St Richard of Chichester, Bishop Confessor; Comm. of the Lenten Feria: Missa “Statuit ei Dominus“ Bishop and leading figure in England during his era, also called Richard de Wyche. Born at Wyche, Worcestershire, England, he was orphaned while a young lad, managed to regain his fortune which had been mismanaged by others, and received an excellent…
Category: Saints
Carissimi: Today’s Mass; Feast of St Benedict
Feast of Saint Benedict, Abbot and Religious Founder; Commemoration of the Lenten Feria: Missa “Os justi” Known as the “Father of Western Monastic Life,” Saint Benedict is the founder of the Benedictines. Born in 480 into a noble family in the village of Nursia, Italy, he studied in Rome but, fearing he would succumb to the…
Carissimi: Today’s Mass; St Joseph, Husband of the BVM
St Joseph, Husband of the BVM; Comm. Tuesday Lent II: Missa “Justus ut palma florebit” The Church always honors St. Joseph with Mary and Jesus, especially during the Christmas solemnities. This day’s Gospel is indeed that of December 24th. A Coptic calendar tells us that St. Joseph was liturgically honored in a special way on July…
Today’s Saint: St Patrick, Apostle of the Irish
Introduction from the Confession of St. Patrick, an autobiography I am Patrick, a sinner, most unlearned, the least of all the faithful, and utterly despised by many. My father was Calpornius, a deacon, son of Potitus, a priest, of the village Bannavem Taburniae; he had a government seat nearby, and there I was taken captive….
Carissimi: Today’s Mass; St David of Wales
(UK) St David, Bishop Confessor: Missa “Statuit“ David is the patron saint of Wales and perhaps the most famous of British saints. It is known that he became a priest, engaged in missionary work and founded many monasteries, including his principal abbey in southwestern Wales. Many stories and legends sprang up about David and his…
Carissimi: Sunday’s Mass; St Matthias, Apostle
Feast of Saint Matthias, Apostle; Commemoration of Sexagesima Sunday: Missa “Mihi autem nimis” St. Peter, in the Acts of the Apostles (Epistle), says that the prophet had Judas in view when he declares “That his episcopate would pass into other hands.” It is the Lord Himself who showed the one He had chosen to be…
Carissimi: Sunday’s Mass; S. Peter Damian
S. Peter Damian, Bishop and Doctor of the Church: Missa “In medio Ecclesiae” Maybe because he was orphaned and had been treated shabbily by one of his brothers, Peter Damian was very good to the poor. It was the ordinary thing for him to have a poor person or two with him at table and…
Carissimi: Today’s Mass; Feast of the Chair of Peter at Antioch
Feast of the Chair of Peter at Antioch: Missa “Státuit ei Dóminus” That Saint Peter, before he went to Rome, founded the see of Antioch is attested by many Saints of the earliest times, including St. Ignatius of Antioch and Pope St. Clement I. It was just that the Prince of the Apostles should take…
Carissimi: Today’s Mass; S. Apollonia of Alexandria, Virgin Martyr
St Apollonia of Alexandria, Virgin Martyr: Commemoration of the Octave of St Cuthman of Steyning; Missa “Loquebar de testimonies” At Alexandria, in 249, a mob rose in savage fury against the Christians, during a persecution which the pagans of Alexandria instigated at the urging of a magician of that city. Metras, an old man, perished…
Carissimi: Today’s Mass; St Cuthman of Steyning
S. Cuthman, Hermit & Confessor; Patronal Festival: Missa “QUIS DABIT MIHI” Steyning in West Sussex is quite unique in having its most famous Saxon son’s legends thrive despite Norman attempts to obliterate his memory. Such was, and indeed is, St Cuthman’s popularity that he has been accredited with several “miraculous” legends, usually incurring the wrath of god on…
Carissimi: Today’s Mass; St. Romuald, Abbot
S. Romuald, Abbot: Missa “Os iusti” St. Romuald was born in Ravenna of a noble family. Founder of the Camaldolese monks — one of the Italian branches of the Benedictines — in which the eremitical life is combined with life in community. He died in 1027, after a life of prayer and rigorous penance. St. Romuald,…
Carissimi: Today’s Mass; St Dorothea of Caesarea, Virgin Martyr
St Dorothea of Caesarea, Virgin Martyr: Missa “Me expectaverunt“ According to her apocryphal tradition, Dorothy was a resident of Caesarea, Cappadocia, who when she refused to sacrifice to the gods during Emperor Diocletian’s persecution of the Christians, was tortured by the governor and ordered executed. On the way to the place of execution, she met a…
