Third Sunday of Advent

Book of Isaiah

35,1-6.10.

The desert and the parched land will exult; the steppe will rejoice and bloom.
They will bloom with abundant flowers, and rejoice with joyful song. The glory of Lebanon will be given to them, the splendor of Carmel and Sharon; They will see the glory of the LORD, the splendor of our God.
Strengthen the hands that are feeble, make firm the knees that are weak,
Say to those whose hearts are frightened: Be strong, fear not! Here is your God, he comes with vindication; With divine recompense he comes to save you.
Then will the eyes of the blind be opened, the ears of the deaf be cleared;
Then will the lame leap like a stag, then the tongue of the dumb will sing. Streams will burst forth in the desert, and rivers in the steppe.
Those whom the LORD has ransomed will return and enter Zion singing, crowned with everlasting joy; They will meet with joy and gladness, sorrow and mourning will flee.

Psalms

146(145),7-10.

The LORD keeps faith forever,
secures justice for the oppressed,
gives food to the hungry.
the LORD sets captives free.
The LORD gives sight to the blind.
The LORD raises up those who were bowed down;
the LORD loves the just.
The LORD protects strangers.
The fatherless and the widow he sustains,
but the way of the wicked he thwarts.
The LORD shall reign forever;
your God, O Zion, through all generations. Alleluia.

Letter of James

5,7-10.

Be patient, brothers and sisters, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient with it until it receives the early and the late rains.
You too must be patient. Make your hearts firm, because the coming of the Lord is at hand.
Do not complain, brothers and sisters, about one another, that you may not be judged. Behold, the Judge is standing before the gates.
Take as an example of hardship and patience, brothers and sisters, the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.

Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew

11,2-11.

When John the Baptist heard in prison of the works of the Christ, he sent his disciples to Jesus
with this question, "Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?"
Jesus said to them in reply, "Go and tell John what you hear and see:
the blind regain their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have the good news proclaimed to them.
And blessed is the one who takes no offense at me."
As they were going off, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John, "What did you go out to the desert to see? A reed swayed by the wind?
Then what did you go out to see? Someone dressed in fine clothing? Those who wear fine clothing are in royal palaces.
Then why did you go out? To see a prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.
This is the one about whom it is written: 'Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of you; he will prepare your way before you.'
Amen, I say to you, among those born of women there has been none greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

---

St. María Maravillas de Jesús (1891-1974)()

SAINT MARÍA MARAVILLAS DE JESÚS (Pidal y Chico de Guzmán)Professed Nun of the Order of Discalced Carmelites (1891-1974) María de las Maravillas was born in Madrid, Spain, on November 4, 1891: the daughter of Luis Pidal y Mon, the Marquis of Pidal, and Cristina Chico de Guzmán y Muñoz. Her father was the Spanish Ambassador to the Holy See; and she grew up in a devout Catholic family. María made a vow of chastity at the age of five and devoted herself to charitable work. After reading the works of St. John of the Cross and St. Teresa of Jesus, she felt called to become a Discalced Carmelite. Her father, whom she assisted when he became ill, passed away in 1913. Her mother was reluctant to accept her entry to a Carmelite monastery. On October 12, 1919, María entered the Discalced Carmelites of El Escorial in Madrid. She made her simple vows on May 7, 1921. Before her final profession on May 30, 1924, Sr. María discerned God's will to found the Carmel of Cerro de los Ángeles. María's foundation was inaugurated on October 31, 1926, with three other Carmelites. It was the first of the series of Teresian Carmelite Monasteries that she established. She was not being called to found a new order or to "branch off" from the Discalced Carmelites - she herself was very careful in pointing this out. She only sought to live deeply and to transmit the spirit and ideals of St. Teresa of Jesus and St. John of the Cross. On June 28, 1926, the Bishop of the Diocese of Madrid-Alcalá appointed her prioress of the new monastery. In 1933, she established another foundation in Kottayam, India. From there, other foundations were started. Her role as prioress would be permanent in the various monasteries she founded throughout her life, notwithstanding the natural apprehension she feltin accepting positions of responsibility. María's spirit of obedience and love for the Church and for her Carmelite sisters gave her the strength and diligence to carry out this duty with love. Mother Maravillas was often criticized for the poverty of the convents she founded. Charges were made that they were "not solid," small in size and unfurnished, with bare walls on which hung chosen Bible verses or writings of the Carmelite saints. She would reply, "it is not our concern to plant a seed, since the Discalced Carmelites have already been founded." During the Spanish Civil War, the nuns of Cerro de los Ángeles lived in an apartment in Madrid. In September 1937, another Carmel in the Batuecas, Salamanca, was founded. In 1939, the monastery of Cerro de los Ángeles was restored. Amid deprivations, Mother Maravillas was courageous and happy: leading and giving the example to her daughters. She was a mystery to the sisters closest to her in the sense of interior trials. Only her spiritual directors knew the "dark night of the soul" that she lived throughout her life, which kept her in profound spiritual aridity; and made total faith and abandonment to the will of God her guide. In the following years, foundations were established in other parts of Spain. Mother Maravillas also restored and sent nuns to the Carmel of El Escorial and to the venerable Monastery of the Incarnation at Avila. To unite the monasteries founded by her and others, she founded the Association of St. Teresa, which received official approval from the Holy See in 1972. On December 8, 1974, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, Mother Maravillas was anointed and received Holy Communion. On December 11, surrounded by her community in the Carmel of La Aldehuela, Madrid, she passed away. At the time of her death, her sisters reported that Mother Maravillas kept repeating the phrase, "What happiness to die a Carmelite!" She was beatified on May 10, 1998, and canonized on May 4, 2003, by Pope John Paul II.

---

St. Damasus I(Pope († 384))

---

SAINT DAMASUS IPope( 384) St. Damasus was born at Rome in the fourth century. He was the archdeacon of the Roman Church in 355 when Pope Liberius was banished to Berda. Damasus accompanied Pope Liberius into exile; and returned afterward. On Pope Liberius' passing, Damasus was consecrated pope. Ursinus, a competitor for the office, incited a revolt, but Pope Damasus only took such action that was becoming a father of the Universal Church. After freeing the Church of schism, Pope Damasus began extirpating Arianism in the West and Apollinarianism in the East. Hence, he convened several councils. He rebuilt the church of St. Laurence, known as St. Laurence in Damaso, anddonated the lands in its vicinity. He also diverted springs running over Vatican tombs; and decorated the sepulchers of martyrs. Pope Damasus passed away on December 10, 384, after serving as pope for eighteen years and two months. He was nearly 80.

misalcatolico.com

---

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