Which isn't in the Novus Ordo calendar nor in the 1962; it was suppressed at some point after 1955. I'm sure that, whatever other reasons might have existed, the elimination was all the more easy because of the quasi-fantastic element of St John's being plunged into boiling oil (and coming out purior et vegetior). Jerome and Tertullianus already knew the history, though, and I myself am prepared to accept its veracity-- certainly at least so far as it in itself doesn't warrant abandoning such an ancient liturgical celebration. The fifth lesson at Matins:
Fuit autem Joánnes et Apóstolus, et Evangelista, et Prophéta: Apóstolus, quia scripsit ad ecclésias ut magister; Evangelista, quia librum Evangélii cóndidit, quod, excepto Matthæo, alii ex duódecim Apóstoli non fecérunt; Prophéta, vidit enim in Patmos insula, in qua fuerat a Domitiáno príncipe ob Dómini martyrium relegatus, Apocalypsim, infiníta futurórum mysteria continentem. Refert autem Tertullianus, quod Romæ missus in ferventis ólei dolium, purior et vegetior exíverit, quam intraverit.
John was an Apostle, and an Evangelist, and a Prophet. He was an Apostle, in that he wrote to the Churches, as their Teacher. He was an Evangelist, having written one of the Gospels, distinguishing himself from the other Apostles (except for St Matthew). He was a Prophet, in that when he was on the isle of Patmos, where he had been banished by Domitian on account of his witness for the Lord, he saw there that Apocalypse which contains such unfathomable mysteries concerning the future. Tertullian also said that, when he was at Rome, he was put into a vessel of boiling oil, but that he came out cleaner and healthier than he went in.
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The Blogger user interface updating has continued overnight. It looks good, it looks better. We shall see. I don't understand why the font here is different than in the past. Hmm.
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