Saltem Diebus Dominicis: Laetare Sunday 4th of Lent – We are our rites
Our forebears felt keenly the proximity of the upcoming feast because they took penance far more seriously than we do today.
Saltem Diebus Dominicis: 3rd Sunday of Lent – The Enemy
On this Sunday we move from defense against the Enemy to attack on the Enemy.
Saltem Diebus Dominicis: Your Mountain of Transfiguration
Jesus used with Peter the same language He used on the Devil at the end of the Temptations in the wilderness.
Saltem Diebus Dominicis: The Devil, Temptations, and You
The Roman Station for this 1st Sunday of Lent is Rome’s Cathedral, the Basilic of St. John Lateran, referred to as the “Mother Church of the City and of the World”. It’s full title is the Papal Archbasilica Cathedral of the Most Holy Savior and of Saints John the Baptist and the Evangelist in the…
Diebus Saltem Dominicis: “The Veneration Due God’s Word”
In this Sunday’s Mass for Sexagesima, we have in the Epistle from 2 Corinthians the mysterious description by Paul of his elevating vision of Heaven which readied him for his trials, which gave him authority, which transformed his person. He was drawn into mystery and changed. In the Gospel from Luke 8 we have the…
Diebus Saltem Dominicis: You can’t be surprised by Lent
Our coming Sunday is already Septuagesima. Let’s do the technical stuff first. Septuagesima slides around from year to year because Easter slides around because the Moon is a bit of a calendrical coquette, or as Juliet calls her, “inconstant”. Easter is early this year, 31 March. We celebrate Easter in the Western Churches on the…
Diebus Saltem Dominicis: We don’t have a vacation from prayer.
I must keep this brief today… briefer. I hear loud shouts of joy even through my monitor. In short, “life happened” in the last couple of days. Thus, my lateness and brevity. Though it doesn’t make too much difference if you get this before or after Mass. It is a good practice to review the…
Diebus Saltem Dominicis: Blessings from lackings
It seems as if, once Christmas has passed – BAM! – it’s over. Trees are at the curb, decorations come down, music on the radio goes back to whatever it was. However, Holy Church gives us an Octave to rest within the feast of the Nativity itself and contemplate it from different angles, including the…
Diebus Saltem Dominicis: Observance of Epiphany and of Holy Family, Myrrh and Pain
It’s hard to know what to write about for this Sunday. In the Novus Ordo in most places the observance of Epiphany will take place. In the Vetus Ordo it is the Feast of the Holy Family. In the Novus Ordo last Sunday was Holy Family, while in the Vetus it was Sunday in the…
At Least On Sunday – Sunday in the Octave of Christmas: Heartbreak
St. Philip Neri (+1595) was praying one night, as he often did, in the Catacombs of St. Sebastian. A ball of light came down from above and entered his mouth. He was so overwhelmed by the love of God that he cried out, “Enough, Lord! I cannot take anymore” and passed out. When he awoke,…
Diebus saltem Dominicis: The Sons of David
When I visit Rome, at least once during my time there I go to the Ara Pacis or “Altar of Peace” of the Emperor Augustus Caesar (+14), which is housed in dreadful building that looks like a gas station. I don’t go in to see the actual altar. What I revisit is the supporting wall…