Wolf Howling: Latin prayer

Thursday, January 3, 2013

On the Tenth Day Of Christmas . . . The Feast Of The Holy Name

Today is the tenth day of the twelve days of Christmas.

Today is celebrated the Feast of the Holy Name.

Sit nomen Dómini benedíctum
Ex hoc nunc, et usque in sæculum
Blessed be the Name of the Lord
from this time forth for evermore

The Feast of the Holy Name dates back to the 15th century, when it was celebrated, usually in conjunction with the Feast of the Circumcision on 1 Jan. Under Jewish law, a child would have been named on the day of his circumcision - and thus, this feast celebrates the naming of Jesus on the day of his circumcision.

In modern times, the date of this celebration varies, with some Church's celebrating it on the 3rd of January, others on the first Sunday of the New Year unless that Sunday falls on the 1st, 6th or 7th, in which case it is celebrated on the 2nd Day of January.

In Medieval times, this would have been a continuation of the celebrations of the twelve days of Christmas, but there would be no specific saint or event to whom the day was universally dedicated - i.e., to put it in the latin, feria. That said, many localities then, as now, would have had their own specific celebrations.

Happy Tenth Day of Christmas

The 6th Day Of Christmas

Today is the sixth day of the twelve days of Christmas . . .

It isn't clear what feast was celebrated on this day during Medieval times, from whence the custom of a 12 day celebration of Christmas originates. In the modern era, the Feast of the Holy Family was placed on general calendar of the Roman Rite on October 26, 1921. It is, by custom, celebrated on this day in those years when Christmas falls on a Sunday. Otherwise, the Feast of the Holy Family is celebrated on the first Sunday after Christmas.

The purpose of this celebration is to use the Holy Family of Joseph, Mary and Jesus as the model for all Christian families.

Prayer To The Holy Family:

Domine Iesu Christe, qui Mariae et Ioseph subditus, domesticam vitam ineffabilibus virtutibus consecrasti: fac nos, utriusque auxilio, Familiae sanctae tuae exemplis instrui et consortium consequi sempiternum: Qui vivis et regnas in saecula saeculorum. Amen.

Lord Jesus Christ, Who, being made subject to Mary and Joseph, didst consecrate domestic life by Thine ineffable virtues; grant that we, with the assistance of both, may be taught by the example of Thy Holy Family and may attain to its everlasting fellowship. Who livest and reignest forever. Amen.

Should it be that the Feast of the Holy Family is not celebrated this day, I would honor St. Ecgwine of Worcester whose feast falls on this day. Ecgwine, the 7th century son of a Mercian King, founded the Benedictine monastery of Evesham, England; the site was chosen because of an apparition of the Virgin Mary to a local herdsman. It became one of the great Benedictine houses of the Middle Ages. In his honor, it seems only fitting that one toast repeatedly with the libation produced by his order, Benedictine liquor. Do note that every bottle of Bénédictine has the initials D.O.M. on the label - it actually stands for "Deo Optimo Maximo"; "For our best, greatest God".

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