Fourth Sunday of Advent

2nd book of Samuel

When King David was settled in his palace, and the LORD had given him rest from his enemies on every side,
he said to Nathan the prophet, "Here I am living in a house of cedar, while the ark of God dwells in a tent!"
Nathan answered the king, "Go, do whatever you have in mind, for the LORD is with you."
But that night the LORD spoke to Nathan and said:
"Go, tell my servant David, 'Thus says the LORD: Should you build me a house to dwell in?
"Now then, speak thus to my servant David, 'The LORD of hosts has this to say: It was I who took you from the pasture and from the care of the flock to be commander of my people Israel.
I have been with you wherever you went, and I have destroyed all your enemies before you. And I will make you famous like the great ones of the earth.
I will fix a place for my people Israel; I will plant them so that they may dwell in their place without further disturbance. Neither shall the wicked continue to afflict them as they did of old,
since the time I first appointed judges over my people Israel. I will give you rest from all your enemies. The LORD also reveals to you that he will establish a house for you.
And when your time comes and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your heir after you, sprung from your loins, and I will make his kingdom firm.
I will be a father to him, and he shall be a son to me. And if he does wrong, I will correct him with the rod of men and with human chastisements;
Your house and your kingdom shall endure forever before me; your throne shall stand firm forever.'"

Psalms

The favors of the LORD I will sing forever;
through all generations my mouth shall proclaim your faithfulness.
For you have said, “My kindness is established forever”;
in heaven you have confirmed your faithfulness.
“I have made a covenant with my chosen one,
I have sworn to David my servant:
Forever will I confirm your posterity
and establish your throne for all generations.”
“He shall say of me, 'You are my father,
my God, the Rock, my savior.'
Forever I will maintain my kindness toward him,
and my covenant with him stands firm.”

Letter to the Romans

Now to him who can strengthen you, according to my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret for long ages
but now manifested through the prophetic writings and, according to the command of the eternal God, made known to all nations to bring about the obedience of faith,
to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke

In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth,
to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin's name was Mary.
And coming to her, he said, "Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you."
But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.
Then the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus.
He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father,
and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end."
But Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?"
And the angel said to her in reply, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God.
And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren;
for nothing will be impossible for God."
Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word." Then the angel departed from her.

St. Delphinus(Bishop († 403))

SAINT DELPHINUS Bishop ( 403) Little is known of St. Delphinus before his elevation to the episcopate. He assisted at the Council of Saragossa in 330, where the Priscillianists were rebuked. He also assisted at the Council of Bordeaux, which condemned the same schismatics. St. Delphinus baptized St. Paulerius in 388. The latter, in several letters, speaks of St. Delphinus as a father and master. St. Delphinus passed away on December 24, 403.

Sts. Thrasilla and Emiliana(Virgins (6th century))

SAINTS THRASILLA and EMILIANA Virgins(6th century) Sts. Thrasilla and Emiliana were the aunts of St. Gregory the Great. They lived in their father's house: practicing virtue and the norms of piety. One night, Thrasilla saw a vision of her uncle, St. Felix, a pope. He showed her the seat prepared for her in heaven, saying, "Come; I will receive you." The next day, Thrasilla fell ill with a fever. Soon after, on December 24, she passed away. After a few days, Thrasilla appeared in a vision to her sister Emiliana, inviting her to celebrate the Epiphany in eternal bliss. Emiliana also fell sick, and passed away on January 8. God does not interfere with the freedom of mankind, but makes Himself known according to love and wisdom. Thrasilla and Emiliana loved God more than anything. Such was their conformity to God that they encountered him fully after passing from this life to the next.

Sts. Adam & Eve()

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