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The Holy Innocents
Today’s readings Right here in the middle of the joy of the Christmas Octave, we have the feast of what seems to be an incredibly horrible event. All of the male children in the vicinity of Bethlehem two years old and younger are murdered by the jealous and, quite frankly, rather pathetic Herod. But not…
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The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph
Today’s readings It’s certainly appropriate that we celebrate the Holy Family today, just a few days after Christmas. This feast helps to underscore that Jesus came to live among us in a very ordinary way: by taking flesh and becoming one of us, even to being part of a family. So we look on the…
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St. Stephen, Deacon & Martyr
Today’s readings St. Stephen was one of the first deacons of the Church, chosen to aid in the distribution of food to those in need, so that the Apostles could continue their work. He was a man who was filled with the Holy Spirit, and was unafraid to speak the truth. And that, of course,…
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The Nativity of the Lord: Mass During the Day
Today’s readings All during Advent, we have been yearning for the light. Advent reminds us that the world can sometimes be a very dark place, that war and terrorism and crime and disease and sin and death can really give us a beating, that very often we experience life much differently than God intended us…
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The Nativity of the Lord (Vigil Mass): Joseph’s Story
Today’s readings Once, a very long time ago, there was a man named Joseph. He was a well-respected and hard-working man, from the family of the great king David. But since Israel hadn’t been a great nation in a long time, he wasn’t respected for being a great king himself. Instead, people respected him for…
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Wednesday of the Fourth Week of Advent: O Emmanuel
Today’s readings Today’s Liturgy has us on the edge of our seats. As tomorrow’s night turns to day, our salvation will be closer at hand than ever. Our Savior Jesus Christ, the promise of the ages, will be born to us as one like ourselves. “And suddenly there will come to the temple, the LORD…
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Advent Penance Service
I know a lot of people who get depressed this time of year. Probably you do too. Many people are missing loved ones who are far away from home, or who have passed away. Some of my friends have a touch of seasonal affective disorder, and so they are depressed when we don’t see the…
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Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Advent: Come, O King of all the Nations
Today’s readings We hear a similar song from Hannah and Mary today. In fact, many Biblical scholars suggest that the song of Mary we heard in today’s Gospel is a restatement of the song of Hannah that we have in today’s psalm. Whether or not that is true, it is clear that both women give…
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Monday of the Fourth Week of Advent: O Radiant Dawn
Today’s readings There’s a little more light today. As we get toward these last days of Advent, we find ourselves in a time when more light is beginning to shine. All of the candles on our Advent wreath are lit, and the only thing that can make it brighter is the coming of our God…
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The Fourth Sunday of Advent
Today’s readings Hopelessly insignificant. That’s what they are. Bethlehem-Ephratha; the tiniest region of a tiny nation – almost too small to be among the clans of Judah. An old, childless woman, whose hope of progeny has all but dried up, and whose aged husband left her for days at a time to minister as priest…
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