Quinto Kaléndas Decémbris. Luna. The Twenty-Seventh Day of November. The Night of the Moon.
Antiochíæ sanctórum Mártyrum Basiléi Epíscopi, Auxílii et Saturníni. At Antioch, the holy martyrs Basileus, bishop, Auxilius, and Saturninus.
Sebáste, in Arménia, sanctórum Mártyrum Hirenárchi, Acácii Presbyteri, ac septem mulíerum. Harum porro constántia Hirenárchus commótus, ad Christum convérsus, sub Diocletiáno Imperatóre et Máximo Præside, una cum Acácio, secúri percútitur. At Sebaste in Armenia, in the reign of Emperor Diocletian and under the governor Maximus, the holy martyrs Hirenarchus, the priest Acacius, and seven women. Struck with the constancy of these women, Hirenarchus was converted to Christ, and with Acacius died under the axe.
Apud Cæam flúvium, in Gallæcia, sanctórum Facúndi et Primitívi, qui sub Attico Præside passi sunt. In Galicia, on the River Cea, the Saints Facundus and Primitivus, who suffered under the governor Atticus.
In Pérside sancti Jacóbi intercísi, Mártyris conspícui, qui, témpore Theodósii junióris, cum in Isdegérdis Regis grátiam Christum negásset, et proptérea mater ejus et uxor ab ipsíus se consuetúdine subtraxíssent, hinc, in se revérsus, intrépide coram Vararáne, Isdegérdis fílio ac successóre, se Christiánum esse conféssus est; ideóque ab iráto Rege, lata in eum mortis senténtia, membrátim jussus est concídi et cápite obtruncári. Quo étiam témpore innúmeri álii Mártyres ibídem passi sunt. In Persia, St. James Intercisus, a distinguished martyr. In the time of Theodosius the Younger he denied Christ in order to please King Isdegerd, but his mother and his wife for this reason withdrew from his company. Coming to himself, he returned to the king, now Vararanus, the son and successor of Isdegerd, to declare his faith in our Lord, whereupon the angry monarch condemned him to be cut in pieces and beheaded. Countless other martyrs suffered at this time in the same country.
Aquiléjæ sancti Valeriáni Epíscopi. At Aquileia, St. Valerian, bishop.
Apud Régium, in Gállia, sancti Máximi, Epíscopi et Confessóris; qui, usque a primævæ ætátis annis omni virtútum grátia præditus, primum Lirinénsis cœnóbii Pater, deínde Regiénsis Ecclésiæ Epíscopus, signis et prodígiis ínclytus éxstitit. At Riez in France, St. Maximus, bishop and confessor, who, from his tender years, was endowed with every grace and virtue. Being first superior of the monastery of Lerins, and afterwards bishop of the Church of Riez, he was celebrated for the working of miracles and prodigies.
Salisbúrgi, in Nórico, sancti Virgílii, Epíscopi et Carinthiórum Apóstoli, qui a Gregório Nono, Pontífice Máximo, in Sanctórum númerum adscríptus est. At Salzburg in Austria, St. Virgil, bishop and apostle of Carinthia, who was placed among the number of saints by Pope Gregory IX.
Apud Indos, Persis finítimos, sanctórum Bárlaam et Jósaphat, quorum actus mirándos sanctus Joánnes Damascénus conscrípsit. In India, near the Persian boundary, the Saints Barlaam and Josaphat, whose wonderful deeds were written by St. John of Damascus.
Lutétiæ Parisiórum deposítio sancti Severíni, Mónachi et Solitárii. At Paris, the death of St. Severin, monk and solitary.
Et álibi aliórum plurimórum sanctórum Mártyrum et Confessórum, atque sanctárum Vírginum. R. Deo grátias.
And elsewhere in divers places, many other holy martyrs, confessors, and holy virgins.
R. Thanks be to God.
Quinto Kaléndas Decémbris. Luna. The Twenty-Seventh Day of November. The Night of the Moon.
Antiochíæ sanctórum Mártyrum Basiléi Epíscopi, Auxílii et Saturníni. At Antioch, the holy martyrs Basileus, bishop, Auxilius, and Saturninus.
Sebáste, in Arménia, sanctórum Mártyrum Hirenárchi, Acácii Presbyteri, ac septem mulíerum. Harum porro constántia Hirenárchus commótus, ad Christum convérsus, sub Diocletiáno Imperatóre et Máximo Præside, una cum Acácio, secúri percútitur. At Sebaste in Armenia, in the reign of Emperor Diocletian and under the governor Maximus, the holy martyrs Hirenarchus, the priest Acacius, and seven women. Struck with the constancy of these women, Hirenarchus was converted to Christ, and with Acacius died under the axe.
Apud Cæam flúvium, in Gallæcia, sanctórum Facúndi et Primitívi, qui sub Attico Præside passi sunt. In Galicia, on the River Cea, the Saints Facundus and Primitivus, who suffered under the governor Atticus.
In Pérside sancti Jacóbi intercísi, Mártyris conspícui, qui, témpore Theodósii junióris, cum in Isdegérdis Regis grátiam Christum negásset, et proptérea mater ejus et uxor ab ipsíus se consuetúdine subtraxíssent, hinc, in se revérsus, intrépide coram Vararáne, Isdegérdis fílio ac successóre, se Christiánum esse conféssus est; ideóque ab iráto Rege, lata in eum mortis senténtia, membrátim jussus est concídi et cápite obtruncári. Quo étiam témpore innúmeri álii Mártyres ibídem passi sunt. In Persia, St. James Intercisus, a distinguished martyr. In the time of Theodosius the Younger he denied Christ in order to please King Isdegerd, but his mother and his wife for this reason withdrew from his company. Coming to himself, he returned to the king, now Vararanus, the son and successor of Isdegerd, to declare his faith in our Lord, whereupon the angry monarch condemned him to be cut in pieces and beheaded. Countless other martyrs suffered at this time in the same country.
Aquiléjæ sancti Valeriáni Epíscopi. At Aquileia, St. Valerian, bishop.
Apud Régium, in Gállia, sancti Máximi, Epíscopi et Confessóris; qui, usque a primævæ ætátis annis omni virtútum grátia præditus, primum Lirinénsis cœnóbii Pater, deínde Regiénsis Ecclésiæ Epíscopus, signis et prodígiis ínclytus éxstitit. At Riez in France, St. Maximus, bishop and confessor, who, from his tender years, was endowed with every grace and virtue. Being first superior of the monastery of Lerins, and afterwards bishop of the Church of Riez, he was celebrated for the working of miracles and prodigies.
Salisbúrgi, in Nórico, sancti Virgílii, Epíscopi et Carinthiórum Apóstoli, qui a Gregório Nono, Pontífice Máximo, in Sanctórum númerum adscríptus est. At Salzburg in Austria, St. Virgil, bishop and apostle of Carinthia, who was placed among the number of saints by Pope Gregory IX.
Apud Indos, Persis finítimos, sanctórum Bárlaam et Jósaphat, quorum actus mirándos sanctus Joánnes Damascénus conscrípsit. In India, near the Persian boundary, the Saints Barlaam and Josaphat, whose wonderful deeds were written by St. John of Damascus.
Lutétiæ Parisiórum deposítio sancti Severíni, Mónachi et Solitárii. At Paris, the death of St. Severin, monk and solitary.
Et álibi aliórum plurimórum sanctórum Mártyrum et Confessórum, atque sanctárum Vírginum. R. Deo grátias.
And elsewhere in divers places, many other holy martyrs, confessors, and holy virgins.
R. Thanks be to God.
Quinto Kaléndas Decémbris. Luna. The Twenty-Seventh Day of November. The Night of the Moon.
Antiochíæ sanctórum Mártyrum Basiléi Epíscopi, Auxílii et Saturníni. At Antioch, the holy martyrs Basileus, bishop, Auxilius, and Saturninus.
Sebáste, in Arménia, sanctórum Mártyrum Hirenárchi, Acácii Presbyteri, ac septem mulíerum. Harum porro constántia Hirenárchus commótus, ad Christum convérsus, sub Diocletiáno Imperatóre et Máximo Præside, una cum Acácio, secúri percútitur. At Sebaste in Armenia, in the reign of Emperor Diocletian and under the governor Maximus, the holy martyrs Hirenarchus, the priest Acacius, and seven women. Struck with the constancy of these women, Hirenarchus was converted to Christ, and with Acacius died under the axe.
Apud Cæam flúvium, in Gallæcia, sanctórum Facúndi et Primitívi, qui sub Attico Præside passi sunt. In Galicia, on the River Cea, the Saints Facundus and Primitivus, who suffered under the governor Atticus.
In Pérside sancti Jacóbi intercísi, Mártyris conspícui, qui, témpore Theodósii junióris, cum in Isdegérdis Regis grátiam Christum negásset, et proptérea mater ejus et uxor ab ipsíus se consuetúdine subtraxíssent, hinc, in se revérsus, intrépide coram Vararáne, Isdegérdis fílio ac successóre, se Christiánum esse conféssus est; ideóque ab iráto Rege, lata in eum mortis senténtia, membrátim jussus est concídi et cápite obtruncári. Quo étiam témpore innúmeri álii Mártyres ibídem passi sunt. In Persia, St. James Intercisus, a distinguished martyr. In the time of Theodosius the Younger he denied Christ in order to please King Isdegerd, but his mother and his wife for this reason withdrew from his company. Coming to himself, he returned to the king, now Vararanus, the son and successor of Isdegerd, to declare his faith in our Lord, whereupon the angry monarch condemned him to be cut in pieces and beheaded. Countless other martyrs suffered at this time in the same country.
Aquiléjæ sancti Valeriáni Epíscopi. At Aquileia, St. Valerian, bishop.
Apud Régium, in Gállia, sancti Máximi, Epíscopi et Confessóris; qui, usque a primævæ ætátis annis omni virtútum grátia præditus, primum Lirinénsis cœnóbii Pater, deínde Regiénsis Ecclésiæ Epíscopus, signis et prodígiis ínclytus éxstitit. At Riez in France, St. Maximus, bishop and confessor, who, from his tender years, was endowed with every grace and virtue. Being first superior of the monastery of Lerins, and afterwards bishop of the Church of Riez, he was celebrated for the working of miracles and prodigies.
Salisbúrgi, in Nórico, sancti Virgílii, Epíscopi et Carinthiórum Apóstoli, qui a Gregório Nono, Pontífice Máximo, in Sanctórum númerum adscríptus est. At Salzburg in Austria, St. Virgil, bishop and apostle of Carinthia, who was placed among the number of saints by Pope Gregory IX.
Apud Indos, Persis finítimos, sanctórum Bárlaam et Jósaphat, quorum actus mirándos sanctus Joánnes Damascénus conscrípsit. In India, near the Persian boundary, the Saints Barlaam and Josaphat, whose wonderful deeds were written by St. John of Damascus.
Lutétiæ Parisiórum deposítio sancti Severíni, Mónachi et Solitárii. At Paris, the death of St. Severin, monk and solitary.
Et álibi aliórum plurimórum sanctórum Mártyrum et Confessórum, atque sanctárum Vírginum. R. Deo grátias.
And elsewhere in divers places, many other holy martyrs, confessors, and holy virgins.
R. Thanks be to God.
Quinto Kaléndas Decémbris. Luna. The Twenty-Seventh Day of November. The Night of the Moon.
Antiochíæ sanctórum Mártyrum Basiléi Epíscopi, Auxílii et Saturníni. At Antioch, the holy martyrs Basileus, bishop, Auxilius, and Saturninus.
Sebáste, in Arménia, sanctórum Mártyrum Hirenárchi, Acácii Presbyteri, ac septem mulíerum. Harum porro constántia Hirenárchus commótus, ad Christum convérsus, sub Diocletiáno Imperatóre et Máximo Præside, una cum Acácio, secúri percútitur. At Sebaste in Armenia, in the reign of Emperor Diocletian and under the governor Maximus, the holy martyrs Hirenarchus, the priest Acacius, and seven women. Struck with the constancy of these women, Hirenarchus was converted to Christ, and with Acacius died under the axe.
Apud Cæam flúvium, in Gallæcia, sanctórum Facúndi et Primitívi, qui sub Attico Præside passi sunt. In Galicia, on the River Cea, the Saints Facundus and Primitivus, who suffered under the governor Atticus.
In Pérside sancti Jacóbi intercísi, Mártyris conspícui, qui, témpore Theodósii junióris, cum in Isdegérdis Regis grátiam Christum negásset, et proptérea mater ejus et uxor ab ipsíus se consuetúdine subtraxíssent, hinc, in se revérsus, intrépide coram Vararáne, Isdegérdis fílio ac successóre, se Christiánum esse conféssus est; ideóque ab iráto Rege, lata in eum mortis senténtia, membrátim jussus est concídi et cápite obtruncári. Quo étiam témpore innúmeri álii Mártyres ibídem passi sunt. In Persia, St. James Intercisus, a distinguished martyr. In the time of Theodosius the Younger he denied Christ in order to please King Isdegerd, but his mother and his wife for this reason withdrew from his company. Coming to himself, he returned to the king, now Vararanus, the son and successor of Isdegerd, to declare his faith in our Lord, whereupon the angry monarch condemned him to be cut in pieces and beheaded. Countless other martyrs suffered at this time in the same country.
Aquiléjæ sancti Valeriáni Epíscopi. At Aquileia, St. Valerian, bishop.
Apud Régium, in Gállia, sancti Máximi, Epíscopi et Confessóris; qui, usque a primævæ ætátis annis omni virtútum grátia præditus, primum Lirinénsis cœnóbii Pater, deínde Regiénsis Ecclésiæ Epíscopus, signis et prodígiis ínclytus éxstitit. At Riez in France, St. Maximus, bishop and confessor, who, from his tender years, was endowed with every grace and virtue. Being first superior of the monastery of Lerins, and afterwards bishop of the Church of Riez, he was celebrated for the working of miracles and prodigies.
Salisbúrgi, in Nórico, sancti Virgílii, Epíscopi et Carinthiórum Apóstoli, qui a Gregório Nono, Pontífice Máximo, in Sanctórum númerum adscríptus est. At Salzburg in Austria, St. Virgil, bishop and apostle of Carinthia, who was placed among the number of saints by Pope Gregory IX.
Apud Indos, Persis finítimos, sanctórum Bárlaam et Jósaphat, quorum actus mirándos sanctus Joánnes Damascénus conscrípsit. In India, near the Persian boundary, the Saints Barlaam and Josaphat, whose wonderful deeds were written by St. John of Damascus.
Lutétiæ Parisiórum deposítio sancti Severíni, Mónachi et Solitárii. At Paris, the death of St. Severin, monk and solitary.
Et álibi aliórum plurimórum sanctórum Mártyrum et Confessórum, atque sanctárum Vírginum. R. Deo grátias.
And elsewhere in divers places, many other holy martyrs, confessors, and holy virgins.
R. Thanks be to God.
Quinto Kaléndas Decémbris. Luna. The Twenty-Seventh Day of November. The Night of the Moon.
Antiochíæ sanctórum Mártyrum Basiléi Epíscopi, Auxílii et Saturníni. At Antioch, the holy martyrs Basileus, bishop, Auxilius, and Saturninus.
Sebáste, in Arménia, sanctórum Mártyrum Hirenárchi, Acácii Presbyteri, ac septem mulíerum. Harum porro constántia Hirenárchus commótus, ad Christum convérsus, sub Diocletiáno Imperatóre et Máximo Præside, una cum Acácio, secúri percútitur. At Sebaste in Armenia, in the reign of Emperor Diocletian and under the governor Maximus, the holy martyrs Hirenarchus, the priest Acacius, and seven women. Struck with the constancy of these women, Hirenarchus was converted to Christ, and with Acacius died under the axe.
Apud Cæam flúvium, in Gallæcia, sanctórum Facúndi et Primitívi, qui sub Attico Præside passi sunt. In Galicia, on the River Cea, the Saints Facundus and Primitivus, who suffered under the governor Atticus.
In Pérside sancti Jacóbi intercísi, Mártyris conspícui, qui, témpore Theodósii junióris, cum in Isdegérdis Regis grátiam Christum negásset, et proptérea mater ejus et uxor ab ipsíus se consuetúdine subtraxíssent, hinc, in se revérsus, intrépide coram Vararáne, Isdegérdis fílio ac successóre, se Christiánum esse conféssus est; ideóque ab iráto Rege, lata in eum mortis senténtia, membrátim jussus est concídi et cápite obtruncári. Quo étiam témpore innúmeri álii Mártyres ibídem passi sunt. In Persia, St. James Intercisus, a distinguished martyr. In the time of Theodosius the Younger he denied Christ in order to please King Isdegerd, but his mother and his wife for this reason withdrew from his company. Coming to himself, he returned to the king, now Vararanus, the son and successor of Isdegerd, to declare his faith in our Lord, whereupon the angry monarch condemned him to be cut in pieces and beheaded. Countless other martyrs suffered at this time in the same country.
Aquiléjæ sancti Valeriáni Epíscopi. At Aquileia, St. Valerian, bishop.
Apud Régium, in Gállia, sancti Máximi, Epíscopi et Confessóris; qui, usque a primævæ ætátis annis omni virtútum grátia præditus, primum Lirinénsis cœnóbii Pater, deínde Regiénsis Ecclésiæ Epíscopus, signis et prodígiis ínclytus éxstitit. At Riez in France, St. Maximus, bishop and confessor, who, from his tender years, was endowed with every grace and virtue. Being first superior of the monastery of Lerins, and afterwards bishop of the Church of Riez, he was celebrated for the working of miracles and prodigies.
Salisbúrgi, in Nórico, sancti Virgílii, Epíscopi et Carinthiórum Apóstoli, qui a Gregório Nono, Pontífice Máximo, in Sanctórum númerum adscríptus est. At Salzburg in Austria, St. Virgil, bishop and apostle of Carinthia, who was placed among the number of saints by Pope Gregory IX.
Apud Indos, Persis finítimos, sanctórum Bárlaam et Jósaphat, quorum actus mirándos sanctus Joánnes Damascénus conscrípsit. In India, near the Persian boundary, the Saints Barlaam and Josaphat, whose wonderful deeds were written by St. John of Damascus.
Lutétiæ Parisiórum deposítio sancti Severíni, Mónachi et Solitárii. At Paris, the death of St. Severin, monk and solitary.
Et álibi aliórum plurimórum sanctórum Mártyrum et Confessórum, atque sanctárum Vírginum. R. Deo grátias.
And elsewhere in divers places, many other holy martyrs, confessors, and holy virgins.
R. Thanks be to God.
St. Francis Xavier, priest of the Society of Jesus, confessor, Apostle of the Indies, and heavenly patron of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith, and also of all the Missions, who died on the day previous. In Judea, the holy prophet Zephaniah. At Rome, the holy martyrs Claudius, a tribune, and Hilaria, his wife, with Jason and Maur, their sons, and seventy soldiers. By the command of Emperor Numerian, Claudius was fastened to a large stone and thrown into the river, the soldiers and the sons of Claudius were condemned to capital punishment. But blessed Hilaria, after having buried the bodies of her sons, and while praying at their tomb, was arrested by the pagans, and shortly after departed for heaven. At Tangier in Morocco, St. Cassian, martyr. After having been a recorder for a long time, at length, by an inspiration from heaven, he deemed it a hateful thing to contribute to the massacre of the Christians, and therefore abandoned his office, and making a profession of Christianity, he deserved to obtain the triumph of martyrdom. Also in Africa, the holy martyrs Claudius, Crispin, Magina, John, and Stephen. In Hungary, St. Agricola, martyr. At Nicomedia, the martyrdom of the Saints Ambicus, Victor, and Julius. At Milan, St. Mirocles, bishop and confessor, sometimes mentioned by St. Ambrose. At Dorchester in England, St. Birinus, who was the first bishop of that city. At Chur in Germany, St. Lucius, king of the Britons, who in the time of Pope Eleutherius, was the first of their kings to receive the faith of Christ. At Siena in Tuscany, St. Galganus, hermit.
And elsewhere in divers places, many other holy martyrs, confessors, and holy virgins.
R. Thanks be to God.
ORCCE Ordo: Feria III infra Hebdomadam I Adventus ~ Feria major
Tértio Nonas Decémbris. Luna.
Sancti Francísci Xavérii, Sacerdótis e Societáte Jesu et Confessóris, Indiárum Apóstoli, sodalitátis et óperis Propagándæ Fídei atque Missiónum ómnium Patróni cæléstis; qui prídie hujus diéi quiévit in pace. In Judæa sancti Sophóniæ Prophétæ. Romæ sanctórum Mártyrum Cláudii Tribúni, et uxóris Hiláriæ, ac filiórum Jásonis et Mauri, cum septuagínta milítibus. Ex eis Cláudium jussit Numeriánus Imperátor, ingénti saxo alligátum, in flumen præcípitem dari; mílites vero et ipsíus Cláudii fílios capitáli senténtia puníri. Beáta autem Hilária, cum filiórum córpora sepelísset, paulo post, orans ad eórum sepúlcrum, tenta est a Pagánis, et, in cárcerem trusa, migrávit ad Dóminum. Tingi, in Mauritánia, pássio sancti Cassiáni Mártyris, qui, cum exceptóris diu gessísset offícium, tandem, admirátus intrépida beáti Marcélli Centuriónis respónsa et immóbilem in Christi fide constántiam, atque cælitus inspirátus, exsecrábile duxit Christianórum neci deservíri; ideóque, cum renuntiásset eídem offício, et ipse, sub Christiána professióne, cápite abscíssus, triúmphum méruit obtinére martyrii. Item, in Africa sanctórum Mártyrum Cláudii, Crispíni, Magínæ, Joánnis et Stéphani. In Pannónia sancti Agrícolæ Mártyris. Nicomedíæ pássio sanctórum Ambici, Victóris et Júlii. Medioláni sancti Miroclétis, Epíscopi et Confessóris; cujus aliquándo sanctus Ambrósius méminit. Dorcéstriæ, in Anglia, sancti Biríni, qui fuit primus ejúsdem civitátis Epíscopus. Cúriæ, in Germánia, sancti Lúcii, Britannórum Regis, qui primus ex iis Régibus fidem Christi suscépit, témpore sancti Eleuthérii Papæ. Senis, in Túscia, sancti Galgáni Eremítæ.
Et álibi aliórum plurimórum sanctórum Mártyrum et Confessórum, atque sanctárum Vírginum.
R. Deo grátias.
At Rome, the martyrdom of the saintly virgin Bibiana, under the sacrilegious Emperor Julian. For the sake of our Lord she was scourged with leaded whips until she expired. At Imola, St. Peter Chrysologus, bishop of Ravenna, confessor and doctor of the Church, celebrated for his learning and sanctity. His feast is celebrated on the 4th of this month. In Sanchan, an island of China, the birthday of St. Francis Xavier, priest of the Society of Jesus, confessor and Apostle of the Indies. He was renowned for his conversion of the heathen, his gifts and miracles, and he was filled with merits and good works when he fell asleep in the Lord. Pope Pius X chose and appointed him the heavenly protector of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith and of the work for the same object. Pope Pius XI confirmed this and appointed him the special patron of all the Foreign Missions. His feast, by decree of Pope Alexander VII, is kept on the following day. At Rome, the holy martyrs Eusebius, a priest, Marcellus, a deacon, Hippolytus, Maximus, Adria, Paulina, Neon, Mary, Martana, and Aurelia, who fulfilled their martyrdoms under the judge Secundian in the persecution of Valerian. Also at Rome, St. Pontian, martyr, with four others. In Africa, the birthday of the holy martyrs Severus, Securus, Januarius, and Victorinus, who were there crowned with martyrdom. At Verona, St. Lupus, bishop and confessor. At Edessa in Syria, St. Nonnus, bishop, by whose prayers Pelagia the penitent was converted to Christ. At Troas in Phrygia, St. Silvanus, bishop, renowned for miracles. At Brescia, St. Evasius, bishop.
And elsewhere in divers places, many other holy martyrs, confessors, and holy virgins.
R. Thanks be to God.
ORCCE Ordo:Feria II infra Hebdomadam I Adventus ~ Feria major; Commemoratio: S. Bibianae Virginis et Martyris
Quarto Nonas Decémbris. Luna.
Romæ pássio sanctæ Bibiánæ, Vírginis et Mártyris, quæ, sub Juliáno Imperatóre sacrílego, ob Christum támdiu plumbátis cæsa est, donec rédderet spíritum. Apud Forum Cornélii, in Æmília, natális sancti Petri, Epíscopi Ravennátis, Confessóris et Ecclésiæ Doctóris, cognoménto Chrysólogi, doctrína et sanctitáte célebris. Ipsíus tamen festum prídie Nonas hujus mensis recólitur. In Sanciáno, Sinárum ínsula, item natális sancti Francísci Xavérii, Sacerdótis e Societáte Jesu et Confessóris, Indiárum Apóstoli, géntium conversióne, donis et miráculis clari; qui plenus méritis et labóribus obdormívit in Dómino. Ipsum beátum virum Pius Décimus, Póntifex Máximus, cæléstem sodalitáti et óperi Propagándæ Fídei Protectórem elégit atque constítuit; Pius vero Papa Undécimus peculiárem ómnibus Missiónibus Patrónum dedit et confirmávit. Ejus autem festívitas, jussu Alexándri Papæ Séptimi, sequénti die celebrátur. Romæ sanctórum Mártyrum Eusébii Presbyteri, Marcélli Diáconi, Hippólyti, Máximi, Adriæ, Paulínæ, Neónis, Maríæ, Martánæ et Auréliæ; qui omnes in persecutióne Valeriáni, sub Secundiáno Júdice, martyrium complevérunt. Item Romæ sancti Pontiáni Mártyris, cum áliis quátuor. In Africa natális sanctórum Mártyrum Sevéri, Secúri, Januárii et Victoríni; qui ibídem martyrio coronáti sunt. Aquiléjæ sancti Chromátii, Epíscopi et Confessóris. Verónæ sancti Lupi, Epíscopi et Confessóris. Edéssæ, in Syria, sancti Nonni Epíscopi, cujus précibus Pelágia pænitens ad Christum convérsa est. Tróade, in Phrygia, sancti Silváni Epíscopi, miráculis clari. Bríxiæ sancti Evásii Epíscopi.
Et álibi aliórum plurimórum sanctórum Mártyrum et Confessórum, atque sanctárum Vírginum.
R. Deo grátias.
Nota Bene: Istanbul monastery ‘to be turned into mosque’ A ruined fifth century monastery in Istanbul is to be turned into a mosque next year, local media reported Tuesday, amid a row with Greece over possible similar moves for the ancient Hagia Sophia complex.
At Antioch, the holy martyrs Basileus, bishop, Auxilius, and Saturninus. At Sebaste in Armenia, in the reign of Emperor Diocletian and under the governor Maximus, the holy martyrs Hirenarchus, the priest Acacius, and seven women. Struck with the constancy of these women, Hirenarchus was converted to Christ, and with Acacius died under the axe. In Galicia, on the River Cea, the Saints Facundus and Primitivus, who suffered under the governor Atticus. In Persia, St. James Intercisus, a distinguished martyr. In the time of Theodosius the Younger he denied Christ in order to please King Isdegerd, but his mother and his wife for this reason withdrew from his company. Coming to himself, he returned to the king, now Vararanus, the son and successor of Isdegerd, to declare his faith in our Lord, whereupon the angry monarch condemned him to be cut in pieces and beheaded. Countless other martyrs suffered at this time in the same country. At Aquileia, St. Valerian, bishop. At Riez in France, St. Maximus, bishop and confessor, who, from his tender years, was endowed with every grace and virtue. Being first superior of the monastery of Lerins, and afterwards bishop of the Church of Riez, he was celebrated for the working of miracles and prodigies. At Salzburg in Austria, St. Virgil, bishop and apostle of Carinthia, who was placed among the number of saints by Pope Gregory IX. In India, near the Persian boundary, the Saints Barlaam and Josaphat, whose wonderful deeds were written by St. John of Damascus. At Paris, the death of St. Severin, monk and solitary.
And elsewhere in divers places, many other holy martyrs, confessors, and holy virgins.
R. Thanks be to God.
ORCCE Ordo: Feria Quarta infra Hebdomadam XXIV post Octavam Pentecostes V. Novembris ~ Ferial et in Anglia; in Octava: S. Edmundi, Regis et Confessoris
Quinto Kaléndas Decémbris. Luna.
Antiochíæ sanctórum Mártyrum Basiléi Epíscopi, Auxílii et Saturníni. Sebáste, in Arménia, sanctórum Mártyrum Hirenárchi, Acácii Presbyteri, ac septem mulíerum. Harum porro constántia Hirenárchus commótus, ad Christum convérsus, sub Diocletiáno Imperatóre et Máximo Præside, una cum Acácio, secúri percútitur. Apud Cæam flúvium, in Gallæcia, sanctórum Facúndi et Primitívi, qui sub Attico Præside passi sunt. In Pérside sancti Jacóbi intercísi, Mártyris conspícui, qui, témpore Theodósii junióris, cum in Isdegérdis Regis grátiam Christum negásset, et proptérea mater ejus et uxor ab ipsíus se consuetúdine subtraxíssent, hinc, in se revérsus, intrépide coram Vararáne, Isdegérdis fílio ac successóre, se Christiánum esse conféssus est; ideóque ab iráto Rege, lata in eum mortis senténtia, membrátim jussus est concídi et cápite obtruncári. Quo étiam témpore innúmeri álii Mártyres ibídem passi sunt. Aquiléjæ sancti Valeriáni Epíscopi. Apud Régium, in Gállia, sancti Máximi, Epíscopi et Confessóris; qui, usque a primævæ ætátis annis omni virtútum grátia præditus, primum Lirinénsis cœnóbii Pater, deínde Regiénsis Ecclésiæ Epíscopus, signis et prodígiis ínclytus éxstitit. Salisbúrgi, in Nórico, sancti Virgílii, Epíscopi et Carinthiórum Apóstoli, qui a Gregório Nono, Pontífice Máximo, in Sanctórum númerum adscríptus est. Apud Indos, Persis finítimos, sanctórum Bárlaam et Jósaphat, quorum actus mirándos sanctus Joánnes Damascénus conscrípsit. Lutétiæ Parisiórum deposítio sancti Severíni, Mónachi et Solitárii.
Et álibi aliórum plurimórum sanctórum Mártyrum et Confessórum, atque sanctárum Vírginum.
R. Deo grátias.
Nota Bene: The pastor of a church in southern Algeria has reported the details of a fresh attack on his church – the third of its kind – which he says proves that some Algerians are against the presence of churches in their country. The pastor, who wishes to remain nameless, said his church was attacked on November 12 at around 11pm by a group which attempted to set fire to the church… Read more
The bishop of a Pentecostal church in eastern Kenya was hurt on Saturday (Nov. 23) in a clash with elders from a local tribe after a member of his church was abducted… Read more
At Fabriano in Piceno, St. Sylvester, abbot, founder of the Congregation of Sylvestrine monks. At Alexandria, the birthday of St. Peter, bishop of that city, graced with every virtue, who was beheaded by command of Galerius Maximian. There suffered also at Alexandria in the same persecution the holy martyrs Faustus, a priest, Didius, and Ammonius; likewise four bishops of Egypt, Phileas, Hesychius, Pachomius, and Theodore, with others numbering six hundred and sixty, whom the sword of persecution sent to heaven. In the village of Fracta, St. Bellinus, bishop of Padua and martyr. The noble defender of the rights of the Church was cruelly attacked by assassins, inflicting many wounds upon him, and then slaying him. At Nicomedia, in the time of Constantius, St. Marcellus, a priest, who died a martyr by being hurled from a rock by the Arians. At Rome, St. Siricius, pope and confessor, celebrated for his learning, piety, and zeal for religion, who condemned various heretics and published salutary laws concerning ecclesiastical discipline. At Autun, St. Amator, bishop. At Constance in Germany, St. Conrad, bishop. At Rome, St. Leonard of Port Maurice, priest and confessor of the Order of Friars Minor. He was remarkable for his zeal for souls and his holy expeditions throughout Italy. He was canonized by Pope Pius IX, and Pope Pius XI chose and appointed him the heavenly patron of priests to the preaching of missions to the people. In the district of Rheims, the birthday of St. Basolus, confessor. At Adrianople in Paphlagonia, St. Stylianos, anchoret, renowned for miracles. In Armenia, St. Nicon, monk.
And elsewhere in divers places, many other holy martyrs, confessors, and holy virgins.
R. Thanks be to God.
ORCCE Ordo:S. Petri Alexandrini Martyri ~ Simplex; Tempora: Feria Tertia infra Hebdomadam XXIV post Octavam Pentecostes V. Novembris: et in Anglia; Commemoratio infra octavam: S. Edmundi, Regis et Confessoris
Sexto Kaléndas Decémbris. Luna.
Apud Fabriánum, in Picéno, beáti Silvéstri Abbátis, Institutóris Congregatiónis Monachórum Silvestrinórum. Alexandríæ natális sancti Petri, ejúsdem urbis Epíscopi et Mártyris; qui, cum esset ómnibus virtútibus exornátus, ibídem, Galérii Maximiáni præcépto, cápite obtruncátus est. Passi sunt étiam Alexandríæ, in eádem persecutióne, sancti Mártyres Faustus Présbyter, Dídius et Ammónius, itémque Epíscopi quátuor Ægyptii, idest Philéas, Hesychius, Pachómius et Theodórus, cum áliis sexcéntis sexagínta, quos persecutiónis gládius evéxit ad cælos. Apud villam cui nomen Fracta, in território Rhodigiénsi, sancti Bellíni, Epíscopi Patavíni et Mártyris; qui a sicáriis, cum esset Ecclésiæ júrium defénsor exímius, crudéliter impetítus ac multis illátis vulnéribus occísus est. Nicomedíæ sancti Marcélli Presbyteri, qui, Constántii témpore, ab Ariánis e rupe præcipitátus, Martyr occúbuit. Romæ sancti Sirícii, Papæ et Confessóris, doctrína, pietáte et religiónis zelo præclári, qui vários damnávit hæréticos, et disciplínam ecclesiásticam salubérrimis decrétis instaurávit. Augustodúni sancti Amatóris Epíscopi. Constántiæ, in Germánia, sancti Conrádi Epíscopi. Romæ sancti Leonárdi, a Portu Maurítio, Sacerdótis ex Ordine Minórum et Confessóris, zelo animárum et sacris per Itáliam expeditiónibus conspícui; quem Pius Nonus, Póntifex Máximus, in Sanctórum cánonem rétulit, ac Pius Papa Undécimus cæléstem Patrónum Sacerdótum qui ad sacras populáres Missiónes in regiónibus cathólicis ubíque terrárum incúmbunt, elégit et constítuit. In território Rheménsi natális sancti Básoli Confessóris. Hadrianópoli, in Paphlagónia, sancti Styliáni Anachorétæ, miráculis clari. In Arménia sancti Nicónis Mónachi.
Et álibi aliórum plurimórum sanctórum Mártyrum et Confessórum, atque sanctárum Vírginum.
R. Deo grátias.
Two months ago, on September 22, two suicide bombers blew themselves up outside All Saints Church in Peshawar when congregants were leaving the church after the Sunday communion. The incident was a landmark in the history of Pakistani Christians… Read more
Pastor Augustine* (59) lives in Bangui, the capital of the Central African Republic. Since the Seleka coalition seized power in March this year, Seleka rebels have robbed Pastor Augustine’s house three times… Read more
Today is a very special feast day for me as it is the Patronal Feast of the Oratory of St John Vianney, the priestly fraternity that I belong to. It seems wholly appropriate then to continue reflecting on the priesthood as we have these past few days.
I ended yesterday by remarking how St John Vianney was an “exemplar” of the priestly vocation. Reading the life of the Curé d’Ars (as he is also known) we notice immediately his dedication to God, like Enoch he “walked with God” on a daily basis. Like Enoch he was surrounded by sinful people, yet he obeyed and trusted in God, “… he kept clear of sin, when sinful ways were easy…” [cf Sirach 31:8-11] and he achieved great things thereby, the salvation of those he served. The teachings of St John Vianney also beautifully convey the incarnational aspect of the ministerial priesthood, “If I were to meet a priest and an angel, I should salute the priest before I saluted the angel. The latter is the friend of God; but the priest holds His place.” By that he means that the priest – made in the image and likeness of God unlike the angel, is also the mediator between God and Man and again unlike the angel, has the ability to present God incarnate in the holy Eucharist. “See the power of the priest; out of a piece of bread the word of a priest makes a God. It is more than creating the world.” For those thinking this is “blasphemous” understand that a more humble man you could not have met than the Curé and allow me to explain further what he means…
I remarked to someone once expressing this incarnational teaching of the Curé another way, “If you had the choice, if the Curé himself were to appear here and I were here to hear your confession, who would you go to?” The reply, “The Curé!” “Ah,” I replied, “but the Curé would not be able to give you absolution.” Back came the stunned response, “Why not?” “Because he is dead. I am alive!” Despite all the holiness of the Curé, despite the fact that he is a Saint, he would be unable to impart God’s absolution because he is not alive! Only in this physical existence can the promise of God’s absolution promised through the Apostolic ministry [cf John 20:19-23] be realised. This simple truth is the same even for us to receive the ultimate benefit of our salvation eternal life, i.e. the Eucharist, for only “He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.” [cf John 6:53-54] St John Vianney again, “When the priest remits sins, he does not say, “God pardons you”; he says, “I absolve you.” At the Consecration, he does not say, “This is the Body of Our Lord;” he says, “This is My Body.”
As we noted yesterday, God works through His creation to restore it, hence why God became Man in Christ. In like fashion then, the high priesthood of Christ works through the ministerial priesthood of the New Covenant, just as under the Old Covenant the means of atonement worked through the ministerial priesthood of the Sons of Levi. The difference is, that whereas before the priesthood was patrilineal i.e. descended from a particular tribe of the chosen people of Israel, the sons of Aaron in the tribe of Levi [cf Exodus 28:1-4; Numbers 25:13], now the priesthood is called out of those who have been freed from sin, who have become by adoption “children of God” [John 1:12, 13] and have been “chosen” [John 15:16].
Obviously, as before, the stewards of God’s mysteries must themselves strive after holiness, hence the first obligation to pray – to achieve personal sanctity by walking with God, by living out a relationship with Him, by discerning His will and by offering intercession for those He loves. But how is this possible for mere men? Here we must understand our own place in the created order. Remember that we are made in the “image and likeness of God” [cf Genesis 1:26, 27], what does this mean?
In Genesis 2:7 “Jehovah God formed man with the dust of the ground.” With this act, God created man’s body. The verse continues, “And breathed into his nostrils the breath of life.” “Breath” is derived from the Hebrew word neshamah which, significantly, is translated “spirit” in Proverbs 20:27: “The spirit [neshamah] of man is the lamp of Jehovah.” We can thus infer, that God’s breathing into man the breath of life produced man’s spirit. Zechariah 12:1 corroborates the creation of man’s spirit by telling us that just as Jehovah stretched forth the heavens and laid the foundation of the earth, He also formed the spirit of man within him. Genesis 2:7 concludes “And man became a living soul.” The soul (man’s intrinsic person) was the issue of the breath of God entering into the nostrils of the body of dust. The biblical record of the three-step creation of man clearly reveals him to be tripartite. Hebrews 4:12 “The word of God is living and operative and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit and of joints and marrow.”
Paul similarly describes that which makes us human, “I pray to God that your whole spirit and soul and body may be made blameless until the coming of Our Lord Jesus Christ.” [1 Thess 5:23] Here The “spirit” is the highest part of man, that which assimilates him to God; renders him capable of religion, and susceptible of being acted upon by the Spirit of God. The “soul” is the inferior part of his mental nature, the seat of the passions and desires, of the natural propensities. The “body” is the corporeal frame. In other words, we are made up of our physical bodies, our soul (psyche) is what interprets our sense sensations experienced by our bodies and our spirit is that which makes us alive and aware and enables us to rationalise above our senses; the spirit is what makes us of God who is Spirit. Essentially then we are “tripartite” beings i.e. spirit, soul, and body in order to enable us to contact and live within the spiritual, psychological and physical realms, respectively.
Firstly, with his human spirit, man can worship God, serve God, and know God intuitively. Second, the soul is that part which forms the personality of man and enables him to contact and function within the psychological realm. Finally, the physical body with its five senses enables man to relate to and communicate with the physical world. In our own time “soul” and “spirit” have become regarded as interchangeable, understandable in the sense that neither seem sense perceptible or rather physically experiential. But the fact that we are able to interpret what we experience through our senses betrays our soul, we might call it our “mind”, our “will”. But our spiritual intellect enables us to rationalise above our sense experience, our spiritual intuition has the capacity to know and discern apart from human reason or circumstantial experience.
With regard then to the possibility of men acting as mediators between God and men, between heaven and earth? Let us recall St John Vianney’s point above. Unlike the angels who are only spiritual beings, and animals who are only physical beings, the unique tripartite nature of man enables him to experience both spiritual and material things. Not only that, but man can effectand affect both spiritual and material things, he is imago mundi a microcosm of the universe itself, a mini-model of creation and god-like; the only other being in the universe able to manipulate the spiritual and the material world is, God. Man can spiritualise the material and materialise the spiritual. He is in every way a mediator.
If we recall the observation that St John Vianney could “read into men’s souls” we might understand that he could intuitively understand another person’s passions and lusts, he recognised the predilections that were preventing them from developing their spiritual intellect and he became famous for accurate diagnosis betrayed by the penances and spiritual direction that he gave those who sought him out (20’000 pilgrims per annum by the time of his death). Here the Curé demonstrates what can be achieved by a man completely self-aware to all that he is as God created him. Who pursues holiness of life by walking daily with God, a man of prayer uniting his will with God’s in the discernment of God’s will and purpose for his life. A man who can be truly a mediator between God and men, communicating with both and enabling the latter to realise for themselves all that God desires them to be. “The priest is not a priest for himself; he does not give himself absolution; he does not administer the Sacraments to himself. He is not for himself, he is for you.” Curé d’Ars
I remarked before how the priesthood is in danger from the process of emasculation that is currently prevalent in all areas of the Church. Through the contemporary mindset that confuses soul and spirit as one and interchangeable, humanity is losing sight and realisation of itself. “Me, myself and I” the motto of the ego is left to interpret everything subjectively, employing only the bodily senses to make sense of the world, regarding only physical empirical evidence as “proof”. The spirit is still visible though, the realisation of spiritual intellect is still discernible in forms of art, music, painting and even in science and technology, in the materialisation of ideas onto paper into buildings and physical structures… but no more is this recognised as “of the spirit” but simply of the “soul” driven by passions and lusts and sensuality. Even higher aspirations such as “equality” are driven by the selfish desire of souls wanting to give freedom to the expression of their passions, which is why objective reason and debate are no more and subjective reasoning and impassioned belligerency are the modus operandi of campaigners.
Within the Church itself, this confusion has resulted in a situation where few are properly catechised and have been left to the “whims and fancies” of new doctrines derived from secular ideologies and principles that are in fact fundamentally at odds with the very nature of the created order itself. As Paul prophesied, “For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.” [2 Tim 4:3-4] Through the general propensity of contemporary theologians jettisoning the wisdom of past ages to replace it with their own subjective hypothesises attempting to blend the Gospel with the fast-paced Zeitgeist of the secular world, Christianity itself is losing sight of the true reality of the created order. Ironically, in an attempt to appeal to the souls of men, they have compromised the awareness of spiritual intellect! As a result the same is true of spiritual directors, theology schools and most of the institutions responsible for the formation of priests.
To concludes today’s reflection, a sage quote from the Curé, “When people wish to destroy religion, they begin by attacking the priest, because where there is no longer any priest there is no sacrifice, and where there is no longer any sacrifice there is no religion.” Sadly, in part deliberately, in part through ignorance, the contemporary Church is realising this end as people forget what their own true nature is about, so vocations of all kinds are impoverished and the priesthood affected… (more soon…)
