Wednesday of the 3rd Week of Advent
Mass Readings
First Reading – Is 7:10-14
The LORD spoke to Ahaz: Ask for a sign from the LORD, your God; let it be deep as the nether world, or high as the sky! But Ahaz answered, “I will not ask! I will not tempt the LORD!” Then Isaiah said: Listen, O house of David! Is it not enough for you to weary men, must you also weary my God? Therefore the Lord himself will give you this sign: the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall name him Emmanuel.
Responsorial Psalm – Ps 24:1-2, 3-4ab, 5-6 (R.see 7c and 10b)
R. Let the Lord enter; He is the king of glory.
The LORD’s are the earth and its fullness;
the world and those who dwell in it.
For He founded it upon the seas
and established it upon the rivers. R.
Who can ascend the mountain of the LORD?
or who may stand in His holy place?
He whose hands are sinless, whose heart is clean,
who desires not what is vain. R.
He shall receive a blessing from the LORD,
a reward from God his savior.
Such is the race that seeks for Him,
that seeks the face of the God of Jacob. R.
Gospel – Lk 1:26-38
In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary. And coming to her, he said, “Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.” But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give Him the throne of David His father, and He will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of His Kingdom there will be no end.” But Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?” And the angel said to her in reply, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren; for nothing will be impossible for God.” Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.
Featured Saints
St. Zephyrinus, Pope (†217/218). Governed the Church for 18 years; his main advisor was St. Calixtus. His pontificate was marked by the fight against the heresies concerning the Blessed Trinity.
St. Dominic of Silos, abbot (†1073). After living as a hermit, he restored the monastery of Silos, Spain, which he found virtually in ruins, reestablishing the observance and practice of divine praise.
St. Philogonius, bishop (†324). Originally a lawyer, elected Bishop of Antioch, he began the fight against Arianism with St. Alexander. St. John Chrysostom praised him in a famous eulogy.
St. Ursicinus of Jura (†c. 620). Irish monk, disciple of St. Columbanus, he settled as a hermit in a grotto at the foot of Mount Jura, near Geneva, Switzerland, attracting many disciples.
Blessed Vincent Romano, priest (†1831). Parish priest from Torre del Greco, Italy, dedicated to teaching orphans and helping labourers and fishermen.
Blessed Michael Piaszczynski, Polish priest and martyr who was imprisoned by the Nazis and and and killed at Sachsenhausen concentration camp in 1940.
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