St Mary Magdalene

There is a unique aspect to today's Liturgy.  St. Mary Magdalene, as 

the Apostle to the Apostles, has a Credo! 

St Mary Magdalene, pray for us! 

 

St. Thomas More

Today, July 6, is the anniversary of the martyrdom of St Thomas More in 1535.  Then why isn't his feast day on this date?  Instead it is on July 9.  The great feast of Sts. Peter and Paul had a Common Octave and July 6 is the Octave Day of Sts Peter and Paul.  Hence the day was already "taken".  Furthermore, St Thomas More knew that he was dying on the Octave day of these two great saints.  This Octave had been around since the 7th century.    St Thomas More who was defending the primacy of the Pope died on the Octave day of the 1st pope!  Wow!!  July 7 and 8 were already occupied with Sts Cyril and Methodias and St Elizabeth of Portugal.  The first free day on the Liturgical Calendar was July 9.   

While St Thomas More is a local feast in England, he does not appear on the Universal Calendar.  However since he is the patron saint of the Diocese of Arlington, we celebrate his traditional feast on July 9.  Because he is the patron of our diocese, our entire diocese would have a Common Octave for his feast.  He would be commemorated every day of the Octave when there is another feast.  What a beautiful way to get to know and celebrate our beloved special patron!!  As an aside, the Octave day is July 16 which is also the feast of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel.  A lovely end to the Octave.  

St John Fisher is also honored on July 9.  He was martyred on June 22, 1535.  Instead of having his feast on June 22, he was joined to St Thomas More because the end of June is full of Octaves!!  Depending on how late Easter is, Corpus Christi and the Sacred Heart can come in the latter half of June and there is also the Nativity of St. John the Baptist on June 24-July 1.  These now-abolished Octaves helped to define the traditional Liturgical Calendar.  What a tragedy that almost all were removed! 

Until Octaves are officially restored to us, celebrate St Thomas More's feast for an entire week at home!  If you have never watched A Man for All Seasons (1966), it is a classic and one of the best saint movies ever made. 

Here are the propers for his feast day: 

https://societyofstbede.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ssjohnfisherthomasmore97.pdf 

O God, You raised up Your blessed martyrs, John and Thomas, from among the English to be the defenders of the true faith and of the primacy of the holy Roman Church, grant that through their merits and prayers, we may all become and remain one by the profession of the same Faith.  Through Christ our Lord.   (Collect from their feast on July 9).  

O God, who didst empower blessed Thomas Thy Martyr, amidst the allurements of the world and the pains of prison and death, to embrace Thy cross with a merry and courageous spirit: grant, we beseech, that by his intercession and example we may be quick to fight for faith and justice, and so, filled with cheer, deserve to attain eternal joys.  (Collect from the Votive Mass of St. Thomas More)

Who is the Patron Saint of your diocese?  Find his or her feast day and mark it on your calendar!  You can celebrate for a whole week!! 

St Thomas More, pray for us! 

 

Sts. Peter and Paul

The feast of Sts. Peter and Paul is a Holy Day of Obligation on the Universal Church Calendar.  It also has a Common Octave.  This means that it is commemorated on any day that has another feast, but is celebrated again on feria days.  The Octave day is July 6.  St. Thomas More was martyred on the Octave day in 1535.  He knew he was dying on the final day of this Octave.  This is also why his feast is on July 9 and not July 6.  The date was already "occupied" and the next open date was July 9. 

Sts. Peter and Paul, pray for us!

 

Nativity of St. John the Baptist

 

The Feast of the Nativity of St John the Baptist not only has a Vigil, but a Common Octave!   Amazingly the Vigil was kept in the 1962 Missal, but the Octave was not.  The Octave is June 24 - July 1.  Originally the feast of the Most Precious Blood was celebrated on the 1st Sunday in July, but Pope St. Pius X moved it to July 1.  Hence the Octave day of SJB is the Most Precious Blood of Jesus. 

Every yeat this Octave overlaps with the Common Octave of the Feast of Sts. Peter and Paul 

which is July 29 - July 6.

Dedication of a Church

 

The Anniversary of the Dedication of a Church (or Cathedral) is very important.  That date should be celebrated every year at your parish---and in the pre-1955 Missal it had a Common Octave.  This means that it would be commemorated on any day that had a feast or celebrated again on feria days.  The Octave day gives way only to feasts of the 1st or 2nd Class.  

Terrible is this place; it is the house of God and gate of heaven and 

shall be called the court of God. 

How lovely are Thy tabernacles, O Lord of Hosts!  

My soul longeth and fainteth for the court of the Lord.

  

(Introit for the Anniversary of the Dedication of a Church) 

On which date was your parish church dedicated? 

 Mark it on your calendar and celebrate for an entire week!

St Anthony

 

St Anthony is a special saint for my parish. He is our Patronal Saint!!  Did you know that Patronal Saints of parishes and dioceses, have their own personal Octave for that place?

It is a Common Octave which gives way to another feast, but is commemorated every day and the Octave day only gives way to 1st or 2nd Class feasts.  So if you are lucky enough to go to a St. Anthony's church, you have a whole week to honor St Anthony!!

Who is your patronal Saint?  Find his/her feast day and mark it on your calendar!! 

St Anthony, pray for us!

 

Sacred Heart

Today is the Feast of the Sacred Heart!  When Our Lord appeared to St Margaret Mary Alacoque in 1675, he asked that this feast be established on the Friday after the Octave of Corpus Christi.  With the removal of the Octaves in 1955, the feast of the Sacred Heart randomly moves each year.  Knowing the connection with Corpus Christis gives it an added dimension.  Having prayed and meditated on the great gift of the Most Blessed Sacrament for a whole week, we now turn to the Love and Mercy of Christ flowing out from this Sacrament and seek to make reparation to Him for the many sins and abuses committed against Him.  

This devotion spread quickly, especially in religious communities, but the Mass and Office were not approved until 1765!  In 1856, Pope Pius IX extended this feast to the Latin Church.  Later on, it was raised to the highest rank for feast days and given an Octave.  It is an Octave of the 3rd Class, which means that feasts outrank it, but it would be commemorated each day.  If a feria day, then the Sacred Heart would be offered again.  The Octave day only gives way to feasts of the 1st or 2nd Class.   

 While this is a fairly "new" feast day in the life of the Church, it has quickly risen to become one of the most beloved of feasts.  The entire month of June is dedicated to the Sacred Heart.  So while having devotions to the Sacred Heart all month, this Octave can be eight days of more intense devotion.  In 1921, Pope Benedict XV established the feast of the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus on the Thursday within the Octave.  This shows a beautiful connection between the feasts of Corpus Christi and the Sacred Heart.  

Ideas for celebrating the Sacred Heart of Jesus (for the Octave and the whole month):

Have your home enthroned to the Sacred Heart of Jesus (if you haven't already done so)

Place a picture of the Sacred Heart in a prominant place in your home

Read The Liturgical Year, Vol 10 by Dom Gueranger in his daily entries for the Octave

Pray the Litany to the Sacred Heart 

Pray the Act of Reparation by Pope Pius XI

Pray the Act of Consecration to the Sacred Heart by Pope Leo XIII (attached below) 

Set up a special home altar for the Sacred Heart or decorate an image with flowers, etc 

Read about the apparitions to St Margaret Mary

Make Holy Hours of Reparation to the Sacred Heart

Read through the 12 Promises of Our Lord to St Margaret Mary about Devotion to the Sacred Heart

Begin the 9 First Fridays next month

Sing hymns to the Sacred Heart

Learn to chant the Litany of the Sacred Heart

 

12 Promises of Our Lord to St. Margaret Mary 

1. I will give them all the graces necessary for their state in life.
2. I will give peace in their families.
3. I will console them in all their troubles.
4. They shall find in My Heart an assured refuge during life and especially at the hour of death.
5. I will pour abundant blessings on all their undertakings.
6. Sinners shall find in My Heart the source and infinite ocean of mercy.
7. Tepid souls shall become fervent.
8. Fervent souls shall speedily rise to great perfection.
9. I will bless the homes in which the image of My Sacred Heart shall be exposed and honored.
10. I will give to priests the power to touch the most hardened hearts.
11. Those who propagate this devotion shall have their name written in My Heart, and it shall never be effaced.
12. The all-powerful love of My Heart will grant to all those who shall receive Communion on the First Friday of nine consecutive months the grace of final repentance; they shall not die under My displeasure, nor without receiving their Sacraments; My Heart shall be their assured refuge at the last hour.

Corpus Christi

Corpus Christi is one of the great feasts of the Church. Since it is too big for just one day, it once had a Privileged Octave of the 2^nd Order.  This meant that unless there was a 1^st class feast, this feast day Mass would be offered each day and a lesser feast commemorated.  Should a 1^st class feast occur, then Corpus Christi would be commemorated.  Imagine a whole week to focus solely on Our Lord’s gift of Himself in the Most Blessed Sacrament!

“Corpus Christi” literally means “Body of Christ.”   There is a separate traditional feast of the Most Precious Blood of Christ on July 1 which focuses on the Our Lord’s Passion and Death in which He shed every drop of His Precious Blood for us. 

When Our Lord appeared to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque and asked for the institution of the feast of the Sacred Heart, He explicitly stated that it be on the Friday immediately after the Octave of Corpus Christi.  This gives us a whole week to meditate on the Real Presence and increase Eucharistic devotion, flowing into the feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus the next day:  the Real Presence of Our Lord in our churches burning with love for us.  He could have ascended into heaven and left us alone.  Instead He gave us the Most Blessed Sacrament to show His immense love for us.  He is waiting for us in every parish church and chapel!

Another interesting fact is that St Thomas Aquinas wrote the Mass and Office for the Feast of Corpus Christi!  Our Benediction hymns O Salutaris Hostia and Tantum Ergo come from longer hymns written by him for this feast:  Verbum Supernum Prodiens for Lauds and Pange Lingua for Vespers.  He also wrote Panis Angelicus (from Sacris Solemniis chant for the procession) and O Sacrum Convivium (Antiphon for the Magnificat at Vespers).  The Angelic Doctor put the fruit of his meditations into these great Eucharistic hymns!

Ideas of how to celebrate the Octave of Corpus Christi:

Make a visit to Our Lord in a church each day

Pray a Holy Hour each day in church

Read The Liturgical Year #10 by Dom Gueranger for each day in the Octave

Attend a public Holy Hour

Spend a Holy Hour at an Adoration chapel

Organize a simple procession around your property

Ask your pastor to have a procession at church

Sing Eucharistic hymns

Learn a new Eucharistic hymn

Meditate on the hymns O Salutaris Hostia and Tantum Ergo in English

Sing or pray the Lauda Sion Sequence

Meditate on the Sequence

Read/pray/meditate on the Divine Office Hours for Corpus Christi

Learn one of the hymns that St Thomas Aquinas wrote for this feast

Pray a Novena to the Sacred Heart in preparation for the upcoming feast on June 12

 

Efficacious Novena to the Sacred Heart of Jesus

I. O my Jesus, Thou hast said: 'Truly I say to thee, ask and you shall receive, seek and you shall find, knock and it shall be opened to you. ' Behold I knock, I seek and ask for the grace that. . . (the Visitation Sisters are open to the idea of the Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles buying their property.) 

Our Father. . .  Hail Mary . . .  Glory Be to the Father. . .

Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in Thee.

 

II. O my Jesus, Thou hast said: 'Truly I say to thee, if you ask anything of the Father in my name, he will give it to thee. ' Behold, in Thy name, I ask the Father for the grace that . . . (the Bishop is agreeable to the change and will provide the Sisters with priestly TLM coverage.there) 

Our Father. . .  Hail Mary . . .  Glory Be to the Father. . .

Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in Thee.

 

III. O my Jesus, Thou hast said: 'Truly I say to thee, heaven and earth will pass away but my words will not pass away. ' Encouraged by Thy infallible words I now ask for the grace that. . .( all that is needed will be supplied for this move, i.e. funds, Sisters, helpers, etc.) 

Our Father. . .  Hail Mary . . .  Glory Be to the Father. . .

Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in Thee.

 

O Sacred Heart of Jesus, for whom it is impossible not to have compassion on the afflicted, have pity on us miserable sinners and grant us the grace which we ask of Thee, through the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, Thy tender Mother and ours. 

Say the Hail, Holy Queen and add: St. Joseph, foster father of Jesus, pray for us. 
-- St. Margaret Mary Alacoque

Padre Pio recited this novena every day for all those who requested his prayers.

 

 

Pentecost

Pentecost is only one of three Octaves that remain on the 1962 Calendar.  The other two are Christmas and Easter.  Pentecost has a Privileged Octave of the 1st Order.  This means that nothing can outrank it.  Each day has its own set of reading too.  The Sequence Veni Creator Spiritus is sung every day and the Special Communicantes is said in the Canon.  For a week, every day is Pentecost; this is an amazing preparation for Trinity Sunday which is the Octave Day of Pentecost! 

 

Our Lady, Queen of Apostles

 

The feast of Our Lady, Queen of the Apostles is a lesser known feast and is celebrated on the Saturday after the Ascension.  It is a moveable date in the Easter season based on when the Ascension falls.  

This is the Patronal feast of the the Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles in Gower, MO and her daughterhouses in Ava, MO; Evansville, IN and Colwich, England.

                                                           Our Lady, Queen of Apostles  (White)                                                 

INTROIT Ps. 86:1-3 Fundamenta ejus in montibus sanctis;  diligit Dominus portas Sion super omnia tabernacula Jacob.  Gloriosa dicta sunt de te, civitas Dei!  PS.133:1  Ecce nunc benedicite Dominum, omnes servi Domini : qui statis in domo Domini, in atriis domus Dei nostri. Gloria Patri . . . COLLECT Deus, qui Apostolis tuis, cum Maria Matre Jesu unanimiter orantibus. Sanctum dedisti Spritiu: da nobis, ut eadem Matre nostra et Apostolorum Regina protegente, majestati tuae fideliter servire et nominis tui gloriam verbo et exemplo diffundere valeamus. Per eumdem Dominum nostrum.   EPISTLE  Acts 1:1-14   Primum quidem sermonem feci de omnibus, o Theophile, quae coepit Jesus facere, et docere usque in diem, qua praecipiens Apostolis per Spiritum Sanctum, quos elegit, assumptus est :  quibus et praebuit seipsum vivum post passionem suam in multis argumentis, per dies quadraginta apparens eis, et loquens de regno Dei.  Et convescens, praecepit eis ab Jerosolymis ne discederent, sed exspectarent promissionem Patris, quam audistis ( inquit) per os meum :  quia Joannes quidem baptizavit aqua, vos autem baptizabimini Spiritu Sancto non post multos hos dies.  Igitur qui convenerant, interrogabant eum, dicentes : Domine, si in tempore hoc restitues regnum Israel?  Dixit autem eis : Non est vestrum nosse tempora vel momenta, quae Pater posuit in sua potestate :  sed accipietis virtutem supervenientis Spiritus Sancti in vos, et eritis mihi testes in Jerusalem, et in omni Judaea, et Samaria, et usque ad ultimum terrae.  Et cum haec dixisset, videntibus illis, elevatus est : et nubes suscepit eum ab oculis eorum.  Cumque intuerentur in caelum euntem illum, ecce duo viri astiterunt juxta illos in vestibus albis, qui et dixerunt : Viri Galilaei, quid statis aspicientes in caelum? Hic Jesus, qui assumptus est a vobis in caelum, sic veniet quemadmodum vidistis eum euntem in caelum.  Tunc reversi sunt Jerosolymam a monte qui vocatur Oliveti, qui est juxta Jerusalem, sabbati habens iter.   Et cum introissent in coenaculum, ascenderunt ubi manebant Petrus, et Joannes, Jacobus, et Andreas, Philippus, et Thomas, Bartholomaeus, et Matthaeus, Jacobus Alphaei, et Simon Zelotes, et Judas Jacobi.  Hi omnes erant perseverantes unanimiter in oratione cum mulieribus, et Maria matre Jesu, et fratribus ejus.       PASCAL ALLELUIA  V. Num. 17:8; Judith 13:17-18   Alleluia, alleluia!  Sequenti die regressus invenit germinasse virgam Aaron in domo Levi : et turgentibus gemmis eruperant flores, qui, foliis dilatatis, in amygdalas deformati sunt.  Alleluia. Laudate Dominum Deum nostrum, qui non deseruit sperantes in se :  et in me ancilla sua adimplevit misericordiam suam, quam promisit domui Israel : et interfecit in manu mea hostem populi sui hac nocte.   GOSPEL  John 19:25-27   Stabant autem juxta crucem Jesu mater ejus, et soror matris ejus, Maria Cleophae, et Maria Magdalene. Cum vidisset ergo Jesus matrem, et discipulum stantem, quem diligebat, dicit matri suae : Mulier, ecce filius tuus.  Deinde dicit discipulo : Ecce mater tua. Et ex illa hora accepit eam discipulus in sua.      OFFERTORY  Judith 5:3, 7-8  Ego sum, ego sum quae Domino canam, psallam Domino Deo Israel.  Cessaverunt fortes in Israel, et quieverunt: donec surgeret mater in Israel.  Nova bella elegit Dominus et portas hostium ipse subvertit.   SECRET  Tua, Domine, propitiatione et beatae Mariae semper Virginis intercessione haec nostra obtineat oblatio: ut Ecclesia tua fidelium numero crescat et jugiter fulgeat varietate virtutuum.  Per Dominum nostrum.   COMMUNION   Beata Mater et intacta Virgo, gloriosa Regina mundi, intercee prop nobis ad Dominum tu eni gloria Jerusalem, tu Laetitia Israel, tu honorificentia populi nostri.   POSTCOMMUNION   Sumptis, Domine, salutis nostrae subsidiis:  da nobis quaesumus, beatae Mariae semper Virginis ac Reginae Apostolorum patrocinio, perserverantem in tua voluntate famularum: ut Ecclesia tua novis semper proficiat incrementis.  Per Dominum nostrum.

Her foundation is upon the holy mountain. The Lord loves the gates of Sion more than any of the dwellings of Jacob. Glorious things are said of you, O city of God. Alleluia, alleluia! Ps. 133:1. Behold, now bless the Lord, all you servants of the Lord, you who stand in the house of the Lord, in the courts of the house of our God. V. Glory be . . .   O God, You sent Your Holy Spirit upon the Apostles as they were united in prayer with Mary, the Mother of Jesus. May the Queen of Apostles, the same Mother of us all, help us serve Your majesty faithfully, and to spread the glory of Your name by word and example. Through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord . . . in the unity of the same Holy Spirit.   The former treatise I made, O Theophilus, of all things which Jesus began to do and to teach, Until the day on which, giving commandments by the Holy Ghost to the apostles whom he had chosen, he was taken up. To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion, by many proofs, for forty days appearing to them, and speaking of the kingdom of God. And eating together with them, he commanded them, that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but should wait for the promise of the Father, "which you have heard" (saith he) "by my mouth. For John indeed baptized with water: but you shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost, not many days hence." They therefore who were come together, asked him, saying: "Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom of Israel?" But he said to them: "It is not for you to know the time or moments, which the Father hath put in his own power: But you shall receive the power of the Holy Ghost coming upon you, and you shall be witnesses unto me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and Samaria, and even to the uttermost part of the earth." And when he had said these things, while they looked on, he was raised up: and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they were beholding him going up to heaven, behold two men stood by them in white garments. Who also said: "Ye men of Galilee, why stand you looking up to heaven? This Jesus who is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come as you have seen him going into heaven." Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount that is called Olivet, which is nigh Jerusalem, within a sabbath day's journey. And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode Peter and John, James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James of Alpheus and Simon Zelotes and Jude the brother of James. All these were persevering with one mind in prayer with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.       Alleluia, alleluia!  The rod of Jesse has blossomed. A Virgin has brought forth the God-man. God has restored peace to us, reconciling in Himself the lowness of earth and the highness of heaven. Alleluia! V. Praise the Lord our God, who has not forsaken those who hope in Him, and who by me, His handmaid, has fulfilled His mercy which He promised to the house of Israel; He has killed the enemy of His people by my hand. Alleluia!   At that time, there stood by the cross of Jesus, his mother and his mother's sister, Mary of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalen. When Jesus therefore had seen his mother and the disciple standing whom he loved, he saith to his mother: "Woman, behold thy son." After that, he saith to the disciple: "Behold thy mother." And from that hour, the disciple took her to his own. It is I, it is I who will sing to the Lord. I will sing to the Lord, the God of Israel. The valiant men ceased and rested in Israel, until a mother arose in Israel. The Lord chose new wars, and He Himself overthrew the gates of the enemies. Alleluia! May our offering, O Lord, hasten the growth of Your Church and add to the splendor of the virtues of her members through Your mercy and the intercession of the blessed ever-Virgin Mary. Through Our Lord . . .   Blessed Mother and spotless Virgin, glorious Queen of the world, intercede for us with the Lord, for you are the glory of Israel, the honor of our people. Alleluia!   O Lord, the Sacrament we have received will help us towards salvation. May we persevere in doing Your holy Will so that Your Church may always increase under the protection of the blessed ever-Virgin Mary, the Queen of Apostles. Through Our Lord . . .

The Season of Octaves

Octaves in the Liturgical Calendar 2026

In older times, this great feast of the Ascension had a Privileged Octave of the 3rd Class.  This meant that it is offered on feria days and commemorated on any day that has a feast, but the Octave day can only be outranked by a Double of the 1st or 2nd Class feast.  We forget what an incredible feast this truly is.  Not only did it get stripped of its Octave in 1956, but now it is no longer a Holy Day of Obligation and is moved to the Sunday.  

The Octave coincides with the Novena to the Holy Ghost which begins today and ends on the Vigil of Pentecost!  I have attached two different Novenas.  

The feast of the Ascension ushers in a period of Octaves in the next month.  There are many great feasts coming up and Holy Mother Church highlights them with Octaves of varying degrees:  Pentecost, Corpus Christi, Sacred Heart, Nativity of St John the Baptist and Sts. Peter and Paul!  

From the chart below, you can have a visual of this blessed time.  

Ascension Thursday

 

The Ascension occurs exactly 40 days after Easter.  This puts it on a Thursday.  

During the Mass, a very special Liturgical action takes place.  After the Gospel is read, the Pascal Candle is extinguished.  This symbolizes that Our Lord in his glorified Body has left us and gone to Heaven.  Of course we still have Him sacramentally present in the Blessed Sacrament, but He is physically gone. 

 

Rogation Days

 

There is a special Procession and Mass for the Rogation Days.  Before Mass begins the Litany of Saints is chanted during an outdoor procession around the church grounds and prayers of supplication offered to appease the wrath of God and avert the scourges of His justice.  The three days preceding Ascension Thursday are these special Rogation Days (Lesser Litanies).  The word "litany" means "supplication" and "rogare" means "to ask". 

Dom Gueranger talks about the Rogation Days in The Liturgical Year, Vol 8 on pp. 350-353.  In it he says: "After all, we are sinners, with much to regret and much to fear; we have to avert those scourges which are due to the crimes of mankind; we have, by humbling ourselves and invoking the intercession of the Mother of God and the Saints, to obtain the health of our bodies and the preservation of the fruits of the earth; we have to offer atonement to divine justice for our own and the world's pride, sinful indulgences and insubordination  Let us enter into ourselves, and humbly confess that our own share in exciting God's indignation is great; and our poor prayers, united with those of our holy Mother the Church, will obtain mercy for the guilty, and for ourselves who are of the number." 

The Apparition of St. Michael the Archangel

 

Today is the feast of the Apparition of St. Michael the Archangel on Mt. Gargano in 490.  It is an unofficial tradition that St. Michael was the Guardian Angel of St. Joseph, the head of the Holy Family.  He is also the special defender of the Pope.

St. Michael, pray for us! 

St. John before the Latin Gate

Today's feast commemorates the "martyrdom" of St. John the Apostle in Rome by being boiled in oil.  Only he did not die!  He was exiled to the Island of Patmos. 

St John the Apostle, pray for us! 

 

The Finding of the True Cross

The feast outranked the 4th Sunday after Easter in the pre-1955 Calendar; however the Sunday would have been commemorated and the Proper Last Gospel read.  The finding of the True Cross by St. Helena was an extremely important discovery for the Church.  This most precious relic was found and brought back to Rome.  In the search for it, three crosses were dug up on Mount Calvary.  Numerous miracles occurred when only one was touched.  That is how they knew it was Our Lord's cross upon which He wrought our Salvation. 

We adore Thee, O Christ, and we bless Thee, 

because by Thy holy Cross Thou hast redeemed the world!

 

May 1 -- Traditional Feast of the Apostles, Sts. Philip and James

 

In 1956, the Liturgical Calendar had a major overhaul.  We have already talked about the changes from Christmas to Pentecost with the removal of most Octaves and the demotion of the great feast of Epiphany.  The 2^nd most tragic change is in the 1^st week of May.  The “needless repetition” of feasts caused three feasts to be eliminated.   The great Easter Solemnity of St. Joseph on the 3rd Wednesday after Easter, which also had a Common Octave, was eliminated and the new feast of St. Joseph the Worker was placed on May 1 to contrast with the Communist May-day celebrations thereby displacing the Apostles Saints Philip and James.  They were moved to May 11 which was the 1st open day.  Antiquity meant nothing to these reformers.  Instead they replaced them with feria days.  Unbelievable!

	Pre-1955	1962
May 1	Sts. Philip and James	St. Joseph the Worker
May 2	St Athanasius	St Athanasius
May 3	Finding of the True Cross	Feria
May 4	St. Monica	St. Monica
May 5	Pope St. Pius V	Pope St. Pius V
May 6	St. John before the Latin Gate	Feria
May 7	St. Stanislaus	St. Stanislaus
May 8	Apparition of St. Michael the Archangel	Feria

May 1---Sts. Philip and James’ feast had been on May 1 since the 6^th century!

May 3  The Finding of the True Cross is a joyful feast to remember the elderly St. Helena travelling to the Holy Land to find this most precious relic. 

May 6—St John before the Latin Gate commemorates his “martyrdom” by being boiled in oil in Rome.  He did not die and was exiled to the Island of Patmos.

 May 8---The Apparition of St Michael the Archangel took place on Mount Gargano in 490.  We cannot honor him too much as he is the chief defender of the Church!  

Month of May -- Dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary

The month of May is dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary.  

The most beautiful month for our Blessed Mother!

Ideas to celebrated the 31 Days of May: 

Crown all statues of  Our Lady in your home 

Make a May altar for a special statue of picture

Place flowers from your garden in front of a statue or picture

Organize a May-crowning at your parish or your home 

Have a Marian Tea Party focusing on the Titles of Our Lady

Pray the Rosary daily 

Pray one decade of the Rosary daily with small children

Sing or pray the Regina Caeli 3x a day 

Learn the Regina Caeli in Latin

Print out 31 different pictures of Our Lady; 

each day choose one to place in a prominent place, such as a mantlepiece or home altar.

Pray the Litany of Loreto 

Learn the chant to the Litany of Loreto

Sing Marian hymns:

Tis the Month of Our Mother 

Bring Flowers of the Rarest 

On This Day, O Beautiful Mother

Immaculate Mary 

Hail Holy Queen 

Daily, Daily Sing to Mary 

Mother Dearest, Mother Fairest 

Hail Queen of Heaven

Ave Maria, O Maiden, O Mother

O Queen of the Holy Rosary  

Learn new Marian hymns in Latin: 

Tota Pulchra Es 

Ave Maris Stella 

Ave Maria

Sub Tuum Praesidium 

Salve Mater 

Spiritual Reading on Our Lady: 

At the Foot of the Cross by Father Faber 

The Mystical City of God by Ven. Mary of Agreda

True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary by St. Louis de Montfort 

The Secret of the Rosary by St. Louis de Montfort 

 

Octave Day of St. Joseph

 

Today is the Octave Day of the Easter Solemnity of St. Joseph, 

Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Patron of the Universal Church. 

Prayer to St. Joseph for a Happy Death

O Glorious St. Joseph, behold I choose thee today for my special patron in life and at the hour of my death. Preserve and increase in me the spirit of prayer and fervor in the service of God. Remove far from me every kind of sin; obtain for me that my death may not come upon me unawares, but that I may have time to confess my sins sacramentally and to bewail them with a most perfect understanding and a most sincere and perfect contrition, in order that I may breathe forth my soul into the hands of Jesus and Mary.  Amen

Solemnity of St. Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Patron of the Universal Church

Today is the Solemnity of St. Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Patron of the Universal Church.  It falls on the Wednesday after the 2nd Sunday of Easter (or the 3rd Wednesday after Easter).  It also has a Common Octave!  The propers for this feast are the same as the Votive Mass of St. Joseph, so it is still in your hand missal.  If you are lucky enough to have a Father Lasance Missal, it is listed at the end of the April feasts.

 This feast was suppressed in 1955 and a new Feast of St. Joseph the Worker on May 1 was established.  This new feast displaced the feast of the Apostles Sts. Philip and James which had been on May 1 since the 6th century.  (More on that in a later post.)

Since this is a moveable feast based on when Easter falls, it can be easy to forget because it is not listed on most traditional calendars.  Wednesday is the day of the week that is dedicated to St. Joseph.  Tradition tells us that he died on a Wednesday in the arms of Jesus and Mary.  This is why he is the Patron of a Happy Death. 

Last year the Papal Conclave began on Wednesday, May 7 which just happened to be this Solemnity of St. Joseph!  The next day (May 8) in the pre-1955 calendar was the feast of the Apparition of St. Michael the Archangel.  This was the day that Pope Leo XIV was elected!  There is an unofficial tradition that St. Michael is St. Joseph's Guardian Angel which makes this election even more comforting.  Pray to St. Joseph and St. Michael that Pope Leo will be the pope who will restore the TLM and the traditional Sacraments.  

St. Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Patron of the Universal Church, pray for us! 

 

Easter Sunday

 

Christus Resurrexit, Alleluia!!

Symbolism of the Easter Vigil

 

Holy Saturday Easter Vigil

(from Dom Gueranger’s The Liturgical Year)

 

Blessing of the New Fire---‘I AM the Light of the World”  --represents Our Lord

                Spark from the flint represents Our Lord rising from the sepulcher through the stone

rolled in front

                Lights out in Church---shows abrogation of the Old Law which ended with the

Temple veil torn

New fire represents the teaching of the New Law where Our Lord fulfilled all the

figures of the Old Covenant

 

Blessing of the 5 grains of incense---- represent the perfumes prepared by St Mary Magdalene for embalming

 

New light brought into the church----Lumen Christi 3 times to proclaim the Holy Trinity (Triple Candle)

 

Pascal Candle---unlighted represents pillar of cloud which hid Israelites (OT) and Our Lord in the tomb (NT)

                Lighted---pillar of fire which guided the people (OT) and Our Lord risen from the dead (NT)

 

Exultet---Joys of this glorious night

 

Incense---5 grains in the pascal candle in the form of a cross to represent His 5 wounds

                Once lit the pascal candle signifies the instant of His Resurrection

 

Lights of church are lit from the new fire---to signify that His Resurrection was made known gradually and that having opened the way, after passing through the tomb, we shall enter everlasting life.

 

The Prophecies---12 in all

 

Blessing of the Font---Sicut Cervus---stag represents the catechumens

                Priest divides the water in the form of the cross—to signify that it is by the cross that

the water receives Its power to regenerate souls

                Sprinkles the blessed water to 4 directions to show all parts of world received the

preaching of Baptism

 

Dip Pascal Candle in water---Christ’s baptism in the Jordan River when water received its future promise of Baptism and now receives its reality

                Before taking out a 3^rd time, priest breathes on water in Greek letter for Spirit

Oil of Catechumens and Holy Chrism added to water shows the superabundant

grace of Baptism

 

Baptism of Catechumens---“Resurrection” from sin to justification

Confirmation (by a bishop)---will make them perfect Christians

 

Litany of Saints---All invocations are doubled.

Priest prostrates before the altar on a cushion and leaves at Peccatores to prepare

for Mass

 

Mass begins----Kyrie---(no Introit, Offertory or Communion propers)

Gloria----bells rung, all lights come on and statues uncovered

 

Solemn return of the “Alleluia” with special chant 3x before the Gospel

At this moment all mournfulness is at an end.  One feels that God has accepted the

expiatory works of our Lent; and that, by the merits of His Son now risen from

the grave, He pardons our earth, since He permits us to hear once more the song of heaven.

 

Tract---Jesus has risen from the tomb, but has not shown Himself to all yet---only Mary Magdalene and the women

 

NO Creed---saved for 2^nd Mass---shows the hours which elapsed before the apostles, who were to preach to the world the mystery of the Resurrection, had honored it by their faith.