31 Dec – Seventh Day of the Octave of Christmas; Memorial for St Sylvester I, Pope 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 of the Octave of Christmas; Feast of the Holy Fmaily We celebrate the Holy Family of Nazareth which is the model for all who fear the Lord and walk in his ways. – The Sunday Missal _____________________ Colossians 3:12-21 You are God’s chosen race, his saints; he loves you and [...]
29 Dec – Fifth Day of the Octave of Christmas; Memorial for St Thomas à Becket, Bishop & Martyr 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 [...]
28 Dec – Fourth Day of the Octave of Christmas; Feast of the Holy Innocents, Martrys 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 [...]
27 Dec – Third Day of the Octave of Christmas; 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 [...]
26 Dec – Second Day of the Octave of Christmas; Feast of St Stephen, Protomartyr St. Stephen was the first Christian martyr. A deacon and a preacher, all we know of him is related in the Acts of the Apostles. While preaching the gospel in the streets, angry Jews who believed his message to be [...]
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 marvellous events of the first morning of a new world, when the kindness and love of God our Saviour made us hs holy people, the Lord’s Redeemed, his ‘sought-after’, and his ‘city-not-forsaken’. [...]
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, [...]
24 Dec _____________________ 2 Samuel 7:1-5.8-12.14.16 Once David had settled into his house and the Lord had given him rest from all the enemies surrounding him, the king said to the prophet Nathan, ‘Look, I am living in a house of cedar while the ark of God dwells in a tent.’ Nathan said to the [...]
