November 21—Memorial Liturgical Color: White Mary, in keeping with Jewish custom, was likely consecrated to God as a child Stillbirths, infant mortality, and mothers’ dying during labor have been among the most predictable human tragedies since time immemorial. Medical progress has only in recent generations dramatically reduced such deaths, albeit [...]

Saint Andrew Dũng-Lac and Companions, Martyrs 1795–1839; Seventeenth–Nineteenth Centuries November 24—Memorial Liturgical Color: Red Patron Saints of Vietnam Thousands of priests and converts are hunted down, tortured, and cruelly murdered The tide of persecution repeatedly swelled, receded, and swelled once more against today’s martyrs in various eras of Vietnamese history [...]

Saint Cecilia, Virgin and Martyr c. Third Century November 22—Memorial Liturgical Color: Red Patron Saint of Music and Musicians A girl martyr’s mysterious death seizes the imagination The First Eucharistic Prayer, also known as the Roman Canon, is principally a liturgical document. But like so many things liturgical, it also [...]

Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe Last Sunday in Ordinary Time—Solemnity Liturgical Color: White or Gold All of creation is a footstool for the Lord of the Universe This last Sunday in Ordinary Time is dedicated to the very highest understanding of the nature, role, and purpose of [...]