Dominions are also called “Dominations.”
A Sermon of Pope Saint Gregory the Great
Angels We Have Heard on High
This song originated as a French Christmas carol.
Image from Maria Sophia at Pinterest
8th Day of Christmas
The Eight Beatitudes
From Our Lord’s Sermon on the Mount
1 ~ Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
2 ~ Blessed are the meek: for they shall possess the land.
3 ~ Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
4 ~ Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after justice: for they shall have their fill.
5 ~ Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
6 ~ Blessed are the clean of heart: for they shall see God.
7 ~ Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called children of God.
8 ~ Blessed are they that suffer persecution for justice' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
For more on the “Sermon on the Mount,” please see Lesson 4, Part 2B-Prepper Rosary Program.
Partial artwork by Bill Bell-buy here!
7th Day of Christmas
Fortitude ~ Temperance ~ Faith ~ Charity ~ Hope ~ Justice ~ Prudence
The Seven (Traditional) Virtues
The Three Theological Virtues: Faith, Hope & Charity
The Four Cardinal Virtues: Fortitude, Temperance, Justice & Prudence
There are also the Seven Capital Virtues: Chastity, Generosity, Temperance, Brotherly Love, Meekness, Humility & Diligence
Catholic Bible 101: The Virtues
The paintings above, “The Seven Virtues,” were commissioned by a 15th century Italian courthouse. Strangely, the first, “Fortitude,” was painted by Sandro Botticelli (it is considered his first masterpiece) and the rest by Piero and Antonio Pollaiuolo. For a wonderful article, with detailed descriptions and theological discussion, please see portraitofasometimeslady.com.
3rd Day of Christmas
“The Adoration of the Magi,” oil painting by Albrecht Dürer, 1504, the Uffizi, Florence, Italy
The Three Magi: Caspar, Melchior & Balthasar
We three kings of orient are
Hymn by John Henry Hopkins, Jr.-1857, YouTube notes include lyrics
Image from Britannica
1st Day of Christmas
Christ the One Savior
Image “Christ in Majesty” at the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, courtesy so-i-think-im-a-photographer-now.blogspot
Take the 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS Journey with Us!
Each day we will provide links dealing with a theological concept corresponding to that particular day (5th Day of Christmas: 5 Books of the Pentateuch). This can be done with the whole family as a way to nourish your knowledge and appreciation of the Catholic Faith during this time between Christmas and Epiphany. (We will also post the traditional Blessing of the Home on Epiphany.) These activities don't need to be time-consuming. Links will be provided to a variety of media and resources...you take the ball and run with it. So, let’s get started…..
December is the Month of the Divine Infancy & the Immaculate Conception
The good Christian name “John” is well-represented this month, as we honor 5 saints by this name: one the beloved of Christ, 2 Doctors of the Church, one visionary and one priestly professor. We also honor 5 Doctors of the Church: in addition to the 2 Johns, we have 2 Peters and St. Ambrose. December also contains the Ember Days, adding further to the preparation of Advent through prayer and penance. These are loosely concerned with the seasons, so there are many ways to be creative with children, combining the Ember Days, the coming season of winter and Christmas. It is wonderful to teach our children these traditions, so they will develop a love for the Catholic Faith and its many-faceted riches.
As for our themes this month, it is not difficult to combine the Divine Infancy with the Immaculate Conception. Mother and Child are inseparable, as the beautiful painting above shows. The Child Jesus points us toward His Nativity and the time of spiritual preparation for this joyful celebration. The sinless Virgin Mother serves to glorify the Infant Himself. There are many ways we can creatively celebrate both Mother and Child. One possibility is to participate in pro-life activities-there are so many ways to do this and to use one’s unique gifts. We may have done this 2 months ago in October, but the unborn ceaselessly need our help. If you do not have much time, you can always pray and offer up for them. Only 3 days after Christmas, we honor the Holy Innocents, further encouragement to remember God’s precious little ones this month as we prepare to celebrate His birth.
Here are some notable feasts from both the old and new calendars of the Roman Rite…
3-First Friday / St. Francis Xavier
4-First Saturday / St. John Damascene, Doctor of the Church, Author Fount of Knowledge / St. Peter Chrysologus, Doctor of the Church, Author of many great sermons / St. Barbara, Martyr
5-2nd Sunday of Advent (purple candle)
6-St. Nicholas
7-St. Ambrose, Doctor of the Church, Author De Virginibus
8-IMMACULATE CONCEPTION OF THE VIRGIN MARY (obligation)
9-St. Juan (John) Diego, Seer of Our Lady of Guadalupe
10-OUR LADY OF LORETO
12-Gaudete Sunday (pink candle) / OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE
13-St. Lucy / St. Odilia, Martyrs, Patronesses of the eyes (Odilia’s feast is non-standard)
14-St. John of the Cross, Doctor of the Church, Author Dark Night of the Soul
15-Ember Wednesday in Advent (trad meat at one meal)
17-Ember Friday in Advent
18-Ember Saturday in Advent (trad meat at one meal)
19-4th Sunday of Advent (purple candle)
21-St. Thomas, Apostle / St. Peter Canisius, Doctor of the Church, Author Summa of Christian Doctrine
23-St. John of Kanty, Priest, Professor of Sacred Scripture
24-VIGIL OF THE NATIVITY
25-NATIVITY OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST (obligation)
26-THE HOLY FAMILY / St. Stephen, Protomartyr
27-St. John the Evangelist
28-The Holy Innocents
The stunning painting above is “Virgin with Angels” by William-Adolphe Bouguereau. This is an ornament which can be purchased here.
Meditations on the Sorrowful Mysteries
[Re-posted from last Lent.]
I wrote the following meditations several years ago and am re-posting them. I hope you will find them interesting. I have included comments in italics at the end of each, which I feel are relevant to today’s situation.
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The Agony in the Garden
It seems strange that Christ, the Second Person of the Holy Trinity, would feel fear so intense, that it would produce the Bloody Sweat of His Agony. One might expect Him to approach His death with greater stoicism. Why would He suggest to the Father that this “cup” be taken from Him? What was the nature of this Agony and what do we have to learn from it?
Our Lord was fully God, but also fully man. His Agony shows us how very human He was and how much He understands our sufferings, particularly those of the mind. The drama in the Garden of Gethsemane comes down to the two qualities of God that are wholly unique: omniscience and omnipotence, the two things desired by Adam and Eve. This is another garden where the reverse struggle plays out, only now, the right choice is made. Rather than man attempting to assume the qualities of God, God assumes the weakness of man. This right choice is precisely the moment which leads to our Redemption, secured on the Cross, reversing the curse of our first parents. The moment before Our Lord was physically apprehended, presents the Mystery of the Agony in the Garden. This is where the final yielding of His Spirit occurred, when He speaks the words, “Thy Will be done.” All work begins in the mind and our Redemption was no exception. Once Our Lord was apprehended, there could be no turning back. He was then fully prepared to enter into His Passion.
Our Lord possessed in that garden, the complete knowledge of what awaited him. Man’s ignorance makes it easier for him to approach fearful situations. Complete knowledge made it excruciating for Christ. He also possessed the power to run away, the power to obliterate the enemy coming for Him. At the very moment when humanity’s Redemption was held in the balance, surely all Hell’s power was leveled against this one Man. It must have been excruciating for Satan as well-never before or since would a task require more of him. If the right choice was made, so many souls would escape his grasp. So here may lie the nature of the Agony in the Garden: to proceed in spite of Divine Knowledge and to withhold Divine Power.
What must I do in spite of my fear and how must I withhold my power? It has been said that our age has no lack of virtue, only a lack of heroism. Dear Jesus, make me stand firm in my own little agonies, that I may receive the Redemption Thou hast so grievously won. Give me the courage to say, "Thy Will be done." Amen.
At this time, fear is gripping the world. There is no place for fear in the mind or heart of the practicing Catholic. We trust in God.
The Scourging at the Pillar
The Scourging of Our Lord was so terrible, it is difficult to contemplate. But we must, because it is an important part of the Story-His story and humanity’s story. Of all stories, this is the ONE we must pay attention to. This is the ONE we may not fall asleep listening to. The rest of the world may forget. But we, as recipients of the fruit of His sufferings, those redeemed by His Blood, must never forget.
Pontius Pilate, Roman Procurator of Judea.....man of the world....who would expect him to be so naive? He thought a brutal scourging would appease the enemies of Our Lord, but even this would not appease them. Even the broken, battered Man brought before them once again, one last chance, would not change their corrupt hearts. But we, looking at this same Man, are moved to pity and sorrow, not only for Christ, but for His mother and also His Father in Heaven. “Why?” we ask, “Why must this have happened? And what is this story to me?”
The unabashed chastisement of the sacred Body of Our Lord seems to enfold within itself every sin of the flesh ever committed-whether it be sexual sin, over-indulgence or simply the desire for comfort at too high a cost. This perfectly describes the current state of the western world, deconstructed Christendom-a miserable field of debris, from sparkling, glowing screens to the body parts of unborn babies. We must all enter into Our Lord’s Scourging because we are all guilty. Having passed through it, we are made pure again. In Holy Communion, we receive this same Body, bloodied for our Redemption-this Precious Blood, which soaked the ground of Jerusalem. As rainwater hydrates the earth, the Blood of Christ creates a substantial change, which requires something of all who walk upon it. It is ignored at one’s own peril. The glory of the Passion of Christ is that we are resurrected with Him. It is the Story with the happiest ending.
Seductive images which stand in contrast to the image of our Scourged Savior, sacrilegious sacraments of matrimony, all manner of impurity....we must stand up and be a light to the world, reminding all of the sacredness of the body. O Jesus, cruelly scourged for my sins, give me strength to stand against the tide of this corrupt culture, to rescue those drowning in the onslaught and bring them home to Thee. Amen.
We must see that our present situation is being allowed by God because of sin. It is no longer acceptable to give Him anything less than our very best, that He may look upon the Church and the world with mercy.
The Crowning with Thorns
The Crowning with Thorns upon Our Lord's sacred head, must be seen as part of a larger Mystery: the Mockery of the Kingship of Our Lord. It is one of a three-part costume the Roman soldiers dressed Him in: the Crown, the Scepter and the Robe. When we look at this piece of theater, the one Act upon the human stage which emanates like lightning, putting asunder all man’s theatrical fantasy.....what reveals itself to us?
The Romans performed this mockery in response to Christ’s alleged crime, “The King of the Jews.” What motivated them to play out this obscene insult? A fatal flaw, a deep chasm, a mortal wounding, took place in the Garden of Eden. Our Lord's Passion is the culmination of this tragic event. This mockery represents every sinner’s response to God, the unwillingness to be subject to Him and give Him due respect as Creator.
One could not honestly look at Christ without seeing His innocence, especially a non-Jew, with no investment in the matter. We know this was very clear to Pilate, which is why he “washed his hands” of it. In order to punish so cruelly an innocent man, they had to disguise him-plunging themselves into the sin of committing the evil, whereas the Jews were guilty of ordering it. It is common practice to dehumanize those you wish to kill. Broken from the Scourging, blood streaming down His face from the sharp thorns of the Crown, dressed up and derided, they proceeded to carry out the death sentence.
Woven thorns, a reed, a red (or purple) cloak....the makings of a King. Why go through so much trouble? Looking for branches of thorns and weaving them together? Searching for a large reed and a garment? Why were all three components of the kingly garb so necessary? Because they had to completely convince themselves and this can only be done by over-reaching. We do the same with the unborn, with sexual immorality, with our quest to be Godlike in playing with every fundamental aspect of nature, whether it be biology, botany or physics. Going beyond the pale makes it easier to commit the crime.
The Crown, the Scepter, the Robe: three identifiers of a King. Here we arrive at the crux of the Mockery, Our Blessed Lord’s Identity itself. The words upon the Holy Cross were true: “King of the Jews.” And King of us all, only Son of the Father, the Second Person of the Most Holy Trinity. This is His Identity, Whom the world must deny to commit its countless evils. But the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Faith will never deny Him, the King of Kings. The gates of Hell will not prevail against her.
The world will try to tell us who we are, who it wants us to be. Our own pride will delude us-we sew our own costumes, make our own crowns. But it is only in confessing the Kingship of Our Lord and entering into the humility of His Crowning with Thorns, that we can ever know our own true identities....who we were created to be. O my Jesus, Who asked of Thine Apostles, “Whom do you say that I am?,” I in turn ask this of Thee. Amen.
Who are we? Are we people of Faith or of fear?
The Carrying of the Cross
The unique aspect of the Carrying of the Cross, among the Sorrowful Mysteries, is the fact that it is a journey. In western culture today, we seem always to be rushing from one destination to another. The destination is important, but often we forget the importance of the journey itself. So what do we learn on this Journey of Journeys, a microcosm of every human being’s life path, in addition to the grand historical path of all humanity, the Via Dolorosa?
Like any journey, this one involves a series of events. Holy Scripture confirms for us that Christ carries His own Cross. Tradition tells us He falls three times under its weight. Scripture tells us He becomes so weak, Simon of Cyrene must take up the Cross. Our Lord speaks to some sorrowful women and Saint Veronica wipes His Holy Face, a miraculous image resulting. So here we have four basic events: the Taking Up of the Cross, the Fallings, the Giving Up of the Cross and the Message. All sealed with a miracle.
Tremendously weak after the brutal Scourging, Jesus takes the Cross upon His shoulders and begins to walk the Way of Sorrow. The One who is sinless takes on the burden of all humanity's sins, soon to be expiated on this very Cross He carries, when He arrives at the destination. This is an example of courage for us, when we feel terribly burdened by life's difficulties. We know He walks before us always. It is not so remarkable that He falls three times under this heavy piece of wood. What is remarkable, is that He gets back up two times to continue carrying it. But the third time, He is all out of strength. The Almighty God makes Himself weak so that we can be strong. Another example and profound encouragement for His children. When we fall, when we break-whether through suffering or temptation, all is not lost. There is always hope for those who trust in God. He will give us the strength to go on. And just as Simon was provided to take the Holy Cross from His hands, He too, will take our own crosses from us when the time comes. We are asked only to trust.
When Our Lord addresses the "Daughters of Jerusalem" who are following Him on this Journey, He gives us a glimpse into His very mind as He carries the Cross. He is thinking not of Himself on His final journey as He goes to His death. He thinks only of us, only of humanity's final journey at the end of time. "Weep not over Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. For behold, the days shall come, wherein they will say: Blessed are the barren and the wombs that have not borne and the paps that have not given suck. Then shall they begin to say to the mountains: Fall upon us, and to the hills: Cover us." This is a message to humanity-a warning, an End Times marker, reiterated by Saint John in Apocalypse. Is it possible that He was describing our own times?
Every human life is similarly, a journey-some very short, some long, some privileged, some full of suffering. But in the end, it all evens out-all is fair, all is just. And upon each and every precious human life for which Christ suffered, lies the imprint of the Carrying of the Cross. It is our joy, our hope, our consolation. He did it all for us. Good Jesus, give me strength when I begin to weary beneath my own crosses, that I may go on to reach that final destination, where Thou Art, with the Father and the Holy Ghost, the Glorious Kingdom of Heaven. Amen.
“And the Lord who is your leader, he himself will be with thee: he will not leave thee, nor forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.” (Deuteronomy 31:8)
The Crucifixion and Death of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ
The Carrying of the Cross was a journey-the Crucifixion at Golgotha, its destination. In fact, the Crucifixion was the destination of Christ's entire life on earth. From His very Incarnation, this was the plan. We may have difficulty understanding why it had to be this way, but we must believe, since His way is always perfect, it was the perfect way. Looking at the Crucifixion forces us all to ask: "What is my own destination and how is each day I live bringing me closer to it?"
Our Lord ascended to Heaven so that we could follow Him there-this is the end for which we were created. Jesus said of His Apostles, "They are not of the world, as I also am not of the world." We must be in the world, not of the world. Set a course to Heaven and do not deviate from it. The only thing that can derail us is sin, a word our "enlightened" times has forgotten.
What was the meaning of Christ's cruel impalement to the Cross? It shows us we must let go of all the things we wish to possess which are unhealthy to our souls, which turn us away from our path to Heaven. Our Blessed Lord could not possibly have been more helpless upon the Holy Cross. He could not move and could hardly speak. His arms were outstretched to all the universe, imploring us to come to Him and yet unable to grasp at anything. We too, must open our hands when we are tempted to reach for, and take hold of sin. We must take Christ's example of yielding. In all things, He walks before us. From the Cross, Jesus shows us the very key to the Kingdom of Heaven.
But how are we to resist temptation? The sacraments of the Church Christ founded are the tools which have been given to us. He said, "I will not leave you orphans." The same body which was crucified, comes to us in Holy Communion-to help us stretch out our arms and let go. This Body could not give us life until it tasted death. We cannot receive that life until we undergo the death of our sins. The more our own will shrinks, the more beautiful we become. The greater He becomes within us, the greater we become.
Our Lord never left His course toward the Holy Cross. We must never leave our course toward the Kingdom of Heaven. It will twist and turn and there will be traps to ensnare us. But if we continue to flee to the Holy Cross and the Victim upon it-we will one day hear the words, "Well done, good and faithful servant...enter thou into the joy of thy Lord." Dear Jesus, whose death on the Cross has won my Redemption, show me in my moments of temptation, Thy holy arms unable to embrace and Thy sacred hands unable to grasp. Amen.
We know how the Story ends: "And when the Son of man shall come in His majesty, and all the angels with Him, then shall He sit upon the seat of His majesty." (Matthew 25:31)
THE SORROWFUL MYSTERIES: A THESIS
Holy Church, through Saint Dominic, has handed the Rosary down to us as a spiritual aid. The Sorrowful Mysteries take us through the Story of Our Lord's Passion and Death. It is difficult to contemplate these things, but as Father Benedict Groeschel once said in a Good Friday sermon, "Never think about death without thinking about the Resurrection." The whole purpose of the Rosary meditations which accompany each set of ten "Hail Marys," is to help us toward our own Resurrection.
Stepping away and looking at the Sorrowful Mysteries as a whole, a picture begins to emerge. It is the picture of each human being walking along his own life's path to his final destination. The Agony in the Garden represents the MIND. The Scourging at the Pillar, the FLESH. The Crowning with Thorns, the IDENTITY, or the soul. These three components comprise God's greatest creation, the one made in His own image and likeness, the Human Being. The Carrying of the Cross is the life JOURNEY....and the Crucifixion is the END. Within the Passion of Our Lord lies an imprint of every human life for which He goes to His death.
The Sorrowful Mysteries tell the triumphant Story of the Messiah's Love for humanity and the Father's willingness to give His Only Son for our Redemption. It is a Story which brings tears to our eyes for this great Love which it gives testimony to. In return, we are called not merely to a humanist virtue, but to the heroism of Sainthood and Life Everlasting.
The Circumcision & the Naming of Our Lord
The date of this feast is actually January 1st.
“And after eight days were accomplished, that the child should be circumcised, his name was called JESUS, which was called by the angel, before he was conceived in the womb.”
Luke 2:21
At this traditional Mass on New Years Day, the celebrant wears red. According to The New Marian Missal…
“Red signifies the fire of love towards God, and it is consequently the liturgical color for Whitsuntide, the feast of the Holy Ghost, the God of Love; for the feastdays on which the suffering and the cross of Christ is recalled to the mind; for the feastdays of the Apostles and the Martyrs, who shed their blood for faith out of love for the Redeemer.”
So why red for the Circumcision? We can guess at possibilities based on the above. It seems red not only signifies the “fire of love towards God,” but the love of God Himself. Red vestments are also worn on Pentecost, perhaps evocative of the reference to fire in Scripture:
"And there appeared to them parted tongues as it were of fire, and it sat upon every one of them"
Acts 2:3
The Circumcision cannot be separated from the Naming of the Christ Child, which took place together. Both events are very deep and significant. “Jesus” in Hebrew, means “God Saves.” Here, in proclaiming the Name of Jesus to the world for the first time, the love of God is also proclaimed. He has sent His Son to redeem us from our sins!
Red vestments are also worn to honor the suffering of Christ, possibly referring to His Precious Blood. The Circumcision, only 8 days after birth, was perhaps Our Lord’s first experience with pain and the shedding of His Blood. This moment foretells the final shedding of His Blood on the Cross. In addition, red is worn on the feasts of martyrs. The red of blood and the red of the fire of love are merged in every martyrs death and most of all, in the Death of Christ Himself.
Laudate Nomen Christi!
Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
From the Tridentine Mass:
Hail, holy Parent, that didst bring forth the King who ruleth Heaven and earth for ever and ever!
Bestow upon Thy servants, we beseech Thee, O Lord, the gift of Thy heavenly grace: that as the childbearing of the Blessed Virgin was the beginning of our salvation, so the solemn feast of her Nativity may bring us an increase of peace.
O Virgin, Mother of God, He whom the whole world cannot contain, enclosed himself in thy womb being made man.
Alleluia, alleluia! Happy are thou, O holy Virgin Mary, and of all high praise most worthy: for out of thee hath risen the sun of justice, Christ our God. Alleluia!
Truly blessed art thou, O Virgin Mary: the Creator of all things thou didst bear; Him who made thee thou didst bring forth and a Virgin evermore thou dost remain.
Blessed is the womb of the Virgin Mary, which bore the Son of the Eternal Father.
From The New Marian Missal, Sylvester P. Juergens, SM, Doctor of Sacred Theology, writes:
“At the time of Mary’s birth, the whole world was plunged in darkness. The heathen nations were steeped in vice and pride. The Jews too, had corrupted their ways and departed from God. Everywhere there was sin and gloom, scarce any bright spot on the face of the earth. But when Mary was born, a light arose amid the darkness: the dawn of the glorious day that was to usher in the Redeemer. So too, the darkness of the sinner’s soul is dispersed by Mary’s holy influence. Where the love of her is born in the soul, all becomes full of light, and Jesus comes to make His habitation there. Mary, in the first hour of her life, brought more glory to God than all the Saints of the Old Testament. In her were made perfect the obedience of Abraham, the chastity of Joseph, the patience of Job, the meekness of Moses, the prudence of Josue. It is because she is the model and pattern of these and all other virtues, that she can communicate them to us.”
To fully practice the Catholic Faith, is to remain continually in a state of joy, primarily due to our Communion with Christ, but also due to the celebration of such wonderful feasts, as the one we celebrate today. No matter what happens around us, we cannot help but be joyful. And this is just a foretaste of the eternal joy of Heaven. The prayers above from the Mass are some of the most beautiful and moving, as they describe the wonder of Mary’s role as Mother of God. Let us honor her birth today, all over the world, to console her sorrowful Heart in this month of September. Let us show Our Lord there is love for His Mother on earth, that His mercy may descend upon us at this time of great need.
As the missal states above, the “world was plunged in darkness” when Mary was born. We are in great darkness once again. But Holy Church reminds us today, through Our Lady, that there is always hope and reason for joy. May we hold onto this knowledge through the coming days and show all those around us that we truly are different, we truly represent something apart from the world. May we draw all we come in contact with to the Everlasting Light of the Most Holy Trinity!
Image courtesy https://www.turnbacktogod.com