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…
Category: Mass Propers
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,…
Carissimi: Today’s Mass; St. Joseph of Cupertino
Feast of St. Joseph of Cupertino, Confessor: Missa “Diléctio Dei” St. Joseph was born in 1603 at Cupertino, in the diocese of Nardo in the Kingdom of Naples. After spending his childhood and adolescence in simplicity and innocence, he finally joined the Franciscan Friars Minor Conventual. After his ordination to the holy priesthood, he gave…
Carissimi: Today’s Mass; Impression of the Stigmata of St Francis of Assisi
Impression of the Stigmata of St Francis of Assisi: Missa “Stabant juxta crucem” Two years before the faithful servant and minister of Christ, Francis, gave up his spirit to God, he retired alone into a high place, which is called Mount Alvernia, and began a forty-days’ fast in honour of the Archangel St. Michael. The sweetness…
Carissimi: Sunday’s Mass; Sunday XVII Post Pentecost
Sunday XVII Post Pentecost, Commemoration of Pope S. Cornelius of Rome & S. Cyprian of Carthage, Martyrs: Missa “Iustus es, Domine” The liturgy reminds us today of the great commandment of charity towards God and our neighbor. “The precept is twofold,” declares St. Augustine, “but charity is one.” We love God above all and our neighbor for His sake….
Carissimi: Today’s Mass; Octave Day of the Nativity of Our Lady
Octave Day of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary; Commemoration of St Nicomedes, martyr: Missa “Salve, sancta parens” This festival of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary originated in the East where it is mentioned very early. At Rome it was not observed before the reign of Pope Sergius I. As Eve, our first…
Carissimi: Today’s Mass; The Exaltation of the Holy Cross
Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross: Missa “Nos autem” The Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross celebrates three historical events: the finding of the True Cross by Saint Helena, the mother of the emperor Constantine; the dedication of churches built by Constantine on the site of the Holy Sepulchre and Mount Calvary;…
Carissimi: Today’s Mass; Feria VI in the Octave of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Feria VI in the Octave of the Nativity of the BVM: Missa “Salve, sancta parens” The Mass of the Blessed Virgin shows us Mary as Mother of our Savior. She was destined from all eternity for the role of co-operator (Lesson), for as Eve was the intermediary chosen by the angel of darkness to bring about…
Carissimi: Today’s Mass; The Most Holy Name of Mary
The Most Holy Name of Mary; Feria V in the Octave of the Nativity of the BVM: Missa “Vultum Tuum” Whatever interpretation of the name of Mary we may accept, whether it means bitterness, the lady of the sea, or beloved of God, it is still the name of our Mother in Heaven, the name which…
Carissimi: Today’s Mass; Feria IV in the Octave of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Feria IV in the Octave of the Nativity of the BVM; Com. SS Protus & Hyacinth, Martyrs: Missa “Salve, sancta parens” The Mass of the Blessed Virgin shows us Mary as Mother of our Savior. She was destined from all eternity for the role of co-redemptrix (Epistle), for as Eve was the intermediary chosen by the…
