First Sunday of Advent

Book of Isaiah

You, LORD, are our father,
our redeemer you are named forever.
Why do you let us wander, O LORD, from your ways, and harden our hearts so that we fear you not? Return for the sake of your servants, the tribes of your heritage.
Too long have we been like those you do not rule, who do not bear your name. Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down, with the mountains quaking before you,
While you wrought awesome deeds we could not hope for,
such as they had not heard of from of old. No ear has ever heard, no eye ever seen, any God but you doing such deeds for those who wait for him.
Would that you might meet us doing right, that we were mindful of you in our ways! Behold, you are angry, and we are sinful;
all of us have become like unclean men, all our good deeds are like polluted rags; We have all withered like leaves, and our guilt carries us away like the wind.
There is none who calls upon your name, who rouses himself to cling to you; For you have hidden your face from us and have delivered us up to our guilt.
Yet, O LORD, you are our father; we are the clay and you the potter: we are all the work of your hands.

Psalms

Shepherd of Israel, listen!
From your throne upon the cherubim, shine forth
Rouse your power,
come to save us.
Once again, O LORD of hosts,
look down from heaven, and see:
take care of this vine,
and protect what your right hand has planted
the son of man whom you yourself made strong.
May your help be with the man of your right hand,
with the son of man whom you yourself made strong.
Then we will no more withdraw from you;
give us new life, and we will call upon your name.

First Letter to the Corinthians

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
I give thanks to my God always on your account for the grace of God bestowed on you in Christ Jesus,
that in him you were enriched in every way, with all discourse and all knowledge,
as the testimony to Christ was confirmed among you,
so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift as you wait for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ.
He will keep you firm to the end, irreproachable on the day of our Lord Jesus (Christ).
God is faithful, and by him you were called to fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Mark

Be watchful! Be alert! You do not know when the time will come.
It is like a man traveling abroad. He leaves home and places his servants in charge, each with his work, and orders the gatekeeper to be on the watch.
Watch, therefore; you do not know when the lord of the house is coming, whether in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or in the morning.
May he not come suddenly and find you sleeping.
What I say to you, I say to all: 'Watch!'"

St. Francis Xavier(Priest (1506-1552) - Memorial)

SAINT FRANCIS XAVIERPriest(1506-1552) Francis Xavier, in the dangerous days of the Reformation, was making a name for himself as a professor of philosophy at the University of Paris. He appeared to have no higher goal until meeting St. Ignatius of Loyola. After the encounter, Francis Xavier experienced metanoia: a fundamental change of heart and mind and a new direction. After a brief apostolate among his countrymen at Rome, Francis Xavier was sent by St. Ignatius to the Indies. For twelve years, he proclaimed the Gospel in Hindostan, Malacca and Japan. Sometimes, he experienced setbacks, jealously and neglect, but God, Who draws grace from sin, aided him. The occasions of sin or despair helped make him a saint: forging character, building virtue and putting deeper trust in God. The people of China appealed to Francis' charity; and he was resolved to risk his life to enter when God called him to heaven. He passed away on December 2, 1552, like Moses in sight of the promised land. His extensive apostolate helped make him a saint, as should our love for God in our daily work.

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