St. Silvester I of Rome, Bishop, (335)
St. Columba of Sens, Virgin and Martyr, (unknown)
St. Melania the Younger, Widow, (439)
From the Telegraph.
First the Cardinal Archbishop said:
“I would hope those responsible for the Polish church here, and the Poles themselves, will be aware that they should become a part of local parishes as soon as possible when they learn enough of the language.”
Then the Polish immigrant said:
“How can he demand that we stop praying in Polish? Is it a sin? I feel my inner conscience has been violated, leaving me spiritually raped.”
Then the immigrant Polish priest said:
“If we lose our national identity, we lose everything.”
Now was this Cardinal O’Hara, a Polish émigré, and Father Hodur, in Scranton, circa 1897?
Nope, this is England today.
Cardinal O’Hara played by Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor, the Polish émigré played by a Polish émigré, and Fr. Hodur played by Fr Tadeusz Kukla.
Now some thought that nativism was only endemic in the United States. But, the Roman Catholic Church’s chief representative in England (as the Young Fogey would point out, he is no lover of Catholic tradition – something the Poles go in for) proves nativism is alive and well, at least in “his” church.
When I saw this I nearly choked on my coffee.
In the Octave of the Nativity
Solemnity of the Humble Shepherds
Saints Sabinus and Companions, Martyrs, (303)
St. Anysia, Martyr, (304)
St. Anysius of Thessalonica, Bishop, (410)
In the Octave of the Nativity
St. Trophimus of Arles, Bishop, (3rd century)
David, King of Israel, King, (B.C.)
St. Marcellus Akimetes, Abbot, (485)
In the Octave of the Nativity
Holy Innocents of Bethlehem, Martyrs, (1st century)
St. Theodore the Sanctified, Abbot, (368)
St. Anthony of Lerins, Hermit, (520)
In the Octave of the Nativity
Feast – St. John the Evangelist, Apostle
St. Fabiola of Rome, Matron, (399)
St. Nicarete of Constantinople, Virgin, (410)
In the Octave of the Nativity
Feast – St. Stephen the Protomartyr, Martyr, (34)
St. Archelaus of Kashkar, Bishop, (unknown)
St. Dionysius of Rome, Bishop, (269)
Solemnity of the Nativity of our Lord
St. Eugenia, Virgin and Martyr, (unknown)
Martyrs of Nicomedia, Martyrs, (303)
In my ethic tradition, we shared our gifts after the Wigilia (Vigil) supper and before attending the Pasterka (Shepherd’s) Holy Mass at midnight.
If would like to offer you, my readers, several gifts this Christmas.
I will provide eight (8) annual subscriptions to God’s Field, the official newspaper of the Polish National Catholic Church and ten (10) copies of the Polish National Catholic Church’s wall calendar for 2008.
The first eighteen people that make a request will get one or the other.
Please send me an E-mail using my contact form and provide your name, mailing address, and the gift you would prefer.
Of course I wish all of you every blessing on this Vigil of the Nativity of our Lord. The Christ is our true gift. Amen.
Vigil of the Nativity of our Lord
Adam and Eve
St. Gregory of Spoleto, Martyr, (304)