S. Polycarp, Bishop and Martyr: Missa “Sacerdotes Dei“ Saint Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna, was a disciple of Saint John. He wrote to the Philippians, exhorting them to mutual love and to hatred of heresy. When the apostate Marcion met Saint Polycarp at Rome, he asked the aged Saint if he knew him. “Yes,” Saint Polycarp…
Category: Mass Propers
Carissimi: Today’s Mass; The Conversion of Saint Paul
Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul: Missa “Scio cui crédidi” Since the 8th century the feast of the conversion of St. Paul has been set apart by the Church to return thanks to almighty God for His act of grace in bringing the future apostle to the Faith. After the miracle of Christ’s Resurrection no…
Carissimi: Today’s Mass; St Timothy, Bishop & Martyr
S. Timothy, Bishop and Martyr; Commemoration of the Third Sunday Post Epiphany: Missa “Statuit ei Dominus” Saint Timothy was a convert of Saint Paul, born at Lystra in Asia Minor. His mother was a daughter of Israel, but his father was a pagan, and though Timothy had read the Scriptures from his childhood, he had never been…
Carissimi: Today’s Mass; The Espousal of the Blessed Virgin Mary with St Joseph
The Espousal of the Blessed Virgin Mary with St Joseph: Missa “Salve, sancta parens“ January 23rd is the traditional day of the feast called “The Espousal of the Virgin Mary with St Joseph.” Although never on the general Calendar, it was kept by many religious orders, especially those with a particular devotion to the Virgin Mary,…
Carissimi: Today’s Mass; SS. Vincent & Anastasius, Martyrs
SS. Vincent & Anastasius, Martyrs: Missa “Intret in conspéctu tuo” Vincent of Saragossa, Deacon (also known as Vincent of Aragon) Born in Huesca, Spain; died January 22, 304. He was educated and ordained a deacon by Bishop Saint Valerius of Saragossa with the commission to preach (White). (Gill confusingly says: “As a young priest he served Valerius, Bishop of Saragossa,…
Carissimi: Today’s Mass; S. Agnes Virgin and Martyr
S. Agnes Virgin and Martyr: Missa “Me exspectaverunt peccatores” Martyred for her faith at the early age of twelve, Saint Agnes was one of the youngest-known named martyrs in the Communion of Saints. She was born into a wealthy Roman aristocratic family and was remarkable for her beauty as a child. But the true beauty was…
Carissimi: Today’s Mass; S. Wulstan of Worcester
St Wulstan, Bishop [Worcester] & Confessor; Commemoration of the Martyrs, Marus, Martha, Audifax and Abachum and St Canute King and Martyr: Missa “Sacerdotes tui“ Wulstan was the son of Athelstan and Wulfgeva. Even during his youth his piety had been noted, and he went on to study at the monasteries of Evesham and Peterborough. Once he…
Carissimi: Today’s Mass; S. Peter’s Chair at Rome
S. Peter’s Chair at Rome; Commemoration of St Prisca, Virgin Martyr; beginning of the Octave of Christian Unity: Missa “Státuit ei Dóminus” Eleven years after the Ascension of our Blessed Lord, Saint Peter who had been appointed the head of the Church on earth by Christ Himself, transferred the seat of the Papacy from Antioch to Rome,…
Carissimi: Sunday’s Mass; Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus
Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus; Commemoration of the Second Sunday Post Epiphany: Missa “In nomine Jesu” Holy Mother Church reveals to us the greatness of His name. It was on the occasion of the rite of Circumcision that a name was given to children among Jews. So the Church uses the same Gospel as…
Carissimi: Today’s Mass; St Marcellus I, Martyr
Saint Marcellus I, Bishop of Rome & Martyr: Missa “Statuit ei Dominus” Nothing of Marcellus’ life before his papacy has survived the centuries. He became Pope at the end of the persecutions of Diocletian in aound 308-309. The persecutions had disrupted the Church so much that there had been a gap of over a year…
Carissimi: Today’s Mass; St Paul Primi Emeriti
St Paul the First Hermit & St Maur, Abbot: Missa “Iustus ut palma florébit“ Today is the feast of Saint Paul the Hermit, father of hermits, who had St. Jerome for his historian. Having become an orphan at the age of fifteen, he gave up his possessions and retired into a desert where a flourishing palm-tree,…
Carissimi: Today’s Mass; S. Hilary, Bishop and Doctor of the Church
S. Hilary, Bishop and Doctor of the Church: Missa “In medio Ecclesiae” After having persecuted the Church during the first centuries, the Christian, but at the same time heretical emperors, continued their attacks by supporting Arianism which denied the divinity of Christ. In the season after Epiphany, when Jesus affirms His divinity by His teaching…
