Friday of the First week of Advent

Book of Isaiah

Thus says the Lord GOD: But a very little while, and Lebanon shall be changed into an orchard, and the orchard be regarded as a forest!
On that day the deaf shall hear the words of a book; And out of gloom and darkness, the eyes of the blind shall see.
The lowly will ever find joy in the LORD, and the poor rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.
For the tyrant will be no more and the arrogant will have gone; All who are alert to do evil will be cut off,
those whose mere word condemns a man, Who ensnare his defender at the gate, and leave the just man with an empty claim.
Therefore thus says the LORD, the God of the house of Jacob, who redeemed Abraham: Now Jacob shall have nothing to be ashamed of, nor shall his face grow pale.
When his children see the work of my hands in his midst, They shall keep my name holy; they shall reverence the Holy One of Jacob, and be in awe of the God of Israel.
Those who err in spirit shall acquire understanding, and those who find fault shall receive instruction.

Psalms

The LORD is my light and my salvation;
whom should I fear?
The LORD is my life's refuge;
of whom should I be afraid?
One thing I ask of the LORD
this I seek:
to dwell in the house of the LORD
all the days of my life,
that I may gaze on the loveliness of the LORD
and contemplate his temple.
I believe that I shall see the bounty of the LORD
in the land of the living.
Wait for the LORD with courage;
be stouthearted, and wait for the LORD.

Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew

As Jesus passed by, two blind men followed him, crying out, “Son of David, have pity on us!”
When he entered the house, the blind men approached him and Jesus said to them, "Do you believe that I can do this?" "Yes, Lord," they said to him.
Then he touched their eyes and said, "Let it be done for you according to your faith."
And their eyes were opened. Jesus warned them sternly, "See that no one knows about this."
But they went out and spread word of him through all that land.

St. Bibiana(Virgin and Martyr (4th century))

SAINT BIBIANA Virgin and Martyr (4th century) St. Bibiana was a native of Rome. Her father, Flavian, was arrested for being a Christian and burned in the face with a hot iron. He was then banished to Aequapendente where he died of his wounds a few days later. Her mother, Dafrosa, was later beheaded. Bibiana and her sister, Demetria, had all their property confiscated. Afterward, Apronianus, the Governor of Rome, summoned them and put them on trial. Demetria confessed her faith in Jesus Christ, but then collapsed and died in front of the tribunal. Apronianus ordered that Bibiana be put into the hands of Rufina, who would bring her to another way of thinking. However, Bibiana's faith grew all the greater: After proving her love in temptation, suffering and darkness, springs of living water flowed from within her (Jn. 7:38). Apronianus was enraged at her courage, and ordered her tied to a pillar and scourged to death with whips of leaden plummets. St. Bibiana underwent this punishment courageously for Jesus Christ before passing away. Her triumph over sin in the face of death saw an immediate encounter with Jesus Christ. She received the beatific vision and sees God face to face forever.

Bl. Ivan Slezyuk(Bishop (1896-1973))

Blessed Ivan SlezyukBishop of the "clandestine" Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church(1896-1973) Bl. Ivan Slezyuk was born on January 14, 1896, in the village of Zhyvachiv, Stanislaviv - now Ivano-Frankivsk Region, Ukraine. He was ordained in 1923 after graduating from seminary. In April 1945, Bp. Hryhory Khomyshyn ordained Fr. Ivan as his co-adjutor, with the right of succession in case the former was arrested. After his arrest on June 2, 1945, Bp. Ivan was deported for ten years to the labor camps in Vorkuta, Russia. In 1950, he was transferred to the labor camps in Mordovia. After his release on November 15, 1954, Bp. Ivan returned to Ivano-Frankivsk. In 1962, Bp. Ivan was arrested for a second time and imprisoned for five years in a camp of strict regimen. After his release on November 30, 1968, he had to visit the KGB for regular "talks." The last visit was two weeks before his death. Immediately after his return, he fell ill; and passed away on December 2, 1973, in Ivano-Frankivsk. Pope John Paul II opened the case for Bp. Ivan Slezyuk's canonization. The Bishop was beatified on June 27, 2001. He never fails to grant our prayers because he conformed perfectly in life to Jesus Christ.

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