Project BLACK MAMBA: Advent

'Tis the feast of Saint Anastasius I, Pope (died circa 401), thirty-ninth Bishop of Rome: Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Wayback Machine.

'Tis also the feast of Blessed Urban V, Pope, O.S.B. (1310-1370), two hundredth Bishop of Rome: Blessed-link ūnus, Blessed-link duo, & Wikipedia-link.

'Tis also the feast of Blessed Kazimiera Wołowska, Prioress & Martyr (1879-1942, A.K.A. Maria Marta of Jesus, Marta Wołowska), martyred in the reign of the Führer Adolf Hitler, one of the One Hundred Eight Martyrs of World War II: Martyr-link; Martyrs-link CVIII & Wikipedia-link CVIII.

'Tis also the feast of Blessed René Dubroux, Priest & Martyr, M.E.P. (1914-1959), martyred at the hands of the Pathet Lao, one of the Martyrs of Laos: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link Laos.

Commentary: Father Dubroux & his fellow martyrs were beatified way back on 11 December 2016.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings
The Book of Judges, chapter thirteen, verses two thru seven, twenty-four, & twenty-five(a);
Psalm Seventy-one, verses three, four(a), five, six(a,b), sixteen, & seventeen;
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter one, verses five thru twenty-five.

Individual Reading
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter ten (verses one thru forty-two);
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter eleven, verse one.

Commentary: The Mission of the Twelve (10:1-4), the Commissioning of the Twelve (10:5-15), Coming Persecutions (10:16-25), Courage under Persecution (10:26-33), Jesus: A Cause of Division (10:34-36), the Conditions of Discipleship (10:37-39), & Rewards (10:40-11:1).