Merry Christmas

Hoc praesens diecula loquitur
praelucida,
adaucta longitudine,
quod sol verus radio sui
luminis vetustas mundi
depulerit genitus tenebras.

Nec nox vacat novi
sideris luce,
quod magorum oculos
terruit scios:

Nec gregum magistris
defuit lumen,
quos praestrinxit claritas
militum dei.

Gaude, dei genetrix,
quam circumstant obstetricum vice
concinentes angeli
gloriam deo.

This present little day proclaims,
illumined,
its length increased,
that the true Sun by the ray
of its light has driven off
the ancient darknesses of the world.

Nor does this night lack
the light of the new star,
which terrified the knowing
eyes of the magi:

Nor was light lacking
for the masters of their flocks,
who were stricken by the brightness
of the soldiers of God.

Rejoice, O god-bearer,
who instead of midwives are surrounded
by angels singing in harmony
glory to God.

--Notker of St Gall, "Natus ante saecula"

New Prayer for Canonization of Scotus and Newman

From the recent Scotus-Newman conference:

Prayer to Obtain the Canonization of
Bl. John Henry Newman (1801-1890) and
Bl. John Duns Scotus (1265-1308)

Heavenly Father, the two great Oxford scholars, Bl. John Duns Scotus and Bl. John Henry Newman, spent their lives in the service of Holy Mother Church and the salvation of souls. With courageous loyalty to the truth and exemplary obedience to the Church they sought to show how best to sanctify the intellect in the pursuit of holiness and wisdom. The insights of Bl. John Duns Scotus into the mystery of divine love and the Incarnation, his profound understanding of and devotion to the Immaculate Virgin Mother, his defense of the Holy Eucharist and the Church; the sage counsels of Bl. John Henry on living our faith in a radically secularized world and his deeply moving illustrations of our hope inspire us to ask you, the Giver of all good gifts, to grant that these two great examples of Christian virtue and learning might soon be counted among the Saints to be imitated by the faithful.

Through the intercession of Bl. Scotus we ask you for this favor….

Through the intercession of Bl. Newman we ask you for this favor….

In all this, may we learn to speak “heart to heart” with Jesus through Mary and pass from “shadows and images into the Truth”, your Son and our Savior, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen

Please report any favors received from either Bl. Scotus or Bl. Newman to:

The Very Reverend James McCurry, OFMConv.
12300 Folly Quarter Rd.
Ellicott City, MD 21042

IMPRIMATUR + Edwin F. O’Brien, D.D,
Archbishop, Archdiocese of Baltimore

Ave Maria!

Festum: Continuatio

Quotidiana B. I. Scoti Commemoratio

O Doctor Subtilissime, Ioannes, qui Deiparae Custos fidus fuisti; quamque Adam non foedaverat, Immaculatam clarius tu primus perpexisti; nostri tuam da mentibus doctrinam datam coelitus ad Matris laudem Christi.
v. Protege nos, Virgo praeservata ab omni macula.
R. Ut liberati a peccatis omnibus, per te perveniamus ad Praeservatorem tuum.

Oremus:

Deus, qui per Immaculatam Virginis conceptionem dignum Filio tuo habitaculum praeparasti: et qui per hoc lucis mysterium Seraphicam S. Francisci Religionem illustrare, atque in ea gloriosum Doctorem Subtilem Ioannem Scotum mirificare dignatus es: praesta quaesumus; ut qui ex morte Filii Mariae praevisa, eam ab omni labe praeservasti, nos quoque mundos eius intercessione ad te pervenire concedas. Per eumdem Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen.