Dec.
3 - Saint Francis Xavier, Confessor (1506-1552)
He was born in Navarre, Spain in 1506. While receiving his education
at the University of Paris, he met and befriended Ignatius of
Loyola. While in Paris he also joined the Society of Jesus (The
Jesuits), which Ignatius had founded. His decision to become
a missionary was due to words Ignatius had repeatedly said to
him: "What doth it profit a man if he gain the whole
world, and suffer the loss of his own soul." Although
prone to seasickness and not having an inclination for learning
languages, Xavier traveled to India, Japan and China. On these
journeys, his preaching of the gospel won many converts, and
he is regarded by many to be the Patron of the Propagation of
the Faith. God grant us the grace to give up all, for the furtherance
of the Kingdom of God through Christ Jesus. The
Day's Propers + Catholic Encyclopedia article.
Dec. 5 -
Saint Sabas, Abbot (439-532)
Saint Sabas lived in the 5th century and is known for establishing
monastic communities in Palestine. An anchorite, he encouraged
many to devote themselves to a life of prayer and contemplation,
and was successful in this endeavor throughout the Middle-East.
Saint Sabas died on December 5, 532, having reached the age of
93. He was a champion of theological orthodoxy, and had an important
role in the campaign against two heresies of his time, Origenism
and Monophysitism. "And everyone that hath forsaken houses,
or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children,
or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and
shall inherit everlasting life ." (Matt. 19:29). (The
day's gospel, page F 34, The People's Anglican Missal) The Day's Propers + Catholic Encyclopedia article.
Dec. 6 -
Saint Nicholas, Bishop, Confessor
Saint Nicholas, bishop of Myra, was born in the 4th century in
Asia Minor. One of the best known legends about Saint Nicholas
tells of his having thrown three bags of gold through the window
of a home of three girls so that they might have dowries, thereby
saving them from a life of prostitution. In art he is also represented
as blessing three children in a wooden tub, which flows from
a story that he came across three dismembered children whom he
blessed and brought back to life. Numerous other pious stories
of miracles and His merciful helping of poor and destitute children
have led to his commemoration as "Santa Claus". May
we teach our children that St. Nicholas, a Christian filled with
the love of Our Lord, is no doubt the origin of the Santa Claus
story, and that it is Jesus Christ who is God's greatest gift
to the world. The
Day's Propers + Catholic Encyclopedia article.
Dec. 7 -
Saint Ambrose, Bishop, Confessor and Doctor (c. 339 - 397)
Saint Ambrose, born around 339 in Trier, the son of the Pretorian
Prefect of Gaul, became involved in politics and in 370 he was
made Governor of Aemilia and Liguria, at Milan. Following the
death of an heretical Arian bishop, Ambrose became instrumental
in maintaining peace at the convention responsible for electing
the successor bishop. Pious tradition holds that at the assembly
the voice of a child shouted that Ambrose should be made bishop,
and that that motivated the crowds to acclaim the same. Although
Ambrose was not even baptized, this did not deter his admirers
from quickly baptizing and consecrating him bishop. During his
episcopate, he strongly opposed heretics, forced the powerful
Roman Emperor Theodosius to repent and do penance for his massacre
of innocent men, women and children, was instrumental in the
conversion of Saint Augustine, and enriched liturgical worship.
May God raise up men for the office of bishop who are motivated
not for power but to serve and feed our Lord's flock. The Day's Propers + Catholic Encyclopedia article.
Dec. 8 -
Conception of Blessed Virgin Mary
This being the season of Advent, it is most appropriate that
the Church sets aside a day to celebrate the birth of the Blessed
Virgin Mary. She is highly blessed because of her willingness
to bear the Christ child, the Son of God. This feast day has
been celebrated in the East since the 8th century and in the
West since the 9th century. Although the Roman Catholic Church
holds that Mary was born without sin, Orthodox belief, both East
and West, does not embrace this doctrine. The universal Church,
however, most assuredly deems her to be both holy and good, as
God selected her among all women to give birth to the Incarnate
Word. "Hail thou that are highly favoured: the Lord is
with thee: blessed art thou among women" (St. Luke 1:28).
(The day's gospel, page E 11, The People's Anglican Missal)
The
Day's Propers + Catholic Encyclopedia article.
Dec. 13
- Saint Lucy, Virgin, Martyr
Saint Lucy, whose name means "light", died a martyr
during the persecutions of Diocletian in 303. Her holy life and
martyrdom can be found in the earliest Western and Eastern liturgical
books. Pious tradition holds that she was born of a wealthy Sicilian
family. She refused marriage and was handed over to the authorities
by her suitor. She was later killed by the sword. She is venerated
because she openly proclaimed her faith, distributing her wealth
to the poor at the height of the Diocletian persecution. The
five wise virgins took oil in their vessels with their lamps:
and at midnight there was a cry made: Behold the bridegroom cometh:
go ye out to meet Christ the Lord (Matt. 25). (The day's
gospel, page F 40, The People's Anglican Missal) The Day's Propers + Catholic Encyclopedia article.
Dec. 21
- Saint Thomas the Apostle
Saint Thomas, also called Didymus in the Gospel of John, is one
of the twelve apostles. He is best known for doubting the testimony
of his fellow disciples when they told him they had seen the
Resurrected Lord. He told them, "Except I shall see in
his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the
print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will
not believe". Our Lord appeared to them again eight
days later, this time with Thomas present. Interestingly, when
Our Lord told Thomas to touch His wounds, there is no indication
that he did so, being already convinced with his acclamation:
"My Lord, and my God." It is believed that Saint
Thomas went on to evangelize India. We give thanks to God for
the Church's rich deposit of faith, which is more than sufficient
to convert doubters, like Thomas, to Christianity. The Votive Mass Propers + Catholic Encyclopedia's article. + Prayer book propers
Dec. 25
-Nativity of Our Lord (Commonly Called Christmas Day)
This greatest of feast days, with the exception of Easter, is
the celebration of the birth of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
God's only begotten Son entered into history by taking on our
humanity and becoming Incarnate in the womb of the Virgin Mary
- all for the redemption of mankind. "The Lord said unto
me: Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee" (Ps.
2). (The day's introit, page A 18, The People's Anglican Missal)
The
Votive Mass Propers + Prayer
book propers
Dec. 26
- Saint Stephen, The Protomartyr
Saint Stephen is the first of the Christians to proclaim Christ,
and also the first to be martyred for that testimony. He was
most likely of Hellenistic Jewish descent. He was one of the
seven deacons appointed by the apostles in the early days of
the Church. Filled with the Holy Spirit and learned in the Scriptures
and Jewish history, he gave an apology for the Faith in the midst
of a crowd of Jews. He told them that Moses and the prophets
all pointed to the coming of Jesus Christ as the Redeemer of
Israel and of mankind. Their response was to stone him to death.
Saul (Paul) was in attendance, also. May we proclaim Christ Jesus
in our day, as boldly as Saint Stephen did, no matter the cost
involved. "And he kneeled down and cried with a loud
voice: Lord, lay not his sin to their charge" (Act 7:60).
(The day's epistle, page A 24, The People's Anglican Missal)
Catholic Encyclopedia article + Prayer
book propers
Dec. 27
- Saint John, Apostle and Evangelist
Saint John was one of the twelve apostles and, according to tradition,
the author of the fourth Gospel, the three epistles which bear
his name, and the Book of Revelation. He is regarded as the `beloved
disciple' in the Gospel accounts, and was a member of the "inner
three" disciples, the other two being Peter and James. Because
of the intimacy he had with Jesus, his gospel account gives us
much in regards to revealing the heart and mind of Our Lord.
John was the last of the apostles to die. Catholic Encyclopedia article + Prayer
book propers
Dec. 28
- The Holy Innocents, Martyrs
This feast day commemorate all those infants two years of age
and under who were murdered by the soldiers of Herod the Great
(Matthew 2:16-18). Having been told by the Maji that a Christ
king had been born, Herod sought to kill Him through this atrocious
act. God, however, revealed to Joseph in a dream that he should
take the Child into Egypt to protect Him from the slaughter,
thereby fulfilling the Old Testament prophesy: Out of Egypt
have I called my Son (St. Matt. 2:15). This feast day speaks
to our generation, with its wanton disregard for the sacredness
of life, exemplified by the innumerable abortions which take
place every year. May we pray to God that He lifts the veil of
deception in this country, and that people may repent for the
terrible murdering of the millions of unborn through abortion.
All life comes from God and is sacred - from the unborn to the
aged and crippled. Catholic Encyclopedia article + Prayer
book propers
Dec. 29
- St. Thomas of Canterbury, Bishop, Martyr (C. 1118 - 1170)
Thomas Becket, archbishop and martyr, was born in London about
1118 A.D. Serving under Henry II as Chancellor of England, he
became the trusted friend of the king. This led the king to push
for his election as archbishop. As archbishop, Becket became
very devout and treated his office with severe reverence, much
to the annoyance of the king. Thomas understood that he was responsible
for the souls of all his flock, including the king's. He thus
admonished and reprimanded the king for immoral and abusive behaviour
towards his subjects. As a consequence, the king's hateful remarks
toward Becket resulted in some of the king's soldiers murdering
the archbishop in the sanctuary of Canterbury Cathedral. This
caused a tremendous outcry in England and Becket was immediately
recognized as a martyr and defender of the Faith. Would that
we all stand up to the Christian "kings" of this world,
when they do things contrary to the Faith. The
Day's Propers + Catholic Encyclopedia article.
Dec. 31
- Saint Sylvester, Priest, Bishop and Confessor (d. 335)
Little is known of Sylvester, who served as bishop of Rome beginning
in 314 A.D. - the year of the Edict of Milan. However, his was
a very crucial period of Christianity, and included the Edict
of Milan which, in effect, ended Christian persecution. It was
also during his bishopric that the Church made its bold proclamation
of the orthodox faith at the Council of Nicaea in 325, enabling
it to stem back the tide of Arianism and other heresies. The Day's Propers + Catholic Encyclopedia article.
