St Leo II of Rome, Confessor; Com. Octave of the Holy Apostles Peter & Paul: Missa “Sacerdotes tui“ The pontificate of this great Pope was very brief but very fruitful, since in the ten months of his reign he accomplished good works which have caused his name to be blessed by all succeeding generations. Born…
Category: Saints
Carissimi: Sunday’s Mass; St Irenaeus Bishop & Martyr
St Irenaeus Bishop & Martyr; Comm. the Fourth Sunday Post Pentecost, the Vigil of the holy Apostles Peter & Paul and the Octave of the Nativity of St John the Baptist: Missa “Lex veritátis“ INTROIT Malachi 2: 6 The law of truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was not found in his lips: he walked with me in…
Carissimi: Today’s Mass; SS John & Paul, Martyrs
SS John & Paul, Martyrs; Commemoration of the Nativity of St John the Baptist: Missa “Multæ tribulatiónes“ Saints John and Paul were Roman soldiers who were Christians as well. They were martyred at Rome on 26 June. The year of their martyrdom is uncertain according to their Acts, it occurred under Julian the Apostate (361-3). In the second…
Carissimi: Today’s Mass; Nativity of St John the Baptist
The Nativity of St John the Baptist: Missa “De ventre matris“ The Precursor of Christ was filled with the Holy Ghost even from his mother’s womb. After an austere life as a hermit, he announced the Advent of Christ, preached penitence, and baptized in the Jordan. He was beheaded during the reign of Herod. The day…
Carissimi: Today’s Mass; S. Alban, Proto-Martyr of Britain
S. Alban, Proto-Martyr of Britain : Missa “In virtúte tua, Dómine“ A man called Alban, believed to have been a Romano-British citizen of the Roman town of Verulamium around the end of the 3rd century, gave shelter to an itinerant Christian priest, later called Amphibalus. Impressed by what he heard Alban was converted to Christianity by…
Carissimi: Today’s Mass; S. Silverius Pope & Martyr
S. Silverius Pope & Martyr: Missa “In virtúte tua, Dómine“ SILVERIUS was son of Pope Hermisdas, who had been married before he entered the ministry. Upon the death of St. Agapetas, after a vacancy of forty-seven days, Silverius, then subdeacon, was chosen Pope, and ordained on the 8th of June, 536. Theodora, the empress of Justinian,…
Carissimi: Today’s Mass; The Sacred Heart of Jesus
The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus: Missa “Cogitatiónes Cordis” Sixteenth century Calvinism and seventeenth century Jansenism preached a distorted Christianity that substituted for God’s love and sacrifice of His Son for all men the fearful idea that a whole section of humanity was inexorably damned. The Church always countered this view with the infinite love…
Carissimi; Today’s Mass: St. Margaret, Queen of Scotland
St Margaret, Queen of Scotland, Widow: Missa “In operibus bonis” Saint Margaret of Scotland (c. 1045 – 16 November 1093), also known as Margaret of Wessex and Queen Margaret of Scotland, was an English princess of the House of Wessex. Margaret was sometimes called “The Pearl of Scotland”. Born in exile in Hungary, she was…
Carissimi: Today’s Mass; St Aldhelm, Bishop Confessor
St Aldhelm, Bishop & Confessor; Comm. Ascension Octave & 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…
Carissimi: Today’s Mass; S. Dunstan of Canterbury, Bishop & Confessor
St Dunstan, Bishop & Confessor; Comm. Rogationtide, 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 a Benedictine monk…
Carissimi; Today’s Mass: St Stanislaus, Bishop & Martyr
St Stanislaus, Bishop & Martyr: Missa “Protexisti” Saint Stanislaus, a Polish martyr, was Bishop of Cracow. King Boleslaw II was outraging the whole kingdom by his acts of lust and cruelty. St. Stanislaus, finding all remonstrances useless, excommunicated him. By order of the king he was cut in pieces at the foot of the altar while…
Carissimi: Today’s Mass; Pope S. Pius V, Confessor
Pope St Pius V, Confessor: Missa “Sacerdotes tui“ Pope from 1566-1572 and one of the foremost leaders of the Catholic Reformation. Born Antonio Ghislieri in Bosco, Italy, to a poor family, he laboured as a shepherd until the age of fourteen and then joined the Dominicans, being ordained in 1528. Called Brother Michele, he studied…
