St Anne, Mother of the Blessed Virgin Mary: Missa “Gaudeámus omnes“ What little we know about Saint Anne comes from the apocryphal Gospel of James (ca. 145 AD), also known as the Protoevangelium of James [PJ]. According to tradition, Anne (Hannah in Hebrew) was born in Bethlehem and married Joachim of Nazareth, both descendants of King…
Category: Liturgy
Carissimi: Today’s Mass; St James the Greater, Apostle
St James the Greater, Apostle & Martyr; Commemoration of St Christopher, Martyr: Missa “Mihi autem“ Saint James the Greater was the son of Zebedee and Salome (Cf. Matthew 27:56; Mark 15:40; 16:1). Zahn asserts that Salome was the daughter of a priest. James is styled “the Greater” to distinguish him from the Apostle James “the Less”,…
Carissimi: Today’s Mass; St Lewinna, Virgin Martyr
St Lewinna, Virgin Martyr; Commemoration of the Vigil of St James the Great, Apostle: Missa “Me expectaverunt” Sussex was the last of the seven Saxon kingdoms to become officially Christian and east Sussex remained pagan longest of all. St Wilfrid of York, the Apostle of the South Saxons (ie the people of Sussex) several times experienced…
Carissimi: Sunday’s Mass; St Apollinaris, Bishop & Martyr
St Apollinaris, Bishop & Martyr; Commemoration Sunday VII Post Pentecost: Missa “Sacerdótes Dei“ St. Apollinaris was the disciple of St. Peter, who preached the Gospel at Ravenna. He was one of the first great martyrs of the church. He was made Bishop of Ravenna by the Apostle himself. The miracles he wrought there soon attracted official…
Carissimi: Today’s Mass; St Mary Magdalene
St Mary Magdalene: Missa “Me exspectavérunt peccatóres” Saint Mary Magdalen was so called either from Magdala near Tiberias, on the west shore of Galilee, or possibly from a Talmudic expression meaning “curling women’s hair,” which the Talmud explains as of an adulteress. In the New Testament she is mentioned among the women who accompanied Christ and…
Carissimi: Today’s Mass; St. Praxedis Virgin
S. Praxedis Virgin: Missa “Loquébar de testimóniis“ S. Praxedes according to her legend was a Roman maiden, the sister of St. Pudentiana, who, when the Emperor Marcus Antoninus was hunting down Christians, sought them out to relieve them with money, care, comfort and every charitable aid. Some she hid in her house, others she encouraged to…
Carissimi: Today’s Mass; St Margaret of Antioch, Virgin Martyr
St Margaret of Antioch, Virgin Martyr: Missa “Me expectaverunt“ ST. MARGARET was the daughter of a pagan priest at Antioch. She lost her mother in infancy and was placed in the care of a nurse in the country, who was a Christian, and whose first care was to have her little charge Baptized and to give…
Carissimi: Today’s Mass; Feria of Sunday VI Post Pentecost
Feria of Sunday VI Post Pentecost: Missa “Dóminus fortitúdo“ Holy Mother Church reminds us today of the effects of the two great Sacraments: Baptism and the Eucharist, which she has conferred at Easter and Whitsunday. Dead through sin, we have been plunged and, as it were, buried with Jesus in the baptismal water. “All we who…
Carissimi: Today’s Mass; Symphorosa & her Seven Sons, Martyrs
St Symphorosa & her Seven Sons, Martyrs: Missa “Clamaverunt” The occasion for the death of these saints was found in the vicinity of that most famous palace which was built by Adrian at his country seat at Tiber, according to Spartianus. For when the emperor gave orders that this palace, which he had built for his…
Carissimi: Today’s Mass; St Alexius, Confessor
St Alexius, Confessor: Missa “OS justi“ July 17 is traditionally the feast of the holy, humble confessor Saint Alexius. According to the most recent researches he was an Eastern saint whose veneration was transplanted from the Byzantine empire to Rome, whence it spread rapidly throughout western Christendom. Together with the name and veneration of the Saint,…
Carissimi: Sunday’s Mass; Sunday VI Post Pentecost
Sunday VI Post Pentecost: Missa “Dóminus fortitúdo“ Holy Mother Church reminds us today of the effects of the two great Sacraments: Baptism and the Eucharist, which she has conferred at Easter and Whitsunday. Dead through sin, we have been plunged and, as it were, buried with Jesus in the baptismal water. “All we who have been…
Carissimi: Today’s Mass; St. Swithun, Bishop & Confessor
St Swithun, Bishop & Confessor: Missa “Sacerdotes tui“ Saint Swithin Swithun (or Swithin, Old English: Swīþhūn; died c. 862) was a Saxon bishop. He was born in the kingdom of Wessex and educated in its capital, Winchester. He was famous for charitable gifts and building churches. His feast day is 15 July and his emblems…
