Saturday, December 31, 2016
Saint Sylvester, Pope and Confessor
White Double So far, the only ones we have seen standing round the Crib of our Jesus have been Martyrs: Stephen, overwhelmed with the shower of stones; John, the Martyr in heart, who survived his fiery torture; the Holy Innocents, massacred by the sword; Thomas, murdered in his Cathedral—these are the champions of Christ, who […]
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Friday, December 30, 2016
The Sixth Day Within the Octave of Christmas
If December 30 falls on a Saturday, it is called the Sixth Day within the Octave, and the 3rd Mass of Christmas Day is repeated, except for the Epistle and Gospel, which are taken from the second Mass.
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Thursday, December 29, 2016
St. Thomas, Archbishop of Canterbury, and Martyr
Red Double Another Martyr comes in today to take his place round the Crib of our Jesus. He does not belong to the first ages of the church: his name is not written in the Books of the New Testament, like those of Stephen, John, and the Innocents of Bethlehem. Yet does he stand most […]
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Wednesday, December 28, 2016
The Holy Innocents
Violet or Red Double of the Second Class with simple Octave The feast of the beloved Disciple is followed by that of the Holy Innocents. The Crib of Jesus—where we have already met and venerated the Prince of Martyrs and the Eagle of Patmos—has today standing round it a lovely choir of little Children, clad […]
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Tuesday, December 27, 2016
Saint John, Apostle and Evangelist
White Double of the Second Class with Simple Octave Nearest to Jesus’ Crib, after Stephen, stands John, the Apostle and Evangelist. It was only right that the first place should be assigned to him who so loved his God that he shed his blood in his service; for, as this God himself declares, greater love […]
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Monday, December 26, 2016
Saint Stephen, the First Martyr
Red Double of the Second Class with simple Octave St. Peter Damian thus begins his Sermon for this Feast: “We are holding in our arms the Son of the Virgin, and are honoring, with our caresses, this our Infant God. The holy Virgin has led us to the dear Crib. The most beautiful of the […]
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Sunday, December 25, 2016
Christmas Morning—The Third Mass
White Double of the First Class with Privileged Octave of third Order Before Mass.—The merry-pealing Bells have wakened us up, echoing to us the sweet burden of our Matin-Song, and inviting us to come once more and adore our Jesus, and assist at the Mass of the Day, which we call the Third Mass: Christ […]
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Second Mass—or, Mass of the Aurora
White Double of the First Class with Privileged Octave of third Order The Office of Lauds is finished: the Canticles of joy are ended, wherewith the Church thanks the Eternal Father for his having made to rise upon us the divine Sun of Justice. It is time to offer up the second Sacrifice, or, as […]
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Midnight Mass
White Double of the First Class with Privileged Octave of third Order It is now time to offer the Great Sacrifice, and to call down our Emmanuel from heaven: He alone can fully pay the debt of gratitude which mankind owes to the Eternal Father. He will intercede for us on the Altar, as he […]
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