Friday Of Ember Week In Lent. Lenten Station At The Basilica Of The Twelve Apostles.

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

Friday of Ember Week in Lent.

Station at The Twelve Apostles.

Indulgence of 10 Years and 10 Quarantines.

Violet Vestments.

Basilica of The Twelve Apostles,

Rome, Italy.

Photo: August 2012.

Source: Own work.

Author: Luc

(Wikimedia Commons)

On The Friday in Ember Week, The Station was always made in the Church of The Twelve Apostles, situated at the foot of The Quirinal, for the Examination of Candidates for Ordination. Thus, were the future Priests and Deacons put under the protection of the whole Apostolic College.

This Basilica, one of the oldest in Rome, was built shortly after the time of Emperor Constantine by Pope Julius I, on the occasion of The Translation of the Bodies of The Apostles Philip and James the Less, which rested there. Pope John III (561 A.D. to 574 A.D.) made of it a Votive Monument for the freeing of Rome from the Goths of Totila.

The Baroque Ceiling of the Church of The Twelve Apostles, Rome.

Photo: August 2005.

Source: http://flickr.com/photos/antmoose/34649457/

Author: Anthony Majanlahti

(Wikimedia Commons)

Addressing herself to the public Penitents in the first Centuries of Christianity, The Church told them, by the mouth of Ezechiel, that God was ready to forgive them because they repented (Epistle). Like the sick, who assembled in the Porches of the Pond situated on the North of the Temple in Jerusalem, they waited at the doors of the Church, and, on the great day of the Sabbath, which is The Feast of Easter, Jesus cured them, as He healed the paralytic, spoken of in the Gospel.

Basilica of The Twelve Apostles, Rome.

Photo: January 2006.

Source: Own work.

Author: Lalupa

(Wikimedia Commons)

Our Souls, washed in the waters of Baptism, but since fallen back into sin, must atone for their faults, and Jesus, through the instrumentality of His Priests, will pardon them in The Holy Tribunal of Penance.

Santi Apostoli, Rome.

Photo: July 2007.

Source: Own work.

Author: SteO153

(Wikimedia Commons)

The excuse, “I have no man”, will not avail us, for if we remain stricken with the palsy of sin, it is because we do not have recourse to the Ministry of Priesthood, which is always at our disposal.

Let us Pray to Almighty God to “receive us with His kind assistance” (Collect), that our vices being “cleansed away” by Penance (Postcommunion), our Souls may once more be shown “The Light of His Grace” (Prayer Over The People).

Mass: De necessitátibus.
Preface: Of Lent.

The Seven Joys Of Mary. Mother of Jesus.

Text is from Wikipedia - the free encyclopædia,
unless stated otherwise.

English: The Fifteen Mysteries of The Rosary

and The Virgin of The Rosary.

Français: Quinze mystères. Manteau de la Vierge.

This File: 20 August 2009.

User: BAILLEUL

(Wikimedia Commons)

The Seven Joys of The Virgin (or, “of Mary, The Mother of Jesus”) is a popular Devotion to events of The Life of The Virgin Mary, arising from a Trope of Mediæval Devotional Literature and Art.

The Seven Joys of The Virgin were frequently depicted in Mediæval Devotional Literature and Art.

The Seven Joys of Mary are usually listed as:

The Annunciation;

The Nativity of Jesus;

The Adoration of The Magi;

The Resurrection of Christ;

The Ascension of Christ into Heaven;

Pentecost, or Descent of The Holy Ghost

upon The Apostles and Mary;

The Coronation of The Virgin in Heaven.

Raphael's Sistine Madonna painting (1513), Saint Peter's Basilica, Rome,

is considered a key example of High Renaissance Art.

Alternative choices were made, and might include The Visitation and The Finding in The Temple, as in The Franciscan Crown form of Rosary, which uses The Seven Joys, but omits The Ascension and Pentecost.

Depiction in Art of The Assumption of Mary may replace, or be combined with, The Coronation of Our Lady in Heaven, especially from the 15th-Century, onwards; by the 17th-Century, it is the norm. As with other sets of scenes, the different practical implications of depictions in different media, such as painting, ivory miniature carving, Liturgical Drama, and music, led to different conventions by medium, as well as other factors, such as geography and the influence of different Religious Orders. There is a matching Set of Seven Sorrows of The Virgin; both Sets influenced the selection of scenes in depictions of The Life of The Virgin.

Originally, there were “Five Joys Of The Virgin”. Later, that number increased to seven, nine, and even fifteen, in Mediæval Literature, although seven remained the most common number, and others are rarely found in Art.

The “Five Joys Of Mary” are mentioned in the 14th-Century poem “Sir Gawain and The Green Knight” as a source of Gawain's strength. The Devotion was especially popular in Pre-Reformation England. The French writer Antoine de la Sale completed a satire called “Les Quinze Joies de Mariage” (“The Fifteen Joys of Marriage”) in about 1462, which partly parodied the form of “Les Quinze Joies de Notre Dame” (“The Fifteen Joys of Our Lady”), a popular Litany.

Reverend Fr. Timothy Finigan Writes A Riveting Article On Saint Matthias: The Cursing Psalms; And The Universal Mission Of The Church.

This Article, by Reverend Fr. Timothy Finigan,
is taken from, and can be read in full at,
THE HERMENEUTIC OF CONTINUITY

When chanting the epistle at Mass for the feast of St Matthias, I must confess to being amused at the part where Saint Peter says,

“Let their habitation become desolate, and let there be none to dwell therein. And his bishopric let another take.” (Acts 1:20)

The prince of the Apostles first quotes verse 26 of Psalm 69 which is one of the many verses of various psalms that were omitted in the modern Liturgy of the Hours, and secondly verse 8 of Psalm 108, which is one of the three psalms that were omitted in their entirety. The General Instruction on the Liturgy of the Hours explains that “Such omissions are made because of certain psychological difficulties” (n.131) I hope that you did not become depressed or neurotic during the epistle.

St Peter applies these verses to Judas because He betrayed Our Lord. He then explains to the 120 or so men and women, including the apostles and Our Lady, that they must choose someone to take his place. The reason is found in the Communion verse of the Mass:

“You who have followed Me shall sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”

 

The number twelve signifies a perfect complement. St Augustine says that the twelve thrones are a mystery or sign (sacramentum) of a certain universality because Our Lord willed that the Church should spread throughout the whole world; it must be universal or “catholic.”

Like the other marks of the Church, universality is both part of the Church from the beginning: nobody in the world is excluded from the Church, and it is not yet achieved: there are many people in the world who are not part of the Church.

The missionary urgency of the Church has been lost, to some extent, in our time. Some people might justify this by an appeal to Vatican II, but in fact, the Decree Ad Gentes on the Missionary Activity of the Church reminded us that Our Lord confirmed the necessity of the Church into which we enter by Baptism as by a door. The Council Fathers then taught,

“Therefore those men cannot be saved, who though aware that God, through Jesus Christ founded the Church as something necessary, still do not wish to enter into it, or to persevere in it. Therefore though God in ways known to Himself can lead those inculpably ignorant of the Gospel to find that faith without which it is impossible to please Him (Heb 11:6), yet a necessity lies upon the Church (1 Cor 9:16), and at the same time a sacred duty, to preach the Gospel. And hence missionary activity today as always retains its power and necessity.” (Ad Gentes 7)

 

More severe language can be found in the Apostolic Letter Maximum Illud which Pope Benedict XV published in 1919. We were encouraged to celebrate the centenary of this letter in 2019 for a Month of Mission, so I read it carefully and wrote an article on it. (See: Maximum Illud and the missionary month; we do actually need to believe in the salvation of souls .)

St Matthias was chosen as a witness of the resurrection of Our Lord, in order to make up the number of the apostles and so to complete the sign of their universal mission. He reminds us of the duty to proclaim the Catholic faith to all.

Saint Paul wrote to the Christians in Rome before he was finally taken there under guard. He gave thanks to God for their faith which was already known throughout the world and told them that he was ready to preach to them. When we think of the little that we manage to do for the spread of the faith, we should thrill at his confidence, take heart from his courage, and make his words our own: “I am not ashamed of the gospel.” (Rom 1:16)

PICTURE CREDIT: Wikimedia.

Saint Matthias by Simone Martini (c.1317-1319) 

Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. Public Domain.

Thursday Of The First Week In Lent. Lenten Station At Saint Laurence's-In-Panisperna.

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

Thursday of The First Week in Lent.
   Station at Saint Laurence's-in-Panisperna.

Indulgence of 10 Years and 10 Quarantines.

Violet Vestments.

Church of San Lorenzo-in-Panisperna, Rome.

Photo: March 2010.

Source: Own work.

Author: LPLT

This file is licensed under the Creative Commons

Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported licence.

(Wikimedia Commons)

The Station at Rome was established by Pope Gregory II, in the old Church of Saint Laurence-in-Panisperna, erected to the glory of the heroic Deacon, on the very spot where he suffered Martyrdom.

The Church reminds The Catechumens that, since the coming of Jesus, it is no longer the Race of Israel, alone, that has the promise, but that all can enter The Church by Baptism and partake of The Eucharistic Bread of The Children of God.

If the heathen will Solemnly deny the evil deeds of his fathers and practise the Christian Law of Penance and Charity (Epistle), his Prayer will be granted, as was that of the woman who belonged to the accursed Race of Canaan, but whose Faith was great (Gospel).

Let us seek in The Eucharist the strength required to observe Lent. For it is our Fasting, in conjunction with The Sacrifice of Jesus, that will obtain for us Salvation (Secret, Communion, Postcommunion).

Mass: Conféssio et pulchritúdo.

Preface: Of Lent.

Saint Laurence's Martyrdom,

by Pasquale Cati (1589).

Church of San Lorenzo-in-Panisperna, Rome

Photo: March 2010.

Source: Own work.

Author: LPLT

This file is licensed under the Creative Commons

Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported licence.

(Wikimedia Commons)

The following Text is from Wikipedia - the free encyclopædia.

San Lorenzo-in-Panisperna, or San Lorenzo-in-Formoso, is a Church on Via Panisperna, Rome. It was built on the site of Saint Laurence's Martyrdom.

Panisperna most probably refers to the Tradition of The Poor Clares (in the adjacent Convent) of distributing bread and ham (pane e perna) on 10 August, Laurence's Feast Day, in remembrance of his distributing funds from The Church to the Poor. "Formoso" refers to Pope Formosus, who built the first attested Church, here.

Tradition states that the first building was constructed during the Reign of Emperor Constantine I, only 100 years after the Martyrdom of Saint Laurence, though the first written evidence is from 1300, when Pope Boniface VIII rebuilt the Church and annexed an Abbey to it. That Abbey was given to The Benedictines in 1451, and then had The Poor Clares settled in it by Cardinal Jacopo Colonna in 1896, who also restored the Church and Monastery.

English: The Chapel of Saint Brigid

in the Church of Saint Laurence-in-Panisperna, Rome.

Italiano: Chiesa di San Lorenzo-in-Panisperna,

Cappella di Santa Brigida.

Photo: 1996.

Source: Own work.

Author: Torvindus

(Wikimedia Commons)

The Franciscans now Serve the Church. In the 5th-Century A.D., this Church was one of Rome's Stational Churches and was visited by The Pope on its Titular Day, The Thursday of The First Week in Lent. Recent Popes have revived this ancient custom.

The present Church is a result of a re-building by Carlo Rainaldi in 1575–1576, under Pope Gregory XIII. It was at this time that it became known as 'in-Panisperna' rather than 'in-Formoso', and that the present Façade was built.

A new Outer Portico was added in the 17th-Century, then restored and decorated with images of Saint Laurence and Saint Francis of Assisi in 1893–1894 by Pope Leo XIII, who, in 1843, had been Ordained Bishop in this Church. Pope Leo XIII also added a steep flight of steps, in front of the Church, leading to a tree-lined Courtyard. There is a modern bronze statue of Saint Bridget of Sweden, here.

A Mediæval house is preserved, next to the Church, with an exterior staircase, one of the few such houses to have been preserved in Rome.

Entrance door of the Church of San Lorenzo-in-Panisperna, Rome

Photo: March 2010.

Source: Own work.

Author: LPLT

This file is licensed under the Creative Commons

Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported licence.

(Wikimedia Commons)

The Church has a single Nave with three Chapels on each side.

South Side.

Includes a painting of Saint Clare of Assisi (1756), by Antonio Nessi, and a Ceiling fresco of Glory of Saint Laurence, by Antonio Bicchierai.

Contains the Tomb of the brothers, Saint Crispin and Saint Crispinian, with a painting by Giovanni Francesco Romano.

Painting of The Immaculate Conception, by Giuseppe Ranucci.

North Side.

Painting of The Stigmata of Saint Francis, by Niccolò Lapiccola.

Chapel of Saint Bridget, where she was buried before her body was moved to Sweden. She had used to beg for Alms for The Poor outside this Church, and Prayed before The Crucifix by The High Altar. Now, a Martyr, named Victoria, lies underneath the Altar in the Chapel.

The painting of Saint Bridget, Praying before The Crucifix, is by Giuseppe Montesanti and was painted in 1757.

An 18th-Century Crucifix of The Roman School.

Under its Porch, is a Chapel containing the oven, said to have been used for Saint Laurence's Martyrdom. A Late-16th-Century fresco of The Martyrdom of Saint Laurence stands behind The High Altar (by Pasquale Cati, a mediocre pupil of Michelangelo). The Crucifix, by The High Altar, is from the 14th-Century.

Saint Matthias. Apostle. Feast Day 24 February. In Leap Year, 25 February.

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

Saint Matthias.
   Apostle.
   Feast Day 24 February.
   [NOTE: In a Leap Year, this Apostle's Feast Day is moved to 25 February.]

Double of The Second-Class.

Red Vestments.

Saint Matthias.

Apostle.

Illustration: UNA VOCE OF ORANGE COUNTY

Artist: René de Cramer.

"Copyright Brunelmar/Ghent/Belgium".

Used with Permission.

Saint Matthias.

Date: Circa 1317–1319.

Source: http://www.metmuseum.org/Works_of_Art/

collection_database /european_paintings/

saint_matthias_workshop_of_simone_martini//objectview.aspx?OID=110002131&collID=11&dd1=11

Author: Workshop of Simone Martini.

(Wikimedia Commons)

Saint Matthias.

Available on YouTube at

YOU TUBE

Saint Peter, in The Acts of The Apostles, (Epistle), says that the Prophet had Judas in view when he declares: "That his Episcopate would pass into other hands" [Psalm cviii 8]. It is The Lord, Himself, Who showed the one He had chosen to be associated with The Eleven Apostles (Epistle).

It is to Saint Matthias that He confided the secrets made known to Him in the bosom of His Father (Gospel). Wherefore, this Holy Apostle shares the glory "of the Princes whom God has established over Souls" (Offertory) and "He shall judge The Twelve Tribes of Israel" (Communion).

Since their infidelity, indeed, "their house has become deserted" (Epistle) and The Kingdom of Heaven is transferred to the Gentiles who do Penance. Saint Matthias' name figures in The Canon of The Mass (Second List).

Let us ask "God, Who has included Blessed Saint Matthias in The College of The Apostles, to grant us through his intercession" (Collect) that we may "atone for our sins" (Secret), so as to obtain "peace and pardon" (Postcommunion).

Every Parish Priest Celebrates Mass for the people of his Parish.

Mass: Mihi autem.
Commemoration and Last Gospel: Of The Feria, in Lent.
Creed: Is said.
Preface: Of The Apostles.

English: Stained-Glass Window, depicting Saint Matthias (Left).

The Cathedral of Saint Marie d'Auch, France.

Français: Cathédrale Sainte-Marie d'Auch - Vitrail de la chapelle

de la Passion (Saint Mathias, Esdras, Habacuc, sibylle Tiburtine).

Date: July 2007.

Source: Own work.

Author: MOSSOT

(Wikimedia Commons)

Wednesday Of Ember Week In Lent. The Lenten Station Is At Saint Mary Major.

Text is taken from The Saint Andrew Daily Missal,

unless stated otherwise.

Wednesday of Ember Week in Lent.

Station at Saint Mary Major.

Indulgence of 10 Years and 10 Quarantines.

Violet Vestments.

English: Basilica of Saint Mary Major, Rome.

Français: Vue arriere de la Basilique Sainte-Marie Majeure de Rome

(Santa Maria Maggiore).

Photo: November 2008.

Source: Own work.

Author: LPLT

Permission: You are free to use this picture for any purpose

under the conditions specified in the licence, below,

as long as you credit its author, LPLT

This file is licensed under the

Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported licence.

(Wikimedia Commons)

The Spring Ember Week coincides with The First Week of Lent. It was instituted for the purpose of consecrating to God The New Season, and, by Fasting and Prayer, to draw down Heavenly Graces on those, who, on Saturday next, are to receive The Sacrament of Holy Orders.

The Station on The Wednesday in Ember Week was always held at Saint Mary Major, the greatest and most illustrious of The Roman Churches Consecrated to The Blessed Virgin.

English: Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, Vatican.

Français: Basilique Sainte-Marie-Majeure, Vatican,

située à Rome, Latium, Italie.

Photo: September 2010.

Source: Own work.

Author: Tango7174

(Wikimedia Commons)

Is it not fitting that on this very day, when The Scrutinies for Ordination used to be made, the Liturgical gathering should be made in The Basilica Consecrated to her, whom Proclus of Constantinople hails as “The Temple in which God became Priest” ? The Gospel also alludes to Our Lady.

English: The Borghese Chapel,

Saint Mary Major, Rome.

Português: Capela Borghese, Santa Maria Maggiore, Roma

Photo: 2005.

Source: Taken by Ricardo André Frantz.

Author: Ricardo André Frantz (User:Tetraktys)

(Wikimedia Commons)

The two Lessons, the second of which is read as The Epistle, tell of Moses and Elias, who, before seeing The Glory of The Lord, Fasted Forty Days and Forty Nights. Called to take the place of the rebellious Jews, let us make ourselves worthy of The Fruits of Penance, as did the men of Ninive, who listened to the voice of Jonas, and the Queen of Saba, who came from her distant Country to learn The Wisdom of Solomon (Gospel). We shall participate, then, in The Resurrection of The Saviour, symbolised by The Prophet, who, after remaining three days in the whale’s stomach, was vomited out alive.

Let us Pray to God that we may be strengthened in mind by The Fruit of Good Works, while we mortify our bodies by Abstinence (Collect).

Mass: Reminíscere.
Preface: Of Lent.

Virtual Reconstruction Of Cluny Abbey.

English: The Monastery of Cluny, France - Entrance to the Abbey.

Deutsch: Das Kloster von Cluny - Eingang zur Abtei.

Engraving: Unknown date.

Photo: 1926-1933.

Source: Fritz-Milkau-Dia-Sammlung,

erstellt in der Photographischen Werkstatt

der Preußischen Staatsbibliothek von 1926-1933.

Author: Émile Sagot (1805–1888).

(Wikimedia Commons)

Cluny Abbey.

Virtually reconstructed.

Available on YouTube at

YOU TUBE

Vigil Of Saint Matthias. Apostle.

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

Vigil Of Saint Matthias.
   Apostle.
   23 February (in Leap Year 24 February).

Simple.

Violet Vestments.

Note: The Vigil of Saint Matthias is kept on 24 February in Leap Years.

Saint Matthias.

Apostle.

Illustration: UNA VOCE OF ORANGE COUNTY

Artist: René de Cramer.

"Copyright Brunelmar/Ghent/Belgium".

Used with Permission.

Saint Matthias.

Date: Circa 1317–1319.

Source: http://www.metmuseum.org/Works_of_Art/

collection_database /european_paintings/

saint_matthias_workshop_of_simone_martini//objectview.aspx?OID=110002131&collID=11&dd1=11

Author: Workshop of Simone Martini.

(Wikimedia Commons)

Saint Matthias.

Apostle.

Available on YouTube at

YOU TUBE

The Church attaches great importance to The Feasts of The Apostles, which are always preceded by a Vigil (Collect).

Saint Matthias, elected by The Will of God (Gospel), received Judas' share in the inheritance of The Church, which was figured by The Promised Land divided into twelve Tribes (Epistle).

Called "to give his life" (Gospel), like Jesus, to crown his Apostolic career, he suffered Martyrdom and was "clothed by God in resplendent glory" (Communion).

Let us ask God to prepare us to Celebrate piously The Feast of His Apostle, Saint Matthias.

Mass: Ego autem.

Saint Peter Damian. Bishop. Confessor. Doctor Of The Church. Feast Day 23 February.

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

Saint Peter Damian.
   Bishop. Confessor.
   Doctor Of The Church.
   Feast Day 23 February.

Double.

White Vestments.

English: Saint Peter Damian (Right), depicted with

The Blessed Virgin Mary and Child,

and Saints Augustine, Anne, and Elizabeth.

Deutsch: Portuense-Altar, Szene: Thronende Madonna und Heilige:

Hl. Augustinus, Hl. Anna, Hl. Elisabeth, Hl. Petrus Damiani.

Date: 1481.

Current location: Pinacoteca di Brera, Milan, Italy.

Source/Photographer: The Yorck Project: 10.000 Meisterwerke der Malerei.

DVD-ROM, 2002. ISBN 3936122202.

Distributed by DIRECTMEDIA Publishing GmbH.

(Wikimedia Commons)

Saint Peter Damian showed remarkable piety from his childhood. Having, by chance, picked up a coin, he gave it to a Priest, requesting him to offer up The Divine Sacrifice for the Soul of his father. He added to his father's name, that of Damian, his brother, out of gratitude, because it was by his brother's generosity that he was able to pursue his studies.

"Despising Earthly riches" (Collect), he entered a Monastery of Camaldolese of The Benedictine Observance and soon became its Abbot (Communion).

"As a light of Souls, he was to be placed on the candlestick" (Gospel), and became Bishop of Ostia and Cardinal. He rendered immense services to The Sovereign Pontiffs by his learning, his commissions as Legate and many other works.

Taking his share in the Apostolic life of Jesus, he combatted the heresy of The Simonists and died at Fænza in 1072. Pope Leo XII gave him the Title of Doctor of The Church.

Let us imitate in his ardour for Penance, Saint Peter Damian, who contributed so much, by his example and counsel, to spread the penitential practice of the discipline as an atonement for sin.

Mass: In médio.
Commemoration and Last Gospel of The Feria in Lent.
Commemoration: Of The Vigil of Saint Matthias the Apostle, if it be not Leap Year, when The Vigil is on the 24th.