Living spirit and liturgical calendar

Into this world, this demented inn, in which there is absolutely no room for him at all, Christ has come uninvited. But because he cannot be at home in it — because he is out of place in it, and yet must be in it — his place is with those others who do not belong, who are rejected because they are regarded as weak; and with those who are discredited, who are denied the status of persons, and are tortured, exterminated. With those for whom there is no room, Christ is present in this world. 

THOMAS MERTON FROM RAIDS ON THE UNSPEAKABLE (NEW DIRECTIONS, 1966)

The love then that brought Christ down from heaven to earth lifted Stephen from earth to heaven. The love that showed itself first in the king, shone forth next in the soldier. And Stephen, so as to deserve to win the crown – which is what his name means – had love as his weapon and by it was everywhere victorious. Through love of God he prayed for those who were stoning him. Through love he accused those who were in the wrong that they might be corrected. Through love he prayed for those stoning him to save them from punishment. 

ST FULGENTIUS OF RUSPE , FROM FROM THE FATHERS TO THE CHURCHES, EDITED BY BROTHER KENNETH CGA (WILLIAM COLLINS, 1983)

Liturgical calendar

Sunday 22 December:

Fourth Sunday of Advent 

(Year C)

Monday 23 December:

Advent Feria 

(St John of Kanty, Priest)

Tuesday 24 December:

Advent Feria 

Wednesday 25 December:

The Nativity of the Lord 

(Christmas)

Thursday 26 December:

St Stephen, the First Martyr

Friday 27 December:

St John, Apostle & Evangelist 

(No Friday Abstinence)

Saturday 28 December:

The Holy Innocents, Martyrs

Sunday 29 December:

The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary 

and Joseph

Sunday 29 December:

The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph (Year C)

Monday 30 December:

Sixth Day in the Octave of Christmas

Tuesday 31 December:

Seventh Day in the Octave 

of Christmas

Wednesday 1 January 2025:

Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God

Thursday 2 January

Sts Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen, Bishops & Doctors

Friday 3 January

Christmas Feria or the Most Holy Name of Jesus

Saturday 4 January

Christmas Feria

Sunday 5 January

The Epiphany of the Lord