Today's Mass: Saturday December 2, 2023

Saturday of the Thirty-fourth week in Ordinary Time

Book of Daniel

I, Daniel, found my spirit anguished within its sheath of flesh, and I was terrified by the visions of my mind.
I approached one of those present and asked him what all this meant in truth; in answer, he made known to me the meaning of the things:
"These four great beasts stand for four kingdoms which shall arise on the earth.
But the holy ones of the Most High shall receive the kingship, to possess it forever and ever."
But I wished to make certain about the fourth beast, so very terrible and different from the others, devouring and crushing with its iron teeth and bronze claws, and trampling with its feet what was left;
about the ten horns on its head, and the other one that sprang up, before which three horns fell; about the horn with the eyes and the mouth that spoke arrogantly, which appeared greater than its fellows.
For, as I watched, that horn made war against the holy ones and was victorious
until the Ancient One arrived; judgment was pronounced in favor of the holy ones of the Most High, and the time came when the holy ones possessed the kingdom.
He answered me thus: "The fourth beast shall be a fourth kingdom on earth, different from all the others; It shall devour the whole earth, beat it down, and crush it.
The ten horns shall be ten kings rising out of that kingdom; another shall rise up after them, Different from those before him, who shall lay low three kings.
He shall speak against the Most High and oppress the holy ones of the Most High, thinking to change the feast days and the law. They shall be handed over to him for a year, two years, and a half-year.
But when the court is convened, and his power is taken away by final and absolute destruction,
Then the kingship and dominion and majesty of all the kingdoms under the heavens shall be given to the holy people of the Most High, Whose kingdom shall be everlasting: all dominions shall serve and obey him."

Book of Daniel

You sons of men, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever.
O Israel, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever.
Priests of the Lord, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever.
Servants of the Lord, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever.
Spirits and souls of the just, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever.
Holy men of humble heart, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever.

Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke

Jesus said to his disciples: "Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy from carousing and drunkenness and the anxieties of daily life, and that day catch you by surprise
like a trap. For that day will assault everyone who lives on the face of the earth.
Be vigilant at all times and pray that you have the strength to escape the tribulations that are imminent and to stand before the Son of Man."

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 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. St. Bibiana's 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 and 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. When Bp. Ivan was arrested on June 2, 1945, he 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 wasarrested again 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. On June 27, 2001, the Bishop was beatified. His intercession never fails because he conformed perfectly in life to Jesus Christ.

misalcatolico.com