We all know, correction, TLM Catholics following the pre 1950 missal know that Jan 1 is the feast of the circumcision. Those following the 1962 missal will know it as simply the octave after Christmas and for the Novus Ordo crowd its called the Solemnity of the blessed Virgin Mary. Confusing? You got that right! But, confusion is the work of the Devil and this change came out of Vatican II so there is good reason to believe that it is the work of the devil. Catholic Esquire put together a good piece on the logic behind the change after Vatican II and as with anything coming from Vatican II, its not good.
Yesterday the ICKSP celebrated the feast of the circumcision in Rockford and Canon had a great sermon to go along with it. The importance of Our Lords circumcision is 3 fold. Most important it was the first time Our Lord shed blood for mankind. This is technically the beginning of our Lords passion which will increase in intensity as we get close to Easter. Christ endured this pain in accordance with Jewish law showing his humility even though he was true God. Finally, since our Lady was free from original sin and Christ birth was painless, this was the first time she watched her son suffer.
However because of the importance of the birth of the savior the celebration will continue for 40 days until the feast of the purification, another Jewish custom. Unfortunately on this Jan 2 I see most people have their decorations down and the tree out for curb side trash pickup. We can only hope they are not Catholic.
By Jewish law a women was considered impure for 40 days after the birth of the child. Of course we know this was unnecessary because since our Lady was free from sin, she needed no purification but again shows the humility of the holy family. My mother had told me when she grew up the Catholic church still had a rite call churching, or churched. This was a blessing given to new mothers that Vatican II got rid of.
It was blood that finally convinced me Jesus was indeed God. Go to the brutal scourging at the pillar. Christ nearly bleed to death. Then he is forced to carry a cross which according to statistics weighed about 300 lbs. True it is believed that Christ only carried the cross beam but still that weighed 100 lbs. I have not lost any blood but its still a chore to pick up a 50 lb sack of potting soil or bird seed. No way I could pick up a 100 lb plank and walk across town with it. I can only imagine Christ suffering. Carrying the cross would be impossible for a mere mortal so Jesus had to be God.
Canon also commented on the salvation of the cross which is assured to jerk the carpet out from under our bible thumping protestant friends. They say Christ died for our sins, which he did, and no further repentance or work is needed on their part. But his death only made it possible for us to be saved according to canon. We still have to work for it. It is not a get out of jail free card. This is where the importance of Mary and the sacrament of confession come in. Mary because she carried the savior in the sinless tabernacle of her womb, and confession to lift us up when we fall. Again the protestant popes of the Bergoglian line enter the picture removing Mary’s title of Mediatrix. Leo continues to dilute our faith, don’t fall for his pressed vestments and uttering a phrase or two Latin. He is more of a Martin Luther clone than Catholic pope.
It is believed the Roman centurion, St. Longinus, who thrust his sword into Christ side was suffering with an eye problem. After washing his eyes in the blood of Christ his condition was healed. He converted to Christianity, but also his home town is believed to be Lanciano the place of the famous Eucharistic miracle where the bread and wine turned into the actual body and blood of Christ. Tests done to the substances found the same blood type as on the shroud of Turin which is the DNA of people of mid east decent.
Its a shame protestants are most repulsed by both confession and devotion to the Mother of God. It could cost them their soul. But this is the aim of the preconcilliar Catholic church of Vatican II. In their words to make the church, mainly the mass, more acceptable to protestants. The mass was no longer the unbloody sacrifice and morphed into a commemoration of the last supper. Here we go with blood again.
In the days before John XXIII and Vatican II the handbook for salvation was all laid out for us. Now you really have to work to find it. But………………..maybe thats a good thing.