Category Archives: Christmas and Epiphany

WDTPRS – Candlemas: Purification of the BVM & Presentation of Our Lord

Today is the final “peak” arising from the liturgical cycle of Advent/Christmas/Epiphany.  Today, called in the traditional way and according to the older Roman calendar the Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Holy Church would cease to … Read More

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WDTPRS – 13 January – Baptism of the Lord: Double Dipping

On the SIXTH of January, Epiphany, we prayed liturgically with the three mysteries of the Lord’s life revealing Him as divine: the adoration of Jesus by the Magi, the changing water to wine at Cana, and His baptism by John in the … Read More

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WDTPRS – 2nd Mass of Christmas (1962MR): bathed in new light

Originally, the second Mass of Christmas went together with Lauds.  The antiphons of Lauds form a kind of call and response, or question and answer cant about the experience of the shepherds coming to find the Christ Child.  Sometimes the … Read More

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WDTPRS – Epiphany Collect: Liturgy should be “epiphany”, wherein we encounter transforming mystery.

In the Novus Ordo calendar Epiphany (which is supposed to be 12 days after Christmas – the reason it is called “Twelfth Night”) is sometimes moved to the Sunday.  I suppose that they reasoned that more people would celebrate the important … Read More

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“Learn to love as I love thee.”

Real Epiphany was on 6 January.  In the traditional calendar, however, we are in the Season of Epiphany.  Hence, I’ll go on talking about Epiphany for a while. At one of the blogs I now eagerly follow, A Clerk of Oxford, I … Read More

Posted in Christmas and Epiphany, Poetry |
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WDTPRS – 24 December – Novus Ordo: The consolations of Thy Coming

The Collect for today’s Mass in the Novus Ordo, the last of Advent, stares at the very threshold of the humble place where the Lord was born. COLLECT (2002MR): Festina, quaesumus, ne tardaveris, Domine Iesu, ut adventus tui consolationibus subleventur, qui … Read More

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WDTPRS Baptism of the Lord – He must increase, we must decrease

On the SIXTH of January, Epiphany, we prayed liturgically with the three mysteries of the Lord’s life revealing Him as divine: the adoration of Jesus by the Magi, the changing water to wine at Cana, and His baptism by John in the … Read More

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WDTPRS: Epiphany – Christ is the visible image of the invisible God.

In the ancient Western Church and in the East, Epiphany was more important than the relative latecomer Christmas.  Epiphany is from the Greek word for a divine “manifestation” or “revelation”.  There are many “epiphanies” of God in the Scripture.  Think, … Read More

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WDTPRS: Epiphany (2002MR): becoming what we encounter

Allow me first to rant: I understand that transferring major feasts to a Sunday can have the “pastoral” aim of exposing more people to the mystery the feast celebrates.  But… for the love of God… Ascension Thursday is on Thursday … Read More

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Reminder: Blessing chalk, houses on Epiphany

Wednesday is 6 January and therefore Epiphany. Don’t forget, Fathers, the wonderful tradition of blessing chalk and houses. (In other words, get some chalk today, if you don’t already have some.)

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Benedict XVI’s Christmas Sermon: liturgy is the first priority

The shepherds teach us a priority: hasten to worship.  Everything else comes later. In his sermon for Christmas Pope Benedict shows his mystical side.  He is a liturgical mystic.  That is to say, for Benedict, worship is an occasion for … Read More

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WDTPRS – Epiphany (1962MR)

What Does the Prayer Really Say?  6 January – Epiphany (1962 Missale Romanum – Roman Station: San Pietro in Vaticano) “Epiphany” comes from the Greek word for a divine “manifestation” or “revelation”.  The antiphons for Vespers in the Liturgy of … Read More

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WDTPRS – Epiphany – Roman Station: San Pietro in Vaticano (2002MR)

The Roman Station for Epiphany is San Pietro in Vaticano.  The only problem is that Epiphany in the Vatican is celebrated on 6 January, when it ought to be.  In the rest of the world, sadly, Epiphany is moved around, … Read More

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WDTPRS – 1 January – Octave of Christmas (1962MR)

What Does the Prayer Really Say?  1 January – The Octave of Christmas (1962 Missale Romanum) During the Octave of the Nativity Holy Church helps us to rest in the mystery of the Lord’s Birth, His future Sacrifice, and the … Read More

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WDTPRS – 1 Jan – Mary, the Mother of God (2002MR)

The prayers for the Solemnity of Mary Mother of God in the 2002MR. COLLECT (2002MR) Deus, qui salutis aeternae, beatae Mariae virginitate fecunda, humano generi praemia praestitisti, tribue, quaesumus, ut ipsam pro nobis intercedere sentiamus, per quam meruimus Filium tuum … Read More

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31 Dec & 1 Jan: Plenary Indulgences for the faithful

On 31 December  the faithful can gain a Plenary Indulgence by public recitation or singing of the Te Deum.On 1 January the faithful can gain a Plenary Indulgence by public recitation or singing of the Veni Creator. From the Enchiridion … Read More

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WDTPRS – Sunday in the Octave of Christmas (1962MR)

What is going on in today’s …. COLLECT – LATIN TEXT (1962MR): Omnipotens sempiterne Deus, dirige actus nostros in beneplacito tuo: ut in nomine dilecti Filii tui mereamur bonis operibus abundare. This Collect survived the surgeons of Bugnini’s Consilium to … Read More

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WDTPRS – Sunday in the Octave of Christmas – Holy Family – (2002MR)

In the Novus Ordo, today is the Feast of the Holy Family.  We are also observing Sunday in the Octave of Christmas. A liturgical “octave” is an eight day period following and including the feast. In a way, the Church … Read More

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WDTPRS – Midnight Mass (1962MR)

Christmas has three Masses, at night, at dawn and in the day. Let us use the Mass in nocte or “Midnight Mass”. Using the texts of the orations, let’s drill into our “Midnight Mass” in the Extraordinary Use of the … Read More

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