Rev.
Fr. Leonard Goffine's
The Church's Year
NEW
YEAR'S DAY
Why
is this day so called?
Because the
secular year begins with this day, as the Church year begins with
the First Sunday in Advent.
What
should we do on this day?
An offering
of the new year should be made to God, asking His grace that we
may spend the year in a holy manner, for the welfare of the soul.
Why
do we wish each other a "happy new year"?
Because to
do so is an act of Christian love; but this wish should come from
the heart, and not merely from worldly politeness, otherwise we
would be like the heathens (Mt. 5:47), and receive no other reward
than they.
What
feast of the Church is celebrated today?
The Feast of
the Circumcision of our Lord, Who, for love of us, voluntarily subjected
Himself to the painful law of the Old Covenant, that we might be
freed from the same.
What
was the Circumcision?
It was an external
sign of the Old Law, by which the people of that day were numbered
among the chosen people of God, as now they become, by baptism,
members of the Church of Christ.
What
is the signification of Circumcision in the moral or spiritual sense?
It signifies
the mortification of the senses, of evil desires, and inclinations.
This must be practiced by Christians now, since they have promised
it in baptism which would be useless to them without the practice
of mortification; just as little as the Jew by exterior Circumcision
is a true Jew, just so little is the baptized a true Christian without
a virtuous life. Beg of Christ, therefore, today, to give you the
grace of the true Circumcision of heart.
PRAYER
I thank Thee, O Lord Jesus, because Thou hast shed Thy blood for
me in Circumcision, and beg Thee that by Thy precious blood I may
receive the grace to circumcise my heart and all my senses, so that
I may lead a life of mortification in this world, and attain eternal
joys in the next. Amen.
[The INTROIT
of the Mass is the same as is said in the Third
Mass on Christmas.]
COLLECT
O God, Who, by the fruitful virginity of blessed Mary, hast bestowed
upon mankind the rewards of eternal salvation; grant, we beseech
Thee, that we may feel the benefit of her intercession for us, through
whom we have deserved to receive the author of life, our Lord Jesus
Christ, Thy Son, who livest and reignest, etc.
[The EPSTLE
is the same as is said in the First
Mass on Christmas.]
GOSPEL
(Lk. 2:21). At that time, after eight days were accomplished that
the child should be circumcised, his name was called Jesus, which
was called by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
Why
did Jesus submit to Circumcision?
That He might
show His great love for us, which caused Him even at the very beginning
of His life, to shed His blood to cleanse us thereby from all our
sins. Furthermore to teach us obedience to the commandments of God
and His Church, since He voluntarily subjected Himself to the Jewish
law, although He was not in the least bound by it, which ordered
that every male child should be circumcised on the eighth day after
its birth (Lev. 12:3).
Why
was He named Jesus?
Because Jesus
means Redeemer and Savior, and He had come to redeem and save the
world (Mt. 1:21). This is the holiest, most venerable, and
most powerful name by which we can be saved.
What
power has this name?
The greatest
power, for it repels all attacks of the evil Spirit, as Jesus Himself
says (Mk. 16:17). And so great is the efficacy of this most
holy name that even those who are not righteous, can by it expel
devils (Mt. 7:22). It has power to cure physical pains and
evils, as when used by the apostles (Acts. 3:3-7), and Christ
promised that the faithful by using it could do the same (Mk. 16:17).
St. Bernard calls the name of Jesus a "Medicine";
and St. Chrysostom says, "This name cures all ills; it gives
succor in all the ailments of the soul, in temptations, in faintheartedness,
in sorrow, and in all evil desires, etc." "Let him who
cannot excite contrition in his heart for the sins he has committed,
think of the loving, meek, and suffering Jesus, invoke His holy
name with fervor and confidence, and he will feel his heart touched
and made better," says St. Lawrence Justinian. It overcomes
and dispels the temptations of the enemy: "When we fight against
Satan in the name of Jesus," says the martyr St. Justin, "Jesus
fights for us, in us, and with us, and the enemies must flee as
soon as they hear the name of Jesus." It secures us help and
blessings in all corporal and spiritual necessities, because nothing
is impossible to him who asks in the name of Jesus, whatever tends
to his salvation will be given him (Jn. 14:13). Therefore
it is useful above all things, to invoke this holy name in all dangers
of body and soul, in doubts, in temptations, especially in temptations
against holy chastity, and still more so when one has fallen into
sin, from
which he desires to be delivered; for this name is like oil (Cant.
1:2) which cures, nourishes, and illumines.
How
must this name be pronounced to experience its power?
With lively
faith, with steadfast, unshaken confidence, with deepest reverence
and devotion, for in the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of
those that are in heaven, on earth, and under the earth (Phil. 2:10).
What wickedness, then, is theirs who habitually pronounce this name
carelessly and irreverently, upon every occasion! Such a habit is
certainly diabolical; for the damned and the devils constantly abuse
God and His holy name.
Why
does this name so seldom manifest its power in our days?
Because Christian
faith is daily becoming weaker, and confidence less, while perfect
submission to the will of God is wanting. When faith grows stronger
among people, and confidence greater, then will the power of this
most sacred name manifest itself in more wonderful and consoling
aspects.
PRAYER
TO JESUS IN DIFFICULTIES
O Jesus! Consolation
of the afflicted! Thy name is indeed poured out like oil; for Thou
dost illumine those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death;
Thou dost disperse the blindness of the soul and dost cure its ills;
Thou givest food and drink to those who hunger and thirst after
justice. Be also, O Jesus! my Savior, the physician of my soul,
the healer of its wounds. O Jesus! Succor of those who are in need,
be my protector in temptations! O Jesus! Father of the poor, do
Thou nourish me! O Jesus! joy of the angels, do Thou comfort me!
O Jesus! my only hope and refuge, be my helper in the hour of death,
for there is given us no other name beneath the sun by which we
may be saved, but Thy most blessed name Jesus!
EXHORTATION
St. Paul says: All whatsoever you do in word or in work, all things
do ye in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ (Col. 3:17). We should,
therefore, follow the example of the saints, and continually say,
at least in our hearts: "For love of Thee, O Jesus, I rise;
for love of Thee I lie down; for love of Thee I eat, drink, and
enjoy myself; for love of Thee I work, speak, or am silent."
Thus we will accustom ourselves to do all in the name of Jesus,
by which everything is easily or at least meritoriously accomplished.
PRAYER
TO BE SAID ON NEW YEAR'S DAY
O God, Heavenly
Father of Mercy, God of all Consolation! we thank
Thee that from our birth to this day, Thou hast so well preserved
us, and hast protected us in so many dangers; we beseech Thee, through
the merits of Thy beloved Son, and by His sacred blood which He
shed for us on this day in His circumcision, to forgive all the
sins which, during the past year, we have committed against Thy
commandments, by which we have aroused Thy indignation and wrath
against ourselves. Preserve us in the coming year from all sins,
and misfortunes of body and soul. Grant that from this day to the
end of our lives, all our senses, thoughts, words, and works,
which we here dedicate to Thee for all time, may be directed in
accordance with Thy will, and that we may finally die in the true
Catholic faith, and enjoy with Thee in Thy kingdom a joyful new
year, that shall know no end. Amen.
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