Catholic Missal of the day: Thursday, December 15 2016
Thursday of the Third week of Advent
Thursday of the Third week of Advent
1. ReadingBook of Isaiah
54,1-10.]Raise a glad cry, you barren one who did not bear, break forth in jubilant song, you who were not in labor, For more numerous are the children of the deserted wife than the children of her who has a husband, says the LORD.
]Enlarge the space for your tent, spread out your tent cloths unsparingly; lengthen your ropes and make firm your stakes.
]For you shall spread abroad to the right and to the left; Your descendants shall dispossess the nations and shall people the desolate cities.
]Fear not, you shall not be put to shame; you need not blush, for you shall not be disgraced. The shame of your youth you shall forget, the reproach of your widowhood no longer remember.
]For he who has become your husband is your Maker; his name is the LORD of hosts; Your redeemer is the Holy One of Israel, called God of all the earth.
]The LORD calls you back, like a wife forsaken and grieved in spirit, A wife married in youth and then cast off, says your God.
]For a brief moment I abandoned you, but with great tenderness I will take you back.
]In an outburst of wrath, for a moment I hid my face from you; But with enduring love I take pity on you, says the LORD, your redeemer.
]This is for me like the days of Noah, when I swore that the waters of Noah should never again deluge the earth; So I have sworn not to be angry with you, or to rebuke you.
]Though the mountains leave their place and the hills be shaken, My love shall never leave you nor my covenant of peace be shaken, says the LORD, who has mercy on you.
Psalms
30(29),2.4.5-6.11-12a.13b.]I will extol you, O LORD, for you drew me clear
and did not let my enemies rejoice over me.
]O LORD, you brought me up from the nether world;
you preserved me from among those going down into the pit.
]Sing praise to the LORD, you his faithful ones,
and give thanks to his holy name.
]For his anger lasts but a moment;
a lifetime, his good will.
]At nightfall, weeping enters in,
but with the dawn, rejoicing.
]Hear, O LORD, and have pity on me;
O LORD, be my helper.”
]You changed my mourning into dancing;
O LORD, my God, forever will I give you thanks.
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke
7,24-30.]When the messengers of John the Baptist had left, 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 garments? Those who dress luxuriously and live sumptuously are found in royal palaces.
]Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.
]This is the one about whom scripture says: 'Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, he will prepare your way before you.'
]I tell you, among those born of women, no one is greater than John; yet the least in the kingdom of God is greater than he."
](All the people who listened, including the tax collectors, and who were baptized with the baptism of John, acknowledged the righteousness of God;
]but the Pharisees and scholars of the law, who were not baptized by him, rejected the plan of God for themselves.)
St. Virginia Centurione Bracelli(Foundress (1587-1651))
SAINT VIRGINIA CENTURIONE BRACELLI (1587-1651) Virginia Centurione Bracelli was born in Genoa, Italy, on April 2, 1587. She was from the family of Giorgio Centurione, the Republic's duke from 1621 to 1622, and Lelia Spinola. She was baptized two days after her birth and was catechized and educated by her mother and private tutors.She felt called to religious life, but obeyed her father by marrying Gaspare Grimaldi Bracelli on December 10, 1602. Gaspare's affluent family failed to intervene and correct his vices. As a consequence, Virginia was widowed at age 20. Gaspare left behind two daughters, Lelia and Isabella. He confessed his sins before passing away in Alessandria on June 13, 1607. The scriptural evidence for the sacrament is found in John 20:23; but it existed before scripture was written through Tradition. After her husband's passing, Virginia made a vow of chastity and refused a second arranged marriage. She lived at her mother-in-law's house and managed her children's education and the estate. In 1610, she answered the call to religious life. In the autumn of 1624 or 1625, Virginia welcomed 15 orphans into her home. The war between the Liguorian Republic and the Duke of Savoy, supported by France, had increased the number of refugees. Thus, Virginia opened shelters for at-risk, vulnerable persons. In August 1625, with her mother-in-law's passing, she began corporal and spiritual works of mercy in the slums. From 1629 to 1630, Virgina served the Church during plagues and famines. She began renting the empty convent of Monte Calvario and transferred there on April 13, 1631: accompanied by beneficiaries under the protection of Our Lady of Refuge. Three years later, the Institute expanded into three houses and accommodated 300 patients and vulnerable persons. Virginia petitioned for official acknowledgement from the senate of the Republic, which she received on December 13, 1635. The beneficiaries ofOur Lady of Refuge became like Virginia's family. She provided them catechism, access to opportunities and training in professional skills. Sometimes, she cured spiritual illnesses. Virginia bought two villas next to Carignano's Hill and dedicated a church to Our Lady of Refuge, which became the Institute's mother house. Later, it was divided into the "Sisters of Our Lady of Refuge in Mount Calvary" and the "Daughters of Our Lady on Mount Calvary." On July 3, 1641, daily administration was encharged to nominees. However, war and economic hardship reduced the number of collaborators. Virginia took leadership once again until passing away on December 15, 1651. She was beatified on September 22, 1985. She was canonized on May 18, 2003, by Pope John Paul II.
St. Mesmin(Abbot († 520))
SAINT MESMIN ( 520) When citizens rebelled against King Clovis, a truce was brokered by Father Euspice, the king's uncle. King Clovis persuaded Fr. Euspice to reside at court; and the latter took St. Mesmin with him. St. Mesmin was a native of Verdun. On the journey to Orleans, Fr. Euspice noticed a solitary place called Micy about two leagues from the city, beyond the Loire. He acquired it from King Clovis and built a monastery. St. Mesmin and several disciples helped in its construction. Fr. Euspice passed away two years after St. Mesmin was consecrated abbot by Bp. Eusebius. During a famine, St. Mesmin fed nearly the whole city of Orleans with wheat from the monastery. He also drove out an enormous serpent from a place where he was later buried. After governing the monastery for ten years, St. Mesmin passed away. He went to his eternal reward on December 15, 520. The atmosphere was perceptively peaceful and there was a fragrance in the air. The miracles proceeding from his intercession prove that he attained the beatific vision.
St. Christiana()
Category: Mass by Year / Catholic Missal 2016 / Catholic Missal of december 2016
Published: 2026-07-14T18:16:06Z | Modified: 2026-07-14T18:16:06Z