DECEMBER 17

SATURDAY OF THE THIRD WEEK OF ADVENT O Sapientia REFLECT Today begins the singing of the traditional O Antiphons. The antiphons sung at Vespers during the Liturgy of the Hours (and at daily Mass as the verse during the “Alleluia”) invoke the coming Messiah. They […]

DECEMBER 16

FRIDAY OF THE THIRD WEEK OF ADVENT Isaiah 56:1 REFLECT Chapter 56 of Isaiah begins, “Thus says the Lord: / Observe what is right, do what is just; / for my salvation is about to come, / my justice, about to be revealed.” Saint Jerome, […]

DECEMBER 15

THURSDAY OF THE THIRD WEEK OF ADVENT Isaiah 54:1–10 REFLECT To fully understand the first verses of Isaiah 54, we have to turn to the dark period of Israel’s exile. During the Babylonian captivity, the Temple was destroyed, and the Israelites were taken from the […]

DECEMBER 14

MEMORIAL OF SAINT JOHN OF THE CROSS, PRIEST AND DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH 1 Corinthians 2:1–10 REFLECT St. John of the Cross, a Carmelite mystic and reformer, once wrote, “Would that men might come at last to see that it is quite impossible to reach […]

DECEMBER 13

MEMORIAL OF SAINT LUCY, VIRGIN AND MARTYR Matthew 25:1–13 REFLECT Catholic Tradition holds that before her martyrdom Saint Lucy suffered a terrible ordeal. Different versions of the legend recount that her eyes were gouged out, either by herself (to protect her chastity) or by her […]

DECEMBER 12

FEAST OF OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE Revelation 12:1–6 REFLECT Beginning December 9, 1531, Our Lady appeared to St. Juan Diego daily, over the course of four days. During each appearance, she offered Juan Diego a tender message, consoling him and exhorting him to trust. On […]

DECEMBER 11

THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT Matthew 11:2–11 REFLECT “Gaudete!” the Church sings today! “Rejoice!” we cry. Rose vestments and joyful music change the tone of our Sunday Advent meditations. And why? Because our joy flows from Christ, from the promise that he is truly the Messiah. […]