Memorial of Saints (December 24)

Feasts, Obligatory and Optional Memorials of Saints

• Irmina, virgin
• Gregory of Spoleto, martyr
• Delphinus, bishop
• Tharsilla and Emiliana, virgins
• Adela, widow
• Sharbel Makhlouf, hermit

St. Irmina (died ca. 710 A.D.) was the daughter of St. Dagobert II of the Franks and was betrothed to Count Herman. When a jealous suitor lured Herman to his death over a cliff outside Treves, Irmina decided to become a nun at a monastery near Treves, which her father also either founded or restored. St. Irmina aided St. Willibrod in his missionary work and in 698 A.D., gave him the building and grounds on which he founded the famous Echternach Monastery. St. Irmina died at Alsace at Weissenberg Monastery, which her father had founded.

St. Sharbel Makhlouf (1828-1898 A.D.) was a hermit. Born in a remote village in Lebanon, he was a shepherd in his early years and spent time in a cave praying and meditating. He often visited a hermitage where two of his uncles were monks. In 1851 A.D., he entered the Maronite monastery of Our Lady of Maifouk. He took solemn vows in 1853 A.D. and then studied philosophy and theology. Ordained a priest in 1859 A.D., he began to live austerely. In 1866 A.D., he moved to a small hermitage owned by the great monastery of St. Maro in Annaya. St. Sharbel died in 1898 A.D. and was buried in a nearby cemetery. He was beatified in 1965 A.D. and canonized in 1977 A.D.

December 24 Saints in the Byzantine Calendar

• Sts. Eugenia, Venerable Martyr and her two slaves, Protus and Hyacinth

St. Eugenia (died ca. 257 A.D.) was a Roman martyr. She was the daughter of a Duke during the reign of Emperor Valerian.

Eugenia fled from her father's house dressed in men's clothing and was baptized by Helenus, bishop of Heliopolis. Helenus sent her to an abbey of which she became abbot. She got into a legal entanglement, but was exonerated, when she revealed she was a woman and the daughter of the judge - who was her father. St. Eugenia's father was converted to Christianity. And she converted many others, including her mother. She suffered martyrdom by the sword in Rome.

The Byzantine Calendar commemorates St. Eugenia today while the Roman Calendar commemorates her on the 25th of December.

This day (December 24) in the history of the Catholic Church

The Second Vatican Council in the 1960s had many official observers. One official observer was a Polish-born Hasidic rabbi who was a strong supporter of the civil rights and peace movements in the United States of America. His name was Abraham Joshua Heschel (1907-1972 A.D.). He is quoted as saying,

"indifference to evil is worse than evil itself"

Abraham Heschel wrote works that recalled Christians to their Jewish roots, and his appreciation for the Catholic principle of sacramentality was reflected in his sense of "the holy dimension of all existence." Today, December 24, commemorates the day of his death. (SEARCHING IN THE WILDERNESS Jewish Christian Relations Today: The Legacy of Abraham Joshua Heschel Michael A. Chester, the Oxford Institute for Methodist Theological Studies, 2007, Learn more)

Memorial of Saints (December 23)

Feasts, Obligatory and Optional Memorials of Saints

• John of Kanty, priest
• The Ten Martyrs of Crete
• Victoria and Anatolia, virgins and martyrs
• Servulus
• Dagobert of Austrasia
• Thorlac, bishop
• Marie Margeruite d'Youville

St. John of Kanty (1390-1473 A.D.) was a Polish priest and professor at the University of Cracow. John was born of a well-to-do family at Kanty, near Oswiecim (Auschwitz) in Poland. For some unknown reason, perhaps out of envy at his success, he was later removed from his teaching position and assigned to a parish in Olkusz. His parish ministry being unsuccessful, he was later recalled to occupy a chair of theology at the university. He urged his students to oppose false opinions with moderation and courtesy. And he himself was held in such high esteem that his academic gown was used to vest each new doctor of the university.

St. Thorlac of Skalholt (1133-1193 A.D.) was born in Iceland, became a deacon when he was fifteen, and was ordained when he was eighteen. He was sent abroad to study and then returned to Iceland in 1161 A.D. He founded a community of Augustinian Canons and became its abbot. In 1178 A.D., he was named bishop of Skalholt, one of Iceland's two dioceses. He reformed the see, insisted on clerical discipline and celibacy, abolished lay patronage, and fought simony. He planned to resign and move to Thykkviboer and retire, but he died on December 23. The bishops of Iceland canonized him in 1198 A.D. and made patron saint of Iceland, but his cult has never been formally approved by the Holy See in Rome. Learn more from CatholicNewsAgency.com.

December 23 Saints in the Byzantine Calendar

• The Ten Martyrs of Crete

The Ten Martyrs of Crete are both commemorated in the Roman Calendar and the Byzantine Calendar. These ten were executed during the reign of the Roman emperor Decius from 249 to 251 A.D.

• Theodulus,
• Saturninus,
• Euporus,
• Gelasius,
• Eunician, (and all the four above were from Gortyn),
• Zoticus from Knossos,
• Pompius from Lebena,
• Agathopus from Panormos,
• Basilides from Kydonia (Hania),
• and Evaristus from Iraklion

The ten refused to worship at the shrine of the deity of the emperor Decius as god of Rome. The ten were brought before the governor of Crete. At their trial they steadfastly confessed their faith in Christ and refused to worship the emperor and other idols. They were imprisoned and tortured for one month. But the torture did not change their opinions, and they continued to glorifying God. They were sentenced by the governor of Crete to be beheaded. Learn more from OrthodoxWiki.org.

4th Sunday of Advent (C)

(Edited) Sunday Reflections (from) Liturgical Years 2011 (A), 2012 (B), and 2013 (C)

4th Sunday of Advent (C), December 23, 2012
Liturgical readings
Micah 5:1-4a
Psalm 80
Hebrews 10:5-10
Luke 1:39-45

"Blessed is she who trusted that the Lord's words to her would be fulfilled."

There are only a few passages in the New Testament which refer to the Blessed Virgin Mary. In this Sunday's gospel, we find her visiting her cousin Elizabeth. Mary does not speak in the passage, except for a mention of her greeting. That greeting from Mary caused Elizabeth to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Great joy filled Elizabeth's heart that she was moved to praise Mary for trusting the Lord's words. One ought to note that Elizabeth's words of praise became part of every Catholic's prayer in the rosary. Both Elizabeth's and Mary's humility before God is rooted in that patient hope of a people awaiting their deliverance from God - which is now fulfilled in Mary's womb after 42 generations since the time of their ancestor Abraham.

Meditating on this mystery of the Visitation, one can seek to understand the meaning of the encounter between Mary and Elizabeth. We see how God's action can enter human history even in the most unexpected places. And involving members of Jewish society who were closest to God in prayer: a virgin from Nazareth (who knows no man) now conceives the Word of God in her immaculate womb; and an aged and married woman (known to be barren) now conceives a son in her old age (in a town of Judah not even named in the gospel). Two miraculous conceptions. Two miracles of life. These miracles of life will bring great tidings and joy to the world. And it all began with a humble trust in God's Word.

To trust in God and His will is what all are called to do daily. It may not be easy at first, since that trust will be tried several times in life. Mary is a good example for all in the exercise of faith and obedience to God's will. That is why next to Jesus, she is the most loved, and the one whom many go to in times of need. Just as the gospel presents her bringing the Good News of salvation and deliverance from sin to her cousin Elizabeth, devotion to Mary will also lead anyone to a greater praise of God's mercy and a greater love for Christ, our Redeemer and Prince of Peace.