Notre Dame de Rouen. The façade of the Gothic Church in France. Photographer: Hippo1947. Licence: SHUTTERSTOCK.

Tuesday 18 September 2018

Autumn Ember Days This Week.



The following Text is from THE MISSIVE

On Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, this week,
we Commemorate the Autumn Ember Days.

The Ember Days take place four times a year, 
near the commencement of the four Seasons: 

On the Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, 
following Ash Wednesday, and on the same
days following Pentecost, The Feast of The Exaltation
of The Holy Cross, on 14 September,
and The Feast of Saint Lucy, on 13 December.


Observed at Rome, at least as far back
as the 3rd-Century A.D., the practice of The Ember Days aims to offer thanks to God for the gifts of Creation,
to ask for His Grace in using them in moderation,
and to assist the needy.

The Ember Days consist of Prayer, along with Fasting and Abstinence, or other forms of Penance.
The September Ember Days come at a fortuitous time, when a great deal of Reparation and Penance
are necessary to remedy the ills in The Church.

Moreover, The Ember Days were often a time 
during which Ordinations took place, so they are
a good occasion to Pray for Priests.


Although all Penances and extra Prayers on
The Ember Days are voluntary, let us join in, as 
we are able, and Pray for The Church and her Ministers.

Convertére, Dómine, aliquántulum, et deprecáre super servos tuos. Dómine, refúgium factus es nobis, a generatiónes et progénie.

Return, O Lord, a little, and be entreated
in favour of Thy servants. Lord, Thou hast been
our refuge, from generation to generation.

– The Gradual on Ember Friday and after
The Third Lesson on Ember Saturday.

Saint Joseph Of Cupertino. Confessor. Feast Day, Today, 18 September.



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

Saint Joseph of Cupertino.
   Confessor.
   Feast Day 18 September.

Double.

White Vestments.




English: Saint Joseph of Cupertino is lifted in flight at the sight of The Basilica of Loreto,
Italiano: S. Giuseppe da Copertino si eleva in volo alla vista della Basilica di Loreto.
Artist: Ludovico Mazzanti (1686-1775).
Date: 18th-Century.
Current location: Church of Saint Joseph of Cupertino, Osimo, Italy.
Source/Photographer:


(Wikimedia Commons)

A humble son of Saint Francis, whose Stigmata we Commemorated yesterday, Saint Joseph also glorifies The Cross of Jesus, which The Liturgy exalted, recently, on 14 September (The Exaltation of The Holy Cross).

Like the Seraphic Patriarch, he strove to remain attached to The Cross by absolute Poverty, heroic Obedience, and Virginal Purity.

Such was his spirit of sacrifice and Prayer, that he accepted with Holy Patience and great serenity to be misunderstood and calumniated (Offertory). Wherefore, God, Who exalts the humble, caused him to pass from the rank of Brother to that of Clerk and to be made a Priest.

He wrought such Miracles that he implored Heaven to withdraw from him the remarkable powers with which he was endowed. He died a Holy Death at Osimo, Italy, in 1663.

Mass: Diléctio Dei.
Gospel: Loquebátur Jesus.


The following Text is from Wikipedia - the free encyclopaedia.

Joseph of Cupertino, O.F.M. Conv. (Italian: Giuseppe da Copertino) (17 June 1603 – 18 September 1663) was an Italian Conventual Franciscan Friar who is honoured as a Christian Mystic and Saint. He was said to be prone to miraculous levitation and intense ecstatic visions that left him gaping.




English: The Nave of the Basilica Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari, Venice, Italy.
Altarpiece: The Miracle of Saint Joseph of Cupertino.
Français: La partie droite de la nef de la Basilique Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari.
Tableau du retable : Le miracle de Joseph de Cupertinopar Giuseppe Nogari.
Italiano: Il lato destro della navata della Basilica di Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari.
Pala d'altare: Il miracolo di Giuseppe da Copertino daGiuseppe Nogari.


Giuseppe Nogari (1699–1766).
Photo: 30 May 2016.
Source: Own work.Author: Didier Descouens.
(Wikimedia Commons)

Monday 17 September 2018

The Impression Of The Stigmata of Saint Francis. Confessor. Feast Day 17 September.





English: Saint Francis of Assisi.
Polski: Św. Franciszek z Asyżu.
Artist: Cigoli (1559–1613).
Date: 1597-1599.
Current location: Hermitage Museum, Saint Petersburg, Russia.
(Wikimedia Commons)


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

The Impression of The Stigmata of Saint Francis.
   Confessor.
   Feast Day 17 September.

Double.

White Vestments.


Two years before his death, Saint Francis retired to Mount Alverno, Italy, where he began a Fast of Forty Days in honour of Saint Michael The Archangel. And lo ! In the midst of his Meditations, he saw a figure, like a Seraphim, with six wings dazzling and burning, whose feet and hands were nailed to a Cross.

Aware that suffering is incompatible with the immortality of a Seraphic Spirit, he understood this to mean that he would become more like Jesus and bear his Cross after Him (Gospel), not by physical Martyrdom, but by a Mystical kindling of Divine Love.



English: Basilica of Saint Francis, Assisi, Italy.
Photo: 7 March 2009.
Source: Own work.
Author: Berthold Werner.
(Wikimedia Commons)


And, in order that this Crucified Love might become an example to us all, five wounds, resembling those of Jesus on The Cross, appeared on his feet, hands, and side. From his side, blood flowed abundantly.

The facts were so fully authenticated, later, that Pope Benedict XI ordered them to be Commemorated every year, and Pope Paul V, to kindle in The Faithful The Love of Jesus Crucified, extended The Feast to the whole Church.

Mass: As on The Feast Day of Saint Francis of Assisi on 4 October,
   except Proper Collects and Gospel.
Gospel: Si quis vult.

Sunday 16 September 2018

Saints Euphemia, Lucy, And Geminianus. Martyrs. Feast Day 16 September.


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

Saints Euphemia, Lucy, And Geminianus.
   Martyrs.
   Feast Day 16 September.

Simple.

Red Vestments.



"At Chalcedon," says The Roman Martyrology, "the birth in Heaven of Saint Euphemia, Virgin and Martyr, who was condemned to the wild beasts." This happened in 307 A.D.

"At Rome, The Holy Martyrs Lucy, a noble lady, and Geminianus, who were beheaded by order of Emperor Diocletian, about 300 A.D.

Mass: Intret. Of several Martyrs.

Saint Cornelius And Saint Cyprian. Bishops And Martyrs. Feast Day 16 September.


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

Saint Cornelius And Saint Cyprian.
   Bishops And Martyrs.
   Feast Day 16 September.

Semi-Double.

Red Vestments.




English: Saint Cornelius. Pope and Martyr.
Deutsch: Ausstattung der ehemaligen Seitenaltäre der Meßkircher
St. Martinskirche, 
Standflügel: Heiliger Cornelius als Papst und Märtyrer.
Artist: Meister von Meßkirch (1500–1543).
Date: 1535-1540.
Current location: Staatsgalerie Stuttgart, Germany.
Source/Photographer: Eingescannt aus: Anna Moraht-Fromm und Hans Westhoff:Der Meister von Meßkirch – Forschungen zur südwestdeutschen Malerei des 16. Jahrhunderts, Ulm, 1997, S. 190.
(Wikimedia Commons)

Cornelius was a Roman and was Sovereign Pontiff under the Emperors Gallus and Volusian. He had to oppose Novatian, the first Anti-Pope. He took from the Catacomb of Saint Sebastian, where they had rested some forty years, the bodies of the Apostles Peter and Paul and Translated them to the places where they had suffered Martyrdom.

He was arrested by order of the Emperors and beheaded in 253 A.D.



English: Saint Cyprian. Bishop and Martyr.
Deutsch: Ausstattung der ehemaligen Seitenaltäre der Meßkircher
St. Martinskirche, Standflügel:als Bischof und Märtyrer.
Artist: Meister von Meßkirch (1500–1543).
Date: 1535-1540.
Current location: Staatsgalerie Stuttgart, Germany.
Source/Photographer: Eingescannt aus: Anna Moraht-Fromm und Hans Westhoff: Der Meister

von Meßkirch – Forschungen zur südwestdeutschen Malerei des 16. Jahrhunderts, Ulm, 1997, S. 190.

(Wikimedia Commons)

Cyprian was a Barrister at Carthage, when he was converted to Christianity. A short time afterwards, he was Ordained a Priest and became Bishop of Carthage. "It would be superfluous," says Saint Jerome, "to speak of his genius, since his works are more brilliant than the Sun."

This illustrious Father of The Latin Church lived in one of the most troublous periods for The Church in Africa. He was Martyred five years after Saint Cornelius on the day when this Holy Pope's remains were Translated to Rome. That explains why their names are united by The Liturgy of The Canon of The Mass (First List).

Mass: Intret. Of several Martyrs.
Commemoration of The Holy Martyrs: Saints Euphemia, Lucy, and Geminianus.

The Home Secretary Has Rejected Demands For Abortion Clinic Buffer Zones. The Little Ones Will Say "Deo Gratias".




This Article is taken from, and can be read in full at, 

Dear SPUC Supporter, 

On 13 September 2018, the Home Secretary made
his long-awaited announcement on buffer zones. 
He said that it would ‘not be a proportionate response’ to introduce national buffer zones. 

I’m sure you will agree with me that this is
a massive victory for common sense, democracy,
and, above all, for the hundreds of vulnerable women who are saved from the horror of abortion
at the very gates of the abortion clinic.

Throughout our campaign to protect Pro-Life Vigils, our thoughts have always been for the mothers who need help, even as they are walking into the abortion clinic, and for the many babies and children alive today because of an encounter with a loving Pro-Life Citizen.

Thank You.

Saturday 15 September 2018

The Seven Sorrows Of The Blessed Virgin Mary. Feast Day 15 September.


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

The Seven Sorrows of The Blessed Virgin Mary.
   Feast Day 15 September.

Double of The Second-Class.

White Vestments.




Artist: René de Cramer.
"Copyright Brunelmar/Ghent/Belgium".
Used with Permission.




The Sorrowful Mother.
Illustration: OUR LADY'S TEARS

Mary stood at The Foot of The Cross where Jesus was hanging (Introit, Gradual, Alleluia, Sequence, Gospel) and, as Simeon had Prophesied (Collect), a Sword of Sorrow pierced her Soul (Secret). Powerless, "she saw her Sweet Child desolate in the anguish of death, and she received His Last Breath" (Sequence).

The compassion which her Maternal Heart felt at The Foot of The Cross obtained for her as its reward The Palm of Martyrdom without death (Communion).

This Feast was Celebrated with great Solemnity by The Servites in the 17th-Century. In 1817, it was extended by Pope Pius VII to the whole Church, so as to recall the sufferings she had undergone in the person of her exiled and captive head [Editor: The Pope], delivered by the protection of The Blessed Virgin.



Our Lady of Sorrows.
A Talk given by Fr. Ripperger.
Available on YouTube at




Our Lady of Sorrows.
Artist: Simon Vouet (1590 - 1649).
Illustration: PINTEREST

Just as the first Feast of The Sorrows of Mary, in Passiontide, shows us how she had her share in The Sacrifice of Jesus, the second Feast, in The Season after Pentecost, tells us of all the compassion which The Mother of The Saviour feels for The Church, The Spouse of Jesus, who is crucified in her turn [Editor: The Church] and whose Devotion to The Sorrows of Mary increases in these calamitous times.

His Holiness Pope Saint Pius X, in 1908, raised this Feast to the Rank of a Solemnity of The Second-Class.

Mass: Stabant juxta crucem.
Sequence: Stabat Mater.
Commemoration: (Low Mass) Saint Nicomedes (Martyr).
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