Thomas a'Becket

St. Thomas-Archbishop of Canterbury
We have, this past week, seen St. Stephen, the protomartyr, St. John the Evangelist, the killing of the Holy Innocents ( also called, the FLOWERS OF THE MARTYRS), all to brought to eternal life. Today we see St. Thomas of Canterbury, also called Thomas 'a Becket.

His life was something that we hopefully will see in these coming times. He was an Archbishop of the Church, and defender of the Faith. He would put the Church before the wishes of the local authorities, this time being another Henry, this one the 2nd. After banishment because he refused the king's word ahead of the Church's authority, he would be put to death in his own church, beheaded and his brain scattered all over the church to show the others what would happen if they refused the order of the king.

Will we see any Church authorities these days succumb to the world to save their necks, or will they 'man up' to save the Church? Already we see prosecutions in the Middle East, those who have given their lives for the Church. Will we see it here? How many will truly be a witness? The word martyr means 'witness'. It sure doesn't seem that there are many who will. To me, at least.

A synopsis of his life:

SAINT THOMAS BECKET
Archbishop of Canterbury, Martyr
(1117-1170)

Saint Thomas, son of an English nobleman, Gilbert Becket, was born on the day consecrated to the memory of Saint Thomas the Apostle, December 21, 1117, in Southwark, England. He was endowed by both nature and grace with gifts recommending him to his fellow men; and his father, certain he would one day be a great servant of Christ, confided his education to a monastery. His first employment was in the government of the London police. There he was obliged to learn the various rights of the Church and of the secular arm, but already he saw so many injustices imposed upon the clergy that he preferred to leave that employment rather than to participate in iniquity. He was perfectly chaste and truthful, and no snares could cause to waver his hatred for any form of covert action.

He was employed then by the Archbishop of Canterbury, who sent him on missions to Rome and permitted him to study civil law at the University of Bologna (Italy) for an entire year. After a few years, witnessing his perfect service, he made him his Archdeacon and endowed him with several benefices. The young cleric's virtue and force soon recommended him also to the king, who made of him his Lord Chancellor. In that high office, while inflexible in the rendition of justice, he was generous and solicitous for the relief of misery. He was severe towards himself, spending the better part of every night in prayer. He often employed a discipline, to be less subject to the revolts of the flesh against the spirit. In a war with France he won the respect of his enemies, including that of the young king Louis VII. To Saint Thomas, his own sovereign, Henry II, confided the education of the crown prince. Of the formation of the future king and the young lords who composed his suite, the Chancellor took extreme care, knowing well that the strength of a State depends largely on the early impressions received by the elite of its youth.

When Archbishop Theobald of Canterbury died, the king insisted on the consecration of Saint Thomas in his stead. Saint Thomas at first declined, warning the king that from that hour their friendship would be threatened by his own obligations to uphold the rights of the Church against infringement by the sovereign, whose tendencies were not different from those of his predecessors. In the end he was obliged by obedience to yield. The inevitable conflict was not long in coming. Saint Thomas resisted when the king's courtiers drew up a list of royal "customs" at Clarendon, where the parliament of the king was assembled, and Henry obliged all the bishops as well as the lords to sign a promise to uphold these without permitting any restrictions whatsoever. Many of these pretended "customs" violated the liberties of the Church, and some were even invented for the occasion. Saint Thomas, obliged in conscience to resist, was soon the object of persecution, not only from the irritated king but by all who had sworn loyalty to his nefarious doings.

Saint Thomas took refuge in France under the protection of the generous Louis VII, who resisted successfully the repeated efforts of Henry to turn away his favor from the Archbishop. The Pope at that time was in France, and he, too, was besieged by Henry's emissaries, but knew well how to pacify minds and protect the defender of the Church. Thomas retired to a Benedictine monastery for two years, and when Henry wrote a threatening letter to its abbot, moved to another. After six years, his office restored as the Pope's apostolic legate, a title which Henry had wrested from him for a time, he returned to England, to preach again and enforce order in his see. He knew well that it was to martyrdom that he was destined; it is related that the Mother of God appeared to him in France to foretell it to him, and that She presented him for that intention with a red chasuble. By this time the persecuted Archbishop's case was known to all of Christian Europe, which sympathized with him and elicited from king Henry an appearance of conciliation.

A few words which the capricious Henry spoke to certain courtiers who hated Thomas, sufficed for the latter to decide to do away with the prelate who contravened all their unchristian doings. They violated a monastic cloister and chapel to enter there while he was assisting at Vespers; the Saint himself prevented the monks from resisting the assassins at the door. Refusing to flee the church as the assassins summoned him to do, he was slain before the altar, by cruel and murderous repeated blows on the head. He died, saying: "I die willingly, for the name of Jesus and for the defense of the Church."

The actions of the Pope in this conflict make clear what all of history teaches: the lives of the Church's Saints themselves comprise the history of the world. The humility of Thomas had prompted him, after a moment of weakness he had manifested in a difficult situation, to judge himself unfit for his office and offer his resignation as Archbishop. The Pope did not hesitate a moment in refusing his resignation. He judged with apostolic wisdom that if Thomas should be deprived of his rank for having opposed the unjust pretensions of the English royalty, no bishop would ever dare oppose the impingements of iniquity on the Church's rights, and the Spouse of Christ would be no longer sustained by marble columns, but by reeds bending in the wind.

St. Thomas of Canterbury, pray for us that we might not be weak when and if the time comes.

HOLY INNOCENTS

Two days ago, we celebrated the birth of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Our redemption had begun. Yesterday, St. Stephen's day is celebrated because he was the first one to be martyred after Christ died. Today, we think about the Holy Innocents, the babies who were slaughtered by Herod, thinking he would get this Christ child. So these kids were actually the first to die for Christ. They didn't even know why. But I'm sure they are well taken care of.

Let us also remember all of those innocents who have died through abortion, never even having a chance to get a breath. Also, keep praying for those who perpetrate this horrid crime, and for those in favor of it, that they repent before their judgment day.

Sunday after Christmas

This Sunday is the Sunday within the octave of Christmas, 2013. We are still contemplating the great mystery of Christmas. I had an epiphany of my own this morning, when I finally realized that when God said at the beginning of the world, "Let there be Light", He was referring to Christ already. What a dope I am. Anyway, I'm going to let our beloved Abott Gueranger, as he always does, explain about this day we are celebrating.

'...Thus the Church, or, more correctly, God--for God is the first author of the cycle of the year--shows us how the Incarnate Word, who came to save mankind, desires to give mankind confidence by this His adorable familiarity.

We have already shown that the Birth of our Lord took place on a Sunday, the Day on which, in the beginning of the world, God created Light. We shall find, later on, that his Resurrection also was on a Sunday. This the first day of creation, and the first of the week, was consecrated by the old Pagans to the Sun: with us Christians, it is most sacred and holy, on account of the two risings of our divine Sun of Justice--His Birth and His Resurrection. Whilst the solemnity of Easter is always kept on a Sunday, that of Christmas falls by turns on each of the days of the week--we have already had this difference explained to us by the Holy Fathers: but the mystery of Jesus' Birth is more aptly and strongly expressed, when its anniversary falls on a Sunday...

The Child that is born of Mary and is couched in the Crib at Bethlehem, raises his feeble voice to the Eternal Father, and calls him, "My Father!" He turns towards us and calls us "My Brethren!" We, consequently, when we speak to his Father, may call him Our Father! This is the mystery of adoption, revealed to us by the great event we are solemnizing. All things are changed, both is heaven and on earth: God has not only one Son, he has many sons; henceforth we stand before this our God, not merely creatures drawn out of nothing by his power, but children that he fondly loves. Heaven is now not only the throne of his sovereign Majesty; it has become our inheritance, in which we are joint-heirs with our Brother Jesus, the Son of Mary, Son of Eve, Son of Adam, according to his Human Nature, and (in the unity of Person) Son of God according to his Divine Nature. Let us turn our wondering and loving thoughts first to this sweet Babe, that has brought us all these blessings, and then to the blessings themselves, to the dear inheritance made ours by Him. Let our mind be seized with astonishment at creatures having such a destiny! and then let our heart pour out its thanks for the incomprehensible gift!'

And, to paraphrase the Abbot in another place: The Church(thanks to God) gives this Divine Infant to her faithful children in Holy communion (Christ always was, always is, and always will be), in order that they may carry him in their hearts, and bids them guard him against the snares laid for him by his and their enemies. Let the Christian, therefore, take heed lest Jesus should be taken from him. Let him, by strict watchfulness and by good works, crush the tyrant, sin, that seeks the life of the Divine Guest of his soul.

We need to be constantly vigilant in all that we do.

ST. JOHN THE APOSTLE AND EVANGELIST

I shall refer to the writings of the Abbot Gueranger, who puts things in a way I can only copy:

Nearest to Jesus' Crib, after St. Stephen, stands John, the Apostle and Evangelist. The first gave his blood for Christ, while the second gave his virginity. The first stands as a type of Martyr, while the second is honored as the Prince of Virgins.

St. John was of the family of David, as was our Blessed Mother. He is consequently a relation of Jesus. This same honor belonged to St. James the Greater, his brother; as also to St. James the Less and St. Jude, both sons of Alpheus, (who I believe was related to St. Joseph). When our Saint was in the prime of his youth, he left not only his boat and nets, not only his father Zebedee, but even his betrothed, when everything was prepared for the marriage. He followed Jesus, and never once looked back. Hence the special love which our Lord bore him. Others were Disciples or Apostles, John was the Friend of Jesus. The cause of this our Lord's partiality was, as the Church tells us in the Liturgy, was that John had offered his Virginity to the God-Man. Let us, on this his Feast day, enumerate the graces and privileges that came to St. John from his being the Disciple whom Jesus loved.

This very expression of the Gospel, which the Evangelist repeats several times--The Disciple whom Jesus loved--says more than any commentary could do. St. Peter, it is true, was chosen by our Divine Lord to be the Head of the Apostolic College, and the Rock whereon the Church was to be built: he, then, was honored most; but St. John was loved most. Peter was bid to love more than the rest loved, and he was able to say, in answer to Jesus' thrice repeated question, that he did love him in this highest way: and yet, notwithstanding, John was more loved by Jesus than was Peter himself, because his Virginity deserved this special mark of honor.

Chastity of soul and body brings him who possesses it into a sacred nearness and intimacy with God. Hence it was that at the Last Supper--that Supper which was to be renewed on our Altars to the end of the world, in order to cure our spiritual infirmities and give life to our souls--John was placed near to Jesus, nay, was permitted, as the tenderly loved Disciple, to lean his head upon the Breast of the God-Man. Then it was that he was filled, from their very Fountain, with Light and Love: it was both a recompense and a favor, and became the source of two signal graces, which make St. John an object of special reverence to the whole Church.

Divine Wisdom wishing to make known to the world the Mystery of the Word, and commit to Scripture those profound secrets which, so far, no pen of mortal had been permitted to write, the task was put upon John. Peter had been crucified, Paul had been beheaded, and the rest of the Apostles had laid down their lives in testimony of the Truths they had been sent to preach to the world; John was the only one left in the Church. Heresy had already begun its blasphemies against the Apostolic Teachings; it refused to admit the Incarnate Word as the Son of God, Consubstantial to the Father. John was asked by the Churches to speak, and he did so in language heavenly above measure. His Divine Master had reserved to this his Virgin-Disciple the honor of writing those sublime Mysteries which the other Apostles had been commissioned only to teach--AND THE WORD WAS GOD, and this WORD WAS MADE FLESH for the salvation of mankind. Thus did our Evangelist soar, like the Eagle, up to the Divine Sun, and gaze upon Him with undazzled eye, because his heart and senses were pure, and therefore fitted for such vision of the uncreated Light. If Moses, after having conversed with God in the cloud, came from the divine interview with rays of miraculous light encircling his head: how radiant must have been the face of St. John, in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge! (Col. ii 3); how sublime his writings!; how divine his teaching! Hence the symbol of the Eagle, shown to the Prophet Ezechiel (Ezech. i 10; x 14), and to St. John himself in his Revelations (Apoc. iv 7), has been assigned to him by the Church: and to this title of The Eagle has been added, by the universal Tradition, the other beautiful name of Theologian.

This was the first recompense given by Jesus to his Beloved John--a profound penetration into divine Mysteries. The second was the imparting to him of a most ardent charity, which was equally a grace consequent upon his angelic purity, for purity unburdens the soul from grovelling egotistic affections, and raises it to a chaste and generous love. John had treasured up in his heart the Discourses of his Master: he made them known to the Church, and especially that divine one of the Last Supper, wherein Jesus had poured forth His whole Soul to his own, whom He had always tenderly loved, but most so at the end. He wrote his Epistles, and Charity is his subject: God is Charity--he that loveth not, knoweth not God--perfect Charity casteth out fear--and so on throughout, always on Love. During the rest of his life, even when so enfeebled by old age as not to be able to walk, he was forever insisting upon all men to love each other, after the example of God, Who had loved them and so loved them! Thus, he that had announced more clearly than the rest of the Apostles the divinity of the Incarnate Word, was par excellence the Apostle of that divine Charity which Jesus came to enkindle upon the earth.

But our Lord had a further gift to bestow, and it was sweetly appropriate to the Virgin-Disciple. When dying on His Cross, Jesus left Mary upon this earth. Joseph had been dead now some years. Who then shall watch over His Mother? Who is there worthy of the charge? Will Jesus send His Angels to protect and console her? Surely, what man could ever merit to be to her as a second Joseph? Looking down, He sees the Virgin-Disciple standing at the foot of the Cross: we know the rest, John is to be Mary's son: Mary is to be John's Mother. Oh! wonderful Chastity, that wins form Jesus such an inheritance as this! Peter, says St. Peter Damian, 'shall have left to him the Church,
the Mother of men; but John shall receive Mary, the Mother of God, whom he will love as his own dearest Treasure, and to whom he will stand in Jesus' stead; while Mary will tenderly love John, her Jesus' Friend, as her son.

Can we be surprised after this, that St. John is looked upon by the Church as one of her greatest glories? He is a relative of Jesus in the flesh; he is an Apostle, a Virgin, the Friend of the Divine Spouse, the Eagle, the Theologian, the son of Mary; he is an Evangelist, by the history he has given of the Life of his Divine Master and Friend; he is a sacred Writer, by the three Epistles he wrote under the inspiration of the Holy Ghost; he is a Prophet, by his mysterious Apocalypse, wherein are treasured the secrets of time and eternity. But is he a Martyr? Yes, for if he did not complete his sacrifice, he drank the Chalice of Jesus, when, after being cruelly scourged, he was thrown into a caldron of boiling oil before the Latin Gate at Rome. He was therefore a Martyr in desire and intention, though not in fact. If our Lord, wishing to prolong a life so dear to the Church, as well as to show how He loves and honors Virginity, miraculously stayed the effects of the frightful punishment, St. John had, on his part, unreservedly accepted Martyrdom.

...Let us unite our homage with that given him by these favored inmates of his court. Yesterday the sight of the Palm in Stephen's hand animated us,, and we offered to or Jesus the promise of a stronger Faith: today the Wreath that decks the brow of the Beloved Disciple breathes upon the Church the heavenly fragrance of Virginity: an intenser love of Purity must be our resolution, and our tribute to the Lamb.


Our Collect for today:

Mercifully, O Lord, enlighten thy Church: that being taught by Blessed John, thine Apostle and Evangelist, she may come to thy eternal rewards.


Reflection: Saint John is a living proof of Our Lord's beatitude: "Blessed are the pure of heart, for they shall see God." (Matthew 5:8)

St. Stephen

Yesterday. we celebrated the birth of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. The beginning of our salvation is at hand. Today, we honor St. Stephen, the first martyr after Christ's Ascension. He had chastised the Jews, told them of their errors, and was stoned to death for it. But, he reached the goal that is promised to all, us included, who remain faithful to the end in the Truth. I will let a great Liturgical Poet, Adam of St. Victor, give us this day's meditation.

'Yesterday the world exulted, and in its exultation celebrated the Birth of Jesus.
Yesterday the Angelic Choir in great joy stood round the King of heaven.

The Protomartyr and Deacon Stephen, illustrious for his faith, illustrious for his holy life, illustrious also for his miracles, on this day triumphed, and in his triumph, vanquished the unbelieving Jews.

These enemies of the Light rage like savage beasts at seeing their own defeat.
Flinch not, Combatant! Thou art sure of thy reward: fight and persevere, O Stephen!

Withstand the false witnesses, and confute by thy answers the synagogue of Satan.

Thine own Witness is in heaven, a Witness true and faithful, and he is Witness of thine innocence.

Thy name is The Crowned: it behooves thee to suffer, so to win thy Crown of glory.
For a Crown which is to last forever, what are torments which last but an hour, and are followed by victory?

Thy death will be thy Birth: thy last pang will introduce thee into eternal life.

Full of the Holy Ghost, Stephen fixes his gaze on the heavens above: Seeing there the glory of God, he pushes on to victory, he pants for the crown.

Behold, Stephen! on God's right hand is thy Jesus, and he is fighting for thee.
Boldly tell it to the crowd that the heavens are opened for thee, and that Jesus shows Himself to thee.

He then commends his spirit to his Saviour, for whom he deems it sweet to be thus stoned to death.

Saul makes himself guardian of the garments of all that cast the stones: casting thus himself each stone they throw.

But Stephen, compassionating their madness, falls on his knees, and prays that this sin be not laid to the charge of his murderers.

Thus did he sleep in Christ, who thus imitated Christ: and now forever lives with Christ: Stephen, first of Martyrs.

St. Augustine and common report assure us that he raised up six men in Africa.
When, through God's mercy, his relics were discovered, the earth, which was parched by a drought, received a plentiful rain.
The very fragrance that came from his relics put diseases and demons to flight. Truly, then, is he worthy of praise and honour and eternal remembrance.

O Martyr, whose name is so dear to the Church! refresh our fainting world by celestial fragrance. Amen.'



Maybe we should ask St. Stephen for prayers and guidance, that if we are ever in the position to give our lives for Christ, as he did, we could be as strong. Amen.

MERRY CHRISTMAS! HE IS HERE!

Christ is born today of a Virgin. Our redemption is at hand. In this season of giving, God the Father has given us the greatest Gift of all, His Son. Come, let us adore Him!


Glory to our newborn King!

Born in a dark, cold cave,
Light of the World,
Word made Flesh of humble handmaid
King of kings made Himself poor
sinners’ slave, miscreants’ knave…
crucified on wooden stave

Born in abject poverty
of lowly handmaid’s virginity
Fruit of the womb, conceived without sin
for them no room left in the inn.
For Him, the Star of Bethlehem,
the King, by Whom mankind was made,
by Whose Blood our debt was paid.

Nowhere for the Son of Man
to lay His regal crown,
no place, no space for His Grace,
Savior of the human race.

In King David’s town
a lowly shepherds’ stable,
all that could be found
for the Good Shepherd;
Humility profound.

Star shone brightly overhead
o’er Bethlehem, House of Bread,
illuminating the Infant’s bed,
a wooden trough
from which beasts were fed,
ox and ass in Master’s shed.
His parents' tears of joy;
Word Made Flesh, our Living Bread,
Magnificent Baby Boy!

Shepherds hasten from field nearby
to worship Him; the prophets’ cry,
the Good Shepherd, the Lamb of God,
Divine Son, cloaked in human bod;
pious retinue gathered ‘round
brilliant Babe hallowed ground
in humble homage, they bowed down.

How can this be?
Eternal Wisdom, Infinity,
Maker of land and sea,
housed within a tiny body of flesh and blood.

The Incorrupt, the Most Holy,
dons corruptible humanity,
bearing Adam’s depravity,
clothed in the habit of sinful man.

The Alpha and Omega,
who can understand?
The Beginning and the End,
who can comprehend?
The Son of God,
the Most High,
most low does descend.

Hark! the herald angels sing;
Glory to our newborn King
we render Him hymns of praise,
to Him we tender, our hearts, we raise
Sursum corda! to Christ our King:
Wonderful, Counsellor,
God the Mighty, Prince of Peace,
Joy of heaven and earth,
Maker of His Blessed Mother,
Divine Child of Virgin Birth

What mind can grasp?
What eye can see?
who can fathom the depth,
the riches, the sublimity,
the wonder of this Mystery,
the Majesty, the Magnanimity.

God’s ineffable Charity,
Thy great Gift to humanity…
O Most Blessed Nativity!

Benediction, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, honour, and power, and strength to our God for ever and ever. Amen.

MERRY CHRIST MASS!

Christmas message from Fr. Perrone

Following is a Christmas from Fr. Eduard Perrone, who is pastor at Assumption Grotto Church in Detroit. When he was ordained a priest, and after regurgitating the garbage of the seminary, he told them he didn't believe what they were passing on as eternal Truth. He was then 'assigned' to an 'out of the way' parish in Capek up north, where he had a tremendous following. Fast forward a little bit. The pastor of Assumption Grotto at the time was Monsignor Sawyer, who knew he was dying of cancer. He was really good and Traditional, and asked the bishop if he could name his successor. Upon receiving the okay to do so, he named Fr. Perrone. The Traditional teaching has continued at Assumption Grotto. Good for them! I also got the honor to serve Mass for him when he was learning to do the Traditional Latin Mass of the ages. He had made notes for himself so he could celebrate correctly. Nobody saw these except me. Made me almost cry serving him. It was a great honor to serve a priest who truly loves the old Mass. Now, on to his thoughts on this Holy Day:

Monday, December 22, 2014
The Messiah's consciousness: an Advent meditation
Fr. Eduard Perrone, "A Pastor's Descant" from the (Assumption Grotto News, December 21, 2014):

We are in the habit of celebrating birthdays–for good reason. These were the days when we first came to the light of day, bringing–we would like to think–great joy to our mothers. In reality, the day of our conception is even more important than our birthday for it is the day our lives began, though we were unmindful of the fact at the time.

In the case of the Son of God become man in the chaste womb of the ever-Virgin Mary, He was indeed mindful of His first earthly “home” on His conception day, celebrated in the Church on March 25th, nine months before Christmas day. His first thought upon entering the world was the sacrifice He had come to make of His human life for saving our souls. “Behold, I have come to do your will, (Father). ...and by that ‘will’ we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.’ (Hb. 10:9,10). Our Lord then entered our world conscious of Himself and of His purpose and mission among men. If we understand this fully, it would mean also that Christ-in-the-womb knew all things in His embryonic state–specifically that He knew us, not as an anonymous mass of humanity, but as individuals, with our total history present to His mind.

With many errors circulated by presumably well-intended but ignorant (modernist) preaching, many would think the above statements pious hyperbole–claims having been made that Jesus did not know many things, even His identity as God! To hear a reliable voice on the matter, I turn to the orthodox teaching found in the marvelous encyclical (it still is, after so many years) of Pope Pius XII, Mystici Corporis. “The most loving knowledge...with which the divine Redeemer pursued us from the first moment of the Incarnation surpasses the diligent grasp of any human mind. For, by that blessed vision which He enjoyed when He was just received in the womb of the Mother of God, He has all the members of the Mystical Body (the Church) consciously and perpetually present to Him, and embraces them with saving love. In the manger, on the cross, in the eternal glory of the Father, Christ has all the members of the Church before Him, and joined to Him far more clearly than each one knows and loves himself.”

I quote this passage to make you realize something almost forgotten nowadays in our Christmas meditations, namely, that the Infant Babe we behold in the manger was a most knowing, fully conscious and indeed infinitely-aware Person who, according to the teaching set forth above, would know you as you are in the present moment, in your past, and in your everlasting future. The Christ Child’s omniscience contrasts with the uncomprehending and empty-eyed-stare of the ox and ass around the manger surely, but it also contrasts with our rather feeble grasp of the divinity of Jesus in that Child. “He was in the world...but the world knew Him not” (Jn. 1:10). Artists fashioning the creche have often made the Infant’s eyes look aware of us before Him. No mindless baby-look in His eyes! Our Lord was conscious of who He was and that He had come “for us men and for our salvation.” This realization of Infant Christ’s cognizance puts a realistic interpretation on many things about the Christmas story that we might otherwise regard as poetical embellishment in phrases such as “sleep in heavenly peace” and “radiant beams from Thy holy face” or 'the hopes and fears of all the years are met in Thee tonight’ and “veiled in flesh the Godhead see,” and so on. This is a lesson for us not only about the images we make of the nativity figures in the stable but a lesson about Christ in His other most lowly form of the Holy Eucharist. Just as we would say that He is no oblivious baby in the manger, neither is He unknowing of you when you come before Him in the Holy Sacrament.

And while we’re on the subject of Christ’s infinite knowledge, let’s add a word about Holy Mary, since the liturgy today speaks of Her. She, when responding to the Archangel Gabriel at the annunciation, surely knew what She was agreeing to when She said, “Let it be done to me, according to thy word.” Some misguided men have not hesitated to attribute ignorance to Mary in what was being proposed to Her. Gabriel did say that “the Most High will overshadow you” and that the holy offspring to be born of Her would be called “the Son of God.” That ‘overshadowing’ would have been understood from Mary’s knowledge of the Old Testament as the place where the divine presence was preserved (first in the desert tabernacle and later in the Temple). She also knew from reading Isaiah that the Messiah would be the “mighty God.” She would have then known that the Presence in Her was God!

It is then a bad sign of the times in which we live that we so readily attribute ignorance to Mary at the Annunciation and to Jesus both in His adult life as well as in the manger. It is not they, but we who are ignorant.

I’ll not have another word for you here until after Christmas day has come and gone. My purpose in writing as I have above is that I don’t want you to come to church on Christmas as a “faithless and perverse generation” (Mt 17:17) or as “foolish men, slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken” (Lk 24:25). Come let us adore Him, the Lord. Venite, adoremus Dominum.

Fr. Perrone


Thanks go to the 'Pertinacious Papist' for putting this on his website.