Catholic devotions for the 9th November
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Saint of the Day/ Feast
Reading of the Martyrology
Dedication of the Month
Dedication of the Day
Rosary
Five Wounds Rosary in Latin
Seven Sorrows Rosary in English
Latin Monastic Office
Reading of the Rule of Saint Benedict
Celebration of Mass
Reading from the School of Jesus Crucified
Feast of the Dedication of the Basilica of Saint John Lateran
On reaching the Eternal City the visitor first directs his steps to St. Peter’s, and feels that he has at length reached the goal of his pilgrimage when kneeling before the Apostle’s tomb beneath Michael Angelo’s wonderful dome. On leaving the basilica he is surprised to learn that St. Peter’s, with ail its stateliness, is not the most important of the churches in Rome, that St. John Lateran, the Pope’s Cathedral, ranks first in dignity among all the churches of the Eternal City and of the world. Its chapter takes precedence over that of St. Peter’s, and every Pope, when elected, comes here to be crowned and to be solemnly enthroned as the successor of St. Peter. The inscription on the fagade proclaims it to be, “ The Mother and Head of all the churches in the city and in the world.”
In one of the corridors leading to the sacristy is a marble tablet with the Bull of Pope Gregory XI inscribed on it, recording the foundation of the basilica by Constantine, and describing it as the first and chief of all the churches in Urbe et Orbe .
Popes Paschal II, Callixtus II, Honorius II, Innocent II, and others, speak of it in their Bulls as the “ Mother, Head and Queen of all the churches.”
The Lateran is the Cathedral of the Pope, as Bishop of Rome. Here, till September, 1870, he officiated on the first Sunday in Lent, on Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Holy Saturday, Easter Monday, Whit Sunday, the feasts of St. John Baptist, the Exaltation of the Cross, the dedication of the basilica and the anniversary of his election.
Twelve years after his conversion, Constantine has called together the senators and patricians of Rome in the Basilica Ulpia (a portion of the ruins of which may still be seen in the Forum of Trajan), and after explaining his reasons for embracing Christianity, exhorted them to follow his example. Henceforth Christians were to be free to open churches and practise their religion publicly, and their priests were to enjoy the privileges previously granted to the pagan priests. This announcement was listened to by the senators in sullen silence, but the Christians present greeted his words with shouts of acclamation, which were taken up by the people outside, and Constantine was accompanied to his palace by immense crowds bearing lighted torches.
The year 324 marks the downfall of idolatry in Rome and the triumph of Christianity, though paganism was revived for a time by Julian the Apostate, and efforts were made by Vettius Proetextatus and others to keep it alive up to A.D. 390.
Constantine began at once to erect a Christian basilica in one part of the Lateran palace, assisting in the work, it is said, with his own hands. It was consecrated by Pope St. Sylvester on November 9, 324. Tradition asserts that on the day of consecration God signified His acceptance of this, the first publicly consecrated church in Rome, by a miraculous event. In the vault of the apse there suddenly appeared an image of the Divine Countenance of the Redeemer, and the words of salutation were heard, Pax vobis!
St. Sylvester dedicated the church in honour of our Blessed Saviour, whence it is known as Basilica Salvatoris. Its other titles are — Lateran Basilica, Basilica of Constantine, St. John Lateran, from its being also dedicated to St. John the Baptist, by Sergius III. Later still, St.John the Evangelist was made tutelary patron along with St. John the Baptist.
In the Liber Pontificalis (seventh century) is preserved an authentic inventory of the rich endowment — both in revenues, in landed property, and gold and silver vestments left by Constantine to this, the principal church in the city.
The annual revenues to be divided between St. Peter’s, St. Paul’s, the Lateran, and St. Laurence, amounted to 13,000 sterling, i.e about 60,000 or 70,000, according to modern valuation.
Of his other presents, we may mention a silver canopy for the high altar, weighing 2,025 lbs. ; a silver statue of our Saviour, five feet high, weighing 140 lbs. ; another silver statue of our Saviour, weighing',i20 lbs. ; four silver statues of angels, each weighing 105 lbs. ; silver statues of the Apostles, each 90 lbs. ; a golden tabernacle of 50 lbs. weight ; seven altars of silver ; 45 silver lamps ; besides gold candelabra, thuribles, chalices, &c.
So rich and splendid was the interior that it was commonly spoken of as the Basilica Aurea, “The Golden Basilica.” Early mediaeval writers dilate on the splendour and brilliancy of the interior on festivals, when the whole basilica seemed a mass of light gleaming on polished pillar, gilded roof and ornaments of gold and silver.
The Reading from the Martyrology
This Day, the Ninth Day of November
n Rome at the Lateran, the Dedication of the Basilica of the Most Holy Saviour, which is the mother and the head of all the churches of Rome and of the world. A totum duplex feast of the second class.
At Amasea in Pontus, the birthday of St. Theodore, soldier. In the reign of the Emperor Maximian, he was severely beaten and thrown into prison, for confessing the Christian faith. There the Lord appeared to him and encouraged him to be steadfast and brave, and his spirits were raised. Finally, he was stretched on the rack and torn with iron hooks until his insides were visible; he was then placed in a raging fire to be burned to death. St. Gregory of Nyssa celebrated his name in a famous panegyric. A memory.
At Tyana in Cappadocia, the suffering of St. Orestes, under the Emperor Diocletian.
At Thessalonica, St. Alexander, martyr, in the reign of the Emperor Maximian.
At Bourges in Aquitaine, St. Ursinus, confessor. He was ordained by the successors of the Apostles and was appointed the first Bishop of Bourges.
At Naples in Campania, St. Agrippinus, bishop, famed for his miracles.
At Constantinople, the holy virgins Eustolia, a Roman maiden, and Sopatra, the daughter of the Emperor Mauritius.
At Beirut in Syria, the commemoration of the image of the Saviour which, being nailed to a cross, poured forth blood so abundantly that the Churches of the East and West both received an ample share of it.
Omnes sancti Mártyres, oráte pro nobis.
("All ye Holy Martyrs, pray for us", from the Litaniae Sanctorum, the Litany of the Saints)
November is the Month of the Poor Souls in Purgatory
NOVENA
For the Relief of the Poor Souls in Purgatory
EIGHTH DAY The Communion of the Saints
PREPARATORY PRAYER: Act of Faith: My God, I believe in Thee, because Thou art Truth itself; I firmly believe the truths revealed to the Church.
Act of Hope: My God, I hope in Thee, because Thou art infinitely good.
Act of Charity: My God, I love Thee with all my heart, and above all things, because Thou are infinitely perfect; and I love my neighbor as myself, for the love of Thee.
(Indulgence 7 years, 7 quarantines, each time. Benedict XIV., Jan. 28, 1756. Plenary once a month, if said every day. Benedict XIII., Jan. 16, 1728.)
MEDITATION: How grand and consoling is the doctrine of the Communion of Saints! While we, in this world, are struggling for the celestial crown, and assist our brethren in Purgatory, we are protected by those who are triumphing in Heaven. We form, in reality, but one and the same family here below, in Purgatory, and in Heaven. If a member of our body is suffering, all other members come to its assistance. God loves the souls in Purgatory as His dear spouses. He would open to them the gates of Heaven, but there are barriers. Let us present to His justice our prayers, our good works, and the obstruction will be removed; God will be satisfied.
It is often an obligation of justice to pray for the Poor Souls, but it is always a duty imposed by charity and by the compassion which we owe to one another.
There are in Purgatory Souls abandoned even by their parents and their friends, and for whom no one cares. Forgotten is their life, no thinking of it anymore; forgotten is their name; forgotten is their grave, which is visited no more; forgotten is their Soul, which is lingering in the fire of Purgatory. How their pain is increased by such neglect; They may say with the Prophet: “I am forgotten as one dead from the heart. I am become as a vessel that is destroyed.” (Ps. 30., 30.)
PRACTICE: Let us pray often and do some good works for the most abandoned Souls. Let us be to them like a father, a mother, a sister, a friend.
RESOLUTION: To offer the abandonment of our Lord Jesus, in His passion, for the most abandoned Souls.
EXAMPLE: Catherine of Cortona was hardly eight years old when her father died. One day he appeared to her, wrapt in fire. “My daughter,” said he, “I will be plunged in fire till you have done penance for me.” Then the child, with a rare courage, decided to practice the hardest mortifications, in order to pay the spiritual debts of her father. She succeeded. Her father appeared again, as bright as a saint, saying: “God has accepted your suffrages and your satisfactory works, my daughter. I am going to enjoy eternal happiness. Do not cease to offer yourself as a victim for the salvation of Suffering Souls. This is the will of God.”
PRAYER: De Profundis
Let us pray for those who rest in the cemetery: O God, by whose mercy the Souls of the departed rest in peace, we beseech Thee to grant to Thy servants, and to all who rest in the Lord, the forgiveness of their sins, and life everlasting. Through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
V. Eternal rest give unto them, O Lord.
R. And let perpetual light shine upon them.
V. May they rest in peace.
R. Amen.
(300 days each time for W. and RR., applicable only to the dead. Pius X., Feb. 13, 1908.)
Thuesday is the Day dedicated to the Blessed Sacrament
On Thursdays, many Catholics make "Holy Hour," that is, they spend an hour in adoration of the Blessed Sacrament as an aspect of devotion to the Sacred Heart. On the fifteen consecutive Thursdays before the May 22, many Catholics make the "Fifteen Thursdays of St. Rita" devotion, which can be read about off the page about The Feast of St. Rita of Cascia.
The Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary are prayed on Thursday
"I would like to remind you that the Rosary is a biblical prayer, all filled with the Holy Scriptures." It is a prayer from the heart, in which the repetition of the Ave Maria directs the thought and affection towards Christ, and thus is made a confident prayer to Him and our Mother. It is a prayer that helps to meditate on the Word of God and assimilate the Eucharistic Communion, on the model of Mary who kept in her heart everything Jesus did and said and even His Presence. " Pope Benedict XVI
The Rosary in Latin
Chaplet of the Five Holy Wounds of Christ in Latin
Chaplet of the Seven Sorrows of Our Lady in English
Latin Monastic Office for today from Le Barroux in France Texts also provided
The Reading of the Rule of Saint Benedict for November 9
XXXII DE FERRAMENTIS VEL REBUS MONASTERII
1 Substantia monasterii in ferramentis vel vestibus seu quibuslibet rebus praevideat abbas fratres de quorum vita et moribus securus sit,
2 et eis singula, ut utile iudicaverit, consignet custodienda atque recolligenda.
3 Ex quibus abbas brevem teneat, ut dum sibi in ipsa assignata fratres vicissim succedunt, sciat quid dat aut quid recipit.
4 Si quis autem sordide aut neglegenter res monasterii tractaverit, corripiatur;
5 si non emendaverit, disciplinae regulari subiaceat.
CHAPTER 32, THE TOOLS AND POSSESSIONS OF THE MONASTERY
1 The abbot is to provide for the material goods of the monastery - that is tools, clothes, and any other thing - by means of brothers whose life and character he trusts;
2 and he is to consign to them the different items as he judges best, to be conserved and then collected after use.
3 Of these items the abbot is to keep a list, so that as the brothers are successively assigned to different tasks, he will know what he gives out and what he receives back.
4 If anyone treats the goods of the monastery improperly or negligently he is to be corrected;
5 if he does not amend, he is to be subjected to the discipline of the Rule..
Today's Celebration of the Mass
Jesus XPI Passio sit semper in cordibus nostris
May the Passion of Jesus Christ be always in our hearts
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