The Institute for Christian Formation
Saturday, January 7, 2017
Christmas Weekday
(optional memorial of Saint Raymond of Penyafort, Priest)
Today is a Christmas Weekday on our Church Calendar. The Gospel proclaimed at Mass today is the story of the Wedding Feast at Cana (John 2:1-11). This story is unique to John’s Gospel. It is not found in the other three Gospels. In John’s Gospel, this is the first sign, or miracle, Jesus performs in his public ministry. This is a marvelous story. Read this Gospel slowly and then put yourself in the scene: first as Mary, then as one of the servers, then as the headwaiter, then as the bridegroom, and finally as the bride. What do you think was in the mind and heart of each of these individuals as they witnessed this sign by Jesus? With whom in this Gospel do you most identify? Why? Imagine
Nativity of the Lord
Anonymous Artist of Latygava, 1746
Location: Bssr State Art Museum
you were a wedding guest at this celebration. What would have been your reaction to this miracle?
Today, January 7, it might be difficult for some people to remember that we are still celebrating the Christmas Season. But did you know that there are some Orthodox Christians in the world who keep a calendar different from the one we keep, and today - January 7 - they are celebrating Christmas Day! In your reflection today, pray for all those around the world who are celebrating Christmas Day today. Learn about some of these cultures and traditions. Here you can learn more about how the Ethiopians are celebrating Christmas today.
The Wedding Feast at Cana
Stained Glass Window
Church of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Cincinnati, Ohio
Saint Raymond of Penyafort, Priest
Raymond was sent to Rome to be the advisor and confessor of Pope Gregory IX. One of Raymond’s tasks was to make a compilation of all the various decrees of the popes and the Church councils. This ended up in being a total of five volumes, called the “Decretals.” Raymond’s organizational skills were so good that the Decretals were used by the Church for seven hundred years! He also wrote quite extensively on the sacrament of penance. When he was sixty years old, Raymond was appointed an Archbishop, but he ended up becoming ill and resigning shortly thereafter. But then at age sixty-three he was elected head of the Dominican Order, the successor of Saint Dominic. He remained in this position of leadership for two years. After he left this position, he continued to preach until his death. Saint Raymond of Penyafort is the Patron Saint of canonists and lawyers.
Today the Church also celebrates the feast day (an optional memorial) of Saint Raymond of Penyafort, Priest. Raymond was born in Spain in the year 1175 and lived for almost a century, dying in the year 1275 at the age of 99. Raymond was an extremely educated and intelligent man. At twenty years of age he was teaching at the University of Barcelona. He joined the Dominican Order in his early forties, and by that time he already had earned doctorates in civil and Church law.
