Thursday of the 1st Week of Advent
Mass Readings
First Reading – Is 26:1-6
On that day they will sing this song in the land of Judah: “A strong city have we; he sets up walls and ramparts to protect us. Open up the gates to let in a nation that is just, one that keeps faith. A nation of firm purpose you keep in peace; in peace, for its trust in you.” Trust in the LORD forever! For the LORD is an eternal Rock. He humbles those in high places, and the lofty city He brings down; He tumbles it to the ground, levels it with the dust. It is trampled underfoot by the needy, by the footsteps of the poor.
Responsorial Psalm – 118:1 and 8-9, 19-21, 25-27a (R. 26a)
R. Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good,
for His mercy endures forever.
It is better to take refuge in the LORD
than to trust in man.
It is better to take refuge in the LORD
than to trust in princes. R.
Open to me the gates of justice;
I will enter them and give thanks to the LORD.
This gate is the LORD’s;
the just shall enter it.
I will give thanks to You, for You have answered me
and have been my savior. R.
O LORD, grant salvation!
O LORD, grant prosperity!
Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD;
we bless you from the house of the LORD.
The LORD is God, and He has given us light. R.
Gospel – Mt 7:21, 24-27
Jesus said to His disciples: “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the Kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of My Father in heaven. “Everyone who listens to these words of Mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on rock. And everyone who listens to these words of Mine but does not act on them will be like a fool who built his house on sand. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. And it collapsed and was completely ruined.”
Featured Saints
St. Eligius (Eloi), bishop (†660). A goldsmith from Limoges, France, and counsellor to King Dagobert I. He entered religious life, was ordained, and founded several monasteries before being elected Bishop of Noyon.
St. Domnolus, bishop (†581). He was abbot of the Monastery of St. Lawrence in Paris, and later Bishop of Le Mans, France. He shone fore his gift of miracles.
St. Nahum, prophet of the Old Testament. In his exhortations, he portrays God as the director of History and Judge of nations.
St. Edmund Campion, Ralph Sherwin and Alexander Briant, priests and martyrs (†1581). Jesuit religious who suffered martyrdom in England during the reign of Elizabeth I.
St. Florence, virgin (†fourth century). A pagan converted to the Faith by St. Hilary of Poitiers during his exile in Asia Minor. She followed him on his return to France and became an anchoress in Comblé.
Beato Casimiro Sykulski, martyr († 1941). Polish priest, military chaplain in the First World War. He laboured with great dedication in social and apostolic work. For his continuous charitable activity, he was arrested during World War II and taken to Auschwitz concentration camp, where he was shot.
blessed Maria Clara of the Child Jesus, virgem (†1899). She founded the Franciscan Hospitallers Sisters of the Immaculate Conception in Lisbon.
Blessed Liduina Meneguzzi, virgem (†1941). A Sister of St. Francis de Sales from Italy, who worked as a missionary in Ethiopia, where she practised the virtue of Christian charity towards the poor, sick and imprisoned.
Blessed Marie-Clémentine Anuarite Nengapeta, virgin and martyr († 1964). Religious of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Holy Family, martyred during a bloody persecution in the Republic of Congo.
