Saints Felix and Adauctus (d. 303 AD) were Christian martyrs who are believed to have lived during the reigns of Diocletian and Maximian. Felix, a Roman priest, and brother of another priest, also named Felix, being ordered to offer sacrifice to the gods. But at the prayer of the saint the idols fell shattered to the ground. He was then led to execution. On the way an unknown person joined him, professed himself a Christian, and also received the crown of martyrdom. The Christians gave him the name Adauctus (the Latin word for "added"). They were both beheaded.
Focusing on the Traditional Benedictine Office in accordance with the 1963 Benedictine calendar and rubrics, including the Farnborough edition of the Monastic Diurnal.
Tuesday, August 30, 2016
August 30: SS Felix and Audauctus, Memorial
Saints Felix and Adauctus (d. 303 AD) were Christian martyrs who are believed to have lived during the reigns of Diocletian and Maximian. Felix, a Roman priest, and brother of another priest, also named Felix, being ordered to offer sacrifice to the gods. But at the prayer of the saint the idols fell shattered to the ground. He was then led to execution. On the way an unknown person joined him, professed himself a Christian, and also received the crown of martyrdom. The Christians gave him the name Adauctus (the Latin word for "added"). They were both beheaded.
Monday, August 29, 2016
Beheading of St John the Baptist (Aug 29)
In one of those cutesy euphemisms, this feast has been renamed the 'Passion of John the Baptist' in the Ordinary Form.
The martyrology describes it thus:
"The beheading of St. John the Baptist, who was put to death by Herod about the feast of Easter. However, the solemn commemoration takes place today, when his venerable head was found for the second time. It was afterwards solemnly carried to Rome, where it is kept in the church of St. Silvester, near Campo Marzio, and honored by the people with the greatest devotion."This saint has a particular significance for Benedictines, as when he moved to Monte Cassino, St Benedict built a chapel in honour of St John the Baptist where previously had stood an altar to Apollo.
In many respects St John represents the two sides of the Benedictine charism - in his ascetic life in the desert, he points to the contemplative dimension; in his work preparing the way for Our Lord by calling the people to repentance, the active dimension.
August 29: The beheading of St. John the Baptist
Today is one of the feast days of one of the most important saints in the calendar, St John the Baptist.
In one of those cutesy euphemisms, this feast has been renamed the 'Passion of John the Baptist' in the Ordinary Form.
The martyrology, however, describes it thus:
"The beheading of St. John the Baptist, who was put to death by Herod about the feast of Easter. However, the solemn commemoration takes place today, when his venerable head was found for the second time. It was afterwards solemnly carried to Rome, where it is kept in the church of St. Silvester, near Campo Marzio, and honored by the people with the greatest devotion."This saint has a particular significance for Benedictines, as when he moved to Monte Cassino, St Benedict built a chapel in honour of St John the Baptist where previously had stood an altar to Apollo.
In many respects St John represents the two sides of the Benedictine charism - in his ascetic life in the desert, he points to the contemplative dimension; in his work preparing the way for Our Lord by calling the people to repentance, the active dimension.
The Vespers hymn for the feast is Deus tuorum militum sors.
Sunday, August 28, 2016
August 28: Feast of St Augustine, Bishop, Confessor and Doctor
St. Augustine of Hippo is not of course a Benedictine saint. Still, he was an important influence on St. Benedict and the Western monastic tradition in general.
St Augustine's monastic rules are amongst the earliest surviving monastic rules of the Western Church, and reflect the moderation that St. Benedict was to make central to his Rule. He is also a champion of the combination of learning with faith, another Benedictine quality.
There are many quotes from St. Augustine in the Rule, but one of the most interesting areas of St. Augustine's theological influence in the Rule is in the Tools of Good Works (Chapter Four). The injunction "To attribute to God, and not to self, whatever good one sees in oneself, but to recognize always that the evil is one's own doing, and to impute it to oneself," reflects St. Augustine's anti-Pelagian approach over the position being advocated at the time by the Eastern-influenced monks of Lerins, and finally resolved at the contemporary Council of Orange in 529.
Saturday, August 27, 2016
St Joseph Calasanctius (EF)/St Monica (OF), Aug 27
From the martyrology:
"At Rome, the demise of St. Joseph, confessor, illustrious by the innocence of his life and miracles, who, to instruct youth in piety and letters, founded the Order of the Poor Clerks Regular of the pious Schools of the Mother of God."
In the Extraordinary Form, St Monica's feast is on May 4, however it was moved, in 1970, to the day before the feast of the son, St Augustine, she converted by her tears, prayers and admonitions.
Friday, August 26, 2016
Saints feasts for September
September 1
St Giles (EF only)
September 2
September 3
Pope St Pius X, Class III
Pope Pius X - martyrology entry
Pope Benedict VI on St Pius X
September 4
St Marcellus (from the martyrology)
September 5
St Laurence Justinian (EF only)
September 6
St Zachary (from the martyrology)
September 7
Pope St Hadrian III (martyrology)
September 8
Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Class II
September 9
St Gorgonius, martyr, memorial
September 10
St Nicholas of Tolentino (EF only); St Pulcheria
September 11
SS Protus and Hyacinth, Martyrs, memorial
St Theodora (desert mother)
September 14
Exaltation of Holy Cross, Class II
September 15
Seven Sorrows of Our Lady, Class III
September 16
SS Cornelius, Pope and Cyprian, Bishop, Martyrs, memorial
September 17
St Hildegarde OSB, Doctor of the Church memorial
September 18
St Joseph of Cupertino (EF only)
September 19
St Januarius (OF only)
September 20
St Eustace and companions (EF); SS Andrew Tae-gon, Paul Chon Ha-sang and companions
September 21
St Matthew, Class II
September 22
St Maurice and companions, memorial
September 23
Pope St Linus, memorial
September 24
Our Lady of Ransom (EF only)
September 27
SS Cosmas and Damian, memorial
September 28
St Wenceslaus (EF/OF); St Lawrence Ruiz and companions (OF)
September 29
Dedication of St Michael the Archangel, Class I
SS Michael, Raphael and Gabriel (OF)
September 30
St Jerome, Class III
Pope St Pius X, Class III
Pope Pius X - martyrology entry
Pope Benedict VI on St Pius X
September 4
St Marcellus (from the martyrology)
September 5
St Laurence Justinian (EF only)
September 6
St Zachary (from the martyrology)
September 7
Pope St Hadrian III (martyrology)
September 8
Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Class II
September 9
St Gorgonius, martyr, memorial
September 10
St Nicholas of Tolentino (EF only); St Pulcheria
September 11
SS Protus and Hyacinth, Martyrs, memorial
St Theodora (desert mother)
September 14
Exaltation of Holy Cross, Class II
September 15
Seven Sorrows of Our Lady, Class III
September 16
SS Cornelius, Pope and Cyprian, Bishop, Martyrs, memorial
September 17
St Hildegarde OSB, Doctor of the Church memorial
September 18
St Joseph of Cupertino (EF only)
September 19
St Januarius (OF only)
September 20
St Eustace and companions (EF); SS Andrew Tae-gon, Paul Chon Ha-sang and companions
September 21
St Matthew, Class II
September 22
St Maurice and companions, memorial
September 23
Pope St Linus, memorial
September 24
Our Lady of Ransom (EF only)
September 27
SS Cosmas and Damian, memorial
September 28
St Wenceslaus (EF/OF); St Lawrence Ruiz and companions (OF)
September 29
Dedication of St Michael the Archangel, Class I
SS Michael, Raphael and Gabriel (OF)
September 30
St Jerome, Class III
Thursday, August 25, 2016
Please pray for the people of Italy and the monks of Norcia
Many will have already heard of the devastating earthquake that hit Italy yesterday.
The death toll is now estimated at over 120 people.
The monks of Norcia were not injured in the earthquake or its many aftershocks, but it seems their monastery and the basilica they serve has suffered some serious structural damage, forcing a temporary move to Rome.
You can help with prayers and donations - for help for the monks, go here.
The death toll is now estimated at over 120 people.
The monks of Norcia were not injured in the earthquake or its many aftershocks, but it seems their monastery and the basilica they serve has suffered some serious structural damage, forcing a temporary move to Rome.
You can help with prayers and donations - for help for the monks, go here.
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