Readings for 23 December

Book of Malachi

Thus says the Lord God: Lo, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me; and suddenly there will come to the temple the Lord whom you seek, and the messenger of the covenant whom you desire. Yes, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts.
But who will endure the day of his coming? And who can stand when he appears? For he is like the refiner's fire, or like the fuller's lye.
He will sit refining and purifying (silver), and he will purify the sons of Levi, Refining them like gold or like silver that they may offer due sacrifice to the LORD.
Then the sacrifice of Judah and Jerusalem will please the LORD, as in days of old, as in years gone by.
Lo, I will send you Elijah, the prophet, Before the day of the LORD comes, the great and terrible day,
To turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers, Lest I come and strike the land with doom.

Psalms

Your ways, O LORD, make known to me;
teach me your paths,
guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my savior.
Good and upright is the LORD;
thus he shows sinners the way.
He guides the humble to justice,
he teaches the humble his way.
All the paths of the LORD are kindness and constancy
toward those who keep his covenant and his decrees.
The friendship of the LORD is with those who fear him,
and his covenant, for their instruction.

Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke

When the time arrived for Elizabeth to have her child she gave birth to a son.
Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy toward her, and they rejoiced with her.
When they came on the eighth day to circumcise the child, they were going to call him Zechariah after his father,
but his mother said in reply, "No. He will be called John."
But they answered her, "There is no one among your relatives who has this name."
So they made signs, asking his father what he wished him to be called.
He asked for a tablet and wrote, "John is his name," and all were amazed.
Immediately his mouth was opened, his tongue freed, and he spoke blessing God.
Then fear came upon all their neighbors, and all these matters were discussed throughout the hill country of Judea.
All who heard these things took them to heart, saying, "What, then, will this child be?" For surely the hand of the Lord was with him.

St. John of Kanty(Priest (1390-1473))

SAINT JOHN of KantyPriest(1390-1473) St. John was born in Kenty, Poland. Later, he studied in Cracow with such diligence and charity that he garnered a reputation for excellence. Meanwhile, his modesty, virtue and prayers drew many hearts to the Lord. St. John was, for a short time, in charge of a parish, but he relinquished the task and returned to his life as a professor in Cracow. There, for many years, he lived a life of unobtrusive virtue, self-denial and charity. St. John loved the Holy See and went on pilgrimages to Rome. His devotion to the Passion led him to Jerusalem, where he was ready to be martyred by preaching to the Turks. St. John passed away in 1473. He prayed, did everything for God and was docile to the Holy Spirit.

St. Servulus († c. 590)()

SAINT SERVULUS( c. 590) St. Servulus was a beggar, and had been so afflicted with palsy from infancy that he was unable to stand, sit upright, lift his hand to his mouth or turn himself from one side to another. His mother and brother would carry him to the porch of St. Clement's Church in Rome, where he lived on the alms of those who passed by. St. Servulus would entreat devout persons to read the Holy Scriptures to him, which he heard with such attention as to learn them by heart. He sanctified his spare time by singing hymns of praise and thanksgiving to God. After several years thus spent, his affliction seized his vitals, and he felt his time drawing to a close. In his last moments, he entreated the poor and pilgrims, who had often shared in his charity, to sing sacred hymns and psalms for him. Soon thereafter, he passed away; and angels accompanied his soul to heaven.

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