Readings for 17 December

Book of Genesis

Jacob called his sons and said to them: “Assemble and listen, sons of Jacob, listen to Israel, your father.
"You, Judah, shall your brothers praise --your hand on the neck of your enemies; the sons of your father shall bow down to you.
Judah, like a lion's whelp, you have grown up on prey, my son. He crouches like a lion recumbent, the king of beasts--who would dare rouse him?
The scepter shall never depart from Judah, or the mace from between his legs, While tribute is brought to him, and he receives the people's homage.

Psalms

O God, with your judgment endow the king,
and with your justice, the king's son;
He shall govern your people with justice
and your afflicted ones with judgment.
The mountains shall yield peace for the people,
and the hills justice.
He shall defend the afflicted among the people,
Save the children of the poor.
Justice shall flower in his days,
and profound peace, till the moon be no more.
May he rule from sea to sea,
and from the River to the ends of the earth.
May his name be blessed forever;
As long as the sun his name shall remain.
In him shall all the tribes of the earth be blessed;
All the nations shall proclaim his happiness.

Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew

The Book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
Abraham became the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers.
Judah became the father of Perez and Zerah, whose mother was Tamar. Perez became the father of Hezron, Hezron the father of Ram,
Ram the father of Amminadab. Amminadab became the father of Nahshon, Nahshon the father of Salmon,
Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab. Boaz became the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth. Obed became the father of Jesse,
Jesse the father of David the king. David became the father of Solomon, whose mother had been the wife of Uriah.
Solomon became the father of Rehoboam, Rehoboam the father of Abijah, Abijah the father of Asaph.
Asaph became the father of Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, Joram the father of Uzziah.
Uzziah became the father of Jotham, Jotham the father of Ahaz, Ahaz the father of Hezekiah.
Hezekiah became the father of Manasseh, Manasseh the father of Amos, Amos the father of Josiah.
Josiah became the father of Jechoniah and his brothers at the time of the Babylonian exile.
After the Babylonian exile, Jechoniah became the father of Shealtiel, Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel,
Zerubbabel the father of Abiud. Abiud became the father of Eliakim, Eliakim the father of Azor,
Azor the father of Zadok. Zadok became the father of Achim, Achim the father of Eliud,
Eliud the father of Eleazar. Eleazar became the father of Matthan, Matthan the father of Jacob,
Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary. Of her was born Jesus who is called the Messiah.
Thus the total number of generations from Abraham to David is fourteen generations; from David to the Babylonian exile, fourteen generations; from the Babylonian exile to the Messiah, fourteen generations.

St. Josep Manyanet y Vives(Priest and Founder († 1901))

Saint Josep Manyanet y VivesPriest and Founder(1833-1901) Josep Manyanet was born into a large Christian family on January 7, 1833, at Northeastern Spain, in the city of Tremp, province of Lleida. He was baptized in the parish Church of our Lady of Valldeflors, the city's patroness. When he was 5, his mother offered him to our Lady's care and protection. When Josep came of age, he worked to complete his schooling with the Piarist Fathers in Barbastro and at the Seminaries of Lleida and Urgell. He was ordained a priest on April 9, 1859. After working for twelve years in the Diocese of Urgell, as secretary to the bishop, librarian of the seminary, administrator of the chancery and secretary for pastoral Visitations, Fr. Josep felt God's call to found two congregations.Founder and Apostle of the Holy Family With the approval of his bishop, he founded the religious congregations of the Sons of the Holy Family Jesus, Mary and Joseph and the Missionary Daughters of the Holy Family of Nazareth in 1864 and 1874. Their mission is honoring, imitating and sharing the example of the Holy Family of Nazareth. With constant work and prayer, and an exemplary and virtuous life, Fr. Josep guided and encouraged, for almost forty years, the formation and expansion of his Institutes, opening schools and centers of ministry in several towns in Spain. Today, both Institutes are present in several European countries, in North and South America and in Africa as well. Called to express the example of the Holy Family of Nazareth, he wrote several books and booklets to spread their devotion. He founded the magazine La Sagrada Familia and dedicated a shrine to the Holy Family. The Temple, as yet unfinished in Barcelona, was built by the architectural genius and Servant of God Antonio Gaudí, destined to perpetuate the virtues and examples of the Family of Nazareth and to be the universal spiritual home of all families.His Train of Thought Saint Josep Manyanet spread the Gospel through his preaching and writings. He wrote letters, books and booklets for the formation of the members of his religious Institutes, for families and children and for the management of schools. One of the highlights is the School of Nazareth and Home of the Holy Family (Barcelona 1895): his spiritual autobiography in which through the dialogues of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, with a literary character called Desideria, describes a process of Christian and religious perfection inspired in the spirituality of the home and school of Nazareth. His book A Priceless Family Gem (Barcelona 1899) is a guide for marriages and families, which reminds them of the dignity of the sacrament of marriage as a vocation and the important task of the Christian education of their children. The spirit of the Holy Family is a book of meditations dedicated to the members of his religious Institutes, where he describes their vocation, identity and mission. There is an edition of his Selected Works (Madrid 1991). A forthcoming edition of his Complete Works will enrich those already published. The first volume is already on the way.Illnesses and Death His many endeavors were not free of difficulties. He also had to endure physical illnesses along his life, but his constancy and fortitude, nourished by his humble obedience to the will of God, helped him persevere. Because of his poor health, due to open sores on his side, which he labelled God's mercies for 16 long years, he passed away on December 17, 1901. He was working at his school, "Jesús, María y José" of Barcelona. His last words were his fervent prayer Jesus, Mary and Joseph. His relics are kept in a chapel at the same school where he passed away. He is a physician or spiritual doctor for the youth, children and families. We may draw closer to God by picking up his readings.Witness to Holiness The Process of Canonization was formally introduced in 1956. Once the practice of heroic virtues were recognized in 1982 and the proof of a healing miracle attributed to his intercession was verified, Pope John Paul II declared him blessed in 1984. With another healing miracle through his intercession, he was canonized at Rome on May 16, 2004. Pope John Paul II stated that Josep Manyanet's sanctity stems from the Holy Family. He was called by God, so that "in his name every family on earth may be blessed." The Holy spirit guided him to proclaim the "Gospel of the family." His inspiration was that "all families may imitate and bless the Holy Family of Nazareth." That is: "to build a Nazareth in every home," and to make of every family a "Holy Family."

St. Olympias(Widow († c. 410))

SAINT OLYMPIAS Widow ( c. 410) St. Olympias, a shining light from the Eastern Church, descended from a noble and wealthy family. She was orphaned at a tender age and brought up by Theodosia, the sister of St. Amphilochius. Olympias emulated Theodosia's virtues, forming part of her treasured education and memories. Olympias married at a young age, but her husband passed away twenty days after the wedding. She modestly declined further offers, consecrated her life to prayer and good works, and used her fortune for the poor. Nectarius, Archbishop of Constantinople, with high esteem for Olympias, made her a deaconess of his church, the duties of which included preparing the altar, facilitating Holy Mass and administration. St. Chrysostom, who succeeded Nectarius, cooperated with her: even while declining to distribute or administer her alms. Our Saint was one of the last to leave St. Chrysostom when he went into banishment on June 20, 404. After his departure she suffered persecution, and crowned a virtuous life by a saintly death around the year 410.

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