The Solemnity of St. Raymond of Penafort
January 14, 2026 Column Father De Celles News
Merry Christmas, and Happy Feast of St. Raymond! Today is the last day of the Christmas Season. The rule is that “Christmas Time runs from…the Nativity of the Lord up to and including the Sunday after Epiphany…” And normally, “The Sunday falling after [Epiphany] is the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord.”
Unless…. a feast of “higher rank” falls on that same Sunday, the Sunday after Epiphany. And this year, it does, with the Solemnity of St. Raymond. Our patron saint’s feast is normally celebrated on January 7, but in accordance with canon law I have moved our patronal feast to the following Sunday, January 11th. And since the feast of “title of the church” outranks the “Feast of the Baptism of the Lord,” we transfer that lower feast to tomorrow, Monday, January 12.
So, today let’s celebrate Christmas and our Patronal Solemnity, and after Mass join the Knights of Columbus for a free pancake breakfast after the Sunday morning Masses.
Saint Raymond. For those of you who don’t know much about St. Raymond, I invite you to read the 32-page biography we published a few years ago. If you don’t have one, they are available in the parish office.
As a brief reminder…Raymond was born of a noble family, near Barcelona, in 1175. At the age of 20 he became professor of canon law. In 1210 he left teaching to complete his studies in civil and canon law at the University of Bologna. He went on to hold a chair of canon law at that university for three years. (The date of his priestly ordination is uncertain, but it would seem to be around 1195).
On August 1, 1218, Raymond received a heavenly vision in which the Blessed Mother (“Our Lady of Ransom”) instructed him to help St. Peter Nolasco found the Order of Mercedarians, which would be devoted to the ransom of Christians taken captive by the Moors (Spanish Muslims) (a scene depicted in our new mural). Raymond did not, however, join that order but rather entered the Order of Preachers (“Dominicans”) in Barcelona in 1222. As a Dominican, Raymond continued to teach and preach, and devoted considerable effort working to convert Moors and Jews, coaxing St. Thomas Aquinas to write his Summa Contra Gentiles to help in his efforts.
At the request of his superiors Raymond published the Summa Casuum, a book on cases of conscience for the guidance of confessors and moralists, the first guide of its kind. This work eventually led to his appointment as confessor and theologian to Pope Gregory IX in 1230. The Pope soon directed Raymond to re-arrange and codify the canons (juridical laws) of the Church, which required him to rewrite and condense centuries of Church decrees. The Pope published Raymond’s work in 1231, and commanded that it alone should be considered authoritative. From then on St. Raymond would be known as the “Father of canon law.”
In 1238 he was elected Master General of the Dominican Order, the second successor to St. Dominic, but he resigned two years later, claiming that at 63 years old he was too old for the job. He continued his writing, preaching and pastoral work, as well many important responsibilities entrusted to him by various popes, for another 37 years until his death in Barcelona on January 6, 1275, at the age of 100.
But St. Raymond had one last great miracle to perform. Six years before his death, King James of Aragon invited him to come to Majorca with him to preach to the Muslim inhabitants. But when he arrived on the island the saint discovered that King James had brought his mistress along. Raymond demanded he send her away, and when the King refused, Raymond tried to sail back to Spain, but the King forbade any ship to let him board, Raymond simply bowed his head in prayer, made the sign of the cross, and, by the grace of God, sailed 160 miles back to Spain using just his great cape as both a skiff and a sail.
He is the patron saint of lawyers, both canon and civil. And our patron as well! St. Raymond of Peñafort, pray for us!
Consistory. Last week Pope Leo met with all the Cardinals of the Church (the College of Cardinals”) in what is called a “consistory” to consult with them on the topics of Liturgy, Governance and Synodality. This is a very significant development, since, although the College of Cardinals exists to advise the Pope like this, Pope Francis never called such a meeting and, having a unique (some would say “autocratic”) governing style he really didn’t use the Cardinals in this way. I write this as the consistory is just beginning, so at this point I have no idea what will come of it. But let’s pray it is all for the good of God’s Holy Church.
Charlotte. The Bishop of Charlotte, SC, Bishop Michael Martin, has been in the news a lot lately as he has sort of declared a liturgical war against traditional liturgical practices in his Diocese.
Some bishops believe that they have an almost autocratic authority (there’s that word again) over their dioceses, especially when it comes to liturgy. This is incorrect. A Bishop, for example, can’t override the Universal norms and laws of the Church (i.e., laws coming from the Pope), or change Church teaching or doctrine. He also cannot violate the natural or canonical rights of his people, priests or Pastors.
In the last few months, Bishop Martin has issued several liturgical rules (or proposed issuing them) that seem to many, including myself, to violate universal Church norms and/or the rights of the faithful. This week 30 of the priests (about ¼ of all the priests of the Diocese), 20 of whom are Pastors, responded by sending a set of “dubia” (“questions”) to the Vatican’s Dicastery for Legislative Texts, inquiring as to whether the most dubious of these norms are valid.
According the “The Pillar” website these include whether a diocesan bishop may prohibit:
— the erection of altar rails within churches in his diocese;
— the use of an altar rail in parishes where the rails already exist and are used by parishioners to receive communion;
— a pastor from placing kneelers to accommodate those who wish to receive Holy Communion while kneeling;
— priests from wearing certain styles of vestments when those vestments are not elsewhere prohibited in Church law;
— Communion by intinction;
— liturgical elements, such as prayers, gestures, chants, or ornaments, on the grounds that such elements are commonly associated with the pre-Vatican II celebration of the Mass.
God bless these 30 priests of Charlotte! It is not disobedient to exercise one’s rights, including the right to appeal to Rome, especially in defense of universal law and the good of the faithful. May the Lord provide justice for His people.
March for Life. St Raymond’s will send three buses to the National March for Life on Friday, January 23.. Signups and the schedule are in the narthex. There is no charge for parishioners to ride the bus but you must reserve your seat!
Oremus pro invicem. Fr. De Celles