Baptism of the Lord - Feast

Book of Isaiah

Comfort, give comfort to my people, says your God.
Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her service is at an end, her guilt is expiated; Indeed, she has received from the hand of the LORD double for all her sins.
A voice cries out: In the desert prepare the way of the LORD! Make straight in the wasteland a highway for our God!
Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill shall be made low; The rugged land shall be made a plain, the rough country, a broad valley.
Then the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all mankind shall see it together; for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.
Go up onto a high mountain, Zion, herald of glad tidings; Cry out at the top of your voice, Jerusalem, herald of good news! Fear not to cry out and say to the cities of Judah: Here is your God!
Here comes with power the Lord GOD, who rules by his strong arm; Here is his reward with him, his recompense before him.
Like a shepherd he feeds his flock; in his arms he gathers the lambs, Carrying them in his bosom, and leading the ewes with care.

Psalms

O LORD, my God, you are great indeed!
You are clothed with majesty and glory,
robed in light as with a cloak.
You have spread out the heavens like a tent-cloth.
You have constructed your palace upon the waters.
You make the clouds your chariot;
you travel on the wings of the wind.
You make the winds your messengers,
and flaming fire your ministers.
How manifold are your works, O LORD!
the earth is full of your creatures;
the sea also, great and wide,
in which are schools without number
of living things both small and great.
All creatures look to you
to give them food in due time.
When you give to them, they gather it;
when you open your hand, they are well filled with good things.
If you take away their breath, they perish
and return to their dust.
When you send forth your spirit, they are created,
and you renew the face of the earth.

Letter to Titus

Beloved: The grace of God has appeared, saving all
and training us to reject godless ways and worldly desires and to live temperately, justly, and devoutly in this age,
as we await the blessed hope, the appearance of the glory of the great God and of our savior Jesus Christ,
who gave himself for us to deliver us from all lawlessness and to cleanse for himself a people as his own, eager to do what is good.
But when the kindness and generous love of God our savior appeared,
not because of any righteous deeds we had done but because of his mercy, he saved us through the bath of rebirth and renewal by the holy Spirit,
whom he richly poured out on us through Jesus Christ our savior,
so that we might be justified by his grace and become heirs in hope of eternal life.

Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke

The people were filled with expectation, and all were asking in their hearts whether John might be the Christ.
John answered them all, saying, "I am baptizing you with water, but one mightier than I is coming. I am not worthy to loosen the thongs of his sandals. He will baptize you with the holy Spirit and fire.
After all the people had been baptized and Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, heaven was opened
and the holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, "You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased."

St. Marguerite Bourgeoys(Foundress (1620-1700))

SAINT MARGUERITE BOURGEOYS 1620-1700 Foundress of the Sisters of the Congregation of Notre-Dame Marguerite Bourgeoys was born in Troyes, in the province of Champagne, France, on Good Friday, April 17, 1620. She was baptized in Saint-Jean's church near her home. Marguerite was the sixth of twelve children. Her parents were Abraham Bourgeoys and Guillemette Gamier. She was blessed to grow up in a milieu that was middle class and Christian. Marguerite was 19 when her mother passed away. The following year, during a procession for Our Lady of the Rosary on October 7, she had an unforgettable experience. Her eyes rested on the statue of the Blessed Virgin and she was inspired to consecrate herself to the service of the Church. With that unchanging fidelity to what she sensed was God's will, she set about discerning her specific vocation. She registered as a member of the extern congregation of Troyes: an association of young girls devoted to the charitable work of teaching children in the poor districts. While conducting apostolate, she learned about the foundation of Ville Marie in Canada. The year was 1642 when she received the calling to missionary life. This was affirmed in 1652 when she met Monsieur de Maisonneuve, the founder and governor of the settlement in New France. He was searching for someone to volunteer for the instruction of French and native children. Our Lady, the Holy Virgin Mary, reaffirmed Marguerite's calling in a locution: "Go, I will not forsake you." Marguerite left Troyes in February 1653 and arrived in Montreal the following November 16. In order to encourage expressions of faith, Marguerite restored the cross on Mount Royal after its destruction by hostile tribes. She also began the construction of a chapel dedicated to Notre-Dame de Bon Secours. She was convinced that the family is a critical institution and devoted herself to women who had a vocation for marriage. In 1658, she opened the first school in Montreal in a stable given to her by the governor. She also organized an extern congregation patterned after the one in Troyes, but adapted to local needs. This enabled her to help women as far as the instruction of children was concerned. In 1659, she began receiving ladies who were recommended by "les cures" in France, or endowed by the King to establish homes in Montreal. Her activities brought forth a school system and a network of social services that gradually extended to the whole country: leading people to refer to Marguerite as "Mother of the Community." On three occasions, Marguerite made trips to France to obtain help. In 1658, the group of teachers who associated themselves with her in the life of prayer, heroic detachment and untiring devotedness presented the image of a religious institute. The group was inspired by the "vie voyagere" of Our Lady and desired to remain uncloistered, which was an innovation at the time. Their foundation steadily progressed with much sacrifice. The Congregation de Notre-Dame received its civil charter from Louis XIV in 1671 and canonical approbation by decree of the bishop of Quebec in 1676. The Constitutions of the Community were approved in 1698. The foundation being assured, Sister Bourgeoys could leave the work to others. She passed away in Montreal on January 12, 1700, acknowledged for her sanctity and heroic virtues. Forty members of the Congregation de Notre-Dame were there to continue her work. Her last generous act was to offer herself as a sacrifice of prayer for the return to health of a young sister. She is rightly considered co-foundress of Montreal; along with the nurse Jeanne Mance and the master designer Monsieur de Maisonneuve. The educative and apostolic efforts of Marguerite Bourgeoys continues through the members of the community that she founded. More than 2,600 Sisters of the Congregation de Notre-Dame work in fields of action according to the needs of time and place: in schools, colleges and universities, in promoting family, parish and diocesan activities. They are on mission in Canada, the United States, Japan, Latin America and Cameroon. Most recently, they established a house in France. On November 12, 1950, Pope Pius XII beatified Marguerite Bourgeoys. Pope John Paul II canonized her on October 31, 1982: giving the Canadian Church its first female saint.

St. Aelred(Abbot (1109-1167))

SAINT AELRED OF RIEVAULX Abbot (1109-1167) "One thing thou lackest." In these words, God called Aelred from the court of a royal, David of Scotland, to the silence of the cloister. He left the king, the companions of his youth and a friend most dear. Aelred was "sent," convinced of the perils his soul faced in the world. Upon entering the Cistercian Order, his yearning for sympathy tempted him to forget their rule of perpetual silence. He broke the rule just once: interrupting the focus of his brother, Simon. Immediately, Aelred prostrated himself. He repented for not listening to others' hearts and resolved to let nothing interupt his communion with God. At his superior's behest, Aelred composed his great works, the Spiritual Friendship and the Mirror of Charity. In the latter work, he says that true love of God is only to be obtained by joining ourselves in all things to the Passion of Christ. Aelred founded Rieveaux Abbey in England and served as its abbot. Before passing away in 1167, he was the superior of three hundred monks.

St. Benedict Biscop(Abbot (c. 628 – 690))

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