DECEMBER 18, 2024 – ST. GATIAN, BISHOP.

• Expectation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. (Historical)
• St. Gatian. Bishop. (Historical)

ST. GATIAN came from Rome with St. Dionysius of Paris, about the middle of the third century, and preached the faith principally at Tours in Gaul, where he fixed his episcopal see. The Gauls in that part were extremely addicted to the worship of their idols. But no contradictions or sufferings were able to discourage or daunt this true apostle; and by perseverance he gained several to Christ. He assembled his little flock in grots and caves, and there celebrated the divine mysteries. He was obliged often to lie hid in lurking holes a long time together in order to escape a cruel death, with which the heathens frequently threatened him, and which he was always ready to receive with joy if he had fallen into their hands. Having continued his labors with unwearied zeal amidst frequent sufferings and dangers for near the space of fifty years, he died in peace, and was honored with miracles.

REFLECTION: God does not ask great sacrifices from all; but, in His goodness, He gives us all some things to renounce or to suffer for Him, and it is by our loving submission to His will that we show ourselves to be Christians.

WORD OF THE DAY

TRIDENTINE THEOLOGY. Catholic theology affected by the Reformation and the Council of Trent. Protestant emphasis on the Bible and rejection of the Roman primacy stimulated theologians to investigate more closely the sources of revelation in Scripture and tradition and establish the grounds for a rational apologetic in support of the Catholic claims. The first need was met by developing a system of positive theology, whereby the truths professed by Catholic Christianity were shown to be found in the deposit of faith. The Jesuits, led by St. Robert Bellarmine (1542-1621), became the main expositors of this system, as they also laid the groundwork for fundamental theology, which proves from history and philosophy the credibility of the Christian religion.

The speculative side of the science began a new era, occasioned by the challenges of Protestantism on almost every position of the Catholic Church. During the eighteen years of the council of Trent (1545-63), the combined intelligence of Roman Catholicism concentrated its efforts on so defining the nature of grace and justification, the Sacrifice of the Mass and the priesthood, the sacramental system and ecclesiastical authority, that insights were gained on which post-Tridentine writers have built an imposing theological structure. Their framework was mainly the Summa Theologica of St. Thomas Aquinas, with commentators in all the major schools of thought. Among the Dominicans was John of St. Thomas; (1589-1644), professor at the University of Alcalá in Spain, so named from his wholehearted devotion to the teachings of St. Thomas Aquinas; the reformed Carmelites edited a celebrated Cursus Salmanticensis; Franciscans published treatises of Duns Scotus, harmonized with St. Thomas; the Jesuits produced Francis Suarez (1548-1617), a dogmatic theologian famous for his works on jurisprudence which became of paramount importance for legislators on the continent and in America.

Modern Catholic Dictionary, Fr. John Hardon SJ (Get the real one at Eternal Life — don’t accept an abridged or edited version of this masterpiece!)

Advent & The Great Truths

Advent: Short Meditations and The Great Truths Day 22 (Dec 18) O Adonai & The General Judgment (Advent Meditations)

ST. ANDREW NOVENA

Hail and blessed be the hour and moment in which the Son of God was born of the most pure Virgin Mary, at midnight, in Bethlehem, in piercing cold. In that hour vouchsafe, o my God, to hear my prayer and grant my desires, through the merits of our Saviour Jesus Christ, and of His blessed Mother. Amen.

(It is piously believed that whoever recites the above prayer fifteen times a day from the feast of St. Andrew (Nov. 30th) until Christmas, will obtain what is asked). This formula of the prayer bears an Imprimatur from † Michael Augustine, Archbishop of New York. New York, February 6, 1897.

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