DR Squared: First Sunday of Advent (Year A)

First Reading:  Isaiah 2:1-5

The word that Isaias the son of Amos saw, concerning Juda and Jerusalem. And in the last days the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be prepared on the top of mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills, and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go, and say: Come and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, and to the house of the God of Jacob, and he will teach us his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall come forth from Sion, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. And he shall judge the Gentiles, and rebuke many people: and they shall turn their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into sickles: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they be exercised any more to war. O house of Jacob, come ye, and let us walk in the light of the Lord.

Responsorial Psalm:  Psalm 122: 1-2, 3-4ab, 4cd-5, 6-7, 8-9

R. I rejoiced at the things that were said to me:  We shall go into the house of the Lord.

V. I rejoiced at the things that were said to me: 

We shall go into the house of the Lord.

Our feet were standing in thy courts,

O Jerusalem.

V. Jerusalem, which is built as a city,

which is compact together.

For thither did the tribes go up,

the tribes of the Lord:

V. (T)he testimony of Israel,

to praise the name of the Lord.

Because their seats have sat in judgment,

seats upon the house of David.

V. Pray ye for the thing that are the peace of Jerusalem: 

and abundance for those who love thee.

Let peace be in thy strength: 

and abundance in thy towers.

V. For the sake of my brethren, and of my neighbours,

I spoke peace of thee.

Because of the house of the Lord our God,

I have sought good things for thee.  

Second Reading:  Romans 13:11-14

And that knowing the season; that it is now the hour for us to rise from sleep. For now our salvation is nearer than when we believed. The night is passed, and the day is at hand. Let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and put on the armour of light. Let us walk honestly, as in the day: not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and impurities, not in contention and envy: But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh in its concupiscences.

Gospel Reading:  Matthew 24:37-44

And as in the days of Noe, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, even till that day in which Noe entered into the ark, And they knew not till the flood came, and took them all away; so also shall the coming of the Son of man be. Then two shall be in the field: one shall be taken, and one shall be left. Two women shall be grinding at the mill: one shall be taken, and one shall be left. Watch ye therefore, because ye know not what hour your Lord will come. But know this ye, that if the goodman of the house knew at what hour the thief would come, he would certainly watch, and would not suffer his house to be broken open. Wherefore be you also ready, because at what hour you know not the Son of man will come.

The readings from the USCCB can be found here.

Advent Prayer

O Lovely Infant Jesus, You will abide with me once more.

O that I might prepare for You an agreeable dwelling place in my heart.

Jesus, Almighty Savior, come to my aid!
Bless me, hands of my infant Savior!
May Your love remain in my heart, dear Jesus!
Be born again in me.
Bless me and give me simplicity of heart, humility, and obedience.

St. John Neumann (1811-1860)

++++++++++

Originally posted 11/26/2005.
Re-posted 11/29/2008.
Re-posted 11/28/2009.
Re-posted 11/27/2010.
Re-posted 11/26/2011.
Re-posted 12/2/2012.
Re-posted 11/30/2013.
Re-posted 11/29/2014.
Re-posted 11/28/2015.
Re-posted 11/29/2016.
Re-posted 12/2/2017.

Re-posted 11/30/2019.

Re-posted 11/29/2020.

Re-posted 11/28/2021.

Re-posted 11/27/2022.

Re-posted 12/3/2023.

Re-posted 12/1/2024.

Advent Wreath--First Week Of Advent

 

Seasonal Prep Work

We are here.

The last month of the secular calendar year; the first of the liturgical year.

The secular gets an early start (how many light displays were illuminated Thanksgiving night or earlier in your neighborhood?). The hustle and bustle of Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday dominates this weekend. Non-stop secular holiday songs. Organized chaos at its finest.

Yet, we are here.

The eve of November 30, which falls on a Sunday this year (sorry, St. Andrew).

The sacred eases into it. The lighting of the candles on the Advent wreath, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, the nativity set, the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Gaudete Sunday, the "O" Antiphons at Vespers/Evening Prayer, the lighting of the Christmas tree. Organized beauty at its finest.

Yes, we are here.

We begin the season of Advent.

"Four weeks" preparing for the celebration of the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Prayer and mediation. Perhaps a form of fasting and/or almsgiving. Preparing His true manger--our very being--for His coming.

Now, we are here.

Make straight the path.

Make room at the inn.

Make yourself ready.

DR Squared: Saturday Of The Thirty-Forth Week In Ordinary Time (Year I)

First Reading:  Daniel 7:15-27

My spirit trembled, I Daniel was affrighted at these things, and the visions of my head troubled me. I went near to one of them that stood by, and asked the truth of him concerning all these things, and he told me the interpretation of the words, and instructed me:  These four great beasts are four kingdoms, which shall arise out of the earth. But the saints of the most high God shall take the kingdom: and they shall possess the kingdom for ever and ever. After this I would diligently learn concerning the fourth beast, which was very different from all, and exceeding terrible: his teeth and claws were of iron: he devoured and broke in pieces, and the rest he stamped upon with his feet:  And concerning the ten horns that he had on his head: and concerning the other that came up, before which three horns fell: and of that horn that had eyes, and a mouth speaking great things, and was greater than the rest. I beheld, and lo, that horn made war against the saints, and prevailed over them, Till the Ancient of days came and gave judgment to the saints of the most High, and the time came, and the saints obtained the kingdom. And thus he said: The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be greater than all the kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces. And the ten horns of the same kingdom, shall be ten kings: and another shall rise up after them, and he shall be mightier than the former, and he shall bring down three kings. And he shall speak words against the High One, and shall crush the saints of the most High: and he shall think himself able to change times and laws, and they shall be delivered into his hand until a time, and times, and half a time. And judgment shall sit, that his power may be taken away, and be broken in pieces, and perish even to the end. And that the kingdom, and power, and the greatness of the kingdom, under the whole heaven, may be given to the people of the saints of the most High: whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all kings shall serve him, and shall obey him.

Responsorial Psalm:  Daniel 3:82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87

R.  (P)raise and exalt him above all for ever.

V.  O ye sons of men, bless the Lord,

praise and exalt him above all for ever.

V.  O let Israel bless the Lord:

let them praise and exalt him above all for ever.

V.  O ye priests of the Lord, bless the Lord:

praise and exalt him above all for ever.

V.  O ye servants of the Lord, bless the Lord:

praise and exalt him above all for ever.

V.  O ye spirits and souls of the just, bless the Lord:

praise and exalt him above all for ever.

V.  O ye holy and humble of heart, bless the Lord:

praise and exalt him above all for ever.

Gospel Reading:  Luke 21:34-36

And take heed to yourselves, lest perhaps your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting and drunkenness, and the cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly. For as a snare shall it come upon all that sit upon the face of the whole earth. Watch ye, therefore, praying at all times, that you may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that are to come, and to stand before the Son of man.

The readings from the USCCB can be found here.

DR Squared: Friday Of The Thirty-Forth Week In Ordinary Time (Year I)

First Reading:  Daniel 7:2-14

I saw in my vision by night, and behold the four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea. And four great beasts, different one from another, came up out of the sea. The first was like a lioness, and had the wings of an eagle: I beheld till her wings were plucked off, and she was lifted up from the earth, and stood upon her feet as a man, and the heart of a man was given to her. And behold another beast like a bear stood up on one side: and there were three rows in the mouth thereof, and in the teeth thereof, and thus they said to it: Arise, devour much flesh. After this I beheld, and lo, another like a leopard, and it had upon it four wings as of a fowl, and the beast had four heads, and power was given to it. After this I beheld in the vision of the night, and lo, a fourth beast, terrible and wonderful, and exceeding strong, it had great iron teeth, eating and breaking in pieces, and treading down the rest with its feet: and it was unlike to the other beasts which I had seen before it, and had ten horns. I considered the horns, and behold another little horn sprung out of the midst of them: and three of the first horns were plucked up at the presence thereof: and behold eyes like the eyes of a man were in this horn, and a mouth speaking great things. I beheld till thrones were placed, and the Ancient of days sat: his garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like clean wool: his throne like flames of fire: the wheels of it like a burning fire. A swift stream of fire issued forth from before him: thousands of thousands ministered to him, and ten thousand times a hundred thousand stood before him: the judgment sat, and the books were opened. I beheld because of the voice of the great words which that horn spoke: and I saw that the beast was slain, and the body thereof was destroyed, and given to the fire to be burnt:  And that the power of the other beasts was taken away: and that times of life were appointed them for a time, and a time. I beheld therefore in the vision of the night, and lo, one like the son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and he came even to the Ancient of days: and they presented him before him. And he gave him power, and glory, and a kingdom: and all peoples, tribes and tongues shall serve him: his power is an everlasting power that shall not be taken away: and his kingdom that shall not be destroyed.

Responsorial Psalm:  Daniel 3:75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81

R.  (P)raise and exalt him above all for ever.

V.  O ye mountains and hills, bless the Lord:

praise and exalt him above all for ever.

V.  O all ye things that spring up in the earth, bless the Lord:

praise and exalt him above all for ever.

V.  O ye fountains, bless the Lord:

praise and exalt him above all for ever.

V.  O ye seas and rivers, bless the Lord:

praise and exalt him above all for ever.

V.  O ye whales, and all that move in the waters, bless the Lord:

praise and exalt him above all for ever.

V.  O all ye fowls of the air, bless the Lord:

praise and exalt him above all for ever.

V.  O all ye beasts and cattle, bless the Lord:

praise and exalt him above all for ever.

Gospel Reading:  Luke 21:29-33

And he spoke to them in a similitude. See the fig tree, and all the trees:  When they now shoot forth their fruit, you know that summer is nigh; So you also, when you shall see these things come to pass, know that the kingdom of God is at hand. Amen, I say to you, this generation shall not pass away, till all things be fulfilled. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. 

The readings from the USCCB can be found here.

DR Squared: Votive Mass Of Thanksgiving Day [In the Dioceses Of The United States]

First Reading:  Sirach 50:22-24 (DR--24-26)

And now pray ye to the God of all, who hath done great things in all the earth, who hath increased our days from our mother's womb, and hath done with us according to his mercy. May he grant us joyfulness of heart, and that there be peace in our days in Israel for ever:  That Israel may believe that the mercy of God is with us, to deliver us in his days.

Responsorial Psalm:  Psalm 145 (144):1; V. 2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9, 10-11

R.  I will extol thee, O God my king: and I will bless thy name for ever; yea, for ever and         ever.

V.  Every day I will bless thee:

     and I will praise thy name for ever; yea, for ever and ever.

     Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised:

     and of his greatness there is no end.

V.  Generation and generation shall praise thy works:

     and they shall declare thy power.

     They shall speak of the magnificence of the glory of thy holiness:

     and shall tell thy wondrous works.

V.  And they shall speak of the might of thy terrible acts:

     and shall declare thy greatness.

     They shall publish the memory of the abundance of thy sweetness:

     and shall rejoice in thy justice.

V.  The Lord is gracious and merciful:

     patient and plenteous in mercy.

     The Lord is sweet to all:

     and his tender mercies are over all his works.

V.  Let all thy works, O lord, praise thee:

     and let thy saints bless thee.

     They shall speak of the glory of thy kingdom:

     and shall tell of thy power:

Second Reading:  1 Corinthians 1:3-9

Grace to you, and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. I give thanks to my God always for you, for the grace of God that is given you in Christ Jesus, That in all things you are made rich in him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge; As the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you, So that nothing is wanting to you in any grace, waiting for the manifestation of our Lord Jesus Christ. Who also will confirm you unto the end without crime, in the day of the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful: by whom you are called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

Gospel Reading:  Luke 17:11-19

And it came to pass, as he was going to Jerusalem, he passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. And as he entered into a certain town, there met him ten men that were lepers, who stood afar off; And lifted up their voice, saying: Jesus, master, have mercy on us. Whom when he saw, he said: Go, shew yourselves to the priests. And it came to pass, as they went, they were made clean. And one of them, when he saw that he was made clean, went back, with a loud voice glorifying God. And he fell on his face before his feet, giving thanks: and this was a Samaritan. And Jesus answering, said, Were not ten made clean? and where are the nine? There is no one found to return and give glory to God, but this stranger. And he said to him: Arise, go thy way; for thy faith hath made thee whole.

The readings from the USCCB can be found here.

DR Squared: Thursday Of The Thirty-Forth Week In Ordinary Time (Year I)

First Reading:  Daniel 6:12-28

And they came and spoke to the king concerning the edict: O king, hast thou not decreed, that every man that should make a request to any of the gods, or men, for thirty days, but to thyself, O king, should be cast into the den of the lions? And the king answered them, saying: The word is true according to the decree of the Medes and Persians, which it is not lawful to violate. Then they answered, and said before the king: Daniel, who is of the children of the captivity of Juda, hath not regarded thy law, nor the decree that thou hast made: but three times a day he maketh his prayer. Now when the king had heard these words, he was very much grieved, and in behalf of Daniel he set his heart to deliver him and even till sunset he laboured to save him. But those men perceiving the king's design, said to him: Know thou, O king, that the law of the Medes and Persians is, that no decree which the king hath made, may be altered. Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of the lions. And the king said to Daniel: Thy God, whom thou always servest, he will deliver thee. And a stone was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the den: which the king sealed with his own ring, and with the ring of his nobles, that nothing should be done against Daniel. And the king went away to his house and laid himself down without taking supper, and meat was not set before him, and even sleep departed from him. Then the king rising very early in the morning, went in haste to the lions' den:  And coming near to the den, cried with a lamentable voice to Daniel, and said to him: Daniel, servant of the living God, hath thy God, whom thou servest always, been able, thinkest thou, to deliver thee from the lions? And Daniel answering the king, said: O king, live for ever: My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut up the mouths of the lions, and they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him justice hath been found in me: yea and before thee, O king, I have done no offence. Then was the king exceeding glad for him, and he commanded that Daniel should be taken out of the den: and Daniel was taken out of the den, and no hurt was found in him, because he believed in his God. And by the king's commandment, those men were brought that had accused Daniel: and they were cast into the lions' den, they and their children, and their wives: and they did not reach the bottom of the den, before the lions caught them, and broke all their bones in pieces. Then king Darius wrote to all people, tribes, and languages, dwelling in the whole earth: PEACE be multiplied unto you. It is decreed by me, that in all my empire and my kingdom all men dread and fear the God of Daniel. For he is the living and eternal God for ever: and his kingdom shall not be destroyed, and his power shall be for ever. He is the deliverer, and saviour, doing signs and wonders in heaven, and in earth: who hath delivered Daniel out of the lions' den. Now Daniel continued unto the reign of Darius, and the reign of Cyrus the Persian.

Responsorial Psalm:  cf. Daniel 3:59b; V. 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74

R.  (P)raise and exalt him above all for ever.  

V.  O ye dews and hoar frosts, bless the Lord:

praise and exalt him above all for ever.

V.  O ye frost and cold, bless the Lord:

praise and exalt him above all for ever.

V.  O ye ice and snow, bless the Lord:

praise and exalt him above all for ever.

V.  O ye nights and days, bless the Lord:

praise and exalt him above all for ever.

V.  O ye light and darkness, bless the Lord:

praise and exalt him above all for ever.

V.  O ye lightnings and clouds, bless the Lord:

praise and exalt him above all for ever.

V.  O let the earth bless the Lord:

let it praise and exalt him above all for ever.

Gospel Reading:  Luke 21:20-28

And when you shall see Jerusalem compassed about with an army; then know that the desolation thereof is at hand. Then let those who are in Judea, flee to the mountains; and those who are in the midst thereof, depart out: and those who are in the countries, not enter into it. For these are the days of vengeance, that all things may be fulfilled, that are written. But woe to them that are with child, and give suck in those days; for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people. And they shall fall by the edge of the sword; and shall be led away captives into all nations; and Jerusalem shall be trodden down by the Gentiles; till the times of the nations be fulfilled. And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, by reason of the confusion of the roaring of the sea and of the waves; Men withering away for fear, and expectation of what shall come upon the whole world. For the powers of heaven shall be moved; And then they shall see the Son of man coming in a cloud, with great power and majesty. But when these things begin to come to pass, look up, and lift up your heads, because your redemption is at hand.

The readings from the USCCB can be found here.

2025 Thanksgiving Day Card

May you give thanks to God this day for the blessings you have received. May you give thanks to God always for the graces He has bestowed. May you give thanks with friends and family for the abundance God has provided.

Happy Thanksgiving, Everybody!

DR Squared: Wednesday Of The Thirty-Forth Week In Ordinary Time (Year I)

First Reading:  Daniel 5:1-6, 13-14, 16-17, 23-28

Baltasar the king made a great feast for a thousand of his nobles: and every one drank according to his age. And being now drunk he commanded that they should bring the vessels of gold and silver which Nabuchodonosor his father had brought away out of the temple, that was in Jerusalem, that the king and his nobles, and his wives and his concubines, might drink in them. Then were the golden and silver vessels brought, which he had brought away out of the temple that was in Jerusalem: and the king and his nobles, his wives and his concubines, drank in them. They drank wine, and praised their gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, and of wood, and of stone. In the same hour there appeared fingers, as it were of the hand of a man, writing over against the candlestick upon the surface of the wall of the king's palace: and the king beheld the joints of the hand that wrote. Then was the king's countenance changed, and his thoughts troubled him: and the joints of his loins were loosed, and his knees struck one against the other. Then Daniel was brought in before the king. And the king spoke, and said to him: Art thou Daniel of the children of the captivity of Juda, whom my father the king brought out of Judea? I have heard of thee, that thou hast the spirit of the gods, and excellent knowledge, and understanding, and wisdom are found in thee.  But I have heard of thee, that thou canst interpret obscure things, and resolve difficult things: now if thou art able to read the writing, and to shew me the interpretation thereof, thou shalt be clothed with purple, and shalt have a chain of gold about thy neck, and shalt be the third prince in my kingdom. To which Daniel made answer, and said before the king: Thy rewards be to thyself, and the gifts of thy house give to another: but the writing I will read to thee, O king, and shew thee the interpretation thereof. But hast lifted thyself up against the Lord of heaven: and the vessels of his house have been brought before thee: and thou, and thy nobles, and thy wives, and thy concubines have drunk wine in them: and thou hast praised the gods of silver, and of gold, and of brass, of iron, and of wood, and of stone, that neither see, nor hear, nor feel: but the God who hath thy breath in his hand, and all thy ways, thou hast not glorified. Wherefore he hath sent the part of the hand which hath written this that is set down. And this is the writing that is written: MANE, THECEL, PHARES. And this is the interpretation of the word. MANE: God hath numbered thy kingdom, and hath finished it. THECEL: thou art weighed in the balance, and art found wanting. PHARES: thy kingdom is divided, and is given to the Medes and Persians. 

Responsorial Psalm: cf. Daniel 3:59b; V. 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67

R.  (P)raise and exalt him above all for ever.

V.  O ye sun and moon, bless the Lord:

praise and exalt him above all for ever.

V.  O ye stars of heaven, bless the Lord:

praise and exalt him above all for ever.

V.  O every shower and dew, bless ye the Lord:

praise and exalt him above all for ever.

V.  O all ye spirits of God, bless the Lord:

praise and exalt him above all for ever.

V.  O ye fire and heat, bless the Lord:

praise and exalt him above all for ever.

V.  O ye cold and heat, bless the Lord:

praise and exalt him above all for ever.

Gospel Reading:  Luke 21:12-19

But before all these things, they will lay their hands upon you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and into prisons, dragging you before kings and governors, for my name's sake. And it shall happen unto you for a testimony. Lay it up therefore into your hearts, not to meditate before how you shall answer:  For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to resist and gainsay. And you shall be betrayed by your parents and brethren, and kinsmen and friends; and some of you they will put to death. And you shall be hated by all men for my name's sake. But a hair of your head shall not perish. In your patience you shall possess your souls.

The readings from the USCCB can be found here.