14 JANUARY – SAINT HILARY OF POITERS (Bishop, Confessor and Doctor of the Church)

Hilary was born of a noble family in Aquitaine, and was distinguished for his learning and eloquence. He was married but the life he led was almost that of a monk so that later on, on account of his great virtues, he was made Bishop of Poitiers, and so well did he discharge the episcopal office as to be the object of the deepest veneration on the part of the faithful. At that time the Emperor Constantius was inflicting every sort of harsh treatment, intimidation, confiscation of their property and banishment on the Catholics who refused to side with the Arians. Hilary set himself as a bulwark against the Arians, bringing on himself all their fury. On this account they many times sought to ensnare him, and at length, by the treachery of Saturninus, the Bishop of Aries, he was banished from the Council at Beziers into Phrygia. There he raised a dead man to life and wrote his twelve books On the Trinity, against the Arians. Four years later a Council was called at Seleucia, a town in Isauria, at which Hilary was compelled to assist. Thence he set out for Constantinople, where, seeing the extreme dangers to which the true faith had been exposed, he petitioned the Emperor, by three public petitions, to grant him an audience in order that he might obtain permission to hold a controversy with his adversaries concerning matters of faith. But Ursacius and Valens, two Arian Bishops, whom Hilary had refuted in his writings, were afraid of allowing so learned a man to continue there any longer, and persuaded Constantius to restore him to his episcopal see, under the pretence of showing him honour.

Then did the Church of Gaul open her arms, as Saint Jerome says, to receive Hilary on his return from battle with the heretics. Saint Martin, who was afterwards Bishop of Tours, followed the holy Doctor to Poitiers. How much he profited by the instructions of such a master is evidenced by the sanctity of his after-life. From that time he was left in perfect peace in the government of the Church of Poitiers. He led the whole of Gaul to condemn the Arian blasphemies. He composed a great many exceedingly learned books of which Saint Jerome, in a letter to Laeta, says that they may be all read without the slightest fear of meeting any false doctrine in them. He assures her that she may run through the books of Hilary without stumbling on anything dangerous. He passed from this Earth to Heaven on the Ides of January (January 13th), during the reign of the Emperors Valentinian and Valens, in the year of our Lord 369. Hilary was called by several Fathers and Councils, an illustrious Doctor of the Church and was publicly honoured as such in certain dioceses. At length, at the petition of the Council of Bordeaux, the Supreme Pontiff Blessed Pius IX Pius, after having consulted the Congregation of Sacred Rites, declared him to have been justly called, and to be in effect, a Doctor of the universal Church and ordered that on his Feast all should recite the Mass and Office Of Doctors.

Dom Prosper Gueranger:

After having consecrated the joyous Octave of the Epiphany to the glory of the Emmanuel who was manifested to the Earth, the Church — incessantly occupied with the Divine Child and His august Mother during the whole time from Christmas Day to that on which Mary will bring Jesus to the Temple, there to be offered to God as the law prescribes — the Church, we say, has on her Calendar of this portion of the year the names of many glorious Saints who shine like so many stars on the path which leads us from the joys of the Nativity of our Lord to the sacred mystery of our Lady’s Purification. And firstly, there comes before us, on the very morrow of the day consecrated to the Baptism of Jesus, the faithful and courageous Hilary — the pride of the Churches of Gaul and the worthy associate of Athanasius and Eusebius of Vercelli in the battle fought for the Divinity of our Emmanuel.

Scarcely were the cruel persecutions of paganism over when there commenced the fierce contest with Arianism which had sworn to deprive of the glory and honours of His divinity that Jesus, who had conquered, by His Martyrs, over the violence and craft of the Roman Emperors. The Church had won her liberty by shedding her blood, and it was not likely that she would be less courageous on the new battlefield into which she was driven. Many were the Martyrs that were put to death by her new enemies — Christian, though heretical, Princes —it was for the Divinity of that Lord who had mercifully appeared on the Earth in the weakness of human flesh that they shed their blood. Side by side with these, there stood those holy and illustrious Doctors who, with the martyr-spirit within them, defended by their learning and eloquence the Nicene Faith which was the Faith of the Apostles. In the foremost rank of these latter we behold the Saint of today, covered with the rich laurels of his brave confessorship, Hilary — who, as Saint Jerome says of him, was brought up in the pompous school of Gaul, yet had culled the flowers of Grecian science and became the Rhone of Latin eloquence. Saint Augustine calls him the illustrious Doctor of the Churches.

Though gifted with the most extraordinary talents and one of the most learned men of the age, yet Saint Hilary’s greatest glory is his intense love for the Incarnate Word, and his zeal for the Liberty of the Church. His great soul thirsted after martyrdom and, by the unflinching love of truth which such a spirit gave him, he was the brave champion of the Church in that trying period when Faith, that had stood the brunt of persecution, seemed to be on the point of being betrayed by the craft of Princes, and the cowardice of temporising and un-orthodox Pastors.

*****

Glorious Hilary, you well deserved that your Church of Poitiers should, of old, address to you the magnificent praise given by the Roman Church to your illustrious disciple Saint Martin: “O blessed Pontiff who with his whole heart loved Christ our *' King and feared not the majesty of emperors! O most holy soul which, though not taken away by the sword of the persecutor, yet lost not the palm of martyrdom!” If the Palm of a Martyr is not in your, yet you had a Martyr’s spirit, and well might we add to your other titles of Confessor, Bishop and Doctor, the glorious one of Martyr, just as our holy Mother the Church has conferred it on your fellow-combatant Eusebius who was but Martyr in heart like yourself. Yes, your glory is great, but it is all due to you for your courage in confessing the Divinity of that Incarnate Word whose birth and infancy we are now celebrating. You had to stand before a Herod, as had the Magi, and, like them, you feared not: and when the Caesar of those times banished you to a foreign land, your soul found comfort in the thought that the infant Jesus too was exiled into Egypt. Oh that we could imitate you in the application of these Mysteries to ourselves!

Now that you are in Heaven, pray for our Churches that they may be firm in the Faith and may study to know and love Jesus, our Emmanuel. Pray for your Church of Poitiers which still loves you with the reverence and affection of a child, but since the ardour of your zeal embraced all the world, pray also for all the world. Pray that God may bless His Church with Bishops powerful in word and work, profound in sacred science, faithful in the guardianship of that which is entrusted to them and unswerving defenders of Ecclesiastical Liberty.

Also on this day according to the ROMAN MARTYROLOGY:

At Nola in Campania, the birthday of St. Felix, priest, who (as is related by bishop St. Paulinus), after being subjected to torments by the persecutors, was cast into prison and extended, bound hand and foot, on (snail) shells and broken earthenware. In the night, however, his bonds were loosened and he was delivered by an angel. The persecution over, he brought many to the faith of Christ by his exemplary life and teaching and, renowned for miracles, rested in peace.

In Judaea, St. Malachi, prophet.

On Mount Sinai, thirty-eight holy monks, killed by the Saracens for the faith of Christ.

In the district of Raithy in Egypt forty-three holy monks, who were put to death by the Blemmians for the Christian religion.

At Milan, St. Datius, bishop and confessor, mentioned by Pope St. Gregory.

In Africa, St. Euphrasius, bishop.

In Syria, in the time of the emperor Valens, St. Julian Sabas the Elder who miraculously restored at Antioch the Catholic faith which was almost destroyed in that city.

At Neocaesarea in Pontus, St. Macrina, a disciple of St. Gregory Thaumaturgus, and grandmother of St. Basil, who she brought up in the Christian faith.

And in other places, many other holy martyrs, confessors and virgins.

Thanks be to God.

13 JANUARY – OCTAVE OF THE EPIPHANY (THE BAPTISM OF OUR LORD)

Dom Prosper Guéranger:

The thoughts of the Church today, are fixed on the Baptism of our Lord in the Jordan, which is the second of the three Mysteries of the Epiphany. The Emmanuel manifested Himself to the Magi after having shown Himself to the shepherds. But this manifestation was made within the narrow space of a stable at Bethlehem, and the world knew nothing of it. In the Mystery of the Jordan, Christ manifested Himself with greater publicity. His coming is proclaimed by the Precursor. The crowd that is flocking to the river for Baptism is witness of what happens. Jesus makes this the beginning of His public life.

But who could worthily explain the glorious circumstances of this second Epiphany? It resembles the first in this, that it is for the benefit and salvation of the human race. The Star has led the Magi to Christ. They had long waited for His coming, they had hoped for it. Now they believe. Faith in the Messiah having come into the world is beginning to take root among the Gentiles. But faith is not sufficient for salvation: the stain of sin must be washed away by water. “He that believes and is baptised, will be saved” (Mark xvi. 16). The time is come, then, for a new manifestation of the Son of God by which there will be inaugurated the great remedy which is to give to Faith the power of producing life eternal.

Now, the decrees of divine Wisdom had chosen water as the instrument of this sublime regeneration of the human race. Hence, in the beginning of the world we find the Spirit of God moving over the waters” (Genesis i. 2) in order that they might “even then conceive a principle of sanctifying power,” as the Church expresses it in her Office for Holy Saturday. But before being called to fulfil the designs of God’s mercy, this element of water had to be used by the divine justice for the chastisement of a sinful world. With the exception of one family, the whole human race perished by the terrible judgement of God in the waters of the Deluge.

A fresh indication of the future supernatural power of this chosen element was given by the dove which Noah sent forth from the Ark. It returned to him, bearing in its beak an olive-branch, the symbol that peace was given to the Earth by its having been buried in water. But this was only the announcement of the mystery. Its accomplishment was not to be for long ages to come. Meanwhile, God spoke to His people by many events which were figurative of the future Mystery of Baptism. Thus, for example, it was by passing through the waters of the Red Sea that they entered into the Promised Land, and during the miraculous passage a pillar of a cloud was seen covering both the Israelites, and the waters to which they owed their deliverance.

But, in order that water should have the power to purify man from his sins, it was necessary that it should be brought in contact with the Sacred Body of the Incarnate God. The Eternal Father had sent His Son into the world, not only that He might be its Lawgiver, and Redeemer, and the Victim of its salvation — but that He might also be the Sanctifier of water, and it was in this sacred element that He would divinely bear testimony to His being His Son and manifest Him to the world a second time.

Jesus, therefore, being now thirty years of age, comes to the Jordan, a river already celebrated for the prophetic miracles which had been wrought in its waters. The Jewish people, roused by the preaching of John the Baptist, were flocking there in order to receive a Baptism which could, indeed, excite a sorrow for sin, but could not effect its forgiveness. Our divine King approaches the river not, of course, to receive sanctification, for He Himself is the author of all Justice — but to impart to water the power of bringing forth, as the Church expresses the mystery, a new and heavenly progeny. He goes down into the stream, not, like Joshua, to walk dry-shod through its bed, but to let its waters encompass Him, and receive from Him, both for itself and for the waters of the whole Earth, the sanctifying power which they would retain for ever. The saintly Baptist places his trembling hand upon the sacred head of the Redeemer and bends it beneath the water. The Sun of Justice vivifies this his creature. He imparts to it the glow of life-giving fruitfulness and water thus becomes the prolific source of supernatural life.

But in this the commencement of a new creation we look for the intervention of the Three Persons of the Blessed Trinity. All Three are there. The heavens open. The dove descends, not as a mere symbol prophetic of some future grace, but as the sign of the actual presence of the Holy Ghost, the Spirit of love, who gives peace to men and changes their hearts. The dove hovers above the head of Jesus, overshadowing, at one and the same time, the Humanity of the Incarnate Word and the water which bathed His sacred Body. The manifestation is not complete. The Father’s voice is still to be heard speaking over the water and moving by its power the entire element throughout the Earth. Then was fulfilled the prophecy of David: “The Voice of the Lord is upon the waters; the God of majesty has thundered. The Voice of the Lord breaks cedars (that is, the pride of the devils). The Voice of the Lord divides the flame of fire (that is, the anger of God). The Voice of the Lord shakes the desert, and makes the flood to dwell (that is, announces a new Deluge, the Deluge of divine Mercy)” (Psalm cxxviii. 3, 5, 7, 8, 10). And what says this Voice of the Father? “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Matthew iii. 17).

Thus was the Holiness of the Emmanuel manifested by the presence of the dove and by the voice of the Father, as His kingly character had been previously manifested by the mute testimony of the Star. The mystery is accomplished, the waters are invested with a spiritual purifying power, and Jesus comes from the Jordan and ascends the bank, raising up with Himself the world, regenerated and sanctified, with all its crimes and defilements drowned in the stream. Such is the interpretation and language of the Holy Fathers of the Church regarding this great event of our Lord’s Life. The Feast of the Epiphany celebrates this wonderful mystery of Jesus’ Baptism, and we cannot be surprised at the Eastern Church having selected this Day for one of the solemn administrations of the sacrament of Baptism. The same custom was observed, as we learn from ancient documents, in certain Churches in the West. John Mosch tells us that as regards the Oriental Church, the Font was more than once miraculously filled with water on the Feast of the Epiphany, and that immediately after having administered the Sacrament, the people saw the water disappear. The Roman Church, even so early as the time of Saint Leo, decreed that Easter and Pentecost should be the only two days for the solemn administration of Baptism. But the custom of blessing the baptismal water with great solemnity on the Epiphany was still retained, and is observed even now in some parts of the West.

The Eastern Church has always religiously observed it. Amidst all the pomp of sacred rites, accompanied by his Priests and Ministers who are clothed in the richest vestments and followed by the whole people, the Bishop repairs to the banks of a river. After reciting certain beautiful prayers, which we regret not being able to offer to our readers, the Bishop plunges into the water a Cross richly adorned with precious stones. It represents our Lord being baptised by Saint John. At Saint Petersburg, the ceremony takes place on the river Neva, and it is through a hole made on the ice that the Metropolitan dips the Cross into the water. This same ceremony is observed by those Churches in the West which have retained the custom of blessing the baptismal water on this Feast. The faithful are very anxious to carry home with them the water of the stream thus sanctified, and Saint John Chrysostom, in his twenty-fourth Homily on the Baptism of Christ, speaks to his audience of the circumstance which was well known by all of them, of this water never turning corrupt. The same has been often seen in the Western Church.

Let us honour our Lord in this second Manifestation of His divinity, and thank Him, with the Church for His having given us both the Star of Faith which enlightens us, and the Water of Baptism which cleanses us from our iniquities. Let us lovingly appreciate the humility of our Jesus who permits Himself to be weighed down by the hand of a mortal man in order, as He says Himself, that He might fulfil all justice (Matthew iii. 15), for having taken on Himself the likeness of sin, it was requisite that He should bear its humiliation that so He might raise us from our debasement. Let us thank Him for this grace of Baptism which has opened to us the gates of the Church both of Heaven and Earth. And let us renew the engagements we made at the holy Font, for they were the terms on which we were regenerated to our new life in God.

* * * * *

O Lamb of God, you entered into the stream to purify it. The dove came down from Heaven, for your sweet meekness attracted the Spirit of love. And having sanctified the waters, the mystery of your Baptism was over. But, what tongue can express the prodigy of mercy effected by it! Men have gone down after you into the stream made sacred by contact with you. They return regenerated. They were wolves, and Baptism has transformed them into lambs. We were defiled by sin and were unworthy to stand near you, the spotless Lamb, but the waters of the holy Font have been poured upon us, and we are made as the sheep of the Canticle which come up from the washing fruitful, and none is barren among them (Canticles iv. 2), or as doves upon the brooks of water, white and spotless as though they had been washed with milk, sitting near the plentiful streams! (Canticles v. 12). Preserve us, O Jesus, in this white robe which you have put upon us. If, alas, we have tarnished its purity, cleanse us by that second Baptism, the Baptism of Penance. Permit us, too, dear Lord, to intercede for those countries to whom your Gospel has not yet been preached. Let this river of peace (Isaias lxvi.12), the waters of Baptism, flow out upon them and inundate the whole Earth. We beseech you, by the glory of your manifestation at your Baptism, forget the crimes of men which have hitherto caused the Gospel to be kept from those unhappy countries. Your heavenly Father bids every creature hear you: speak, dear Jesus, to every creature!

On this day according to the ROMAN MARTYROLOGY:

At Rome, on the Via Labicana, the crowning of forty holy soldiers, a reward they merited by confessing the true faith under the emperor Gallienus.

In Sardinia, St. Potitus, martyr, who, having suffered much under the emperor Antoninus and the governor Gelasius, was at last put to death by the sword.

At Singidonum (now Belgrade) in Upper Moesia, of the holy martyrs Hermylus and Stratonicus, who were severely tormented and drowned in the river Danube under the emperor Licinius.

At Cordova, the holy martyrs Gumesindus, priest, and Servideus, monk.

At Poitiers in France, the birthday of St. Hilary, bishop and confessor of the Catholic faith, which he courageously defended, and for which he was banished four years to Phrygia, where, among other miracles, he raised a man from the dead. Blessed Pius IX declared him Doctor of the Church. His festival is celebrated on the fourteenth of this month.

At Caesarea in Cappadocia, St. Leontius, a bishop, who strongly opposed the Gentiles under Licinius, and the Arians under Constantine.

At Treves, St. Agritius, bishop.

In the monastery of Verzy, St. Viventius, confessor.

At Amasea in Pontus, St. Glaphyra, virgin.

At Milan, in the monastery of St. Martha, blessed Veronica of Binasco, virgin of the Order of St. Augustine.

And in other places, many other holy martyrs, confessors and virgins.

Thanks be to God.

12 JANUARY – FERIA

On this day according to the ROMAN MARTYROLOGY:

At Rome, of Saint Tatiana, martyr, who under Alexander the emperor, being first torn with iron hooks and combs, then thrown unto beasts, and cast into the fire, but receiving no harm, was at last beheaded.

In Achaia, of Saint Satyrus, martyr, who as he passed before an idol, and blowing upon it, signed himself in the forehead with the cross, forthwith the idol fell to the ground; for which cause he was beheaded.

The same day, of Saint Arcadius, martyr, famous for his noble extraction, and miracles.

In Africa, of the martyrdom of Zoticus, Rigatus, Modestus, Castulus, and of forty soldiers.

At Constantinople, of the Saints Tygrius, priest, and Eutropius, reader, who suffered in the days of Arcadius the emperor.

At Tinoli, of Saint Zoticus, martyr.

At Ephesus, the passion of forty-and-two holy monks, who for the worship of holy images, under Constantinus Copronymus, having been most cruelly tormented, accomplished their martyrdom.

At Ravenna, of Saint John, bishop and confessor.

At Verona, of Saint Probus, bishop.

In England, of Saint Benedict, abbot and confessor.

And in other places, many other holy martyrs, confessors and virgins.

Thanks be to God.

11 JANUARY – THE HOLY FAMILY

 

Epistle – Colossians iii. 12‒17

Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, the bowels of mercy, benignity, humility, modesty, patience: bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if any have a complaint against another: as the Lord has forgiven you, so do you also. But above all these things have charity, which is the bond of perfection: And let the peace of Christ rejoice in your hearts, wherein also you are called in one body, and be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you abundantly, in all wisdom: teaching and admonishing one another in psalms, hymns and spiritual canticles, singing in grace in your hearts to God. Whatever you do in word or in work, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him.

Thanks be to God.

Gospel – Luke ii. 42‒52

When He was twelve years old, they went up into Jerusalem, according to the custom of the feast. And having fulfilled the days, when they returned the child Jesus remained in Jerusalem; but His parents knew it not. Thinking that He was in the company, they came a day’s journey and sought Him among their kin and acquaintances. Not finding Him, they returned into Jerusalem, seeking Him. And it came to pass, that, after three days, they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, hearing them, and asking them questions. All that heard Him were astonished at His wisdom and His answers. Seeing Him, they wondered. And His mother said to Him: “Son, why have you done this to us? Behold your father and I have sought you sorrowing.” And He said to them: “How is it that you sought me? Did you not know that I must be about my father's business?” They understood not the word that He spoke to them. He went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them. His mother kept all these words in Her heart. And Jesus advanced in wisdom and age, and grace with God and men.

Praise be to you, O Christ.

Dom Prosper Guéranger:

Thus, O Jesus, did you come down from Heaven to teach us. The tender age of childhood which you took upon yourself is no hindrance to the ardour of your desire that we should know the one only God who made all things, and you, His Son, whom He sent to us. When laid in the crib, you instructed the shepherds by a mere look. When swathed in your humble swaddling clothes and subjected to the voluntary silence you had imposed on yourself, you revealed to the Magi the light they sought in following the Star. When twelve years old, you explained to the Doctors of Israel the Scriptures which bear testimony to you. You gradually dispelled the shadows of the Law by your presence and your words. In order to fulfil the commands of your heavenly Father, you did not hesitate to occasion sorrow to the heart of your Mother by thus going in quest of souls that need enlightening. Your love of man will pierce that tender Heart of Mary with a still sharper sword when she will behold you hanging on the Cross and expiring in the midst of cruellest pain. Blessed be thou, sweet Jesus, in these first Mysteries of your infancy in which you already show yourself devoted to us and leaving the company of your Blessed Mother for that of sinful men who will one day conspire your death.

 

 

10 JANUARY – FERIA

On this day according to the ROMAN MARTYROLOGY:

In Cyprus, Blessed Nicanor, one of the seven first deacons who, admirable for his faith and virtue, was most gloriously crowned.

At Rome, St. Agatho, pope who, famous for holiness and learning, died a natural death.

At Milan, St. John, surnamed the Good, bishop and confessor.

In Thebais, the birthday of St. Paul, the first hermit, who, from the sixteenth year of his age until an hundred and thirteen, led a solitary life in the wilderness; whose soul St. Antony saw carried up to heaven by angels amidst the choirs of apostles and prophets, but his feast is kept on the fifteenth of this month.

At Constantinople, of St. Marcian, priest.

And in other places, many other holy martyrs, confessors and virgins.

Thanks be to God.

9 JANUARY – FERIA

On this day according to the ROMAN MARTYROLOGY:

At Antioch, in the reign of Diocletian and Maximian, the birthday of the Saints Julian, martyr, and Basilissa, his virgin wife. Having lived in a state of virginity with her husband, she reached the end of her days in peace. But after the death by fire of a multitude of priests and ministers of the Church of Christ, who had taken refuge in his house from the severity of the persecution, Julian was ordered by the president Marcian to be tormented in many ways and executed. With him suffered Anthony, a priest, and Anastasius, whom Julian raised from the dead, and made partaker of the grace of Christ; also, Celsus, a boy, with his mother Marcionilla, seven brothers, and many others.

In Mauritania Caesariensis (now Algeria), St. Marciana, virgin, who consummated her martyrdom by being condemned to the beasts.

At Smyrna, the holy martyrs Vitalis, Revocatus, and Fortunatus.

In Africa, the holy martyrs Epictetus, Jucundus, Secundus, Vitalis, Felix, and seven others.

At Sebaste, in Armenia, St. Peter, bishop, brother of St. Basil the Great. At Ancona, St. Marcellinus, bishop, who, according to St. Gregory, miraculously deliverered that city from destruction by fire.

And in other places, many other holy martyrs, confessors and virgins.

Thanks be to God.

8 JANUARY – FERIA

On this day according to the ROMAN MARTYROLOGY:

At Beauvais in France, the holy martyrs Lucian, priest, Maximian and Julian. The last two were killed with the sword by the persecutors, but blessed Lucian who had come to France with St. Denis, not fearing, after the slaughter of his companions, to confess the name of Christ openly, received the same sentence of death.

Also in France, St. Eugenian, martyr.

In Lybia, the holy martyrs Theophilus, deacon, and Helladius, who, after being lacerated and cut with sharp pieces of earthenware were cast into the fire and rendered their souls to God.

At Venice, the demise of blessed Lawrence Justinian, confessor, first patriarch of that city. Eminent for learning and abundantly filled with the heavenly gifts of divine wisdom, he was ranked among the saints by Pope Alexander VIII. He is again mentioned on the fifth of September.

At Hierapolis in Asia, St. Apollinaris, bishop, who was conspicuous for sanctity and learning, under Marcus Antoninus Verus.

At Naples in Campania, the birthday of the bishop St. Severin, brother to the blessed martyr Victorinus, who, after working many miracles, went to rest, replenished with virtues and merits.

At Pavia, St. Maximus, bishop and confessor.

At Metz, St. Patiens, bishop.

The same day, among the inhabitants of Noricum (now Austria), the abbot St. Severin, who preached the Gospel in that country and is called its apostle. By divine power his body was carried to Lucullanum near Naples, and from there transferred to the monastery of St. Severin.

And in other places, many other holy martyrs, confessors and virgins.

Thanks be to God.