Posted on 12/05/2004 7:41:57 AM PST by Salvation
Reading I
Is 11:1-10
On that day, a shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse,
and from his roots a bud shall blossom.
The spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him:
a spirit of wisdom and of understanding,
a spirit of counsel and of strength,
a spirit of knowledge and of fear of the LORD,
and his delight shall be the fear of the LORD.
Not by appearance shall he judge,
nor by hearsay shall he decide,
but he shall judge the poor with justice,
and decide aright for the land's afflicted.
He shall strike the ruthless with the rod of his mouth,
and with the breath of his lips he shall slay the wicked.
Justice shall be the band around his waist,
and faithfulness a belt upon his hips.
Then the wolf shall be a guest of the lamb,
and the leopard shall lie down with the kid;
the calf and the young lion shall browse together,
with a little child to guide them.
The cow and the bear shall be neighbors,
together their young shall rest;
the lion shall eat hay like the ox.
The baby shall play by the cobra's den,
and the child lay his hand on the adder's lair.
There shall be no harm or ruin on all my holy mountain;
for the earth shall be filled with knowledge of the LORD,
as water covers the sea.
On that day, the root of Jesse,
set up as a signal for the nations,
the Gentiles shall seek out,
for his dwelling shall be glorious.
Responsorial Psalm
Ps 72:1-2, 7-8, 12-13, 17
R. (cf. 7) Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever.
O God, with your judgment endow the king,
and with your justice, the king's son;
he shall govern your people with justice
and your afflicted ones with judgment.
R. Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever.
Justice shall flower in his days,
and profound peace, till the moon be no more.
May he rule from sea to sea,
and from the River to the ends of the earth.
R. Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever.
For he shall rescue the poor when he cries out,
and the afflicted when he has no one to help him.
He shall have pity for the lowly and the poor;
the lives of the poor he shall save.
R. Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever.
May his name be blessed forever;
as long as the sun his name shall remain.
In him shall all the tribes of the earth be blessed;
all the nations shall proclaim his happiness.
R. Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever.
Reading II
Rom 15:4-9
Brothers and sisters:
Whatever was written previously was written for our instruction,
that by endurance and by the encouragement of the Scriptures
we might have hope.
May the God of endurance and encouragement
grant you to think in harmony with one another,
in keeping with Christ Jesus,
that with one accord you may with one voice
glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Welcome one another, then, as Christ welcomed you,
for the glory of God.
For I say that Christ became a minister of the circumcised
to show God's truthfulness,
to confirm the promises to the patriarchs,
but so that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy.
As it is written:
Therefore, I will praise you among the Gentiles
and sing praises to your name.
Gospel
Mt 3:1-12
John the Baptist appeared, preaching in the desert of Judea
and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!"
It was of him that the prophet Isaiah had spoken when he said:
A voice of one crying out in the desert,
Prepare the way of the Lord,
make straight his paths.
John wore clothing made of camel's hair
and had a leather belt around his waist.
His food was locusts and wild honey.
At that time Jerusalem, all Judea,
and the whole region around the Jordan
were going out to him
and were being baptized by him in the Jordan River
as they acknowledged their sins.
When he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees
coming to his baptism, he said to them, "You brood of vipers!
Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?
Produce good fruit as evidence of your repentance.
And do not presume to say to yourselves,
'We have Abraham as our father.'
For I tell you,
God can raise up children to Abraham from these stones.
Even now the ax lies at the root of the trees.
Therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit
will be cut down and thrown into the fire.
I am baptizing you with water, for repentance,
but the one who is coming after me is mightier than I.
I am not worthy to carry his sandals.
He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
His winnowing fan is in his hand.
He will clear his threshing floor
and gather his wheat into his barn,
but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire."
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From: Romans 15:4-9
The Example of Christ (Continuation)
From: Matthew 3:1-12
The Preaching of John the Baptist
Sunday, December 5, 2004 Second Sunday of Advent |
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Unless you strive after virtues and practice them, you will never grow to be more than dwarfs. -- St. Theresa of Avila
Good advice for all on the forum.
Reflections for Advent and Christmas, [November 28, 2004 - January 9, 2005]
December Monthly Check-Up
MENTAL PRAYER: Challenge to the Lay Apostle Theologians Sodality Academy (St. Marys, KS; 1958) |
December 5th
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fill you with all joy and peace in believing; that you may abound in hope.
ENTRANCE ANTIPHON See Is 30:19, 30 Pópulus Sion, ecce Dóminus véniet ad salvándas gentes; et audítam fáciet Dóminus glóriam vocis suæ in lætítia cordis vestri. 19 For the people of Sion shall dwell in Jerusalem: weeping thou shalt not weep, he will surely have pity on thee: at the voice of thy cry, as soon as he shell hear, he will answer thee. 30 And the Lord shall make the glory of his voice to be heard, and shall shew the terror of his arm, in the threatening of wrath, and the dame of devouring fire: he shall crush to pieces with whirlwind, and hailstones. (NAB: People of Zion, the Lord will come to save all nations, and your hearts will exult ot hear his majestic voice.) OPENING PRAYER Father in heaven, the day draws near when the glory of yoru Son will make radiant the night of the waiting world May the lure of greed not impede us from the joy which moves the hearts of those who seek him. May the darkness not blind us to the vision of wisdom which fills the minds of those who find him. We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord. FIRST READING -- Is 11:1-10 He shall judge the poor with justice. And there shall come forth a rod out of the root of Jesse, and a flower shall rise up out of his root. And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him: the spirit of wisdom, and of understanding, the spirit of counsel, and of fortitude, the spirit of knowledge, and of godliness. And he shall be filled with the spirit of the fear of the Lord. He shall not judge according to the sight of the eyes, nor reprove according to the hearing of the ears. But he shall judge the poor with justice, and shall reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: land he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall slay the wicked. And justice shall be the girdle of his loins: and faith the girdle of his reins. The wolf shall dwell with the lamb: and the leopard shall lie down with the kid: the calf and the lion, and the sheep shall abide together, and a little child shall lead them. The calf and the bear shall feed: their young ones shall rest together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp: and the weaned child shall thrust his hand into the den of the basilisk. They shall not hurt, nor shall they kill in all my holy mountain, for the earth is filled with the knowledge of the Lord, as the covering waters of the sea. In that day the root of Jesse, who standeth for an ensign of the people, him the Gentiles shall beseech, and his sepulchre shall be glorious. RESPONSORIAL PSALM Ps 71:1-2, 7-8, 12-13, 17 Florébit in diébus eius iustítia, et abundántia pacis in ætérnum. In his days shall justice spring up, and abundance of peace, till the moon be taken sway. (NAB: Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace forever.) A psalm on Solomon. Give to the king thy judgment, O God: and to the king's son thy justice: To judge thy people with justice, and thy poor with judgment. In his days shall justice spring up, and abundance of peace, till the moon be taken sway. And he shall rule from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth. For he shall deliver the poor from the mighty: and the needy that had no helper. He shall spare the poor and needy: and he shall save the souls of the poor. Let his name be blessed for evermore: his name continueth before the sun. And in him shall all the tribes of the earth be blessed: all nations shall magnify him. SECOND READING -- Rom 15:4-9 Christ saves everyone. 1 Now we that are stronger, ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. 2 Let every one of you please his neighbour unto good, to edification. 3 For Christ did not please himself, but as it is written: The reproaches of them that reproached thee, fell upon me. For what things soever were written, were written for our learning: that through patience and the comfort of the scriptures, we might have hope. Now the God of patience and of comfort grant you to be of one mind one towards another, according to Jesus Christ: That with one mind, and with one mouth, you may glorify God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Wherefore receive one another, as Christ also hath received you unto the honour of God. For I say that Christ Jesus was minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers. But that the Gentiles are to glorify God for his mercy, as it is written: Therefore will I confess to thee, O Lord, among the Gentiles, and will sing to thy name. 10 And again he saith: Rejoice, ye Gentiles, with his people. 11 And again: Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles; and magnify him, all ye people. 12 And again Isaias saith: There shall be a root of Jesse; and he that shall rise up to rule the Gentiles, in him the Gentiles shall hope. 13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing; that you may abound in hope, and in the power of the Holy Ghost. 14 And I myself also, my brethren, am assured of you, that you also are full of love, replenished with all knowledge, so that you are able to admonish one another. _____________________________________________________ 8 "Minister of the circumcision"... That is, executed his office and ministry towards the Jews, the people of the circumcision. ALLELUIA Lk 3:4, 6 Paráte viam Dómini, rectas fácite sémitas eius; vidébit omnis caro salutáre Dei. R. Alleluia, alleluia 4 As it was written in the book of the sayings of Isaias the prophet: A voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight his paths. 5 Every valley shall be filled; and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight; and the rough ways plain; 6 And all flesh shall see the salvation of God. R. Alleluia, alleluia GOSPEL Mt 3:1-12 Repent, for the kingdom of Heaven is at hand! And in those days cometh John the Baptist preaching in the desert of Judea. And saying: Do penance: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. For this is he that was spoken of by Isaias the prophet, saying: A voice of one crying in the desert, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight his paths. And the same John had his garment of camels' hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins: and his meat was locusts and wild honey. Then went out to him Jerusalem and all Judea, and all the country about Jordan: And were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins. And seeing many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them: Ye brood of vipers, who hath shewed you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth therefore fruit worthy of penance. And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham for our father. For I tell you that God is able of these stones to raise up children to Abraham. For now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that doth not yield good fruit, shall be cut down, and cast into the fire. I indeed baptize you in the water unto penance, but he that shall come after me, is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear; he shall baptize you in the Holy Ghost and fire. Whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse his floor and gather his wheat into the barn; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire. ____________________________________________ 2 "Do penance"... Paenitentiam agite. Which word, according to the use of the scriptures and the holy fathers, does not only signify repentance and amendment of life, but also punishing past sins by fasting, and such like penitential exercises. 7 "Pharisees and Sadducees"... These were two sects among the Jews: of which the former were for the most part notorious hypocrites; the latter, a kind of freethinkers in matters of religion.
PRAYER OVER THE GIFTS Lord, we are nothing without you. As you sustain us with your mercy, receive our prayers and offerings. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Dóminus vobiscum. Et cum spiritu tuo. Sursum corda. Habémus ad Dóminum. Grátias agámus Dómino Deo nostro. Dignum et iustum est. PREFACE FOR ADVENT Father, all-powerful and ever-living God, we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks through Jesus Christ our Lord. When he humbled himself to come among us as a man, he fulfilled the plan you formed long ago and opened for us the way to salvation. Now we watch for the day, hoping that the salvation promised us will be ours when Christ our Lord will come again in his glory. And so with all the choirs of angels in heaven we proclaim your glory and joing in their unending hymn of praise. Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus Eucharistic Prayer I We come to you, Father, with praise and thanksgiving, through Jesus Christ your Son. Through Him we aks you accept and bless these gifts we offer you in sacrifice. We offer them for your holy catholic Church, watch over it, Lord, and guide it; grant it peace and unity throughout the world, We offer them for John Paul, our Pope, for N., our bishop and for all who hold and teach the catholi faith that comes to us from the apostles. Remember, Lord, your people especially those for whom we now pray Remember all of us gathered here before you. You know how firmly we believe in you and dedicate ourselves to you. We offer you this sacrifice of praise for ourselves and those who are dear to us. We pray to you, our living and true God, for our well-being and redemption. In union with the whole Church, we honor Mary, the ever-virgin mother of Jesus Christ our Lord and God. We honor Joesph, her husband, the apostles and martyrs, and all the saints. May their merits and prayers gain us your constant help and protection. Through Christ our Lord, Amen. Bless and approve our offering; make it acceptable to you, an offering in spirit and in truth, Let it become for us the body and blood of Jesus Christ, your only Son, our Lord. The day before he suffered he took bread in his sacred hands and looking up to heaven, to you, his almighty Father, he gave you thanks and praise. He broke the bread, gave it to his disciples and said: TAKE THIS, ALL OF YOU, AND EAT IT: THIS IS MY BODY WHICH WILL BE GIVEN UP FOR YOU. When supper was ended, he took the cup. Again he gave you thanks and praise, gave the cup to his disciples and said: TAKE THIS, ALL OF YOU, AND DRINK FROM IT: THIS IS THE CUP OF MY BLOOD, THE BLOOD OF THE NEW AND EVERLASTING COVENANT IT WILL BE SHED FOR YOU AND FOR ALL SO THAT SINGS MAY BE FORGIVEN. DO THIS IN MEMORY OF ME. Let us proclaim the mystery of faith: Mortem tuam annuntiámus, Dómine, et tuam resurrectiónem confitémur, donec vénias. (Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again.) Father, we celebrate the memory of Christ, you Son. We, your people and your ministers, recall his passion, his resurrection from the dead, and his ascension into glory; and from the many gifts you have given us we offer to you, God of glory and majesty, this holy and perfect sacrifice: the bread of life and the cup of eternal salvation. Look with favor on these offerings and accept them as once you accepted the gifts of your servant Abel, the sacrifice of Abraham, our father in faith, and the bread and wine offered by your priest Melchisedech. Almighty God, we pray that your angle may take this sacrifice to your altar in heavan Then, as we receive from this alter that sacred body and blood of your Son let us be filled with every grace and blessing. Through Christ, our Lord, Amen. Remember, Lord, those who have died and have gone before us, marked with the sign of faith, especially those for whom we now pray May these, and all who sleepin Christ find in your presence light, happiness and peace. For ourselves,too, we ask some share in the fellowship of your apostles and martyrs, with John the Baptist, Stephen, Matthias, Barnabas and all the saints. Though we are sinners, we trust in your mercy and love. Do not consider what we truly deserve, but grant us your forgiveness Through Christ our Lord. Through him you give us all these gifts. You fill them with life and goodness you bless them and make them holy. Through him with him in him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honor is yours almighty Father, for ever and ever. Amen LORD'S PRAYER Jesus taught us to callk God our Father and so we have the courage to say: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; they kingdom come; they will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our treaspasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into tempation, but deliver us from evil. Deliver us, Lord, from every evil and grant us peace in our day. In your mercy, keep us free from sin, and protect us from all anxiety, as we wait in joyful hope for the coming our our Savior, Jesus Christ For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours, now and forever. Dominus vobiscum. Et cum spiritu tuo.
May this mingling o fthe body and blood of our Lord, Jesus Christ being eternal life to us who receive it. This is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Happy are those who are called to his supper.
COMMUNION ANTIPHON See Bar 5:5, 4:36 Ierúsalem, surge et sta in excélso, et vide iuncunditátem quæ véniet tibi a Deo tuo. PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION Father, you give us food from heaven. By sharing in this mystery teach us to judge wisely the things of earth and to love the things of heaven. Grant this through Christ our Lord. Dóminus vobiscum. Et cum spíritu tuo. Benedícat vos omnípotens Deus, Pater, et Fílius, et Spíritus Sanctus. Amen Ite, missa est. Deo gratias. |
Mt 3:1-12 | ||
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# | Douay-Rheims | Vulgate |
1 | And in those days cometh John the Baptist preaching in the desert of Judea. | in diebus autem illis venit Iohannes Baptista praedicans in deserto Iudaeae |
2 | And saying: Do penance: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. | et dicens paenitentiam agite adpropinquavit enim regnum caelorum |
3 | For this is he that was spoken of by Isaias the prophet, saying: A voice of one crying in the desert, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight his paths. | hic est enim qui dictus est per Esaiam prophetam dicentem vox clamantis in deserto parate viam Domini rectas facite semitas eius |
4 | And the same John had his garment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins: and his meat was locusts and wild honey. | ipse autem Iohannes habebat vestimentum de pilis camelorum et zonam pelliciam circa lumbos suos esca autem eius erat lucustae et mel silvestre |
5 | Then went out to him Jerusalem and all Judea, and all the country about Jordan: | tunc exiebat ad eum Hierosolyma et omnis Iudaea et omnis regio circa Iordanen |
6 | And were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins. | et baptizabantur in Iordane ab eo confitentes peccata sua |
7 | And seeing many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them: Ye brood of vipers, who hath shewed you to flee from the wrath to come? | videns autem multos Pharisaeorum et Sadducaeorum venientes ad baptismum suum dixit eis progenies viperarum quis demonstravit vobis fugere a futura ira |
8 | Bring forth therefore fruit worthy of penance. | facite ergo fructum dignum paenitentiae |
9 | And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham for our father. For I tell you that God is able of these stones to raise up children to Abraham. | et ne velitis dicere intra vos patrem habemus Abraham dico enim vobis quoniam potest Deus de lapidibus istis suscitare filios Abrahae |
10 | For now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that doth not yield good fruit, shall be cut down, and cast into the fire. | iam enim securis ad radicem arborum posita est omnis ergo arbor quae non facit fructum bonum exciditur et in ignem mittitur |
11 | I indeed baptize you in water unto penance, but he that shall come after me, is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you in the Holy Ghost and fire. | ego quidem vos baptizo in aqua in paenitentiam qui autem post me venturus est fortior me est cuius non sum dignus calciamenta portare ipse vos baptizabit in Spiritu Sancto et igni |
12 | Whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse his floor and gather his wheat into the barn; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire. | cuius ventilabrum in manu sua et permundabit aream suam et congregabit triticum suum in horreum paleas autem conburet igni inextinguibili |
Matthew 3:1-12 A feisty old lady was part of a group touring a modern art gallery. A particularly bizarre painting caught her eye, so she asked the tour guide, "What on earth is that supposed to be?!" With utter disdain he responded haughtily, "That, my dear lady, is supposed to be a Madonna and Child." "Well, then," snapped the old lady, "Why isn't it?" + + + The right question can open doors we've never walked through before. I recall wondering in the seminary, "Is all this praying really doing any good?" It was a right question and it opened the door to a long road. There's a similar question for us as Christmas draws near: Will all this shopping, cooking, celebrating, and gathering in church really do any good for anyone besides the merchants and the Salvation Army? The truth is: For some it'll be a huge waste of time and money, but for others it will be the opening of a new door into God's big family. This season is about the big family. Jesus came as a brother to break down the walls that cut us off from our Father, from each other, and from what is best in us. He came to draw us together as we've never been together before, and to help us forge bonds that will be harder to break in the push and pull of everyday life. By His every word and deed, Jesus showed us that the circle of our love has to be big enough to make room for every single one of God's people. No one can be left outside not the poor, or the rich, or strangers, or the people who hurt us, or those who don't share our values or just aren't very interesting. Nobody can be left outside. Widening the circle and strengthening its bonds is what all our Christmas parties and gift-giving and praying are supposed to be about. On the day after Christmas, we'll each have a stack of lovely gifts and a matching stack of not-so-lovely bills: No net gain there! On the day after Christmas, too many people will experience a let-down, a vague sadness that something important that was supposed to happen didn't happen. On the day after Christmas, we won't be in that disappointed group because that very important something did happen inside us: We remembered what all the parties and gifts were about, and because of that our circle grew bigger and our bonds got stronger. Let a bigger circle and stronger bonds be your Christmas gift to the Lord and to His people. It will be the best gift you ever give yourself! |
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Peace: A Fruit of Victory |
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12/04/04 |
Christmas cards speak about it. Christmas carols sing about it. Even the angels at Bethlehem proclaimed it. Peace on earth. The lion shall lie down with the lamb (Is 11). Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever (Ps 72). |
FEAST OF THE DAY
St. Sabas was born not far from the city of Caesarea in the year 439.
Sabas' father was an officer in the military in Alexandria so his
parents were unable to continually provide for him. He was left in the
care of one of his uncles to receive his education but was harshly
treated. Another uncle heard of this and tried to help Sabas, but only
fighting between the two uncles followed. Sabas, wishing to trouble
no one, left and joined the monastery. He was well received, and the
monks helped to provide for his education. When the dispute
between his uncles was settled, Sabas was asked to return home
and claim his inheritance, but Sabas chose to stay in the monastery.
In the monastery, Sabas completely devoted himself to the practice
of virtue and worked to devote his whole life to God. At the age of 18,
after ten years in the monastery, Sabas requested permission to
make a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. His request was granted and he set
out at once. While staying with some monks along the journey,
Sabas heard of the holiness of the monastic life practiced by St.
Euthymius and his followers, and set out to join them. Sabas was not
accepted because he was considered to young for such a rigorous
lifestyle, so he was sent to another monastery to prepare himself to
enter the acetic life. Sabas labored to apply his will more completely
to the will of God, and soon he gained renown in the community for
his practice of virtue.
Sabas was finally accepted to join St. Euthymius and soon became
one of his closest companions. After the death of Euthymius, the
discipline at the monastery became relaxed and Sabas retired to the
desert as a hermit. After several years, he began to attract followers
and a monastery was founded to house them. At the age of 53,
Sabas was ordained to the priesthood so he may better attend to the
needs of the community that formed around him. During his life,
Sabas was very successful in bringing people closer to God through
the practice of the acetic life and was renowned for his own holiness.
Sabas died in 532 and is commemorated both in the East and in the
West.
Yesterday's biography of St. John of Damascus mentioned that he
spent much of his life at the monastery of St. Sabas near Jerusalem.
This monastery was dedicated to the patronage of today's saint after
his death.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
To love God is something greater than to know Him. -St. Thomas Aquinas
TODAY IN HISTORY
1492 Columbus discovers the island of Hispaniola in the Caribbean
1848 Death of Joseph Mohr, Austrian priest and author of Silent Night.
TODAY'S TIDBIT
The Advent Wreath is one of the more prominent symbols of the
Advent Season and it contains several major symbols. The wreath is
made up of evergreen to remind us of life that Jesus brings in the
dead season of winter. There are four candles in the wreath which
serve the dual purpose of showing the passing of time as the Nativity
approaches, and remind us that Jesus, who we are waiting for, is the
Light of the World. There are three violet, or purple candles, and one
rose candle, to show joyful expectation.
INTENTION FOR THE DAY
Please pray for the return of all people that have fallen away from their
faith.
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