"Peter replied, 'Master, to whom would we go? You have the words of real life, eternal life. We’ve already committed ourselves, confident that you are the Holy One of God.'"(John 6:68-69)The Nativity of the Lord (Christmas), Mass at Midnight - Solemnity
Feast of the Church:
Saints of the Day:
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, in which the Priscillianists were condemned, and also at the Council of Bordeaux, which condemned the same schismatics.He baptized St. Paulerius in 388, and the latter, in several letters, speaks of him as his father and his master. St. Delphinus died on the 24th of December, 403.
Lives of the Saints, by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894]
Saints Adam and Eve
The name Adam means “the man,” and Eve — the name Adam gave his wife — means “the mother of all the living.” The enormity of their sin of disobedience was akin to Satan’s, formerly Lucifer or Lightbearer, who wanted to be autonomous and to be worshiped in place of God. From the bearer of light he had become the prince of darkness and the father of lies.
Satan called God the liar when he contradicted God’s warning to them and said, “You surely shall not die,” for by taking and eating of the forbidden fruit of the tree of the knowledge (i.e., experience) of good and evil, he said, they would become like God — God’s autonomous equals. The enormity of their sin lay in the fact that they had no inclination to evil as we do. That inclination comes down to us as a kind of birth defect caused by the violent impact of that first of all human sins which we call Original Sin. But although they suffered the natural consequences of their sin, indications seem to be that they repented afterward, lived godly lives, and died holy deaths.
Prayer
O most merciful God, we thank You for Your great love and mercy, as well as Your wonderful forgiveness which You happily give to those who repent of sin and turn back to You, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Saint Adele
Feastday: December 24
Death: 730
St. Adele, Widow. A daughter of King Dagobert II of Germany, St. Adele became a nun upon the death of her husband, making provisions for her son, the future father of St. Gregory of Utrecht. She founded a convent at Palatiolum near Trier and became its first Abbess, ruling with holiness, prudence, and compassion. St. Adele seems to have been among the disciples of St. Boniface, the Apostle of Germany, and a letter in his correspondence is addressed to her. After a devout life filled with good works and communion with God, she passed on to her heavenly reward in 730.SAINTS THRASILLA and EMILIANA
Virgins
(6th century)
Sts. Thrasilla and Emiliana were aunts of St. Gregory the Great. They lived in their father's house as retired as in a monastery, far removed from the conversation of men; and, exciting one another to virtue by discourse and example, soon made considerable progress in spiritual life.Thrasilla was favored one night with a vision of her uncle, St. Felix, Pope, who showed her a seat prepared for her in heaven, saying: "Come; I will receive you into this habitation of light." She fell sick of a fever the next day. When in her agony, with her eyes fixed on heaven, she cried out to those that were present: "Depart! make room! Jesus is coming." Soon after these words she breathed out her pious soul into the hands of God on the 24th of December.
A few days after she appeared to her sister Emiliana, and invited her to celebrate with her the Epiphany in eternal bliss. Emiliana fell sick, and died on the 8th of January.
Lives of the Saints, by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894]
The Nativity of the Lord (Christmas), Mass at Midnight - Solemnity
Book of Isaiah 9: A Child Has Been Born—for Us!
1 But there’ll be no darkness for those who were in trouble. Earlier he did bring the lands of Zebulun and Naphtali into disrepute, but the time is coming when he’ll make that whole area glorious— the road along the Sea, the country past the Jordan, international Galilee.
2-7 The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light.
For those who lived in a land of deep shadows—
light! sunbursts of light!
You repopulated the nation,
you expanded its joy.
Oh, they’re so glad in your presence!
Festival joy!
The joy of a great celebration,
sharing rich gifts and warm greetings.
The abuse of oppressors and cruelty of tyrants—
all their whips and cudgels and curses—
Is gone, done away with, a deliverance
as surprising and sudden as Gideon’s old victory over Midian.
The boots of all those invading troops,
along with their shirts soaked with innocent blood,
Will be piled in a heap and burned,
a fire that will burn for days!
For a child has been born—for us!
the gift of a son—for us!
He’ll take over
the running of the world.
His names will be: Amazing Counselor,
Strong God,
Eternal Father,
Prince of Wholeness.
His ruling authority will grow,
and there’ll be no limits to the wholeness he brings.
He’ll rule from the historic David throne
over that promised kingdom.
He’ll put that kingdom on a firm footing
and keep it going
With fair dealing and right living,
beginning now and lasting always.
The zeal of God-of-the-Angel-Armies
will do all this.
Psalms 96:1-2 Sing God a brand-new song!
Earth and everyone in it, sing!
Sing to God—worship God!
2-3 Shout the news of his victory from sea to sea,
Take the news of his glory to the lost,
News of his wonders to one and all!
11 Let’s hear it from Sky,
With Earth joining in,
And a huge round of applause from Sea.
12 Let Wilderness turn cartwheels,
Animals, come dance,
Put every tree of the forest in the choir—
13 An extravaganza before God as he comes,
As he comes to set everything right on earth,
Set everything right, treat everyone fair.
Letter to Titus 2:11-14 God’s readiness to give and forgive is now public. Salvation’s available for everyone! We’re being shown how to turn our backs on a godless, indulgent life, and how to take on a God-filled, God-honoring life. This new life is starting right now, and is whetting our appetites for the glorious day when our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, appears. He offered himself as a sacrifice to free us from a dark, rebellious life into this good, pure life, making us a people he can be proud of, energetic in goodness.
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke 2: The Birth of Jesus
1-5 About that time Caesar Augustus ordered a census to be taken throughout the Empire. This was the first census when Quirinius was governor of Syria. Everyone had to travel to his own ancestral hometown to be accounted for. So Joseph went from the Galilean town of Nazareth up to Bethlehem in Judah, David’s town, for the census. As a descendant of David, he had to go there. He went with Mary, his fiancée, who was pregnant.
6-7 While they were there, the time came for her to give birth. She gave birth to a son, her firstborn. She wrapped him in a blanket and laid him in a manger, because there was no room in the hostel.
An Event for Everyone
8-12 There were sheepherders camping in the neighborhood. They had set night watches over their sheep. Suddenly, God’s angel stood among them and God’s glory blazed around them. They were terrified. The angel said, “Don’t be afraid. I’m here to announce a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide: A Savior has just been born in David’s town, a Savior who is Messiah and Master. This is what you’re to look for: a baby wrapped in a blanket and lying in a manger.”
13-14 At once the angel was joined by a huge angelic choir singing God’s praises:
Glory to God in the heavenly heights,
Peace to all men and women on earth who please him.
The Nativity of the Lord (Christmas), Mass at Midnight - Solemnity
Commentary of the Day:
Byzantine Liturgy
Vespers of 20 December
Prepare yourself, O Bethlehem, he is coming!
Prepare yourself, O Bethlehem ! Eden’s gates are opening wide to all. Rejoice! O Ephrata (Mic 5,1), for within the cave the Virgin is bringing the tree of life to blossom… Christ draws near to serve us : he, the Creator, takes on the form of his own handiwork. In the full panoply of his divinity and full of mercy, he brings a new creation, a new birth, to wretched Adam. He bends the heavens and, from out of the Virgin’s womb, he draws near to us, clothed in our flesh. He is to be born in Bethlehem, according to the Scriptures; he will appear as a child who gives life to children in their mothers’ womb.
Let us go to meet him ; let us go to Bethlehem rejoicing, our souls glad. Our Lord… comes to it as a stranger; let us welcome him that we may be his guests in paradise and dwell there through the mercy of him who is born in the stable. The gates of the incarnation of God’s Word are already opening to us.
Heavens rejoice! Angels, leap for gladness ! Let the earth and those who dwell in it give way to rejoicing with the shepherds and the wise men! The Virgin Mary comes forward bearing an alabaster vase full of perfume; she takes it into the cave that she might scent our souls with her perfume in the Holy Spirit. Run there, angelic Powers! All you who dwell in Bethlehem, prepare a cradle. For Christ is on the way, Wisdom is coming. O you faithful, receive our greetings; peoples, let us say together to give joy to the Mother of God: “Blessed is he, our God, who comes!” (Mt 21,9). Christ our God is appearing openly; he will not delay. He is to be born of an immaculate Virgin; soon he will rest in the cave… Lead the choir, Isaiah, declare God’s Word; prophesy to us how the bush that is the Virgin is blazing without being consumed (Ex 3,2)… The mysterious star that halts above the stable indicates the Author of life, the Lord who comes to save all humankind
_____________________________
No comments:
Post a Comment