OW WELL do you know your “days of the week” in Latin? At one time, Catholic bishops wanted all Christian countries to use these names (instead of pagan names), but I think Portugal was the only country faithful to that desire:
SUNDAY = “Dominica”
MONDAY = “Feria II” … or Feria Secunda
TUESDAY = “Feria III” … or Feria Tertia
WEDNESDAY = “Feria IV” … or Feria Quarta
THURSDAY = “Feria V” … or Feria Quinta
FRIDAY = “Feria VI” … or Feria Sexta … or Parasceve
SATURDAY = “Sabbatum”
The Church usage follows the Jewish, inasmuch as:
SATURDAY is the sabbath • “sabbatum” (Hb שבת; Gk Σάββατο)
SUNDAY is the first day after the sabbath (Hb ראשון: cf. Jn 20.19, 26; Ac 20.7; 1 Co 16.2), but is now called The Lord’s Day • “dies dominica” (Gk [ἡ] Κυριακή [ἡμέρα]: cf. Ap 1.10)
MONDAY is the second day • “feria secunda” (Hb שני; Gk Δευτέρα)
TUESDAY is the third day • “feria tertia” (Hb שלישי; Gk Τρίτη)
WEDNESDAY is the fourth day • “feria quarta” (Hb רביעי; Gk Τετάρτη)
THURSDAY is the fifth day • “feria quinta” (Hb חמישי; Gk Πέμπτη)
FRIDAY is the sixth day • “feria sexta” (Hb שישי), but is sometimes called “preparation day” • “parasceve” (Gk Παρασκευή: cf. Jn 19.14), i.e. the day of preparation for the sabbath
The black and white illustrations in the Brébeuf hymnal often display the zodiac (“sun and moon with happy and sad face”) in pictures of our Savior’s crucifixion:
A wise priest explains this:
The zodiac signs begin to appear in crucifixion scenes in the East, e.g. Syria, in the VIth century, and it seems they are a reference to Mt 27/45, Lk 23/44-5 and Mk 15/33 which are also regarded by later commentators and “spiritual writers” (as they used to be called in pulpit oratory) as fulfillment of the prophecy Amos 8/9-10 Vulg. For example, Legenda Aurea 53 cites Bernard of Clairvaux commenting on the Good Friday Reproaches, explaining the price Christ paid for redeeming those who belittle the Redemption: a price higher than gold or silver, sun or moon, or one of the Angels … tenebrae factae sunt etc.
And one more for good measure, again taken from the Brébeuf hymnal:
