St Justin, Martyr: Missa “Narravérunt“ “We are slain with the sword, but we increase and multiply; the more we are persecuted and destroyed, the more are deaf to our numbers. As a vine, by being pruned and cut close, shoots forth new suckers, and bears a greater abundance of fruit; so is it with us.” –…

St. Hermenegild, Martyr: Missa “Protexisti“ Leovigild, Arian King of the Visigoths, had two sons, Hermenegild and Recared, who were reigning conjointly with him. All were Arians, but Hermenegild married a zealous Catholic, the daughter of Sigebert, King of France, and by her holy example was converted to the faith. His father, on hearing the news, denounced…

Saturday in Paschaltide I: Missa “Edúxit Dóminus“ The conclusion today of the baptismal celebrations calls the neophytes together again in the Lateran Basilica beside the font in which on Easter Eve they were born to newness of life. Today’s stational liturgy seems to be influenced more than ever by the thought of purity and innocence, like…

Friday in Paschaltide I: Missa “Edúxit eos Dóminus“ In the Seventh Century the Roman Pantheon was dedicated to St. Mary and the heroic sons of the Roman Church, who had suffered martyrdom. The martyrs indeed seem to have a particular right to the glory of the Resurrection on account of their perfect resemblance to Christ crucified;…

Thursday in Paschaltide I: Missa “Victricem“ Station at the Church of the Twelve Apostles in Rome. Under the high altar of this church are preserved the relics of the Apostles Philip and James only; the stational feast is celebrated in honor of all the Apostles together. The Lesson from the Acts of the Apostles deals with…

Wednesday in Paschaltide I: Missa “Venite, benedicti“ Station at the St. Laurence-Without-the-Walls. Today we honor St. Lawrence, the Cross-bearer of the Roman Church, to express our gratitude for the favor shown by him to the catechumens in bringing them to holy Baptism. The Gospel gives the account of the third appearance of the risen Savior to…

Tuesday in Paschaltide I: Missa “Aqua sapiéntiæ potávit“ Station at the St. Paul-Outside-the-Walls. After visiting St. Peter’s, it was fitting that the neophytes should at once be brought to the Doctor of the Gentiles, beside whose tomb they had learned the first rudiments of the new law of the Gospel. Therefore in the Lesson from the…

Monday in Paschaltide I: Missa “Introduxit vos Dominus“ Station at the Basilica of St. Peter’s in Rome. This Octave is entirely consecrated to the neophytes. The week was for them a continual feast, a spiritual feast; and they kept their white baptismal garments, which were not laid aside until the following Sunday (in albis deponendis). The…