New Years Day in the Catholic liturgical season (the Roman calendar) opens the new year with a solemn feast dedicated to Mary Mother of God.  Why Mary?  Why the feminine vessel of God’s life, the Divine new life?  She embodies the posture of receptivity to the silent promptings of the Spirit.  Her consent is a paradigm for our lives, this humble yet strong demeanor of willingness, willingness to receive and accept the Divine promptings, even though there is so much that is unknown surrounding her ‘yes’, unknown about where her ‘yes’ will lead, about what it will ask of her, about how it will unfold into the future. 

52nd World Day of Peace

Readings of the Day
RB: Prologue 1-7
Mass: Nb 6:22-27; Resp Ps 67; Ga 4:4-7; Lk 2:16-21

Saturday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Blessed Virgin Mary

Readings of the Day
RB: Ch 48:1-9 The Daily Manual Labor
Mass: Jr 7:1-11; Resp Ps 84; Mt 13:24-30


He who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name.(Communion Antiphon, Mass)

Readings of the day: RB 11Mass: Joel 4:12-21; Resp. Psalm 97; Luke 11:27-28
We are gifted with two profound verses in today’s Gospel; both point to the announcement of the birth of Jesus:
First, “Blessed is the womb that carried you and the breasts at which you nursed.”
Second, “Blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe.”
“Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you.”
“Let it be done to me according to your word.”
The greatness

Readings of the day: Rule of Saint Benedict (RB) 2:33-40Mass: Hebrews 5:7-9; Resp. Psalm 31or 1 Timothy 1:1-2,12-14; Resp. Psalm 16; Stabat Mater Sequence (optional); John 19:25-27 (obligatory for the memorial)
Following yesterday’s Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, we celebrate Our Lady of Sorrows, Mary, who stood by the cross of her son, Jesus. We reflect in the words of Cardinal Basil Hume: