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Religious Education in Catholicism

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H T T P S : / / T W I T T E R . C O M / C AT H O L I C I S M E D U 1

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

St. Francis Xavier

SAINT OF THE MONTH

S T . F R A N C I S X AV I E R

Born in the Castle of Xavier

near Sanguesa, in Navarre, 7
3
Inside Story
April, 1506; died on the Island of Sancian near the
3
Inside Story
coast of China, 2 December,
4
Inside Story
1552. In 1525, having completed a preliminary course
5
Inside Story
of studies in his own coun6
Inside Story
try, Francis Xavier went to
Paris, where he entered the
8
collge de Sainte-Barbe.
9
Here he met the Savoyard,
Pierre Favre, and a warm
10
personal friendship sprang
up between them. It was at
11
this same college that St.
Ignatius Loyola, who was
already planning the foundation of the Society of Jesus,
resided for a time as a guest
in 1529. He soon won the
confidence of the two young
men; first Favre and later
Xavier offered themselves
Whats New:
We are setting up to do with him in the formation of
the lessons and prayers the Society. Four others,
Lainez, Salmern, Rodrguez,
in a real environment
because of continuous and Bobadilla, having joined
problems making it hap- them, the seven made the
famous vow of Montmartre,
pen via animation.
15 Aug., 1534. After com The plan is to have new
pleting his studies in Paris
videos by January thank and filling the post of
you for your patience
teacher there for some time,
with us in this matter.
Xavier left the city with his
companions 15 November,
1536, and turned his steps
to Venice, where he disInside Story

Caption describing picture or graphic.

played zeal and charity in

attending the sick in the
hospitals. On 24 June,
1537, he received Holy orders with St. Ignatius. The
following year he went to
Rome, and after doing apostolic work there for some
months, during the spring
of 1539 he took part in the
conferences which St. Ignatius held with his companions to prepare for the definitive foundation of the
Society of Jesus. The order
was approved verbally 3
September, and before the
written approbation was
secured, which was not
until a year later, Xavier
was appointed, at the ear-

nest solicitation of the

John III, King of Portugal,
to evangelize the people of
the East Indies. He left
Rome 16 March, 1540, and
reached Lisbon about
June. Here he remained
nine months, giving many
admirable examples of
apostolic zeal. On 7 April,
1541, he embarked in a
sailing vessel for India, and
after a tedious and dangerous voyage landed at Goa,
6 May, 1542. The first five
months he spent in
preaching and ministering
to the sick in the hospitals.
He would go through the
streets ringing a little bell

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V o l um e 1 i s s ue 4

ST.FRANCIS

X AV I E R

and inviting the children to

hear the word of God. When
he had gathered a number,
he would take them to a
certain church and would
there explain the catechism
to them. About October,
1542, he started for the
pearl fisheries of the ex-

St. Francis Xavier

has been called the
first Apostle of the
Philippines.

He laboured there for the

last months of that year, and
although he reaped an
abundant spiritual harvest,
he was not able to root out
certain abuses, and was conscious that many sinners
had resisted his efforts to
bring them back to God.
About January, 1546,
Xavier left Malacca and
went to Molucca Islands, where the Portuguese had some settlements, and for a year
and a half he preached
the Gospel to the inhabitants of Amboyna,
Caption describing picture or graphic.
Ternate, Baranura, and
other lesser islands
which it has been diffitreme southern coast of the cult to identify. It is claimed
peninsula, desirous of reby some that during this exstoring Christanity which,
pedition he landed on the
although introduced years
island of Mindanao, and for
before, had almost disapthis reason St. Francis Xavier
peared on account of the
has been called the first
lack of priests. He devoted
Apostle of the Philippines.
almost three years to the
But although this statement
work of preaching to the
is made by some writers of
people of Western India,
the seventeenth century,
converting many, and reach- and in the Bull of canonizaing in his journeys even the
tion issued in 1623, it is said
Island of Ceylon. Many were that he preached the Gospel
the difficulties and hardships in Mindanao, up to the prewhich Xavier had to encoun- sent time it has not been
ter at this time, sometimes
proved absolutely that St.
on account of the cruel per- Francis Xavier ever landed in
secutions which some of the the Philippines. By July,
petty kings of the country
1547, he was again in Macarried on against the neolacca. Here he met a Japaphytes, and again because
nese called Anger (Han-Sir),
the Portuguese soldiers, far from whom he obtained
from seconding the work of much information about
the saint, retarded it by their Japan. His zeal was at once
bad example and vicious
aroused by the idea of introhabits. In the spring of 1545 ducing Christanity into JaXavier started for Malacca.
pan, but for the time being

the affairs of the Society

demanded his presence at
Goa, whither he went,
taking Anger with him.
During the six years that
Xavier had been working
among the infidels, other
Jesuit missionaries had
arrived at Goa, sent from
Europe by St. Ignatius;
moreover some who had
been born in the country
had been received into the
Society. In 1548 Xavier
sent these missionaries to
the principal centres of
India, where he had established missions, so that
the work might be preserved and continued. He
also established a novitiate and house of studies,
and having received into
the Society Father Cosme
de Torres, a spanish priest
whom he had met in the
Maluccas, he started with
him and Brother Juan
Fernndez for Japan towards the end of June,
1549. The Japanese Anger,
who had been baptized at
Goa and given the name
of Pablo de Santa Fe, accompanied them. They
landed at the city of Kagoshima in Japan, 15 Aug.,
1549. The entire first year
was devoted to learning

Caption describing picture or

graphic.

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Page 3

S T . F R A N C I S X AV I E R
the Japanese language and
translating into Japanese,
with the help of Pablo de
Santa Fe, the principal articles of faith and short treatises which were to be employed in preaching and
catechizing. When he was
able to express himself, Xavier began preaching and
made some converts, but
these aroused the ill will of
the bonzes, who had him
banished from the city.
Leaving Kagoshima about
August, 1550, he penetrated
to the centre of Japan, and
preached the Gospel in
some of the cities of southern Japan. Towards the end
of that year he reached

Meaco, then
the principal
city of Japan,
but he was unable to make
any headway
here because
of the dissensions then
Caption describing picture or graphic.
rending the
country. He
retraced his steps to the
half in Japan he left this
centre of Japan, and durmission in charge of Father
ing 1551 preached in
Cosme de Torres and
some important cities,
Brother Juan Fernndez,
forming the nucleus of
and returned to Goa, arrivseveral Christian commuing there at the beginning
nities, which in time inof 1552. Here domestic
creased with extraorditroubles awaited him. Cernary rapidity. After worktain disagreements being about two years and a
tween the superior who

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V o l um e 1 i s s ue 4

S T . F R A N C I S X AV I E R

St. Francis Xavier is

considered the
greatest missionary
since the time of
the Apostles

had been left in charge of

the missions, and the rector
of the college, had to be adjusted. This, however, being
arranged, Xavier turned his
thoughts to China, and began to plan an expedition
there. During his stay in Japan he had heard much of
the Celestial Empire, and
though he probably had not
formed a proper estimate of
his extent and greatness, he
nevertheless understood
how wide a field it afforded
for the spread of the light of
the Gospel. With the help of
friends he arranged a commission or embassy the Sovereign of China, obtained
from the Viceroy of India the
appointment of ambassador, and in April, 1552, he
left Goa. At Malacca the
party encountered difficulties because the influential
Portuguese disapproved of
the expedition, but Xavier
knew how to overcome this
opposition, and in the autumn he arrived in a Portuguese vessel at the small
island of Sancian near the
coast of China. While planning the best means for
reaching the mainland, he
was taken ill, and as the

movement of the vessel seemed to aggravate his condition, he

was removed to the
land, where a rude hut
had been built to shelter him. In these
wretched surroundings he breathed his
last. It is truly a matter Caption describing picture or graphic.
of wonder that one
man in the short space of
tle him to this distinction.
ten years (6 May, 1542 - 2
He was canonized with St.
December, 1552) could
Ignatius in 1622, although
have visited so many coun- on account of the death of
tries, traversed so many
Gregory XV, the Bull of canseas, preached the Gospel
onization was not pubto so many nations, and
lished until the following
converted so many infidels. year. The body of the saint
The incomparable apostolic is still enshrined at Goa in
zeal which animated him,
the church which formerly
and the stupendous mirabelonged to the Society. In
cles which God wrought
1614 by order of Claudius
through him, explain this
Acquaviva, General of the
marvel, which has no equal Society of Jesus, the right
elsewhere. The list of the
arm was severed at the
principal miracles may be
elbow and conveyed to
found in the Bull of canoni- Rome, where the present
zation. St. Francis Xavier is
altar was erected to receive
considered the greatest
it in the church of the Gesu
Astrain, Antonio. "St. Francis
missionary since the time
Xavier." The Catholic Encycloof the Apostles, and the
pedia. Vol. 6. New York:
zeal he displayed, the won- Robert Appleton Company,
derful miracles he per1909. 28 Nov. 2014
formed, and the great num- <http://www.newadvent.org/
cathen/06233b.htm>.
ber of souls he brought to
the light of true Faith, enti-

P ROV E R B O F T H E M O N T H : P ROV E R B 2 4
1 Seek *not to be like evil men, neither desire to be with them:
2 Because their mind studies robberies, and their lips speak deceits.

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PSALM OF THE MONTH: PSALM 83

The soul aspireth after heaven: rejoicing, in the mean
time, in being in the communion of God's Church upon
the earth.
1 Unto the end, for the wine-presses, a psalm for the
sons of Core.
2 How lovely are thy tabernacles, O Lord of host!
3 my soul longeth and fainteth for the courts of the Lord.
Caption describing picture or graphic.
My heart and my flesh have rejoiced in the living God.
4 For the sparrow hath found herself a house, and the
turtle a nest for herself, where she may lay her young ones: Thy altars, O Lord of hosts,
my king and my God.
5 Blessed are they that dwell in thy house, O Lord: they shall praise thee for ever and
ever.
6 Blessed is the man whose help is from thee: in his heart he hath disposed to ascend by
steps,
7 in the vale of tears, in the place which he hath set.
8 For the lawgiver shall give a blessing, they shall go from virtue to virtue: the God of
gods shall be seen in Sion.
9 O Lord, God of hosts, hear my prayer: give ear, O God of Jacob.
10 Behold, O God, our protector: and look on the face of thy Christ.
11 For better is one day in thy courts above thousands. have chosen to be an abject in
the house of my God, rather than to dwell in the tabernacles of sinners.
12 For God loveth mercy and truth: the Lord will give grace and glory.
13 He will not deprive of good things them that walk in innocence: O Lord of hosts,
blessed is the man hat trusteth in thee.

CLASSI C CATHO LI C L IT ER ATU R E

I MI TATIO N OF C HR I ST B Y : THO MAS A KEMPI S
The Imitation of Christ by
Thomas A'Kempis This
book can be downloaded
for free here:
http://www.ccel.org/ccel/
kempis/imitation.html.
Book one: Thoughts helpful in the life of the soul.
Chapter 3: the doctrine of
truth
HAPPY is he to whom
truth manifests itself, not
in signs and words that

fade, but as it actually

is. Our opinions, our
senses often deceive us
and we discern very
little. What good is
much discussion of involved and obscure
matters when our ignorance of them will not
be held against us on
Judgment Day? Neglect
of things which are
profitable and necessary and undue concern

with those which are irrelevant and harmful, are

great folly. We have eyes
and do not see. What,
therefore, have we to do
with questions of philosophy? He to whom the Eternal
Word

Caption describing picture or

graphic.

Blessed is the man

whose help is from
thee

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V o l um e 1 i s s ue 4

C L A S S I C C AT H O L I C L I T E R AT U R E

O God, You Who are

the truth, make me
one with You in love
everlasting

speaks is free from theorizing. For from this Word

are all things and of Him
all things speakthe Beginning Who also speaks
to us. Without this Word
no man understands or
judges aright. He to whom
it becomes everything,
who traces all things to it
and who sees all things in
it, may ease his heart and
remain at peace with God.
O God, You Who are the
truth, make me one with
You in love everlasting. I
am often wearied by the
many things I hear and
read, but in You is all that
I long for. Let the learned
be still, let all creatures be
silent before You; You
alone speak to me. The
more recollected a man is,
and the more simple of
heart he becomes, the
easier he understands
sublime things, for he receives the light of knowledge from above. The
pure, simple, and steadfast spirit is not distracted
by many labors, for he
does them all for the
honor of God. And since he
enjoys interior peace he
seeks no selfish end in anything. What, indeed, gives
more trouble and affliction
than uncontrolled desires of
the heart? A good and devout man arranges in his
mind the things he has to
do, not according to the

whims of evil inclination

but according to the dictates of right reason. Who
is forced to struggle more
than he who tries to master himself? This ought to
be our purpose, then: to
conquer self, to become
stronger each day, to advance in virtue. Every perfection in this life has
some imperfection mixed
with it and no learning of
ours is without some darkness. Humble knowledge
of self is a surer path to
God than the ardent pursuit of learning. Not that
learning is to be considered evil, or knowledge,
which is good in itself and
so ordained by God; but a
clean conscience and virtuous life ought always to
be preferred. Many often
err and accomplish little or
nothing because they try
to become learned rather
than to live well. If men
used as much care in uprooting vices and implanting virtues as they do in
discussing problems, there
would not be so much evil
and scandal in the world,
or such laxity in religious
organizations. On the Day
of judgment, surely, we
shall not be asked what
we have read but what we
have done; not how well
we have spoken but how
well we have lived. Tell
me, where now are all the
masters and teachers
whom you knew so well in
life and who were famous

Caption describing picture or graphic.

for their learning? Others

have already taken their
places and I know not
whether they ever think of
their predecessors. During
life they seemed to be
something; now they are
seldom remembered. How
quickly the glory of the
world passes away! If only
their lives had kept pace
with their learning, then
their study and reading
would have been worthwhile. How many there are
who perish because of vain
worldly knowledge and too
little care for serving God.
They became vain in their
own conceits because they
chose to be great rather
than humble. He is truly
great who has great charity.
He is truly great who is little
in his own eyes and makes
nothing of the highest
honor. He is truly wise who
looks upon all earthly things
as folly that he may gain
Christ. He who does Gods
will and renounces his own
is truly very learned.

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DECEMBER SAINTS
December 1st- Nahum prophet, At Rome, the holy martyrs Diodorus, priest, and Marian,
deacon, with many others, the martyrdom of the saints Lucius, Rogatus, Cassian, and
Candida. St. Ansanus, martyr, At Amelia, in Umbria, St. Olympias, ex-consul, martyr. At
Arbele, in Persia, St. Ananias, martyr. At Narni, St. Proculus, bishop and martyr, At Casale,
St. Evasius, bishop and martyr. At Milan, St. Castritian, bishop, At Brescia, St. Ursicinus,
bishop. At Noyon, St. Eligius, bishop, At Verdun, St. Agericus, bishop. St. Natalia, martyr
Adrian,
December 2nd-At Rome,martyr virgin Bibiana, holy martyrs Eusebius, priest, Marcellus,
deacon, Hippolytus, Maximus, Adria, Paulina, Neon, Mary, Martana, and Aurelia, at
Rome, St. Pontian, martyr, with four others. In Africa, holy martyrs Severus, Securus,
Januarius, and Victorinus, At Aquileia, St. Chromatius, bishop and confessor. At Imola, St.
Peter Chrysologus, At Verona, St. Lupus, bishop and confessor. At Edessa, St. Nonnus,
bishop, At Troas, in Phrygia, St. Silvanus, At Brescia, St. Evasius, bishop. In Sancian, a Chinese island, St. Francis Xavier.
December 3rd-St. Francis Xavier, In Judea, the holy prophet Sophonias. At Rome, the
holy martyrs Claudius, tribune, and Hilaria, his wife, with Jason and Maurus, their sons,
and seventy soldiers. At Tangier, in Morocco, St. Cassian, martyr. Also, in Africa, the holy
martyrs Claudius, Crispinus, Magina, John, and Stephen. In Hungary, St. Agricola, martyr.
At Nicomedia, the Saints Ambicus, Victor and Julius. At Milan, St. Mirocles, bishop and
confessor, In England, St. Birinus, At Coire, in Switzerland, St. Lucius,At Siena, in Tuscany,
St. Galganus, hermit.
December 4th- St. Peter Chrysologus, bishop, At Nicomedia, the passion of St. Barbara,
virgin and martyr, at Constantinople, the saints Theophanes and his companions. In
Pontus, blessed Meletius, bishop and confessor, At Bologna, St. Felix, bishop, In England,
St. Osmund, bishop and confessor. At Cologne, St. Annan, bishop. In Mesopotamia, St.
Maruthas, bishop, At Parma, St. Bernard, cardinal and bishop of that city.
December 5th-At Mutala, in Cappadocia, St. Sabas, abbot, At Thebesta, in Africa, St.
Chrispina, martyr. At Thagura, in Africa, the holy martyrs Julius, Potamia, Crispinus, Felix,
Gratus, and seven others. At Nicaea, near the river Var, St. Bassus, bishop, martyr. At
Pavia, St. Dalmatius, bishop and martyr, At Pelino, in Abruzzo, St. Pelinus martyr, bishop
of Brindisi. St. Anastasius, martyr,
December 6th-At Myra, the metropolis of Lycia, St. Nicholas, bishop and confessor, In
Africa, martyrs Dionysia, Dativa, Leontia, Tertius, milian, a physician, and Boniface, with
three others, St. Majoricus, St. Polychronius, priest, At Granada, in Spain,martyr. At
Rome, St. Asella, virgin.
December 7th- At Milan,St. Ambrose, bishop and doctor of the Church, At Antioch, the
holy martyrs Polycarp and Theodore. At Tuburbum, in Africa, St. Servus, martyr, At
Teano, in Campania, St. Urban, bishop and confessor. At Saintes, in France, St. Martin,
abbot, In the diocese of Meaux, St. Fara, virgin.
December 8th- The Immaculate Conception of the glorious and ever Virgin Mary,
Mother of God. At Rome, blessed Eutychian, pope, martyr. At Alexandria,St. Macarius,
martyr, At Treves, St. Eucharius, In Cyprus, the holy bishop Sophronius, In the monastery
of Luxeuil, St. Romaricus, abbot, At Constantinople, St. Patapius, solitary,At Verona, St.
Zeno, bishop.
December 9th- At Gray, in Burgundy, St. Peter Fourier, At Toledo, in Spain, holy virgin
Leocadia, a martyr, At Carthage, St. Restitutus, bishop and martyr, Also, in Africa, the
holy martyrs Peter, Successus, Bassian, Primitivus and twenty others. At Limoges, in
France, St. Valeria, virgin and martyr. At Verona, St. Proculus, bishop, At Pavia, St. Syrus,

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DECEMBER SAINTS
At Apamea, in Syria, blessed Julian, bishop, At Perigueux, in France, the holy abbot Cyprian,
At Nazianzus, St. Gorgonia, December 10th- At Rome, pope St. Melchiades, Saints Carpophorus, priest, and Abundius, deacon, who became martyrs At Merida, in Spain, martyrdom of the holy virgin Eulalia, St. Julia, virgin and martyr, At Alexandria, the holy martyrs
Mennas, Hermogenes and Eugraphus, At Lentini, in Sicily, the holy martyrs Mercury and his
companions, At Ancyra, in Galatia, St. Gemellus, martyr, At Vienne, St. Sindulphus, bishop
and confessor. At Brescia, St. Deusdedit, bishop. At Loreto.
December 11th- At Rome, St. Damasus, pope and confessor, at Rome, martyrs St. Thrason,
Pontian and Prsetextatus. At Amiens, the holy martyrs Victoricus and Fuscian, In Persia, St.
Barsabas, martyr. In Spain, St. Eutychius, martyr. At Piacenza, St. Sabinus, At Constantinople, St. Daniel the Stylite.
December 12th- At Rome, the holy martyr Synesius, At Alexandria, the holy martyrs Epimachus and Alexander, the holy women Ammonaria, virgin, Mercuria, Dionysia, and another
Ammonaria, martyrs. holy martyrs Hermogenes, Donatus, and twenty-two others. At
Treves, the holy martyrs Maxentius, Constantius, Crescentius, Justinus, and their companions,
December 13th- At Syracuse, in Sicily, St. Lucy, virgin and martyr, In Armenia, the martyrdom of the holy martyrs Eustratius, Auxentius, Eugene, Mardarius, and Orestes, At Cambrai, in France, St. Aubertus, bishop and confessor. In Ponthieu, St. Judocus, confessor. In
Alsace, St. Othilia, abbess. At Moulins, in France, St. Jane Frances Fremiot de Chantal,
December 14th-At Alexandria, the holy martyrs Heron, Arsenius, Isidore and Dioscorus, a
boy. At Rheims, the holy bishop Nicasius, his sister, the virgin Eutropia, and their companions, martyrs, At Bergamo, St. Viator, bishop and confessor. At Pavia, St. Pompey, bishop.
At Naples, in Campania, St. Agnellus, abbot. At Ubeda, in Spain, St. John of the Cross, confessor,
December 15th- The Octave of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. St.
Eusebius, bishop of Vercelli, At Rome, the holy martyrs Irenaeus, Anthony, Theodore, Saturninus, Victor and seventeen others, In Africa, the martyrdom of the Saints Faustinus,
Lucius, Candidus, Caelian, Mark, Januarius and Fortunatus. holy bishop Valerian, In the diocese of Orleans, St. Maximinus, confessor. In Georgia, beyond the Euxine sea, St. Christiana,
December 16th- St. Eusebius, bishop of Vercelli and martyr, Ananias, Azarias and Misael,
At Ravenna, the holy martyrs Valentine, military officer, Concordius, his son, Navalis, and
Agricola, St. Albina, virgin and martyr, In Africa, many holy virgins, martyrs. At Vienne,
blessed Ado, bishop and confessor. At Aberdeen, in Scotland, St. Beanus, bishop. At Gaza,
in Palestine, St. Irenian, bishop.
December 17th- At Eleutheropolis, in Palestine, the holy martyrs Florian, Calanicus and
their fifty-eight companions, At Marseilles, in France, blessed Lazarus, bishop, At Rome, St.
John de Matha, At Bigarden, near Brussels, St. Vivina, virgin, At Constantinople, St. Olympiades, widow. At Andenne, at the Seven Churches, St. Begga, widow, sister of St.
Gertrude. St. Ignatius, bishop and martyr,
December 18th- At Philippi, in Macedonia,martyrs Rufus and Zosimus, At Laodicea, in Syria,
the martyrdom of the Saints Theotimus and Basilian. In Africa, the holy martyrs Quinctus,
Simplicius, and others, At Tours, St. Gratian,
December 19th- At Alexandria, in Egypt, blessed Nemesius, martyr, At Nicaea, the Saints
Darius, Zosimus, Paul, and Secundus, martyrs. At Nicomedia, the holy martyrs Cyriacus,
Paulillus, Secundus, Anastasius, Sindimius, and their companions. In Mauritania (Barbary),

N e w s l e tte r T i tl e

DECEMBER

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SAINTS

St. Timothy, deacon, At Gaza, in Palestine, the martyrdom of the Saints Meuris and Thea.
At Avignon, blessed Urban V., At Auxerre, St. Gregory, bishop and confessor. At Orleans,
St. Adjutus, an abbot At Rome, St. Fausta,
December 20th- St. Thomas, apostle. At Rome, the holy martyrs Liberatus and Bajulus. At
Alexandria, the holy martyrs Ammon, Zeno, Ptolemy, Ingen, and Theophilus, soldiers, At
Gelduba, St. Julius, martyr. In Arabia, the holy martyrs Eugene and Macarius, priests. At
Antioch,St. Philogonius, bishop, At Brescia, St. Dominic, bishop and confessor. In Spain,
St. Dominic de Sylos, abbot, of the Order of St. Benedict,
December 21st- At Calamina, blessed apostle Thomas, In Lycia, St. Themistocles, martyr,
At Nicomedia, At Antioch, St. Anastasius, bishop and martyr, At Treves, St. Severin,
bishop and confessor.
December 22nd- At Rome, thirty holy martyrs, St. Flavian, ex-prefect, At Ostia, the holy
martyrs Demetrius, Honoratus and Florus. At Alexandria, the holy martyr Ischyrion. In
Egypt, the Saint Chseremon, bishop of Mlopolis, and many other martyrs. At Nicomedia,
St. Zeno, soldier,
December 23rd- At Rome, the holy virgin Victoria, a martyr, At Nicomedia, twenty holy
martyrs, In Crete, the holy martyrs Theodulus, Saturninus, Euporus, Gelasius, Eunician,
Zeticus, Cleomenes, Agathopus, Gelasius, and Evaristus, At Rome, blessed Servulus,
December 24th-The vigil of the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ. At Antioch, forty holy
virgins, At Spoleto, the holy priest Gregory. At Tripoli, the holy martyrs Lucian,
Metrobius, Paulus, Zenobius, Theotimus, and Drusus. At Nicomedia, St. Euthymius, martyr, who sent many before him to martyrdom, At Bordeaux, St. Delphinus, a bishop, In
Poland, St. John Cantius, secular priest and confessor, At Rome, holy virgin Tharsilla, At
Treves, St. Irmina, virgin,
December 25th- THE NATIVITY OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, ACCORDING TO THE FLESH.
St. Anastasia, martyr. At Rome, St. Eugenia, virgin, martyr. At Nicomedia, many thousand
martyrs, At Barcelona, in Spain, St. Peter Nolasco, confessor, December 26th- At Jerusalem, St. Stephen, the first martyr, At Rome, St. Marinus, senator, martyr. Also, at Rome,
on the Appian road, St. Denis, St. Zosirmus, pope and confessor. In Mesopotamia, St. Archelaus, a bishop At Majuma, St. Zeno, bishop. At Rome, St. Theodore, sacristan of St.
Peter's church,
December 27th- At Ephesus, the birthday of St. John, apostle and evangelist, At Alexandria, St. Maximus, bishop, At Constantinople, the holy confessors Theodore and Theophanes, brothers, In the same city, St. Niceras, virgin,
December 28th- In Bethlehem, of Juda, the birthday of the Holy Innocents, At Ancyra, in
Galatia, the holy martyrs Eutychius, priest, and Domitian, deacon. In Africa, holy martyrs
Castor, Victor and Rogatian. At Nicomedia, the holy martyrs Indes, eunuch, Domna,
Agapes and Theophila, virgins, and their companions, At Neocaesarea, in Pontus, St.
Troadius, martyr, At Arabissus, in Lower Armenia, St. Caesarius, a martyr, At Lyons, in
France, St. Francis of Sales, bishop of Geneva, At Rome, St. Domnion, priest. In Egypt, St.
Theodore, monk, disciple of St. Pachomius. In the monastery of Lerins, St. Anthony,
December 29th- The Canterbury, in England, the birthday of St. Thomas, bishop and martyr, At Jerusalem, holy David, king and prophet. At Arles, St. Trophimus, At Rome, the
holy martyrs Callistus, Felix and Boniface. In Africa, the holy martyrs Dominic, Victor,
Primian, Lybosus, Saturninus, Crescentius, Secundus and Honoratus. At Vienne, in
France, St. Crescens, At Constantinople, St. Marcellus, abbot. In Normandy, St. Ebrulphus, abbot and confessor,
December 30th- At Spoleto, holy martyrs Sabinus, bishop, Exuperantius and Marcellus,

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DECEMBER SAINTS
deacons; also of Venustian, governor, with his wife and sons, At Alexandria, the holy
martyrs Mansuetus, Severus, Appian, Donatus, Honorius, and their companions. At Thessalonica, St. Anysia, martyr. In the same place, St. Anysius, bishop of that city. At Milan,
St. Eugene, bishop and confessor. At Ravenna, St. Liberius, bishop. At Aquila, in Abruzzo,
St. Rainerius, bishop.
December 31st- At Rome,St. Silvester, the holy martyrs Donata, Paulina, Rustica, Nominanda, Serotina, Hilaria and their companions. At Sens, the blessed Sabinian, bishop, and
Potentian,martyrs. St. Columba, virgin and martyr, At Retiers, St. Hermes, exorcist. At
Catania, in Sicily, the martyrdom of the Saints Stephen, Pontian, Attains, Fabian, Cornelius, Sextus, Flos, Quinctian, Minervinus and Simplician. St. Zoticus, Roman priest, At Ravenna, St. Parbatian, priest and confessor. St. Melania the Younger, martyrs.

Irenaeus, Eusebius,
Augustine, Optatus,
use both names
indifferently as of
one person.

POPE OF THE MONTH:

P O PE ANAC LET U S
The second successor of St.
Peter. Whether he was the
same as Cletus, who is also
called Anencletus as well as
Anacletus, has been the
subject of endless discussion. Irenaeus, Eusebius,
Augustine, Optatus, use
both names indifferently as
of one person. Tertullian

omits him altogether. To add

to the confusion, the order is
different. Thus Irenaeus has
Linus, Anacletus, Clement;
whereas Augustine and Optatus put Clement before Anacletus. On the other hand, the
"Catalogus Liberianus", the
"Carmen contra Marcionem"
and the "Liber Pontificalis", all

Caption describing picture or

graphic.

N e w s l e tte r T i tl e

P age 1 1

POPE OF THE MONTH

most respectable for their
antiquity, make Cletus and
Anacletus distinct from each
other; while the "Catalogus
Felicianus" even sets the
latter down as a Greek, the
former as a Roman. Among
the moderns, Hergenrther
(Hist. de l'glise, I 542, note)
pronounces for their identity. So also the Bollandist
De Smedt (Dissert. vii, 1).
Dllinger (Christenth. u K.,
315) declares that "they are,
without doubt, the same
person" and that "the
'Catalogue of Liberius' merits little confidence before
230." Duchesne, "Origines
chretiennes", ranges himself
on that side also but Jungmann (Dissert. Hist. Eccl., I,
123) leaves the question in
doubt. The chronology is, of
course, in consequence of all

this, very undetermined,

but Duchesne, in his
"Origines", says "we are
far from the day when
the years, months, and
days of the Pontifical
Catalogue can be given
with any guarantee of
exactness. But is it necessary to be exact about
popes of whom we
know so little? We can
accept the list of
Irenaeus Linus, Anacletus, Clement, Evaristus, Alexander, Xystus,
Telesphorus, Hyginus,
Pius, and Anicetus. Anicetus reigned certainly
in 154. That is all we can
say with assurance
about primitive pontifical chronology." That he
ordained a certain number of priests is nearly

Caption describing picture or graphic.

all we have of positive record about him, but we

know he died a martyr, perhaps about 91.
Campbell, T. (1907). Pope St.
Anacletus. In The Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert
Appleton Company. Retrieved
December 3, 2014 from New
Advent:
http://www.newadvent.org/ca
then/01446a.htm

DECEMBER MASS READINGS

st

Mon the 1 :

Isa 2:1-5; Ps 122:1-9; Matt 8:5-11

Tue the 2nd:

Isa 11:1-10; Ps 72:1-17; Luke 10:21-24

Wed the 3rd:

(Memorial of Frances Xavier, priest.) Isa 25:6-10; Ps 23:1-6; Matt 15:29-

Thu the 4th:

(Memorial of John Damascene, priest and doctor.) Isa 26:1-6; Ps 118:1-

Fri the 5th:

Isa 29:17-24; Ps 27:1-14; Matt 9:27-31

Sat the 6th:

(Optional memorial of Nicholas, bishop.) Isa 30:19-26; Ps 147:1-6; Matt

Sun the 7th:

Psalter II, Advent Week 2. (Memorial of Ambrose, bishop and doctor.)

Vigil of Solemnity of The Immaculate Conception. Isa 40:1-11; Ps 85:914; 2 Pet 3:8-14; Mark 1:1-8

Mon the 8th:

Solemnity of The Immaculate Conception. Gen 3:9-20; Ps 98:1-4; Eph

1:3-12; Luke 1:26-38

we are far from the

day when the years,
months, and days of
the Pontifical
Catalogue can be
given with any
guarantee of
exactness.

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V o l um e 1 i s s ue 4

DECEMBER MASS READINGS

Tue the 9th:

Isa 40:1-11; Ps 96:1-13; Matt 18:12-14

Wed the 10th:

Isa 40:25-31; Ps 103:1-10; Matt 11:28-30

Thu the 11th:

(Optional memorial of Damasus I, pope.) Isa 41:13-20; Ps 145:1-13; Matt 11:11-15

Fri the 12th:

(Memorial of Our Lady of Guadalupe (Americas).) (Optional memorial of Jane Frances de Chantal, religious.) Isa 48:17-19; Ps 1:1-6; Matt 11:16-19

Sat the 13th:

(Memorial of Lucy, virgin and martyr.) Sir 48:1-11; Ps 80:1-19; Matt 17:9-13

Sun the 14th:

Psalter III, Advent Week 3.

Gaudete Sunday. (Memorial of John of the Cross, priest and doctor.) Isa 61:1-11; Luke 1:46-54; 1
Thess 5:16-24; John 1:6-28

Mon the 15th:

Num 24:1-17; Ps 25:4-9; Matt 21:23-27

Tue the 16th:

Zeph 3:1-13; Ps 34:1-23; Matt 21:28-32

Wed the 17th:

Isa 45:6-25; Ps 85:9-14; Luke 7:18-23 ,Gen 49:1-10; Ps 72:1-17; Matt 1:1-17

Thu the 18th:

Isa 54:1-10; Ps 30:1-13; Luke 7:24-30 , Jer 23:5-8; Ps 72:1-19; Matt 1:18-24

Fri the 19th:

Isa 56:1-8; Ps 67:1-8; John 5:33-36 , Judg 13:1-25; Ps 71:3-17; Luke 1:5-25

Sat the 20th:

Isa 7:10-14; Ps 24:1-6; Luke 1:26-38

Sun the 21st:

Psalter IV, Advent Week 4.

(Optional memorial of Peter Canisius, priest and doctor.) 2 Sam 7:1-16; Ps 89:1-29; Rom 16:2527; Luke 1:26-38

Mon the 22nd:

1 Sam 1:24-28; 1 Sam 2:1-8; Luke 1:46-56

Tue the 23rd:

(Optional memorial of John of Kanty, priest.) Mal 3:1-24; Ps 25:4-14; Luke 1:57-66

Wed the 24th:

Vigil of Solemnity of Christmas. 2 Sam 7:1-16; Ps 89:1-29; Luke 1:67-79 Vigil Readings: Isa 62:1-5;
Ps 89:4-29; Acts 13:16-25; Matt 1:1-25

Thu the 25th:

Solemnity of Christmas. Begin Christmas Octave. Midnight Mass Readings: Isa 9:1-6; Ps 96:1-13;
Titus 2:11-14; Luke 2:1-14 Mass at Dawn Readings: Isa 62:11-12; Ps 97:1-12; Titus 3:4-7; Luke
2:15-20 Daytime Mass Readings: Isa 52:7-10; Ps 98:1-6; Heb 1:1-6; John 1:1-18

Fri the 26th:

Feast of Stephen, first martyr. Acts 6:8-10, 7:54-59; Ps 31:3-17; Matt 10:17-22

Sat the 27th:

Feast of John, apostle and evangelist. 1 John 1:1-4; Ps 97:1-12; John 20:1-8

Sun the 28th:

Psalter I, Octave of Christmas.

Feast of The Holy Family. (Feast of Holy Innocents, martyrs.) Gen 15:1-6, 21:1-3; Ps 105:1-9; Heb
11:8-19; Luke 2:22-40

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P age 1 3

DECEMBER MASS READINGS

Mon the 29th: (Optional memorial of Thomas Becket, bishop and martyr.) 1 John 2:311; Ps 96:1-6; Luke 2:22-35
Tue the 30th:

1 John 2:12-17; Ps 96:7-10; Luke 2:36-40

Wed the 31st:

(Optional memorial of Sylvester I, pope.) Vigil of Solemnity of Mary,

Mother of God. 1 John 2:18-21; Ps 96:1-13; John 1:1-18

P A PA L E N C Y C L I C A L
CLARA CLARIS PRAECLARA
Clara claris praeclara
The Bull of Pope Alexander
IV, Bishop servant of the servants of God
ON THE CANONIZATION OF
ST. CLARE OF ASSISI
Co-Foundress of the Poor
Clares
Agnani: Sept. 26. 1255 A.D.
[Alexander, Bishop, Servant
of the servants of God,] To
Our venerable brothers, the
Archbishops and Bishops
established throughout the
Kingdom of France, [health
and apostolic benediction]:
CLARE OUTSTANDINGLY
CLEAR WITH CLEAR merits,1
in Heaven with the clarity of
great glory, and on Earth
with the splendor of sublime
miracles, is clearly clear.
Here this Clare's strict and
high Religion2 twinkles
[coruscat], above the greatness of this one's eternal
reward radiates, this one's
virtue by magnificent signs,
begins to shine [illucescit]
upon mortals. To this Clare
there was entitled here the
Privilege of most high poverty;3 to this one there is
repaid in the highest an inestimable abundance of
treasures; to this one by

Catholics a full devotion

and a heap [cumulus] of
honor is exhibited. This
Clare did her shining
[fulgida] works here mark
out, this Clare the plenitude of Divine Light on
high does clarify, this one
to the Christian peoples
do the stupendous (works)
of her prodigies declare.
The Brilliance of St. Clare
2. O Clare, endowed in a
manifold manner with titles of clarity! Before thy
conversion (thou were)
indeed clear, in thy conversion clearer, in thy
comportment in the cloister [in claustrali conversatione] outstandingly clear,
and after having run down
the space of thy present
life thou has begun to
shine as most clear! By
this Clare a clear mirror of
example goes forth to this
generation [saeculo]; by
this one the lily of virginity
is offered among the
heavenly amenities; by
this one throughout the
lands [in terris] are the
manifest remedies of interventions
[subventionum] sensed. O

clarity of blessed Clare to

be admired, which as
much as it is sought more
studiously through individual examples [per singula],
so much more splendid is
it found among individual
examples [in singulis]! This
one gleamed [emicuit], I
say, in the world [saeculo],
in Religion she outshone
[praefulsit]; in her house
she enlightened [illuxit] as
a ray, in the cloister she
flashed [pcoruscavit] as
lightning. She gleamed in
life, after death she irradiates; she was clear on
Earth, in the sky she
shines back [relucet]! O
how great the vehemence
of the light [lumen] of this
one and how vehement
the illumination of this
clarity of hers! This light
[lux], indeed, remained
enclosed in secret cloisters, and outside

INSIDE STORY HEADLINE

To this Clare there

was entitled here
the Privilege of
most high poverty

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V o l um e 1 i s s ue 4

CLARA

CLARIS PRAECLARA

Here the Latin praeclara signifies clear before all others, or in

other words outstandingly
clear, which translation will be
followed throughout. Being
outstandingly clear
[praeclaritas] is a mark of the
heavenly Jerusalem: cf. Ps.
47:2.
2
Religion, that is religious institute. This was the common
term for a religious order in the
13th Century; cf. Writings of St.
Francis.
3
The Privilege of most high
poverty was the permission
obtained from the Roman Pontiff for the sisters of S. Damiano
to live without community
property.

For indeed, Clare lay

hidden, but her life
lay open; Clare was
silent, but her fame
shouted out; she was
concealed in her cell
and she was known
among cities.

it emitted sparkling
[micantes] rays; it was gathered together in a strict convent [arcto coenobio], and it
was sprinkled upon the entire age [in amplo saeculo];
it was guarded within, and it
flowed forth outside. For
indeed, Clare lay hidden, but
her life lay open; Clare was
silent, but her fame shouted
out; she was concealed in
her cell and she was known
among cities. Nor (is it) wonderful; because a light
[lucerna] so enkindled, so
lightsome [lucens], could not
be hidden away so as to not
shine [spenderet] and give a
clear light in the house of
the Lord;1 nor could a vessel
of so many aromatics be put
back and not fragrance and
resprinkle the Lord's mansion with a sweet odor. Nay,
since in the narrow recluse
of solitude this one harshly
ground down the alabaster
of her body, the whole court

[aula] of the Church

has been filled full in
every manner with
the odors of her sanctity.2
How St. Clare forsook the world
3. In a healthy manner, when she, while Caption describing picture or graphic.
she was still a girl in
counted out of reverence
the world, studied to leap
to Christ whatever else
over this fragile and unshe had as one thing with
clean world from a tender
herself, into alms and subage by means of a clean,
sidies for the poor.3 And
narrow path [calle], and
when fleeing the clatter of
guarding the precious
treasure of her virginity by the world [de saeculi
strepitu], she went down
a sense of shame, always
to a certain country
unspotted, vigilantly
[campestrem] church,4
stretched unto works of
and by blessed Francis
clarity and piety, so much
himself, there received
that there came forth
the sacred tonsure, she
from her a pleasing and
processed to another
praiseworthy report
church), with her relatives
[fama] to her neighbors
growing soft [molientibus]
and others, blessed Franto lead her back (home)
cis, having heard the pubfrom that place, she, imlic commendation
mediately embracing the
[praeconio] of her fame,
altar, and grasping her
undertook with complete
clothes, having uncovered
haste [confestim] to exthe sheering [incisura] of
hort her, and to induce
the hair of her head,
her to the perfect service
strongly and steadily reof Christ. Who, thereupon
sisted the same relatives
adhering to his sacred
in this. Then when she had
warnings, and desiring to
been brought by the same
abdicate thoroughly
blessed Francis to the
[penitus] the world with
all earthly things, and to
serve as a family member
[famulari] the Lord alone
in voluntary poverty, she
fulfilled this her fervent
desire, as soon as she
could: because at last she
distributed and converted
Caption describing picture or
all her goods, as she
graphic.

N e w s l e tte r T i tl e

P age 1 5

CLARA CLARIS PRAECLARA

church of San Damiano, outside the city of Assisi, where
she was born [unde traxit
originem], there the Lord for
the love and assiduous cult
of His Name gathered to her
very many associates.
St. Clare founds the Order
of St. Damiano
4. From this, indeed, distinguished and sacred Order of
San Damiano,
1

Here the editors cite Mt. 5:1415.

2
Here the latin editors cite Mt.
26:7, Jn. 13:3.
3
Here the latin editors cite Lk.
12:33; 18:22.
4
St. Mary of the Angeles of the
Portiuncula, which at that time
lay among the fields below the
city-state of Assisi.

spread far throughout the

whole globe, one takes up a
salutary exordium. She, by
the exhorting of blessed
Francis himself, gave a start,
that must be followed,
[sequendum initium] to this
new and holy observance;
she of this great Religion
was the primary and stable
foundation; she of this high
work stood forth1 as its
primitive stone. She of a noble family, but of a more
noble comportment, conserved in an outstanding
manner [praecipue] the virginity, which she had also
previously guarded, under
this rule of sanctimony. After a while her mother, Hortulana by name, intent on
pious works, by following
the footsteps of her own
newborn [ipsius natae], de-

voutly undertook this

Religion; in which at last
this optimum little garden [hortulana], which
brought forth such a
plant in the Lord's garden, happily concluded
her days.
The Brilliance of St.
Caption describing picture or graphic.
Clare as Foundress
5. But after a few years,
many women hastened
blessed Clare herself, havand do hasten, enkindling
ing been overcome by the
their own lamps from that
exceeding importunity of
light [lumine].6 She as a
the same St. Francis, reresult [profecto] planted
ceived the government of
and cultivated in the field
the monastery and the
of the Faith the vine of
Sisters. She, indeed, was
poverty, from which the
the tall and eminent tree,2
fatty and rich fruits of salwhich, having spread out
vation are gathered; she
with long branches,
established in the praebrought into the field of
sidium of the Church a
the Church the sweet fruit
garden of humility, in
of a Religion, and to
which, having twined towhose delightful shade,
gether those poor in a
under3 its amenity there
manifold of things, there is
would run together from
found a great abundance
all sides many nurslings of
of virtues; She in the occuthe faith, (who) were to
pation [districtu] of Religoffer fruit of this kind, and
ion constructed
do they run! She was the
[fabricavit] a citadel of
clean vein of the Valley of
strict7 abstinence, in which
Spoleto, which gave a new there is ministered a
fount of living water4 as
broad refection of spiritual
drink for the refection and
nourishment.
convenience of souls;
The Brilliance of St.
which, diverted now
Clare's Virtues
through diverse rivulets in
the territory of the
Church, infuses the young
trees [plantaria] of Religion. She was the tall candelabra of sanctity vehemently shining red
[rutilans] in the tabernacle
of the Lord,5 to whose vast Caption describing picture or
graphic.
[ingentem] splendor very

She, indeed, was

the tall and eminent
tree, which, having
spread out with
long branches,

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V o l um e 1 i s s ue 4

CLARA CLARIS PRAECLARA

6. She was the princess
[primiceris] of the poor, the
duchess [ducissa] of the
humble, the teacher of the
continent, and the Abbess of
the penitent. She governed
her monastery, and the family entrusted to her in it, solicitly and prudently in the
fear and service of the Lord
and in the full observance of
the Order: vigil
1

she tasted nearly

nothing for her
body,

There the text reads extitit

[stood out], that is exstitit
[stood out].
2
Here the editors cite Dan. 4:8.
3
Here the editors cite Cant.
2:3.
4
Here the editors cite Ester
10:6.
5
Here the editors cite Hebr.
9:2.
6
Here the editors cite Mt. 25:7.
7
Here the text reads strict
[artae] instead of strict
[arctae].

in care, in ministry studious,

in exhortation attentive;
diligent in admonition, in
correction moderate, temperate in precepts; in compassion outstanding, discrete in silence, in speech
mature, and well considered
in all the things opportune
to a perfect government,
willing more to serve as a
family member [famulari]
than to rule as a lord
[dominari], and to honor
than to be taken up in
honor. Her life was an education [eruditio] and a doctrine to others. In this book
of life1 all the other (sisters)
learned the rule for living; in
this mirror of life the rest (of
women learn) to inspect the

paths to life. For indeed

and Friday, she tasted
she caused herself in body
nearly nothing for her
to stand on Earth, but in
body, nevertheless on the
spirit she was turned unto
rest of the days restricting
the sky; a little vessel of
herself to such an extent
humility, an armoire
with a paucity of foods,
[armarium] of chastity, an
that the other (sisters) use
ardor of charity, a sweetto wonder about her, in
ness of benignity, an oakwhat manner she could
strength of patience, a
subsist under so strong a
knot of peace and a comwithdrawal [districtione].
munion of familiarity:
Over and above these,
meek in work, supple in
dedicated assiduously to
deed, and in all things lovvigils and prayers, she exable and accepted. And,
pended day and nightwith the flesh depressed,
time chiefly in these. At
to convalesce in spirit
last perplexed with daily
because anyone, with
languors, when she could
their enemy debilitated, is
not rise by herself to cormade the stronger she
poral exertion
kept [habebat] the floor
[exercitium], she was
bare and brushwood for a
raised by the suffrage of
bed, and for a pillow unher Sisters and, having
der her head hard wood,
placed supports at her
and content with one tuback, she worked with her
nic with a mantle of vile,
own hands,2, lest even in
despised and rough cloth.
her infirmities she be idle
These humble garments
[otiosa]. Whence from
did she use for the coverlinen cloth of this her own
ing of her body, a sharp
study and labor, she
cilice woven from little
caused very many corpocords of horse hair [de
rals for the Sacrifice of the
cordulis crinium equorum] Altar to be made, and to
sometimes employed next be employed throughout
to the flesh. Strict too in
the plains and mountains
food and in drink severe
of Assisi in diverse
[districta], she curbed her- churches.
self with so great an abstiSt. Clare's love of holy
nence in
Poverty
these, that
7. But a chief
for a long
lover and
time for
sedulous colthree days a
umn of povweek,
erty; thus did
namely,
she affix it in
Monday,
Caption describing picture or
her soul, thus
Wednesday graphic.
did she bind

N e w s l e tte r T i tl e

CLARA

P age 1 7

CLARIS PRAECLARA

herself to it in her desires,

that always more firmer in
its love [dilectione] and
more ardent in its embrace,
from its severe and delightful
1

Here the editors cite Apoc.

21:27.
2
Here the editors refer to 1 Cor
4:12.

bond she never stepped

back for any necessity. Nor
could she in a straightforward manner [prorsus] be
induced by any persuasions
to consent, that her monastery have its own possessions, even though Pope
Gregory, our predecessor of
happy memory, from much
indulgence thinking piously
of this very monastery, had
freely willed to depute to it,
for the sustenance of her
Sisters, possessions sufficient and congruous.
The Miracles of St. Clare
8. Truly, because a great
and splendid window cannot
be concealed [luminare supprimi], and not bring forth
the rays of its clarity, even in
her life did the virtue of her
sanctity shine out in many
and various miracles. For to
a certain one of the Sisters
of her monastery, she restored the voice, which she
had for a long time almost
entirely lost. To another,
thoroughly destitute of the
use [officio] of the tongue,
she restored unencumbered
[expeditam] speech. To another she opened a deaf ear
to hearing. Having made the
sign of the Cross upon

them,1 she liberated one

laboring under fever,
one swelling with hydropsy, one plagued
with a fistula and others
oppressed by languors.
A certain friar of the Order of Minors she
healed from the suffer- Caption describing picture or graphic.
ing of insanity. Moreover when at a certain
time [quadam vice] the
Through these and other
olive oil in the monastery
conspicuous signs, He
totally failed, she herself,
marked out, while she still
having called the Friar
lived, the pre-eminence of
who has been deputed to
her merits. For even when
the same monastery for
she was in her last mothe gathering of alms, acments [in extremis
cepted a jug [urceum] and
ageret], the brilliant white
washed it, and placed it
company of blessed Virempty next to the doors
gins, ornamented with
[fores] of the monastery,
sparkling crowns, among
so that the same Friar
whom one of them apmight bear it off for acpeared more eminently
quiring olive oil; who
and more shiningly, was
when he wanted to take it,
seen to enter the house,
found it filled with oil, by
where the same family of
the benefice of a divine
Christ use to recline at
largess. Again, when one
table, and even unto her
day not but one half of a
small bed [lectulum] to
loaf of bread was had in
proceed, and as if to exthe monastery for the rehibit about her the office
fection of the Sisters, she
of visiting and the solace
herself ordered the same
of comforting, with a cerhalf-loaf to be divided in
tain zeal for human kindvain and dispensed to the
ness [humanitatis studio].
Sisters; which among the
hands of the one breaking
1
That is, her Sisters.
it, He who is the Living
2
Here the editors cite Jn.
Bread and who gives food
6:41 ;Ps. 145:7.
2
3
to those who are hungry,
Here the editors cite Lk.
multiplied it unto so
9:14-16.
much, that there was
But after her passing, a
made from it portions sufcertain man, who having
ficient for fifty, and it was
fallen sick grew worse
distributed for the Sisters
[morbo caduco ruebat]
reclining at table
and on account of a con[discumbentibus].3

Again, when one

day not but one half
of a loaf of bread
was had in the
monastery for the
refection of the
Sisters

P age 1 8

V o l um e 1 i s s ue 4

CLARA

he was cured of
each infirmity.

CLARIS PRAECLARA

tracted shin bone could not

walk, was brought to her
sepulchre: there, with the
shin bone itself making a
sound as if of breaking, he
was cured of each infirmity.
Those bent-over at the kidneys, contracted in members, quick to fall headlong
into a rage and wild men,
demented by fury, received
in that place a complete
cure [integram sospitatem].
A certain man's own right
hand the very use of
which he had thus lost out
of a vehement percussion
brought upon him because he could do entirely
nothing by means of it, just
as if it were, in a word, useless, was reformed in a full
manner to its pristine acting,
by the merits of the Saint
herself. Another, who by a
long-termed [diutina] blindness has lost the light of his
eyes, when he had approached the same sepulchre under the guiding
[ducatu] of another, having
recovered his sight in that
place, returned from that
place without a guide
[duce]. In these and how
very many other works and
glorious miracles is this venerable Virgin resplendent, so
that there evidently appears
fulfilled that which her very
own mother, while she was
pregnant with her and was
praying, is said to have
heard: that she was going to
bear a certain light [lumen],
which would light up the
globe in very many ways
[orbem plurimum illus-

traret].
The Act of Canonization
9. And so, let Mother
Church rejoice, that She
has born and educated
such a daughter, who as a
parent fecund with virtues, has produced many
nurselings of (this) Religion as Her own examples,
and has informed them to
the perfect service of
Christ by Her full magisterium. Let the devout
crowd of the faithful also
be glad, that the King of
Heaven and (their) Lord,
has introduced their sister
and companion, whom He
had chosen as His own
spouse, to His palace, outstandingly excelling
[praecelsus] and outstandingly clear with glory.1 For
the marching armies
[agmina] of the Saints rejoice also together, that in
their supernal fatherland
the nuptials of a new royal
spouse are celebrated. All
the rest, because it is fitting as, she whom the
Lord has exalted in the
sky, the Catholic Church
venerate on Earth, that
from the sanctity and
miracles of her life, having
been reviewed
[praemisssis] by a diligent
and attentive inquisition
and a distinct examination
and a solemn discussion,
She plainly establish: even
though otherwise, both in
near and in remote parts,
they would also be sufficient beforehand; her acts

having been lucidly

known: We from the common counsel and assent of
our brother (Cardinals)
and of all prelates, at that
time present at the Apostolic See, having drawn
confidence [confisi] from
the Divine Omnipotence,
by the authority of the
blessed Apostles, Peter
and Paul, and Our own,
we direct that the same is
to inscribed in the catalogue of holy Virgins.
1

Here the editors cite Cant.

1,3; Mat. 22,2.

The Feast of St. Clare

10. And for that reason
we warn and exhort all of
you attentively through
apostolic mandates written by Us, to this extent
that on the second day
before the Ides of August
you celebrate devoutly
and solemnly the feast of
the same Virgin and cause
it to be celebrated by your
subjects in a venerable
manner, so that you may
merit to have her before
God as your pious and
sedulous adjutrix. And so
that the multitude of the
Christian people might
flow to venerate her sepulchre in a more avid and

Caption describing picture or

graphic.

N e w s l e tte r T i tl e

CLARA

P age 1 9

CLARIS PRAECLARA

copious manner, her festivity be also thoroughly honored with greater crowds
[celebrius percolatur], to all
[truly penitent and confessed], who come to it with
reverence on the feast of
the same Virgin, and/or who
might even approach yearly
during the octave days of
her feast, having confided
humbly in her suffrages, We
do, by the mercy of the Omnipotent God and by the
authority of the blessed
Apostles Peter and Paul,
loosen them one year and
forty days [from the penances enjoined upon them].
[Given at Anagni, the sixth
day before the Calends of
October, in the first year of
our pontificate.]

Caption describing picture or graphic.

M O NT H LY B IB L E RE AD ING : ISA IA H 2
All nations shall flow to the
Church of Christ. The Jews
shall be rejected for their
sins. Idolatry shall be
destroyed.
1 The word that Isaias, the
son of Amos, saw, concerning Juda and Jerusalem.
2 *And in the last days the
mountain of the house of
the Lord shall be prepared
on the top of mountains
nd it shall be exalted above
the hills, and all nations shall
flow unto it.
3 And many people shall go,
and say: Come, and let us go
up to the mountain of the
Lord, and to the house
of the God of Jacob, and he

will teach us his ways, and

we will walk in his paths:
for the law shall comorth
from Sion, and the word
of the Lord from Jerusalem.
4 And he shall judge the
Gentiles, and rebuke many
people: and they shall turn
their swords into
ploughshares, and their
spears into sickles: nation
shall not lift up sword
against nation, neither
shall thebe exercised any
more to war.
5 O house of Jacob, come
ye, and let us walk in the
light of the Lord.
6 For thou hast cast off thy
people, the house of

Jacob: because they are

filled as in times past, and
hav had soothsayers as
the Philistines, and have
adhered to strange children.
7 Their land is filled with
silver and gold: and there
is no end of their treasures.
8 And their land is filled
with horses: and their
chariots are innumerable.

Caption describing picture or

graphic.

Their land is filled

with silver and gold:
and there is no end
of their treasures.

P age 2 0

V o l um e 1 i s s ue 4

MO N T H LY

And he shall go into

the clefts of rocks,
and into the holes
of stones, from the
face of the fear of
the

BIBLE READING

Their land also is full of idols

hey have adored the work of
their own hands, which their
own fingers have made.
9 And man hath bowed himself down, and man hath
been debased: therefore,
forgive them not.
10 Enter thou into the rock,
and hide thee in the pit from
the face of the fear of the
Lord, and from the glor
of his majesty.
11 The lofty eyes of man are
humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be made
to stoop: and the Lord
lone shall be exalted in that
day.
12 Because the day of the
Lord of hosts shall be upon
every one that is proud and
high-minded, and upo
very one that is arrogant,
and he shall be humbled.
13 And upon all the tall and
lofty cedars of Libanus, and
upon all the oaks of Basan.
14 And upon all the high
mountains, and upon all the
elevated hills.
15 And upon every high
tower, and every fenced
wall.
16 And upon all the ships of
Tharsis, and upon all that is
fair to behold.
17 And the loftiness of men
shall be bowed down, and
the haughtiness of men shall
be humbled, and the Lord
alone shall be exalted in that
day.
18 And idols shall be utterly
destroyed.

19 *And they shall go

into the holes of
rocks, and into the
caves of the earth,
from the face of the
fear of the Lord, and
from the glory of his
majesty, when he
shall rise up to strike Caption describing picture or graphic.
the earth.
20 In that day a man
after it, but only eternity.
shall cast away his idols
Ch. --- It is therefore styled
of silver, and his idols of
the last hour. 1 Jo. ii. W. --gold, which he had
Mountains. This shews the
made for himself to
perpetual visibility of the
adore, moles and bats.
Church of Christ: for a
21 And he shall go into
mountain upon the top of
the clefts of rocks, and
mountains cannot be hid.
into the holes of stones,
Ch. --- This evidently regards
from the face of the fear
the Church. Mat. v. W. --of the Lord, and from
The Jews can never shew
the glory of his majesty,
the fulfillment of this prophwhen he shall rise up to
ecy in any material temple.
strike the earth.
Micheas (iv. 1.) copies this
22 Cease ye, therefore,
text.
from the man, whose
Ver. 3. Jerusalem. Our Savbreath is in his nostrils,
iour preached there, and in
for he is reputed high.
some sense the religion es____________________
tablished by him, may be
*
esteemed a reform, or ac2: Micheas iv. 1.
complishment of the old
law.
19: Osee x. 8.; Lu. xxiii.
30.; Apoc. vi. 16.
Ver. 4. War. Ezechias enjoyed peace after the defeat
Ver. 1. Jerusalem. Many
of Sennacherib, as the whole
particular prophecies
world did at the birth
are blended with the
general one, which reof Christ. C. --- Claudentur
gards Christ. C.
Ver. 2. Days. The whole
time of the new law,
from the coming of
Christ till the end of the
world, is called
in the Scripture the last
days; because no other
Caption describing picture or
graphic.
age, or time shall come

N e w s l e tte r T i tl e

Page 21

M O N T H LY B I B L E R E A D I N G
belli portae. Aen. i.
Ver. 5. Lord. Ezechias, or
rather Christ and his Church,
invite all to embrace the
true faith. C.
Ver. 6. Jacob. Thus the converts address God, (H.) or
the prophet gives the reasons of the subversion of
the ten tribes. --- Filled. Consecrated as priests. --- Children. Imitating idolatrous
nations, (C.) and marrying
with them, (C. Sept. Theod.)
or even giving way to unnatural sins. S. Jer. M. --The Jews were
not utterly cast off till they
had put Christ to death. His
Church shall never perish.

W.
which was ruined by
Ver. 8. Horses. Which
idolatry. v. 18. 20.
the kings were forbidden
Ver. 13. Basan. Israel; or
to multiply. Deut. xvii.
Syria and the Ammonites,
16. Great riches often
(C.) whom
precede the ruin of states.
Ver. 9. Forgive. Sept. "I
will not dismiss them."
Heb. "and
thou hast not
pardoned
them."
Ver. 10.
Rock.
Screen thyself if thou
canst. He
alludes to
the kingdom
Caption describing picture or graphic.
of Israel,

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M O N T H LY B I B L E R E A D I N G
Nabuchodonosor subdued,
five years after he had taken
Jerusalem, (Joseph. x. 11.) as
the Idumeans, (v. 14.) Philistines, and Egyptians, (v. 15.)
and Tyrians, (v. 16.) who felt
also the indignation of the
Lord. Jer. xxv. 15.
Ver. 16. Tharsis. In Cilicia,
denoting large ships for
merchandise. --- Fair. Heb.
"desirable pictures." Sept.
"ships." C.
Ver. 18. Destroyed. This was
verified by the establishment of Christianity. And by
this and other texts of the
like nature, the wild system
of some modern sectaries is
abundantly confuted, who
charge the whole

Christian Church with worshipping idols, for many

ages. Ch. --- Yea, for above
a thousand years, while
she still professed the
name of Christ. W.
Ver. 20. Bats. The Egyptians adored all sorts of
animals. Herod. ii. 65. --Aegyptus portenta colat.
Juv. xv. --- Omnigenumque
Deum monstra. Aen. viii. -- The mole was much esteemed by magicians, who
promised any the art of
divination and success,
who should eat the heart
of one still warm. Pliny,
xxx. 3. The Israelites were
always ready to embrace
such superstitious prac-

tices. C.
Ver. 22. High. Adhere to
Jesus Christ. Orig. M. --Sept. omit this sentence,
and S. Jer. thinks they did
it perhaps for fear of
shocking their brethren. In
Jer. xvii. --- It is supplied
from Aquila's version,
"how must he be esteemed?" C. --- Prot. "for
wherein is he to be accounted of?" Jesus will kill
the wicked one with
the spirit of his mouth. 2
Thess. ii. 8. H. --- No dependence must be had in
man. The Israelites vainly
trusted in Egypt. C.

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December 24th
vigil of the nativity of our lord
December 25th
nativity of our
lord.