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6 December 2023 Wednesday of the 1st week of Advent Chancel and altar of Basilica of St. Nicholas (Nicolaaskerk) in Amsterdam Readings at MassLiturgical Colour: Violet. Year: B(II).First readingIsaiah 25:6-10 ©The Lord will prepare a banquet for every nationOn this mountain,the Lord of hosts will prepare for all peoplesa banquet of rich food, a banquet of fine wines,of food rich and juicy, of fine strained wines.On this mountain he will removethe mourning veil covering all peoples,and the shroud enwrapping all nations,he will destroy Death for ever.The Lord will wipe awaythe tears from every cheek;he will take away his people’s shameeverywhere...

5 December 2023 Tuesday of the 1st week of Advent Saint Sabbas Lavra, Kidron Valley, the Holy Land Readings at MassLiturgical Colour: Violet. Year: B(II).First readingIsaiah 11:1-10 ©A shoot springs from the stock of JesseA shoot springs from the stock of Jesse,a scion thrusts from his roots:on him the spirit of the Lord rests,a spirit of wisdom and insight,a spirit of counsel and power,a spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord.(The fear of the Lord is his breath.)He does not judge by appearances,he gives no verdict on hearsay,but judges the wretched with integrity,and with equity gives...

4 December 2023 Monday of the 1st week of Advent Tomb of St. John the Baptist, Umayyad Grand Mosque, Damascus Readings at MassLiturgical Colour: Violet. Year: B(II).First readingIsaiah 2:1-5 ©The Lord gathers all nations together into the eternal peace of God's kingdomThe vision of Isaiah son of Amoz, concerning Judah and Jerusalem.In the days to comethe mountain of the Temple of the Lordshall tower above the mountainsand be lifted higher than the hills.All the nations will stream to it,peoples without number will come to it; and they will say: ‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the...

Daily readings from the USCCB“Jesus said to his disciples: “Be watchful! Be alert! You do not know when the time will come.” Mark 13:33To which time is our Lord referring? He is referring to the time of His coming. But it must be understood that even though He came to us once in the flesh long ago, and though He will return again in the flesh to judge the living and the dead at the end of time, He never ceases to come to us day and night by the transforming gift of grace. Are you attentive to this coming?...

3 December 2023 1st Sunday of Advent St Francis Xavier Church, Acushnet, MAReadings at MassLiturgical Colour: Violet. Year: B(II).First readingIsaiah 63:16-17,64:1,3-8 ©O that you would tear the heavens open and come downYou, Lord, yourself are our Father,‘Our Redeemer’ is your ancient name.Why, Lord, leave us to stray from your waysand harden our hearts against fearing you?Return, for the sake of your servants,the tribes of your inheritance.Oh, that you would tear the heavens open and come down!– at your Presence the mountains would melt.No ear has heard,no eye has seenany god but you act like thisfor those who trust him.You guide...

Saturday 24 December 202224 December Cologne Cathedral. The St Sylvester and St Gregory of Spoleto window Readings at MassLiturgical Colour: Violet. Year: A(I).First reading2 Samuel 7:1-5,8-12,14,16 ©Your House and your sovereignty will always stand secure before meOnce David had settled into his house and the Lord had given him rest from all the enemies surrounding him, the king said to the prophet Nathan, ‘Look, I am living in a house of cedar while the ark of God dwells in a tent.’ Nathan said to the king, ‘Go and do all that is in your mind, for the Lord is with...

Friday 23 December 2022 23 December (optional commemoration of Saint John of Kęty, Priest) John Cantius (Kęty), Chicago Readings at MassLiturgical Colour: Violet. Year: A(I).First readingMalachi 3:1-4,23-24 ©Before my day comes, I will send you Elijah my prophetThe Lord God says this: Look, I am going to send my messenger to prepare a way before me. And the Lord you are seeking will suddenly enter his Temple; and the angel of the covenant whom you are longing for, yes, he is coming, says the Lord of Hosts. Who will be able to resist the day of his coming? Who will...

Thursday 22 December 202222 December 2022 The National Shrine of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, Chicago Readings at MassLiturgical Colour: Violet. Year: A(I).First reading1 Samuel 1:24-28 ©This is the child I prayed for: he is made over to the Lord.When Hannah had weaned the infant Samuel, she took him up with her together with a three-year-old bull, an ephah of flour and a skin of wine, and she brought him to the temple of the Lord at Shiloh; and the child was with them. They slaughtered the bull and the child’s mother came to Eli. She said, ‘If you please, my...

Wednesday 21 December 202221 December (optional commemoration of Saint Peter Canisius, Priest, Doctor) St. Peter Canisius International Catholic Parish, Jakarta Readings at MassLiturgical Colour: Violet. Year: A(I).First readingSong of Songs 2:8-14 ©See how my Beloved comes, leaping on the mountainsI hear my Beloved.See how he comesleaping on the mountains,bounding over the hills.My Beloved is like a gazelle,like a young stag.See where he standsbehind our wall.He looks in at the window,he peers through the lattice.My Beloved lifts up his voice,he says to me,‘Come then, my love,my lovely one, come.For see, winter is past,the rains are over and gone.The flowers appear...

Tuesday 20 December 202220 December Santi Vincenzo e Anastasio Church, Rome Readings at MassLiturgical Colour: Violet. Year: A(I).First readingIsaiah 7:10-14 ©The maiden is with childThe Lord spoke to Ahaz and said, ‘Ask the Lord your God for a sign for yourself coming either from the depths of Sheol or from the heights above.’ ‘No,’ Ahaz answered ‘I will not put the Lord to the test.’ Then Isaiah said:‘Listen now, House of David:are you not satisfied with trying the patience of menwithout trying the patience of my God, too?The Lord himself, therefore,will give you a sign.It is this: the maiden is...

Monday 19 December 202219 December St. Anthony Church, Korets, Ukraine Readings at MassLiturgical Colour: Violet. Year: A(I).First readingJudges 13:2-7,24-25 ©'You will conceive and bear a son'There was a man of Zorah of the tribe of Dan, called Manoah. His wife was barren, she had borne no children. The angel of the Lord appeared to this woman and said to her, ‘You are barren and have had no child. But from now on take great care. Take no wine or strong drink, and eat nothing unclean. For you will conceive and bear a son. No razor is to touch his...

18 December 20224th Sunday of Advent Cathedral Saint Gatianus of Tours Readings at MassLiturgical Colour: Violet. Year: A(I).First readingIsaiah 7:10-14 ©The maiden is with childThe Lord spoke to Ahaz and said, ‘Ask the Lord your God for a sign for yourself coming either from the depths of Sheol or from the heights above.’ ‘No,’ Ahaz answered ‘I will not put the Lord to the test.’ Then Isaiah said:‘Listen now, House of David:are you not satisfied with trying the patience of menwithout trying the patience of my God, too?The Lord himself, therefore,will give you a sign.It is this: the maiden is...

“Joseph, Did You Know?” (Matthew 1:18-25) If you’ve listened to one of those radio stations that play Christmas songs for about two months before Christmas, then you’ve probably heard a song called “Mary, Did You Know?” You’ve heard that song, right? The lyrics involve asking Mary a series of rhetorical questions about whether she knew what her son would grow up to do: “Mary, did you know that your baby boy would one day walk on water?” “Mary, did you know that your baby boy will give sight to a blind man?” That sort of thing. Well, today I’m wondering...

Saturday 17 December 202217 December St. Lazarus Roman Catholic Church in Bethany Readings at MassLiturgical Colour: Violet. Year: A(I).First readingGenesis 49:2,8-10 ©Until he comes, the sceptre will not pass from JudahJacob called his sons and said:‘Gather round, sons of Jacob, and listen;listen to Israel your father.Judah, your brothers shall praise you:you grip your enemies by the neck,your father’s sons shall do you homage,Judah is a lion cub,you climb back, my son, from your kill;like a lion he crouches and lies down,or a lioness: who dare rouse him?The sceptre shall not pass from Judah,nor the mace from between his feet,until he...

16 December 2022 Friday of the 3rd week of Advent St. Adelaide Parish, Peabody, MA Readings at MassLiturgical Colour: Violet. Year: A(I).First readingIsaiah 56:1-3,6-8 ©My house will be called a house of prayer for all the peoplesThus says the Lord: Have a care for justice, act with integrity, for soon my salvation will come and my integrity be manifest. Blessed is the man who does this and the son of man who clings to it: observing the sabbath, not profaning it, and keeping his hand from every evil deed. Let no foreigner who has attached himself to the Lord say,...

15 December 2022Thursday of the 3rd week of Advent Saint Nino and Nino Cross, Jvari Monastery, Mtskheta, Georgia According to traditional accounts, on this location in the early 4th century Saint Nino credited with converting King Mirian III of Iberia Kingdom to Christianity, erected a large wooden cross on the site of a pagan temple.weepingredorger.wordpress.comReadings at MassLiturgical Colour: Violet. Year: A(I).First readingIsaiah 54:1-10 ©With great love I will take you backShout for joy, you barren women who bore no children!Break into cries of joy and gladness, you who were never in labour!For the sons of the forsaken one are more...

“St. John the Baptist, the Voice of One Crying in the Wilderness” (Matthew 3:1-12) Today’s midweek service is the last in our series called, “Three Saints of Advent.” We began on November 30 with St. Andrew, Apostle, since his festival falls on that date. Last week, on December 7, we remembered St. Ambrose, Bishop of Milan, since his commemoration falls on that date. Now today, December 14, is nobody’s festival or commemoration, but since the last two Sundays the Gospel readings have featured John the Baptist, that’s the saint we’ll go with today. Now there’s quite a lot in the...

14 December 2022 Saint John of the Cross, Priest, Doctor on Wednesday of the 3rd week of Advent St John Of The Cross Parish, Western Springs IL Readings at MassLiturgical Colour: White. Year: A(I).Readings for the feriaReadings for the memorialThese are the readings for the feriaFirst readingIsaiah 45:6-8,18,21-25 ©I, the Lord, shall create deliveranceApart from me, all is nothing.I am the Lord, unrivalled,I form the light and create the dark.I make good fortune and create calamity,it is I, the Lord, who do all this.Send victory like a dew, you heavens,and let the clouds rain it down.Let the earth openfor salvation...

13 December 2022Saint Lucy, Virgin, Martyr on Tuesday of the 3rd week of Advent Saint Lucy, Valletta, Malta Readings at MassLiturgical Colour: Red. Year: A(I).Readings for the feriaReadings for the memorialThese are the readings for the feriaFirst readingZephaniah 3:1-2,9-13 ©All peoples shall invoke the Lord's name and serve himTrouble is coming to the rebellious, the defiled,the tyrannical city!She would never listen to the call,would never learn the lesson;she has never trusted in the Lord,never drawn near to her God.Yes, I will then give the peoples lips that are clean,so that all may invoke the name of the Lordand serve him...

Monday 12 December 2022Our Lady of Guadalupe Feast National Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Makati, Philippines Readings at MassLiturgical Colour: White. Year: A(I).First readingZechariah 2:14-17 ©'I am coming', says the LordSing, rejoice,daughter of Zion;for I am comingto dwell in the middle of you– it is the Lord who speaks.Many nations will join the Lord,on that day;they will become his people.But he will remain among you,and you will know that the Lord of Hosts has sent me to you.But the Lord will hold Judahas his portion in the Holy Land,and again make Jerusalem his very own.Let all mankind be silent...