'Tis the Thursday of the Fourth Week of Advent: Advent-link & Wikipedia-link.
'Tis also Christmas Eve: Christmas Eve-link & Wikipedia-link.
Saints of the Day
'Tis the festival of Saint Gregory of Spoleto, Priest & Martyr (died circa 304), martyred in the reign of the Roman emperors Diocletian & Maximian, a victim of the Diocletianic Persecution (303-313): Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link; Persecutions-link, Wikipedia-link Diocletian ūnus, Wikipedia-link Diocletian duo, & Wikipedia-link Diocletian trēs.
Commentary: Wayback Machine.
'Tis also the festival of Saint Delphinus of Bordeaux, Bishop (died circa 404), Bishop of Bordeaux (380-404), a foe of the Priscillianist heresy: Saint-link & Wikipedia-link (List); Wikipedia-link Bordeaux, & Heresy-link & Wikipedia-link Priscillianism.
'Tis also the festival of Saint Trasilla, Virgin (floruit sixth century): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.
Commentary: Sister of St. Emiliana [5 January], sister-in-law of St. Silvia of Rome [3 November], & descendant of Pope St. Felix III [1 March].
'Tis also the festival of Saint Irmina of Oeren, Abbess, O.S.B. (died circa 710, A.K.A. of Trier), second (II) abbess of Saint Mary's Convent at Oeren, donor of the land for the Abbey of Echternach: Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Abbey-link & Wikipedia-link Echternach.
Commentary: Daughter of St. Dagobert [23 December]; sister, or possibly mother, of St. Adela of Pfalzel [see: below]; & possibly great-great grandmother of Bl. Charlemagne [28 January].
'Tis also the festival of Saint Adela of Pfalzel, Abbess, O.S.B. (died 735), foundress & second (II) abbess of the Convent of Palatiolum: Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.
Commentary: Daughter, or possibly granddaughter, of St. Dagobert [23 December] & sister, or possibly daughter, of St. Irmina of Oeren [see: above].
'Tis also the festival of Saint Hanno of Worms, Bishop & Abbot, O.S.B. (died 978) ninth (IX) Bishop of Worms (950-978), abbot of the Monastery of Saint Mauritius at Magdeburg (937-950): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.
'Tis also the festival of Blessed Ignacio Caselles Garcia, Priest & Martyr, O.F.M. Cap. (1874-1936, A.K.A. Juan Crisóstomo of Gata de Gorgos), martyred by Spanish Communist "Republicans" (Rojos), one of the Martyrs of the Spanish Civil War: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link (List); Martyrs-link España & Wikipedia-link España.
Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Thursday of the Fourth Week of Advent: Mass in the Morning
The Second Book of Samuel, chapter seven, verses one thru five, eight(b) thru twelve, fourteen(a), & sixteen;
Psalm Eighty-nine (R/. two), verses two & three, four & five, & twenty-seven & twenty-nine;
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter one, verses sixty-seven thru seventy-nine.
Commentary: Gospel reflection by Bishop Robert Barron (Word on Fire):
Friends, today’s Gospel contains the prayer of Zechariah at the birth of his son, John the Baptist.Video reflection by Deacon Clarence McDavid (U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops): Daily Reflection.
This prayer is especially precious to priests, religious, and all those who pray the Liturgy of the Hours on a daily basis. It’s called the "Benedictus," from its first word in Latin, or the "Canticle of Zechariah." What’s wonderful about this prayer (and why the Church asks its ministers to pray it every day) is that it sums up magnificently the whole history of salvation, putting Jesus and John in the context of the great story of Israel.
In the canticle, Zechariah poignantly addresses the infant John the Baptist, saying, "You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High." He calls him by this high name of prophet, nabi in Hebrew—a spokesman for God. All of the prophets—Isaiah, Jeremiah, Daniel, Ezekiel, Joel, Hosea—looked toward the fulfillment of the covenant, the conquest of Israel’s enemies, the establishment of right worship. John is seen here as the last and greatest of the Old Testament prophets. His role is, like all the prophets, to "go before the Lord to prepare his way." His job is to point, explain, indicate—and then disappear.
Reflect: John the Baptist said about Jesus, "He must increase; I must decrease" (John 3:30). What does this mean and how might it apply to you as well?
The Book of Isaiah, chapter sixty-two, verses one thru five;
Psalm Eighty-nine (R/. two[a]), verses four & five, sixteen & seventeen, & twenty-seven & twenty-nine;
The Acts of the Apostles, chapter thirteen, verses sixteen, seventeen, & twenty-two thru twenty-five;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter one, verses one thru twenty-five (or, the Gospel according to Matthew, chapter one, verses eighteen thru twenty-five).
Scripture Study—Bishop's Year of the Bible: Day 26
The Gospel according Matthew, chapter fifteen (verses one thru thirty-nine);
Commentary: The Tradition of the Elders (Matthew, 15:1-9), Things That Defile a Man (Matthew, 15:10-20), the Canaanite Woman's Faith (Matthew, 15:21-28), Jesus Heals Many People (Matthew, 15:29-31), & Feeding the Four Thousand (Matthew, 15:32-39).
Papal Quote o' the Day
"Tomorrow, no tonight, we shall contemplate Him, meek & mild, a child like any other 'born of woman.' We shall be invited to admire & recognize Him, just as the shepherds once did. He will bestow 'grace & peace' on 'all God's beloved who are called to be Saints.'"Mother Teresa Quote o' the Day
—Pope St. John Paul II the Great (1920-2005, r. 1978-2005; feast: 22 October)
"It's not how much we give but how much love we put into giving."Saint Quote o' the Day
—St. Teresa of Calcutta, M.C. (1910-1997, feast: 5 September)
"He was created of a mother whom He created. He was carried by hands that He formed. He cried in the manger in wordless infancy. He, the Word, without whom all human eloquence is mute."Archbishop Sheen Quote o' the Day
—St. Augustine of Hippo, Doctor of the Church (354-430, feast: 28 August)
"A Jewish scholar who became a Christian & who knew the Old Testament very well & all of the tradition of the Jews, said that at the time of Christ the rabbis had gathered together four hundred fifty-six prophecies concerning the Messiah, the Christ, the conqueror of evil who was to be born & to enter into a new covenant with mankind. Suppose the chances of any one prophecy being fulfilled by accident, say the place where he would be born, was one in a hundred. Then, if two prophecies were fulfilled, the chances would be on in a thousand. If three prophecies were to coincide in Christ, that would be one in ten thousand. If four, one in a hundred thousand. If five, one in a million. Now if all of these prophecies were fulfilled in Christ, what would be the chance of them all concurring at the appointed moment, not only in place but also in time, as was foretold by the prophet Daniel? Take a pencil & write on a sheet of paper the numeral one, & draw a line beneath it. Under the line write eighty-four, & after eighty-four, if you have time, write one hundred twenty-six zeros. That is the chance of all of the prophecies of Christ being fulfilled. It runs into millions & millions, trillions & trillions."
—Ven. Fulton Sheen (1895-1979)
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