-
Fourth Sunday of Advent: O Root of Jesse
For the Simbang Gabi Mass for the Filipino CommunityToday’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. Elizabeth: an old, childless woman, whose hope of progeny has all but dried up, and whose aged husband left her for days at…
-
Friday of the Third Week of Advent: O Wisdom
Today’s readings I can’t believe it but Christmas is only just eight days away now! I know everyone is so busy writing letters to Santa, being good so they don’t get on the “naughty” list, wrapping Christmas presents for their parents, and baking cookies for Father Pat! But before we do all that, our Church asks…
-
Thursday of the Third Week of Advent
Today’s readings There’s a parenthetical sentence that comes right at the end of today’s Gospel reading that really ought to give us pause. Once again, it says this: (All the people who listened, including the tax collectors,who were baptized with the baptism of John,acknowledged the righteousness of God;but the Pharisees and scholars of the law,who…
-
The Third Sunday of Advent
Today’s readings Today’s readings and liturgy call us to rejoice. That’s the reason for the rose-colored vestments and the more joyful tone of today’s readings. This is called Gaudete Sunday: Gaudete being Latin for “rejoice,” the first word of today’s introit or proper entrance antiphon which says: “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice. Indeed the…
-
Saturday of the Second Week of Advent
Today’s readings One of my favorite things about the season of Advent is the people we meet along the way. In the early days of Advent we have celebrated the Immaculate Conception of Mary and we remember St. Juan Diego, St. John of the Cross, St. Lucy and St. Nicholas. We’ve been hearing from Isaiah all…
-
Friday of the Second Week of Advent
Today’s readings One of the great obstacles to the spiritual life is when we come to believe that we ourselves have all the answers. And there is a lot of that going around these days. When it happens, we may be holding relative truth, even if we wouldn’t say that we do. Or perhaps we insist on acting…
-
The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Today’s readings Today, we come together as a parish for this very special liturgy, in which we give thanks for the intercession of Saint Joseph during this past year in honor of him as patron of the Church; we also give thanks for a very blessed time of Eucharistic adoration during the Forty Hours Devotion…
-
The Second Sunday of Advent
Today’s readings “Prepare the way of the Lord; make straight his paths!” Today’s Gospel reading is very interesting, I think. The beginning of the passage names important people at that particular time in Israel: Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate, Herod, Philip and Lysanias, and also the high priests: Annas and Caiaphas. Finally it names John the…
-
Saint Francis Xavier, Missionary Priest, Diocesan Patron
We celebrate the memorial of Saint Francis Xavier as a feast today, because he is the patron saint of the Diocese of Joliet. Francis Xavier was a sixteenth century man who had a promising career in academics. He was encouraged in the faith by his good friend, Saint Ignatius of Loyola, and went to join the new…
-
Thursday of the First Week of Advent
Today’s readings There’s an old saying that if you want to hear God laugh, just tell him your plans for the day. And we know how true that is, don’t we? How many times have we had a plan for the day, only to have it derailed by whatever circumstances come our way during the…
You must be logged in to post a comment.