December 19

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

O Radix Iesse!

Saints: Pope Saint Urban V (1310-1370); Pope Saint Anastasius (d. 401)

Readings of the Day

Rule of Saint Benedict: Ch 63:10-19 Community Rank

Mass: Judges 13:2-7, 24-25a; Resp Ps 71; Lk 1:5-25

For you are my hope, O Lord.

MARY, QUEEN OF PEACE,

SAINT MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL,

PRAY FOR US.

The Dawn from on high will visit us, guiding our feet in the way of peace.

(Communion Antiphon, Mass)

Welcome to Monday in this Fourth Week of Advent. We continue our countdown to the Nativity of the Lord and celebrate O Root of Jesse, who stand as a sign among the people, before whom kings shall shut their mouths, to whom the nations shall make supplication; come to deliver us, and tarry not.

What with yesterday's Gospel and today's readings for Mass, it seems a good idea to listen to an angel of the Lord if one happens to visit you, whether you are sleeping or awake. The angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and Joseph did as commanded him; Joseph took his wife into his home (Mt 1:20, 24). An angel of the Lord appeared to the barren wife of Manoah and the woman bore a son and named him Samson. The boy grew up and the Lord blessed him; the Spirit of the Lord stirred him (Judges 13:3, 24). The angel of the Lord Gabriel appeared to Zechariah and the poor man did not believe Gabriel. God prevailed in any case, left Zechariah speechless, and blessed Zechariah's wife Elizabeth with a son to be named John. And John's mission was not a small one, as Gabriel said: He will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother's womb and he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. He will go before him in spirit and power of Elijah to turn the hearts of fathers toward children and the disobedient to the understanding of the righteous, to prepare a people fit for the Lord (Lk 1:11, 13-17). Even though it is a bit premature to sing this; it comes to mind anyway: Angels we have heard on high! United in faith and prayer, keep going faithful readers. Thank you for being there.

In the presence of the angels I will sing to you.

(Ps 138:1/RB 19:5)

O dear Saint Joseph, I place myself, then, with full confidence under your protection. Teach me to live as you did, in faith and abandonment to God; teach me to live solely for Him, by consecrating myself entirely to His service.

(Father Gabriel of Saint Mary Magdalene, O.C.D., d. 1952)

POPE SAINT URBAN V,

POPE SAINT ANASTASIUS,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: I always love this one. My trust, O God, from my youth.

© Gertrude Feick 2022

Fourth Sunday of Advent

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

O Adonai!

In other years: Saint Flannan, Bishop (7th century)

Readings of the Day

Rule of Saint Benedict: Ch 63:1-9 Community Rank

Mass: Is 7:10-14; Resp Ps 24; Rm 1:1-7; Mt 1:18-24

Let the Lord enter; He is the king of glory.

MARY, QUEEN OF PEACE,

SAINT JOSEPH, CHASTE GUARDIAN OF THE VIRGIN,

SAINT MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL,

PRAY FOR US.

To all the beloved ... called to be holy.

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

(Rm 1:7)

Welcome to December 18 and the Fourth Sunday of Advent. We continue our countdown to the Nativity of the Lord and celebrate O Adonai and Leader of the house of Israel, who appeared to Moses in the flames of the burning bush and gave him the law on Sinai; come and redeem us with outstretched arm. We turn to Saint Joseph who did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his wife into his home (Mt 1:24). Saint Joseph, most strong; Saint Joseph, most obedient; Saint Joseph, support in difficulties; Saint Joseph, protector of the holy Church, pray for us.

Glorious Patriarch Saint Joseph, whose power makes the impossible possible, come to my aid in these times of anguish and difficulty. Take under your protection the serious and troubling situations that I commend to you, that they may have a happy outcome. My beloved father, all my trust is in you. Let it not be said that I invoked you in vain, and since you can do everything with Jesus and Mary, show me that your goodness is as great as your power.

(From a 19th century French prayer book of the Congregation of the Sisters of Jesus and Mary. Every day, for over 40 years, Pope Francis has recited this prayer after Lauds)

In this last week of preparation for the celebration of Christmas things may get hectic. United in faith and prayer, we turn to the Gospel of Saint Matthew and remember God is with us (Mt 1:23). And Meister Eckhart (1260-1328) has something to say about that. 

When the human spirit is ready, God enters without hesitating or waiting. You need not look either here or there. God is no farther away than the door of your heart.

(Meister Eckhart)

SAINT FLANNAN,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: Decked out and set for the Fourth Week. Marana tha! Come, Lord Jesus!

© Gertrude Feick 2022