Sunday, January 31, 2021
Septuagesima Sunday
Violet Semidouble (Privilege of the Second Class) The holy Church calls us together today in order that we may hear from her lips the sad history of the fall of our first parents. This awful event implies the Passion and cruel Death of the Son of God made Man, who has mercifully taken upon Himself […]
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Saint John Bosco, Confessor
White Double At the close of the month dedicated to honoring the infancy of our Savior, St. John Bosco leads to the Child Jesus—to Jesus the worker—the multitude of young people and workers to whom he dedicated his life. Let us turn our attention to the Lessons which abbreviate this holy man’s life and work. […]
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Saturday, January 30, 2021
Saturday Before Septuagesima Sunday: Suspension of the ‘Alleluia’
The calendar of the liturgical year will soon bring us to the commemoration of the Passion and Resurrection of our Redeemer; we are but nine weeks from these great solemnities. It is time for the Christian to be preparing his soul for a fresh visit from his Savior; a visit even more sacred and more […]
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Saint Martina, Virgin and Martyr
Red Semidouble A third Roman Virgin, wearing on her brow a Martyr’s crown, comes today to share the honors given to Agnes and Emerentiana, and offer her palm to the Lamb. Her name is Martina, which the pagans were wont to give to their daughters in honor of their god of war. Her sacred relics […]
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Friday, January 29, 2021
Saint Francis of Sales, Bishop, Confessor, and Doctor of the Church
White Double The angelical Bishop Francis of Sales has a right to a distinguished position near the Crib of Jesus, on account of the sweetness of his virtues, the child-like simplicity of his heart, and the humility and tenderness of his love. He comes with the luster of his glorious conquests upon him—seventy-two thousand heretics […]
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Thursday, January 28, 2021
Saint Peter Nolasco, Confessor
White Double The Ransomer of Captives, Peter Nolasco, is thus brought before us by the Calendar, a few days after having given us the Feast of his master, Raymund of Pegnafort. Both of them offer to the Divine Redeemer the thousands of Christians they ransomed from slavery. It is an appropriate homage, for it was […]
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Saint Agnes, Her Second Feast
Red Simple Five days after the martyrdom of the Virgin Emerentiana, the parents of the glorious Saint Agnes visited the tomb of their child during the night, there to weep and pray. It was the eighth day since her martyrdom. While they were thinking upon the cruel death, which, though it had enriched their child […]
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Wednesday, January 27, 2021
Saint John Chrysostom, Bishop and Doctor of the Church
White Double Before our Emmanuel came upon this our earth, men were as sheep without a shepherd; the flock was scattered, and the human race was hastening on to perdition. Jesus would, therefore, not only be the Lamb that was to be slain for our sins; he made himself, moreover, a Shepherd, that so he […]
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Tuesday, January 26, 2021
Saint Polycarp, Bishop and Martyr
Red Double Amidst the sweetness he is enjoying from the contemplation of the Word made Flesh, John, the Beloved Disciple, beholds coming towards him his dear Polycarp, the Angel of the Church of Smyrna, all resplendent with the glory of martyrdom. This venerable Saint has on his soul the fervent love that made him say, […]
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Monday, January 25, 2021
The Conversion of Saint Paul
White Greater Double We have already seen how the Gentiles, in the person of the Three Magi, offered their mystic gifts to the Divine Child of Bethlehem, and received from him, in return, the precious gifts of faith, hope, and charity. The harvest is ripe; it is time for the reaper to come. But who […]
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