Saint Sylvester, the End of the Year, and Preparing Our Souls for Judgment (31 December)

About this sermon

Before reflecting on the end of the year, we turn our attention to the saints commemorated today, especially Saint Sylvester I, Pope during the pivotal transition of the Church from persecution to public recognition under Emperor Constantine. We also reflect on Blessed Alain de Solminihac, a heroic 17th-century French bishop who personally visited 800 parishes nine times, and Blessed Giuseppina Nicoli, a Daughter of Charity who taught catechism to the poor, orphans, abandoned children, and even the spiritually neglected children of the wealthy. This meditation connects the lives of these saints to the Catholic understanding of time, reminding us that the Church’s true “New Year” begins not on January 1st, but with Advent—a preparation of the soul for the Second Coming of Christ. Saint Sylvester’s legacy touches nearly every aspect of Catholic life today: the construction of the great Roman basilicas the Nicene Creed the use of stone altars and relics sacred vestments the Divine Office the blessing of holy oils by bishops As we approach the end of the civil year, we are called not to worldly resolutions, but to examine the state of our souls, to fear God rightly, and then to trust in His mercy made visible in the First Coming of Christ as a child. This is a powerful reminder that what truly matters is not history, politics, or worldly events—but salvation. “Fear the Lord is the beginning of wisdom—but Advent teaches us hope.” 🕊️ Key Themes Covered: Saint Sylvester I and Constantine Transition from persecution to Christendom The origins of Catholic liturgical practices The Nicene Creed The Church’s understanding of time and history End-of-year spiritual examination Advent as preparation for judgment The spiritual orphanhood of the modern world 00:00 – Saints of the Day Introduction 00:18 – Blessed Alain de Solminihac: A Bishop Who Visited 800 Parishes 01:17 – Blessed Giuseppina Nicoli and Teaching the Forgotten Poor 02:30 – Why Christ Came as a Child 02:57 – Saint Sylvester I: Pope of Transition 03:12 – Constantine and the End of Persecution 03:49 – The Construction of Rome’s Great Basilicas 04:35 – Why Catholic Altars Are Made of Stone 05:40 – The Origins of Vestments and the Divine Office 06:54 – Holy Chrism, Baptism, and Episcopal Authority 07:42 – The Corporal, the Altar, and the Sacrifice of the Mass 07:45 – The Council of Nicaea and the Nicene Creed 08:02 – Why New Year’s Eve Is Called “Sylvester” in Europe 08:41 – The Church’s True New Year: Advent 09:00 – Preparing for the Second Coming of Christ 10:07 – Fear, Hope, and the First Coming of Christ 10:48 – The State of Our Souls 11:07 – Our Resolution: Bringing Souls to the True Faith 11:31 – Final Blessing https://sensusfidelium.us/the-liturgical-year-dom-prosper-gueranger/december/december-31-st-sylvester-pope-and-confessor/ http://catholicsaints.mobi/index.html Please remember to say 3 Hail Marys for the priest 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴 Support Catholic Businesses here - https://sensusfidelium.com/catholic-businesses/ Sensus Fidelium Press - https://sensusfideliumpress.com/ Sensus Fidelium Apps - https://sensusfidelium.tv/ Support Sensus Fidelium - https://sensusfidelium.com/donate-support/ 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴 🙏🏻PLEASE HELP OUR CHANNEL GROW 🙏🏻 ▶️ 1. Become a Channel Patron: https://www.patreon.com/SensusFidelium ▶️ 2. Visit the website https://www.sensusfidelium.us for Gueranger, Saint of the Day, Apologetics, Meditation by the Saints, Scripture Study and more. ▶️ 3. Subscribe to Other Video Platforms 🔴 BitChute --- https://www.bitchute.com/channel/Sensus_Fidelium/ 🔴 Rumble --- https://rumble.com/c/c-298311 🔴 My Catholic Tube - https://mycatholictube.com/videos/sensus-fidelium-channel/ 🔴 LBRY.tv --- https://lbry.tv/@SensusFidelium:c 🔴 ODYSEE - https://odysee.com/@SensusFidelium:c 🔴 UGETube - https://videos.utahgunexchange.com/@Sensus%20Fidelium 🔴 BrandNewTube - https://brandnewtube.com/@SensusFidelium 🔴 GabTV - https://tv.gab.com/channel/Sensus_Fidelium 🔴 GloriaTV - https://gloria.tv/Sensus%20Fidelium 🔴 Brighteon - https://www.brighteon.com/channels/sensusfidelium ▶️ 4. Paypal, Bitcoin, Anedot, Stripe, Square & PO Box donations - https://sensusfidelium.us/donate-support/ ▶️ 5. YouTube: Click Subscribe, then Click "Notification Bell" = 🔔 Please "Like" our videos so that Youtube shares it to others by clicking the "Like" thumbs-up under the video = 👍🏻 ▶️ 6. Please share this video 📲, and help others find Christ inside the Catholic Church! Please share this video on Facebook and Twitter using the share button. #SaintSylvester #CatholicSaints #TraditionalCatholic #CatholicFaith #LatinMass #CatholicHistory #Advent #SecondComing #CouncilOfNicaea #NiceneCreed #Salvation #CatholicReflection #EndOfTheYear

Topics

• Hell & Judgment