Saint Leo II. Pope. Confessor. Feast Day, Today, 3 July. Papacy 682 A.D. - 683 A.D.

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

Saint Leo II.
   Pope and Confessor.
   Feast Day 3 July.

Semi-Double.

White Vestments.

English: Portrait of Pope Saint Leo II.

Español: Imagen del papa leon II.

Date: Unknown.

Source: Basilica di San Paolo-fuori-le-Mura, Roma.

Author: Unknown.

(Wikimedia Commons)

Saint Leo II, a Sicilian by birth, participated in the full Priesthood of Christ (Introit, Epistle, Gradual, Alleluia) on becoming Pope. Guided by the Holy Ghost, Pope Leo II gave their full value to the spiritual riches of the Church committed to his care by Jesus (Gospel, Communion).

He approved the Acts of the Sixth Council, which condemned those who taught that Christ has only one will. Well versed in Sacred Singing, he perfected the melodies of the Psalms and of the Hymns of the Church.

He was truly the father of the poor and, by his example and Preaching, led everyone to virtue. He died in 683 A.D. and was buried in the Basilica of Saint Peter.

Let us imitate the example of this Saint (Collect), who was one of the successors of Saint Peter on the Pontifical Throne.

Mass: Sacerdotes tui.

The following Text is from Wikipedia - the free encyclopaedia,
unless otherwise stated.

Pope Saint Leo II (611 A.D. – 683 A.D.) was Pope from 682 A.D. to his death in 683 A.D.

He was a Sicilian by birth (the son of a man named Paulus), and succeeded Pope Agatho. Though elected Pope a few days after the death of Saint Agatho (10 January 681 A.D.), he was not Consecrated until after the lapse of a year and seven months (17 August 682). Pope Saint Leo was known as an eloquent Preacher, who was interested in music, and noted for his Charity to the poor.

Elected shortly after the death of Pope Agatho, Pope Leo II was not Consecrated for over a year and a half. The reason may have been due to negotiations regarding Imperial control of Papal Elections.

These negotiations were undertaken by Pope Leo's predecessor, Agatho, between the Holy See and Emperor Constantine IV. They concerned the relations of the Byzantine Court to Papal Elections. Emperor Constantine IV had already promised Agatho to abolish or reduce the tax, that the Popes had been paying to the Imperial Treasury, at the time of their Consecration, an Imperial policy that had been in force for about a Century.

Pope Leo's short-lived Pontificate did not allow him to accomplish much, but there was one achievement of major importance: he confirmed the Acts of the Sixth Ecumenical Council (680 A.D. - 681 A.D.). This Council had been held in Constantinople, against the Monothelite controversy, and had been presided over by the Legates of Pope Agatho. After Pope Leo had notified the Emperor that the Decrees of the Council had been confirmed, he made them known to the nations of the West. In Letters written to the King, the Bishops, and the nobles of Spain, he explained what the Council had effected, and he called upon the Bishops to subscribe to its Decrees.

During this Council, Pope Honorius I (625 A.D. - 628 A.D.) was anathematised for his views in the Monothelite controversy as tolerant of Heresy. Pope Leo took great pains to make it clear that, in condemning Pope Honorius, he did so not because Honorius taught Heresy, but because he was not active enough in opposing it. In accordance with the Papal Mandate, a Synod was held at Toledo in 684 A.D., in which the Council of Constantinople was accepted.

Regarding the decision of the Council, Pope Leo wrote once again in approbation of the decision of the Council and in condemnation of Honorius, whom he regarded as one who "profana proditione immaculatem fidem subvertare conatus est" (roughly, "one who by betrayal has tried to overthrow the Immaculate Faith").

In their bearing upon the question of Papal Infallibility, these words have caused considerable attention and controversy, and prominence is given to the circumstance that, in the Greek Text of the Letter to the Emperor, where the phrase occurs, the milder expression "subverti permisit" ("allowed to be overthrown . . .") is used for "subvertare conatus est".

At this time, Pope Leo II put an end to the attempts of the Ravenna Archbishops to get away from the control of the Bishop of Rome. The Pope sweetened the deal for the Ravenna Bishops by abolishing the tax it had been customary for them to pay, when they received the Pallium.

Also, in apparent response to Lombard raids, Pope Leo transferred the Relics, of a number of Martyrs, from the Catacombs to Churches inside the walls of the City. He also Dedicated two Churches, Saint Paul's and Saints Sebastian and George.

Pope Leo II was originally buried in his own Monument; however, some years after his death, his remains were put into a tomb that contained all four Pope Leos (Popes Leo I, II, III, IV).

Vatican I. The Council And The Making Of The Ultramontane Church.

Portrait of Blessed Pope Pius IX at the time of his Election in 1846.

By Ludovico Aureli, Bologna, Museo Civico del Risorgimento. Photo by De Agostini.

(Courtesy of DEA/A. DAGLI ORTI/De Agostini Editorial Collection/Getty Images.)

Contained in the Book:

Vatican I: The Council And The Making Of The Ultramontane Church.

Author: John W. O'Malley.

Illustration: AMAZON

Illustration: AMAZON

The Visitation Of The Blessed Virgin Mary. Feast Day 2 July.

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

The Visitation Of The Blessed Virgin Mary.
   Feast Day 2 July.

Double of The Second-Class.

White Vestments.

The Visitation of The Blessed Virgin Mary.

Illustration: UNA VOCE OF ORANGE COUNTY

“Copyright Brunelmar/Ghent/Belgium”.

Used with Permission.

The Magnificat.

The Canticle of Mary.

John Michael Talbot wrote the music

and the words are from the Gospel of Luke 1:46-55.

Sung by Annie Karto., Jackie Francois, John Michael Talbot.

Available on YouTube at

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The Canticle of Mary.

This is Mary's Great Exaltation of Praise to God.

For, in her visit to Elizabeth, Mary's Faith is validated; that she will be The Mother of The World's Saviour - Jesus Christ ! And so, with Rejoicing and Thanksgiving for all His Mighty Deeds, His Mercy on the lowly and His Fulfillment of Covenant - Mary's Soul bursts forth with Joy to The Lord.

The Angel Gabriel had announced to Mary that God would soon give a son to Elizabeth. The Virgin at once betook herself to Hebron, where her cousin resided: That is The Mystery of The Visitation, which is Solemnised on the day following The Octave of The Nativity of Saint John the Baptist.

On this day, as in The Season of Advent, The Church recalls together the memories of The Precursor and of Jesus and Mary. For we then remarked, that the Friday in The Winter Ember Week recalled to us the same Mystery of The Visitation.

This Feast was instituted for the whole World in 1389, by Pope Urban VI, in order to obtain the end of the Great Western Schism. It was later on raised to The Rite of Double of The Second-Class by Blessed Pope Pius IX, for on this Feast was completed at Rome in 1849 the victory of The Church over the Revolution.

Mary visits Elizabeth and Jesus visits and Sanctifies John. Wherefore, Saint John leaps with joy and Elizabeth, filled with The Holy Ghost, exclaims: " Blessed art thou among women and Blessed is The Fruit of thy Womb" (Gospel).

The Virgin, Mother of God, who bears and gives birth to Him Who bears and produces all things (Gradual, Alleluia, Offertory, Communion) then pronounces a "Sublime Canticle" (Introit), The Magnificat.

Mass: Salve, sancta parens.

The same day: Saint Processus and Saint Martinian.
   Martyrs.
   Feast Day 2 July.

Red Vestments.

Peter and Paul, cast into The Mamertine Prison, converted their two Warders, Processus and Martinian, and Baptised them. Brought before the statue of Jupiter, these new Christians refused to adore it and were put to death.

Mass: Sapiéntiam.

Feast Of The Most Precious Blood Of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Feast Day 1 July.

Text from The Saint Andrew Daily Missal,

unless stated otherwise.

Feast Of The Most Precious Blood Of Our Lord Jesus Christ.
   Feast Day 1 July.

Double of The First Class.

Red Vestments.

The Most Precious Blood Of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

Artist: René de Cramer.

"Copyright Brunelmar/Ghent/Belgium".

Used with Permission.
Illustration: UNA VOCE OF ORANGE COUNTY

The Liturgy, that admirable summary of the history of The Church, reminds us every Year, that, at this date in 1849, thanks to The French Army, the Revolution which had driven the Pope from Rome was vanquished.

To perpetuate the memory of this triumph, and to show that it was due to The Saviour's merits, Blessed Pope Pius IX, at the time a refugee at Gaeta, instituted The Feast of The Precious Blood.

Pope Pius XI, in 1934, raised it to The First Class.

The Antiphon at The Magnificat 

for Second Vespers

on The Feast of The Most Precious Blood 

of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

Available on YouTube at

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Habebitis autem*

hunc diem in monumentum:

Et celebrabitis eum solemnem

Domino in generationibus

vestris cultu sempiterno.

Ye shall observe this day for a Memorial:

And ye shall keep it holy unto The Lord,

Throughout your generations

With an everlasting Worship.

[Exodus, Chapter xii, Verse 14]

The Heart of Jesus has made this adorable Blood circulate in His limbs; wherefore, as on The Feast of The Sacred Heart, the Gospel presents to our view the thrust of the lance which pierced the side of The Divine Crucified, Blood and Water gushing forth. [The Office of Matins speaks of The Blood, which Jesus shed at The Circumcision, in The Garden of Olives, The Flagellation, The Crowning of Thorns and on The Cross.]

Thus become united the two testimonies which The Holy Ghost bore to The Messias, when He was Baptised in the water of The Jordan and when He was Baptised in Blood on The Cross (Gradual). [The Docetes taught that Jesus was The Christ at His Baptism, and had thus come by Water, but being no longer Christ on The Cross, He had not come by Blood.]

Let us do homage to The Precious Blood of Our Redeemer, which the Priest offers to God on the Altar.

Mass: Redemisti nos.

Commemoration of The Octave Day of Saint John: At Low Masses.

Preface: Of The Holy Cross.

Commemoration Of Saint Paul. Apostle. Today, 30 June.

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

Commemoration of Saint Paul.
   Apostle.

Greater-Double.

Red Vestments.

Saint Paul.

Artist: Bartolomeo Montagna (1450–1523).

Date: 1482.

Current location: Museo Poldi Pezzoli, Milan, Italy.

Source/Photographer: EwEzl9zb0cohpg at Google Cultural Institute.

Author: Bartolomeo Montagna (1450–1523).

(Wikimedia Commons)

Saint Paul.

Part One.

Available on YouTube at

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Saint Paul.

Part Two.

Available on YouTube at

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"The Tiber, on entering Rome," writes an ancient poet, "salutes the Basilica of Saint Peter and, on leaving it, that of Saint Paul. The Heavenly Door-Keeper has built his Sacred abode at the Gates of The Eternal City, which is an image of Heaven. On the opposite side, the ramparts of the City are protected by Paul's Portico: Rome is between the two."

With Peter, the new Moses, leader of the new Israel, is associated Paul, the new Aaron, more eloquent than the first, chosen in his mother's womb to announce to the Gentiles the riches of the Grace of Christ (Collect, Gradual, Epistle).

Preface: Of The Apostles.
Commemoration: Saint Peter.
Commemoration: Saint John the Baptist.

English: Conversion of Saul on the way to Damascus.

Polski: Nawrócenie w drodze do Damaszku.

Artist: Caravaggio (1571–1610).

Date: Circa 1600.

Current location: Santa Maria del Popolo, Rome, Italy.

(Wikimedia Commons)

Saint Paul.

Part Three.

Available on YouTube at

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Saint Paul.

Part Four.

Available on YouTube at

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The Holy Apostles Peter And Paul. Feast Day, Today, 29 June.

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

The Holy Apostles Peter and Paul.
   Feast Day 29 June.

Double of The First-Class
   with a Common Octave.

Red Vestments.

Saint Peter and Saint Paul.

Illustration: CATHOLICTRADITION.ORG

Liturgy for the Catechumens: No. 1, Initial Blessing and Litany.

The Russian Patriarchate Choir: Anatoly Grindenko.

Divine Liturgy: Feast of Saint Peter and Saint Paul.

Available on YouTube at

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Saint Peter and Saint Paul.

Artist: El Greco (1541–1614).

Current location: Hermitage Museum, Saint Petersburg, Russia.

Source/Photographer; Hermitage Torrent.

(Wikimedia Commons)

Today, the whole Church rejoices, for "God has Consecrated this day by the Martyrdom of The Apostles Peter and Paul" (Collect). In both the Grand Basilicas erected at Rome over the tombs "of these two Princes, who, by The Cross and The Sword, have obtained their seat in The Eternal Senate," [Hymn at Vespers] this double Martyrdom was Celebrated.

Later, on account of the distance which separates the two Churches, the Festival was divided, Saint Peter being more specially honoured on 29 June and Saint Paul on 30 June.

Saint Peter, Bishop of Rome, is the Vicar, that is to say the visible representative of Christ. As is shown in the Preface, Alleluia, Gospel, Offertory and Communion, the Jews had rejected Jesus. They also rejected His successor (Epistle). Displacing the religious centre of the World, Saint Peter then left Jerusalem for Rome, which became The Eternal City and The Seat of The Popes.

Liturgy for the Catechumens: No. 5, One and Only Son (Hymn).

The Russian Patriarchate Choir: Anatoly Grindenko.

Divine Liturgy: Feast of Saint Peter and Saint Paul.

Available on YouTube at

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Saint Peter and Saint Paul.

Illustration: UNA VOCE OF ORANGE COUNTY

“Copyright Brunelmar/Ghent/Belgium”.

Used with Permission.

Liturgy for the Catechumens: No. 9.

Troparion of The Dedication of the Church of The Resurrection of Christ.

Mode 4.

The Russian Patriarchate Choir: Anatoly Grindenko.

Divine Liturgy: Feast of Saint Peter and Saint Paul.

Available on YouTube at

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Saint Peter, the first Pope, speaks in the name of Christ, Who has communicated to him His Doctrine of Infallibility. He is not guided by flesh and blood, but by the Heavenly Father, Who does not permit the Gates of Hell to prevail against The Church of which he is the foundation (Gospel).

Saint Peter, on receiving The Keys, is placed at the head of the "Kingdom of Heaven" upon Earth, that is to say The Church, and he reigns in the name of Christ, Who has invested him with His Power and Supreme Authority (Gospel).

The names of Saint Peter and Saint Paul head head the names of The Apostles in The Canon of The Mass (First List).

With "The Church, which did not cease Praying to God for Saint Peter" (Epistle), let us Pray for his successor "the Servant of God, our Holy Father the Pope" (Canon of The Mass).

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

Mass: Nunc scio.
Preface of The Apostles.
Creed.
The Preface of The Apostles and The Creed are said throughout the whole Octave.

Vigil Of The Feast Of Saints Peter And Paul. Today, 28 June.

Text from The Saint Andrew Daily Missal,

unless stated otherwise.

The Vigil Of The Feast Of Saints Peter And Paul.

28 June.

Simple.

Violet Vestments.

Saint Peter and Saint Paul.

Illustration: CATHOLICTRADITION.ORG

The Church Celebrates, tomorrow, The Feast of the two Apostles who are the two Foundations on which she is solidly established (Collect).

"The rigour to which a people subjects itself by certain days of preparation," writes Dom Guéranger, "is a mark of The Faith which it has preserved, showing that it understands the greatness of the object proposed by The Holy Liturgy for its Worship." [The Liturgical Year; Vigil of The Holy Apostles.]

Peter, raised to his Cross (Introit, Gospel), like Christ, rises above the World. He seals, in his blood, his Confession of Faith (Gospel of tomorrow) and love (Gospel) in Jesus, and, henceforth, it will be in His name (ibid) and as His Vicar that he will be King of Souls.

Paul, by sharing his labours and Martyrdom, shares his Kingship and his triumph.

Mass: Dicit Dominus Petro.