This feast falls in the Season after Epiphany, a time when the Church reflects on the revelation of Christ and the beginnings of his public life. The rank “Double” is an older liturgical designation indicating a solemn celebration with particular prayers, readings, and often an elevated musical and ritual character; in plain terms, it means the day is more prominent than an ordinary weekday observance and invites special attention in prayer. No octave or vigil is specified here, so the focus is on the single feast day itself.
Introit (Daily Prayer)
Ps 78:11; 78:12; 78:10 Let the prisoners’ sighing come before You, O Lord; repay our neighbors sevenfold into their bosoms; avenge the shedding of Your servants’ blood. Ps 78:1 O God, the nations have come into Your inheritance; they have defiled Your holy temple, they have made Jerusalem as a place to keep fruit. Glory Be to the Father…
Be mindful of our weakness, almighty God, and because the burden of our sins weighs heavily upon us, may the glorious intercession of blessed N., Your Martyr and Bishop, sustain us. Through our Lord…
Weekly Prayer
Act of Contrition
O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee, and I detest all my sins because I dread the loss of Heaven and the pains of Hell; but most of all because they offend Thee, my God, Who art all-good and deserving of all my love.
I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy grace, to confess my sins, to do penance, and to amend my life. Amen.
Weekly Formation
Partaking, Silence, and Defense
Ways of Being Accessory to Another’s Sin
By partaking
A person becomes accessory by partaking when he knowingly shares in the performance, benefit, or necessary support of another’s sinful act. The degree of guilt depends on intention, freedom, closeness to the act, and whether the assistance helped cause it.
By silence
A person becomes accessory by silence when a serious duty to speak, warn, correct, or protect is deliberately neglected. Silence is not automatically consent, but it becomes blameworthy when speaking was reasonably possible and necessary to prevent or oppose the wrong.
By defense of the sinful action
A person becomes accessory by defending a sinful action when he knowingly excuses, justifies, or protects the wrongdoing as though it were right. Defending the dignity or legal rights of a sinner is different from defending the sin itself.
The Spiritual Works of Mercy
Instruct the ignorant
Instructing the ignorant means teaching needed truth to someone who does not know it, especially truth concerning faith and moral duty. The work presumes patience and accuracy and differs from winning an argument or displaying knowledge.
Saint & Feast
Principal celebration
Fabian
Ss. Fabian and Sebastian, Martyrs
Pope and bishop of Rome from 236 to 250
Born
0200-00-00
Died
0250-01-20
Pope Fabian was the bishop of Rome from 10 January 236 until his death on 20 January 250, succeeding Anterus. A dove is said to have descended on his head to mark him as the Holy Spirit's unexpected choice to become the next pope. He was succeeded by Cornelius.
Bishop Henry of Turku, a key figure in the Christianization of Finland, was killed by a Finnish peasant named Lalli. This event is traditionally dated to 1156, although exact historical details are uncertain. Henry is considered a martyr, and his feast day is celebrated on January 19th in Finland.
The sacrifice of Bishop Henry reminds us of the enduring commitment to faith in the face of adversity.
Martyrdom of Pope Fabian during Decian Persecution
250Martyrdom
Pope Fabian, who served as the Bishop of Rome from 236 to 250 AD, was martyred during the Decian persecution, which targeted Christians. His steadfast faith and leadership during this tumultuous time exemplified the early Church's resilience against persecution and strengthened the resolve of the faithful.
The courage of martyrs like Pope Fabian inspires believers to remain steadfast in their faith amidst trials.
Kennedy's Inauguration: A Milestone for Catholicism
1961Event
Catechism
Catechism of the Catholic Church
Sacred Scripture is one unified book that speaks of Christ and is fulfilled in him. Because God inspired its human authors, the Scriptures are truly the Word of God and teach his saving truth without error. As we read both the Old and New Testaments, we see the unity of God’s plan: the Old prepares for the New, and the New fulfills the Old. The Gospels hold a central place because Christ Jesus is their center. Let us receive and venerate Scripture as the Church does, allowing God’s Word to nourish and guide our Christian life as a lamp for our path.
In the Catechism, we learn that the invisible God, from the fullness of his love, addresses us as friends and invites us into his company; the fitting response to this invitation is faith (CCC 142). Faith means freely submitting our intellect and will to God and giving our whole assent to him, in the “obedience of faith” (CCC 143-144). Abraham is a model of this obedience: he went out at God’s call without knowing where he was going, lived as a pilgrim in the promised land, and believed God’s promises with faith in things hoped for and not seen (CCC 145-146). Mary is the most perfect embodiment of this obedience of faith. She welcomed God’s promise, believed that nothing is impossible with God, and remained faithful even through the death of her Son on the cross (CCC 148-149).
¶ 138
The Church accepts and venerates as inspired the 46 books of the Old Testament and the 27 books of the New.
John F. Kennedy's inauguration as the first Roman Catholic President of the United States marked a significant moment in Catholic history, symbolizing the increasing acceptance of Catholics in American society. His presidency challenged anti-Catholic sentiments and opened doors for future Catholic leaders in politics.
The acceptance of Catholic leaders in secular governance reflects God's providence in guiding His people through history.
¶ 139
The four Gospels occupy a central place because Christ Jesus is their centre.
¶ 140
The unity of the two Testaments proceeds from the unity of God's plan and his Revelation. the Old Testament prepares for the New and the New Testament fulfils the Old; the two shed light on each other; both are true Word of God.
¶ 141
"The Church has always venerated the divine Scriptures as she venerated the Body of the Lord" (DV 21): both nourish and govern the whole Christian life. "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path" ( Ps 119:105; cf. Is 50:4).
¶ 142
By his Revelation, "the invisible God, from the fullness of his love, addresses men as his friends, and moves among them, in order to invite and receive them into his own company." The adequate response to this invitation is faith.
¶ 143
By faith, man completely submits his intellect and his will to God. With his whole being man gives his assent to God the revealer. Sacred Scripture calls this human response to God, the author of revelation, "the obedience of faith".
¶ 144
To obey (from the Latin ob-audire, to "hear or listen to") in faith is to submit freely to the word that has been heard, because its truth is guaranteed by God, who is Truth itself. Abraham is the model of such obedience offered us by Sacred Scripture. the Virgin Mary is its most perfect embodiment.
¶ 145
The Letter to the Hebrews, in its great eulogy of the faith of Israel's ancestors, lays special emphasis on Abraham's faith: "By faith, Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place which he was to receive as an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was to go." By faith, he lived as a stranger and pilgrim in the promised land. By faith, Sarah was given to conceive the son of the promise. and by faith Abraham offered his only son in sacrifice.
Baltimore track
Baltimore Catechism No. 3
The Apostles' Creed
Q. 86.What do we mean by the "resurrection of the body"?
A.By the "resurrection of the body" we mean that the bodies of the dead shall be restored to life, rise again on the last day, and be united to the souls from which they were separated by death.
Q. 87.How is the resurrection possible when the bodies are reduced to ashes and mingled with the soil?
A.The resurrection is possible to God, who can do all things, and who, having created the bodies out of nothing in the beginning, can easily collect and put together their scattered parts by an act of His all-powerful will.
Q. 88.What does "life everlasting" mean?
A."Life everlasting" means endless happiness in heaven; as endless misery in hell may be called "everlasting death."
Q. 89.Is the Apostles' Creed an act of faith?
A.The Apostles' Creed is an act of faith, because by it we profess our belief in the truths it contains.