December 22, 1843
Pope Gregory XVI approved the canonical erection of the Villanova convent and college with the establishment there of the novitiate.
Fourth Sunday of Advent – Year C
The year 1809 was a part of a period of history not greatly different from our own time. Military might was the dominant theme of the day. Napoleon and his armies held the upper hand and seemed destined to rule the world. Battles and victories made newspaper headlines. And most people thought that these were the truly important events of the day. This was naturally so because the armies were enormous and the battles were cataclysmic. This size and intensity fooled the world.
Saint Peter Canisius
December 21
“Enter then into your heart, and if you have faith, you will find Christ there. There he speaks to you. I, the preacher, must raise my voice, but he instructs you more effectively in silence. I speak in sounding words; he speaks within, by inspiring a holy fear. It is for him, then, to sow my words in your hearts … Because faith, and Christ, are in your hearts, he will teach you what I seek to communicate to you through the sound of my words.”
Sermon 102, 1
December 21, 1919
On this date a cable was sent from Rome giving Provincial Nicholas Vasey jurisdiction over the parish of the Italian Mission, Our Mother of Good Counsel, in Philadelphia, directing him to “assume jurisdiction Italian Mission and give help to save situation.”
Augustine For Today
December 20
“Let us leave a little room for reflection, room too for silence. Enter into yourself, leave behind all noise and confusion. Look within yourself and see whether there be some sweet hidden place in your consciousness where you can be free of noise and argument, where you need not be carrying on your disputes and planning to have your own stubborn way. Hear the word in quietness that you may understand it.
Sermon 56. 22
December 20, 1856
On this day in Old St. Augustine’s Church, Philadelphia, the future Saint John Neumann ordained to the priesthood the future first Provincial and fourth bishop of Hartford, Connecticut, Thomas Galberry.
Augustine For Today
December 19
“Upon the love of friends, I readily cast myself without reservation, especially when chafed and wearied by the scandals of this world; and in their love I rest without any disturbing care: for I perceive that God is there. … When I perceive that a man is burning with Christian love and feel that thereby he has been made a faithful friend to me, whatever plans or thoughts of mine I entrust to him I regard as entrusted not to the man, but to God.”
Letter 73, 20
December 19, 1911
The Definitory authorized the Provincial to expend a total of $7,000 for an addition and improvements on the Sea Isle City, New Jersey, cottage.
Augustine For Today
December 18
“When pride has crept into a servant of God, straightaway envy is to be found there too. The proud person cannot help being envious. Envy is the daughter of pride; but this mother is unable to be barren; wherever she is, she immediately gives birth … If your thoughts run on these lines, you won’t be great in your own eyes. After all, what you should rather be thinking about is what you lack, instead of what advantages you have … If you’re thinking of how much you’re still falling short, you start groaning; and when you groan, you are worrying about yourself, you will be humble, you will walk more securely, you won’t tumble over a cliff, you won’t be puffed up like a balloon. … First among the vices … is pride, next envy. It’s not envy, you see, that has given birth to pride, but pride has given birth to envy. It’s only a love of excelling, after all, that is envious.”
Sermon 354, 5-6
December 18, 1824
This date marks the date of religious profession of Nicholas O’Donnell at Santa Maria del Popolo, Rome. He was an early member of the American mission.