ST FELIX I, POPE AND MARTYR

ST FELIX I, POPE AND MARTYR – MEMORIAL: DECEMBER 30

A member of a Roman family, Pope Felix I led the Catholic Church from 5th January 269 to 274. He was the successor of Pope Dionysius. He responded by letter to the Synod of Antioch, reiterating the doctrine of the Trinity. He erected a basilica on the Via Aurelia, and made provision for the celebration of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass over the tombs of the martyrs in the crypts of the catacombs and in basilicas built for this purpose. Since he courageously supported the faithful persecuted under Emperor Aurelian, he was martyred for the Faith in 274 and buried in the catacomb of St Callistus on 30th December.

PRAYER:

Eternal Shepherd, look with favour upon your flock. Safeguard and shelter it forevermore through the intercession of blessed Felix, your Martyr and Supreme Pontiff, whom you constituted shepherd of the whole Church. Through our Lord…

 

 

ST JOHN, APOSTLE AND EVANGELIST

ST JOHN, APOSTLE AND EVANGELIST – MEMORIAL: DECEMBER 27

The author of the Fourth Gospel, the Apocalypse, and three Epistles, John was son of Zebedee, and one of the three (with Peter and James) who were closest to the Lord, present at the Transfiguration, the Agony in the Garden, the raising of the daughter of Jairus. He is the “beloved disciple” referred to in the gospels.

PRAYER:

God our Father,

you have revealed the mysteries of your Word

through John the apostle.

By prayer and reflection

may we come to understand the wisdom he taught.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ…

 

CHRISTMAS – PRAYER BEFORE THE CRIB

I adore thee, O Word Incarnate, true Son of God from all eternity, and true Son of Mary ever Virgin in the fulness of time.

When I adore thy Divine Person, and the Humanity united to thy Divinity, I venerate the poor manger which welcomed thee when an Infant, and which was truly the throne of thy love.

I prostrate myself before it with the simplicity of the shepherds, with the faith of Joseph, with the love of Mary; I bow down in reverence before this precious memorial of our salvation with the same spirit of mortification, poverty and humility with which thou, the Lord of heaven and earth, didst choose a manger wherein to lay thy tender Infant limbs, and thou, O Lord, Who in thine Infancy didst deign to lay thyself in this manger: vouchsafe also to pour into my heart a drop of that joy to which the sight of thy lovely Childhood and the miracles which accompanied thy Birth, gave rise. By that holy Birth, I now implore thee to grant to all the world peace and good-will, and in the name of the whole human race I render thanks and honour to God the Father and to God the Holy Spirit, Who with thee liveth and reigneth, one God, world without end.

[Indulgence of 100 days. Pius IX, October 1st, 1861]

– St Anthony’s Treasury, 1916

 

PRAYER TO ST JOSEPH

(To be said after the night prayers)

Glorious St Joseph, who wast chosen by Almighty God to be the foster-father of the Word made flesh, the comforter of His most holy Mother, the faithful co-operator among men in His greatest design, obtain for me to do in all things the Will of the Father, to cherish in my heart the mysteries accomplished in the person of the Son, and by the abundant graces of the Holy Ghost to persevere, pure of heart and chaste of body, in the service of God.

– St Anthony’s Treasury, 1916

 

BLESSED WILLIAM OF FENOGLIO, RELIGIOUS

BLESSED WILLIAM OF FENOGLIO, RELIGIOUS – MEMORIAL: DECEMBER 19

Born in 1065 in the diocese of Mondovi, Italy, blessed William of Fenoglio was attracted to the religious life from an early age. For several years he lived as a hermit not far from his birthplace.

HE JOINED THE CARTHUSIANS

Later, he moved to to the Charterhouse of Casotto where he joined the Carthusians as a lay brother, observing the rule of obedience, piety and charity. Deeply prayerful and always hard working in the in- and outdoors, he is depicted with a leg of a mule in his hand, which he used to defend himself when set upon by robbers, and which he miraculously reattached to his beast of burden after the brigands had been driven away. The patron saint of Carthusians, he died at Casotto around 1120. His body remained incorrupt.

PRAYER:

O God, greatness of the meek and humble, grant, we beseech you, that, through Blessed William’s intercession and example, we may walk the path of evangelical simplicity towards the kingdom promised to little ones. Through our Lord Jesus Christ…

 

 

ST LUCY, VIRGIN AND MARTYR

ST LUCY, VIRGIN AND MARTYR – MEMORIAL: DECEMBER 13

St Lucy, a virgin at Syracuse, illustrious by birth and because of her Christian faith, went to the tomb of Blessed Agatha at Catania and obtained the cure of her mother Eutychia, who had been suffering from an issue of blood. Soon she begged from her mother all the goods which she was to receive for her dowry and distributed them to the poor.

SHE DISTRIBUTED HER DOWRY TO THE POOR

When it was reported to Paschasius the prefect that she was a Christian, neither flattery nor threats could induce her to sacrifice to idols. Then Paschasius, inflamed with anger, ordered Lucy to be dragged to a place where her virginity would be violated; but by the power of God the virgin stood so firmly that no force was able to move her.

SHE STOOD SO FIRMLY THAT NO FORCE COULD MOVE HER

The prefect then commanded a fire to be kindled about her; but since no flame injured her, she was tortured by many torments, and her throat was pierced with a sword. After receiving this wound, she foretold the peace which the Church would enjoy after the death of Diocletian and Maximian. On the Ides of December, she yielded her soul to God. Her body was buried at Syracuse, then at Constantinople, and finally it was transferred to Venice.

PRAYER:

Hear us, O God, our Saviour, that, as we rejoice on the feast of blessed Lucy, your Virgin and Martyr, so we may grow in love and devotion. Through our Lord…

– From: An Approved English Translation of the Breviarium Romanum, Burns & Oates, London, 1964

 

ST JOHN ROBERTS, PRIEST AND MARTYR

ST JOHN ROBERTS, PRIEST AND MARTYR – MEMORIAL: DECEMBER 10

St John Roberts, born in Trawsfynydd, Wales, converted from Protestantism as a young adult and, after being received into the Catholic Church, first entered the English College at Valladolid in 1598, and, after a year there, made his novitiate at the great Abbey of St Martin at Compostella. His studies completed he was ordained, and set out for England at the end of 1602.

HE HAD A GOVERNMENT SPY ON HIS CASE

Having a spy on his case, he was, over the space of several years, banished, and re-entered England, time and time again. During his undercover spells in England, he ministered to the plague-stricken faithful in London. On 2nd December, 1610, he was arrested while celebrating Holy Mass. He was taken to Newgate in his vestments. He was found guilty of being a Catholic priest and hung, drawn and quartered on 10th December, 1610, at Tyburn.

PRAYER:

Almighty and eternal God,
you gave to blessed John
wisdom in defending the Catholic faith and courage in facing a martyr’s death:
listen to our prayers
and send us an ever greater harvest
of faith, hope and love.
Through our Lord…

 

 

ST AMBROSE, BISHOP, CONFESSOR, AND DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH

ST AMBROSE, BISHOP, CONFESSOR, AND DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH – MEMORIAL: DECEMBER 7

Ambrose, Bishop of Milan, was the son of another Ambrose, a Roman citizen, and received a liberal education at Rome. Under the Prefect Probus, he was made governor of Liguria and Aemilia, and by his command, came with authority to Milan. When the Arian Bishop, Auxentius, died, the most violent disputes arose among the people about a choice of a successor.

“AMBROSE, BISHOP”

Ambrose came to the church  in his official capacity, and urged upon the contending factions, in a long and powerful speech, the necessity of keeping the public peace, whereupon a child suddenly cried out “Ambrose, Bishop,” and the whole assembly took it up and unanimously called for his election. Whereupon he was baptised (for he was still a catechumen) and was admitted to sacred orders. Having ascended all the degrees of orders as prescribed by the Church, he was raised to the rank of Bishop.

DEFENDER OF THE TRUTH

In this office he strenuously defended Catholic truth and the Church’s laws, not only by word, but also in his writings. He converted to the true faith many Arians and other heretics, among whom he begot St Augustine in Jesus Christ. Having borne so many labours and cares for the Church of God, he died on the day before the Nones of April in the year 397.

PRAYER:

O God, you who have given blessed Ambrose to your people as a help for eternal salvation, grant, we beseech you, that we may be worthy to have him as our intercessor in heaven whom we have had as a teacher of life on earth.

– From: An Approved English Translation of the Breviarium Romanum, Burns & Oates, London, 1964

 

ST NICHOLAS, BISHOP AND CONFESSOR

ST NICHOLAS, BISHOP AND CONFESSOR – MEMORIAL: DECEMBER 6

Nicholas was born in the famous city of Patara in Lycia. From infancy, he fasted on Wednesday and Friday. He kept up this custom during the rest of his life. Having lost his parents when he was a young man, he gave all his goods to the poor. A noble example of his charity is seen in the fact that he secretly gave money sufficiently for a marriage dowry for three girls who were in great peril of falling into sin.

HE WENT TO MYRA

After having made a pilgrimage to Palestine, inspired by God, he went to Myra, the metropolis of Lycia, which had lost its bishop by death, and with no dissent but with wondrous concord, he was selected by the provincial bishops.

A MODEL OF EVERY VIRTUE

During his episcopate he proved himself a model of every virtue. Contrary to the edict of Diocletian and Maximian, he had preached the truth of Christian faith, and he was cast into prison where he remained until Constantine became emperor. He took part in the Council of Nicea where the Arian heresy was condemned. After he had returned to his see, he died a most holy death at Myra [ca. A. D. 342]. His body was taken to Bari in Apulia, and is the object of universal veneration in that place.

PRAYER:

O God, you who made the holy Bishop Nicholas renowned for his countless miracles, grant, we beseech you, that by his merits and prayers we may be saved from the fires of hell. Through our Lord…

– From: An Approved English Translation of the Breviarium Romanum, Burns & Oates, London, 1964

 

ST BIBIANA, VIRGIN AND MARTYR

ST BIBIANA, VIRGIN AND MARTYR – MEMORIAL: DECEMBER 2

Bibiana, a Roman virgin born of distinguished parentage, was raised to greater distinction through the Christian faith. Under Julian the Apostate, her parents, Flavian and Dafrosa, underwent martyrdom. Then Bibiana and her sister Demetria, despoiled of their property and tried with blandishments and threats by Apronian, Praetor of Rome, so that they should swerve from the true faith, prayed incessantly that they might escape the wickedness of the Praetor.

THEY PRAYED INCESSANTLY 

During the ordeal, Demetria suddenly collapsed under the very eyes of Bibiana, and died in the Lord. Bibiana, however, was then handed over to Rufina, a very wicked woman, to be seduced, but having bravely withstood the viles of the woman, she mocked the cunning of the Praetor. At his order, she was cut to pieces by leaden whips until she gave up her life. Her holy body was cast to the dogs for two days, but remained unharmed and divinely protected. A priest named John buried it by night, close to the grave of her mother and sister near the Licinian Palace, where to this day there stands a church dedicated to God under the name St Bibiana.

PRAYER:

O God, giver of all good gifts, who in your servant, Bibiana, joined the flower of virginity with the palm of martyrdom, by her intercession unite our hearts to you in charity so that, saved from all dangers, we may obtain the rewards of eternal life. Through our Lord…

– From: An Approved English Translation of the Breviarium Romanum, Burns & Oates, London, 1964