Dominica Infra Octavam Nativitatis: "...according to our individual works will the True and Just Judge apportion to us punishment or reward"

Sun, 12/29/24:

Today is the Sunday within the octave of Christmas under the 1954 (semi-double) and 1962 (II class Sunday) rubrics.

Mass: Proper Mass. White. Gloria. Gradual/Alleluia. Credo. Preface of the Nativity. Proper Communicantes for Christmas in the Canon. Ite. Under 1954, commemoration of St. Thomas Becket, B & M, and of the octave of Christmas (prayers of the 3rd Mass of Christmas Day). No commemorations under 1962.

Office: Proper office. White. Matins of 3 nocturns of 9 lessons (1954: 1st nocturn = Incipit Ep ad Romanos with accompanying responsories; 2nd & 3rd nocturns proper to the Sunday in the octave)/1 nocturn of 3 lessons (1962: lessons I & II = Incipit Ep ad Romanos [II = II & III of the old Breviary combined], III = homily on today's Gospel [lesson VII of the old Breviary]). Te Deum. Psalms and antiphons at Matins as on Christmas Day. At Lauds and the hours, under 1954, psalms of Sunday (Prime = 53, 118.1, 118.2) with antiphons of Christmas Day. All else from the proper for the Sunday in the octave. Proper collect of the Sunday. Under 1954, commemoration of the octave of St. Thomas Becket and of the octave of Christmas at Lauds. Omit suffrage. Under 1962, Lauds as above. At Prime and the hours, psalms and antiphons of Sunday (Prime = 117, 118.1, 118.2). All else from the proper of the Sunday in the octave. No commemorations.

From the Holy Gospel according to Luke

Luke 2:33-40

In that time, his father and mother were wondering at those things which were spoken concerning him. And so on.

We see that God's abounding grace is poured forth on all by the birth of the Lord, and that the gift of prophecy is not denied to the righteous, but to the unbelieving. Simeon prophesieth that our Lord Jesus Christ is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel, setting forth that the just and the unjust reap different fruits from the coming of the Saviour; so will it be with us; according to our individual works will the True and Just Judge apportion to us punishment or reward.

See, a sword shall pierce through thine own soul also. We have no record or tradition that Mary left this world by suffering a violent death, and the material sword can pierce the body only, and not the soul. Wherefore here we see the wisdom of Mary in that she was not ignorant of the heavenly mysteries. For, the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart for all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of the Son of God, from Whom also the secret things of our conscience are not hidden.

There had been a triple prophecy; the prophecy of Simeon had followed the prophecy of the virgin, and the prophecy of the wife; those, namely, of Mary and Elizabeth. And now ought the widow also to prophesy, that no sex nor state might be wanting. And Anna is brought before us with such a title from her widowhood and her life, that we may well believe that she received the grace to announce the Advent of the Redeemer. In our exhortation addressed to widows we have already treated of her gifts at length, and, as we have much matter before us, we will not now again enter on the subject.

(Homily by St. Ambrose, Bishop of Milan. Bk. ii. on Luke ii.)

Collect

V. The Lord be with you.

R. And with thy spirit.

Let us pray.

O Almighty and eternal God, direct our actions in conformity with Your will, that in the name of Your beloved Son we may be worthy to do good works in abundance.

Who livest and reignest with God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, world without end.

R. Amen

Image: Raphael, The Holy Family with a Palm Tree