The Popish Plot
"Catholic T-shirt Club Unboxing: Christmas"
'Tis the Friday of the Third Week of Advent: Advent-link & Wikipedia-link.
Saints of the Day
'Tis the festival of Saint Gatianus of Tours, Bishop (died circa 301), inaugural Bishop of Tours (249-301): Saint-link ūnus, Saint-link duo, & Wikipedia-link; Diocese-link & Wikipedia-link Tours.
Commentary: Wayback Machine.
'Tis also the festival of Saint Auxentius of Mopsuetia, Bishop (died circa 360), Bishop of Mopsuetia (?-360): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Mopsuetia.
'Tis also the festival of Saint Flannán of Killaloe, Bishop & Abbot (floruit 640, A.K.A. Flannán mac Toirrdelbaig), inaugural Bishop of Killaloe: Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Killaloe.
'Tis also the festival of Saint Desiderius of Fontenelle, Religious, O.S.B. (died circa 700): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.
'Tis also the festival of Saint Samthann of Clonbroney, Abbess (died 739), second (II) abbess of Clonbroney Abbey: Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.
'Tis also the festival of Saint Winebald of Heidenheim, Abbot, O.S.B. (circa 701-761), founding abbot of the double monastery of Heidenheim am Hahnenkamm (742-761): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Heidenheim am Hahnenkamm.
Commentary: Son of St. Richard the Pilgrim [7 February], nephew of St. Boniface [5 June], & brother of Ss. Willibald [7 June] & Walpurga [5 February].
'Tis also the festival of Blessed Nemesia, Religious (1847-1916, A.K.A. Giulia Valle): Blessed-link & Wikipedia-link.
Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Final Advent Days (18 December)
The Book of Jeremiah, chapter twenty-three, verses five thru eight;
Psalm Seventy-two (R/. cf. seven), verses one & two, twelve & thirteen, & eighteen & nineteen;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter one, verses eighteen thru twenty-five.
Commentary: Gospel reflection by Bishop Robert Barron (Word on Fire):
Friends, today’s Gospel centers on one of the most beloved figures in Christian history: Joseph, the foster father of Jesus. He’s featured in countless works of art and is prominent in the devotional lives of many. Yet we know almost nothing about him. The scant verses here in Matthew offer the most extensive description, yet even they reveal some powerful spiritual themes.Video reflection by Father Greg Friedman, O.F.M. (U.S. Conf. of Catholic Bishops): Daily Reflection.
First, we discover Mary was betrothed to Joseph and this union had been blessed by God. But then Joseph finds his betrothed is pregnant. Can you imagine the distress? This must have been an emotional maelstrom for him. And at a deeper level, it was a spiritual crisis. What did God want him to do?
But then an angel appears to him in a dream and tells him, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home." He realizes at that moment that these puzzling events are part of God’s much greater plan. What appears to be a disaster from his perspective is meaningful from God’s perspective.
Joseph was willing to cooperate with the divine plan, though he in no way knew its contours or deepest purpose. Like his wife, Mary, at the Annunciation, he trusted and let himself be led.
Reflect: What, in your own life, "appeared to be a disaster but was meaningful from God’s perspective" when you viewed it in hindsight and with the eyes of faith?
Video reflection by Doctor John Bergsma (St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology): Daily Reflection.
The Gospel according Matthew, chapter nine (verses one thru thirty-eight);
Commentary: Jesus Heals a Paralytic (Matthew, 9:1-8), the Call of Matthew (Matthew, 9:9-13), the Question about Fasting (Matthew, 9:14-17), a Girl Restored to Life & a Woman Healed (Matthew, 9:18-26), Jesus Heals Two Blind Men (Matthew, 9:27-31), Jesus Heals a Man Who Was Mute (Matthew, 9:32-34), & the Harvest Is Plentiful, the Laborers Are Few (Matthew, 9:35-38).
Papal Quote o' the Day
"Let our God-Man return among us, our Lord acknowledged & obeyed, as at every Christmas time. Christ returns in spirit to the crib & offers Himself to all."Mother Teresa Quote o' the Day
—Pope Ven. Pius XII (1876-1958, r. 1939-1958)
"To women: You & I—being women—we have this tremendous gift: the gift of understanding love. I see that so beautifully in the people we serve, in our poor women, who day after day, meet suffering, accept suffering for the sake of their children. I have seen mothers going without so many things, even resorting to begging, so that their children may have what they need."Saint Quote o' the Day
—St. Teresa of Calcutta, M.C. (1910-1997, feast: 5 September)
"Pray as though everything depended on God. Work as though everything depended on you."Archbishop Sheen Quote o' the Day
—St. Augustine of Hippo, Doctor of the Church (354-430, feast: 28 August)
"Now the one man who might be inclined to doubt the virgin birth, on natural grounds, was the man who writes it in his gospel, namely Saint Luke. I say on natural grounds because Luke was a physician & yet, it's the medical doctor who sets down the virgin birth & tells us most about it."
—Ven. Fulton Sheen (1895-1979)
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