Saint George. Martyr. Feast Day 23 April.

Text from The Saint Andrew Daily Missal.

Saint George.
Martyr.
Feast Day 23 April.

Semi-Double.
      [Editor: In England, a Double of The First-Class with
      an Octave, being The Patron Saint of England.]

Red Vestments.

The Martyrdom of Saint George.

Artist: Paolo Veronese (1528–1588).

Date: 1564.

Current location: San Giorgio-in-Braida, Verona, Italy.

Source: Web Gallery of Art:

(Wikimedia Commons)

Saint George, born of an illustrious family in Cappadocia [Editor: Modern-day Turkey], was promoted by Emperor Diocletian to the first rank in The Roman Army.

When the Emperor had published, at Nicomedia, his first edict against The Christians, Saint George reproached him for his cruelty. Immediately cast into prison, he was subjected to such  atrocious torments that The Eastern Church calls him The Great Martyr. He was beheaded in 303 A.D.

This Patron of armies  is Venerated by Greeks and Latins. Rome possesses a Sanctuary erected in his honour, where the Station is held on The Thursday after Ash Wednesday. England chose him for her Patron Saint in the 13th-Century. Therefore, in England, this Feast is a Double of The First-Class with an Octave.

Saint George is one of The Fourteen Auxiliary Saints, or FOURTEEN HOLY HELPERS

Mass: Protexisti.

A Little Levity To Lighten Your Day.

Saint Soter And Saint Caius. Popes And Martyrs. Feast Day 22 April.

Text from The Saint Andrew Daily Missal,
unless otherwise stated.

Saints Soter and Caius.
Popes and Martyrs.
Feast Day 22 April.

Semi-Double.

White Vestments.

Pope Soter.

This Illustration is from The Lives and Times of the Popes by Chevalier Artaud de Montor, New York: The Catholic Publication Society of America, 1911. It was originally published in 1842.

Date: 6 June 2013.

Source: http://archive.org/details/livesofpopes01artauoft

Author: Artaud de Montor (1772–1849).

(Wikimedia Commons)

The Martyrdom of Pope Caius (San Gaggio).

By Lorenzo Monaco (Lorenzo di Giovanni), circa 1394.

Originally part of the Altarpiece of the Church of San Gaggio in Florence.

Date: January 2008.

Source: Own work.

Author: Polylerus.

(Wikimedia Commons)

Pope Soter succeeded Pope Anicetus in 161 A.D., and was Martyred ten years later under Emperor Marcus Aurelius. Pope Caiuss, whose Relics are kept in the Sanctuary of Saint Sylvester, at Rome, governed The Church a Century later and  was put to death in 296 A.D.

Like all the Sovereign Pontiffs of the first Centuries, they united their sacrifice to that of Christ and "in Him bore much fruit" (Epistle). "God then avenged the blood of His servants and invited them to The Marriage Feast of The Lamb" (Epistle), to associate them in His Triumph and Happiness (Gospel, Offertory, Communion).

Let us honour the Blessed Martyrs Soter and Caius in order that, in Heaven, their powerful intercession may obtain for us Divine Protection (Collect).

Mass: Sancti tui.

Te Deum. Music For Midnight Mass. New CD From Saint John Cantius Church, Chicago.

Illustration: BIRETTA BOOKS

Follow the complete music for Midnight Mass from Chicago's historic Saint John Cantius Church.

Available as a CD or DIGITAL DOWNLOAD

Audio Sample

"Pleni Sunt Caeli".

"Te Deum".

By Marc-Antoine Charpentier.

Available on YouTube at

https://youtu.be/BhMm5qiF_gI

The Web-Site of Biretta Books is HERE

The Web-Site of Canons Regular of Saint John Cantius is HERE

A Very Happy Birthday To You, Your Majesty. Long May She Reign. God Save The Queen.

God Save The Queen.

Seraphic Vestments.

Illustration: CANONS REGULAR OF SAINT JOHN CANTIUS

Biretta Books, which is under the direction of The Canons Regular of Saint John Cantius, in Chicago, offers its own line of Sacred Vessels and Vestments, called Seraphic Vestments.

The beauty of the Sacred Vestments and Vessels of The Liturgy should lead us to contemplate The Sacred and reflect The Beauty of God in our lives.

Seraphic Vestments.

Available on YouTube at

https://youtu.be/53Xv1xqJYAQ

The Sacred Vestments and Vessels of The Liturgy must possess a true sense of beauty, in light of The Divine Mystery of The Holy Sacrifice of The Mass. These Sacred Appointments must be created in the highest quality to be worthy of what they represent, because the Vessels (the Chalice, Paten, Ciborium, Pyx) hold The Body and Blood of Christ, and because the Vestments clothe the Priest, who represents Christ, The Eternal High Priest.

We, at Seraphic Vestments, believe that the Sacred Vessels and Vestments need to be the best and most worthy we can bring before God, because these communicate something of The Sacred Mysteries we are Celebrating. The resplendent beauty of these things help to create the atmosphere of Prayer and silently convey an invitation to Worship.

Seraphic Vestments are available through Biretta Books.

The Web-Site of The Canons Regular of Saint John Cantius can be found HERE

The Web-Site of Biretta Books can be found HERE

New York. New York.

New York Winter.

Snow and The Chrysler Building.

Saved from 500px.com

Illustration: PINTEREST

New York, New York.

Frank Sinatra.

Available on YouTube at

https://youtu.be/EUrUfJW1JGk

Wednesday. Octave Day Of The Solemnity Of Saint Joseph.

Text from The Saint Andrew Daily Missal,
unless otherwise stated.

Wednesday, Octave Day of The Solemnity of Saint Joseph.
Spouse of The Blessed Virgin Mary,
      Confessor and Patron of
      The Universal Church.

Greater-Double.
            [Note: An Octave was given to this Solemnity, rather than to
            The Feast of Saint Joseph on 19 March, because Feasts 
            falling in Lent may not have Octaves.]

White Vestments.

Saint Joseph.

Spouse of The Blessed Virgin Mary. Confessor and Patron of The Universal Church.

Illustration: UNA VOCE OF ORANGE COUNTY

Artist: Rene de Cramer.

"Copyright Brunelmar/Ghent/Belgium".

Used with Permission.

Today's Mass might be represented by a Triptych (see, below), showing us that Saint Joseph is the protector, which Divine Providence has chosen for His Church.

1.      The Epistle speaks to us of Joseph, who, in The Old Testament, is a figure of Saint Joseph. The dying Jacob prophesies that his son, Joseph, "shall be the Pastor and Strength of Israel, and that The Almighty shall shower Blessings upon him." And Joseph was established by Pharao over the entire land of Egypt, so that the salvation of all depended upon him. [The Lessons and Responses of The First Nocturn of Matins.] The whole Church has recourse to Saint Joseph with confidence.

2.      The Gospel, Collect, and Communion, explaining the connection between The Heavenly Trinity and The Holy Family, this Trinity on Earth, show forth the power of Saint Joseph. Jesus is, at the same time, Son of God and Son of man. Mary is The Spouse of The Holy Ghost, and it is the will of God The Father that Saint Joseph should be considered father of Christ and that he should exercise paternal rights over Him (Preface).

3.      Lastly, the Introit, Collects, Alleluia, and Offertory, show us Saint Joseph as the guardian of the new Jerusalem, which is The Church, to watch over her in the midst of all her tribulations.

Full of confidence in the patronage of Saint Joseph, let us honour his Title of Protector on Earth, so as to deserve his help from Heaven (Collect).

Mass: Adjútor.

"Te Joseph Celebrent".
The Hymn (First Tone) of Second Vespers
for The Solemnity of Saint Joseph.
Available on YouTube at
https://youtu.be/xu5w3dqIWgc

A Little Levity To Lighten Your Day.

Zephyrinus Will Be Sailing Off The Western Highlands And Islands Of Scotland, This Summer.

Illustrations: GENTLEMAN'S EMPORIUM

Saved from: flickr.com

Illustration: PINTEREST

The Pro-Life News Story, Which Went Viral, And Is Saving Babies.

Illustration: SOCIETY FOR THE PROTECTION OF UNBORN CHILDREN (SPUC)

Some argue that these Baby Boxes have helped Finland

achieve one of the World's lowest Infant Mortality rates -

and now the idea is spreading to the U.K.

For the past seventy-five years, Finland's expectant mothers have been given a box by the State – a Starter Kit of clothes, sheets and toys. With the mattress in the bottom, the box even becomes a Baby's first bed !

Many Children, from all social backgrounds, have their first naps within the safety of the box's four cardboard walls.

The popularity of both the Baby Boxes, and the subsequent BBC Report which went viral, shows the innate attractiveness of bringing new life into the World. This story of Light and Hope is in stark contrast to the story of darkness and despair which is Abortion.

Diligent Health Officials and clever entrepreneurs are saving Babies after birth, worldwide, at the same time that other Officials and entrepreneurs are bankrolling the deaths of millions of Babies before Birth.

Read more on the SPUC Web-Site: https://www.spuc.org.uk/news/blog/2016/april/the-pro-life-news-story-which-went-viral-and-is-saving-babies

"By Unceasing Enactment Of The Ascetic Efforts Set Forth In The Gospels, Saints Gradually Fill Themselves With The Holy Spirit." - Justin Popovich.

This Article is taken from ENLARGING THE HEART

Justin Popovich.

Illustration: ENLARGING THE HEART

The Holiness of The Saints — both the Holiness of their Souls and of their bodies — derives from their zealous grace-and-virtue-bestowing lives in The Body of The Church of Christ, of The God-Man.

In this sense, Holiness completely envelopes the human person — the entire Soul and body and all that enters into the mystical composition of the human body.

The Holiness of The Saints does not hold forth only in their Souls, but it necessarily extends to their bodies; so it is that both the body and the Soul of a Saint are Sanctified.

Thus we, in piously Venerating The Saints, also Venerate the entire person, in this manner not separating the Holy Soul from the Holy body.

Our pious Veneration of The Saints’ Relics is a natural part of our pious respect for, and Prayerful entreaty to, The Saints. All of this constitutes one indivisible ascetic act, just as the Soul and body constitute the single, indivisible person of The Saint.

Clearly, during his life on the Earth, The Saint, by a continuous and singular grace-and virtue-bestowing synergy of Soul and body, attains to the Sanctification of his person, filling both the Soul and body with The Grace of The Holy Ghost and so transforming them into Vessels of The Holy Mysteries and Holy Virtues.

It is completely natural, again, to show pious reverence both to the former and to the latter, both to Soul and body, both of them Holy Vessels of God’s Grace.

When the charismatic power of Christ issues forth, it makes Grace-filled all the constituent parts of the human person and the person in his entirety.

By unceasing enactment of the ascetic efforts set forth in The Gospels, Saints gradually fill themselves with The Holy Ghost, so that their Sacred bodies, according to the word of The Holy Apostle, become Temples of The Holy Ghost (1 Corinthians 6:19; 3:17), Christ dwelling by Faith in their hearts (Ephesians 3:17) and by fruitful love also fulfilling The Commandments of God The Father.

Establishing themselves in The Holy Ghost, through Grace-bestowing ascetic labours, The Saints participate in The Life of The Trinity, becoming Sons of The Holy Trinity, Temples of The Living God (2 Corinthians 6:16); their whole lives thus flow from The Father, through The Son, in The Holy Ghost.

By piously Venerating The Holy Relics of The Saints, The Church reveres them as Temples of The Holy Ghost, Temples of The Living God, in which God dwells by Grace, even after the Earthly death of The Saints.

And by His Most Wise and Good Will, God creates Miracles in and through these Relics. Moreover, the Miracles, which derive from The Holy Relics, witness also to the fact that their pious Veneration by the people is pleasing to God.

Justin Popovich (1894 - 1979): The Place of Holy Relics in The Orthodox Church @ OCIC.

The following Text is from Wikipedia - the free encyclopedia.

Saint Iustin Popović (Serbian Cyrillic: Jустин Поповић; 6 April 1894, Vranje - 7 April 1979, Ćelije Monastery, Lelić) was an Eastern Orthodox Theologian, Archimandrite of The Ćelije Monastery, Dostoyevsky scholar, a champion of Anti-Communism, a writer, and a critic of the pragmatic Church (Ecclesiastical) Life. On 29 April 2010, Fr. Justin was Canonised as a Saint by The Holy Synod of The Serbian Orthodox Church.

Third Annual Catholic Literature Conference. Saint John The Evangelist Church, Concord, New Hampshire. 30 April 2016.

This Article is taken from NEW LITURGICAL MOVEMENT

Third Annual Catholic Literature Conference.

Saint John The Evangelist Church,

72 S Main Street,

Concord, New Hampshire 03301,

United States of America.

Telephone: +1 603-224-2062.

Saturday, 30 April 2016.

0930 hrs - 1600 hrs.

The following Text is from NEW LITURGICAL MOVEMENT

and is by DAVID CLAYTON.

This is an Annual Conference that grew out of a one-off event organised speculatively two years ago. To the surprise and delight of all involved, it attracted a large and engaged crowd of people wanting to hear about and discuss Catholic Literature.

Now in its third year, it has become an established Annual Event. The Speakers, this year, are Joseph Pearce, Gary Bouchard, William Fahey, President of Thomas More College, and Fr Michael Kerper, Pastor of Saint Patrick’s Church, Nashua, New Hampshire.

For more details, go to The Thomas More College Site, HERE.

You save $5 if you book before 20 April.

The Conference is Sponsored by Christ The King Parish, Concord, and The Thomas More College of Liberal Arts.

Virgen Del Carmen Bella. Ave Maria. Beautiful Virgin Of Carmel. Hail Mary.

Our Lady of Ushaw,

Durham, England.

Photo: April 2010.

Source: Own work.

Author: Zephyrinus.

Ave Maria.

Devoción y Oración a Nuestra Señora del Carmen.

Interpretación (fondo musical) de la Mezzo Soprano 

Italiana, Cecilia Bartoli.

Available on YouTube at

http://youtu.be/H8h1foLdtCI.

Saint Anicetus. Pope And Martyr. Feast Day, Today, 17 April.

Text is from The Saint Andrew Daily Missal,
unless otherwise stated.

Saint Anicetus.
Pope and Martyr.
Feast Day 17 April.

Simple.

Red Vestments.

The Martyrdom of Pope Anicetus.

Frescoes by Antonio Circignani, called Pomarancio.

Chapel of Sant'Aniceto e Beata Vergine della Clemenza,

Palazzo Altemps, Roma, Italy.

Date: 29 January 2009.

Source: 

Papa_Aniceto.jpg.

Author: 

Papa_Aniceto.jpg: Torvindus.

Derivative work: Kostisl.

(Wikimedia Commons)

The Paschal Cycle surrounds The King of Martyrs, Whose triumph it celebrates, with a bevy of Saints who "followed Him bearing their Crosses and who, having lost their lives for His sake," found the life of which Jesus, Risen Again, is the model (Gospel).

Saint Anicetus, Invested with full Sacerdotal power (Introit), succeeded Pope Saint Pius I as Pope. He governed The Church from 150 A.D. to his death in 168 A.D. and took such a part in The Sufferings of Christ (Epistle) that, although he did not shed his blood for The Faith, he was given the Title of Martyr.

He preserved his flock from the heresies of Valentinus and Marcion and "filled with The Consolations of Jesus, he was enabled, in turn, to console those who suffered" (Epistle). The great Saint Polycarp came to him at Rome to confer especially about the date of the Celebration of Easter, for, by the coincidence of this Feast with that of the Jews, it was right to claim that the Mysteries of The Death and Resurrection of Jesus had realised, and taken the place of, the immolation of the paschal lamb.

"Let us rejoice for the annual Solemnity of Blessed Anicetus" (Collect). This Feast reminds us of the date when, after having died with Christ on Earth, this Holy Martyr went to share The Glory of His Resurrection in Heaven.

Mass: In Paschaltide. Protexisti.

Mass: Out of Paschaltide. Sacerdotes Dei.

Happy Birthday, Dear Pope Emeritus.

Happy Birthday dear Pope Emeritus.

Illustration: FR. Z's BLOG

2016 March For Life. Birmingham. 14 May.

Illustration: SPUC

Get ready for the 2016 March For Life.

In just one month’s time, people from all over the U.K. will be flocking to Birmingham for the annual March For Life U.K.

Coaches are being organised from Cities across England, Scotland and Wales. SPUC is running two Coaches from London – click HERE to read more details and book your place online now.

The 2016 March For Life is taking place in Birmingham City Centre on Saturday 14 May 2016, exactly one month from today.

The organisers behind The March For Life say that they know of at least one Life saved directly by the annual event of Pro-Life Witness.

Read more on The SOCIETY FOR THE PROTECTION OF UNBORN CHILDREN

Let's see how much in-depth coverage the BBC gives to this Event.

Don't hold your breath !!!

Ember Days And Rogation Days. What Are They ? How Can We Observe Them Today ?

The Ancient Custom of Blessing The Fields,

Rogation Sunday, 

Hever, Kent, England.

Photo: 9 February 1967.

Source: From geograph.org.uk

Author: RayTrevena

(Wikimedia Commons)

What are Ember Days and Rogation Days ?

How can we observe them today ?

For more information, please visit http://www.sentrad.org

and please remember to say three Hail Marys for the Priest.

Available on YouTube at

https://youtu.be/ea7wRDUOSZ0

The following Text is from Wikipedia - the free encyclopaedia.

Rogation Days.

Rogation Days are Days of Prayer and Fasting in Western Christianity. They are observed with Processions and The Litany of The Saints. The so-called Major Rogation is held on 25 April; the Minor Rogations are held on Monday to Wednesday on the dates preceding Ascension Thursday. The word Rogation comes from the Latin verb "rogare", meaning "to ask", which reflects the beseeching of God for the appeasement of His anger and for protection from calamities.

Ember Days.

In The Liturgical Calendar of The Western Christian Churches, Ember Days are four separate sets of three days within the same week — specifically, the Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday — roughly equidistant in the circuit of the year, that are set aside for Fasting and Prayer.

These Ember Days, set apart for Special Prayer and Fasting, were considered especially suitable for The Ordination of Clergy. The Ember Days are known in Latin as the "quattuor anni tempora" (the "Four Seasons of The Year"), or, formerly, as the "jejunia quattuor temporum" ("Fasts of The Four Seasons").

The Four Quarterly Periods, during which The Ember Days fall, are called The Embertides.

The Ember Weeks, the weeks in which The Ember Days occur, are these weeks:

1.      Between The Third and Fourth Sundays of Advent (although The Common Worship Lectionary of The Church of England places them in the week following The Second Sunday in Advent);

2.      Between The First and Second Sundays of Lent;

3.      Between Pentecost and Trinity Sunday;

4.      The Liturgical Third Week of September.

Émile André Schefer (1896–1942).

Railway Poster by E. A. Schefer.

Date: 1925.

Source: Unknown.

Author: Émile André Schefer (1896–1942).

Illustration: AMAZON

Railway Poster by E. A. Schefer.

Date: 1925.

Source: Unknown.

Author: Émile André Schefer (1896–1942).

(Wikimedia Commons)

The following Text is from Wikipedia - the free encyclopaedia.

Émile André Schefer, born 14 February 1896, Paris.

Died, Paris, 15 March 1942, in a traffic accident.

A well-known and successful French Illustrator, particularly of Trains.

Sicily. A Mediaeval Multicultural Paradise. But It Didn't Last Long.

This Article can be read in full at THE SPECTATOR

English: Santa Maria Nuova Cathedral, Monreale, Sicily.

Deutsch: Kathedrale Santa Maria Nuova, Monreale, Sizilien.

Photo: 8 September 2012.

Source: Own work.

Author: Pjt56.

(Wikimedia Commons)

"Discover the remarkable story of Sicily."

Available on YouTube at

https://youtu.be/97xbN9jWYF4?list=PL0LQM0SAx600YnDfmfjDFjIk2SZMup-DZ

Detail of mosaic depicting the Martyrdom of Saints Castus and Cassius.

12th-Century, at the Cathedral of Monreale, Sicily.

Illustration: THE SPECTATOR

The British Museum’s new exhibition, "Sicily: Culture and Conquest", celebrates the glories of this multi-ethnic, quadrilingual powerhouse.
Article by: Martin Gayford.

A few weeks ago, I looked out on the Cathedral of Monreale from the platform on which once stood the Throne of William II, King of Sicily. From there, nearly two acres of richly-coloured mosaics were visible, glittering with Gold. In the Apse, was the majestic figure of Christ Pantocrator — that is, "Almighty". The walls of the Aisles and Nave were lined with scenes from The Bible. In another Panel, just above, Christ Crowned King William.

It was a prospect of the greatest opulence and sophistication stretching in every direction from this Regal vantage point. The mosaics are in the manner of Byzantium, and probably executed by Greek artists, but the architectural Plan and Inlaid Floors are derived from Mediaeval Italy. This, then, Padre Nicola Gaglio, the Priest who was escorting us pointed out, was a building in which the Christian Traditions of East and West, Rome and Constantinople, were combined and contrasted.

English: Monreale Cathedral, Sicily, Italy.

Deutsch: Italien, Sizilien, Monreale, Kathedrale Santa Maria Nuova.

Photo: 9 October 2012.

Source: Own work.

Author: Berthold Werner.

(Wikimedia Commons)

That’s true. But what is extraordinary is that list does not by any means exhaust the interaction of Civilisations that took place in 12th-Century Sicily, soon to be explored in an exhibition at The British Museum. For a Century after the Conquest of the Island by Norman forces in the 11th-Century, Sicilian society deserved the contemporary term "Multicultural".

The Island was also Quadrilingual, as an Inscribed Stone from 12th-Century Palermo demonstrates. This Inscription recorded the transfer of the remains of one Anna, mother of a Priest called Grisandus, to a Private Chapel. It does so, however, in Latin, Greek, Arabic and Judaeo-Arabic (an Arabic dialect written in Hebrew characters for an Arabic-speaking Jewish population). Each Text is slightly different, since — for example — the Stone is dated 1149, according to Western Christian chronology, 6657 according to The Byzantines, who began at The Creation of The World, and 544 by Islamic reckoning.

Norman Sicily even had an English connection. At Monreale, on the wall beneath the colossal figure of Christ — his Right Hand, alone, according to John Julius Norwich, is six feet high — is the unexpected figure of Saint Thomas Becket of Canterbury. Perhaps Becket’s image was put there among other Sainted Bishops in an apologetic spirit, since Saint Thomas had been hacked to death at the instigation of King William II’s father-in-law, King Henry II of England. Becket’s murder took place in 1170, or, at most, two decades before the mosaics were created.

Cathedral of Monreale, Sicily, Italy.

Arabesque ornaments at the Rear Apses.

The outsides of the principal doorways and their Pointed Arches are magnificently 

enriched with carving and coloured inlay, a curious combination of three styles - 

Norman-French, Byzantine and Arab.

Photo: 22 January 2006.

Source: Own work.

Author: Bjs.

(Wikimedia Commons)

There was an intimate connection between Norman Sicily and Norman England, both of which had been conquered by Viking-descended soldiers from Northern France. The Rulers of Norman Sicily had begun as mercenaries and freebooters, the sons of a minor Noble, called Tancred de Hauteville. The youngest of these, Roger, ended up as Count of Sicily; while his older brother, Robert Guiscard, Ruled much of Southern Italy. Their Italian Wars took place at much the same time as William the Conqueror’s Invasion of England (1066).

The first Norman incursion into Sicily was in 1061, though the process of subduing the entire territory took decades. Before the Norse buccaneers arrived, Sicily had been under Islamic Rule for more than a Century; most of the population at that point was probably Muslim. Until the Islamic Invasion, the Island had been part of The Byzantine Empire and culturally Greek.

The Cloisters at Monreale Abbey, Sicily, Italy.

Date: 27 August 2005.

This File: 27 August 2005.

User: Urban~commonswiki.

(Wikimedia Commons)

Norman Sicily was therefore a jigsaw of cultures. Its full complexity is made clear inside the Cappella Palatina of The Royal Palace in Palermo, which I visited the following day in company with Dirk Booms, one of The British Museum curators. There the walls are covered with superb Byzantine mosaics, floors made by Italian Master Craftsmen, perhaps from Salerno. The most startling feature, however, is the Wooden Ceiling of the Nave, a complex masterpiece of Carpentry with starburst patterns and the honeycomb forms known as muqarnas, the whole of which is covered in Arabic inscriptions and figurative paintings in the style of contemporary Egypt. Some of these represent the King who commissioned the Work, Roger II (1095–1154), son of the original conqueror, seated cross-legged in the manner of an Islamic Ruler.

By the time his Chapel was inaugurated in 1143, King Roger II controlled Sicily, most of Italy, South of Rome, and large areas of North Africa. In some respects, he and his successors followed the ways of The Middle East. They maintained harems and built superb Pleasure Palaces around Palermo, enthusiastically compared by Ibn Jubayr, a poet and traveller from Andalusia, to ‘necklaces strung around the throats of voluptuous girls’. Some of these, including those known as La Cuba and La Zisa — from al-Aziz (‘the Magnificent’) — closely resemble similar structures in 12th-Century Algeria and Egypt.

English: Cathedral of Monreale, Sicily, Italy.

Mosaics of the South Side of the Nave.

Français: Cathédrale de Monreale, Sicile, Italie.

Mosaïques du côté sud de la nef.

Photo: 9 October 2010.

Source: Own work.

Author: Tango7174.

(Wikimedia Commons)

The difference is that, miraculously, the Sicilian buildings still exist. Nowhere else, in fact, does so much of the magnificence of an Early-Mediaeval Monarch survive. The Palace of The Normans in Palermo contains 12th-Century Interiors, including the ‘Room of Roger’, which has mosaics of regal leopards, peacocks and centaurs in a landscape of date palms and orange trees. In the Royal Gardens, around the City, there roamed a Romanesque menagerie, including ostriches, panthers, lions, apes, bears, giraffes and elephants.

The Norman Kings of Sicily were among the greatest Rulers of their day. Roger II clearly thought himself the equal of The Emperor in Constantinople. Under his reign, Sicily, making full use of its pivotal position in the centre of The Mediterranean, was powerful and prosperous as it had seldom been before — and never has been since. His hybrid Greek-Latin-Islamic State was hugely successful. Islamic bureaucrats kept records in flowing Arabic, the Bishops were Italian, French and English, and the Syrian Christian Arabic and Greek-speaking George of Antioch functioned as ammiratus ammiratorum, Emir of Emirs, or Commander-in-Chief.

King William II of Sicily offering

Monreale Cathedral to The Virgin Mary.

Photo: 26 January 2015.

Source: Own work.

Author: José Luiz.

(Wikimedia Commons)

However, there was a catch, as Dirk Booms explained as we stood in front of the wonderful Church in Palermo built by George of Antioch. ‘Sicily was a place of tolerance, but it was not a place of integration — except at Court.’ The various populations — Greek, Latin, Muslim, Jewish — lived in separate Districts of Palermo. Under Roger II’s son, William I, this patchwork society began to disintegrate. In 1161, there was a rebellion. The Chief Minister, George of Antioch’s successor, Maio of Bari, was assassinated, the King was imprisoned, and there were attacks on the Muslim population, who fled into the mountains.

‘When the power of the King fell away,’ Dirk Booms concluded, ‘it was clear that there were underlying tensions.’ After King William II died without an heir in 1189, Norman Sicily, after lasting for a glorious Century or so, quickly fragmented. Perhaps its lesson is that a multicultural society can be remarkably successful economically and culturally, but, without true integration, it is vulnerably fragile.

"Sicily: Culture and Conquest" is at The British Museum, Great Russell Street,
London WC1B 3DG, from 21 April to 14 August. Opening Times are 1000 hrs -1730 hrs, daily, except Friday which closes at 2030 hrs.

Saints Tiburtius, Valerian, And Maximus. Martyrs. Feast Day 14 April.

Text is from The Saint Andrew Daily Missal,
unless otherwise stated.

Saints Tiburtius, Valerian, and Maximus.
   Martyrs.
   Feast Day 14 April.

Simple.

Red Vestments.

The Burial of Saint Valerian and Saint Tiburtius.

Artist: Amico Aspertini (1474–1552).

Date: 1504.

Current location: Oratorio di Santa Cecilia, Bologna, Italy.

Source/Photographer: Image from Web Gallery of Art

(Wikimedia Commons)

Saint Valerian, the husband of Saint Cecilia, Tiburtius, his brother, and Maximus, their executioner, who was converted at the sight of their courage, united in 229 A.D. their Martyrdom to that of The Crucified Christ and shared the Glory of Jesus, Risen Again.

Mass: Out of Paschaltide. Sapiéntiam.
Mass: In Paschaltide. Sancti tui.
Epistle and Gospel of The Mass: Protexisti.

Saint Justin. Martyr. Feast Day 14 April.

Text from The Saint Andrew Daily Missal,
unless otherwise stated.

Saint Justin.
Martyr.
Feast Day 14 April.

Double.

Red Vestments.

English: Saint Justin Martyr.

Deutsch: Justin der Märtyrer (auch: Justin der Philosoph).

Phantasieporträt aus dem 16. Jahrhundert.

Date: 16th-Century..

Source: Saint Justin dans André Thevet,

Les Vrais Pourtraits et Vies Hommes Illustres

Author: André Thévet (1502–1590).

(Wikimedia Commons)

The Church, in the 2nd-Century A.D., had to oppose the errors of pagan philosophers and suffer cruel persecution. But God raised up courageous men, known as The Apologist Fathers, who defended Christian Dogma at the price of their lives.

The most illustrious at that time was Saint Justin, who was born at Nablus (Samaria), about 100 A.D. As a pagan philosopher, he examined the teaching of the pagan philosophical systems and only found error and false wisdom; for human intelligence rejecting Supernatural Light soon goes astray (Epistle, Gradual).

Saint Justin then studied The Word of The Crucified God and became a Christian. Seeing in reason a precious auxiliary of Faith, he opened at Rome the first school of Christian Philosophy and there taught "the eminent science of Jesus Christ" (Collect).

He became celebrated especially by the two Apologies which he had the courage (Gospel) to address successively to the persecuting Emperors Antoninus and Marcus Aurelius (Introit).

An edict of Antoninus mitigated the persecution. Marcus Aurelius, on the contrary, caused Saint Justin to be scourged and condemned him to death. He died a Martyr on 13 April, about 162 A.D.

"Let us conform to the teaching of The Blessed Martyr Justin" (Postcommunion) "so that we may remain firm in The Faith" (Collect).

Mass: Narravérunt.

Commemoration: Of The Feria in Lent.

Commemoration: Of The Holy Martyrs Tilburtius and Companions.

The following Text is from Wikipedia - the free encyclopaedia.

Justin Martyr, also known as Saint Justin (100 A.D. – 165 A.D.), was an Early Christian Apologist, and is regarded as the foremost interpreter of the Theory of The Logos in the 2nd-Century A.D. He was Martyred, alongside some of his students, and is considered a Saint by The Roman Catholic Church, The Anglican Church, and The Eastern Orthodox Church.

Most of his works are lost, but two Apologies and a Dialogue did survive. The First Apology, his most well-known Text, passionately defends the morality of The Christian Life, and provided various ethical and philosophical arguments to convince The Roman Emperor, Antoninus, to abandon the persecution of the fledgling Sect. Further, he also indicates, as Saint Augustine did regarding the "True Religion" that pre-dated Christianity, that the "seeds of Christianity" (manifestations of The Logos acting in history) actually pre-dated Christ's Incarnation. This notion allows him to claim many historical Greek Philosophers (including Socrates and Plato), in whose Works he was well studied, as unknowing Christians.

Saint Hermenegild. Martyr. Feast Day 13 April.

Text from The Saint Andrew Daily Missal,

unless otherwise stated.

Saint Hermenegild.

Martyr.

Feast Day 13 April.

Semi-Double.

Red Vestments.

English: The Triumph of Saint Hermenegild.

Español: Triunfo de San Hermenegildo (1654), por Francisco de Herrera.

Latin: Triunfo de san Hermenegildo. Ioannes de Herrera pinxit.

Polski: Triumf św. Hermenegilda (?), 1654, Prado.

Suomi: Francisco de Herreran maalaus Pyhän Hermengildin voitto vuodelta 1654.

Barokin taiteessa pyrittiin luomaan voimakas koristeellinen vaikutelma.

Français: Le Triomphe d'Hermenegild, par Francisco de Herrera le Jeune (1654),

Musée du Prado, Madrid. Léovigild, le roi arien des Wisigoths conquiert le royaume des Suèves, "catholiques" (christianisme nicéen), au Nord-Ouest de l'Espagne. Il écrase la révolte de son fils Herménégild, converti par l’évêque Léandre de Séville. Herménégild, fait prisonnier

à Cordoue et ayant refusé d'abjurer le catholicisme, est exécuté et Léandre exilé.

Artist: Francisco de Herrera The Younger.

Date: 1654.

Current location: Prado, Madrid.

(Wikimedia Commons)

Hermenegild, son of the King of The Visigoths, in Spain, married the daughter of the Frankish King of Austrasia, and was converted to Catholicism, his family being Arian. His father, in his anger, threw him into a dungeon and, in the night of Easter, caused an Arian Bishop to take Communion to him.

But God did not abandon him in his prison" (Epistle). Hermenegild sacrificed to the love of God the love of his father, and of his own life (Gospel), and indignantly repelled the heretical Bishop.

Put to death on 13 April 586 A.D., he shared the triumph of Christ, Who "in the Kingdom of God, gave him the Royal Sceptre" (Epistle). His father died recommending the Martyr's brother, Recarede, to bring back the Nation to The True Faith. Thus, Spain became Catholic.

"Following the example of Saint Hermenegild, who preferred Heavenly Royalty to Earthly Royalty, let us despise perishable possessions and only seek the Eternal ones" (Collect).

Mass: Out of Paschaltide. In virtúte.

Mass: In Paschaltide. Protexisti.
Commemoration and Last Gospel of The Feria in Lent.

The Solemnity Of Saint Joseph. The Third Wednesday After Easter (Wednesday After Good Shepherd Sunday).

Text from The Saint Andrew Daily Missal,
unless otherwise stated.

The Solemnity of Saint Joseph.
Spouse of The Blessed Virgin Mary,
      Confessor and Patron of
      The Universal Church.

Third Wednesday after Easter
      (Wednesday after Good Shepherd Sunday).

Double of The First-Class
      with an Octave.
            [Note: An Octave was given to this Solemnity, rather than to
            The Feast of Saint Joseph on 19 March, because Feasts 
            falling in Lent may not have Octaves.]

White Vestments.

Saint Joseph.

Spouse of The Blessed Virgin Mary. Confessor and Patron of The Universal Church.

Illustration: UNA VOCE OF ORANGE COUNTY

Artist: Rene de Cramer.

"Copyright Brunelmar/Ghent/Belgium".

Used with Permission.

Today's Mass might be represented by a Triptych (see, below), showing us that Saint Joseph is the protector, which Divine Providence has chosen for His Church.

1.      The Epistle speaks to us of Joseph, who, in The Old Testament, is a figure of Saint Joseph. The dying Jacob prophesies that his son, Joseph, "shall be the Pastor and Strength of Israel, and that The Almighty shall shower Blessings upon him." And Joseph was established by Pharao over the entire land of Egypt, so that the salvation of all depended upon him. [The Lessons and Responses of The First Nocturn of Matins.] The whole Church has recourse to Saint Joseph with confidence.

2.      The Gospel, Collect, and Communion, explaining the connection between The Heavenly Trinity and The Holy Family, this Trinity on Earth, show forth the power of Saint Joseph. Jesus is, at the same time, Son of God and Son of man. Mary is The Spouse of The Holy Ghost, and it is the will of God The Father that Saint Joseph should be considered father of Christ and that he should exercise paternal rights over Him (Preface).

3.      Lastly, the Introit, Collects, Alleluia, and Offertory, show us Saint Joseph as the guardian of the new Jerusalem, which is The Church, to watch over her in the midst of all her tribulations.

Full of confidence in the patronage of Saint Joseph, let us honour his Title of Protector on Earth, so as to deserve his help from Heaven (Collect).

Mass: Adjútor.

"Te Joseph Celebrent".

The Hymn (First Tone) of Second Vespers

for The Solemnity of Saint Joseph.

Available on YouTube at

https://youtu.be/xu5w3dqIWgc

The Rings Of Saturn.

The Rings of Saturn.

It's difficult to get a sense of scale when viewing Saturn's Rings, but The Cassini Division (seen here between the bright B-Ring and dimmer A-Ring) is almost as wide as the Planet Mercury.

Illustration: NASA

And God said, “Let there be lights in the vault of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark sacred times, and days and years, and let them be lights in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth.” And it was so. God made two great lights — the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. He also made the stars.

Text: BIBLE GATEWAY

Such beauty takes the breath away, does it not.

Man, for all his inventive powers and scientific progress couldn't ever match this wonderful scene.

Only God in His Wonder could countenance creating such beauty.

Unless, of course, one is an avid believer in The Darwinian Theory.

That Theory states that the above would, well, sort of just happen . . .

all on its own . . . by itself . . . natural development . . .

HONEST !!!

Rev. John E. Halborg. Requiem Aeternam Dona Eis, Domine, Et Lux Perpetua Luceat Eis.

Rev. John E. Halborg (R.I.P.).

Requiem Aeternam Dona Eis, Domine,

Et Lux Perpetua Luceat Eis.

Eternal rest give unto him, O Lord,

and let Perpetual Light shine upon him.

Solemn Requiem Mass.

Church of The Holy Innocents,

New York.

Tuesday, 12 April 2016.

1900 hrs.