St Erconwald, Bishop & Confessor: Missa “Sacerdotes tui“ Bishop of London, died about 690. He belonged to the princely family of the East Anglian Offa, and devoted a considerable portion of his patrimony to founding two monasteries, one for monks at Chertsey, and the other for nuns at Barking in Essex. Over the latter he…
Category: Saints
Carissimi: Today’s Mass; St Martin of Tours
St Martin of Tours, Bishop & Confessor; Com. St Mennas, Martyr: Missa “Státuit ei Dóminus” The story and history of Saint Martin of Tours. When a mere boy, Martin became a Christian catechumen against his parents’ wish; and at fifteen was therefore seized by his father, a pagan soldier, and enrolled in the army. One…
Carissimi: Today’s Mass; Our Holy Redeemer
Our Holy Redeemer: Missa “Gaudens, gaudebo” The feast is found only in the special calendar of some dioceses and religious orders, and is celebrated with proper Mass and Office either on the third Sunday of July or on 23 October. In Venice this feast has been observed for more than three centuries with great solemnity. Moroni…
Carissimi: Today’s Mass; S. Ursula, Virgin Martyr
St Ursula, Virgin Martyr & Companions; Comm. St Hilarion, Abbot: Missa “Loquebar de testimonies” According to a legend that appeared in the tenth century, Ursula was the daughter of a Christian king in Britain and was granted a three year postponement of a marriage she did not wish, to a pagan prince. With ten ladies…
Carissimi: Today’s Mass; St Luke the Evangelist
St Luke the Evangelist: Missa “Mihi autem nimis” Saint Luke was born a Greek and a Gentile in Antioch, Syria. He was a physician and it is believed that he may have also been a slave, as it was not uncommon in his day for slaves to be educated in medicine so the family would have…
Carissimi: Today’s Mass; St. Bridget of Sweden, Widow
St. Bridget of Sweden, Widow: Missa “Cognovi, Domine” Saint Brigetta (Bridget) of Sweden was born about the year 1302 in Sweden, and belonged to an illustrious as well as pious family. She was the daughter of Birger Persson, governor and provincial judge (Lagman) of Uppland, and of Ingeborg Bengtsdotter. Shortly after her birth Bridget lost…
Carissimi: Today’s Mass; Pope S. Mark, Confessor
Pope St Mark, Confessor; Comm. SS Sergius, Bacchus, Marcellus, & Apuleius, Martyrs: Missa “Sacerdotes tui“ Saint Mark (not to be confused with the evangelist) was Pope from 18 January 336 to 7 October 336, the date of his death. Little is known of his early life. According to the Liber Pontificalis, he was a Roman, and his…
Carissimi: Today’s Mass; St Placid & Companions, Martyrs
St Placid & Companions, Martyrs: Missa “Salus autem“ This was the notable Benedictine monk who, two years before the death of Saint Benedict himself, along with his two brothers, Saint Eutychius and Saint Victorinus, and his sister, Saint Flavia, and thirty Benedictine monks, was martyred on the Island of Sicily, in the town of Messina. These…
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…
Today’s Feast: The Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary
On the Friday before Palm Sunday, and on Sept. 15, the Seven Sorrows of the Virgin Mary are commemorated in the Liturgy. The Sorrowful Mother has always merited within The Church a particular devotion from whence she is called: Queen of Martyrs and Comforter of the Afflicted. The Church commemorates by two Feasts the martyrdom…
Carissimi: Today’s Mass; The Nativity of Our Lady
The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary: 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 mother, arose from the side of Adam, dazzling…
Carissimi: Today’s Mass; St. Jane Frances de Chantal, Widow
Saint Jane Frances de Chantal, Widow; Commemoration of the Dormition of the BVM: Missa “Cognovi, Domine” Saint Jane Frances de Chantal was born in Dijon, France in 1572, the daughter of Benigne Fremyot, president of the parliament in Burgundy, and married at twenty to Baron Christopher de Chantal who died in 1601. Nobility and riches…
