Showing posts with label Christmas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Christmas. Show all posts
Just How Different Are the Pre-1955, 1962, and 1969 Calendars Around Christmas and Epiphany? (2024 Edition)
Wall Street Journal: Why Christmas music starts so early
My thanks to the Wall Street Journal, which published my op-ed on Christmas music.
Some excerpts:
Radio Has the Christmas Season All Mixed Up
The lyrics of holiday pop songs tend be anticipatory rather than celebratory, which is why stations pull them on Dec. 26
By Kenneth J. Wolfe, Wall Street Journal, November 25, 2024The Christmas season gets going earlier and earlier in the U.S., often before Thanksgiving. Artificial pine trees and colorful string lights start popping up at the beginning of November.
“To us a child is born, to us a son is given” (Isaiah 9:6): The Importance of the Infancy of Christ
Note: This is a slightly adjusted version of a talk given by the author in December 2023.
The Incarnation of Christ is, as the Catechism of the Catholic Church states, “the mystery of the wonderful union of the divine and human natures in the one person of the Word.” (CCC 483). At Mass, we proclaim our belief in it in the Nicene Creed: “and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary and became man.” [1] So much can be said about this unique and singular event in history, but here we will be examining two questions in particular. Why did our Lord come as an infant child? And why is this important for us?
CHRISTMAS: Fontgombault Sermon for Christmas Day Mass: "The Child of the crib is truly God."
Christmas Day Mass
Sermon of the Right Reverend Dom Jean Pateau
Abbot of Our Lady of Fontgombault
Fontgombault, December 25th, 2022
Et Verbum caro factum est.
And the Word was made flesh. (Jn 1:14)
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
My dearly beloved Sons,
Since last night the liturgy has been taking us with a dis-concerting easiness from a poor stable to the most unfathomable mysteries of the Trinity. The birth according to the flesh of a child in a stable rubs shoulders with the eternal generation of the second person of the Trinity in the bosom of the Father. The angels make themselves close to the shepherds. Very soon, we shall learn that a star has convoked three kings in the presence of the Divine Child. As the Word of God takes flesh in our earth, the laws of nature seem to be topsy-turvy.
What is then the divine plan carried out under our eyes? It is a plan of salvation, granted to men by God “not by the works of justice which we have done, but according to His mercy.” During Advent, the Church kept asking for this mercy, in the school of the people of the Old Testament: “Ostende nobis, Domine, misericordiam tuam. — Show us, O Lord, Thy mercy.”
CHRISTMAS: Fontgombault Sermon for Christmas Midnight Mass
Christmas
Midnight Mass
Sermon of the Right Reverend Dom Jean Pateau
Abbot of Our Lady of Fontgombault
Fontgombault, December 25th, 2022
Natus est vobis hodie Salvator.
This day is born to you a Savior. (Lk 2:11)
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
My dearly beloved Sons,
It is said that one of the chaplains of Elizabeth II, the late Queen of England called to God a few months ago, was once quite surprised when she told him that she hoped Christ would come back on earth during her lifetime. Nonplussed, he asked, “Why?” The Queen’s answer was immediate, revealing the depth of her spiritual life, and the outcome of a thinking process where all the elements had been carefully weighed up: “For I would like so much to lay down my crown at His feet.”
As, after chanting the genealogy of Our Lord Jesus Christ taken from St. Matthew’s gospel, we have just laid the Child Jesus down into the crib, as the overflowing mercy coming down from Heaven is once again poured out over mankind in the gift of the Emmanuel, God with us, are we ready to go to the crib, there to encounter the Lord? How shall we go there? Shall we lay down there our crowns? And which crowns?
The introit of tonight’s Mass is taken from Psalm 2, and begins with a question:
Why have the Gentiles raged, and the people devised vain things? The kings of the earth stood up, and the princes met together, against the Lord, and against his Christ.
"When the Child was Born" (Quanno nascette ninno) -- A Christmas Poem by St. Alphosus Liguori -- Exclusive English translation for Rorate
A Very Happy Christmas and a Blessed Christmastide to all of you and all of your families!
As a gift to our readers, Rorate is fortunate enough to present what we believe to be a first in English: a translation, from the original Neapolitan, of St. Alphonsus Liguori musical poem for Christmas, Quanno nascette ninno (When the Child was Born)
When the Child was born (Quanno nascette ninno)
When the Child was born in Bethlehem
It was night and it seemed noon.
Never the stars shining and beautiful were seen like this:
And the brightest one went and called the Magi in the East.
Suddenly birds awoke
Singing in a whole new form:
Even the crickets with shrieks,
Jumping from side to side;
He’s born, He is born,
They said, the God who created us.
Help a hermit! Enroll loved ones in a Christmas novena
Deadline for enrollment is Dec. 17 -- CLICK HERE TO ENROLL
A Christmas Novena of Traditional Latin Masses according to the 1962 Roman Missal (extraordinary form) will be offered for the salvation and sanctification of all families (or persons) enrolled in the Novena. The nine Masses will begin with the Christmas Midnight Mass and will conclude on Jan. 1st, Solemnity of Our Lord’s Circumcision.
The suggested donation is $15 for each enrollment which includes an enrollment card. The cards will be sent to each family (or person) enrolled. The Masses for this year’s Christmas Novena will be offered by Fr. Maximilian Mary of Jesus Crucified in his hermitage and/or on the high altar of the Carmelite Monastery of Jesus, Mary and Joseph in Fairfield, PA.
Fontgombault Sermons for Christmas
- II: Christmas Day - "The Catholic Faith is thrown into doubt in our days - It is not enough for a Christian to be merciful."
Sermon of the Right Reverend Dom Jean Pateau
Abbot of Our Lady of Fontgombault
Fontgombault, December 25, 2019
Et Verbum caro factum est.
And the Word was made flesh.
(Jn 1:14)
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
My dearly beloved Sons,
At this time, the shepherds have now left to go back to their fold. Mary and Joseph find themselves alone in the stable. Mary ponders in her heart the events that just took place, and which already are a mystery.
Fontgombault Sermons for Christmas
- I: Midnight Mass - "Our Dehumanized World has no room for children."
Sermon of the Right Reverend Dom Jean Pateau
Abbot of Our Lady of Fontgombault
Fontgombault, December 25, 2019
Natus est vobis hodie Salvator.
This day is born to you a Savior.
(Lk 2:11)
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
My dearly beloved Sons,
The Church celebrates Christmas by unfolding the treasures of her liturgy. During the three Masses today, she commemorates the historical birth of the Child Jesus, more than two thousand years ago in a poor stable in the surroundings of Bethlehem; what is more, she initiates us to the great mystery, both visible and invisible, which is taking place, and of which we are the recipients.
There are three milestones on this path. The midnight Mass readings recall the birth of the divine Child. The Mass at dawn invites us to follow the shepherds’ path of faith. They see and they believe. The foretold light has shone for these men. It should also shine for us, provided that we have simple hearts. Last, an unexpected milestone: the day Mass readings focus on the eternal generation of the Word of God in the bosom of the Father. As they contemplate the Trinity, they remind us that the Child in the crib is truly God.
The Original Festival of Nine Lessons - Merry Christmas!
A Very Merry Christmas and a Blessed Christmastide to you and Yours!
Not everyone has the opportunity or the inclination to pray the entire Matins of the Feast of the Nativity of Our Lord. So we in Rorate gathered that our readers could take a shorter time to read through the traditional Nine Lessons of Christmas, as given to us in the Roman Breviary and the Roman Missal.
A Festival of Nine Lessons
Lesson I
Isaiah 9:1-6
At the first he lightly afflicted the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, and afterward did more grievously afflict her by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, in Galilee of the nations. The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined. Thou hast multiplied the nation, and not increased the joy: they joy before thee according to the joy in harvest, and as men rejoice when they divide the spoil. For thou hast broken the yoke of his burden, and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, as in the day of Midian. For every battle of the warrior is with confused noise, and garments rolled in blood; but this shall be with burning and fuel of fire. For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counseller, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
***
Lesson II
Isaiah 40:1-8
"Comfort ye, comfort ye my people," saith your God. Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the Lord's hand double for all her sins. The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, "Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain: And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it." The voice said, "Cry." And he said, "What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field: The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the Lord bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass. The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever."
***
Lesson III
Isaiah 52:1-6
Awake, awake; put on thy strength, O Zion; put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city: for henceforth there shall no more come into thee the uncircumcised and the unclean. Shake thyself from the dust; arise, and sit down, O Jerusalem: loose thyself from the bands of thy neck, O captive daughter of Zion. For thus saith the Lord, "Ye have sold yourselves for nought; and ye shall be redeemed without money." For thus saith the Lord God, "My people went down aforetime into Egypt to sojourn there; and the Assyrian oppressed them without cause. Now therefore, what have I here," saith the Lord, "that my people is taken away for nought? they that rule over them make them to howl," saith the Lord; "and my name continually every day is blasphemed. Therefore my people shall know my name: therefore they shall know in that day that I am he that doth speak: behold, it is I."
***
Lesson IV
From the First Sermon of Pope Saint Leo the Great for Christmas
Christmas Octave of Sung and Solemn Masses in St. Louis, Missouri
In what may well be a first at the diocesan level, the Oratory of Sts. Gregory and Augustine in St. Louis, Missouri, will be offering Solemn High Mass or Missa Cantata every day of the Christmas octave, as indicated in the poster below.
These special Masses will be added to the normal schedule of low Masses.
The sacred music will be sung by both the Oratory choir and the Schola of St. Hugh. It will include ordinaries by Victoria and Byrd and little heard chant ordinaries III and V. Other selections include Palestrina, Marenzio, Bach, Daquin, and Handel.
The Oratory has been functioning at St. Luke Parish in Richmond Heights since July 1, 2018.
Fontgombault Sermon for Christmas Day: "On Christmas, a mystery of love beyond measure is fulfilled."
Sermon of the Right Reverend Dom Jean Pateau
Abbot of Our Lady of Fontgombault
Fontgombault, December 25th, 2018
Et Verbum caro factum est.
And the Word was made flesh.
(Jn 1:14)
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
My dearly beloved Sons,
The birth of the Child Jesus in Bethlehem, its near and far context, have been abundantly retailed by the two evangelists St. Matthew and St. Luke. St. Mark, on the other hand, doesn’t evoke this period in the life of Jesus, and begins his Gospel with the preaching of John the Baptist. As to St. John, if he doesn’t actually mention the events related to the Savior’s birth, he prefaces his Gospel with the Prologue we have just heard.
In the Gospel of St. Luke, the birth of Jesus isn’t the first one to be told. Six months before, John the Baptist, the Precursor, was born from Mary’s cousin, Elizabeth. Near the child’s cradle, a question was asked:“What then is this child going to be?” Not so at the Crib. The shepherds were informed by the angel’s words:
For, this day is born to you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord, in the city of David. (Lk 2:11)
What do the evangelists tell us concerning the origin of Jesus? During this night, at the end of Matins, we have heard the long genealogy taken from the Gospel according to St. Matthew. Beginning with Abraham, the Father of all believers, it ends with Jacob, who “begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called the Christ." (Mt 1:16) So as to dispel any misunderstanding concerning the mode of this generation, the evangelist specifies:
Christmas Eve 2018: Two Short Meditations
“Let’s be joyful and courageous at least in the
higher part of our souls, in the midst of the trials the Lord gives us, as The
Angel who foretold the Birth of Our Little Savior and Lord, proclaims it singing
and sings proclaiming joy, peace and happiness to men of good-will, so that
nobody can say they don’t know that to receive this Child, you only need some
good will.”
- St. Padre Pio
It's the most wonderful time of the year -- for many souls in Purgatory
It's been a long-held popular belief that Christmas is the day when the most souls are released from Purgatory.
Please send the names of your deceased loved ones before Christmas Day. As long as they're in our inbox they're enrolled in the Society perpetually (if you've sent them in before, don't send them in again).
Enroll them in time for Christmas then consider making your Christmas Mass offertory intention for the relief of all the souls enrolled in the Rorate Caeli Purgatorial Society.
Priests: The Souls still need more of you saying Mass for them! Please email me to offer your services. There's nothing special involved -- all you need to do is offer a weekly or monthly TLM with the intention: "For the Souls enrolled in the Rorate Caeli Purgatorial Society."Enroll them in time for Christmas then consider making your Christmas Mass offertory intention for the relief of all the souls enrolled in the Rorate Caeli Purgatorial Society.
How to enroll souls: please email me at [email protected] and submit as follows: "Name, State, Country." If you want to enroll entire families, simply write in the email: "The Jones family, Ohio, USA". Individual names are preferred. Be greedy -- send in as many as you wish and forward this posting to friends as well.
A Christmas meditation
Given by Father Konrad zu Loewenstein FSSP at Midnight Mass, 2017
St. Mary’s Church, Warrington, England
(based on the Biblical Commentary of Fr. Cornelius a Lapide)
We read that Our Blessed Lady in the Christmas scene 'meditated all these things in her heart'. The Latin word 'conferens' suggests the making of comparisons, that is of the human and the Divine: the human in the birth of a human child of a human mother in the poorest and meanest of conditions; the Divine in the birth of God predicted by an Archangel, heralded by the conception and the exultation in the womb of St. John the Baptist, by the prophecies of St. Elisabeth and Zachariah, by the host of angels and the star.
And amongst the signs of Divine action we can include the character of the birth itself and the presence of ministering angels.
Rorate cæli: The silence of Christ's coming
Rorate, cæli, desuper, et nubes pluant iustum: aperiatur terra, et germinet Salvatorem. (cf. also the fourth Lesson for Ember Saturday in Advent, Isaias xlv, 6-8: "I am the Lord, and there is none else: I form the light, and create darkness, I make peace, and create evil: I the Lord that do all these things. Drop down dew, ye heavens, from above, and let the clouds rain the just: let the earth be opened, and bud forth a savior: and let justice spring up together: I the Lord have created him.")
| Giovanni Battista Trotti, called Il Malosso Virgin Mary Architect of the Universe (1603) |
This Sunday (RORATE Sunday, the 4th Sunday in Advent, superseded this year by the Vigil of the Nativity) marks the 12th anniversary of this blog: thank you for your readership, and a very blessed Christmastide to you and yours!
___________________
I. Consider first, that this blessed earth here spoken of is, according to the strictest interpretation, no other than Our Lady, that inviolate Virgin and immaculate Earth, from which, without human agency, there sprang that Divine Bud, desired by Isaias so long before, when he exclaimed: "Let the earth be opened, and bud forth a Savior." This being so, it will at once strike thee as strange that this form of expression should be used. For, if the Earth here spoken of was so inviolate as to remain as much closed during as before childbirth, how can the Prophet pray that it might be opened? "Let the earth be opened."
New year, old calendar
It's that time of year, when a novus Ordo we actually like is issued.
Much of the world is already celebrating a secularized version of Christmas. As the lights and trees go up, it is a good time to emphasize some key dates concerning the new liturgical season.
Advent begins on Sunday, 3 December, this year (technically beginning with first vespers on 2 December).
The feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, 8 December, falls on a Friday this year, meaning one may eat meat that day following the centuries-old discipline where abstinence is waived on days of precept. The winter ember days are 20 December, 22 December and 23 December.
Christmas Eve, 24 December, falls on a Sunday this year instead of the Fourth Sunday of Advent (this differs from the novus ordo), the first time that will happen since Summorum Pontificum. The Vigil of Christmas TLM, celebrated in violet, will be new to a lot of communicants. The traditional discipline of fasting and abstinence on Christmas Eve does not apply this year due to the vigil falling on a Sunday, although many dinner menus will probably still go with the customary seven fishes.
It's the most wonderful time of the year -- for many souls in Purgatory
It's been a long-held popular belief that Christmas is the day when the most souls are released from Purgatory.
Please send the names of your deceased loved ones before Christmas Day. As long as they're in our inbox they're enrolled in the Society. Get them in just in time for Christmas then consider making your Christmas Mass offertory intention for all the souls enrolled in the Rorate Caeli Purgatorial Society.
How to enroll souls: please email me at [email protected] and submit as follows: "Name, State, Country." If you want to enroll entire families, simply write in the email: "The Jones family, Ohio, USA". Individual names are preferred. Be greedy -- send in as many as you wish and forward this posting to friends as well.
Priests: Want to give Jesus a birthday present? Why not join the Purgatorial Society and give Him the gift of more saints to be with Him in Heaven? This is not hard. All it takes is to pledge one TLM a week or a month with the intention "For the relief of the souls enrolled in the Rorate Caeli Purgatorial Society." That's it. Give our Lord a wonderful gift this year, Fathers!
The Benedictines of Mary -- just in time for Christmas
There's really not much more to say about the Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles. They are fully traditional Catholic nuns, they've topped the classical charts with their beautiful CDs, they've been all over national television and, praise God, they read Rorate! So they sent us their latest incredible compilation: A Christmas CD, Caroling at Ephesus.
Their cups overfloweth!
There's something in the water at St. Anne Church, a Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter (FSSP) parish in San Diego (visit them here).
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