FIRST PART OF THE LITURGICAL YEAR: THE CHRISTMAS CYCLE (MYSTERY OF THE INCARNATION).[1]
II. CHRISTMASTIDE (from the Vigil of the Nativity [December 24] through the Baptism of Our Lord [January 13]).
Sunday, 13 January, 2008
FIRST SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY
The Feast of the Holy Family. (II)
"The special devotion which sets forth the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph as the model of virtue for all Christian households began in the seventeenth century. It commenced almost simultaneously in Canada and France: - the Association of the Holy Family being founded in Montreal in 1663, and the Daughters of the Holy Family in Paris in 1674. Numerous other congregations and associations under the Patronage of the Holy Family have been established since that time, and they are spread over the world. The archconfraternity was established by Bl. Pius IX in 1847. In 1893 Leo XIII approved a Feast for Canada, and Pope Benedict XV extended the Feast of the Holy Family to the whole Church and ordered its celebration to take place on the Sunday after Epiphany."
Collect: O Lord Jesus Christ, who, being subject to Mary and Joseph, didst sanctify home life with ineffable virtues: grant that, with the aid of both, we may be taught by the example of Thy Holy Family, and attain to eternal fellowship with them: Who livest and reignest with God the Father in the unity of the Holy Ghost, world without end.
Epistle: From Bl. Paul the Apostle to the Colossians, 3:12-17.
Gospel: Continuation of the holy Gospel according to St. Luke 2:42-52.
The day after January 13th (The Commemoration of the Baptism of our Lord Jesus Christ, which in 2008 falls on Sunday, the Feast of the Holy Family) begins:
III. SEASON AFTER EPIPHANY (from January 14 to Septuagesima Sunday).
"This period, which begins the day after the Octave of Epiphany (a.k.a. Baptism of Our Lord – TPC), is an extension of Christmastide. Jesus asserts His Divinity - not by the appearance of angels or the Star of the Magi, but speaking Himself as God. He subjects our hearts to His teachings, explaining His Divine doctrine with parables and manifesting the truth of His words and works by many miracles.
At the time of our Lord, Palestine contained four provinces: Peraea, Judea, Samaria, and Galilee. It was in the province of Galilee that the miracles and preaching of Jesus took place.
At Cana, He changed water into wine - His first miracle - at the request of His mother. At Nazareth, He preached His doctrine - and 'all wondered at these things that proceeded from the mouth of God,' says the Communion of the fourth, fifth, and sixth Sundays after Epiphany with the words of Luke. In Galilee, a word from our Lord cleansed the leper. From the shore of the Lake of Genesareth, He miraculously stilled the storm. All these miracles He performed to show His Apostles that He was God.
The Christmas cycle has a fixed character, and the Feasts of the Nativity and Epiphany always fall on December 25 and January 6."
Monday, 14 January 2008
ST. HILARY, Bishop, Doctor of the Church (III)
“The Bishop of Poitiers was one of the most able and eloquent opponents of Arianism. Therefore he was exiled by the heretical emperor. He died A.D. 368.”
St. Felix of Nola, Priest, Martyr (Comm.)
“Born at Nola, he bears the title of Martyr although he survived the most cruel torments. He died A.D. 312.”
Collect: Grant, we beseech Thee, O almighty God, that the example of Thy Saints may stir us up to a better life, so that we may imitate the good deeds of those whose festivals we celebrate. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Who livest and reignest with God the Father in the unity of the Holy Ghost, world without end.
Epistle: From the Second Letter of Bl. Paul the Apostle to Timothy, 4:1-8
Gospel: Continuation of the holy Gospel according to St. Matthew, 5:13-19.
Tuesday, 15 January, 2008
ST. PAUL, the first Hermit, Confessor (III)
“The founder of the eremitical life retired at the age of fifteen into the desert and lived there in exercise of prayers and penances for more than a hundred years. He died in A.D. 343.”
Collect: O God, who sendest us joy year by year on the feast of blessed Paul Thy Confessor which we are now keeping: mercifully grant on this day of his heavenly birth that we may grow like him in deed. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Who livest and reignest with God the Father in the unity of the Holy Ghost, world without end.
St. Maurus, Abbot (Comm.)
“One of the first disciples of St. Benedict, he introduced the Holy Rule of the latter into France. He died A.D. 584.”
Collect: May the intercession of blessed Maurus, the Abbot, commend us unto Thee, we beseech Thee, O Lord: so that what we cannot acquire by any merits of ours, we may obtain by his patronage. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Who livest and reignest with God the Father in the unity of the Holy Ghost, world without end.
Epistle: From Bl. Paul the Apostle to the Philippians, 3:7-12.
Gospel: Continuation of the holy Gospel according to St. Matthew, 11:25-30.
Wednesday, 16 January, 2008
ST. MARCELLUS
“St. Marcellus I defended the rights of the Church with heroic resistance. On this account he was exiled by the heretical Maxentius. He died A.D. 310.”
Collect : We beseech Thee, O Lord, mercifully hearken to Thy people praying for help through the merits of blessed Marcellus Thy Martyr and Pontiff, in whose martyrdom we rejoice. Through our Lord Jesus Christ our Lord, Thy Son, Who livest and reignest with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, world without end.
Epistle: From the First Letter of Bl. Peter the Apostle, 5:1-4, 10-11.
Gospel: Continuation of the holy Gospel according to St. Matthew, 16:13-19.
Thursday, 17 January, 2008
ST. ANTHONY, Abbot (III)
“The Father of community life led the life of a hermit from the age of eighteen, but later he instituted the monastic life in common. He died at the age of 105 years A.D. 356.”
Collect: May the intercession of blessed Anthony, the Abbot, commend us to Thee, we beseech Thee, O Lord: so that what we cannot acquire by any merits of ours, we may obtain by his patronage. Through our Lord Jesus Christ our Lord, Thy Son, Who livest and reignest with God the Father in the unity of the Holy Ghost, world without end.
Lesson: From the Book of Ecclesiasticus 45:1-6.
Gospel: Continuation of the holy Gospel according to St. Luke 12:35-40.
Friday, 18 January, 2008
FERIA (IV)
ST. PRISCA, Virgin, Martyr (Comm.)
Collect: Grant, we beseech Thee, almighty God, that we who celebrate the birthday of blessed Prisca, Thy Virgin and Martyr, may rejoice in her yearly festival and profit by the example of her outstanding faith. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who livest and reignest with God the Father in the unity of the Holy Ghost, world without end.
Epistle: From Bl. Paul the Apostle to the Colossians, 3:12-17.
Gospel: Continuation of the holy Gospel according to St. Luke 2:42-52.
Saturday, 19 January, 2008
OUR LADY ON SATURDAYS (IV)
Collect: O God, who wast pleased that, at the message of an Angel, Thy Word should take flesh in the womb of the blessed Virgin Mary, grant to us Thy suppliants, that we, who believe her to be truly the Mother of God, may be helped by her intercession with Thee. Through same Jesus Christ, Thy Son Our Lord, Who livest and reignest with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, world without end.
Lesson: From the Prophet Isaias, 7:10-15.
Gospel: Continuation of the holy Gospel according to St. Luke, 1:26-38.
SS. MARIUS, MARTHA, AUDIFAX and ABACHUM, Martyrs (Comm.)
“The Persian nobles Marius and Martha came with their sons Audifax and Abachum to Rome, to visit the tombs of the Apostles SS. Peter and Paul. They were cast into prison, tortured and martyred A.D. 270.”
Collect: Give ear, O Lord, to Thy people when with Thy Saints as advocates we humbly pray: that Thou wouldst grant us in our present life joy and peace and growth of life eternal. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who livest and reignest with God the Father in the unity of the Holy Ghost, world without end.
ST. CANUTE, Martyr (Comm.)
"This King of Denmark sought to spread the faith in his kingdom and therefore his enemies put him to death, while praying at the foot of the altar, A.D. 1086."
Second Collect of St. Canute: O God, who, for the greater glory of Thy Church, wast pleased to adorn blessed Canute the king with the palm of martyrdom and with glorious miracles: mercifully grant that walking in the footsteps of him who followed our Lord in His sufferings, we may deserve to attain eternal joys. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who livest and reignest with God the Father in the unity of the Holy Ghost, world without end.
Epistle: From Bl. Paul the Apostle to the Hebrews, 10:32-38.
Gospel: Continuation of the holy Gospel according to St. Matthew, 24:3-13.
[1] Remarks are abstracted from The Daily Missal and Liturgical Manual, from Editio Typica of the Roman Missal and Breviary, 1962
(Baronius Press Limited, London, 2004, in conjunction with the Fraternal Society of St. Peter, www.baroniuspress.com)
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment