Nunc Dimittis

Notes and translation: This gospel hymn, the Canticle of Simeon, is accompanied by the antiphon Salva nos. Included in the video are two very different representations of The Presentation in the Temple. The chant is sung by the Cistercian monks of Stift Heiligenkruez. The text and translation are as follows:

Salva nos, Domine, vigilantes, custodi nos
dormientes, ut vigil emus cum Christo et requiescamus in pace.
Nunc dimittis servum tuum, Domine, secundum verbum tuum in pace:
Quia viderunt oculi mei salutare tuum
Quod parasti ante faciem omnium populorum:
Lumen ad revelationem gentium, et gloriam plebis tuae Israel.

Save us, O Lord, while we are awake, and guard us
when we sleep, that we may watch with Christ and rest in peace.
Now Thou dost dismiss Thy servant, O Lord, according to Thy word in peace;
Because my eyes have seen Thy salvation,
Which Thou hast prepared before the face of all peoples:
A light to the revelation of the Gentiles, and the glory of Thy people Israel.

"For he stirs forth from his holy dwelling."

"And the moon under her feet"

One giant leap for mankind.

The Virgin (William Wordsworth)

Mother! whose virgin bosom was uncrost
With the least shade of thought to sin allied;
Woman! above all women glorified,
Our tainted nature's solitary boast;
Purer than foam on central ocean tost;
Brighter than eastern skies at daybreak strewn
With fancied roses, than the unblemished moon
Before her wane begins on heaven's blue coast;
Thy Image falls to earth. Yet some, I ween,
Not unforgiven the suppliant knee might bend,
As to a visible Power, in which did blend
All that was mixed and reconciled in Thee
Of mother's love with maiden purity,
Of high with low, celestial with terrene!

Miraculous Medals

I've been helping a friend of mine, Van Peplin, work on getting his Miraculous Medal website back up and running. What happened to him was that some people who had been hosting for him let his lease expire on his old domain name and it got snapped up by a link-farm. So although he wasn't "out of business", the flow of orders had slowed down considerably.

Fortunately we worked together to rebuild the site and have relaunched it recently. We're hoping that since we are now in Our Lady's month (May) that she will send us a few orders. As you can see on the order page, they range in price from $10 for a Brass Miraculous Medal to $600* for the 24K Gold Medal. I'm not sure there are too many places where you can buy a Miraculous Medal minted from 24K gold, so if you're in the market for something high-end, check us out.

All the Medals are really nice for several reasons. First off, they are thicker and more substantial than the el cheapo cast variety you'll find in the local gift shop. That's because these are minted in a press rather than cast, so even the brass one is high-quality. Secondly, it feels good to buy something which is made 100% in the USA. The initials "USA" are even stamped on the reverse of the medal at the bottom.

But probably my favorite thing about the medals is that Van makes each one individually right here in Cleveland, Ohio in his plant. You can read about the whole process on this page. Van even hired an artist to design an original sculpture of Our Lady for the die he made. So not only do you get a great, unique handmade product, but excellent individual attention to detail and service. Making great Miraculous Medals is as great a devotion for Van as wearing them is for other fervent Catholics.


So advise everyone who is thinking or has thought about wearing the Miraculous Medal to check out Saint Catherine's Metalworks. They were the first to sell Medals on the web back in the mid-nineties, and they are still in business making excellent products.

* - This price is no longer valid. Please call for a price.

Feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Here's the lowdown from my man, Saint Ephrem:

Son of God, grant me your own admirable Gift that I may celebrate the wondrous beauty of your beloved Mother! The Virgin gave birth to a son while preserving her virginity; she suckled him who gives nourishment to the peoples; in her immaculate breast she bore him who carries the whole world in his hands. She is Virgin and Mother, what will she not be hereafter? Holy in body, all beautiful in soul, pure of mind, upright in intelligence, perfect in feeling, chaste and faithful, pure of heart and filled with virtue.

May the hearts of virgins rejoice in Mary since of her was born the one who set humankind free from dreadful slavery. May the old Adam, wounded by the serpent, rejoice in Mary; it is Mary who gives Adam a posterity that allows him to crush the accursed serpent and who cures him of his mortal wound (Gen 3,15). Let priests rejoice in the blessed Virgin; she has brought the High Priest into the world who gave himself as a victim, putting an end to the sacrifices of the Old Covenant... Let the prophets rejoice in Mary, since in her were fulfilled their visions, in her were realized their prophecies, in her were confirmed their oracles. Let all the patriarchs rejoice in Mary since she received the blessing promised to them, she who, in her son, has brought them to completion...

Mary is the new tree of life who, instead of the bitter fruit picked by Eve, gives to mankind that sweet fruit on which the whole world is fed.