St Ambrose, Bishop Confessor & Doctor of the Church; Commemoration of the Advent Feria: Missa “In medio“ Our father among the saints Ambrose of Milan came to be bishop of Milan as the only competent candidate to succeed Auxentius, a bishop of Arian persuasion, in 374. A catechumen and trained as a lawyer, he learned…
Category: Paschaltide
Carissimi: Today’s Mass; Vigil of St Andrew the Apostle
Vigil of St Andrew, Apostle; commemoration of St Saturninus, Martyr; Missa “Dóminus secus mare Galilaeæ” Today is the last day of the liturgical year. The day preceding a festival is styled a vigil (from the Latin word signifying a night-watch) because in primitive ages the faithful passed in prayer in the church the greater part…
Carissimi; Today’s Mass: St Elizabeth of Hungary, Widow
Feast of Saint Elizabeth of Hungary, Widow: Missa “Cognovi, Domine” In her short life, Elizabeth manifested such great love for the poor and suffering that she has become the patroness of Catholic charities and of the Secular Franciscan Order. The daughter of the King of Hungary, Elizabeth chose a life of penance and asceticism when a…
Carissimi: Today’s Mass; Dedication of the Basilicas of SS Peter & Paul
Feast of the Dedication of the Basilicas of St. Peter & Paul: Missa “Terribilis est” The two basilicas of the apostles were held in great veneration from the earliest times. The priest Caius, declared against the heretics, “I can show you the trophies of the Apostles; for if you will go to the Vatican on the…
Carissimi: Today’s Mass; St Gertrude the Great, Virgin and Abbess
Saint Gertrude the Great, Virgin and Abbess: Missa “Dilexisti” The Roman Martyrology commemorates, today, the virgin St. Gertrude, who is to be distinguished from another virgin of the same name, whose life is recorded in the month of March. The Breviary relates of her, as follows: Gertrude was born at Eisleben, in Saxony, the same place…
Carissimi: Today’s Mass; Dedication of the Archbasilica of Our Saviour
Feast of the Dedication of the Archbasilica of Our Saviour – the Lateran; Commemoration of St Theodore the Recruit, Martyr: Missa “Terribilis est” As one of the four principle basilicas of Rome and one of the seven pilgrim churches, Rome’s Cathedral of St. John, the Basilica of Our Divine Savior is dedicated to both St. John…
Carissimi: Today’s Mass; Our holy father S. Willibrord
Our holy father St Willibrord, Bishop Confessor, Apostle to the Frisians, Founder of the See of Utrecht; Commemoration of the Octave of All Saints: Missa “Statuit ei Dominus” Today is the celebration of St. Willibrord, a British-born, Irish-trained, Roman-commissioned Benedictine who evangelized the Netherlands (or in the words of the Roman Martyrology, “Friesland and Denmark”). As…
Carissimi: Today’s Mass; All Hallows Eve
Vigil of All Saints: Missa “Júdicant sancti gentes” In several traditional chapels today, there is the observance of the Vigil of All Saints for All Hallows Eve. This day was actually established to honor the many martyrs who gave their lives for Christ and His Church. Evolved through the centuries, this explains why this feast is…
Carissimi: Today’s Mass; SS Simon & Jude, Apostles
SS Simon & Jude, Apostles: Missa “Mihi autem nimis” On this day we celebrate two Apostles Saint Simon and Saint Jude Thaddeus, most probably because some historians have them being martyred together. The name of Simon occurs in all the passages of the Gospel and Acts, in which a list of the Apostles is given. To…
Carissimi: Today’s Mass; Vigil of SS Simon & Jude, Apostles
Vigil of SS Simon & Jude, Apostles; commemoration of St Evaristus, Bishop of Rome & Martyr: Missa “Mihi autem nimis” On Monday the Church celebrates the feast of SS. Simon and Jude whose names occur together in the Canon of the Mass and are also celebrated on the same day. Possibly this is because they…
Carissimi: Today’s Mass; S. John of Beverley
St John of Beverley, Bishop Confessor, Com. SS Chrysanthus & Daria, Martyrs: Missa “Sacerdotes tui” John was one of the leaders of the Northumbrian Church following the conversion of the North to Christianity in the 620s and 630s. According to later tradition he was born at Harpham near Driffield, and he was certainly Bishop of Hexham…
Carissimi; Today’s Mass: St Hedwig, Widow
Feast of Saint Hedwig, Widow: Missa “Cognovi, Domine” St. Hedwig was one of eight children born to Berthold IV, Count of Andechs and Duke of Croatia and Dalmatia. Of her four brothers, two became bishops, Ekbert of Bamberg, and Berthold of Aquileia; Otto succeeded his father as Duke of Dalmatia, and Heinrich became Margrave of Istria….
