St Aldhelm, Bishop & Confessor; Comm. S. Urban Pope & Martyr: Missa “Statuit ei Dominus” Aldhelm was born in Wessex, in AD 639. He was apparently a ‘nephew’ of King Ine, probably, in fact, a cousin of some kind. His father’s name was Centa, and it has been suggested that this was a pet name for Ine’s…
Category: Mass Propers
Carissimi: Today’s Mass; Our Lady Help of Christians
Our Lady Help of Christians: Missa “Salve, sancta parens“ There are two inscriptions of the first centuries of Christianity in Greek related to the Virgin Mary: : θεοτοκος (Teotokos, Theotokos, Mother of God) and βοηθεια (Boetheia, the Helper). The Fathers of the Church referred to Mary as “βοηθεια”. John Chrysostom used the title in a…
Carissimi: Today’s Mass; S. Gregory VII of Rome, Confessor
St Gregory VII of Rome, Confessor: Missa “Sacerdotes tui“ The 10th century and the first half of the 11th were dark days for the Church, partly because the papacy was the pawn of various Roman families. In 1049, things began to change when Pope Leo IX, a reformer, was elected. He brought a young monk…
Carissimi: Today’s Mass; St Ubaldus of Gubbio
St Ubaldus of Gubbio, Bishop & Confessor: Missa “Statuit ei Dominus“ Today the Holy Church celebrates the life of St. Ubaldus, Bishop of Gubio and Confessor. Born to noble parents, St. Ubaldus lived a pious childhood. After his father died while Ubaldus was still quite young, the boy became a canon regular for the local…
Carissimi; Today’s Mass: Feria of Easter IV
Feria of Dominica IV Post Pascha: Missa “Cantate” Of all the gifts that come from God, the most excellent is the gospel and regeneration in baptism, by which He has made us His children and heirs of heaven. How great is this honor, and how earnestly we should endeavor to preserve it! To hear the…
Carissimi: Today’s Mass; St Bernardine of Siena, Confessor
St Bernardine of Siena, Confessor: Missa “Os justi” At this season of the year, when Jesus by His triumph has realized His name of Saviour, the Cycle celebrates the Feast of St. Bernardine who was consumed “by the very ardent love of this divine name” (Collect). Born of a noble family of Siena, St. Bernardine…
Carissimi: Today’s Mass; S. Dunstan of Canterbury, Bishop & Confessor
St Dunstan, Bishop & Confessor; Comm. Sunday IV Post Pascha, St Peter Celestine, Bishop of Rome & St Pudentiana, Virgin: Missa “Sacerdotes tui“ Born of a noble family at Baltonsborough, near Glastonbury, England, Dunstan was educated there by Irish monks and while still a youth, was sent to the court of King Athelstan. He became…
Carissimi: Today’s Mass; St Venantius of Camerino, Martyr
St Venantius of Camerino, Martyr: Missa “Protexisti“ Venantius of Camerino (Italian: San Venanzio, also known as Saint Wigand) (died 18 May 251 or 253) is the patron saint of Camerino, Italy and Raiano, Italy. Christian tradition holds that he was a 15-year-old who was tortured, and martyred by decapitation at Camerino during the persecutions of Decius….
Carissimi: Today’s Mass; St Paschal Baylon, Confessor
St Paschal Baylon, Confessor: Missa “Os justi” Paschal’s Spanish parents were poor and pious. Between the ages of seven and 24 he worked as a shepherd and began a life of mortification. He was able to pray on the job and was especially attentive to the church bell, which rang at the Elevation during Mass….
Carissimi; Today’s Mass: St John of Nepomuk, Martyr
St John of Nepomuk, Martyr: Missa “Protexisti” In his early childhood, John Nepomucene was cured of a disease through the prayers of his good parents. In thanksgiving, they consecrated him to the service of God. After he was ordained, he was sent to a parish in the city of Prague. He became a great preacher, and…
Carissimi: Today’s Mass; Monthly Requiem
Monthly Requiem Mass: Missa “Requiem aeternam“ The Requiem Mass is an expression of the Communion of Saints, the Church Militant (on earth) prays for the souls of the departed expressing Christian hope that they, the departed, will become members of the Church Triumphant (in heaven). Essentially the Church pleads Christ that His promise to the “repentant thief” at His…
Carissimi; Today’s Mass: St Boniface of Tarsus, Martyr
St Boniface, Martyr: Missa “Protexisti” Saint Boniface of Tarsus was, according to legend, executed for being a Christian in the year 307 at Tarsus, where he had gone from Rome in order to bring back to his mistress Aglaida (also written Aglaia) relics of the martyrs. Boniface was one of Aglaida’s slaves. The name Aglaida is…
