BENEDICT XVI: NEWS, PAPAL TEXTS, PHOTOS AND COMMENTARY

In the Church calendar, the Christmas season runs to the Feast of the Epiphany. According to the USCCB nomenclature, the weekdays after the Octave of Christmas, which ended yesterday, are called 'Christmas Weekdays'.

Wednesday, January 2, Christmas Weekday
MEMORIAL OF SAINTS BASIL THE GREAT & GREGORY NAZIANZENE

From left: Basil and Gregory; St. Basil; St. Gregory; and the two saints with St. John Chrysostom - celebrated in the Orthodox Churches as the "Three Hierarchs' with their joint feast on January 25
SAINTS BASIL THE GREAT (Asia Minor, 330-379) and GREGORY NAZIANZENE (Asia Minor, 330-390)
BISHOPS, THEOLOGIANS AND DOCTORS OF THE CHURCH
Apart from the fact that they were friends from youth and lead almost parallel lives, I have not immediately found an explanation for why they have the same feast day. Both born in what is now central Turkey, they studied together in Cappadocia, and much later, in Athens. Both were engaged in the great battle against Arian heresy. Basil, as Bishop of Cappadocia, also distinguished himself for spelling out what Benedict XVI called 'the first social doctrine of the Church'. Gregory, who later became Bishop of Constantinople, was such a gifted theologian that he is also known as Gregory the Theologian. His most outstanding contributions are to the doctrine of the Trinity and of the Holy Spirit. In July and August 2007,
www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/audiences/2007/inde...
Benedict XVI dedicated two catecheses each to these two towering figures of fourth-century Christianity. Along with St. Athanasius and St. John Chrysostom, they were the first Doctors of the Eastern Church in the Catholic faith.
Readings for today's Mass:
www.usccb.org/bible/readings/010213.cfm


AT THE VATICAN TODAY

General Audience - In his first GA for 2013, the Holy Father dwelt on the question of the identity of Jesus,
the Son of God made man and therefore Emmanuel (God-with-us).

@Pontifex, 1/2/13: