December 20

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

O clavis David!

Saints: Saint Dominic of Silos (1000-1073); Blessed Scubilion (1797-1867); Saint Fachanan of Kilfenora (c. 6th century)

Readings of the Day

Rule of Saint Benedict: Ch 64 :1-6 The Election of an Abbot

Mass: Is 7:10-14; Resp Ps 24; Lk 1:26-38

He founded it upon the seas.

MARY, QUEEN OF PEACE,

SAINT JOSEPH, PILLAR OF FAMILIES,

SAINT MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL,

PRAY FOR US.

The virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall name him Emmanuel.

(Is 7:14)

Welcome to our countdown to the Nativity of the Lord when we rejoice and celebrate O Key of David and scepter of the house of Israel; who open and none can shut; who shut and none can open: come and lead us to freedom the prisoner who sits in darkness and the shadow of death.

And speaking of angels, dear Gabriel pays Mary a visit in today's Gospel. Thank you, Mary, for saying yes. 

You have heard, O Virgin, that you will conceive and bear a son; you have heard that it will not be by man but by the Holy Spirit. The angel awaits an answer; it is time for him to return to God who sent him. We too are waiting, O Lady, for your word of compassion; the sentence of condemnation weighs heavily upon us ...

Answer quickly, O Virgin. Reply in haste to the angel, or rather, through the angel to the Lord. Answer with a word, receive the Word of God. Speak your own word, conceive the divine Word. Breathe a passing word, embrace the eternal Word ...

Arise, hasten, open. Arise in faith, hasten in devotion, open in praise and thanksgiving. Behold, the handmaid of the Lord, she says, be it done to me according to your word.

(From a homily In Praise of the Virgin Mother, by Saint Bernard, abbot, in Office of Readings, December 20)

SAINT DOMINIC OF SILOS,

BLESSED SCUBILION, 

SAINT FACHANAN OF KILFENORA,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: A wonderful photo from the archives. The Lord's are the earth and its fullness.

© Gertrude Feick 2022

Friday after Epiphany

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

Saint: Saint Raymond of Penafort, Patron Saint of Canon Lawyers (c.1175-1275)

First Friday of the Month

Readings of the Day

Rule of Saint Benedict: Prologue 45-50

Mass: 1 Jn 5:5-13; Resp Ps 147; Lk 5:12-16

A light has risen in the darkness for the upright of heart.

WHOEVER POSSESSES THE SON HAS LIFE; 

WHOEVER DOES NOT POSSESS THE SON OF GOD DOES NOT HAVE LIFE.

(1 Jn 5:12)

Do you know any Canon Lawyers? If so, today is the day to send them congratulations and ask our Saint of the Day, Raymond of Penafort, to intercede for them. Come to think of it, since Raymond held degrees in both Civil and Canon law, he can intercede for all lawyers. Go Raymond go. I love the saints and as I have said, this week has been loaded with them. It is fascinating to read about the saints and all they did for the glory of God and the Church. I had to chuckle just now when reading about Saint Raymond in Butler's Lives of the Saints, January volume, pp. 51-53. It was the line, "Exhausted by his labours, Raymond returned to Barcelona" (p. 51). Dear Raymond was already exhausted, and it is no wonder, at the age of 59. Yet he lived to be between ninety and ninety-nine as estimates vary. To give you an idea of Raymond's brilliance and service, he was already teaching philosophy at the age of 20, and that was before he earned his law degrees. He joined the Order of Preachers (Dominicans), was attentive to the needs of the poor, spent long periods in solitude and study, wrote tomes, preached to the Moors and Jewish people, was elected third master general of the Order of Preachers, and encouraged a young Thomas Aquinas to write the Summa contra Gentiles. And by helping Pope Gregory IX to lay the foundations for the Code of Canon Law that lasted until the 1917 Code, the last line in the Butler's entry reads, "Raymond thereby forms the main link in canon law between the Middle Ages and modern times" (p.53). Whew! I had an Irish Dominican for a course in Canon Law and his question to us was, "what is the purpose of Canon Law?" And the answer is, "the salvation of souls." Thank you, Saint Raymond of Penafort.

We have been busy with the Prologue of the Rule of Saint Benedict this week. I have neglected to write much about it since we've been so busy with the saints. We conclude the Prologue today and there is a line for all of us on this First Friday of the Month and we have many saints to model for us. Saint Benedict writes this: "As we progress in this way of life and in faith, we shall run on the path of God's commandments, our hearts overflowing with the inexpressible delight of love (Prologue 49). 

We also, along with Pope Francis, pray for "peace and every good" for the Eastern Churches, both Catholic and Orthodox, who celebrate the Nativity of the Lord today.  

SAINT RAYMOND OF PENAFORT,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: You can see a hint of blue sky that after days of rain was a blessing. The Lord is generous, merciful and just.

© Gertrude Feick 2022

The Nativity of the Lord

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Readings of the Day
RB: Ch 67 Those Who Are Sent on a Journey

Vigil Mass: Is 62:1-5; Resp Ps 89; Acts 1:16-17, 22-25; Mt 1:1-25
Mass During the Night: Is 9:1-6; Resp Ps 96; Titus 2:11-14; Lk 2:1-14
Mass at Dawn: Is 62:11-12; Resp Ps 97; Titus 3:4-7; Lk 2:15-20
Mass During the Day: Is 52:7-10; Resp Ps 98; Heb 1:1-6; Jn 1:1-18

A child is born for us, and a son is given to us; his scepter of power rests upon his shoulder, and his name will be called Messenger of great counsel.

The Nativity of the Lord (Christmas)

Readings of the Day
RB: Ch 67 Those Who Are Sent on a Journey
Mass During the Night: Is 9:1-6, Resp Ps 96; Tt 2:11-14; Lk 2:1-14
Mass at Dawn: Is 62:11-12; Resp Ps 97; Tt 3:4-7; Lk 2:15-20
Mass During the Day: Is 52:7-10; Resp Ps 98; Heb 1:1-6; Jn 1:1-18

A holy day has dawned upon us. Come, you nations, and adore the Lord. For today a great light has come upon the earth.