- The Sixth Day in the Octave of ChristmasI am writing to you, children,because your sins have been forgiven for his name's sake.I am writing to you, fathers,because you know him who is from the beginning.I am writing to you, young men,because you have conquered the Evil One.I write to you, children,because you know the Father.I write to you, fathers,because you know him ... read more
- Dec. 30 Sixth Day within the Octave of Christmas, Weekday... read more
- The Fifth Day in the Octave of ChristmasWhen the days were completed for their purificationaccording to the law of Moses,the parents of Jesus took him up to Jerusalemto present him to the Lord,just as it is written in the law of the Lord,Every male that opens the womb shall be consecrated to the Lord,and to offer the sacrifice ofa pair of turtledoves ... read more
- Dec. 29 Fifth Day within the Octave of the Nativity of the Lord (Christmas); Opt Mem of St. Thomas Becket, Bishop and Martyr, Opt. Mem.Today is the Fifth day within the Octave of Christmas. The Church celebrates the Optional Memorial of St. Thomas Becket (1118-1170), bishop and martyr. He was born in London and after studying in Paris, he first became chancellor to the king and then in 1162 was chosen Archbishop of Canterbury. He went from being "a ... read more
- Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and JosephBrothers and sisters:Put on, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved,heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience,bearing with one another and forgiving one another, if one has a grievance against another; as the Lord has forgiven you, so must you also do.And over all these put on love, that is, the bond of perfection.And let the peace of ... read more
- Dec. 28 Feast of the Holy Family, FeastToday is the Fourth Day within the Octave of Christmas. The Feast of the Holy Family is a movable feast, assigned to the Sunday within the Octave of Christmas. ... read more
- Feast of Saint John, Apostle and EvangelistOn the first day of the week,Mary Magdalene ran and went to Simon Peterand to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them,"They have taken the Lord from the tomb,and we do not know where they put him."So Peter and the other disciple went out and came to the tomb.They both ran, but the ... read more
- Dec. 27 Feast of Saint John, Apostle and Evangelist, Feast... read more
- Feast of Saint Stephen, First MartyrStephen, filled with grace and power,was working great wonders and signs among the people.Certain members of the so-called Synagogue of Freedmen,Cyrenians, and Alexandrians,and people from Cilicia and Asia,came forward and debated with Stephen,but they could not withstand the wisdom and the spirit with which he spoke.When they heard this, they were infuriated,and they ground their ... read more
- Dec. 26 Feast of St. Stephen, First Martyr, FeastOn the Second day within the Octave of Christmas the Church celebrates the Feast of St. Stephen, the first Christian martyr. Stoned outside Jerusalem, he died praying for his executioners. He was one of the seven deacons who helped the apostles; he was "filled with faith and with the Holy Spirit," and was "full of ... read more
- The Nativity of the Lord (Christmas)In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came to be through him, and without him nothing came to be. What came to be through him was life, and this life was ... read more
- The Nativity of the Lord (Christmas)When the angels went away from them to heaven,the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go, then, to Bethlehemto see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.”So they went in haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger.When they saw this,they made known the messagethat ... read more
- The Nativity of the Lord (Christmas)In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustusthat the whole world should be enrolled.This was the first enrollment, when Quirinius was governor of Syria.So all went to be enrolled, each to his own town.And Joseph too went up from Galilee from the town of Nazareth to Judea, to the city of David that is called ... read more
- The Nativity of the Lord (Christmas)The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. Abraham became the father of Isaac,Isaac the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers.Judah became the father of Perez and Zerah,whose mother was Tamar.Perez became the father of Hezron,Hezron the father of Ram, Ram the father of Amminadab.Amminadab ... read more
- The Nativity of the Lord (Christmas)Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States, second typical edition, Copyright © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine; Psalm refrain © 1968, 1981, 1997, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved. Neither this work nor any part of it may be reproduced, distributed, ... read more
