Feast Of Saint Andrew The Apostle - 30 November

The paragraphs quoted in part below without hyperlinks are from overviewbible.com [1]:

The Apostle Andrew was one of the twelve main disciples of Jesus Christ and the brother of Simon Peter. Andrew was the first apostle Jesus called and the first apostle to claim Jesus was the Messiah.

Despite his seemingly important role as an early follower of Christ, Andrew is only mentioned 12 times in the entire New Testament—and four of those times are simply lists of the 12 apostles. He comes onto the scene early in the gospels, but only plays a minor role.... 

...

Perhaps Andrew’s most distinguishing feature is that he’s Simon Peter’s brother. Each of the gospels refer to him as Peter’s brother—but Peter is never referred to as Andrew’s brother. This, plus the fact that Peter is always  listed before him indicates that Andrew was either younger or just less important....[Emphasis  original.]

Quoted without references and hyperlinks from Wikipedia [2]:

Andrew is said to have been martyred by crucifixion at the city of Patras (Patræ) in Achaea, in AD 60. Early texts, such as the Acts of Andrew known to Gregory of Tours, describe Andrew as bound, not nailed, to a Latin cross of the kind on which Jesus is said to have been crucified; yet a tradition developed that Andrew had been crucified on a cross of the form called crux decussata (X-shaped cross, or "saltire"), now commonly known as a "Saint Andrew's Cross" — supposedly at his own request, as he deemed himself unworthy to be crucified on the same type of cross as Jesus had been. The iconography of the martyrdom of Andrew — showing him bound to an X-shaped cross — does not appear to have been standardized until the later Middle Ages. 

...

Andrew is the patron saint of several countries and cities including: Barbados, Romania, Russia, Scotland, Ukraine, Sarzana, Pienza and Amalfi in Italy, Esgueira in Portugal, Luqa in Malta, Parañaque in the Philippines and Patras in Greece. He was also the patron saint of Prussia and of the Order of the Golden Fleece. He is considered the founder and the first bishop of the Church of Byzantium and is consequently the patron saint of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople.

[1] https://overviewbible.com/andrew-the-apostle/

[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_the_Apostle

Selected Feast Days In December (Excluding Christmas Eve & Christmas Day)

1. Feast Of The Immaculate Conception Of The Blessed Virgin Mary - 8 December

2. Feast Of San Juan Diego - 9 December

3. Feast Of Our Lady Of Guadalupe - 12 December

4. Feast Of Saint Thomas, Apostle - 21 December (per the Tridentine calendar)

5. Feast Of Saint John, Apostle & Evangelist - 27 December

Historical Fasting During Advent

"Advent 2020 starts on Sunday, November 29, 2020...and ends on Thursday, December 24th 2020 ...." [1]

Quoted below, in part, without emphasis in bold, is from a blog post entitled What Ever Became of Advent Fasting and Penance?  written by Msgr. Charles Pope, in 2016 [2]:

...Advent, like Lent, is considered a penitential season. During these times we are to give special attention to our sins and our need for salvation. Traditionally, Advent was a time when would take part in penitential practices such as fasting and abstinence, just as is done during Lent.

In recent times, though, Advent has become almost devoid of any real penitential practices. Neither fasting nor abstinence is required; they are not really even mentioned. There is nothing in the Missal or other liturgical sources that refers to Advent as a penitential season....

During the Middle Ages, Advent observances were every bit as strict as those of Lent....

...

Today’s token fast (required only on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday) isn’t much of a burden: one full meal and two smaller meals. Is that really a fast at all? And we are only obligated to abstain from meat on the Fridays of Lent rather than the entire forty days.

Frankly, I doubt that we moderns could pull off the fast of the ancients, or even the elders of more recent centuries....

Perhaps this is a good illustration of how enslaved we are by our abundance. The more we have, the more we want; and the more we want, the more we think we can’t survive without. We are so easily owned by what we claim to own, enslaved by our abundance.

Some religious orders still adhere to some kind of fasting during Advent.  For example, those who belong to the Missionaries Of The Poor ("MOP") [3] abstain from meat and fish, expect for the Solemnity Of The Immaculate Conception Of The Blessed Virgin Mary on 8 December.  During this time their diet includes vegetables, eggs, beans and peas.  This information was given by a brother at the MOP monastery in Monroe, North Carolina, USA.

[1] https://www.calendarpedia.com/when-is/advent.html; emphasis in bold removed.

[2] https://blog.adw.org/2016/12/what-ever-became-of-advent-fasting/

More Random Thoughts - November 2020

1. Root of all conflicts: Pride & Greed.

2. Three words to resolve all conflicts: "Love thy neighbor."

3. Two words to save one's soul: "Love God."

4. Source of mistrust: Being lied to.

5. Return to innocence: Live every moment with hope.

6. Denial of truth: A form of self-torture.

7. Betraying the good: Unjustifiable and indefensible.

8. Hell: For those who want to replace God and be glorified.

9. Purgatory: A contrite heart is necessary for entry.

10. Heaven: For those who put others first.

11. Decisions: The best come from the heart, not the mind.

12. Sin: A reminder of one's weakness to keep one humble.

13. Acceptance of sufferings: Key to understanding Christ.

14. What a mirror should reflect: Christ within oneself.

15. Reflection in the mirror: What one wants others to see.

16. Looking at oneself with honesty: Courage is required.

17. An ideal childhood: A life of carefree abandonment.

18. A life in captivity: Living with obsession & addiction.

19. Create an expectation: Don't if it won't be fulfilled.

20. Avoid disappointments: Expect nothing and be surprised.

The Presentation Of The Blessed Virgin Mary Feast Day - 21 November

Quoted without emphasis and hyperlinks from Britannica [1]:

Presentation of the Virgin Mary, also called Entry of the Most Holy Theotokos into the Temple, feast [is] celebrated in the Roman Catholic and Eastern churches on November 21. It was held in the Eastern church in the 6th century but did not become widely accepted in the West until the 15th century. The pope St. Pius V (1566–72) suppressed it, but in 1585 Pope Sixtus V reestablished the feast. Generally considered a feast of popular piety, it signifies Mary’s total and lifelong devotion to God, as anticipated by her Immaculate Conception, and heralds her future vocation as the sacred vessel for the Incarnation.

The feast is based on a legend contained in the Protevangelium of James, a 2nd-century work not included in the Bible. It commemorates a visit by the three-year-old Mary to the Temple in Jerusalem, where she was dedicated to the service of God and left to be raised as a consecrated virgin. This act was done in fulfillment of a sacred promise made by her parents, Saints Anne and Joachim, during their long struggle with childlessness.

An essay written by Father Francis Xavier Weninger, 1876, The Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, provides more information on the consecration of children [2].

With regard to the Blessed Virgin Mary, Fr. Francis Xavier Weninger had this to say, in part [3]:

Her consecration differed greatly from that of all other children. Many were brought to the temple only because their parents desired it, and without their own knowledge of the reasons for which it was done. Others wept bitterly at parting with their parents. No other at that tender age, had understood the ceremony, and none had made the consecration with such entire devotion to the Lord.

[1] https://www.britannica.com/topic/Presentation-of-the-Virgin-Mary

[2] http://catholicharboroffaithandmorals.com/Presentation%20of%20Mary%2002.html

[3] Ibid.

Mozart's Opera COSÌ FAN TUTTE Renamed COVID FAN TUTTE By Finnish National Opera And Ballet

(Taking a break from Catholic feast days and matters Catholic.)

Quoted from OperaVision's YouTube  channel [1]:

On stage, singers are rehearsing Die Walküre, when they are suddenly interrupted. As management has been laid off and the news of a global virus spreads rapidly, the Wagnerians are suddenly instructed to perform a modern satire on the situation.

Covid fan tutte satirically revisits Mozart's classic opera by adapting its storyline to reflect Finland's experience during the coronavirus crisis. Starring Karita Mattila and conducted by Esa-Pekka Salonen, the production lightheartedly follows ordinary Finns’ lives amid press conferences by the government and pandemic experts. The libretto for Covid times is by Minna Lindgren; the music is (almost) 100% Mozart's.

Streamed on OperaVision on 16 October 2020 at 19:00 CET and available for 6 months...[now on YouTube].

The opera, Covid Fan Tutte, was sung in Finnish (click on CC for English subtitles).  The link at [1] goes to the performance.

[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LwNz8C33JOc

Saint Elizabeth Of Hungary Feast Day - 17 November

Quoted from itmonline.org [1]:

St. Elizabeth is remembered for her charitable works, especially for the establishment of hospitals. ...Elizabeth lived at a time when the combined disasters of climate, war, pestilence, and poverty caused great suffering, and she became devoted to helping those who had nowhere to turn.

Elizabeth was born in Hungary in 1207. Her short but fruitful life lasted 24 years; she passed away in Marburg, Germany on November 17, 1231....

She began life as part of the Hungarian nobility, daughter of King Andrew II. At age 14, she married the 21-year-old Ludwig IV, of Thuringia (Germany). He was appointed regent of Meissen and the East Mark and who soon became employed by Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II as a soldier and diplomat.

Elizabeth was religious since her early years, and Ludwig supported her in this, including her acts of charity. While he was away for missions under Frederick II, Elizabeth took charge of local affairs and distributed alms in all parts of her husband's territory....

...

Ludwig died on one of his military campaigns, succumbing to illness not war wounds....

Quoted from Franciscan Media [2]:

In 1228, Elizabeth joined the Secular Franciscan Order, spending the remaining few years of her life caring for the poor in a hospital which she founded in honor of Saint Francis of Assisi. Elizabeth’s health declined, and she died before her 24th birthday in 1231.

Quoted from  itmonline.org [3]: 

Soon after the death of Elizabeth, miracles were reported to occur at her grave in the church associated with the hospital, especially miracles of healing....

Quoted without hyperlink from Wikipedia [4]:

From her support of the [Franciscan] friars sent to Thuringia, [Elizabeth of Hungary] was made known to the founder, St Francis of Assisi, who sent her a personal message of blessing shortly before his death in 1226.

Canonization of Elizabeth of Hungary, quoted from departments.kings.edu [5]:

Saint Elizabeth of Hungary, or Thuringia, is the first royal Franciscan tertiary to be canonized. At only twenty-four years old, Elizabeth of Hungary died and the world lost of one of the most pious women to ever live. Within only four years, Pope Gregory IX named her a Saint (in May of 1235).

Below is a photograph obtained online, entitled Marburg Photo: The remains of the St Elizabeth Hospital  from Tripadvisor [6]:

(finding only one photograph on the subject matter after numerous searches, whether this ruin was in fact the hospital Saint Elizabeth of Hungary founded is uncertain)

[1] http://www.itmonline.org/bodytheology/stelizabeth.htm

[2] https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/saint-elizabeth-of-hungary

[3] http://www.itmonline.org/bodytheology/stelizabeth.htm

[4] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_of_Hungary, under the Association with the Franciscans section.

[5] https://departments.kings.edu/womens_history/elizabethsth.html

[6] https://www.tripadvisor.com/LocationPhotoDirectLink-g187343-i20948474-Marburg_Hesse.html