The Solemnities of CHRIST our Lord,
(instituted for the most part by the Apostles)
and the Sundays of the Year, expounded.
(instituted for the most part by the Apostles)
and the Sundays of the Year, expounded.
Q. WHAT meaneth the nativity of Christ, or Christmas?
A. It is a solemn feast or mass yearly celebrated by the whole Catholic Church from the Apostles' time to this day, in memory of the birth of Christ at Bethlehem; and therefore is called the feast of the Nativity, and Christmas from the mass of the birth of Christ.
A. It is a solemn feast or mass yearly celebrated by the whole Catholic Church from the Apostles' time to this day, in memory of the birth of Christ at Bethlehem; and therefore is called the feast of the Nativity, and Christmas from the mass of the birth of Christ.
Q. What meaneth the Circumcision or New-year's Day.
A. It is a feast in memory of the Circumcision of our Lord, which was made on the eighth day from his nativity according to the prescript of the old law, Gen. xviii. 12, when he was named Jesus according to what the angel had foretold, Luke i. 14, and began to shed his infant blood by the stony knife of Circumcision for the redemption of the world, presenting it to his Father, as a New-year's gift in our behalf. And it is called New year's day from the old Roman account, who began their computation of the year from the first of January.
A. It is a feast in memory of the Circumcision of our Lord, which was made on the eighth day from his nativity according to the prescript of the old law, Gen. xviii. 12, when he was named Jesus according to what the angel had foretold, Luke i. 14, and began to shed his infant blood by the stony knife of Circumcision for the redemption of the world, presenting it to his Father, as a New-year's gift in our behalf. And it is called New year's day from the old Roman account, who began their computation of the year from the first of January.
Q. What meaneth the Epiphany, or twelfth day?
A. It is a solemnity in memory and honour of Christ's manifestation or apparition made to the Gentiles by a miraculous blazing star, by virtue whereof he drew and conducted three kings out of the East to adore him in the manager, where they presented him as on this day with gold, myrrh, and frankincense, in testimony of his regality, humanity, and divinity. The word Epiphany comes from the Greek, and signifies a manifestation, and is called Twelfth-day, because it is celebrated the twelfth day after his nativity exclusively.
A. It is a solemnity in memory and honour of Christ's manifestation or apparition made to the Gentiles by a miraculous blazing star, by virtue whereof he drew and conducted three kings out of the East to adore him in the manager, where they presented him as on this day with gold, myrrh, and frankincense, in testimony of his regality, humanity, and divinity. The word Epiphany comes from the Greek, and signifies a manifestation, and is called Twelfth-day, because it is celebrated the twelfth day after his nativity exclusively.
Q. What meaneth purification or Candlemass-day?
A. It is a feast in memory and honour both of the presentation of our blessed Lord, and of the purification of the blessed Virgin, made in the Temple of Jerusalem the fortieth day after her happy child birth, according to the law of Moses, Levit. xii. 6. And is called the Purification, from the Latin word Purifico, to purify; not that our blessed Lady and contracted any thing by her child-birth, which needed purifying, (being the mother of purity itself) but because other mothers were by this ceremonial rite freed from the legal impurity of their child-births.
And is also called Candlemass, or a Mass Candles; because before the mass of that day, the church blesses her candles for the whole year, and makes a procession with hallowed candles in the hands of the faithful, in memory of divine light, wherewith Christ illuminated the whole church at his presentation, where aged Simeon styled him, "A light to the Revelation of the Gentiles, and the glory of his people Israel." Luke ii. 32.
A. It is a feast in memory and honour both of the presentation of our blessed Lord, and of the purification of the blessed Virgin, made in the Temple of Jerusalem the fortieth day after her happy child birth, according to the law of Moses, Levit. xii. 6. And is called the Purification, from the Latin word Purifico, to purify; not that our blessed Lady and contracted any thing by her child-birth, which needed purifying, (being the mother of purity itself) but because other mothers were by this ceremonial rite freed from the legal impurity of their child-births.
And is also called Candlemass, or a Mass Candles; because before the mass of that day, the church blesses her candles for the whole year, and makes a procession with hallowed candles in the hands of the faithful, in memory of divine light, wherewith Christ illuminated the whole church at his presentation, where aged Simeon styled him, "A light to the Revelation of the Gentiles, and the glory of his people Israel." Luke ii. 32.
Q. What meaneth the resurrection of our Lord, or Easter-day?
A. It is a solemnity in memory and honour of our Saviour's resurrection, or rising from the dead on the third day, Matt. xxvii. 6. And is called Easter, from Oriens, which signifies the East or Rising, which is one of the titles of Christ, "And his name (saith the prophet) shall be called Oriens." Zach. vi. 12, because as the material sun daily ariseth from the East, the sun of justice, at this day, arose from the dead.
A. It is a solemnity in memory and honour of our Saviour's resurrection, or rising from the dead on the third day, Matt. xxvii. 6. And is called Easter, from Oriens, which signifies the East or Rising, which is one of the titles of Christ, "And his name (saith the prophet) shall be called Oriens." Zach. vi. 12, because as the material sun daily ariseth from the East, the sun of justice, at this day, arose from the dead.
Q. What meaneth ascension-day?
A. If is from a feast in memory of Christ's ascension into heaven the fortieth day after his resurrection, in the sight of his Apostles and Disciples, Acts i. 9, 10, there to prepare a place for us, being preceded by whole legions of Angels, and waited on by millions of Saints, whom he had freed out of the prison of Limbo. Mich. ii. 13.
A. If is from a feast in memory of Christ's ascension into heaven the fortieth day after his resurrection, in the sight of his Apostles and Disciples, Acts i. 9, 10, there to prepare a place for us, being preceded by whole legions of Angels, and waited on by millions of Saints, whom he had freed out of the prison of Limbo. Mich. ii. 13.
Q. What meaneth Pentecost or Whitsuntide?
A. It is a solemn feast in memory and honour of the coming of the Holy Ghost upon the heads of the Apostles, in tongues as it were of fire, Acts ii. 3. Pentecost in Greek signifieth the Fiftieth, it being the fiftieth day after the resurrection. If is also called Whitsunday from the Catechumens, who were clothed in white, and admitted on the eve of this feast to the sacrament of baptism. It was anciently called Wied Sunday, (i.e.) Holy Sunday, for wied or withed signifies Holy in the old Saxon language.
A. It is a solemn feast in memory and honour of the coming of the Holy Ghost upon the heads of the Apostles, in tongues as it were of fire, Acts ii. 3. Pentecost in Greek signifieth the Fiftieth, it being the fiftieth day after the resurrection. If is also called Whitsunday from the Catechumens, who were clothed in white, and admitted on the eve of this feast to the sacrament of baptism. It was anciently called Wied Sunday, (i.e.) Holy Sunday, for wied or withed signifies Holy in the old Saxon language.
Q. What meaneth Trinity Sunday?
A. It is the octave of Whitsunday, and is so called in honour of the Blessed Trinity, to signify that the works of our redemption and sanctification then completed, are common to all the three persons.
A. It is the octave of Whitsunday, and is so called in honour of the Blessed Trinity, to signify that the works of our redemption and sanctification then completed, are common to all the three persons.
Q. What meaneth Corpus Christi day?
A. It is a feast instituted by the church, in honour of the body and blood of Christ, really present in the most holy sacrament of the Eucharist; during the octave of which feast, it is exposed to be adored by the faithful in all the principle churches of the world, and great processions are made in honour of it; and therefore is called Corpus Christi day, or the day of the body of Christ.
A. It is a feast instituted by the church, in honour of the body and blood of Christ, really present in the most holy sacrament of the Eucharist; during the octave of which feast, it is exposed to be adored by the faithful in all the principle churches of the world, and great processions are made in honour of it; and therefore is called Corpus Christi day, or the day of the body of Christ.
Q. What meaneth the transfiguration of our Lord?
A. It is a feast in memory of our Saviour's transfiguring himself upon Mount Tabor, and showing a glimpse of his glory to his Apostles, St. Peter, St. James, and St. John. "And his face (saith the text) shown as the sun, and his garment became white as snow," &c. Matt. xvii. 2. And in them also unto us, for our encouragement to virtue, and perseverance in his holy faith and love. The entymology is obvious from transfiguro, to transfigure, or to change shape.
A. It is a feast in memory of our Saviour's transfiguring himself upon Mount Tabor, and showing a glimpse of his glory to his Apostles, St. Peter, St. James, and St. John. "And his face (saith the text) shown as the sun, and his garment became white as snow," &c. Matt. xvii. 2. And in them also unto us, for our encouragement to virtue, and perseverance in his holy faith and love. The entymology is obvious from transfiguro, to transfigure, or to change shape.
Q. What is Sunday, or the Lord's Day in general?
A. It is a day dedicated by the Apostles to the honour of the most holy Trinity, and in memory that Christ our Lord arose from the dead upon Sunday, sent down the holy Ghost on a Sunday, &c. and therefore is called the Lord's Day. It is also called Sunday from the old Roman denomination of Dies Solis, the day of the sun, to which it was sacred.
A. It is a day dedicated by the Apostles to the honour of the most holy Trinity, and in memory that Christ our Lord arose from the dead upon Sunday, sent down the holy Ghost on a Sunday, &c. and therefore is called the Lord's Day. It is also called Sunday from the old Roman denomination of Dies Solis, the day of the sun, to which it was sacred.
Q. What are the four Sundays of Advent?
A. They are the four Sundays preceding Christmas day, and were so called by the church, in memory and honour of our Saviour's coming both to redeem the world by his birth in the flesh, and to judge the quick and the dead; from the Latin word Adventus, which signifies Advent, or coming.
A. They are the four Sundays preceding Christmas day, and were so called by the church, in memory and honour of our Saviour's coming both to redeem the world by his birth in the flesh, and to judge the quick and the dead; from the Latin word Adventus, which signifies Advent, or coming.
Q. What are the four Sundays of Septuagesima, Sexagesima, Quinquagesiam, and Quadragesima?
A. Those days are appointed by the church for acts of penance and mortification, and are a certain gradation or preparation for the passion and resurrection of Christ, being so called, because the first is the seventieth, the second the sixtieth, the third the fiftieth, the fourth the fortieth day, or thereabouts, preceding the octave of the resurrection according as their several names import.
A. Those days are appointed by the church for acts of penance and mortification, and are a certain gradation or preparation for the passion and resurrection of Christ, being so called, because the first is the seventieth, the second the sixtieth, the third the fiftieth, the fourth the fortieth day, or thereabouts, preceding the octave of the resurrection according as their several names import.
Q. Why is the whole lent called Quadragesima?
A. Because it is a fast of forty days, in imitation of Christ's fasting in the desert forty days and forty nights, and is begun the fortieth day before Easter, which is therefore called Quadragesima, or the fortieth.
A. Because it is a fast of forty days, in imitation of Christ's fasting in the desert forty days and forty nights, and is begun the fortieth day before Easter, which is therefore called Quadragesima, or the fortieth.
Q. What is Passion-Sunday?
A. That is a feast so called from the passion of Christ then drawing nigh, and was ordained to prepare us for a worthy celebrating of it.
A. That is a feast so called from the passion of Christ then drawing nigh, and was ordained to prepare us for a worthy celebrating of it.
Q. Why is Palm-Sunday so called?
A. It is a day in memory and honour of the triumphant entry of our Lord into Jerusalem, and is so called from the palm branches, which the Hebrew children strewed under his feet, crying Hosanna to the Son of David, Matt. xxi. 15. And hence it is that yearly, as on that day, the church blesseth Palms, and makes a solemn procession in honour of the same triumph, all the people bearing Palm branches in their hands.
A. It is a day in memory and honour of the triumphant entry of our Lord into Jerusalem, and is so called from the palm branches, which the Hebrew children strewed under his feet, crying Hosanna to the Son of David, Matt. xxi. 15. And hence it is that yearly, as on that day, the church blesseth Palms, and makes a solemn procession in honour of the same triumph, all the people bearing Palm branches in their hands.
Q. What is Dominica in albis, commonly called Low-Sunday?
A. It is the octave of Easter-day; and is so called from the Catechumens, or Neophytes, who were on that day solemnly divested in the church of their white garments.
A. It is the octave of Easter-day; and is so called from the Catechumens, or Neophytes, who were on that day solemnly divested in the church of their white garments.
Next - The Douai Catechism, 1649 - CHAPTER XXIV. The Feasts of our Blessed Lady, and the Saints, Expounded.
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