'Tis also the festival of Saint Anastasius I, Pope (died circa 401), thirty-ninth (XXXIX) Bishop of Rome: Saint-link ūnus, Saint-link duo, & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Pontiff.
Commentary: Wayback Machine.
'Tis also the festival of Blessed Konrad of Lichtenau, Priest & Abbot, O. Praem. (died 1240), abbot of the Abbey of Ursberg: Blessed-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Abbey.
'Tis also the festival of Blessed Urban V, Pope, O.S.B. (1310-1370, A.K.A. Guillaume de Grimoard), two hundredth Bishop of Rome & sixth (VI) Avignon Pope, abbot of the Abbey of Saint Victor: Blesed-link ūnus, Blessed-link duo, Blessed-link trēs, & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Pontiff, Wikipedia-link Avignon, & Wikipedia-link Abbey.
'Tis also the festival of Blessed Maria Marta of Jesus, Prioress & Martyr (1879-1942; A.K.A. Kazimiera Wołowska, Marta Wołowska), martyred in the reign of the Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler, one of the One Hundred Eight Blessed Polish Martyrs: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link (List, № 7); Martyrs-link LXXXV & Wikipedia-link LXXXV.
'Tis also the festival of Blessed René Dubroux, Priest & Martyr, M.E.P. (1914-1959), martyred by the Panthet Lao Communists, one of the seventeen Martyrs of Laos: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link (List); Wikipedia-link Laos.
Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Wednesday of the Third Week Advent
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.
Commentary: Reflection by Bishop Robert Barron (Word on Fire):
Friends, in today’s Gospel, Luke tells us about John the Baptist’s parents. We see with utter clarity that John is a priestly figure. Zechariah, his father, is a Temple priest, and Elizabeth, his mother, is a descendant of Aaron, the very first priest.
Now flash forward thirty years and see John emerging in the desert. The first question is, "Why is this son of a priest not working in the Temple?" And the second is, "Why are the people going out from Jerusalem to commune with him?" The answer to the first is that he is engaging in a prophetic critique of a Temple that has gone bad. And the answer to the second is that he is performing the acts of a purified Temple priest out in the desert. His baptism was a ritual cleansing and a spur to repent, precisely what a pious Jew would have sought in the Temple.
And the picture becomes complete when Jesus arrives to be baptized, and John says, "Behold, the Lamb of God." This is explicitly Temple talk. He is saying that the one who is to be sacrificed has arrived. He is the fulfillment of priesthood, Temple, and sacrifice. The priestly figure has done his work, and now he fades away.
Video reflection by Jem Sullivan, Ph.D.: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
Papal Quote o' the Day
"No one can really enjoy Christmas without sharing that joy with those who, on this blessed day, still need food, work, a home, medical care, a friend, comfort, or faith. The religious spirit of Christmas must find its expression in generosity."Little Flower Quote o' the Day
—Pope St. Paul VI (1897-1978, feast day: 26 September)
"Since I also have been given to understand the Love of the Heart of Jesus, I confess that all fear has been driven from mine."Saint Quote o' the Day
—St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church (1873-1897, feast day: 1 October)
"There are two verses in scripture, one from Isaiah and the other from the Epistle to the Hebrews, which seem to be contradictory. Isaiah says that our Lord was reckoned with the transgressors, or sinners. The Epistle to the Hebrews says that he was separated from sinners. He was one with them and at the same time not with them. He was reckoned with sinners, inasmuch as in his human nature he took upon himself all the penalties of sin. He was separated simply because he was God and also because, even in his human nature, he was like us in all things, save sin."
—Ven. Fulton Sheen (1895-1979)
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