Saint Damasus I. Pope. Confessor. Feast Day, Today, 11 December. And Fourth Day Within The Octave Of The Immaculate Conception.

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

Saint Damasus I.
   Pope and Confessor.
   Feast Day 11 December.

Semi-Double.

White Vestments.

English: 19th-Century imagined portrait of Pope Saint Damasus I

(Papacy 366 A.D.-384 A.D.).

Português: Lithography of Pope Saint Damasus I (Lisboa, 1840).

Source: Biblioteca Nacional de Portugal: http://purl.pt/6209/1/

Institution: National Library of Portugal.

Author: Pedro Augusto Guglielmi.

(Wikimedia Commons)

Pope Saint Damasus I, of Spanish extraction, succeeded Pope Liberius in The See of Saint Peter in 366 A.D. He thus shared the dignity of the one whom the Epistle calls "the Holy Pontiff, innocent without stain, higher than the heavens".

He governed The Church seventeen years and showed himself the faithful and prudent servant mentioned in the Gospel, to whom "The Lord entrusts His family to be nourished by him in due Season."

The Era of Persecution being over, that of heresy began with the 4th-Century A.D. Wherefore, Pope Saint Damasus I confirmed the Second Ecumenical Council, which, at Constantinople, had condemned Arianism and Macedonianism  (381 A.D.). Saint Jerome, by Pope Saint Damasus I's command, translated The New Testament into Latin (from Greek).

This holy Pope increased the beauty of worship by his rules for the singing of Psalms, and by decreeing that thee Gloria Patri should be said at the end of Psalms, thus Baptising them, so to speak, in The Trinity. He adorned the Catacombs with artistic inscriptions, and died in 384 A.D.

Mass: Sacerdótes tui.

Commemoration: Of The Octave of The Immaculate Conception.

Commemoration: Of The Feria.

The Creed is Said or Sung: On account of The Octave of The Immaculate Conception.

Preface: Of The Blessed Virgin Mary.

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Saint Melchiades. Pope. Martyr. Whose Feast Day Is, Today, 10 December.

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

Saint Melchiades.
   Pope and Martyr.
   Feast Day 10 December.

Simple.

Red Vestments.

Pope Saint Melchiades was Pope from 311 A.D. - 314 A.D.

The alternate spelling of his name, Miltiades, is used on this illustration.

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)

English: Emblem of The Papacy.

Triple Tiara and Keys.

Deutsch: Emblem des Pontifikats.

Français: emblème pontifical.

Italiano: emblema del Papato.

Português: Emblema papal.

Date: 19 January 2007.

Source: various elements taken from:

File:Coat of arms Holy See.svg

Image:Emblem of the Papacy.svg

Image:Escudo Benatae.svg

Author: Cronholm144 created this image using a file by

User:Hautala - File:Emblem of Vatican City State.svg

(Wikimedia Commons)

"At Rome, the death of Saint Melchiades, Pope, who, after undergoing great sufferings in the Persecution of Maximian, saw Peace restored to The Church and died peacefully in 314 A.D." (Roman Martyrology).

Mass: Státuit.

“The Mass Of The Foundation Of The Trinitarian Order”.
Artist: Juan Carreño de Miranda.
Illustration: LOUVRE

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Attribution of Floral Background:

Designed by macrovector / Freepik

Basilica Of Santa Croce, Italy.

Basilica Of Santa Croce,

Lecce, Italy.

Illustration: TWITTER/TUDOR ARCHITECTURE

It Is Never A Very Good Idea To Oversleep In The Morning !!! There Will Be Repercussions.

Photo: MULIER FORTIS - TWITTER

The Third Day Within The Octave Of The Immaculate Conception.

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

The Third Day Within The Octave Of The Immaculate Conception.
   10 December.

Semi-Double.

White Vestments.

The Immaculate Conception.

Artist: Anonymous.

Date: 17th-Century.

Current location: Museo Carmen Thyssen, Malaga, Spain.

Source: http://www.carmenthyssenmalaga.org/

Author: Anonymous.

(Wikimedia Commons)

The Church prolongs within eight days The Feast of Mary's Victory over the devil and repeats The Mass Celebrated on The Feast, itself.

The most important Feasts of The Virgin are The Assumption and The Immaculate Conception, both of The First Class and both with an Octave.

That is why each day The Creed is Said or Sung, that Profession of Faith fixed at The Council of Constantinople, which was only Chanted when the attendance in Church was very large.

Let us prepare for The Birth of Christ, in our hearts, by adorning them with a little of His Mother's Purity.

Mass: As on The Feast of The Immaculate Conception.

Commemoration: Of The Feria.
Commemoration: Of Saint Melchiades, from Mass: Státuit.

Creed: Is Said or Sung.

Preface: Of The Blessed Virgin Mary.

Blasts From The Past.

 

“Together In Electric Dreams”.

Sung by: Philip Oakey.

Available on YouTube at

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“Wind Beneath My Wings”.

Sung by: Bette Midler.

Available on YouTube at

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“Eternal Flame”.

Sung by: The Bangles.

Available on YouTube at

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“The Way We Were”.

Sung by: Barbra Streisand.

Available on YouTube at

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“Have I Told You Lately That I Love You”.

Sung by: Rod Stewart.

Available on YouTube at

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“The Prayer”.

Sung by: Andrea Bocelli and Céline Dion.

Available on YouTube at

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Zephyrinus’s New Fridge Has Arrived !!! Perkins (Chauffeur) And Jeeves (Butler) Are Threatening To Leave.

Illustration: PINTEREST

A Liturgical Note On The Season Of Advent.

Christmas Services at Gloucester Cathedral.

Available at

GLOUCESTER CATHEDRAL

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

In the 5th-Century A.D., the opening date of The Ecclesiastical Year was The Feast of The Annunciation which, originally kept in March, was later transferred to December.

“Following what is the practice elsewhere,”, says The Council of Toledo in 665 A.D., “The Annunciation will be kept throughout Spain on 18 December, since, at present, it often falls in Lent or at Easter.”

In the 10th-Century A.D., The Ecclesiastical Year began on The First Sunday of Advent, some weeks before Christmas.

As early as 380 A.D., a Council of Saragossa decreed an eight days' Preparation for Christmas.

At The Council of Tours (563 A.D.), Advent is referred to as: “A Liturgical Period having its own Proper Rites and Forms”.

In The Nestorian Liturgy (6th Century A.D.), Advent lasted for four Sundays, called “Sundays of The Annunciation”, and, in The Ambrosian Liturgy and The Mozarabic Liturgy, six Sundays were reckoned.

In The Roman Liturgy, we find that, at first, Advent lasted five weeks [The Collect and Gospel of The Last Sunday After Pentecost (at a certain time the first of The Five Advent Sundays) have kept much of the character of this Season].

At present, The Roman Liturgy includes four Sundays: The First Sunday of Advent is always the Sunday next to Saint Andrew's Feast Day, which is kept on 30 November.

The joy of beholding the speedy coming of Christ is one of the dominant notes of Advent; restrained, at first, but quickly taking free course and rising to the fervour of The Christmas Spirit. At the same time, the thought of The Purification of Souls, closely connected with that of the return of Christ, occurs at this time, on every page of The Breviary and The Missal.

Hymns, choice of Psalms, the Preaching of The Prophets and of The Forerunner of Christ, The Collects of The Four Sundays, the oft-repeated Versicle: “Rectas fácite sémitas ejus,” [“Make straight His paths”]; all these speak of the necessity of preparing our Souls for the approach of Our Redeemer in His twofold coming.

“Do Penance,” said Our Lord, “for The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand” [Antiphon, Ben., Monday, Fourth Week in Advent].

In The Middle Ages, a Fast was prescribed during Advent, known as “The Christmas Lent”, when it was even the custom to veil images, as at Passiontide. In our times, Purple Vestments are still used, as in Lent, and the “Benedicamus Domino” replaces the “Ite Missa Est”.

During Advent, the Antiphon “Alma Redemptoris Mater” is sung with its accompanying Versicle “Angelus Domini”, while The Second Prayer is The Collect of The Mass “De Beata”, chosen on account of the part played by Our Lady in The Mystery of The Incarnation with which, for the time being, The Church is concerned.

For the present, we hear no more the “Gloria in Excelsis”, for that is The Angels' song of The Nativity, and this new Ecclesiastical Year, just beginning, it is at Christmas that it must be heard for the first time.

The Second Day Within The Octave Of The Immaculate Conception. 9 December.

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

The Second Day Within The Octave Of The Immaculate Conception.
   9 December.

Semi-Double.

White Vestments.

The Immaculate Conception.

Artist: Anonymous.

Date: 17th-Century.

Current location: Museo Carmen Thyssen, Malaga, Spain.

Source: http://www.carmenthyssenmalaga.org/

Author: Anonymous.

(Wikimedia Commons)

The Church prolongs within eight days The Feast of Mary's Victory over the devil and repeats The Mass Celebrated yesterday.

The most important Feasts of The Virgin are The Assumption and The Immaculate Conception, both of The First Class and both with an Octave.

That is why each day The Creed is Said or Sung, that Profession of Faith fixed at The Council of Constantinople, which was only Chanted when the attendance in Church was very large.

Let us prepare for The Birth of Christ, in our hearts, by adorning them with a little of His Mother's Purity.

Mass: As on The Feast of The Immaculate Conception.

Second Collect: Of The Feria.

Third Collect: Of The Holy Ghost.

Creed: Is Said or Sung.

Preface: Of The Blessed Virgin Mary.

A Sung Votive Mass (Rorate Cæli) Of The Blessed Virgin Mary. At The Church Of Our Lady Of Lourdes, Philadelphia. To Be Celebrated On Saturday, 11 December 2021, At 0615 hrs.

Some Magnificent Cathedrals In France.

 

Some magnificent Cathedrals in France.

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The Immaculate Conception Of The Blessed Virgin Mary. Feast Day 8 December.

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

Image: SHUTTERSTOCK

The Immaculate Conception of The Blessed Virgin Mary.
   Feast Day 8 December.

Double of The First-Class
   with an Octave.

White Vestments.

The Immaculate Conception.

Illustration: UNA VOCE OF ORANGE COUNTY

Artist: René de Cramer.

“Copyright Brunelmar/Ghent/Belgium”.

Used with Permission.

Feast of The Immaculate Conception

of The Blessed Virgin Mary.

Available on YouTube at

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Having decided, from all Eternity, to make Mary The Mother of The Incarnate Word (Epistle), God willed that she should crush the head of the serpent from the moment of her Conception.

He covered her "with a Mantle of Holiness" (Introit) and, "preserving her Soul from all stain, He made her a worthy dwelling place for His Son" (Collect).

The Feast of The "Conception" of The Virgin was: From the 8th-Century A.D., Celebrated in The East on 9 December; from the 9th-Century A.D., in Ireland, on 3 May; and, in the 11th-Century, in England, on 8 December.

The Benedictines, with Saint Anselm, and The Franciscans, with Duns Scotus (1308), favoured The Feast of The "Immaculate Conception," which, in 1128, was kept in Anglo-Saxon Monasteries.

Feast of The Immaculate Conception

of The Blessed Virgin Mary.

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In the 15th-Century, Pope Sixtus IV, a Franciscan, erected, at The Vatican, The Sixtine (Sistine) Chapel in honour of The Conception of The Virgin. And, on 8 December 1854, Blessed Pope Pius IX officially proclaimed this great Dogma, making himself the mouthpiece of all the Christian Tradition summed up in the words of the Angel: “Hail Mary, full of Grace, The Lord is with thee, Blessed art thou among women” (Gospel). “Thou art all beautiful, O Mary, and the original stain is not in thee”, says, in truth, the Alleluia Verse.

Like the Dawn, which announces the day, Mary precedes The Sun of Justice, which will soon illumine The World of Souls. Bringing to us her Son, it is she who first appears in The Liturgical Cycle.

Let us ask God “to heal us and to deliver us from all our sins” (Secret, Postcommunion) in order that, by the Graces which specially belong to The Feast of The “Immaculate”, we may become more worthy of receiving Jesus in our hearts when He comes into them on 25 December.

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

Mass: Gaudens gaudébo.
Commemoration: Of The Feria.
Creed: Is said.
Preface: Of The Blessed Virgin: Et te in Conceptióne Immaculáta, which is said during The Octave.

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“ What Is The Immaculate Conception ? ”

 

“ What Is The Immaculate Conception ? ”

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The Vigil Of The Immaculate Conception Of The Blessed Virgin Mary. 7 December.

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

The Vigil of The Immaculate Conception of The Blessed Virgin Mary.

   7 December.

Violet Vestments.

"I Am The Immaculate Conception".

"Ego Sum Immaculata Conceptio".

Author: Lawrence OP on FLICKR

Illustration: PINTEREST

Satan Has No Creativity.

The Vigil Of

The Immaculate Conception

Of The Blessed Virgin Mary.

Available on YouTube at

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The Carthusian Office Of Vigils.

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The following Text is from Lawrence OP on FLICKR

Our Lady of Lourdes.

In 1858, The Immaculate Virgin Mary appeared to Bernadette Soubirous, near Lourdes, in France, in the cavern called “de Massabielle.” When asked to describe The Lady of The Vision, Bernadette said:

“She has the appearance of a young girl of sixteen or seventeen. She is dressed in a White Robe, girdled at the waist with a Blue Ribbon, which flows down all along Her Robe. She wears upon Her head a Veil, which is also White; this Veil gives just a glimpse of Her hair and then falls down at the back below Her waist. Her feet are bare, but covered by the last folds of Her Robe, except at the point where a Yellow Rose shines upon each of them. She holds on Her right arm a Rosary of White Beads with a Chain of Gold, shining like the two Roses on Her feet.”

This Stained-Glass Window of Our Lady of Lourdes (see, below) is in Llandudno Catholic Church, Wales.

The following Text is from The Saint Andrew Daily Missal.

This Vigil was, in 1879, extended by Pope Leo XIII to the whole Church.

Let us, on this day, ask The Immaculate Virgin to purify our hearts still more for tomorrow's Solemnity (Collect).

Mass: Veníte audíte.
The Gloria is not said.
Second Collect: Of The Feria.
Third Collect: Of The Holy Ghost.
Preface: Common Preface.

Saint Ambrose. Bishop. Confessor. Doctor Of The Church. Feast Day 7 December.

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

Saint Ambrose.
   Bishop.
   Confessor.
   Doctor of The Church.
   Feast Day 7 December.

Double.

White Vestments.

Saint Ambrose barring Emperor Theodosius I from Milan Cathedral.

Artist: Anthony van Dyck

Date: 1619.

Source: http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/anthony

-van-dyck-st-ambrose-barring-theodosius-from-milan-cathedral

(Wikimedia Commons)

Saint Ambrose, born at Treves (Trier, Germany) towards 335 A.D., was one of The Four Great Doctors of The Latin Church [Editor: The Four Great Doctors of The Latin Church are: Saint Ambrose; Saint Gregory the Great; Saint Augustine; Saint Jerome]. When he was still in his cradle, some bees settled in his mouth, as if to make honey there, presaging his future great eloquence.

While he was Governor of Milan, Ambrose was providently chosen as Bishop by the voice of a child, and he became the indefatigable Preacher mentioned in the Epistle and Gospel.

Saint Ambrose.

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He opposed the heretics, humbled the Emperor Theodosius, and brought into The Church Saint Augustine, whose Conversion was worth that of entire Kingdoms. He enriched The Divine Office with Sacred Hymns, to be Chanted by the whole Congregation. The Milanese Liturgy is still known as The Ambrosian Rite.

This great Bishop died in 397 A.D., during the night of Saturday in Holy Week, after having received The Adorable Body of Jesus, Who received him into Eternal Beatitude.

Like Ambrose, let us always, with gentle firmness, maintain God's Rights.

Mass: In médio.
Commemoration: Of The Feria.
Commemoration: Of The Vigil of The Immaculate Conception of The Blessed Virgin Mary.
Last Gospel: Of The Vigil of The Immaculate Conception of The Blessed Virgin Mary.

Zephyrinus Has Been Invited To Spend Christmas With Friends In Scotland. He’s Travelling On The Caledonian Railway.

Illustration: PINTEREST

Live Transmission Of The Divine Sung Holy Mass For The Feast Of The Immaculate Conception. Sainte Messe De La Fête De L'Immaculée Conception. On Wednesday, 8 December 2021.

The Divine Sung Holy Mass

For The Feast Of The Immaculate Conception.

Sainte Messe De La Fête De L'Immaculée Conception.

8 December 2021.

Available (Live) on YouTube at

YOU TUBE

HERE

A Live Transmission of The Divine Sung Holy Mass

For The Feast Of The Immaculate Conception

is available on Wednesday, 8 December 2021,

from The Church of Saint-Eugène - Sainte Cécile, Paris,

at

1900 hrs Paris (Central European Time) (CET)

1800 hrs London (Greenwich Mean Time) (GMT)

1300 hrs New York (Eastern Standard Time) (EST)

1200 hrs Chicago (Central Standard Time) (CST).

Saint Nicholas. Bishop And Confessor. Feast Day, Today, 6 December.

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

Saint Nicholas.
   Bishop And Confessor.
   Feast Day 6 December.

Double.

White Vestments.

Cymraeg: Llyfr Llyfr Oriau 'De Grey'.

English: Saint Nicholas, depicted in a Mediæval Book of Hours,

probably written for The De Grey family, of Ruthin, Wales, circa.1390.

Collection: National Library of Wales.

Source/Photographer:

Author: Unknown.

(Wikimedia Commons)

Having become Archbishop of Myra, the wants of his flock were the first object of his Pastoral care. He took part in The Council of Nicea, which condemned Arianism.

Putting to profit the talents of which the Gospel speaks, he practiced both Spiritual and Temporal Works of Mercy, as when he discreetly threw Alms in at a window to save the honour of three young girls, an act still commemorated, nowadays, in Santa Claus, when the children thank Saint Nicholas for presents found on the hearth.

He died in 324 A.D. His Relics are preserved at Bari, Italy.

Let us help our neighbour in his Spiritual and Temporal needs.

Mass: Státuit.

Commemoration: Of The Feria.

Christmas Services at Gloucester Cathedral.

Christmas Services at Gloucester Cathedral.

Available at

GLOUCESTER CATHEDRAL

Christmas Services At Durham Cathedral.

Illustration: DURHAM CATHEDRAL

Christmas Services
at Durham Cathedral
can be found HERE

Saint Sabbas. Abbot. Feast Day 5 December.

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

Saint Sabbas.
   Abbot.
   Feast Day 5 December.

Simple.

White Vestments.

The Relics of Saint Sabbas in the Catholicon

(Main Church) of Mar Saba Monastery, West Bank.

Photo: 21 January 2008.

Source: Own work.

Author: adriatikus.

(Wikimedia Commons)

He organised Monastic Communities in Palestine and Founded, among others, the Celebrated Monastery which bears his name.

He died 531 A.D. at the age of ninety-four.

Mass: Os justi: (Of Abbots).
Commemoration: Of Saint Sabbas, in The Ferial Mass, by the Collects

   from the Mass: Os justi: (Of Abbots).

Saint Barbara. Virgin And Martyr. Feast Day, Today, 4 December.

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

Saint Barbara.
   Virgin And Martyr.
   Feast Day 4 December.

Simple.

Red Vestments.

Saint Barbara Altarpiece.

Artist: Wilhelm Kalteysen (1420–1496).

Date: 1447.

Collection: National Museum in Warsaw.

Note: Painted for Saint Barbara's Church, Wrocław, Poland

(today an Orthodox Church).

Initially a Polyptych. The Wings were lost during World War II.

Source/Photographer: GOOGLE ARTS AND CULTURE

(Wikimedia Commons)

Saint Barbara died in Asia Minor about 235 A.D. She is included in "The Fourteen Auxiliary Saints".

Mass: Loquébar.

Pictures of Front and Back of Order of Saint Barbara Medallion,

Patron Saint of Artillerymen.

Photo: 29 December 2007.

Source: Own work.

Author: User:Hardnfast

(Wikimedia Commons)

Saint Barbara.

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The following Text is from Wikipedia - the free encyclopædia.

Saint Barbara (Greek: Αγία Βαρβάρα, Coptic: Ϯⲁⲅⲓⲁ Ⲃⲁⲣⲃⲁⲣⲁ), whose Feast Day is 4 December, known in The Eastern Orthodox Church as The Great Martyr Barbara, was an Early-Christian Greek Saint and Martyr. Accounts place her in the 3rd-Century A.D. in Heliopolis, Syria, present-day Baalbek, Lebanon.

There is no reference to her in the authentic Early-Christian writings, nor in the original Recension of Saint Jerome's Martyrology. Her name can be traced to the 7th-Century A.D., and Veneration of her was common, especially in The East, from the 9th-Century A.D.

Because of doubts about the historicity of her legend, she was removed from The General Roman Calendar in The 1969 Revision, though not from The Catholic Church's List of Saints.

Saint Barbara is often portrayed with miniature Chains and a Tower. As one of The Fourteen Holy Helpers, Barbara continues to be a popular Saint in modern times, perhaps best known as The Patron Saint of Armourers, Artillerymen, Military Engineers, Miners, and others who work with Explosives, because of her old legend's association with Lightning, and also of Mathematicians.

Many of the thirteen Miracles in a 15th-Century French version of her story turn on the security she offered, that her devotees would not die without making Confession and receiving Extreme Unction.