Project BLACK MAMBA: Advent

'Tis the Memorial of Saint Lucy, Virgin & Martyr (circa 283-304, A.K.A. of Syracuse), martyred in the reign of the emperor Diocletian: Martyr-link ūna, Martyr-link duae, & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Wayback Machine. Quoth the Holy Redeemer bulletin:

She is one of eight women who, along with the Blessed Virgin Mary, are commemorated by name in the Canon of the Mass. She was a young Christian woman who vowed to live her life in service to Christ. Her mother tried to arrange a marriage for her with a pagan. Lucy knew her mother could not be swayed by a young girl's vow, so she devised a plan to convince her mother that Christ was the better partner for life. Lucy used ***lacuna*** to persuade her mother to give the dowry money to the poor & allow her to commit her life to God. The rejected bridegroom was deeply angered & betrayed Lucy's faith to the governor Paschasius. The governor attempted to force her into defilement & after several attempts murdered her.

Quoth the Holy Family bulletin:

Lucy died at Syracuse more likely during the persecution of Diocletian. Tradition holds that a disappointed suitor accused Lucy of being a Christian & she was executed in Syracuse (Sicily) in the year 304. From antiquity her cult spread throughout the Church, & her name was therefore introduced into the Roman Canon (the First Eucharistic Prayer).

'Tis the feast of Blessed Antonio Grassi, Priest, C.O. (1592-1671): Blessed-link & Wikipedia-link.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings
Advent Weekday
The Book of Zephaniah, chapter three, verses one, two, & nine thru thirteen;
Psalm Thirty-four, verses two, three, six, seven, seventeen thru nineteen, & twenty-three;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter twenty-one, verses twenty-eight thru thirty-two;

or, for St. Lucy:
The Second Letter to the Corinthians, chapter ten, verse seventeen thru chapter eleven, verse two;
Psalm Thirty-one, verse six;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter twenty-five, verses one thru thirteen.

Individual Reading
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter six (verses one thru thirty-four).

Commentary: Teaching about Almsgiving (6:1-4), Teaching about Prayer (6:5-8), The Lord's Prayer (6:9-15), Teaching about Fasting (6:16-18), Treasure in Heaven (6:19-21), the Light of the Body (6:22&23), God & Money (6:24), & Dependence on God (6:25-34).