Thursday of the Third week of Advent

Book of Isaiah

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

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

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 (1587-1651)()

SAINT VIRGINIA CENTURIONE BRACELLI (1587-1651) Virginia Centurione Bracelli was born at Genoa, Italy, on April 2, 1587. She was from the family of Giorgio Centurione, duke of the Republic from 1621 to 1622, and Lelia Spinola. Baptized two days after her birth, she received catechism and education from 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. Before he passed away at Alessandria on June 13, 1607, he reconciled by confessing his sins and receiving pardon (Jn. 20:23). 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 a call to religious life. In autumn of 1624-1625, Virginia welcomed fifteen orphans into her home. The war between the Liguorian Republic and the Duke of Savoy, supported by France, had increased economic hardship. With increasing numbers of refugees, 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. Serving the Church during plagues and famines from 1629 to 1630, Virginia began renting the empty convent of Monte Calvario. She transferred there on April 13, 1631, together with beneficiaries under the protection of Our Lady of Refuge. Three years later, the Institution expanded into three houses, accommodating 300 patients and vulnerable persons. Virginia petitioned for official acknowledgement from the Senate of the Republic, which they won on December 13, 1635. The beneficiaries ofOur Lady of Refuge became like Virginia's family. She taught catechism and provided access to opportunities and training in professional skills. Sometimes, she cured spiritual illnesses. Virginia bought two villas next to Carignano's Hill and constructed a church dedicated to Our Lady of Refuge. The two villas became the Mother House of the Institution. Later, it was divided into the "Sisters of Our Lady of Refuge in Mount Calvary" (Suore di Nostra Signora del Rifugio di Monte Calvario) and the "Daughters of Our Lady on Mount Calvary" (Figlie di Nostra Signora al Monte Calvario). On July 3, 1641, daily administration was encharged to nominees. As a consequence of war, economic hardship and corruption, the number of collaborators decreased. The shortages compelled Virgina to assume leadership and take responsibility for the sisters in Carignano's House. Virginia served others and proclaimed the Kingdom of God. She passed away on December 15, 1651, at 64. She was beatified on September 22, 1985, and canonized on May 18, 2003, by Pope John Paul II.

St. Mesmin († 520)()

SAINT MESMIN ( 520) St. Mesmin was a native of Verdun. When citizens rebelled against King Clovis, a priest named Euspice, the king's uncle, brokered a truce. Soon after, Clovis acknowledged Euspice's sanctity and persuaded him to reside at court. Fr. Euspice accepted and took St. Mesmin with him. Journeying to Orleans, Fr. Euspice noticed, about two leagues from the city and beyond the Loire, a solitary spot called Micy. He solicited the place for a monastery; and gained it from Clovis. At Micy, Fr. Euspice, St. Mesmin and several disciples constructed a monastery. 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 his monastery without reducing supply. He also drove out an enormous serpent from a place where he was later buried. After governing his monastery for ten years, St. Mesmin passed away peacefully. 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 eternal life and the beatific vision.

St. Christiana()

misalcatolico.com

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