Tag: John Chrysostom

Sextodécimo Kaléndas Januárii. Luna.

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Sextodécimo Kaléndas Januárii.  Luna. The Seventeenth Day of December.  The Night of the Moon.

Romæ natális sancti Joánnis de Matha, Presbyteri et Confessóris, qui Ordinis sanctíssimæ Trinitátis redemptiónis captivórum Fundátor éxstitit.  Ipsíus tamen festívitas, ex dispositióne Innocéntii Papæ Undécimi, ágitur sexto Idus Februárii. At Rome, the birthday of St. John of Matha, priest and confessor, founder of the Order of the Most Holy Trinity for the Redemption of Captives, whose feast, by decree of Pope Innocent XI, is observed on the 8th of  February.

Massíliæ, in Gállia, beáti Lázari Epíscopi, sanctárum Maríæ Magdalénæ ac Marthæ fratris, quem Dóminus in Evangélio appellásse amícum et a mórtuis excitásse légitur. At Marseilles in France, blessed Lazarus, brother of the Saints Mary Magdalene and Martha, of whom we read in the Gospel that our Lord called him his friend and raised him from the dead.

Eleutherópoli, in Palæstína, sanctórum Mártyrum Floriáni, Calaníci, et Sociórum quinquagínta et octo; qui, témpore Heraclíi Imperatóris, a Saracénis ob Christi fidem occísi sunt. At Eleutheropolis, the holy martyrs Florian, Calanicus, and their fifty-eight companions, who were slain by the Saracens because of the faith of Christ, during the reign of Emperor Haraclius.

In monastério Fuldénsi sancti Stúrmii, Abbátis et Saxóniæ Apóstoli; quem Innocéntius Papa Secúndus, in Concílio secúndo Lateranénsi, in Sanctórum númerum rétulit. In the monastery of Fulda, the holy abbot Sturmius, apostle of Saxony, who was ranked among the saints by Innocent II, in the second Lateran Council.

Bigárdis, prope Bruxéllas, in Brabántia, sanctæ Wivínæ Vírginis, cujus egrégiam sanctitátem mirácula crebra testántur. At Bigarden, near Brussels, St. Wivina, virgin, whose eminent sanctity is attested to by frequent miracles.

Constantinópoli sanctæ Olympíadis Víduæ. At Constantinople, St. Olympias, widow.

Andániæ, apud Septem Ecclésias, in Bélgio, beátæ Beggæ Víduæ, quæ fuit soror sanctæ Gertrúdis. At Andenne, at the Seven Churches, blessed Begga, widow, the sister of St. Gertrude.

Eódem die Translátio sancti Ignátii, Epíscopi et Mártyris; qui, tértius post beátum Petrum Apóstolum, Antiochénam rexit Ecclésiam.  Ejus corpus ab urbe Roma, ubi ipse, sub Trajáno, glorióse martyrium tertiodécimo Kaléndas Januárii consummáverat, Antiochíam delátum, ibídem, in cœmetério Ecclésiæ, extra portam Daphníticam, pósitum fuit; in qua celebritáte sanctus Joánnes Chrysóstomus conciónem ad pópulum hábuit.  Póstmodum vero ejus relíquiæ rursus Romam translátæ sunt, et in Ecclésia sancti Cleméntis, una cum córpore ejúsdem beatíssimi Papæ et Mártyris, summa veneratióne recónditæ. Also, the translation of St. Ignatius, bishop and martyr, who, the third after the blessed Apostle Peter, governed the Church of Antioch.  His body was taken from Rome, where he had suffered martyrdom under Trajan on the 20th of December, and deposited in the church cemetery near the Gate of Daphne at Antioch.  St. John Chrysostom, on that solemn occasion, preached the sermon to the people.  Afterwards his relics were carried back to Rome and placed with the highest reverence in the church of St. Clement, together with the body of that blessed pope and martyr.

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.

Butler’s Lives of the Saints:
St. Olympias, Widow
St. Begga, Widow and Abbess

ORCCE Ordo: Feria III infra Hebdomadam III Adventus ~ Feria major

Nota Bene: The European crusade against Christianity The Voice of Russia 16 December 2013 By Milena Faustova The Christian civilization is in great danger. Today about 100 million followers of the teachings of Jesus Christ are being persecuted. People are suffering or sometimes even…

Jihad on Jesus: Militants Firebomb New Christ Statue and Ancient Monastery, Syria  Raymond Ibrahim 16 December 2013 By Raymond Ibrahim Earlier this month, the Islamist-led opposition in Syria broadcast a video clip of a militant threatening the nation’s Christian minority, with a focus on the Cherubim…

Tertiodécimo Kaléndas Januárii. Luna.

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Tertiodécimo Kaléndas Januárii.  Luna. The Twentieth Day of December.  The Night of the Moon.

Vigília sancti Thomæ Apóstoli. The Vigil of St. Thomas, Apostle. Romæ natális sancti Zephyríni, Papæ et Mártyris.  Ipsíus tamen festum recólitur séptimo Kaléndas Septémbris. At Rome, the birthday of St. Zephyrinus, pope and martyr.  His feast is celebrated on the 26th of August.
Ibídem pássio sancti Ignátii, Epíscopi et Mártyris; qui, tértius post beátum Petrum Apóstolum, Antiochénam rexit Ecclésiam. Hic, in persecutióne Trajáni, damnátus ad béstias, Romam vinctus míttitur; ibíque, circumsedénte Senátu, immaníssimis pœnárum supplíciis primo est afféctus, dehinc objícitur leónibus, quorum déntibus præfocátus, hóstia Christi effícitur. Ejus vero festívitas Kaléndis Februárii celebrátur. In the same city, the martyrdom of St. Ignatius, bishop and martyr. He was the third after St. Peter the Apostle to rule the church of Antioch, and in the persecution of Trajan was condemned to the beasts. By order of Trajan he was sent to Rome in fetters, and there tortured and afflicted with the most cruel torments in the midst of the assembled Senate. Finally he was cast to the lions, and being ground by their teeth became a sacrifice for Christ. His feast is observed on the 1st of February.
Item Romæ sanctórum Mártyrum Liberáti et Bájuli. At Rome, the holy martyrs Liberatus and Bajulus.
In Arábia sanctórum Mártyrum Eugénii et Macárii Presbyterórum, qui a Juliáno Apóstata, cum ipsíus impietátem arguíssent, sævíssimis plagis affécti sunt, atque in vastíssimam erémum relegáti, et gládio cæsi. In Arabia, the holy martyrs Eugene and Macarius, priests. For reproving Julian the Apostate for his impiety, they received severe stripes, were banished to a vast desert, and finally were put to the sword.
Alexandríæ sanctórum mílitum et Mártyrum Ammónis, Zenónis, Ptolemæi, Ingenis et Theóphili; qui, tribunálibus astántes, cum quidam Christiánus, in supplíciis pósitis, trepidáret et jam prope ad negándum declináret, vultu, óculis ac nútibus illum conabántur erígere. Cumque hac de causa clamor totíus pópuli in eos prosilíret, prorumpéntes in médium se Christiános esse testáti sunt; per quorum victóriam Christus, qui suis eam ánimi constántiam déderat, gloriosíssime triumphávit. At Alexandria, the holy martyrs Ammon, Zeno, Ptolemy, Ingen, and Theophilus, soldiers. Standing near the tribunals, and seeing a Christian under torture and almost ready to apostatize, they endeavoured to encourage him by their looks and by signs. When on account of this the crowd raised an outcry against them, they stepped forward and declared themselves Christians. In their victory, Christ also who had given them fortitude triumphed.
Géldubæ, in Germánia, sancti Júlii Mártyris. At Gelduba in Germany, St. Julius, martyr.
Antiochíæ natális sancti Philogónii Epíscopi, qui, Dei nutu ex causídico ad eam Ecclésiam regéndam accersítus, advérsus Aríum, una cum sancto Alexándro Epíscopo et Sóciis, primum pro fide cathólica certámen íniit, clarúsque méritis quiévit in Dómino; cujus ánnuam festivitátem sanctus Joánnes Chrysóstomus præcláro encómio celebrávit. At Antioch, the birthday of St. Philogonius, bishop, who was called by the will of God from the office of lawyer to the government of that church. With the saintly bishop Alexander and his companions, he engaged in the first contest for the Catholic faith against Arius. Renowned for merits he rested in the Lord, and his feast was commemorated by St. John Chrysostom with an excellent eulogy.
Bríxiæ sancti Domínici, Epíscopi et Confessóris. At Brescia, St. Dominic, bishop and confessor.
In Hispánia deposítio sancti Domínici de Silos Abbátis, e sancti Benedícti Ordine, miráculis in captivórum liberatióne celebérrimi. In Spain, the death of St. Dominic of Silos, abbot of the Order of St. Benedict, renowned for the miracles which he had wrought for the liberation of captives.

Et álibi aliórum plurimórum sanctórum Mártyrum et Confessórum, atque sanctárum Vírginum. And elsewhere in divers places, many other holy martyrs, confessors, and holy virgins.

R. Deo grátias. R. Thanks be to God.

Butler’s Lives of the Saints:
St. Philogonius, Bishop of Antioch, Confessor
St. Paul of Latrus, or Latra, Hermit

ORCCE Ordo: Feria VI Quattuor Temporum in Adventu ~ Feria major

Nota Bene: UN says 210, 000 uprooted by violence in Central African Republic The New Age 19 December 2013 Some 210,000 people have been uprooted from their homes by violence in the Central African Republic capital in the past two weeks alone, the United Nations said…

Quintodécimo Kaléndas Januárii. Luna.

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Quintodécimo Kaléndas Januárii.  Luna. The Eighteenth Day of December.  The Night of the Moon.

Philíppis, in Macedónia, natális sanctórum Mártyrum Rufi et Zósimi, qui ex illórum número discipulórum fuérunt, per quos primitíva Ecclésia in Judæis et Græcis fundáta est; de quorum étiam felíci agóne scribit sanctus Polycárpus in epístola ad Philippénses. At Philippi in Macedonia, the birthday of the holy martyrs Rufus and Zosimus, who were of the number of disciples by whom the primitive church was founded among the Jews and the Greeks. Their happy martyrdom is mentioned by St. Polycarp in his Epistle to the Philippians. Laodicéæ, in Syria, pássio sanctórum Theotími et Basiliáni. At Laodicea in Syria, the martyrdom of the Saints Theotimus and Basilian. In Africa sanctórum Mártyrum Quincti, Simplícii et aliórum; qui sub Décii et Valeriáni persecutióne passi sunt. In Africa, the holy martyrs Quinctus, Simplicius, and others who suffered in the persecution of Decius and Valerian. Ibídem sancti Moysétis Mártyris. In the same country, St. Moses, martyr. Item in Africa sanctórum Mártyrum Victúri, Victóris, Victoríni, Adjutóris, Quarti et aliórum trigínta. Also in Africa, the holy martyrs Victurus, Victor, Victorinus, Adjutor, Quartus, and thirty others. Mopsuéstiæ, in Cilícia, sancti Auxéntii Epíscopi, qui, olim sub Licínio miles, pótius elégit cíngulum exúere quam uvas Baccho offérre; factúsque Epíscopus, præclárus méritis quiévit in pace. At Mopsuestia in Cilicia, St. Auxentius, bishop, who, being at first a soldier under Licinius, preferred to surrender his military insignia rather than offer grapes to Bacchus. Having been made a bishop, he was renowned for his merit, and died in peace. Turónis, in Gállia, sancti Gratiáni Epíscopi, qui, a sancto Fabiáno Papa primus ejúsdem civitátis Epíscopus ordinátus est, et multis clarus miráculis obdormívit in Dómino. At Tours in France, St. Gratian, appointed first bishop of that city by Pope St. Fabian.  Celebrated for many miracles, he calmly went to his repose in the Lord.

Et álibi aliórum plurimórum sanctórum Mártyrum et Confessórum, atque sanctárum Vírginum. And elsewhere in divers places, many other holy martyrs, confessors, and holy virgins.

R. Deo grátias. R. Thanks be to God.

Butler’s Lives of the Saints:
SS. Rufus and Zozimus, Martyrs
St. Gatian, First Bishop of Tours, Confessor
St. Winebald, Abbot and Confessor

ORCCE Ordo: Feria IV Quattuor Temporum in Adventu ~ Feria major

Nota Bene: Nigeria: Islamists attack Christian principal Worthy Christian News 17 December 2013 By Joseph DeCaro ABUJA, NIGERIA (Worthy News)– Educational reforms in Nigeria’s Osun state have resulted in religious violence after Islamist youths beat a Christian principal unconscious last…  

The European crusade against Christianity The Voice of Russia 16 December 2013 By Milena Faustova The Christian civilization is in great danger. Today about 100 million followers of the teachings of Jesus Christ are being persecuted. People are suffering or sometimes even…   

Jihad on Jesus: Militants Firebomb New Christ Statue and Ancient Monastery, Syria Raymond Ibrahim 16 December 2013 By Raymond Ibrahim Earlier this month, the Islamist-led opposition in Syria broadcast a video clip of a militant threatening the nation’s Christian minority, with a focus on the Cherubim…


Sextodécimo Kaléndas Januárii. Luna.

Published on by TheOldRomanLeave a comment

romanmartyrology

Sextodécimo Kaléndas Januárii.  Luna. The Seventeenth Day of December.  The Night of the Moon.

Romæ natális sancti Joánnis de Matha, Presbyteri et Confessóris, qui Ordinis sanctíssimæ Trinitátis redemptiónis captivórum Fundátor éxstitit.  Ipsíus tamen festívitas, ex dispositióne Innocéntii Papæ Undécimi, ágitur sexto Idus Februárii. At Rome, the birthday of St. John of Matha, priest and confessor, founder of the Order of the Most Holy Trinity for the Redemption of Captives, whose feast, by decree of Pope Innocent XI, is observed on the 8th of  February.

Massíliæ, in Gállia, beáti Lázari Epíscopi, sanctárum Maríæ Magdalénæ ac Marthæ fratris, quem Dóminus in Evangélio appellásse amícum et a mórtuis excitásse légitur. At Marseilles in France, blessed Lazarus, brother of the Saints Mary Magdalene and Martha, of whom we read in the Gospel that our Lord called him his friend and raised him from the dead.

Eleutherópoli, in Palæstína, sanctórum Mártyrum Floriáni, Calaníci, et Sociórum quinquagínta et octo; qui, témpore Heraclíi Imperatóris, a Saracénis ob Christi fidem occísi sunt. At Eleutheropolis, the holy martyrs Florian, Calanicus, and their fifty-eight companions, who were slain by the Saracens because of the faith of Christ, during the reign of Emperor Haraclius.

In monastério Fuldénsi sancti Stúrmii, Abbátis et Saxóniæ Apóstoli; quem Innocéntius Papa Secúndus, in Concílio secúndo Lateranénsi, in Sanctórum númerum rétulit. In the monastery of Fulda, the holy abbot Sturmius, apostle of Saxony, who was ranked among the saints by Innocent II, in the second Lateran Council.

Bigárdis, prope Bruxéllas, in Brabántia, sanctæ Wivínæ Vírginis, cujus egrégiam sanctitátem mirácula crebra testántur. At Bigarden, near Brussels, St. Wivina, virgin, whose eminent sanctity is attested to by frequent miracles.

Constantinópoli sanctæ Olympíadis Víduæ. At Constantinople, St. Olympias, widow.

Andániæ, apud Septem Ecclésias, in Bélgio, beátæ Beggæ Víduæ, quæ fuit soror sanctæ Gertrúdis. At Andenne, at the Seven Churches, blessed Begga, widow, the sister of St. Gertrude.

Eódem die Translátio sancti Ignátii, Epíscopi et Mártyris; qui, tértius post beátum Petrum Apóstolum, Antiochénam rexit Ecclésiam.  Ejus corpus ab urbe Roma, ubi ipse, sub Trajáno, glorióse martyrium tertiodécimo Kaléndas Januárii consummáverat, Antiochíam delátum, ibídem, in cœmetério Ecclésiæ, extra portam Daphníticam, pósitum fuit; in qua celebritáte sanctus Joánnes Chrysóstomus conciónem ad pópulum hábuit.  Póstmodum vero ejus relíquiæ rursus Romam translátæ sunt, et in Ecclésia sancti Cleméntis, una cum córpore ejúsdem beatíssimi Papæ et Mártyris, summa veneratióne recónditæ. Also, the translation of St. Ignatius, bishop and martyr, who, the third after the blessed Apostle Peter, governed the Church of Antioch.  His body was taken from Rome, where he had suffered martyrdom under Trajan on the 20th of December, and deposited in the church cemetery near the Gate of Daphne at Antioch.  St. John Chrysostom, on that solemn occasion, preached the sermon to the people.  Afterwards his relics were carried back to Rome and placed with the highest reverence in the church of St. Clement, together with the body of that blessed pope and martyr.

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.

Butler’s Lives of the Saints:
St. Olympias, Widow
St. Begga, Widow and Abbess

ORCCE Ordo: Feria III infra Hebdomadam III Adventus ~ Feria major

Nota Bene: The European crusade against Christianity The Voice of Russia 16 December 2013 By Milena Faustova The Christian civilization is in great danger. Today about 100 million followers of the teachings of Jesus Christ are being persecuted. People are suffering or sometimes even…

Jihad on Jesus: Militants Firebomb New Christ Statue and Ancient Monastery, Syria  Raymond Ibrahim 16 December 2013 By Raymond Ibrahim Earlier this month, the Islamist-led opposition in Syria broadcast a video clip of a militant threatening the nation’s Christian minority, with a focus on the Cherubim…

Sacrificium…

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A.M.D.G.
Tertia die infra Octavam S. Laurentii
Commemoratio: S. Clarae Virginis

Carissimi,

Saint Lawrence being ordained deacon by Pope Saint Sixtus II (Blessed Fra Angelico)
Saint Lawrence being ordained (sub)deacon by Pope Saint Sixtus II (Blessed Fra Angelico)

Sacrifice… St Lawrence, whom we celebrate this week with an Octave, gives us another insight ref the incarnational aspect of the priesthood and indeed of the Apostolic sharing of the “bitter cup”.

St Ambrose of Milan says that Lawrence met His Holiness Sixtus II on his way to his execution. “Where are you going, my dear father, without your son? Where are you hurrying off to, holy priest, without your deacon? Before you never mounted the altar of sacrifice without your servant, and now you wish to do it without me?” Of course, Pope Sixtus was not on his way to offer Mass, Lawrence was referring to his execution… Lawrence was expressing the sharing by Sixtus in that “bitter cup” the “cup of salvation”, the “cup of trembling” and the “cup of wrath” [as discussed previously here], the Pope was about to “taste death” literally sharing in the sacrifice of Christ, for Christ by his martyrdom. Depicted in Fra Angelico’s painting is the presentation at Lawrence’s subdiaconal ordination of Pope Sixtus presenting “the cup”, a chalice and paten, signifying the invitation to share through major Orders, the Apostolic ministry and thereby the mystery of Christ’s high priesthood upon the Cross.

So now finally(!) we come to something of a conclusion ref our recent reflections. We’ve discussed something of the nature and character of the priesthood – the first obligation of the priest to be a Christian at prayer, walking daily with God pursuing personal holiness and sanctification, interceding through prayer on behalf of God’s people, most especially the Church through the recitation of the Divine Office. We’ve reflected on the true nature of humanity in the created order, that we are “body, soul and spirit” and that God works through His creation salvifically and that human beings have the potential to “spiritualise the material and materialise the spiritual”, hence the establishment by God and Christ of a ministerial priesthood. Now we come to the purpose of the New Testament ministerial priesthood; the realisation of the fruit of Christ’s redemption, the Eucharist.

It is sometimes suggested that “there is no need for a priesthood” echoing some erroneously believe the sentiments of the author of Hebrews concerning the efficacy of the high priesthood of Christ, “For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens; who does not need daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the people’s, for this He did once for all when He offered up Himself.” [Heb 7:26-27] For whilst indeed, the sacrifice of Christ upon the Cross of Calvary does indeed negate the need for regular expiatory sacrifices common under the Old Covenant, even so the ministerial priesthood of the New Covenant exists for another purpose.

The ministerial priesthood of the New Covenant exists to confect and present to us the means by which we receive eternal life. Primarily, it exists to share in and offer the Eucharist, the holy sacrifice of the Mass, by participating in the high priesthood of Christ and making manifest the “flesh and blood of the Son of Man”. [John 6:53-54] “He who hears you, hears me” [Luke 10:16] Our Lord said to the Apostles, the new ministerial priesthood. For Christ makes plain that it is only in the reception of the Eucharist that the promise of eternal life and the redemption of humanity is realised, “Truly, truly, I say to you… He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.” By instituting the Apostolic ministry, Christ established the means by which His body and blood would be made available to the faithful. He who became one of us to save us, continues to present Himself in bread and wine through those chosen [John 6:70; John 15:16; John 13:18], consecrated [Acts 1:15-26; Acts 6:6; Acts 13:3] and set apart [Romans 15:16; 2 Corinthians 2:17; 2 Cor. 5:20] to cooperate with Him in fulfilling the promises He made when He walked among us.

images (1)

So it is that we understand the ministerial priesthood of the New Covenant to be the physical, material means by which the high priesthood of Christ is effected as in like fashion, it is in the consecrated species of bread and wine that we receive His Body and Blood and thus the fruit of our redemption, the Eucharist. As St John Chrysostom wrote, “We priests are simply the instruments and ministers of the veritable sacrifice. The Lord Himself is He who sanctifies the material gifts offered for the sacrifice, and who makes them a source of sanctification for us.” “When, therefore,” he adds, “you see the sacred minister lifting up to heaven the holy offering, think not that he whom you behold is the real priest; but rising above visible objects, consider the hand of Jesus Christ stretched out invisibly. Through Him everything is done.” [Hom. 60 ad Pop. Antioch] Similarly and more plainly here St John Chrysostom explains the relationship of the contemporary priest and that sharing in the Apostles’ ministry discussed before, “I wish to add something that is plainly awe-inspiring, but do not be astonished or upset. This Sacrifice, no matter who offers it, be it Peter or Paul, is always the same as that which Christ gave His disciples and which priests now offer: The offering of today is in no way inferior to that which Christ offered, because it is not men who sanctify the offering of today; it is the same Christ who sanctified His own. For just as the words which God spoke are the very same as those which the priest now speaks, so too the oblation is the very same.” [“Homilies on the Second Epistle to Timothy,” 2,4, c. 397 A.D.]

So then, the ministerial priesthood exists to make manifest the high priesthood of Christ. “The priest who imitates that which Christ did, truly takes the place of Christ, and offers there in the Church a true and perfect sacrifice to God the Father.” [St. Cyprian wrote to the Ephesians circa 258 A.D.] The earthly and mortal priest becomes the means by which Christ Himself offers Himself as food for the faithful. It is Christ Himself who stands before the Altar, who offers Himself in the person of the priest to God, His father as the perfect victim for the propitiation of sin; Who breathes eternal life into the species of bread and wine at the words of consecration, transforming them “This is MY Body”, “This is MY Blood”; that same “logos”, that same “ruach” that breathed life into creation [Gen 1:2; John 1:1], that breathed life into man [Isa 42:5; Ezek 37:5 Job 33:4].

Thus, as St Ambrose says, “Jesus Christ is your inheritance, O ye ministers of the Lord. Jesus Christ is your sole domain. His Name is your wealth. His Name your income. His Name constitutes your stipend, a stipend not of money but of grace. Your heritage is not dried up by heat, nor devastated by storms. The sun shall not burn thee by day, neither the moon by night. Keep then the portion which you have chosen, for it is the good portion, which the possessions of the world cannot equal.”

Sancti Laurentii, ora pro nobis!