Saturday, December 24, 2016
Christmas Day—Afternoon of the Eve
Christmas Eve, with its own happy spirit, is drawing to its close. Already has the Church terminated all her Advent Offices, by the celebration of the Holy Sacrifice. In her maternal considerateness, she has permitted her children to break their Fast of preparation for the great Feast, by taking their meal at midday. While refreshing […]
0 Comments
Christmas Eve
Violet Privilege of the First Class (Double from Lauds onwards) “At length,” says St. Peter Damian in his Sermon for this holy Eve, “at length we have got from the stormy sea in to the tranquil port; hitherto it was the promise; now it is the prize; hitherto labor, now rest; hitherto despair, now hope; […]
0 Comments
The Season of Christmas
The History of Christmas We apply the name of Christmas to the forty days, which begin with the Nativity of our Lord, December 25th, and end with the Purification of the Blessed Virgin, February 2nd. It is a period, which forms a distinct portion of the Liturgical Year, as distinct, by its own special spirit, […]
0 Comments
Friday, December 23, 2016
Seventh Antiphon
The Church sings this Antiphon in today’s Lauds: Ant. Ecce completa sunt omnia quæ dicta sunt per Angelum, de Virgine Maria. Ant. Lo! all things are accomplished that were said by the Angel, of the Virgin Mary. Seventh Antiphon O Emmanuel, Rex et Legifer noster, exspectatio gentium, et salvator earum; veni ad salvandum nos, Domine […]
0 Comments
Friday of the Fourth Week of Advent
Prope est jam Dominus; venite, adoremus. The Lord is now nigh; come, let us adore. De Isaia Propheta. From the Prophet Isaias. Cap. lxvi. Ch. lxvi. Audite verbum Domini, qui tremitis ad verbum ejus. Dixerunt fratres vestri odientes vos, et abjicientes propter nomen meum: Glorificetur Dominus, et videbimus in laetitia vestra; ipsi autem confundentur. Vox […]
0 Comments
Thursday, December 22, 2016
Sixth Antiphon
Sixth Antiphon O Rex gentium, et desideratus earum, Lapisque angularis, qui facis utraque unum; veni, et salva hominem quem de limo formasti. O King of nations, and their Desired One, and the Corner-Stone that makest both one; come and save man whom thou formedst out of slime. O King of Nations! thou art approaching still […]
0 Comments
Thursday of the Fourth Week of Advent
Prope est jam Dominus; venite, adoremus. The Lord is now nigh; come, let us adore. De Isaia Propheta. From the Prophet Isaias. Cap. lxiv. Ch. lxiv. Utinam dirumperes caelos, et descenderes; a facie tua montes defluerent. Sicut exustio ignis tabescerent, aquae arderent igni, ut notum fieret nomen tuum inimicis tuis, a facie tua gentes turbarentur. […]
0 Comments
Wednesday, December 21, 2016
Saint Thomas, Apostle
Red Double of the Second Class The Church announces to us today, in her Office of Lauds, these solemn words: Nolite timere: quinta enim die veniet ad vos Dominus noster. Fear not: for on the fifth day, our Lord will come to you. This is the last Feast the Church keeps before the great one […]
0 Comments
Fifth Antiphon
Fifth Antiphon O Oriens, splendor lucis æternæ, et sol justiæ; veni et illumina sedentes in tenebris, et umbra mortis. O Orient! splendor of eternal light, and Sun of Justice! come and enlighten them that sit in darkness, and in the shadow of death. O Jesus, divine Sun! thou art coming to snatch us from eternal […]
0 Comments
Wednesday of the Fourth Week of Advent
Prope est jam Dominus; venite, adoremus. The Lord is now nigh; come, let us adore. De Isaia Propheta. From the Prophet Isaias. Cap. li. Ch. li. Audite me, qui sequimini quod justum est, et quaeritis Dominum; attendite ad petram unde excisi estis, et ad cavernam laci de qua praecisi estis. Attendite ad Abraham, patrem vestrum, […]
0 Comments