Thanksgiving: A Papistical Approach
Being a Papist and not a Puritan, I have always felt somewhat ambiguous about the Thanksgiving holiday . . . not about the domestic observance...
Et Ecce Ostium Apertum in Caelo
Thirty–Third Wednesday of the Year II Memorial of Saint Cecilia, Virgin and Martyr Revelation 4:1–11 Psalm 150:1–2, 3–4, 5–6 (Rev 4:8b) Luke 19:11–28 Heaven’s Open...
22 November, Saint Cecilia, Virgin and Martyr
ENTRANCE ANTIPHON GR I spoke of your testimonies before kings, and I was not ashamed: I meditated also on your commandments, which I loved (Ps...
Ecce, Sponsus Venit!
Strong, Serene, Majestic, Invincible When in 1867 Abbot Prosper Guéranger set about opening a Benedictine monastery for women at Solesmes, he placed the whole enterprise...
Pope Benedict XVI on the Vultus Christi: God With a Human Face
In his address at the Pontifical Gregorian University on 3 November, the Holy Father identified the immediate object of the different branches of theological knowledge...
Mater Ecclesiae
Forty–two years ago today, on 21 November 1964, Pope Paul VI solemnly declared the Blessed Virgin Mary Mother of the Church. Pope John Paul II...
Pro Orantibus: Praying for Those Who Pray
From the Holy Father’s Angelus Message, 19 November 2006 On the occasion of the liturgical memorial of the Presentation of Mary Most Holy in the...
Mother Clelia Merloni
Today is the anniversary of the death of Mother Clelia Merloni (1861–1930), the foundress of the Apostles of the Sacred Heart. Mother Clelia’s life was...
Houseguest
I borrowed the logo from my brother Terence’s dog training business for this entry because I don’t have a photo of Dulcie (named for a...
18 November, The Dedication of the Basilicas of Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles
The days between the solemnity of All Saints and the First Sunday of Advent are rich in images of the heavenly Jerusalem. The Dedication of...
My Elizabethan Friend
I happen to have a friend who — quite apart from the fact that she is of Hungarian descent — reminds me of Saint Elizabeth...
In Anniversario Propriae Ordinationis
Exceptionally, on the occasion of the anniversary of his ordination, the Church allows a priest to pray at Holy Mass a set of orations in...
Visit of the The Webmaster
As I was teaching my weekly liturgy class to the nuns of the monastery and their friends this morning, I glanced out the window and...
Pie Iesu Domine, dona eis requiem.
Commemoration of All the Departed Who Militated Under the Rule of Saint Benedict Romans 8:14–23 Psalm 63, 1, 2–3, 4–5, 7–8 (R. 1b Gospel: John...
14 November, Requiem Mass for All the Departed Who Did Battle Under the Rule of Saint Benedict
It is a cherished monastic tradition to pray for the dead. Cistercians, in particular, have the custom of praying an entire Psalter (all 150 Psalms)...
Salvete, Cedri Libani
November 13 All Saints Who Militated under the Rule of Saint Benedict Isaiah 61:9–11 Psalm 102: 1–2, 3–4, 8–9, 13–14, 17–18a (R. 1a) John 15:1–8...
13 November, All Benedictine Saints
Today we celebrated the feast of All Saints Who Militated Under the Rule of Saint Benedict. One might also translate the name of the feast...
He Comes To Us Wrapped in the Humblest of Cloaks
November 11 Feast of Saint Martin of Tours, Bishop Isaiah 61:1-3abcd Psalm 88:2-3, 4-5, 21-22, 25, 27 Matthew 25: 31-40 Today’s gospel, focusing on judgment...
Ave, Verum Corpus!
I do love this painting of Saint Martin’s Mass. It is the work of an unknown Hungarian master and dates from 1490. Saint Martin’s acolyte,...
11 November, Martinmas
ENTRANCE ANTIPHON MR I will raise up for myself a faithful priest, who shall do according to my heart and my soul, says the Lord...