31 Dec – Memorial for St Sylvester I, Pope; Seventh Day in the Octave of Christmas Sylvester (d. 335) was pope in the reign of Emperor Constantine I, who built the Lateran and other churches. He sent legates to the First Council of Nicaea, and was involved in the controversy over Arianism. The spurious Donation [...]
30 Dec – Sixth Day in the Octave of Christmas _____________________ 1 John 2:12-17 I am writing to you, my own children, whose sins have already been forgiven through his name; I am writing to you, fathers, who have come to know the one who has existed since the beginning; I am writing to you, [...]
29 Dec – Memorial for St Thomas Becket, Bishop, Martyr; Fifth Day in the Octave of Christmas Thomas (1118-1170) was of Norman ancestry. He was educated at Merton Priory, Paris, Bologna, and Auxerre. He was a civil and canon lawyer, a soldier and officer. He was archdeacon of Canterbury, and was a Friend of King [...]
28 Dec – Feast of the Holy Innocents, Martyrs The Holy Innocents are the children slaughtered by Herod the Great when he tried to kill the infant Christ. – Patron Saint Index The children died for Christ, though they do not know it. The parents mourned for the death of martyrs. The Christ child makes [...]
27 Dec – Feast of St John, Apostle, Evangelist St. John, also known as the “beloved disciple” of Jesus’ was the son of Zebedee and Salome, brother of St. James the Great, and was called one of the Sons of Thunder. Before becoming Jesus’ disciple, he was already a disciple of St. John the Baptist, [...]
26 Dec – Sunday in the Octave of Christmas; Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph The Holy Family We celebrate that Holy Family of Nazareth which is the model for all who fear the Lord and walk in his ways. – The Sunday Missal _____________________ Ecclesiasticus 3:3-7.14-17 The Lord honours the [...]
25 Dec – Solemnity of the Nativity of The Lord (Mass during the Day) The Word Made Flesh For us the Word of God is no longer the message spoken by prophets, but the messenger of god in person, the eternal Word begotten of the Father before time began. – The Sunday Missal _____________________ Isaiah [...]
25 Dec – Solemnity of the Nativity of The Lord (Mass at Dawn) The First Dawn Of A New Age We celebrate the marvelous events of the first morning of a new world, when the kindness and love of God our Saviour made us His holy people, the Lord’s Redeemed, his ‘sought-after’; and his ‘city-not-forsaken’. [...]
25 Dec – Solemnity of the Nativity of The Lord (Midnight Mass) A Saviour Is Born For Us Tonight we celebrate the birth of a Child who was to bring the joy of God’s saving love to the whole world. And we make our own the jubilant cry of the angels: “Glory to God in [...]
24 Dec – Solemnity of the Nativity of The Lord (Vigil Mass) Jesus, Son of David God prepared the people of Israel to receive his Son. May we too be ready to welcome him. – The Sunday Missal _____________________ Isaiah 62:1-5 About Zion I will not be silent, about Jerusalem I will not grow weary, [...]
