Feasts of the Catholic Church: Epiphany, Immaculate Conception PDF

SOME IMPORTANT OR POPULAR FEASTS OR EVENTS OF THE LOCAL CATHOLIC CHURCH  THE SOLEMNITY OF THE EPIPHANY The manifestation of the Lord as savior not only of the Jews but of all men; the wise men who came all the way to look for the child and to revere him manifest the worldwide importance and...

SOME IMPORTANT OR POPULAR FEASTS OR EVENTS OF THE LOCAL CATHOLIC CHURCH  THE SOLEMNITY OF THE EPIPHANY The manifestation of the Lord as savior not only of the Jews but of all men; the wise men who came all the way to look for the child and to revere him manifest the worldwide importance and mission of this newly born infant. THE FEAST OF THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD -is the manifestation of Jesus as the beloved Son of the Father, filled with the spirit Considering all these festivities one must admit that the Christmas cycle is a time which presents to the believer various aspects and dimensions of Jesus Christ and therefore a time of a rich Christological catechesis and meditation. IMMACULATE CONCEPTION (DECEMBER 8) This Marian feast like so many others - was given to the West from the churches of the East. The date of the eighth of December was chosen in relationship to the older feast of the birth of Mary on September 8 nine months preceding the birth is the conception. as early as the seventh century a feast with the interesting title of, “The conception of Mary by St. Anne by which she became the mother of the Mother of God".  The content of the feast was the great deed of God that Anne could conceive in spite of her barrenness and off age because nothing is impossible with him.  Via Southern Italy the feast came to the West where its theological content was formulated anew; now the attention turned to the child affirming that Mary was conceived without sin. Duns Scotus and the theological school of the Franciscans developed and propagated the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception and in 1476 Pope Sixtus IV- he himself a Franciscan and a follower of the theological thought of Dun Scotus approved the feast of the Immaculate Conception and accepted it into the Roman calendar  In 1708 Pope Clement XI extended the feast to the entire church. In 1830 Catherine Laboure had the visions of the blessed Mother and in 1832 the first so called miraculous medals were made which present Mary with the inscription: O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee. These medals together with the spectacular and sudden conversion of the rich Jew Alphonse Ratisbonne in 1842 contributed greatly to the popularity of the feast and doctrine of the Immaculate Conception.  Pope Pius IX in Bull "Ineffabilis Deus" formulates the dogma and with it also the intent of this feast in the following words: "We declare, pronounce and define: The doctrine which holds that the most blessed Virgin Mary was from the first moment of her conception, by the singular grace and privilege of Almighty God and in view of the merits of Christ Jesus the Savior of the human race, preserved immune from all stain of original sin, a revealed by God and, therefore, firmly and constantly to be believed by all the faithful"  THE FOLLOWING POINTS IN THIS DEFINITION ARE IMPORTANT First, Mary is free of sin and this in a very radical way. Second, this privilege is a special and singular grace from part of God. Third, such a privilege does not diminish the role of Jesus as savior of all mankind. Fourth, Mary was granted the privilege of being preserved from sin. view of Christ because she was chosen to be the Mother of God. 2. THE AGUINALDO MASSES The sixteenth of December is always a great day in the Philippines, full of excitement and joy because it is the beginning of the dawn Masses nine days preceding Christmas  The practice of the Aguinaldo Masses seems to have its origin in the Rorate Masses They were celebrated early in the morning to signify the darkness which will be overcome by light, in some places they were held on the Saturdays of the Advent season and in other places on the nine days preceding Christmas which corresponds to the practice of the Aguinaldo Masses today. WHY ARE THEY AT SUCH AN EARLY HOUR IN THE MORNING? A first reason will surely be the symbolic one. Christ is the light of the world that overcame the darkness, and he was introduced into this world by Mary. Another reason is a more practical one. These Masses were and still are very popular and the faithful are eager to participate in them. A third reason could be that there was a kind of penitential influence. 3. SANTA CLAUS (Saint Nicholas) He is one of the most popular saints in the West despite his being a bishop in the East According to the legend St. Nicholas preserved three young girls of a poor family of becoming prostitutes by giving money to them and alleviating their poverty. According to another legend he brought back to life three young boys who were killed. There are many more miracle stories which show the Saint as a powerful intercessor and a great helper in all kinds of needs, especially as a great friend of the poor and of children. 4. SEARCH FOR AN INN (Panunuluyan) It is a kind of an Advent play of German origin which became popular also in many other countries as far as the Philippines.“ The Search for an Inn fits very well into the second part of Advent which is concentrating more on Christmas. In some places the re-enactment of Joseph and Mary looking for shelter is done as a preparation for the Midnight Mass.  5. THE FEAST OF SANTO NIÑO In the 15th/16th century a great devotion to the Child Jesus developed in Europe. Santo Niño Image Drips Healing Oil. The oil has healing effects on sick people, especially cancer patients. But not only this. "The Santo Niño de Providencia is known to turn his head. He was like this for some time. Then, he is also known to walk around the house. He suddenly disappears from his altar" and they find him on the floor or some other place.  No matter what one thinks about the related story, it is indicative of the faith and trust of many Filipinos in Santo Niño. WORLDWIDE KNOWN STATUES OF STO. NIÑO The oldest one is the so-called "Bambino" of the Church Araceli in Rome. Another famous image of the Child Jesus is the "Infant of Prague". Santo Niño de Cebu- On April 7, 1521, Ferdinand Magellan entered the port of Cebu. One week later a mass baptism was held.  Queen Juana was given as a baptismal gift a statue of the Child Jesus. In 1971 the feast of the Santo Niño was introduced in the National Calendar to be celebrated on the Third Sunday of January. Rome confirmed this decision in 1975 and in 1978 the texts for the Mass and the Divine Office were approved."  The devotion to Santo Niño is so popular in the Philippines that the Bishops' Conference rightly opted for a special liturgical feast which is proper to the Philippines. It is celebrated on the Third Sunday of January, therefore outside the Christmas season, but strictly related to it. 6. ANNUNCIATION OF THE LORD (MARCH 25) History and content of this feast and many aspects about the historical development of this solemnity are still in the dark and not yet enough investigated. The oldest written proof for the existence of this feast is a homily of Abraham of Ephesus which was held in Constantinople between the years 530-550.  In the Eastern churches the title of this feast was and still is "Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary". In the West the feast was introduced in the seventh century. In the Roman Calendar of 1969 this is reversed and they go back to the Christological title this feast had in the beginning. "In order to indicate more clearly that the solemnity of the Annunciation is primarily a feast of the Lord, the title is changed to "Annunciation of the Lord".  Thus the solemnity of the Annunciation is the recollection of the moment in time that was the high point in the dialogue concerning our salvation initiated by God with us; the day is also the memorial of the virgin's freely given consent and of her cooperation in the carrying out of the divine pian for human redemption. 7. FEAST OF THE HOLY FAMILY (SUNDAY DURING THE OCTAVE OF CHRISTMAS) A special veneration for the Holy Family developed in the 17th century, especially in France and Belgium. François de Laval de Montmorency (1623-1708), a Frenchman and first Bishop of Quebec, brought this devotion from France to Canada and fostered and promoted it. 8. (JANUARY 6) : EPIPHANY The feast with this strange and foreign name Epiphany is a twin feast of Christmas. It is a second or "little Christmas feast" and compliments and enriches the 25th of December "They both celebrate from different perspectives the mystery of the Incarnation, the coming and manifestation of Christ in the world. 9. FEAST OF THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD The feast of the Baptism of the Lord is a very old feast and at the same time probably the youngest feast in the year of the church. It was and still is one of the mysteries of Christ celebrated on the feast of Epiphany The date was set on January 13, the octave day of Epiphany to show the connection and close relationship of these two feasts. IMPORTANT FEASTS/DATES OF SVD/ DWCC/PRAYERS OF THE SOCIETY  SIGNIFICANT DATES July 25, 1875- ordination of Joseph Freinademetz as secular priest for the diocese of Brixen. September 8, 1875- Inauguration of the Mission House in Steyl, Holland March 2, 1878- First SVD missionaries sent to China, Joseph Freinademetz and John B. Anzer who became the First Bishop. March 1884-1885 – First SVD General Chapter. Father Arnold’s Foundation became officially known as Society of the Divine Word, in Latin Societas Verbi Divini. December 8, 1889- Foundation of Missionary Sisters Servants of the Holy Spirit (SSpS). December 8, 1896- Foundation of Sisters-Servant of the Holy Spirit of Perpetual Adoration (SSpSAP)  January 1, 1908- Death of Father Joseph in South Shantung China January 15, 1909- Death of Father Arnold in Steyl  August 15, 1909- Fr. Ludwig Beckert and Fr. Sheiermann, the first SVD missionaries to the Philippines arrived in Manila. A few days later, they Started the SVD mission in Cagutongan(San Isidro). ABRA August 1912- Arrival of first SSpS sisters in Tayum, Abra. August 23, 1923- Arrival of First Pink sisters in Lipa, Batangas.  October 19, 1975- Beatification of Arnold Janssen and Joseph Frienademetz by Pope Paul VI October 5, 2003- Cannonization of Arnold Janssen and Joseph Freinademetz by Pope John Paul II THE SVD MOTTO PRAYER: THE MISSION OF LIGHT AGAINST THE DARKNESS This is our motto prayer “May the darkness of sin and the night of unbelief vanish before the Light of the Word and the Spirit of grace, and may the Heart of Jesus live in the hearts of all.” SVD – MISSIONARIES OF DIVINE LIGHT Our Founder saw the Society’s mission through the prism of Light and Darkness based on the Prologue of Saint John. The Divine Word is longing to be born in human hearts so that all people may become more and more daughters and sons of God.  Father Arnold contemplated the Prologue of St. John as a magnificent and a unique epiphany of Divine Light, starting with the act of Creation and reaching its dramatic climax in the Incarnation. HISTORICAL TRACES OF THE PRAYER In the early 1870’s, around the time of Arnold’s plans to start a Mission House, Saint John’s thoughts had a decisive influence on his spirituality.  The SVD Motto Prayer reflects an apostolic orientation of the Society and the Founder’s deep rootedness in the Holy Scripture and the tradition. Trinitarian reading of a prayer The first part of the prayer is based mainly on the Prologue (John 1:1; 1: 4-5; 1:8-9; “full of grace and truth” 1:14) with references to other biblical authors, e.g., the expression “Spirit of grace” is from the Prophet Zacharias (12:10) whereas the expression “night” comes from St. Paul, who frequently used it in conjunction with “darkness” (1 Thess 5:5).  The light of the Word (Logos) is the inspiring and life-giving love. Therefore, missionaries have to implore frequently the light from above which is the light of Light, going out from the Father as the reflection of his beauty. CHRISTOLOGICAL READING OF THE PRAYER In the second part of the prayer, the light of the Word and the Spirit of grace dwell in their fullness in the Sacred Heart. Thus, the entire Trinity dwells in the Divine Heart, which is the most profound and mysterious abode of God among men. QUARTER HOUR PRAYER: God, eternal truth ----We believe in you. God, our strength and our salvation------ We hope in you. God, infinite goodness------ We love you with all our heart. You have sent the Word as Savior of the world----- Make us all one in Him. Fill us with the Spirit of your Son----- That we may glorify your name. Amen.