Online ebook: “The Ritual of the New Testament”, by T.E. Bridgett

See this online ebook:

• The Ritual of the New Testament: An Essay on the Principles and Origin of Catholic Ritual in Reference to the New Testament, 3^rd edition, by Rev. T.E. Bridgett, C.Ss.R. (London, Burns and Oates; New York: Catholic Publication Society, 1887). With Imprimatur. Available in pdf, epub, mobi/kindle, etc. formats at Internet Archive and Open Library, with a 2^nd copy at Internet Archive, Open Library and Open Library, and a 3^rd copy at Internet Archive. Also available at Google Books, at Google Books, at HathiTrust Digital Library, and (with some pages reserved for members) at Forgotten Books.

On the anniversary of the issuance of the Apostolic Letter Given Motu Proprio “Summorum Pontificum” on the Use of the Roman Liturgy Prior to the Reform of 1970, by Pope Benedict XVI (7 July 2007), for which we offer our own prayer of thanksgiving:

Our God and Savior Jesus Christ, we thank You for giving us Summorum Pontificum through Your faithful vicar Benedict, who thus affirmed and strengthened our liberty to celebrate the living Forms of the Roman Rite. Grant that we, who are nourished by the liturgy and tradition of Your Body the Church, may be ever filled with Your grace and truth, that we might remain in Your love until death and dwell with You forever in heaven. Amen.

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Online audiobook & ebook: “The Sacrifice of the Mass: An Explanation”, by the Rev. M. Gavin, S.J.

See this online ebook and audiobook:

• The Sacrifice of the Mass: An Explanation of its Doctrine, Rubrics and Prayers; with an Introductory Chapter, 5^th edition, revised, enlarged, and corrected, by the Rev. M. Gavin, S.J. (London: Burns and Oates; New York, Cincinnati, Chicago: Benziger Brothers, 1906). With Imprimatur. Available at the HathiTrust Digital Library; and in pdf, epub, mobi, and other formats at Open Library and Internet Archive.
• The Sacrifice of the Mass: An Explanation of its Doctrine, Rubrics and Prayers; with an Introductory Chapter, 3^rd edition, by the Rev. M. Gavin, S.J. (London: Burns and Oates; New York, Cincinnati, Chicago: Benziger Brothers, 1903). With Imprimatur. Available in pdf format (on this page) of the Grupo São Tomás de Aquino. As linked from this page of Catholic AudioBooks, it may be read online on this page of the-latinmass, and it is available in pdf, epub, mobi, and other formats at Internet Archive.
  • The audiobook of what appears to be the 3^rd edition, read out by Maureen S. O’Brien (2008) is available in video form (on this page), published 25 September 2017 by Classic Catholic Audiobooks.
  • The same audiobook is also available in 3 parts at Internet Archive (linked from this page of Catholic AudioBooks): Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3.

See also the following work(s) on the same subject:

• Nothing Superfluous: An Explanation of the Symbolism of the Rite of St. Gregory the Great, by the Rev. James W. Jackson, FSSP (Redbrush, 2016). May be purchased on this page at Fraternity Publications; and at Amazon.com, with the Kindle edition here. (as linked from this post by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf.)

On the Feast of Pope St. Pius V in the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite. For other legally free ebooks, you may access the List of Free eBooks (Arranged by Title) and the List of Free eBooks (Grouped by Subject).

Online ebook: “The Externals of the Catholic Church”, by Rev. John Francis Sullivan

See this online ebook:

• The Externals of the Catholic Church: Her Government, Ceremonies, Festivals, Sacramentals, and Devotions, by Rev. John Francis Sullivan (New York: P. J. Kenedy & Sons, 1917). With Imprimatur. May be read online or downloaded in multiple formats at Internet Archive and Open Library. The 2^nd edition, revised to conform to the new code of canon law, may be read online or downloaded in multiple formats at Open Library.

See also the following relevant works previously indexed in the Project:

• The Chair of Peter or the Papacy, by John Nicholas Murphy
• The Evidence for the Papacy, by Colin Lindsay
• From Tarsus to Rome: The Story of the First Christian Hierarchy, by Herman Joseph Heuser
• The Pope of Rome and the Popes of the Oriental Orthodox Church, by Rev. Caesarius Tondini
• The Purpose of the Papacy, by John S. Vaughan
• Saint Peter, Bishop of Rome, Proved from the Fathers, History, Archaeology, by Rev. T. Livius, C.Ss.R.
• St. Peter in Rome and His Tomb on the Vatican Hill, by Arthur Stapylton Barnes
• The Syriac Tradition on St. Peter and the Popes, by Cyril Benham Benni
• The True and the False Infallibility of the Popes, by Joseph Fessler

On the Feast of the Chair of Saint Peter in the Roman Rite. For other legally free ebooks, you may access the List of Free eBooks (Arranged by Title) and the List of Free eBooks (Grouped by Subject).

“The scribes and the Pharisees have sitten on the chair of Moses. All things therefore whatsoever they shall say to you, observe and do: but according to their works do ye not; for they say, and do not.” (St. Matthew xxiii, 2-3 DRB)

“[T]he reason he first said ‘The scribes and pharisees sit upon the chair of Moses’ was so that what he then added, viz., ‘Do everything and observe everything they tell you,’ might be understood to apply to those things which pertain to that chair. However, things which are contrary to the faith or to good morals do not pertain to that chair.” (St. Thomas Aquinas, Quodlibet 3.4.2)

Online text: “The Vestments of the Roman Rite”, by Adrian Fortescue

See this online text:

• “The Vestments of the Roman Rite”, by Adrian Fortescue. The text describes it as: “A paper read at the annual meeting of the Westminster Cathedral Altar Society, Cardinal Bourne presiding, Feb. 8, 1912”. Available in pdf format (on this page) at the Maternal Heart of Mary Parish, Lewisham, Sydney.

On the Feast of Saint Sigfrid of Sweden. For other legally free ebooks, you may access the List of Free eBooks (Arranged by Title) and the List of Free eBooks (Grouped by Subject). From the text:

“[T]hese vestments, they are but a little detail of ritual, yet they too are a wonderful witness of our unbroken continuity… If Ambrose or Augustine or Leo came back now… [and] wandered into a Catholic church, there and there alone they would be at home. They would see the sacrifice they offered still shown forth in the same way. They would recognize the prayers and understand the language that they used. And as they gazed from the barbarous clothes of the congregation to the altar they would see at least one man dressed as they were… So the ghosts of the mighty men who spread the name of Christ throughout the dying Empire would know that, in spite of all changes, their Church still stands, after sixteen long centuries.”

Free ebook: “Is the Christ of the Catholic Church the Christ of the Gospels?”, by Francis Cahusac

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• What think you of Christ? Is the Christ of the Catholic Church the Christ of the Gospels?, by Francis H. E. Cahusac (London, Manchester, Birmingham, Glasgow: R. & T. Washbourne, 1914). With Imprimatur. May be read online, and available in various formats (pdf, epu, mobi/kindle, etc.) at Open Library and Internet Archive. Also available at the University of Toronto Libraries (pdf format), at Barnes & Noble (free Nook ebook), and at Forgotten Books (some pages accessible by members only).
• 

  Image from Wikipedia

  Hard copies of the work are being offered for sale at Preserving Christian Publications and at Amazon.com.

On the Feast of Saint Thomas the Apostle in the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite, and of Saint Peter Canisius in the Ordinary Form of the Roman Rite. For other legally free ebooks, you may access the List of Free eBooks (Arranged by Title) and the List of Free eBooks (Grouped by Subject).

“It is faith that lets us understand how the worlds were fashioned by God’s word; how it was from things unseen that the things we see took their origin… and it is impossible to please God without faith. Nobody reaches God’s presence until he has learned to believe that God exists, and that he rewards those who try to find him.” (Hebrews xi, 3, 6)

Online text: “Sacred Music”, Vol. 128, No. 4 (Winter 2001)

See this online text:

• Sacred Music, Vol. 128, No. 4 (Winter 2001). Published by the Church Music Association of America. Includes the articles: “The Easter Triduum in Milan”, by Vincent A. Lenti; “The Mozarabic Chant Books of Cisneros”, by Dr. Angel Fernandez Collado; and “Reflections on the Liturgical Reform”, by Professor Roberto de Mattei. Available in pdf format (on this page) at Musica Sacra.

Image from Wikipedia. 

On the Feast of Saint Dominic of Silos (Domingo de Silos), O.S.B. For other legally free ebooks, you may access the List of Free eBooks (Arranged by Title) and the List of Free eBooks (Grouped by Subject). 

 

“Not every kind of music can have a place in Christian worship. It has its standards, and that standard is the Logos. If we want to know whom we are dealing with, the Holy Spirit or the unholy spirit, we have to remember that it is the Holy Spirit who moves us to say, “Jesus is Lord” (1 Cor 12:3). The Holy Spirit leads us to the Logos, and he leads us to a music that serves the Logos as a sign of the sursum corda, the lifting up of the human heart. Does it integrate man by drawing him to what is above, or does it cause his disintegration into formless intoxication or mere sensuality? That is the criterion for a music in harmony with logos…” (Joseph Ratzinger / Pope Benedict XVI, as quoted in Catholic Champion)

Free ebook: “The Standard Catholic Hymnal”, compiled by James A. Reilly

See this legally free ebook:

• The Standard Catholic Hymnal, compiled, edited, and arranged by James A. Reilly (Boston, Mass.: McLaughlin & Reilly, 1921). With Imprimatur. Available in pdf format (here) through this page of Corpus Christi Watershed (and linked from this page of Top Catholic Songs.)
  • [N.B., We have concluded that this work is in the public domain because it was published before 1923 (see the relevant webpage at the Cornell University Library Copyright Information Center). If this conclusion is incorrect, please comment immediately so we can remove the link. Thank you.]

On the Feast of St. Cecilia. See also our list of free Catholic ebooks on music. For other legally free ebooks, you may access the List of Free eBooks (Arranged by Title) and the List of Free eBooks (Grouped by Subject).

“Not every kind of music can have a place in Christian worship. It has its standards, and that standard is the Logos. If we want to know whom we are dealing with, the Holy Spirit or the unholy spirit, we have to remember that it is the Holy Spirit who moves us to say, “Jesus is Lord” (1 Cor 12:3). The Holy Spirit leads us to the Logos, and he leads us to a music that serves the Logos as a sign of the sursum corda, the lifting up of the human heart. Does it integrate man by drawing him to what is above, or does it cause his disintegration into formless intoxication or mere sensuality? That is the criterion for a music in harmony with logos, a form of that logiké latreia (reason-able, logos-worthy worship)…” (Joseph Ratzinger / Pope Benedict XVI, as quoted in Catholic Champion)

Free ebooks: Canons and Decrees of the Council of Trent

See these legally free ebooks and/or online texts containing the documents of the Council of Trent:

• The Canons and Decrees of the Sacred and Oecumenical Council of Trent, celebrated under the Sovereign Pontiffs Paul III, Julius III and Pius IV, translated by Rev.  James Waterworth; to which are prefixed essays on the external and internal history of the Council (London: Burns and Oates; New York: Catholic Publication Society Company) Available in various formats (pdf, epub, mobi/kindle) at Open Library and Internet Archive. [N.B. The index page says copyright year 1888, while the preface states that it was written in 1848.] Another edition (London: Dolman, 1848) may be read online at the Hanover Historical Texts Project (Scanned by Hanover College students in 1995).
• Documents of the Council of Trent may be read online at Internet Archive (the 17 May 2013 snapshot of the apparently defunct Catholic Community Forum).
• Dogmatic Canons and Decrees: Authorized Translations of the Dogmatic Decrees of the Council of Trent, the Decree on the Immaculate Conception, the Syllabus of Pope Pius IX, and the Decrees of the Vatican Council (New York: Devin-Adair Co., 1912). With Imprimatur. Available at Open Library and Internet Archive [N.B., According to the Preface, it includes Canon Waterworth’s translation for the Council of Trent, Cardinal Manning’s for the First Vatican Council, and the translation of the Syllabus authorized by Cardinal McCabe, Archbishop of Dublin.]
• The Canons on the Holy Mass and the Blessed Eucharist, by the Council of Trent. May be read online at Catholic Liturgical Library. These include canons concerning the Most Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist (September 5, 1551); on Communion Under Both Species and that of Little Children (June 4, 1562); and on the Sacrifice of the Mass (September 17, 1562).

On the Memorial of the Holy Ecumenical Council of Trent in the Maronite church. For other legally free ebooks, you may access the List of Free eBooks (Arranged by Title) and the List of Free eBooks (Grouped by Subject).

O God, our refuge and our strength, look down with mercy upon the people who cry to Thee; and by the intercession of the glorious and immaculate Virgin Mary, Mother of God, of Saint Joseph her spouse, of the blessed Apostles Peter and Paul, and of all the saints, in Thy mercy and goodness hear our prayers for the conversion of sinners, and for the liberty and exaltation of the Holy Mother the Church. Through the same Christ Our Lord. Amen. (From Sancta Missa)

Online text: “Denial of Holy Communion to Those Obstinately Persevering in Manifest Grave Sin”, by Raymond Cardinal Burke

See this online text:

• “Canon 915: The Discipline Regarding the Denial of Holy Communion to Those Obstinately Persevering in Manifest Grave Sin”, by the Most Rev. [now Cardinal] Raymond L. Burke, Archbishop of St. Louis, Periodica de Re Canonica, Vol. 96 (2007) pp. 3-58. May be read online on this page of the EWTN Library; and on this page of the Real Presence Eucharistic Education and Adoration Association, linked to from In the Light of the Law (blogspot) and In the Light of the Law (wordpress).

On the Memorial of Saint Raymond of Penyafort in the Ordinary Form of the Roman Rite; and in celebration of the 22nd anniversary of the episcopal consecration of Raymond Leo Cardinal Burke (6 January 1995). For other legally free ebooks, you may access the List of Free eBooks (Arranged by Title) and the List of Free eBooks (Grouped by Subject).

“And therefore, if anyone eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord unworthily, he will be held to account for the Lord’s body and blood. A man must examine himself first, and then eat of that bread and drink of that cup; he is eating and drinking damnation to himself if he eats and drinks unworthily, not recognizing the Lord’s body for what it is.” (1 Corinthians 11:27-29)

Free ebook: “The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass; With Notes and Dissertations Elucidating its Doctrines and Ceremonies”, by Daniel Rock

See this legally free ebook:

• Hierurgia; or, the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass; With Notes and Dissertations Elucidating its Doctrines and Ceremonies, and Numerous Illustrations, 3^rd edition, by Daniel Rock, revised by W. H. James Weale (London : John Hodges, 1892). Volume 1 is available in various formats at Internet Archive and Open Library, with a 2^nd copy at Internet Archive and Open Library; and at eBooksRead.com. Volume 2 is available in various formats at Internet Archive and Open Library, with a 2^nd copy at Internet Archive and Open Library.

On the Feast of Pope St. Pius V in the Maronite church. For other legally free ebooks, you may access the List of Free eBooks (Arranged by Title) and the List of Free eBooks (Grouped by Subject).

O God, our refuge and our strength, look down with mercy upon the people who cry to Thee; and by the intercession of the glorious and immaculate Virgin Mary, Mother of God, of Saint Joseph her spouse, of the blessed Apostles Peter and Paul, and of all the saints, in Thy mercy and goodness hear our prayers for the conversion of sinners, and for the liberty and exaltation of the Holy Mother the Church. Through the same Christ Our Lord. Amen. (From Sancta Missa)