Thursday of the First week of Advent

Book of Isaiah

On that day they will sing this song in the land of Judah: "A strong city have we; he sets up walls and ramparts to protect us.
Open up the gates to let in a nation that is just, one that keeps faith.
A nation of firm purpose you keep in peace; in peace, for its trust in you."
Trust in the LORD forever! For the LORD is an eternal Rock.
He humbles those in high places, and the lofty city he brings down; He tumbles it to the ground, levels it with the dust.
It is trampled underfoot by the needy, by the footsteps of the poor.

Psalms

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,
for his mercy endures forever.
It is better to take refuge in the LORD
Than to trust in man.
It is better to take refuge in the LORD
Than to trust in princes.
Open to me the gates of justice;
I will enter them and give thanks to the LORD.
This is the gate of the LORD;
the just shall enter it.
I will give thanks to you, for you have answered me
and have been my savior.
O LORD, grant salvation!
O LORD, grant prosperity!
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD;
we bless you from the house of the LORD.
The LORD is God, and he has given us light.

Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew

Jesus said to his disciples: "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.
Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock.
The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on rock.
And everyone who listens to these words of mine but does not act on them will be like a fool who built his house on sand.
The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. And it collapsed and was completely ruined."

St. Charles of Jesus(Priest (1858-1916))

SAINT CHARLES OF JESUS Charles de Foucauld Priest (1858-1916) St. Charles of Jesus was born at Strasbourg, France, on September 15, 1858. Orphaned at 6, he and his sister Marie were raised by their grandfather, in whose footsteps he followed by taking up a military career. As an adolescent, Charles lost his faith. Upon receiving an inheritance, he squandered his wealth like the prodigal son (Lk. 15:11-32). Hedonism checked his progress at the military academy, but his resilience was also proven. In 1883, he undertook a risky exploration of Morocco. Upon seeing the way Muslims expressed their faith, Charles questioned God and began repeating, ‘‘My God, if you exist, let me come to know you.’’ After Charles returned to France, the warm, respectful welcome he received from his deeply Christian family made him continue his search. Under the guidance of Fr. Huvelin, Charles rediscovered God in October 1886. He was 28 years old. ‘‘As soon as I believed in God, I understood that I could not do otherwise than to live for him alone.’’ A pilgrimage to the Holy Land revealed Charles' vocation: following Jesus in a life at Nazareth. Charles spent 7 years as a Trappist in France, and then at Akbès in Syria. Afterward, he led a solitary life of prayer and adoration near a convent of Poor Clares in Nazareth. Ordained at 43, Fr. Charles left for the Sahara, living at first in Beni Abbès and later at Tamanrasset among the Tuaregs of the Hoggar. He wanted to be among those who were ‘‘the furthest removed, the most abandoned.’’ He wanted all who drew close to him to find in him a brother, ‘‘a universal brother.’’ With great respect for the culture and faith of those among whom he lived, his desire was to ‘‘shout the Gospel with his life.’’ ‘‘I would like to be sufficiently good that people would say, ‘If such is the servant, what must the Master be like?'’’ On the evening of December 1, 1916, Fr. Charles was killed by bandits who encircled his house. Miracles following his death prove that he attained the beatific vision: where the soul sees God face to face. St. Charles, standing next to the Lord, hears our prayers and gives them to God. St. Charles always dreamed of sharing his vocation with others. After writing several rules for religious life, he concluded that the ‘‘life of Nazareth,’’ seeking God in an active and contemplative life, could be led by all. Today, the spiritual family of St. Charles de Foucauld encompasses several associations, religious communities and secular institutes for both priests and lay people.

St. Eligius(Bishop († 665))

SAINT ELIGIUSBishop( 665) Eligius, a goldsmith at Paris, was commissioned by King Clotaire to make a throne. The gold and precious stones given him were so many that he made two. Struck by Eligius' rare honesty, King Clotaire gave him a position at the royal court. At court, Eligius mortified his senses and prayed regularly. He had a marvellous zeal for redeeming captives, and for their deliverance would sell his jewels, food, clothes and his very shoes. Through prayer and acts of mercy, he restored people's union with God: becoming like Jesus Christ and "leading captives in his train" (Eph 4:8, Ps 68:18). For all his activity, he delighted in making shrines for relics. A remarkably virtuous person, Eligius was made the Bishop of Noyon. He possessed gifts of miracles and prophecy. Death could not put an end to so great a love; and so Jesus took him up on the last day.

St. Florence()

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Category: Mass by Year / Catholic Missal 2022 / Catholic Missal of december 2022