St Jerome, Confessor and Doctor of the Church; commemoration of Sunday XIX Post Pentecost: Missa “In medio Ecclesiae” Saint Jerome was born in Dalmatia in 329. Even during his life he was renowned as a Doctor and interpreter of Holy Scripture. He defended Catholic teaching against many heresies; his chief aim was to be a perfect…
Month: September 2018
Carissimi: Today’s Mass; Feast of the Dedication of St Michael the Archangel
Feast of the Dedication of Saint Michael the Archangel: Missa “Benedicite Dominum” This is the original feast of the leader of the Heavenly armies, Saint Michael. The captain of the heavenly armies, the angel named in the Canon of the Mass, held from early times the first place in the Liturgy among the other angels; wherefore…
Carissimi: Today’s Mass; St. Wenceslaus
Feast of St. Wenceslaus, Martyr: Missa “In Virtute Tua” If saints have been falsely characterized as “other worldly,” the life of Wenceslaus stands as an example to the contrary: He stood for Christian values in the midst of the political intrigues which characterized 10th-century Bohemia. Wenceslaus was born in 907 near Prague, son of the Duke…
Carissimi: Today’s Mass; SS. Cosmas & Damian, Martyrs
SS. Cosmas & Damian, Martyrs: Missa “Sapiéntiam“ Early Christian physicians and martyrs whose feast is celebrated on 27 September. They were twins, born in Arabia, and practised the art of healing in the seaport Ægea, now Ayash (Ajass), on the Gulf of Iskanderun in Cilicia, Asia Minor, and attained a great reputation. They accepted no pay…
Carissimi: Today’s Mass; SS Cyprian & Justina, Martyrs
SS. Cyprian and Justina, Martyrs: Missa “Salus autem iustorum” St. Cyprian was born to parents who worshiped idols. They taught him all kinds of wicked beliefs and superstitions. They even offered him to the Devil! What a terrible thing to do! Cyprian, having learned these wicked practices, did terrible crimes, blasphemed Christ, and committed secret murders!…
Carissimi: Today’s Mass; Feria of Sunday XVIII Post Pentecost
Feria III of Sunday XVIII Post Pentecost: Missa “Da pacem” At the Introit of the Mass the Church prays for the peace which God has promised by His prophets. St. Paul shows in the epistle that he possesses true love for his neighbor, because he rejoices and thanks God that he enriched the Corinthians with different graces…
Carissimi: Today’s Mass; Our Lady of Walsingham
Our Lady of Walsingham (of Ransom): Missa “Salve, sancta parens“ The original title of today’s feast was Our Lady of Ransom originally associated with the apparitions of Our Lady to St Peter Nolasco. She appeared to him on 1st August 1253 and showed him the white tunic and red cross to be adopted by the Order of Mercedarians…
Carissimi: Sunday’s Mass; Sunday XVIII Post Pentecost
Sunday XVIII Post Pentecost; Comm. St Linus of Rome, Bishop & Martyr and St Thecla, Virgin: Missa “Da pacem, Dómine“ At the Introit of the Mass the Church prays for the peace which God has promised by His prophets. St. Paul shows in the epistle that he possesses true love for his neighbor, because he rejoices and…
Carissimi: Today’s Mass; S. Thomas of Villanova
Feast of Saint Thomas of Villanova, Bishop and Confessor; Commemoration of Saturday Michaelmas Ember and Ss. Maurice & Companion martyrs: Missa “Statuit ei Dominus“ Saint Thomas was from Castile in Spain and received his surname from the town where he was raised. He received a superior education at the University of Alcala and became a popular…
Carissimi: Today’s Mass; St Matthew the Apostle & Evangelist
St Matthew, Apostle & Evangelist: Missa “Os justi” Matthew the Apostle and Evangelist, also called Levi, was sitting at his tax-collector’s desk in Capernaum when he was called by Christ. He followed Him at once, and also gave a feast for Him and the other disciples. After the resurrection of Christ, while Matthew was still in…
Carissimi: Today’s Mass; S Eustace & Companions, Martyrs
S. Eustace & Companions, Martyrs; Commemoration of the Vigil of St Matthew, Apostle: Missa “Sapiéntiam Sanctórum“ At the beginning of the second century, during the reign of Emperor Trajan, there lived in Rome a famous general by the name of Placidus, who was distinguished among his fellow citizens for his wealth and military prowess. It happened…
Carissimi: Today’s Mass; Michaelmas Ember Wednesday
Feria Quarta Quattuor Temporum Septembris; Commemoration of the Vigil of St Matthew, Apostle & Evangelist: Missa “Exsultáte Deo” It’s common to claim that the dates of important Christian feasts (such as Christmas) were set to compete with or replace certain pagan festivals, even though the best scholarship indicates otherwise. In the case of the Ember Days, however,…
