Commentary: Quoth the Holy Redeemer bulletin:
This is the first day of the liturgical year & the start of the season of Advent.Scripture of the Week
Mass Readings—First Sunday of Advent
The Book of Isaiah, chapter sixty-three, verses sixteen(b), seventeen, & nineteen(b), & chapter sixty-four, verses two thru seven;
Psalm Eighty, verses two & three, fifteen & sixteen, & eighteen & nineteen;
The First Letter to the Corinthians, chapter one, verses three thru nine;
The Gospel according to Mark, chapter thirteen, verses thirty-three thru thirty-seven.
Commentary: Reflection by Bishop Robert Barron (Word on Fire):
Friends, today’s Gospel urges us to stay alert as we await the coming of the Lord. Advent is the season of waiting. We place ourselves in the position of those who, over the centuries, waited for the coming of the Messiah. With them, we cry out, "How long, O Lord?"Maranatha, Come Lord Jesus."
Though Jesus fulfilled the expectations of his people, nevertheless we still wait. The liturgy states it very clearly: "as we await the blessed hope and the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ." In one of the Eucharistic prayers, we find, "as we await his coming in glory…" The Creed says, "He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead." And the very last words of the New Testament are "
What do we make of all of this? Do we really think that he is going to come again and walk on the earth? We stay awake in our waiting if we pray on a regular basis; if we educate ourselves in the faith; if we participate in the sacraments, especially the Eucharist; if we perform the corporal and spiritual works of mercy; if we become people of love.
Video reflection by Father Greg Friedman, O.F.M.: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
Video reflection by Jeff Cavins: Encountering the Word.
Audio reflection by Scott Hahn, Ph.D.: Breaking the Bread.
Video reflection by Joe ("The Catholic Apologist"): New Catholic Generation.
Mass Journal: Week 49
Reflection by Matthew Kelly, founder of the Dynamic Catholic Institute:
There is genius in Catholicism. The human heart yearns for happiness, & God wants us to be happy. But we only experience this happiness, & the fulfillment that accompanies it, when we are changing, growing, becoming more like Jesus Christ & through him becoming the-best-version-of-ourselves. Catholicism is the dynamic lifestyle & learning system divinely designed to assist us in this transformation. I love the Church. To me, Catholicism is a gift that can never be fully appreciated, described, or understood. But in order to even begin to appreciate Catholicism in all its beauty we must experience it. My travels have affirmed that people love the Church. The press may attack the Church, fallen-away Catholics may ridicule it, & even practicing Catholics may criticize it, but I firmly believe these are curious expressions of love. At the very least, they are expressions of a desire for the Church to be the beacon of light it should be in the world. Sometimes love goes sour, as it has for many modern Catholics in their relationship with the Church. When love goes sour, it is usually for one of four reasons: misunderstanding, indifference, selfishness, or the pride that makes a person unwilling to apologize or forgive. Sometimes it is a combination, & usually both parties are at fault to some extent.
Otherwise, 3 December would be the festival of Saint Abbo of Auxerre, Bishop & Abbot, O.S.B. (died circa 860): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.
'Twould also be the festival of Saint Emma of Lesum (circa 975-1038; also spelt Hemma, Imma; A.K.A. of Bremen, of Stiepel): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.
Commentary: Wayback Machine. Mother of Bl. Meinwerk, bishop of Paderborn (5 June).
'Twould also be the festival of Saint Francis Xavier, Priest, S.J. (1506-1552), the "Apostle to the Far East," a charter member of the Jesuits, formally the Society of Jesus: Saint-link ūnus, Saint-link duo, & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link S.J..
'Twould also be the festival of Blessed Edward Colman, Martyr (1636-1678, oft misspelt Coleman), martyred in the reign of the king Charles II, a victim of the perjurer Titus Oates's Popish Plot hoax: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Popish Plot.
'Twould also be the festival of Blessed Johann Nepomuk von Tschiderer zu Gleifheim, Bishop (1777-1860): Blessed-link & Wikipedia-link.
Saint Quote o' the Day
From Faith Magazine:
"When you seek truth, you seek God whether you know it or not."A Humble Contribution to the New Evangelization
—St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (9 August)
The Popish Plot—Bonus Episode: "Happy New Year!"
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