Friday of the Third Week of Advent

The Month of December Dedicated to Advent and the Coming of Christ

Saint: Blessed Mary of the Angels (1661-1717); Saint David, King and Prophet (1040 BC-940 BC); Saint Adelaide, Empress (931-999)

Readings of the Day

Rule of Saint Benedict: Ch 61:6-14 The Reception of Visiting Monks

Mass: Is 56:1-3a, 6-8; Resp Ps 67; Jn 5:33-36

The earth has yielded its fruits.

MARY, QUEEN OF PEACE,

SAINT MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL,

PRAY FOR US.

Observe what is right, do what is just; for my salvation is about to come, 

my justice about to be revealed.

(Is 56:1)

One way to observe what is right and do what is just, as the Prophet Isaiah prophesies the word of the Lord in today's first reading, is to keep the sabbath free from profanation. And one way to do that is to pray without ceasing (1 Th 5:17), as Saint Paul writes. And what might that mean? We turn to Saint Augustine.

Pray without ceasing. Are we then ceaselessly to bend our knees, to lie prostrate, or to lift up our hands? Is this what is meant in saying: Pray without ceasing? Even if we admit we pray in this fashion, I do not believe that we can do so all the same.

Yet there is another, interior kind of prayer without ceasing, namely, the desire of the heart. Whatever else you may be doing, if you but fix your desire on God's Sabbath rest, your prayer will be ceaseless. Therefore, if you wish to pray without ceasing, do not cease to desire.

The constancy of your desire will itself be the ceaseless voice of your prayer.

(From a discourse on the psalms by Saint Augustine, bishop, in Office of Readings, Third Week of Advent, Friday)

In all circumstances, give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.

(1 Th 5:18)

BLESSED MARY OF THE ANGELS,

SAINT DAVID,

SAINT ADELAIDE,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: God, our God, has blessed us.

© Gertrude Feick 2022