'Tis the Saturday of the Third Week of Advent: Advent-link & Wikipedia-link.
NEW! — № | ūnus | duo | trēs
Saints of the Day
'Tis the festival of Saint Fausta of Sirmium (floruit third century): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.
Commentary: Wayback Machine. Mother of St. Anastasia of Sirmium [25 December].
'Tis also the festival of Saint Boniface of Tarsus, Martyr (died circa 307, A.K.A. of Cilicia), martyred in the reign of the Roman emperors Galerius & Maxentius, a victim of the Diocletianic Persecution (303-313); one of two namesakes of Rome's Basilica dei Santi Bonifacio e Alessio: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link; Persecutions-link, Wikipedia-link Diocletian ūnus, Wikipedia-link Diocletian duo, & Wikipedia-link Diocletian trēs; & Wikipedia-link Santi Bonifacio e Alessio.
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'Tis also the festival of Saint Anastasius I, Pope (died circa 401), thirty-ninth (XXXIX) Bishop of Rome (399-401), a foe of the Donatist heresy: Saint-link ūnus, Saint-link duo, & Wikipedia-link; Pontifex-link & Wikipedia-link Pontifex; & Heresy-link & Wikipedia-link Donatism.
'Tis also the festival of Blessed Konrad of Lichtenau, Priest & Abbot, O. Praem. (died 1240), abbot of the Abbey of Ursberg (1230-1240): Blessed-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Ursberg.
'Tis also the festival of Blessed Urban V, Pope, O.S.B. (1310-1370, A.K.A. Guillaume de Grimoard), two hundredth (CC) Bishop of Rome (1362-1370) & sixth (VI) Avignon Pope, abbot of the Abbey of Saint-Victor (1361-1362), abbot of the monastery of Saint-Germain en Auxerre (1352-1361): Blessed-link ūnus, Blessed-link duo, Blessed-link trēs, Blessed-link quattuor, & Wikipedia-link; Pontifex-link, Wikipedia-link Pontifex, & Wikipedia-link Avignon; & Wikipedia-link Saint-Victor.
'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 Polska & Wikipedia-link Polska.
'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; Wikipedia-link Laos.
Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Final Advent Days (19 December)
The Book of Judges, chapter thirteen, verses two thru seven, twenty-four, & twenty-five(a);
Psalm Seventy-one (R/. cf. eight), verses three & four(a), five & six(a/b), & sixteen & seventeen;
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter one, verses five thru twenty-five.
Commentary: Gospel reflection by Bishop Robert Barron (Word on Fire):
Friends, our Gospel today is from the first chapter of the Gospel of Luke, which is thoroughly drenched in Davidic themes from the Old Testament.Video reflection by Marc DelMonico, Ph.D. (U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops): Daily Reflection.
The first thing we hear about Zechariah is that he serves as priest in the Jerusalem temple; and David’s dream was to build the temple in which Zechariah serves. While in the sanctuary, Zechariah is visited by the angel Gabriel; and the temple locale and the announcement of the birth of a child against all expectations brings us back to Hannah’s pregnancy, which resulted in the birth of the forerunner to David. Indeed, Elizabeth’s words upon conceiving—“So has the Lord done for me at a time when he has seen fit to take away my disgrace before others”—powerfully evoke Hannah’s frame of mind when she, after many tears and much prayer, finally became pregnant.
What does this have to do with the life of Jesus? From beginning to end of his preaching career, Jesus’ central theme was the arrival of the kingdom of God, which was understood to mean the ingathering of the scattered tribes of Israel. And what becomes eminently clear in all of the Gospels is that this coming together would happen in and through Jesus himself, much as the knitting together of ancient Israel happened in the person of David. Jesus definitively fulfills what David himself left incomplete and unfinished.
Reflect: In his wisdom and power, God arranged for certain people to aid in the mission of his Son (e.g., the birth of John the Baptist from a barren mother and the sinlessness of Jesus’ mother, Mary). Who has God put in your life to help you fulfill the mission he has entrusted to you?
The Gospel according Matthew, chapter ten (verses one thru forty-two);
The Gospel according Matthew, chapter eleven (verse one).
Commentary: The Twelve Disciples (Matthew, 10:1-4), the Mission of the Twelve (Matthew, 10:5-15), Coming Persecutions (Matthew, 10:16-25), Whom to Fear (Matthew, 10:26-33), Taking Up One's Cross (Matthew, 10:34-39), & Rewards (Matthew, 10:40-11:1).
Papal Quote o' the Day
"It is felt right that a shepherd should bestow great care & watchfulness upon his flock."Bonus! Papal Quote o' the Day
—Pope St. Anasatius I, Pope (d. 401, r. 399-410; feast: 19 December)
"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."Mother Teresa Quote o' the Day
—Pope St. Paul VI (1897-1978, r. 1963-1978; feast: 29 May)
"If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other."Saint Quote o' the Day
—St. Teresa of Calcutta, M.C. (1910-1997, feast: 5 September)
"Men go abroad to wonder at the heights of mountains, at the huge waves of the sea, at the long courses of the rivers, at the vast compass of the ocean, at the circular motions of the stars, & they pass by themselves without wondering."Archbishop Sheen Quote o' the Day
—St. Augustine of Hippo, Doctor of the Church (354-430, feast: 28 August)
"He dies in the great city of Jerusalem that indeed His crucifixtion may be known to a great many of all, but the glory of His birth is hidden in the least of the cities."
—Ven. Fulton Sheen (1895-1979)
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