FEAST DAY
The apostle and evangelist Matthew (Matt 9:9) is occasionally identified with the tax collector Levi, son of Alphaeus (Mark 2:13-15).
He counts as the author of the gospel typically attributed to him. The first gospel actually never mentions …
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The archangels are celebrated on one day only since the last reform of the liturgical calendar. Gabriel and Raphael used to have their independent feast days on March 24 and October 24 until 1969, when they were merged …
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The apostle Simon is also called the Cananean (Mark 3:18), or Zelot (Luke 6:15) in the New Testament. Perhaps, he used to belong to the Jewish religious sect of the Zelots before joining Jesus. He is not to …
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The origin of the celebration of all saints lies in the Eastern Church:
ALL SOULS DAY
The memorial of all the faithful departed has its origins in the memorial established in 998 by Odilo, abbot of the Benedictine monastery at Cluny. The memorial first included the deceased from all the subordinated monasteries. The …
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The Church was built by emperor Constantine on the property that used to belong to a wealthy Roman family called Lateran, which donated it to the Church. It was consecrated by Pope Sylvester I. The basilica was additionally …
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Pope Pius XI introduced a Feast of Christ the King in 1925, commemorating 1600 years since the celebration of the Ecumenical Council of Nicea (325). It is a doctrinal feast day: it does not celebrate an event of salvation, …
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Andrew, brother of Simon Peter, son of Jonas is mentioned multiple times in the New Testament. He came from Betsaida, but worked and lived in Capernaum on Lake Galilee as a fisherman. He belong to the first disciples …
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Christmas Day (and season) combines two motives: Birth of the Lord, Jesus Christ (Lat. dies nativitatis, natalis) and revelation (epiphany).
The gospels report about the birth of Jesus and offer their theological insights. In Luke’s gospel, Jesus …
Read MoreFollowing the Roman calendar from 1969, the Christmas season goes from the day of Christ’s nativity until the Sunday after Epiphany. The celebration of the Christmas Day extends through the next 8 days (octave). Saints commemorated during this period (St. …
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A relatively recent feast was motivated by the veneration of the Holy Family in the 19th century. Canada. It spread under the enthusiastic support of Pope Leo XIII (1878-1903) and Benedict XV.
Unlike most other liturgical feast days that …
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King Herod feared – based on the report of the wise men from the East – there was a dangerous throne pretendant among the newly born children of Bethlehem (Matt 2:1-12). Thus, he let kill all the boys under …
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The Roman Empire celebrated the beginning of the New Year with wanton festivities, ceremonies, and gifts. The Church tried to counteract as attested by the words of St. Augustin
… Read MoreThey will be giving new-year’s gifts, you should give alms.
Feast
Luke is regarded as the author of one of the gospels and of the Acts of the Apostles (2 Tim 4:11; Phlm 1:24). He is also called physician in Col 4:14. He was a companion of Saint Paul on …
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The Bible considers the apostle and evangelist John to be the author of the gospel according to John (John 21:14), The Letters of John, and the Book of Revelation. He is frequently identified with the son of Zebedee and …
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The Acts of Apostles (12:12) mention a man named John Mark in connection with a house that served the Christians in Jerusalem as a place for gatherings. It was perhaps his cousin Barnabas (Col 4:10) who acquainted him …
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