February
1 - Saint Ignatius of Antioch (c. 35 - c. 107)
Ignatius, the Bishop of Antioch, was martyred in Rome, thrown
to the wild beasts at the public "games" of the time.
While being taken to Rome, he wrote letters - which have survived
to our day - to various groups and people, including a farewell
letter of advice to Polycarp. Another letter was written to the
Christians in Rome, in anticipation of his impending arrival,
in which he implored them not to intercede on his behalf, but
rather to "let me follow the example of the suffering
of my God."
As Ignatius did, so may we also come to embrace the truth
that nothing "shall separate us from the love of Christ."
(The day's epistle from Romans 8, page E 22, People's Anglican
Missal) The
Day's Propers + Catholic
Encyclopedia Article
February 2
- Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Also called the "Presentation of Christ in the Temple"
and "Candlemas." In accordance with Jewish law and
forty days after the birth of Jesus, Mary went to the Temple
of Jerusalem for her purification, the story of which is told
in Luke 2:22-32. While there, the aged Simeon took Jesus into
his arms, and uttered what we now call the Nunc Dimittis - "Lord
now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace..."
The blessing of candles, which also occurs this day, recalls
Simeon's declaration regarding Jesus, who is the "light
to lighten the Gentiles, and... the glory of thy people Israel.". As the day's
offertory puts it, as Jesus "was this day presented in
the temple in the substance of flesh," may we also "be
presented unto God with pure and clean hearts."(The
day's offertory, page E 26, People's Anglican Missal) Prayer book propers + Catholic
Encyclopedia Article
February
3 - Saint Blase, Bishop and Martyr (Blessing of Throats) (4th
Century)
According to pious legend, while bishop of Sebaste in Armenia,
Blase (a.k.a. Blasius or Blaise) was martyred under the Roman
Emperor Licinius in the early 4th century. He was possibly the
son of wealthy Christian nobility. Before his martyrdom he lived
in a cave and blessed sick and wounded animals, including cattle.
Legend has it that a mother brought her son who was dying from
choking on a fish or chicken bone, and Blase healed him. His
intercessions are therefore sought by the sick, especially those
with throat problems. He died a terrible death, having his flesh
torn with wool-combs, and is therefore also the patron saint
of woolcombers. As we are comforted by God in the midst of the
perils of this life, may we also comfort others who suffer. (The
day's epistle from 2 Cor 1, page F 4, People's Anglican Missal)
The Day's
Propers + Catholic
Encyclopedia Article
February
5 - Saint Agatha, Virgin and Martyr.
Early century Virgin and Martyr. Agatha was born of noble parentage
in Sicily. When she refused the solicitations of the governor
Quintianus, he had her imprisoned and tortured in order to get
her to change her mind. Legend says that her body was rolled
on broken pieces of pottery and subsequently live coals, but
she stedfastly refused the governor's requests. Shortly after
that ordeal, she died while praying. She is the Patron Saint
of her city, Cantania, and bell founders, and is also invoked
against fires. She is remembered for her desire to place Christ
above all else.
As the day's Tract reminds us, those
who suffer for righteousness sake will not be disappointed.
"They that sow in tears: shall reap in joy. V. They that
now go on their way weeping, and bear forth good seed. V. they
shall doubtless come again with joy, and bring their sheaves
with them." (The day's tract, page E 30, The People's
Anglican Missal) The
Day's Propers + Catholic
Encyclopedia Article
February
6 - Saint Titus, Bishop, Confessor.
Disciple of the apostle Paul, who, while they journeyed together
in Crete, was made bishop by Paul to that island, according to
Eusebius, (Bishop of Caesarea and author of "Ecclesiastical
History"). Titus attended the Apostles' Council at Jerusalem
(Gal. 2.1) and was also sent to organize the Church in Corinth.
Paul loved Titus because of his steadfastness and loyalty to
the Faith. He lived to be in his 90's and died shortly after
105 a.d. As"the harvest is great, and the labourers are
few," pray that God raises up men like Titus to do the
work of the apostolic ministry. (The day's Gospel, page E 31,
The People's Anglican Missal) The
Day's Propers
February
9 - Saint Cyril, Bishop of Alexandria (d. 444)
Saint Cyril is known for countering the heresy by Nestorius,
which claimed that the Incarnate Christ was not fully and simultaneously
God and man. At the Council of Ephesus in 431, Cyril asserted
that there could be no atoning of sin if Christ was not man,
and that Our Lord must also be God, in order to redeem that which
he had become. By his emphasis of the Virgin Mary as the Mother
of God, Cyril was able to preserve Christ's divinity and humanity
during his particularly heretical day. As heresies - distortions
of divine truth - flow from a denial of the Incarnation, thereby
causing men to assert the one nature of Christ at the expense
of the other, we most assuredly thank God for Cyril and others
who, in their day, stood up for the Faith, lived and taught the
same, and are called "great in the kingdom of heaven."
(The day's Gospel, page F 31, People's Anglican Missal) The Day's Propers +Catholic Encyclopedia
Article
February
10 - St. Scholastica, Virgin (c. 480 - c. 543)
Scholastica was the sister of St.
Benedict. She, like her brother, found
her calling as a monastic, establishing a convent at Plombariola,
a few miles from Monte Cassino, in the 6th century. Scholastica
and her brother would come out of their cloistered community
once a year to discuss spiritual matters.
February
14 - St. Valentine, Martyr
According to pious tradition, Valentine was either a priest at
Rome who was martyred under the Emperor Claudius (c. 269), or
a Bishop of Terni, taken to Rome and also martyred, and whose
remains were subsequently taken back to Terni. Not much else
is known about either person, although they may even be the same
person, in truth.
In any event, the association of Valentine
with courtship and love most likely arose from the pagan festival
of Lupercalia (mid February) at Rome, and therefore has nothing
to do really with the saint in particular. However, the day most
assuredly reminds us that martyrdom may be a part of the calling
of Christ, who reminds us all that "Greater love hath
no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."
(John 15:13)Catholic
Encyclopedia Article
February
24 - St. Matthias the Apostle
Matthias filled the place of the twelfth apostle, following the
suicide of the traitor Judas. (Acts 1:15-25) The conditions necessary
for becoming one of the twelve apostles (related in the day's
epistle reading from Acts of the Apostles) was to have been a
disciple of Our Lord from the time of His Baptism to His Ascension.
Consequently, the person much have been a witness to the Resurrected
Christ.
The eleven apostles prayed to God to
have it known whether Joseph Barsabas or Matthias should be chosen.
After drawing lots, Matthias was chosen, and was numbered
with the eleven Apostles, May Holy Mother Church always be
preserved from false Apostles and be ordered and guided by
faithful and true pastors. (The day's collect, page E 32,
The People's Anglican Missal) Vigil
Propers + Prayer
book propers + Catholic
Encyclopedia Article
