Memorial of Saints Basil the Great, 330-379, and Gregory Nazianzen, 325-390; both bishops and doctors of the church; became friends during their education in Athens; Basil wrote a monastic rule still in use in the East; Gregory was called to rebuild the faith in Constantinople Ninth Day of Christmas Office of Readings and Morning Prayer […]

Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God Eighth Day of Christmas Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 1/1/21 Gospel: Luke 2:16-21

Seventh Day of Christmas Optional Memorial of Pope St. Sylvester; witnessed the persecution and fall of Diocletian and Maximian, and the triumph of Constantine in 312; became pope in 314; sent legates to the Council of Nicea, due to his age; died 335 A.D. Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 12/31/20 Gospel: John 1:1-18

Sixth Day of Christmas Saint of the Day: St. Egwin; Seventh Century bishop of Worcester, England; opposed by his clergy over his correction of abuses, absolved by Pope Constantine; founded Evesham Abbey; died 717 A.D. Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 12/30/20 Gospel: Luke 2:36-40

Fifth Day of Christmas Optional Memorial of St. Thomas Becket, 1118-1170; became Archbishop of Canterbury through his friend, King Henry II; however Thomas resisted the king’s intrusion into church affairs; Thomas was ultimately slain by four of the king’s knights, in Canterbury Cathedral Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 12/29/20 Gospel: Luke 2:22-35

Feast of the Holy Innocents; after meeting the astrologers and hearing of their search for the “newborn king of the Jews,” Herod ordered the massacre of all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity two years old and under Fourth Day of Christmas Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 12/28/20 Gospel: Matthew 2:13-18

Feast of the Holy Family Third Day of Christmas Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 12/27/20 Gospel: Luke 2:22-40

Feast of St. Stephen; first Christian martyr, one of the first deacons; “a man filled with grace and power”; falsely accused of blasphemy, and stoned to death about 36 A.D. Second Day of Christmas Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 12/26/20 Gospel: Matthew 10:17-22

Christmas Day; the Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 12/25/20 Gospel: Luke 2:15-20

Thursday of the Fourth Week of Advent, Christmas Eve Saint of the Day: St. Emiliana; one of three aunts of St. Gregory the Great; lived with her sister, Tarsilla, as in a monastery; Tarsilla received a vision of her great-grandfather, Pope St. Felix II, who told her of her impending entry into heaven; Emiliana, in […]