Better Days BroDcast

This feast, now generally celebrated on the Sunday between January 2 and January 8, is known as the Epiphany because it originated in the Greek-speaking Near East, where the word means a showing or a manifestation. It is the feast of the manifestation to the world at large, in the person of the three Wise Men, of the majesty and the divinity of the newborn Savior. (MTR) Photo by Sergey Pesterev on Unsplash

Originally, this feast had a penitential character, as if in mourning for the massacre of the children. Perhaps this is why De La Salle stresses self-denial and mortification in his meditation. The feast dates back at least to the fifth century.  (MTR).  Photo by Fallon Michael on Unsplash

Although this meditation does not allude to the apostolic work of the Brothers, there is a relationship with the Brothers’ spirit of zeal in the meditation’s focus on love for Jesus. This meditation might be considered as a companion to the previous one on Saint Stephen, which focuses on the spirit of faith, for zeal is the second element of the spirit of the Institute. This feast is of very early origin in the Church. Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash

De La Salle presents Saint Stephen to the Brothers as a model of the spirit of faith, which they had chosen under his guidance as the spirit of their Institute, not only for their own life but also as the purpose of their work with their students. This feast is of very early origin in the Church, at least as early as the fourth century.  Photo by Ismael Paramo on Unsplash

Just as the previous meditation reflects the basic Christological orientation of De La Salle’s spirituality, this meditation for Christmas, stresses the ascetical response to this Christology namely, the acceptance of poverty, and lowliness in imitation of the kenosis of Christ. However, De La Salle is careful to show the Brothers, how this spirit is wholly relevant to their educational work. Photo by Phil Hearing on Unsplash

The 1718 Rule of the Brothers states that on this vigil, at 10:30 p.m., the Brothers go to the oratory, where a subject of meditation is read, and afterward go to the church, to be there for the beginning of Matins. They make their prayer there until the time for Mass, at which they receive Holy Communion. No doubt De La Salle wrote this meditation for that occasion. It is a good example of the Christ-centric character of Lasallian spirituality. The mystery of the Incarnation is key to the prayer of De La Salle. Photo by Dan Kiefer on Unsplash

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This feast was first celebrated in the Eastern Church, and was only gradually introduced into Europe during the ninth century. It was promoted by the Franciscans in the thirteenth century, and the Franciscan Pope Sixtus IV introduced it in Rome in 1477. Because Pope Clement XI extended it to the universal Church in 1708, it received a special impetus toward the end of De La Salle’s life. This might have promoted a special devotion among the first Brothers, and influenced this meditation by Dela Salle.

According to later regulations of the community of Saint Yon, this feast is kept with great solemnity throughout the Institute, for it was after vowing to fast on the eve of this feast every year, in addition to the Friday fast, and to celebrate the feast and its octave solemnly, as far as they were able, that the Brothers obtained Letters Patent from the king, and the Bull of Approbation of the Institute from the Holy See.

Moreover, the Lord has provided the means needed to construct the chapel and other buildings at Saint Yon, and has given prosperity to this house in a seemingly miraculous manner. On this day, just as on Easter Sunday, everything that is most beautiful will be used in the chapel. Photo by Jon Tyson on Unsplash

Ambrose was born in Treves Germany. His father was governor of the Gauls, and a member of the Roman aristocracy. Ambrose was educated in Rome, and became a provincial governor with headquarters in Milan. While presiding at the election of the bishop of Milan, he was nominated by acclamation, even though he was not yet a Christian, although his family was. He was forthwith baptized, ordained a priest, and consecrated a bishop. He took his assignment seriously, prayed, studied, and became a great pastoral bishop, without losing his sense of the dignity and power of his office. His preaching contributed to the conversion of Saint Augustine, whom he baptized in 387. He introduced Eastern melodies into the Western Church. The Ambrosian rite is part of his influence on the liturgy. Photo by Benjamin Voros on Unsplash

Saint Nicholas, bishop of Myra Asia Minor, is known largely from legends and popular devotion, as the patron of sailors in the East and of children in the West. When the Saracens took possession of Myra, his relics were brought to Bari Italy, and he is often called Saint Nicholas of Bari. The stories recounted by De La Salle in the third point of his meditation, are the probable origins of his becoming the patron of children. De La Salle manifests this devotion in the Conduct of Schools, by making the feast of Saint Nicholas a special holiday for the students.  The notion of Santa Claus was brought to America and from there to England by Dutch Protestants. The story in De La Salle’s first point, of Saint Nicholas as a baby, is taken from the Second Nocturn of the former Office in the Breviary. Photo by Jonathan Borba on Unsplash