this week's feasts
St. Margaret of Scotland
St. Margaret lived from 1045 to 1093 AD. She was a pious Christian and produced three kings from her children. Pope Innocent IV canonized her in 1250 AD. Her relics were dispersed but lost after the Scottish Reformation. Her head was owned by Mary, Queen of Scots, but was lost during the French Revolution.
She shares a feast day with St. Gertrude on Nov. 16.
She shares a feast day with St. Gertrude on Nov. 16.
St. Gertrude the Great
St. Gertrude lived from 1256 to 1302 AD. She became a writer of spiritual matters and was a great mystic. In 1677, she was canonized by Pope Innocent XI. Her feast day is Nov. 16, along with St. Margaret of Scotland.
The Dedication of the Basilicas of St. Peter and St. Paul
Last week we celebrated the Feast of the Dedication of the Basilica of St. John Lateran. That was one of the four Great Basilicas in Rome. This week, on Wednesday, we celebrate the dedication of two more of the Great Basilicas—the Basilicas of St. Peter and St. Paul. The feast day of the fourth, that of St. Mary Major, was celebrated back in August.
St. Peter’s Basilica is the most famous of the four, as it is in Vatican City and is the site of almost all of the papal ceremonies. It is the second basilica on that site and is one of the grandest Christian churches in all of the world. It is built over the site of the burial plot of St. Peter.
The Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls is literally outside of the ancient city walls of Rome. It is on the site where St. Paul was executed. Of the four basilicas, it is one of my favorites.
St. Peter’s Basilica is the most famous of the four, as it is in Vatican City and is the site of almost all of the papal ceremonies. It is the second basilica on that site and is one of the grandest Christian churches in all of the world. It is built over the site of the burial plot of St. Peter.
The Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls is literally outside of the ancient city walls of Rome. It is on the site where St. Paul was executed. Of the four basilicas, it is one of my favorites.
The Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
In Mother of God Church, on the east side of the church, is a stained-glass window that shows a young woman going up the steps of the Temple, where stands the High Priest, to dedicate her life to God. This is the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Some of the early Church accounts tell us that she was a young girl, and others that she was a teen. Our window portrays her as a teen. But she is consecrating her life to God. Some accounts say that it was at this time that she dedicated herself to a life of virginity.
This is a precursor to the Annunciation in which the Archangel Gabriel announces that she would become the mother of the Messiah.
The Feast of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary is this Saturday, Nov. 21.
This is a precursor to the Annunciation in which the Archangel Gabriel announces that she would become the mother of the Messiah.
The Feast of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary is this Saturday, Nov. 21.