Free Republic

Wednesday 24 December 2025 24 December San Gregorio Maggiore, Spoleto, Italy Readings at MassLiturgical Colour: Violet. Year: A(II).First reading2 Samuel 7:1-5,8-12,14,16Your 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 you.’ But that very night...

Tuesday 23 December 2025 23 December (optional commemoration of Saint John of Kęty, Priest) Chicago, ILReadings at MassLiturgical Colour: Violet. Year: A(II).First readingMalachi 3:1-4,23-24Before 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 remain standing when he...

Monday 22 December 202522 December Mother Cabrini Church, Manhattan Readings at MassLiturgical Colour: Violet. Year: A(II).First reading1 Samuel 1:24-28This 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 lord. As you live, my lord, I...

21 December 2025 4th Sunday of Advent St. Petrus Canisius, Friedrichshafen. GermanyReadings at MassLiturgical Colour: Violet. Year: A(II).First readingIsaiah 7:10-14The 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...

Saturday 20 December 2025 20 December Church of Santi Vincenzo e Anastasio a Fontana di Trevi in Rome Readings at MassLiturgical Colour: Violet. Year: A(II).First readingIsaiah 7:10-14The 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...

Friday 19 December 2025 19 December depiction of Pope Urban V in an unidentified catacomb churchReadings at MassLiturgical Colour: Violet. Year: A(II).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...

Thursday 18 December 2025 18 December St Gatien Cathedral, Tours, Indre-et-Loire, FranceReadings at MassLiturgical Colour: Violet. Year: A(II).First readingJeremiah 23:5-8I will raise a virtuous Branch for DavidSee, the days are coming – it is the Lord who speaks –when I will raise a virtuous Branch for David,who will reign as true king and be wise,practising honesty and integrity in the land.In his days Judah will be savedand Israel dwell in confidence.And this is the name he will be called:The-Lord-our-integrity.So, then, the days are coming – it is the Lord who speaks – when people will no longer say, “As the...

Wednesday 17 December 2025 The Relics of St. Lazarus of Bethany, Larnaca, CyprusReadings at MassLiturgical Colour: Violet. Year: A(II).First readingGenesis 49:2,8-10Until 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 2025 Tuesday of the 3rd week of Advent St Adelaide Church, Peabody, MAReadings at MassLiturgical Colour: Violet. Year: A(II).First readingZephaniah 3:1-2,9-13All 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 under the same yoke.From beyond the banks of the rivers of Ethiopia my suppliantswill bring me...

15 December 2025 Monday of the 3rd week of Advent Santo Niño Basilica, Cebu City, the PhilippinesReadings at MassLiturgical Colour: Violet. Year: A(II).First readingNumbers 24:2-7,15-17The oracles of BalaamRaising his eyes Balaam saw Israel, encamped by tribes; the spirit of God came on him and he declaimed his poem. He said:‘The oracle of Balaam son of Beor,the oracle of the man with far-seeing eyes,the oracle of one who hears the word of God.He sees what Shaddai makes him see,receives the divine answer, and his eyes are opened.How fair are your tents, O Jacob!How fair your dwellings, Israel!Like valleys that stretch...

14 December 20253rd Sunday of Advent Saint John-of-the-Cross Vero Beach, FloridaReadings at MassLiturgical Colour: Rose or Violet. Year: A(II).First readingIsaiah 35:1-6,10God himself is coming to save youLet the wilderness and the dry-lands exult,let the wasteland rejoice and bloom,let it bring forth flowers like the jonquil,let it rejoice and sing for joy.The glory of Lebanon is bestowed on it,the splendour of Carmel and Sharon;they shall see the glory of the Lord,the splendour of our God.Strengthen all weary hands,steady all trembling kneesand say to all faint hearts,‘Courage! Do not be afraid.‘Look, your God is coming,vengeance is coming,the retribution of God;he is coming...

13 December 2025 Saint Lucy, Virgin, Martyr on Saturday of the 2nd week of AdventSt. Lucy’s Roman Catholic Church Syracuse, NYReadings at MassLiturgical Colour: Red. Year: A(II).Readings for the feriaReadings for the memorialThese are the readings for the feriaFirst readingEcclesiasticus 48:1-4,9-12The prophet Elijah will come againThe prophet Elijah arose like a fire, his word flaring like a torch.It was he who brought famine on the people, and who decimated them in his zeal.By the word of the Lord, he shut up the heavens, he also, three times, brought down fire.How glorious you were in your miracles, Elijah! Has anyone reason...

Friday 12 December 2025 Our Lady of Guadalupe Feast 19th-century church of the Church of Ireland at the ancient monastic site of St. Finian, Clonard, County Meath, Ireland Readings at MassLiturgical Colour: White. Year: A(II).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...

11 December 2025 Thursday of the 2nd week of Advent Basilica di San Lorenzo Fuori le Mura, rebuilt by Pope Damasus IReadings at MassLiturgical Colour: Violet. Year: A(II).First readingIsaiah 41:13-20I, the Holy One of Israel, am your redeemerI, the Lord, your God,I am holding you by the right hand;I tell you, ‘Do not be afraid,I will help you.’Do not be afraid, Jacob, poor worm,Israel, puny mite.I will help you – it is the Lord who speaks –the Holy One of Israel is your redeemer.See, I turn you into a threshing-sled,new, with doubled teeth;you shall thresh and crush the mountains,and...

10 December 2025Wednesday of the 2nd week of Advent High altar of the martyrdom basilica of Santa Eulalia in Mérida (Badajoz, Spain)Readings at MassLiturgical Colour: Violet. Year: A(II).First readingIsaiah 40:25-31The Lord strengthens the powerless‘To whom could you liken meand who could be my equal?’ says the Holy One.Lift your eyes and look.Who made these starsif not he who drills them like an army,calling each one by name?So mighty is his power, so great his strength,that not one fails to answer.How can you say, Jacob,how can you insist, Israel,‘My destiny is hidden from the Lord,my rights are ignored by my...

9 December 2025 Tuesday of the 2nd week of Advent St. Juan Diego Catholic Church - Portland, Oregon Readings at MassLiturgical Colour: Violet. Year: A(II).First readingIsaiah 40:1-11Consolations from the heart of Jerusalem‘Console my people, console them’says your God.‘Speak to the heart of Jerusalemand call to herthat her time of service is ended,that her sin is atoned for,that she has received from the hand of the Lorddouble punishment for all her crimes.’A voice cries, ‘Prepare in the wildernessa way for the Lord.Make a straight highway for our Godacross the desert.Let every valley be filled in,every mountain and hill be laid...

Monday 8 December 2025 The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary Solemnity St. Eucharius in Baden-Baden-BalgReadings at MassLiturgical Colour: White. Year: A(II).First readingGenesis 3:9-15,20The mother of all those who liveAfter Adam had eaten of the tree the Lord God called to him. ‘Where are you?’ he asked. ‘I heard the sound of you in the garden;’ he replied ‘I was afraid because I was naked, so I hid.’ ‘Who told you that you were naked?’ he asked ‘Have you been eating of the tree I forbade you to eat?’ The man replied, ‘It was the woman you put with...

7 December 2025 2nd Sunday of AdventSt. Ambrose Catholic Church, Elkton, FLReadings at MassLiturgical Colour: Violet. Year: A(II).First readingIsaiah 11:1-10A 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 a verdict for the poor of the land.His...

6 December 2025 Saturday of the 1st week of AdventSt. Nicholas Catholic Church St, Elko New MarketReadings at MassLiturgical Colour: Violet. Year: A(II).First readingIsaiah 30:19-21,23-26The Lord God will be gracious to you and hear your cryThus says the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel: People of Zion, you will live in Jerusalem and weep no more. He will be gracious to you when he hears your cry; when he hears he will answer. When the Lord has given you the bread of suffering and the water of distress, he who is your teacher will hide no longer, and...

5 December 2025 Friday of the 1st week of AdventTomb of Saint Sabbas, Mar Saba, the West BankReadings at MassLiturgical Colour: Violet. Year: A(II).First readingIsaiah 29:17-24In a very short time, the deaf will hear and the eyes of the blind will seeThe Lord says this:In a short time, a very short time,shall not Lebanon become fertile landand fertile land turn into forest?The deaf, that day,will hear the words of a bookand, after shadow and darkness,the eyes of the blind will see.But the lowly will rejoice in the Lord even moreand the poorest exult in the Holy One of Israel;for tyrants...