Immaculate Conception, Patron of the Raleigh Diocese
by VP
Posted on Monday December 08, 2025 at 12:00AM in Articles
Our Lady of North Carolina, Memorial to Bishop Hafey First Bishop of the Diocese Sacred Heart Downtown Raleigh
Our Lady of North Carolina:
Bishop Vincent Waters, December 8th 1945 (The Bulletin):
"On coming to the Diocese a little over five months ago, I discovered that the Diocese of Raleigh had no diocesan patron. After talking the matter over with the Right Reverend and Very Reverend Consultors, as well as with a number of the Diocesan clergy, I petitioned His Holiness Pope Pius XII to declare, by Apostolic Brief, Our Blessed Mother, under the title of her Immaculate Conception, as the patron of this diocese. I have just received a cablegram from Monsignor Alfonso Carinci, Secretary of the Sacred Congregation of Rites, advising that His Holiness has granted our request.
Although the eighth of December is a day for general rejoicing in America, since our country is dedicated to our heavenly Mother under this title there is an especial reason this year, and every year thereafter, for rejoicing on the eighth of December in the Diocese of Raleigh, for we have God’s own Mother under the title of her Immaculate Conception as our heavenly patron. In each church of the Diocese this day should be a day of general Communion of the faithful, especially of the children, and following the last Mass, or in the evening, Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament should be given, during which the enclosed Act of Consecration should be recited. I ask all to pray fervently to Our Heavenly Mother for the gift of faith for those outside the Church." --
The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
This day is a festival of joy and thanksgiving to all those who have a due sense of the great blessing of their redemption. For whoever considers that long night of sin, which had covered the earth for four thousand years, must needs honour with joy that first moment of her sanctification, who was chosen from all eternity to be mother of Him, who was to be the light of the world, and to take off that malediction, which sin had brought upon it. All who consider this, must rejoice, when Mary, like the morning star begins to rise, and foretels the near approach of day. And this joy must be accompanied with most solemn thanksgiving, for those extraordinary favours by which she was distinguished from all that are born of women. These privileges, the effect of the divine bounty, demand our thanks; for though she was the subject of this grace, yet the mercy was to be extended to all.
But having paid this tribute of praise and thanksgiving, and seriously considered the eminent sanctity of the B. V. Mary, we are then to turn our eyes upon ourselves, and see whether we can discover there, a like subject of joy. For if so wonderful were the dispositions of the B. Virgin, to prepare her to be the Mother of Christ, some degrees of them there ought to be in us too; since, though in a different manner, it is a dignity, to which every Christian is called, for in every Christian, Christ is to be formed. Galat. iv. 19.
If we can find any suitable dispositions in us for this work of grace, we may with reason rejoice; but if none such appear, this solemnity of joy will be to us a day of confusion. Look then on the B. Virgin Mary, and see what these dispositions are. A most profound humility, a spirit raised up to God by love, and perfect conformity to His holy Will. By these her soul was fitted, and she was chosen amongst all women to have Christ formed in her, so to become the Mother of our Redeemer. Now, what can you say of yourselves? How near do you come to these necessary dispositions for having Christ formed in you?
What have you of humility? Are you fully persuaded of your origin being from nothing? That the being, which God has given you, is so frail, and you so little master of it, that you would in any moment return to the same nothing, if God's powerful hand did not support you. That your necessities are universal: that you are not able to do, say, or think any thing that is good: that by sin you are many degrees worse than nothing; and for your rebellion against God, deserve to be deprived of all grace and blessings, and to be abandoned to all misery. That as it is, your corruption and weakness are so general that you scarce perform one good action which has not a mixture of evil in it; so that whatever favourable thoughts you may frame of yourselves, you are truly, in the sight of God, wretched and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.
There are many steps in humility. Begin at the lowest; this will help to raise you, and give you hopes of coming to the top. As you advance here, so will the love of God, by proportioned degrees, increase in your soul; and so will you be still more and more conformed to the Divine Will. These are the dispositions for your rejoicing on this festival of joy. Thus you see how the dignity which you honour in the B. Virgin, may, in some manner, belong to you. Make some advances towards it; beseech God to be your help, and pray the B. Virgin to join her prayers with yours, that you may obtain of the divine bounty some degrees of that virtue which so much recommended her to God. For it will be but a barren festival to you, if you end the day with the same pride with which you began it." The Catholic Year; Or Daily Lessons on the Feasts of the Church by Rev Fr. John GOTHER
8. The Approaching Day. (Advent Meditations)
by VP
Posted on Monday December 08, 2025 at 12:00AM in Advent Sermons
"1. When the sun is soon to appear above the horizon, the morning star, shining with a light derived indeed from him, but nevertheless shining bright and clear even before his coming, gives the signal of his approach. So the holy Mother of God, dawning upon the world with a grace and beauty which was the gift of her divine Son, anticipated His Incarnation and made the world more beautiful in God’s sight than it had ever been before. Mary was more precious to God than all the rest of men, and this quite independently of her divine maternity. Consider why this was, and learn a lesson for yourself.
2. The morning star is still clearly seen when all other stars have been extinguished by the light of the coming day. Mary has a brilliancy so great that the brightness of all the other saints fades into nothing in comparison with hers. If this was the case even in comparison with the glory of St. John Baptist, St. Joseph, Abraham the Patriarch, the friend of God, Job, the model of patience, Daniel, the beloved of God, what must her glory be! Thank God for having created one child of Adam worthy of Himself.
3. Mary’s consummate beauty is the consequence of there being in her nothing of her own. All was God’s; no admixture of self in her motives, in her aims, in her joys and sorrows, her love and hatred. Her affections were simply a reflection of what God loved and hated; like God she loved all things except sin, and those who were the declared and eternal enemies of God. She desired nothing for herself except that she might see God’s holy will fulfilled in all. Is this the account that you can give of yourself ? Only if this is so are you a worthy child of Mary." Meditations for Advent . By Rev. Richard F. Clarke S.J. The Catholic Truth Society, London 1891
Saint Andrew Christmas Novena:
Hail and blessed be the hour and moment In which the Son of God was born Of the most pure Virgin Mary, at midnight, in Bethlehem, in the piercing cold. In that hour vouchsafe, I beseech Thee, O my God, to hear my prayer and grant my desires, [here mention your request] through the merits of Our Savior Jesus Christ, and of His blessed Mother. Amen. (15 times)
Prayer to the Holy Infant for priests
Jesus, Divine Infant, I bless and thank
Thy most loving Heart for the institution of the priesthood. Priests
are sent by Thee as Thou were sent by the Father. To them Thou entrusted
the treasures of Thy doctrine, of Thy Law, of Thy Grace, and souls
themselves.
Grant me the grace to love them, to listen to them,
and to let myself be guided by them in Thy ways. Jesus, send good
laborers into Thy harvest. May priests be the salt that purifies and
preserves; may they be the light of the world; may they be the city
placed on the mountain. May they all be formed after Thy own Heart. And
in heaven may they be surrounded by a joyous throng of those they
shepherded on earth. Amen.
Glory Be (three times).
Infant Jesus, make me love Thee more and more!
Prayer of St. Athanasius
by VP
Posted on Monday December 08, 2025 at 12:00AM in Prayers
Our Lady of North Carolina, Downtown Raleigh NC
"Give ear to our prayers, O most Holy Virgin, and be mindful of us. Dispense unto us the gifts of thy riches, and the abundance of the graces with which thou art filled. The Archangel saluted thee, and called thee full of grace. All nations call thee blessed. The whole hierarchy of heaven blesses thee: and we, who are of the terrestrial hierarchy, also address thee, saying: Hail, O full of grace, our Lord is with thee; pray for us, O Holy Mother of God, our Lady and our Queen."
St. Ambrose, Bishop, Confessor, Doctor of the Church, A.D. 397
by VP
Posted on Sunday December 07, 2025 at 04:00AM in Saints
St. Ambrose by Gerard Seghers (1591–1651)
"ST. AMBROSE was the most admirable model of invincible courage and constancy in resisting evil, and discharging his duty, since the days of the apostles. His father was a supreme magistrate of the empire; and the saint's birth happened about the year 340. Whilst he was a child, and lay asleep in one of the courts of his father's palace, a swarm of bees flew about his cradle, and some of them crept in and out of his mouth, and at last they mounted up into the air quite out of sight. This was looked upon as a presage of his future greatness and eloquence.
He was chosen bishop of Milan by a particular direction of heaven. Having undertaken the pastoral charge, he was a zealous promoter of church discipline; opposing errors and punishing vice, never letting the dignity of the offenders, or the fear of offending great ones, deter him from the just censure of the offence. Thus he refused admittance into the church to the Emperor Theodosius, because he had commanded a cruel massacre of seven thousand people at Thessalonica and when the emperor attempted some excuse, by saying that David had sinned, the holy bishop firmly replied: "Then as you have followed him in sinning, follow him also in repenting." Theodosius submitted, accepted the penance enjoined him, and passed eight months in his palace in mourning and penance. After this he went to the church, but St. Ambrose still forbade him to enter it, and ordered him to place himself among the public penitents at the church door. There he knelt and lay long prostrate in the rank of the penitents, lamenting his sin, and begging pardon of God; until St. Ambrose, satisfied that he was truly penitent, gave him absolution. It was by the piety and zeal of St. Ambrose, that St. Augustin was reclaimed from his errors and sinful life.
Pray that all prelates and pastors may possess the spirit of St. Ambrose, so as to be above all flattery, fear, and human respect. Pray for all who are engaged in errors and sins; and beg the charity of this saint to join with you for obtaining grace for them." The Catholic Year; Or Daily Lessons on the Feasts of the Church by Rev. Fr. John GOTHER
Prayer of St. Ambrose: JESUS CHRIST, our High Priest and Pontiff, who hast offered thyself on the altar of the cross, a pure and unspotted host for us poor sinners, who hast given us thy flesh to eat and thy blood to drink, I beseech thee, by that blood, the great price of our salvation; I beseech thee, by that unspeakable charity which prompted thee to shed it for us; that thou wouldst teach me how to be present at this great mystery, how to behave with that reverence and honour, and to feel that fear and devotion, which is becoming so great an occasion. Make me, in thy mercy, ever believe and understand, think and speak, of this awful mystery, in a manner which may be pleasing to thee, and good for mine own soul.
Let thy good Spirit enter within my breast, and breathe into it, silently and sweetly, every truth which learned words might more slowly convey. For thy mysteries are profound indeed, and concealed beneath a sacred veil.
Permit me, O God, in thy great clemency, to go through this duty with a clear heart and a pure mind. Free my heart from all impure, vain, and hurtful thoughts. Strengthen me through the strong and faithful guardianship of thy blessed angels, that the enemies of my soul may be put to flight. May the virtue of this great mystery, and the power of thy holy angels, remove from me, and from all thy servants, the spirit of pride and indifference, of envy and blasphemy, of fornication and uncleanness, of doubt and hesitation. May those be confounded who persecute us: may those evil passions which war against our souls be destroyed.
O King of virgins and lover of chastity, may the dew of thy heavenly blessing quench within me every impure flame; so that unspotted chastity may alone find place in my body and soul. Mortify within me every disordered passion, every dangerous sensation; and, amid all thy other favours, give me that true and perpetual chastity which is pleasing to thee. For with what sorrow and tears, with what fear and reverence, with what chastity of body and purity of soul, ought we not ever to approach this divine and heavenly sacrifice, where thy flesh is truly eaten, where thy blood is truly drunk? where the lowest and the highest, where earth and heaven, are joined? where the holy angels are present? and where, in a wonderful and unspeakable manner, thou art both priest and sacrifice? Who could worthily join in this celebration, unless thou, God omnipotent, didst make him worthy? I know, O Lord, I know and I confess that I am not worthy to approach this great mystery, on account of my many sins and my endless negligences: but I know also, and I firmly believe and stedfastly confess, that thou, my God, canst make me worthy; that thou alone canst change impurity into cleanliness, and sin into justice and sanctity. By this thine omnipotence, I pray thee to enable me, a poor sinner, to partake of this sacrament with fear and trembling, with purity of heart, with tears of sorrow, with spiritual cheerfulness, with heavenly joy. Let my mind feel the sweetness of thy blessed presence, and of the company of thy holy angels around me.
For, O Lord, although a sinner, yet I approach to thy holy altar mindful of thy revered passion, that I may offer to thee the sacrifice which thou hast instituted, and which thou hast directed to be offered for our salvation in remembrance of thee. Receive it, I beseech thee, great God, for thy holy church, and for the people which thou hast purchased with thy blood. I offer to thee, O Lord, the sorrows of this thy people, the danger of nations, the groans of captives, the wants of orphans, the distresses of the weak, the failings of the old, the despair of the dying, the sighs of youth, the vows of virgins, the tears of widows. Lighten, I beseech thee, lighten and assuage the sufferings of all.
Yes; do thou, O Lord, have mercy on us all, and despise not that which thou hast created. Remember what our substance is : that thou art our Father: that thou art our God. Be not angry with us, and withhold not the multitude of thy mercies from us. For we do not come before thee to justify ourselves, but to pray for thy pardon and pity. Take away from us these hearts of stone, and give us feeling hearts, which may seek thee, which may love thee, which may tend towards thee and enjoy thee. Look down, O Lord, with a propitious and serene countenance, upon the wants of thy servants; and grant that no prayer may be offered up to thee in vain, that no hope may remain unfulfilled; and do thou thyself, O God, suggest to us those prayers which thou wilt most kindly hear and most freely grant.
We pray to thee, also, O holy Lord and Father, for the souls of the faithful departed; that this great sacrament of love may obtain for them health, salvation, refreshment, and joy. O Lord, my God, let them feel the effects of this great offering of thee, the living bread which came down from heaven and givest life to the world,-of thee, the Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world; let them be refreshed and consoled by it; and may its merits avail to bring them to the joy and glory of thy heavenly kingdom. the fulness of thy blessing, the holiness of thy Divinity, let the invisible and incomprehensible majesty of thy Holy Spirit, descend upon these our offerings; and enable me also to approach this sacrifice with purity, with devotion, with tears, and with reverence, so that even my prayers may conduce to render it available to the salvation of all, whether living or dead.
I beseech thee also, O Lord, by the most holy mystery of thy body and blood, by which, in thy church, we are daily fed, and cleansed, and sanctified, and made partakers of thy great Divinity-I beseech thee to fill me with such virtuous dispositions that I may approach with a good conscience to thine altar, and find safety and life in this heavenly sacrament. For thou hast said, "The bread which I will give is my flesh for the life of the world; "I am the living bread which came down from heaven; "If any one eateth of this bread, he shall live for ever.' O blessed bread, heal the affections of my heart, that I may feel the sweetness of thy love! O bread from heaven, containing all delights, strengthen my heart that it may never fall away from thee, but may ever feel the effects of thy presence! Thou art the bread of angels, and the bread of poor pilgrims, whom thou refreshest with so excellent a viaticum, lest they faint by the way. O holy bread, O living bread, O pure bread, which came down from heaven and givest life to the world, come into my heart, and purify me from every evil inclination of body and soul. Come into my heart, and strengthen me and purify me, internally and externally. Be my shield and the salvation of my soul and body. Drive from me every wily foe; let them fly from the presence of thy power; so that, being fortified by thee both within and without, may advance, by a straight path, to thy heavenly kingdom, where I may no longer see thee beneath veils and mysteries, but where my thirst may be for ever satisfied, and where I may for ever enjoy thee, who, with God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, livest and reignest for ever. Amen. The Treasury of Prayer by ST. Vincent de Paul 1853
Second Sunday of Advent: The Immaculate Conception
by VP
Posted on Sunday December 07, 2025 at 12:00AM in Sermons
"The Lord possessed me in the beginning of His ways.”PROV. 8. 22.
1. The Redeemer and His Mother.
2. Therefore Immaculate for His honour.
3. No change of belief in the Church, but now all bound to believe the doctrine.
4. Effects: increase of devotion to Mary Immaculate; and more manifest proofs of the power of her intercession.
THE dominant thought in this holy time of Advent is the coming of the Redeemer. How appropriate it is, then, that there occurs at this time the Festival of the Immaculate Conception. For the Son of God offering Himself to become a Man to redeem us, a Mother had to be chosen for Him. A Mother of God! Picture the amazement of the angels in heaven that a human creature could possibly be so exalted! The purest, the holiest, the humblest of all the daughters of Eve was chosen.
But above all the endowments of grace, above all her virtues, one singular prerogative was needed and was granted. This chosen one should never for an instant be under the curse of fallen man. Original sin could not be allowed to taint her soul. "The Lord possessed me in the beginning of His ways." This is what we believe in accepting and professing the dogma of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
But is it not the boast and glory of the Holy Catholic Church that its faith is and has been always the same? That what was believed from the first is the faith of all its children always and everywhere? How can this be, says the world, when within our memory the Immaculate Conception was declared to be an article of faith? The definition was simply a declaration that belief in the Immaculate Conception had always existed, and was the mind and sense of the Church. Proof irrefragable of this is found in holy Tradition, in the writings of the Fathers of the Church, in the unanimity of the rulers and the faithful of the Church in venerating our Lady's Conception as such. What had been formerly freely, willingly, lovingly believed, was now declared to be a necessary part of our belief. Henceforth obedience to the Church demanded full, explicit belief and profession of this doctrine, that Mary in the first instant of her Conception was preserved from every stain of original sin by the power of Almighty God, to His honour and glory, and the glory of His chosen Mother.
And why was this declaration necessary? To defend the honour and glory of Mary. Impiety was assailing her; disbelief was denying her holiness; and the world was sneering at her purity. Cowardly Catholics thought it prudent not to provoke impiety to insult our Lady and wished to be silent; and doubt was stealing into the souls of the poorly instructed, and of many seduced by the irreligious. Therefore for God's honour and glory, and of His Virgin Mother, it was made imperative to believe and to own that the Virgin Mary was Immaculate. What had formerly been professed in love, had now to be professed in obedience as well, by the loyal children of the Church.
The other saints and blessed ones of God are crowned with many graces, but Mary is "full of grace" and is favoured with one that no other can share with her. She is Immaculate! And this being her unique privilege, no other supplication to her touches her Mother's heart as this: "Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us, who have recourse to thee."
Two effects result from
this belief and profession in the Immaculate Conception. The first is a
wonderful increase in devotion to our Blessed Lady.
Not only have prayers been multiplied, but the wearing of her medals, the use of the Rosary, the holy pictures and statues in homes and in churches, all have increased. But above all we can notice the public testifying of our love and veneration of Mary. A few years ago, pilgrimages had almost died out in these countries. But now, not only is no one afraid to be a pilgrim, but publicly and enthusiastically pilgrimages are joined by rich and poor. The sneers of the world are silenced. Yea, even in non-Catholic papers we read paragraphs-tolerant, kindly, sympathetic-about the blind and ailing journeying to distant Lourdes in faith and hope, seeking the help of Mary Immaculate.
And does Mary fail to respond to her children's faith and trust? This is the second wonderful result in the belief in the Immaculate Conception: the miracles that Mary works through her intercession. There are countless wonders wrought in the souls of men; of those we know nothing. They are recorded by the angels. But we Catholics rejoice, and the world cannot deny, that there are many marvellous and incontestible miracles wrought year after year at Lourdes. In this age of doubt and unbelief, miracles are multiplied in behalf of those who turn to the Immaculate Virgin in their misery and distress. Thus this most favoured, honoured, exalted Queen of angels and of saints proves that she hearkens to and graciously answers the prayers of poor sinners. sinners. She loves to prove to us that, though she is the Immaculate Virgin Mother of God, she is our Mother too. Though the Almighty "has done great things" for her, she does not disdain our humble prayers.
How meet and appropriate it is, then, that our Blessed Lady's festival is the harbinger of Christmas. Her unique dignity -Immaculate from the first moment of her Conception - was given that she might be worthy to be the Mother of our divine Saviour. Praise and glorify her on this great day, and for a reward for our devotion pray her to show us at Christmas her Son, our Saviour, and to obtain for us loyalty and fidelity to Him." Short Sermons on the Epistles & Gospels of the Sundays of the Year By Fr. Francis Paulinus Hickey
7. The Causes of Delay. (Advent Meditations)
by VP
Posted on Sunday December 07, 2025 at 12:00AM in Advent Sermons
"1. If the wickedness of the world in heathen times was so great, how was it that the coming of the Redeemer was so long delayed? To this question we can only give one answer with absolute certainty, that it was so decreed by Almighty God in His infinite wisdom. We cannot hope in this life to comprehend the mysteries of the providence of the Most High. We can only humbly bow our heads and say that the Redeemer came when God so willed, and that what God wills is necessarily the best.
2. Yet we can at least form some kind of conjecture as to the causes of delay. God works by natural means. In order that the religion of Jesus should spread all over the world by the ordinary working of the laws that govern the affairs of men, it was convenient that the world should be subject to one central power. This was never the case until, at the time of Christ’s nativity, the Roman Empire was mistress of the world. Thus God prepares the way for His designs of mercy, and arranges the world’s events according to His will, yet without forcing the wills of men.
3. There was another reason for the long delay. It was to teach us that God does nothing hurriedly. He always waits before putting into execution His decrees. In this He wishes us to imitate Him. The eternal wisdom of the Most High needs no time for deliberation. His works are not gradually perfected, or improved on second thoughts. But ours are, and the slow action of the providence of God should impress upon us the importance of waiting before we act, and considering and reconsidering all our plans." Meditations for Advent . By Rev. Richard F. Clarke S.J. The Catholic Truth Society, London 1891
Saint Andrew Christmas Novena:
Hail and blessed be the hour and moment In which the Son of God was born Of the most pure Virgin Mary, at midnight, in Bethlehem, in the piercing cold. In that hour vouchsafe, I beseech Thee, O my God, to hear my prayer and grant my desires, [here mention your request] through the merits of Our Savior Jesus Christ, and of His blessed Mother. Amen. (15 times)
Prayer to the Holy Infant for priests
Jesus, Divine Infant, I bless and thank
Thy most loving Heart for the institution of the priesthood. Priests
are sent by Thee as Thou were sent by the Father. To them Thou entrusted
the treasures of Thy doctrine, of Thy Law, of Thy Grace, and souls
themselves.
Grant me the grace to love them, to listen to them,
and to let myself be guided by them in Thy ways. Jesus, send good
laborers into Thy harvest. May priests be the salt that purifies and
preserves; may they be the light of the world; may they be the city
placed on the mountain. May they all be formed after Thy own Heart. And
in heaven may they be surrounded by a joyous throng of those they
shepherded on earth. Amen.
Glory Be (three times).
Infant Jesus, make me love Thee more and more!
The Sacrifice of the Altar
by VP
Posted on Sunday December 07, 2025 at 12:00AM in Quotes
Traditional Latin Mass, Sacred Heart Raleigh NC
"All the ancient sacrifices, by which God was so much honored, were but shadows and figures of our sacrifice of the altar. All the honor that angels by their adorations and men by their good works, austerities, and even martyrdroms, have ever rendered or will ever render to God, never could, and never will, give Him so much glory as one single Mass; for, while the honor of all creatures is only finite, that which accrues to God from the holy Sacrifice of the Altar is infinite, inasmuch as the victim which is offered is of infinite value.
The Mass, therefore, offers to God the greatest honor that can be given Him; subdues most triumphantly the powers of hell; affords the greatest relief to the suffering souls in purgatory; appeases most efficaciously the wrath of God against sinners, and brings down the greatest blessings on mankind."
Source: Sacerdos sanctificatus; or, Discourses on the Mass and Office by St. Alphonsus Liguori
St. Nicholas, Bishop and Confessor, A.D. 342.
by VP
Posted on Saturday December 06, 2025 at 04:00AM in Saints
Čeština: Jaroslav Čermák (1831 - 1878) - Sv. Mikuláš
ST. NICHOLAS was a child of prayer, being obtained of God, like Samuel, as the reward of his parents' virtue. A good lesson for parents to recommend their children daily to God, through whose blessing alone they can be secured against the corruption of the world, and the many dangers of sin.
His life was the practice of abstinence, mortification, and extraordinary charity in relieving the distressed. Follow his example, as far as your circumstances permit. Pray against all immoderate love of yourself, and seeking your own ease: and begin to fear that a sensual method of indulging and pleasing yourself will not lead you to that crown, which our forefathers gained only by self-denials.
St. Nicholas was chosen by a particular direction of heaven, archbishop of Myra, a city of Lycia in Asia. In that charge, he was a light shining to men, in all piety, liberality, hospitality, and the care of his flock. Pray that all who are raised to that dignity may be prepared by his virtues, and may be the choice of heaven. Pray for all bishops now in God's Church, and in particular for that Prelate, to whose flock you belong, that they may be every way faithful to their charge, and that their zeal and charity may be answerable to their dignity.
St. Nicholas died at Myra in the year 342, and was buried in his own cathedral. This saint is esteemed the patron of children, because he was from his infancy a model of innocence and virtue; and to form that tender age to piety was always his first care and delight. To impress on the minds of children perfect sentiments of devotion, religion, and virtue, is of the utmost importance. But instruction must be enforced by example. Precepts and exhortations lose their force, when contradicted by bad example. Pray that all parents and instructors may do as well as teach, and that children may be docile and virtuous." The Catholic Year; Or Daily Lessons on the Feasts of the Church by Rev. Fr. John Gother
Prayer to St. Nicholas: O God , who by innumerable miracles hast honored blessed Nicholas , the bishop grant , we beseech thee , that , by his merits and prayers , we may be delivered from the flames of hell . Through our Lord Jesus Christ... (1 Pater, 1 Ave) The Glories of Jesus with Prayers at Mass by Rev. Fr. Vincent HUBY, SJ 1835
Priests' Saturday
by VP
Posted on Saturday December 06, 2025 at 12:15AM in Prayers
Divine Savior, Jesus Christ, Who hast
entrusted the whole work of Thy redemption, the welfare and salvation of
the world, to priests as Thy representatives, through the hands of Thy
most holy Mother and for the sanctification of Thy priests and
candidates for the priesthood I offer Thee this present day wholly and
entirely, with all its prayers, works, sacrifices, joys, and sorrows.
Give truly holy priests who, inflamed with the fire of Thy divine love,
seek nothing but Thy greater glory and the salvation of our souls.
And thou, Mary, good Mother of priests, protect all priests in the
dangers of their holy vocation and, with the loving hand of a Mother,
also lead back to the Good Shepherd those poor priests who have become
unfaithful to their exalted vocation and have gone astray.
Rorate Caeli Masses
by VP
Posted on Saturday December 06, 2025 at 12:00AM in Tradition
St. Mary, Garner NC, Picture used with permission ©MW
"The Rorate or Angel's Masses, are really Advent Masses, because they are said only in Advent. They are called Rorate Masses because the Introit begins with the words: "Rorate caeli desuper" - "Drop down dew, ye heavens." They are also called Angels' Masses, because the Gospel is read in which the Archangel Gabriel brought the Blessed Virgin Mary the message that she should conceive of the Holy Ghost.
(...)
They are said early in the morning, before the rising of the sun. It is still night when the bells ring out and give the first sign to the faithful, addressing to them, as it were, the words of the Apostle: "Brethren, know that it is now the hour for us to rise from sleep, for now our salvation is near." Roman 13:11. The faithful assemble in the church, where the Rorate Mass is said. Whilst the word outside is veiled in darkness, the church, especially the altar, is lighted up with many candles. A symbol rich in meaning. What does the mysterious obscurity outside signify but the darkness of idolatry, of sin, and of spiritual misery, in which man, after separating himself from God, lay buried; while the burning lights in the church remind us of Jesus Christ, the light of the world, "The Orient from on high hath visited us, to enlighten them that sit in darkness, and in the shadow of death." Luke 1: 78,79. The Rorate Masses, however, are not said at midnight, but in the morning, shortly before the break of day, for the reason that they refer to Mary, this spiritual dawn, which immediately precedes Jesus Christ, the Sun of Justice.
The Rorate Masses have a joyful celebration with solemn chant and the accompaniment of the organ. This is beautifully significant, first, because the Rorate Masses represent the mystery of the Incarnation of Christ, as a mystery which must fill every Christian heart with joy; secondly, because these Masses announce the mystery of the Incarnation near at hand, referring to Gabriel, who approaches Mary, and brings her the message that she has been selected by God to become the Mother of his Son.
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The contents of these Masses refer in everything to the mystery of the Incarnation in the chaste womb of the blessed Virgin Mary.
a. The Introit of the Mass has reference to this mystery, "Drop down dew, ye heavens, and let the clouds rain the just; let the earth be opened, and bud forth a Saviour." Isaiah 45:8. These words express the mournful sighing of the people in the Old Law for the promised Redeemer, and form the principal idea of Advent. This longing for the coming of the Redeemer must animate us; for, if Jesus is to come into our hearts with His grace, we must have a longing for Him. To him who has no desire to possess Jesus, our Christmas will be as little of a festival of grace as the first Christmas at Bethlehem was to Herod, to the high-priest, the Scribes, and the Pharisees. The Incarnation of Christ is also the prevailing sentiment in the three prayers of the Rorate Masses.
b. The Epistle contains the prophecy of Isaiah on the conception and birth of Christ by the Blessed Virgin Mary. By the command of God, the prophet had called upon Achaz, King of Judea, to ask for a sign from heaven, that his faith might thereby be strengthened. But Achaz, perverse as he was, rejected this invitation, and told the prophet that he would ask no sign. The prophet reprimanded him, and told him that God Himself would give a wonderful sign; which he recalled to him in these words: "Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bring forth a son, and he shall be called Emmanuel." Is. 7:14. The Virgin of whom the prophet here speaks is the Blessed Virgin Mary, and the Emmanuel, that is, God-with-us, whom she was to conceive and bring forth, is Jesus Christ.
The fulfillment of this prophecy is narrated in the Gospel of the Rorate Masses. It is the same Gospel which read on the Feast of the Annunciation of Mary, and treats of the mystery of the Incarnation. At the very moment when Mary said to the angel: "Behold the handmaid of the Lord, be it done to me according to thy word," the greatest miracle of the love and mercy of God was performed. The Son of God assumed human nature in the chaste womb of the Virgin Mary. This Gospel forms the boundary line between the Old and the New Testaments; with it the time of expectation is concluded, and the fulfillment of grace begins. For this reason, the Church celebrates the Rorate Masses early in the morning, before dawn, for the night is passed, and day is at hand.
Peroration:
Reflect on the great and solemn mysteries which the Church, in her masses on the Sundays during Advent, and especially in the Rorate Masses, presents to you, and labor with renewed zeal that you may employ this holy season of Advent for the salvation of your souls. Contemplate the great misery into which the human race had fallen; reflect upon the mercies of God, who, in the very beginning, promised, and after four thousand years sent a Redeemer. Consider also what you would be without a Redeemer, and what you are, or rather still may be through him. Practice those holy exercises which are necessary in order to worthily prepare for Christmas and to participate in the graces of that festival. Amen"
