Today is the Feast of Groundhog Day, I mean The Presentation of the Lord (formerly, The Purification of Mary).

I found a full version of the painting by Gozzoli:

Today would have been the Memorial of Saint Thomas Aquinas if it hadn’t fallen on Sunday.

I can’t imagine life without Aquinas.

Don’t forget to check out Conditor Alme Siderum, a traditional Advent hymn. The English version, “Creator of the Stars of Night,” captures some of the beauty of the original, but of course I like my translation better.

Today is the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

As we know, Mary was preserved from the first moment of her conception from all stain of original sin. She was also free from actual sin throughout her entire life.

The Immaculate Conception of Mary was a grace given to no one else, but it was not given only for her own sake. When the Second Person became man, he created a human body having a soul and a human nature. He then united himself to it from the first moment of its existence. Thus, Christ is truly human, and he received from his mother his humanity: nature and flesh. Everything that men receive from their mothers he received from his. Since the Fall, however, every mother has passed on to her children original sin. Christ could have no sin, but since he received his humanity from Mary, she also could have no sin so as to be incapable of passing on to him that stain. The Immaculate Conception was a gift given to Mary so that she could fully be Christ’s mother so that he could fully be human.

Today is the Feast of St. Andrew the Apostle. He was the brother of St. Peter, and he told St. Peter that he had found the Messiah and brought him to Jesus.

There was Mass at St. Francis de Sales Oratory last night. It was very beautiful but probably the quickest Mass I’ve seen there (about an hour). It was a little more complicated because some of the kneeling/sitting was different. Also, we held candles during the Gospel and the Eucharistic Prayer. At the end, we held candles around a coffin as the priest blessed it.

For the Dies Irae, the choir sang the plainchant version which is my favorite.

Today is the Solemnity of All Saints. It’s also a holy day of obligation, so go to Mass if you haven’t yet. The celebrations today and tomorrow are beautifully paired. Today, we celebrate and ask intercession of the Church Triumphant. Tomorrow, we pray for the Church Suffering.

Today, in a particular way, we are celebrating the Communion of Saints. The Communion of Saints is really a way of talking about the fullness of the Church. The Church, as we know, consists of the Church Militant on earth, the Church Triumphant in heaven, and the Church Suffering in purgatory. The Communion of Saints means that we are in a relationship with the whole Church, not only the Church Militant. The saints help us on earth through their intercession, and we can help those in purgatory through prayers and indulgences.

It is unfortunate that some consider remembering the saints beneficial only on account of their example, as if we were merely inspired by pious legends. Stories about the saints are useful in encouraging us to live the Christian life, but the saints themselves can actually help us through their prayers, and we ought to ask for their intercession.

Some ask why it is important to ask the saints to pray for us. Why not “just go to Christ directly”? What a misunderstanding! Do the saints by their intercession in some way hinder God’s hearing our petitions? Does God want us to be “efficient” and take “the most direct route”? Absurdity!

We pray to the saints–asking them to pray for us–because this is what Christ wants us to do. Remember at the wedding at Cana that the servants did not ask Christ but rather the Blessed Mother. He, in turn, did not immediately grant the request, but at the insistence of his mother he conceded to give them “good wine.” When Christ died, he told Saint John–and thus the whole Church and all of creation–to behold his mother as our mother. Christ does not want us to be in relationship only to himself but to one another as well.

Think about it. Why did God create so much and so many angels and men? If he simply wanted me to be saved, then why did he not create me alone? Rather, it is fitting that he made many men and angels along with beasts and other material things to be related to him and also to one another. The very fact that God has created more than one creature means that the creatures are in a relationship not only to God but to one another.

Suppose someone were looking for a particular address. Would not the prudent thing be to stop and ask directions from someone else? It is true that he could “go to God directly” and pray to find his destination, but in asking someone else he recognizes not that he is not still relying on God but that God wants us to help one another.

Indeed, he commands that we love one another. How can we love one another but not pray for one another? For love is willing the good and prayer (of petition) is asking for the good. If we can pray for one another here on earth where we are all peers, then how much more can those in heaven who have “grown up” in their love of God pray for us.

In the older calendar, today is the feast of Christ the King. Thus, Vespers this evening had special antiphons, tones, etc. The proximity of this feast to the upcoming midterm election was quite striking.

The hymn from Vespers shows this beautifully:

1. Te saeculorum Principem, Te, Christe, Regem Gentium,
Te mentium, Te cordium Unum fatemur arbitrum.

2. Scelesta turba clamitat: Regnare Christum nolumus:
Te nos ovantes omnium Regem supremum dicimus.

3. O Christe, Princeps Pacifer, Mentes rebelles subiice:
Tuoque amore devios, Ovile in unum congrega.

4. Ad hoc cruenta ab arbore, Pendes apertis brachiis:
Diraque fossum cuspide Cor igne flagrans exhibes.

5. Ad hoc in aris abderis Vini dapisque imagine,
Fundens salutem filiis Transverberato pectore.

6. Te nationum Praesides Honore tollant publico,
Colant magistri, iudices, Leges et artes exprimant.

7. Submissa regum fulgeant Tibi dicata insignia:
Mitique sceptro patriam Domosque subde civium.

8. Iesu, tibi sit gloria, Qui sceptra mundi temperas,
Cum Patre et almo Spiritu, In sempiterna saecula. Amen.

Here’s my fairly literal translation:

1. We acknowledge you to be the Prince of the ages, You, Christ, the King of the Nations,
You of minds, You of hearts the one judge.

2. The wicked crowd cries out: We do not want Christ to reign:
Rejoicing we say that you are the supreme King of all.

3. O Christ, Prince Peace-Bearer, Subject our rebel minds:
And gather together into one sheepfold, those who stray from your love.

4. For this from the blood-stained tree, You hang with open arms:
And stabbed with the fearful spear You show a heart burning with fire.

5. For this on altars you are concealed In wine and the image of a feast,
Pouring salvation to children of transfixed heart.

6. May the presidents of nations lift you up in public honor,
May magistrates and judges worship you, May laws and arts express you.

7. May the insignias of kings shine forth dedicated and submissive to you:
Place under your meek scepter our country and the homes of its citizens.

8. Jesus, to you be glory, Who temper the scepters of the world,
With the Father and the kind Spirit, unto the everlasting ages. Amen.

Today is the feast of Saint Luke the Evangelist. He worked with St. Paul and is the writer of one of the four books of the Gospel as well as the Acts of the Apostles.