Faith, Hope and Charity

At Antioch, the passion of the seven holy brothers Machabees, with their mother, who suffered under King Antiochus Epiphanes. Their relics were translated to Rome and buried in the church of St Peter ad Vincula. At Vercelli, the birthday of St Eusebius, Bishop and Martyr, who for his confession of the Catholic faith was sent into exile by the Emperor Constantine to Scythopolis in Palestine, and thence to Cappadocia. He afterwards returned to his Church and suffered martyrdom at the hands of the persecuting Arians: but his memory is more especially honoured on December 15, on which day he was … Continue reading Faith, Hope and Charity

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the birthday of Pope St Silvester Ⅰ, baptizer of Constantine the Great

At Rome, the birthday of Pope St Silvester Ⅰ, Confessor, who baptized the Emperor Constantine the Great, and confirmed the Council of Nicæa and, after many other deeds accomplished in holiness, rested in peace. Also at Rome, on the Via Salaria in the cemetery of Priscilla, the holy martyrs Donata, Paulina, Rustica, Nominanda, Serotina, Hilaria and their companions. At Sens, blessed Sabinian, Bishop, and Potentian, who were sent thither to preach by the Roman Pontiff, and did honour to that city by the confession of their martyrdom. At Catania in Sicily, the passion of SS. Stephen, Pontian, Attalus, Fabian, Cornelius, … Continue reading the birthday of Pope St Silvester Ⅰ, baptizer of Constantine the Great

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ONLY THE FIRST CHRISTIAN MARTYR…

And so, after the Feast of the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ, we have the Feast of Stephen – or not as it turns out… St Stephen appears to have been sent back to the bench this year. Poor St Stephen, after all, what did he do? Why should we remember him? Oh yes, he was the first Christian martyr… So doubt anyone will be singing Good King Wenceslas this year then. Continue reading ONLY THE FIRST CHRISTIAN MARTYR…

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The Vigil of the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ

The Vigil of the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ. At Cracow in Poland, the birthday of St John of Kanti, Priest and Confessor, who was famous for his learning, zeal for spreading the faith, virtues and miracles. Pope Clement ⅩⅢ added him to the number of the saints; his festival, however, is kept on October 20. At Spoleto, St Gregory, Priest and Martyr, who in the time of the Emperors Diocletian and Maximian was first scourged with knottel cudgels, and then, after suffering the gridiron and imprisonment, was beaten on his knees with iron rods and his sides burnt … Continue reading The Vigil of the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ

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oxford shows off 16th century ‘video nasty’

I was fortunate to be on a guided tour of the Christ Church Picture Gallery, where my good friend John Whitehead was on duty, yesterday afternoon. Although it was free, and there were plenty of tourists in the city as a result of  St Giles’ Fair, I was the only person on the tour. This made for a very interesting afternoon, hearing about all sorts of paintings, and seeing some particularly gruesome images. Continue reading “oxford shows off 16th century ‘video nasty’”