Readings of the day

First Reading: Songs of Songs 2:8-14 or Zephaniah 3:14-18a
Psalm: 32 (33):2-3,11-12,20-21

Gospel: Luke 1:39-45

In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leaped in her womb.

And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.  … Read more »

Readings of the day

First Reading: Isaiah 7:10-14
Psalm: 23 (24):1-2,3-4ab,5-6

Gospel: Luke 1:26-38

In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, “Greetings, favoured one! The Lord is with you.” But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” 

Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” The angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God. And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. For nothing will be impossible with God.” 

Then Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.  Read more »

…

Readings of the day

First Reading: Judges 13:2-7,24-25a
Psalm: 70 (71):3-4a,5-6ab,16-17

Gospel: Luke 1:5-25

In the days of Herod, King of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah of the priestly division of Abijah; his wife was from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.  
Both were righteous in the eyes of God, observing all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blamelessly… Read more »

Readings of the day

First Reading: Jeremiah 23:5-8
Psalm: 71 (72):2,12-13,18-19

Gospel: Matthew 1:18-24

Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. 

But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfil what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: “Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,” which means, “God is with us.” 

When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife, Read more »

…

Readings of the day

First Reading: Sirach 48:1-4,9-11
Psalm: 79 (80):2ac & 3b,15-16,18-19

Gospel: Matthew 17:10-13

In those days, as Jesus descended the mountain, the disciples asked him, “Why, then, do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?” He replied, “Elijah is indeed coming and will restore all things; but I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but they did to him whatever they pleased… Read more »

Readings of the day

First Reading: Isaiah 48:17-19
Psalm: 1:1-2,3,4 & 6

Gospel: Matthew 11:16-19

Jesus said to the crowds: “To what shall I compare this generation? It is like children who sit in marketplaces and call to one another, ‘We played the flute for you, but you did not dance, we sang a dirge but you did not mourn.’

For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they said, ‘He is possessed by a demon… Read more »

Readings of the day

First Reading: Isaiah 41:13-20
Psalm: 144 (145):1 u 9,10-11,12-13ab

Gospel: Matthew 11:11-15

Jesus said to the crowds, “Truly I tell you, among those born of women no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force. For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John came; and if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come. Let anyone with ears listen!”

Saint of the day: Saint John of the Cross, priest & doctor of the Church Read more »

…

Readings of the day

First Reading: Isaiah 40:25-31
Psalm: 102 (103):1-2,3-4,8 & 10

Gospel: Matthew 11:28-30

Jesus said to the crowds: “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.”

Saint of the day: Saint Lucy, virgin & martyr Read more »

…

Our Lady of Guadalupe – Feast
Readings of the day

First Reading: Isaiah 40:1-11
Psalm: 95 (96):1-2,3 & 10ac,11-12,13

Gospel: Matthew 18:12-14

Jesus said to his disciples: “What is your opinion? If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray, will he not leave the ninety-nine in the hills and go in search of the stray?  And if he finds it, amen, I say to you, he rejoices more over it than over the ninety-nine that did not stray… Read more »