December 17

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

O Sapientia!

Saints: Saint Daniel, Prophet (c. 442 BC); Saint Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah (c. 442 BC); Saint Olympias, Disciple of Saint John Chrysostom (4th century); Saint John of Matha, Priest, Founder of the Trinitarians (1154-1213); Blessed Hyacinthe-Marie Cormier, Dominican (1832-1916)

Readings of the Day

Rule of Saint Benedict: Ch 62 The Priests of the Monastery

Mass: Gn 49:2, 8-10; Resp Ps 72; Mt 1:1-17

Justice shall flourish in his time.

MARY, QUEEN OF PEACE,

SAINT MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL,

PRAY FOR US.

While tribute is brought to him, and he receives the people's homage.

(Is 49:10)

Auguri! Buon compleanno, Papa Francesco! Congratulations and Happy 86th Birthday, Pope Francis! We celebrate with Pope Francis and begin our countdown to Christmas with the great "O" Antiphons used at Vespers. As we prepare in a more direct way for the Nativity of the Lord, we welcome Wisdom on December 17: O Wisdom, coming forth from the mouth of the Most High, reaching from end to end, mightily and sweetly ordering all things: come and teach us the way of prudence. And if that isn't enough, we have the magnificent Book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham (Mt 1:1) for today's Gospel. Read it prayerfully and slowly. Let the holy names roll of your tongue. What are your favorite names? May all generations seek your praise, O, Lord.

Thus the total number of generations from Abraham to David is fourteen generations; from David to the Babylonian exile, fourteen generations; from the Babylonian exile to the Christ, fourteen generations.

(Mt 1:17)

SAINT DANIEL,

SAINTS HANANIAH, MISHAEL AND AZARIAH,

SAINT OLYMPIAS,

SAINT JOHN OF MATHA,

BLESSED HYANCITHE-MARIE CORMIER,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: And fullness of peace for ever.

© Gertrude Feick 2022

Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Year of Saint Joseph

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

Readings of the Day

RB: Ch 1:1-5 The Different Kind of Monks

Mass: Micah 5:1-4a or Rm 8:28-30; Resp Ps 13; Mt 1:1-16, 18-23

With delight I rejoice in the Lord.

TODAY THE VIRGIN IS BORN, TENDED AND FORMED, AND PREPARED FOR HER ROLE AS MOTHER OF GOD, WHO IS THE UNIVERSAL KING OF THE AGES ... TODAY THIS CREATED WORLD IS RAISED TO THE DIGNITY OF A HOLY PLACE FOR HIM WHO MADE ALL THINGS. THE CREATURE IS NEWLY PREPARED TO BE A DIVINE DWELLING PLACE FOR THE CREATOR.

(From a discourse by Saint Andrew of Crete, bishop, in Office of Readings, September 8)

Today's Gospel, "The Book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham" is one of my favorite passages in the Gospels, and I am not referring to the "shorter form", rather the full deal that includes Mt 1:1-17. These important verses with the beautiful names of our ancestors. These verses are the musical prelude to "how the birth of Jesus Christ came about" (Mt 1:18). As we "celebrate with joy the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary" (Entrance Antiphon, Mass), read the text aloud and let the names roll off your tongue. It is she, Mary, who bore a Son, and Joseph named Him Jesus (Mt 1:25).

Mary 

has been exalted

above the choirs of angels.

The Mother

can contemplate

nothing above herself

but her Son alone.

The Queen

can gaze in wonder

at nothing above herself

but the King.

The Mediatrix

can venerate

nothing above herself

but the Mediator.

May she

by her prayers

represent

reconcile

and commend us

to her Only begotten Son

Jesus Christ

to whom be honor and glory

for endless ages.

(Guerric of Igny, 1050-1157, from his First Sermon for the Feast of the Assumption, in Mary Most Holy: Meditating With the Early Cistercians, pp. 369-70)

MARY, HOLY VIRGIN OF VIRGINS,

SAINT JOSEPH, CHASTE GUARDIAN OF THE VIRGIN,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: Dear readers, I have changed today's photo three times. And this scene, captured moments ago was calling me to capture it before any haze might decide to roll in. And this morning's sky came as blue, to honor the Blessed Virgin Mary. God is praised!

© Gertrude Feick 2021