singularum provinciarum, regnorum, insularum, et regionum terræ firmæ totius Americæ, Philippinarum, et Indiarum, cum eisdem prærogativis, dicta auctoritate, tenore præsentium, eligimus pariter et declaramus.

In our ordines, Saint Rose of Lima was ranked duplex I classis, and enjoyed the title Patrona Principalis Indiarum (while Saint Pudentiana was Patrona Principalis Insularum Philippinarum), and later Patrona Principalis Insularum Philippinarum (this time, together with Saint Pudentiana). When Pope Pius XII declared the Immaculate Conception principal patroness of the Philippines, Saint Rose and Saint Pudentiana became secondary patronesses. Nevertheless, the feasts apparently continued to be celebrated as first-class liturgical celebrations until, for still unknown reasons, they were dropped from our national calendar in September 1963. These two stories remain anecdotal, as we have not yet found any corroborating document.

So, for those reciting the Divine Office, recite the Commons of Virgins with the appointed proper lessons (of the second nocturn) and collect. Mass is also from the Commons, with incipit Dilexisti. Latin America, as well as some few other places, makes use of a proper Office and Mass of Saint Rose. The ordines of the Philippines, however, consistently indicate the Commons for this feast. Mass is here, and Office is here (pp. 31–33).

Ut in omnibus laudetur Dominus.

Sins that cry to heaven for vengeance

The past weeks confronted us with heartwrenching news about sexual abuse, scandalously but not shockingly displaying a pronounced homosexual tilt, perpetrated by priests, bishops, and at least one cardinal, against the children, adolescents, and young adults committed to their care. These sins are considered peccata clamantia, sins that cry to heaven for vengeance. And the disheartening thing about this is the fact that our spiritual fathers are party to the commission and impunity.

And so in fasting and prayer, we purposed to make a private act of reparation for these crimes. We pray that God would avert His anger from us, from the indifference we and others have shown. We ask for justice for the wronged, and conversion for the wrongdoers. We pray that God would honour the sincere efforts of many priest and bishops, laypeople as well, to address this scandal. And, uniting our sighs with those of Saint Thérèse of Lisieux, we ask the Sacred Heart of our Lord Jesus Christ to protect our priests: Keep unstained their anointed hands, which daily touch Thy Sacred Body. Keep unsullied their lips, daily purpled with Thy Precious Blood. Keep pure and unearthly their hearts, sealed with the sublime mark of the priesthood.

Let Thy holy love surround them, and shield them from the world’s contagion.

May this private act of recitation (click on the subheading below to open the booklet) help those searching for a voice with which to articulate the depth of the sorrow that envelops us now, to discover these unworthy words that could somehow enunciate the pain, and, with these, seek after the forgiveness of God.

ACT OF REPARATION FOR SEXUAL ABUSES
perpetrated by priests, and concealed by bishops

O sweet Jesus, supreme and eternal Priest, good and merciful Shepherd, Whose most holy priesthood, instituted in order for qualified men to always freely render service in Thy offices, and worthily guide Thy flock in the governance of Holy Mother Church, is most irreverently assaulted by so much despise, contempt, deception, presumption, and impunity, behold us most humbly prostrate before Thee, eager to repair by a special act of homage the cruel indifference and injuries, by which Thy Holy Church is everywhere afflicted.