Third Sunday of Advent

Book of Isaiah

The spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me; He has sent me to bring glad tidings to the lowly, to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives and release to the prisoners,
To announce a year of favor from the LORD and a day of vindication by our God, to comfort all who mourn;
I rejoice heartily in the LORD, in my God is the joy of my soul; For he has clothed me with a robe of salvation, and wrapped me in a mantle of justice, Like a bridegroom adorned with a diadem, like a bride bedecked with her jewels.
As the earth brings forth its plants, and a garden makes its growth spring up, So will the Lord GOD make justice and praise spring up before all the nations.

Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke

Mary said: "My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord;
my spirit rejoices in God my savior.
For he has looked with favor on his lowly servant;
from this day all generations will call me blessed.
The Almighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
He has mercy on those who fear him
in every generation.
He has filled the hungry with good things;
and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has come to the help of his servant Israel ,
remembering his promise of mercy,

First Letter to the Thessalonians

Rejoice always.
Pray without ceasing.
In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.
Do not quench the Spirit.
Do not despise prophetic utterances.
Test everything; retain what is good.
Refrain from every kind of evil.
May the God of peace himself make you perfectly holy and may you entirely, spirit, soul, and body, be preserved blameless for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The one who calls you is faithful, and he will also accomplish it.

Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John

A man named John was sent from God.
He came for testimony, to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him.
He was not the light, but came to testify to the light.
And this is the testimony of John. When the Jews from Jerusalem sent priests and Levites (to him) to ask him, "Who are you?"
he admitted and did not deny it, but admitted, "I am not the Messiah."
So they asked him, "What are you then? Are you Elijah?" And he said, "I am not." "Are you the Prophet?" He answered, "No."
So they said to him, "Who are you, so we can give an answer to those who sent us? What do you have to say for yourself?"
He said: "I am 'the voice of one crying out in the desert, "Make straight the way of the Lord,"' as Isaiah the prophet said."
Some Pharisees were also sent.
They asked him, "Why then do you baptize if you are not the Messiah or Elijah or the Prophet?"
John answered them, "I baptize with water; but there is one among you whom you do not recognize,
the one who is coming after me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to untie."
This happened in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

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 the city of Tremp, Northeastern Spain. He was baptized at 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 at Barbastro and the Seminaries of Lleida and Urgell. He was ordained a priest on April 9, 1859. After working in the Diocese of Urgell for 12 years as the bishop's secretary, the secretary for pastoral visitations, the librarian of the seminary, and the administrator of the chancery, Fr. Josep felt God's call to found two congregations.Founder and Apostle of the Holy Family With the approval of his bishop, Fr. Josep 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). The spiritual autobiography has a literary characterdialoguing with Jesus, Mary and Joseph. The conversations describe 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, wherein 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 spiritual doctor for the youth, children and families. We can 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, was from a patrician family. She was orphaned at a tender age and brought up by Theodosia, the sister of St. Amphilochius. Olympias emulated Theodosia's virtues, which were a part of her education and treasured memories. Olympias married at a young age, but her husband passed away after 20 days. She modestly declined further marriage proposals. She instead gave her entire life to prayer, good works and charitable giving. Nectarius, the archbishop of Constantinople, made Olympias a deaconess of his church. Her duties included preparing the altar, facilitating Holy Mass and administering the diocese. St. Chrysostom, who succeeded Abp. Nectarius, cooperated with Olympias even though declining to distribute her alms. Olympias was one of the last who remained with him after he went into banishment on June 20, 404. She, too was persecuted, but lived heroically. She crowned a virtuous life by a saintly death around the year 410.

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Category: Mass by Year / Catholic Missal 2023 / Catholic Missal of december 2023