Thursday of the First Week of Advent

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

Saints: Saint Charles de Foucauld (1858-1916); Blessed Clementine Anuartie (1939-1964); Saint Alexander Briant (1556-1581); Saint Ralph Sherwin (1550-1581); Saint Edmund Campion (1540-1581)

Readings of the Day

Rule of Saint Benedict: Ch 50 Brothers Working at a Distance or Traveling

Mass: Is 26:1-6; Resp Ps 118; Mt u7:21, 24-27

The gate is the Lord's. 

MARY, QUEEN OF PEACE,

OUR LADY OF VAILANKANNI,

SAINT MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL,

PRAY FOR US.

Trust in the Lord forever! For the Lord is an eternal Rock.

(Is 26:4)

Welcome to December, the month dedicated to Advent and the Coming of Christ. Marana tha! Come, Lord, Jesus. And an added bonus is that it is the First Friday of the Month, a day devoted to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Heart of Jesus, our life and resurrection, have mercy on us.

Listen to the words of Jesus and act on them. United in faith and prayer, we build our houses on the Rock, Jesus Christ. Not my will, dear Father in heaven, but Yours be done (see today's Gospel).

Keep God's word in this way. Let it enter into your very being, let it take possession of your desires and your whole way of life. Feed on goodness, and your soul will delight in its richness. Remember to eat your bread, or your heart will wither away. Fill your soul with richness and strength.

If you keep the word of God in this way, it will also keep you. The Son with the Father will come to you.

(From a sermon by Saint Bernard, abbot, in Office of Readings, First Week of Advent, Wednesday)

SAINT CHARLES DE FOUCAULD,

BLESSED CLEMENTINE ANUARITE,

SAINT ALEXANDER BRAINT,

SAINT RALPH SHERWIN,

SAINT EDMUND CAMPION,

SAINT ELIZABETH MARY HESSELBLAD

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: The gate to our grove. The just shall enter it.

© Gertrude Feick 2022