Monday of the First Week of Advent

Year of Saint Joseph

Year of the Family "Amoris Laetitia The Joy of Love"

Saints: Blessed Bernard Francis de Hoya (1711-1735); Blesseds Denis and Redemptus, Martyrs (d. 1638)

Readings of the Day

RB: Ch Ch 48:22-25 The Daily Manual Labor

Mass: Is 2:1-5; Resp Ps 122; Mt 8:5-11

Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.

HEART OF JESUS, OF INFINITE MAJESTY,

HAVE MERCY ON US.

"Beloved, now is the acceptable time spoken of by the Spirit, the day of salvation, peace and reconciliation: the great season of Advent", begins Saint Charles Borromeo in one of his pastoral letters, included as today's patristic reading in the Office of Readings. The great saint continues, "This is the season that the Church has always celebrated with special solemnity. We too should observe it with faith and love, offering praise and thanksgiving to the Father for the mercy and love he has shown us in this mystery." May Jesus find us with a deeper faith and more openness to receive his mercy and love. To be more in a space of receptivity, we can listen again to Saint Charles Borromeo: "The Church asks us to understand that Christ, who came once in the flesh, is prepared to come again. When we remove all obstacles to his presence he will come, at any hour and moment, to dwell spiritually in our hearts, bringing with him the riches of his grace." As we continue this First Week of Advent, let us give thanks to God and praise his name for his marvelous deeds. At the same time, let us remove those obstacles that hinder the presence of Jesus in our lives. Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed. 

Since the first coming brought grace and the last will bring glory, this one indeed partakes both of grace and of glory; for in it, through the consolation of grace, we are given a foretaste of future glory.

(Guerric of Igny)

BLESSED FRANCIS DE HOYA,

BLESSEDS DENIS AND REDEMPTUS,

SAINT JOSEPH,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: Another look at our Advent wreath.

© Gertrude Feick 2021