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December 8, 2003Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary Psalm: Monday 52 Reading I Responsorial Psalm Reading II Gospel Reading IGn 3:9-15, 20 After the man, Adam, had eaten of the tree,the LORD God called to the man and asked him, "Where are you?"He answered, "I heard you in the garden;but I was afraid, because I was naked,so I hid myself."Then he asked, "Who told you that you were naked?You have eaten, then,from the tree of which I had forbidden you to eat!"The man replied, "The woman whom you put here with me—she gave me fruit from...

December 7, 2003Second Sunday of Advent Psalm: Sunday 52 Reading I Responsorial Psalm Reading II Gospel Reading IBar 5:1-9 Jerusalem, take off your robe of mourning and misery;put on the splendor of glory from God forever:wrapped in the cloak of justice from God,bear on your head the mitrethat displays the glory of the eternal name.For God will show all the earth your splendor:you will be named by God foreverthe peace of justice, the glory of God's worship. Up, Jerusalem! stand upon the heights;look to the east and see your childrengathered from the east and the westat the word of the...

December 6, 2003Saturday of the First Week of Advent Psalm: Saturday 51 Reading I Responsorial Psalm Gospel Reading IIs 30:19-21, 23-26 Thus says the Lord God,the Holy One of Israel:O people of Zion, who dwell in Jerusalem,no more will you weep;He will be gracious to you when you cry out,as soon as he hears he will answer you.The Lord will give you the bread you needand the water for which you thirst.No longer will your Teacher hide himself,but with your own eyes you shall see your Teacher,While from behind, a voice shall sound in your ears:"This is the way; walk...

December 5, 2003Friday of the First Week of Advent Psalm: Friday 51 Reading I Responsorial Psalm Gospel Reading IIs 29:17-24 Thus says the Lord God:But a very little while,and Lebanon shall be changed into an orchard,and the orchard be regarded as a forest!On that day the deaf shall hearthe words of a book;And out of gloom and darkness,the eyes of the blind shall see.The lowly will ever find joy in the LORD,and the poor rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.For the tyrant will be no moreand the arrogant will have gone;All who are alert to do evil will be...

December 4, 2003Thursday of the First Week of Advent Psalm: Thursday 51 Reading I Responsorial Psalm Gospel Reading IIs 26:1-6 On that day they will sing this song in the land of Judah: "A strong city have we;he sets up walls and ramparts to protect us.Open up the gatesto let in a nation that is just,one that keeps faith.A nation of firm purpose you keep in peace;in peace, for its trust in you." Trust in the LORD forever!For the LORD is an eternal Rock.He humbles those in high places,and the lofty city he brings down;He tumbles it to the ground,levels...

December 3, 2003Memorial of Saint Francis Xavier, priest Psalm: Wednesday 51 Reading I Responsorial Psalm Gospel Reading IIs 25:6-10a On this mountain the LORD of hostswill provide for all peoplesA feast of rich food and choice wines,juicy, rich food and pure, choice wines.On this mountain he will destroythe veil that veils all peoples,The web that is woven over all nations;he will destroy death forever.The Lord God will wipe awaythe tears from all faces;The reproach of his people he will removefrom the whole earth; for the LORD has spoken. On that day it will be said:"Behold our God, to whom we...

December 2, 2003Tuesday of the First Week of Advent Psalm: Tuesday 51 Reading I Responsorial Psalm Gospel Reading IIs 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...

December 1, 2003Monday of the First Week of Advent Psalm: Monday 51 Reading I Responsorial Psalm Gospel Reading IIs 2:1-5 This is what Isaiah, son of Amoz,saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. In days to come,The mountain of the LORD's houseshall be established as the highest mountainand raised above the hills.All nations shall stream toward it;many peoples shall come and say:"Come, let us climb the LORD's mountain,to the house of the God of Jacob,That he may instruct us in his ways,and we may walk in his paths."For from Zion shall go forth instruction,and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.He shall...

The Vatican website has a list of Advent music which you can hear at the following link. Musica per l'Avvento

November 30, 2003First Sunday of Advent Psalm: Sunday 51 Reading I Responsorial Psalm Reading II Gospel Reading IJer 33:14-16 The days are coming, says the LORD, when I will fulfill the promiseI made to the house of Israel and Judah.In those days, in that time, I will raise up for David a just shoot;he shall do what is right and just in the land.In those days Judah shall be safe and Jerusalem shall dwell secure;this is what they shall call her:"The LORD our justice." Responsorial PsalmPs 25:4-5, 8-9, 10, 14 R. (1b) To you, O Lord, I lift my soul.Your...

ADVENT WREATH "Customarily the Advent Wreath is constructed of a circle of evergreen branches into which are inserted four candles. According to tradition, three of the candles are violet and the fourth is rose. However, four violet or white candles may also be used” (Book of Blessings 1510).The rose candle is lit the third Sunday of Advent, for this color anticipates and symbolizes the Christmas joy announced in the first word of the Entrance Antiphon: "Rejoice" (Latin, Gaudete). For this reason the Third Sunday is also called Gaudete Sunday, and rose color vestments are permitted.The Advent Wreath represents the...

ADVENTThe word Advent is from the Latin adventus for "coming" and is associated with the four weeks of preparation for Christmas. Advent always contains four Sundays, beginning on the Sunday nearest the feast of St. Andrew the Apostle, (November 30) and continuing until December 24. It blends together a penitential spirit, very similar to Lent, a liturgical theme of preparation for the Second and Final Coming of the Lord, called the Parousia, and a joyful theme of getting ready for the Bethlehem event.Since the 900s Advent has been considered the beginning of the Church year. This does not mean...

Reports on radio stations,in newspapers and on television flooded across the land in the middle of the week 12 days before Christmas Eve. Is an Oregon political savoir about to be born? Let us tally the signs and portents. He resides in the holy city of Salem, namesake descendant of the equally holy (and even more political) city of Jeru-Salem...(snip) For Complete Article, Click Here.

December 1, 2002First Sunday of Advent Psalm: Sunday Week 51 Reading I Responsorial Psalm Reading II Gospel Families Adults Reading IIs 63:16b-17, 19b; 64:2-7 You, LORD, are our father,our redeemer you are named forever.Why do you let us wander, O LORD, from your ways,and harden our hearts so that we fear you not?Return for the sake of your servants,the tribes of your heritage.Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down,with the mountains quaking before you,while you wrought awesome deeds we could not hope for,such as they had not heard of from of old.No ear has ever heard, no...

Advent Calendar for Families December 1Make and bless the family Advent wreath. December 2In this Year of the Rosary, start a Family Rosary Night. Pray at least one decade of the rosary before dinner or before bedtime December 3Memorial of Saint Francis Xavier, priest. Pray for missionaries and all who work to spread the Gospel. December 4Make plans to receive the Sacrament of Penance prior to Christmas. December 5Kids make dinner night! Older children do the cooking; younger children set the table. December 6Saint Nicholas Day. (Saint Nicholas was a fourth century bishop in Asia Minor.) Leave small treats...

Advent Calendar for Adults December 1Make or buy a clay pot. Put it at the center of your prayer space or near your Bible. On small slips of paper, write down the ways in which you see or watch for the presence of God in your life during this Advent. Fold the slips of paper and place them in the clay pot. December 2Adopt a form of grace before breakfast, lunch, or dinner to use throughout the Advent and Christmas season. Suggestions can be found in Catholic Household Blessings and Prayers. December 3Today is the feast of St. Francis...

advent season originationQuestion from cgilbert on 11-20-2002: Where, when, and how did the advent season originate? Answer by Matthew Bunson on 11-23-2002: The name Advent is derived from the Latin word adventus (arrival or coming). In its original Roman sense, it was used by pagans to describe an honorific visit by a person of great importance, especially an emperor, to a village or city. For the Church, the Advent Season inaugurates the liturgical year. According to The General Norms for the Liturgical Year and Calendar, issued in 1969, “Advent has a twofold character: as a season to prepare us...

For serious Christians around the world, the New Year will not begin Jan. 1 but precisely one month earlier -- on the first Sunday of Advent. Like the secular year it will be fraught with dangers and challenges -- albeit different ones. It is of course not fashionable to ponder impending gloom at Yuletide; this pagan name for Christmas is being used here quite deliberately because the rise of neo-paganism is precisely one of the present challenges. Mixed in a syncretistic manner with saccharine remnants of Christianity it seemingly imperils the Body of Christ just as much as Gnosticism did...