Project BLACK MAMBA: Christmastide

'Tis the Optional Memorial of Saint Raymond of Peñafort, Priest, O.P. (circa 1175-1275, Anglicized Penyafort): Saint-link ūnus, Saint-link duo, & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Wayback Machine. Quoth the Holy Redeemer bulletin:

A Spanish Dominican friar in the thirteenth century, he compiled the Decretals of Gregory IX, a collection of canon laws that remained a major part of Church law until the twentieth century. He is honored as the patron saint of lawyers, especially canon lawyers.

Quoth the Holy Family bulletin:

In his early thirties he earned a doctorate in both canon & civil law. At forty-one he became a Dominican. Pope Gregory IX called him to Rome to work for him & to be his confessor. One of the things the pope asked him to do was to gather together all the decrees of popes & councils that had been made in [the] eighty years since a similar collection by Gratian. Raymond compiled five books called the Decretals. They were looked upon as one of the best-organized collections of Church law until the 1917 codification of canon law.

'Tis also the feast of Saint Lucian of Antioch, Priest & Martyr (circa 240-312), martyred in the reign of the emperor Maximinus II: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link.

'Tis also the feast of Saint Kentigerna, Anchoress (died 734, A.K.A. Caintigern): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings
Christmas Weekday
The First Letter of John, chapter five, verses fourteen thru twenty-one;
Psalm One Hundred Forty-nine, verses one thru six(a) & nine(b);
The Gospel according to John, chapter two, verses one thru eleven;

or, for St. Raymond:
The Second Letter to the Corinthians, chapter five, verses fourteen thru twenty;
Psalm One Hundred Three, verse one;
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter twelve, verses thirty-five thru forty.

Individual Reading
The Book of Ezekiel, chapter ten (verses one thru twenty-three);
The Book of Ezekiel, chapter eleven (verses one thru twenty-one);
The Book of Amos, chapter five (verses one thru twenty-seven);
The Book of Amos, chapter six (verses one thru fourteen);
The Book of Malachi, chapter two, verses ten thru seventeen.

Commentary: God's Glory Leaves Jerusalem (Ezekiel, 10, inclusive), Judgment of the Princes (11:1-13) & Restoration of the Exiles (11:14-21); Third Word (Amos, 5:1-9), First Woe (5:10-17), Second Woe (5:18-27), & Third Woe (6, inclusive); & Sins of the People (Malachi, 2:10-17).