The Holy Hand Grenade Strikes Yet Again!

I am pleased to announce that Mr. Keith Kenney of Sancta Liturgia has been awarded the Order of the Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch, by merit of his articulate and sympathetic postings of various Eastern liturgical texts in his weblog.

Let the Rite of Investiture be solemnly pronounced, let the Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch be bestowed on the unfortunate happy soul, and let all festive ceremonies suitable for this time of the Advent of our Lord and the Nativity Fast be celebrated.

Let it also be known that with the next victim individual to be honored with the Order, I shall be taking down the link to the Rite of Investiture, for two reasons: 1) while it is a lovely pastiche of Monty Python's choicest skits, it is also an infringement of copyright, and I do think that the good lads of Monty Python's Flying Circus deserve better than that; 2) as a private correspondent both kindly and charitably took the trouble to inform me, the Rite could be taken as a mockery of proper religious ceremony, and that is the farthest thing from my mind or intent. In that spirit, let me recount instead the prayer which is the centerpiece of the Rite, and which expresses my prayers and wishes for Mr. Kenney and the other members of the Order:

O Lord, Jesus Christ, the True Light from the East, the Dayspring from on high, the Giver of good things, Who through Thy Transfiguration on Mount Tabor didst reveal to Thine Apostles, Peter, John, and James, in the presence of Thy Prophets Moses and Elias, Thy Glory and Power, and who art the Hope of the hopeless, the Help of the helpless, and the Salvation of our souls: Bless this orb and those to whom it is entrusted, to Thy glory and in honor of Thy saints, St. Theodore the Recruit and St. Andrew, The Fool for Christ.

Grant, O Good One, unto those to whom this orb is entrusted, all Thine earthly and Heavenly good things. Gladden them in joy with Thy countenance, and show them the paths to salvation. Be swift to fulfill the requests of their hearts and their every wish, guiding them to the doing of Thy commandments, that in gladness and rejoicing they may forever hymn and glorify Thy most honorable and majestic Name, by the intercessions of the Most blessed Mary, Ever virgin and Mother of our God, of the holy, glorious St. Theodore the Recruit and St. Andrew, The Fool for Christ, and of all Thy Saints. Amen.