17 DecemberOffice of Readings | Morning Prayer | Evening Prayer | Night Prayer | MassAdvent, Part II From today the prayers and readings take on a different nature. In the first half of Advent we count forwards: first week, second week, and so on, paying attention to Advent Sunday, the day when Advent started.Now the second half of Advent has begun, and Advent Sunday is forgotten: it is Christmas Day that matters. Today is the eighth day before Christmas, tomorrow is the seventh day, and so on. The prayers follow this countdown, and the final readings from Isaiah build up to their climax.O Sapientia! O Sapiéntia, quæ ex ore Altíssimi prodísti, attíngens a fine usque ad finem, fórtiter suavitérque dispónens ómnia: veni ad docéndum nos viam prudéntiæ.“O Wisdom, you come forth from the mouth of the Most High. You fill the universe and hold all things together in a strong yet gentle manner. O come to teach us the way of truth.”As the great feast of Christmas approaches, its light begins to blot out the lights of the individual days, as planets are blotted out when they appear too close to the Sun. The great “O Antiphons” at Vespers are worth celebrating even if Vespers itself is not part of your daily pattern. They count down the last seven days before Christmas and tie together seven threads of hope, longing and doctrine which all find their culmination and final union in the moment of the Incarnation.Jesus is the Word and Wisdom of God. As Isaiah says, “On him the spirit of the Lord rests, a spirit of wisdom and insight, a spirit of counsel and power.”

Tuesday of the 3rd week of AdventOffice of Readings | Morning Prayer | Evening Prayer | Night Prayer | Mass(Bl Mary of the Angels (1661-1717)) Born in Turin, Italy, in 1661, she died, after spending her whole life there, in 1717. In 1675 she entered the Discalced Carmelite Convent of St  Christina, and several times filled the offices of Prioress and Novice Mistress. She underwent continual spiritual trials, but was constant in her ardent love of God. She was outstandingly faithful to prayer and particularly devoted to St  Joseph, in whose honour a convent was founded through her good offices at Moncalieri.Carmelite Breviary

Monday of the 3rd week of AdventOffice of Readings | Morning Prayer | Evening Prayer | Night Prayer | Mass(Blessed Maria Krizina Bojanc, Maria Antonia Fabjan and Companions, Martyrs)

3rd Sunday of AdventOffice of Readings | Morning Prayer | Evening Prayer | Night Prayer | Mass(St John of the Cross (1542 - 1591)) He was born in Fontiveros, in Spain, in about 1542. He spent some time as a Carmelite friar before, in 1568, Saint Teresa of Ávila persuaded him to pioneer the reform of the Carmelite order. This was a difficult task and a dangerous one: he suffered imprisonment and severe punishment at the hands of the Church authorities. He died at the monastery of Ubeda in Andalusia on 14 December 1591: the monks there had initially treated him as the worst of sinners, but by the time he died they had recognised his sanctity and his funeral was the occasion of a great outburst of enthusiasm.His works include two major mystical poems – he is considered one of the great poets of the Spanish language – and detailed commentaries on them and the spiritual truths they convey. He was canonized in 1726 and declared a Doctor of the Church in 1926. See the articles in the Catholic Encyclopaedia and Wikipedia.

Saint Lucy, Virgin, MartyrOffice of Readings | Morning Prayer | Evening Prayer | Night Prayer | MassSaint Lucy, Virgin, Martyr She was martyred in Syracuse, probably during the persecution of Diocletian (which started in 303). Devotion to her spread rapidly across practically the whole Church and her name is included in the Roman Canon of the Mass. See the article in Wikipedia.

Friday of the 2nd week of Advent, or Our Lady of Guadalupe Office of Readings | Morning Prayer | Evening Prayer | Night Prayer | Mass(Our Lady of Guadalupe) The shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, near Mexico City, is one of the most celebrated places of pilgrimage in North America. On December 9, 1531, the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to an Indian convert, Juan Diego, and left with him a picture of herself impressed upon his cloak. Devotion to Mary under this title has continually increased, and today she is the Patroness of the Americas.See also the article in the Catholic Encyclopaedia.(Saint Finian of Clonard (470 - 549)) He founded Clonard Abbey in modern-day County Meath, and the Twelve Apostles of Ireland studied under him. See the article in Wikipedia.

Thursday of the 2nd week of Advent, or Saint Damasus I, Pope Office of Readings | Morning Prayer | Evening Prayer | Night Prayer | Mass(Pope St Damasus I (304 - 384)) A Spaniard, he was born about 305. Joining the Roman clergy, he was elected Pope in 366, in calamitous times. He held many synods against heretics and schismatics, but worked to heal divisions within the orthodox Church: for instance, between Rome and Antioch. He promoted the cult of the martyrs, and he got St Jerome to prepare a complete and correct Latin text of the Bible. He himself presided over the Council of Rome in 382, which definitively laid down which books were and were not to be considered to be part of the canon of Scripture. He died in 384 and his remains are preserved in the church of San Lorenzo in Damaso at Rome, which he had had rebuilt.Saint Theodoret calls Damasus the head of the famous doctors of divine grace of the Latin church. The General Council of Chalcedon called him the “honour and glory of Rome.”(St Maria Maravillas of Jesus (1891-1974)) Maria Maravillas was born at Madrid in 1891. She entered the El Escorial Carmel, Madrid on 12th October 1919. In 1924 she was inspired to found a Carmel at Cerro de los Angeles, alongside the monument to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. From this foundation followed nine others in Spain and one in India. She always gave first place to prayer and self-sacrifice. She had a true, passionate zeal for the glory of God and the salvation of souls. Even while living a life of poverty in the cloister she helped those who were in need, initiating apostolic, social and charitable works. In a particular way she helped those of her own order, priests, and other religious congregations. She died in the monastery of La Aldehuela, Madrid, on 11th December 1974. She was canonized on 4th May 2003 in Madrid.Carmelite Breviary

Wednesday of the 2nd week of Advent, or Our Lady of Loreto Office of Readings | Morning Prayer | Evening Prayer | Night Prayer | Mass(Our Lady of Loreto) Since the Middle Ages veneration for the Holy House of Loreto has been the origin of that particular shrine which still today is visited by many faithful pilgrims in order to nourish their faith in the Word of God made flesh for us.In the Holy House, before the image of the Mother of the Redeemer and of the Church, Saints and Blesseds have responded to their vocation, the sick have invoked consolation in suffering, the people of God have begun to praise and plead with Mary using the Litany of Loreto, which is known throughout the world. In a particular way all those who travel via aircraft have found in her their heavenly patron.In light of this, Pope Francis has decreed, by his own authority, that the optional memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Loreto should be inscribed in the Roman Calendar on 10 December, the day on which the feast falls in Loreto, and celebrated every year. This celebration will help all people, especially families, youth and religious to imitate the virtues of that perfect disciple of the Gospel, the Virgin Mother, who, in conceiving the Head of the Church also accepted us as her own.Catholic Liturgy Office (The Litany of Loreto) Lord have mercy. Christ have mercy.Lord have mercy.Christ hear us. Christ graciously hear us.God, the Father of heaven,  have mercy on us.God the Son, Redeemer of the world,  have mercy on us.God the Holy Spirit,  have mercy on us.Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us.Holy Mary,  pray for us.Holy Mother of God, pray for us.Holy Virgin of virgins,  pray for us.Mother of Christ,  pray for us.Mother of the Church,  pray for us.Mother of Mercy, pray for us.Mother of divine grace, pray for us.Mother of Hope,  pray for us.Mother most pure,  pray for us.Mother most chaste,  pray for us.Mother inviolate,  pray for us.Mother immaculate,  pray for us.Mother most amiable,  pray for us.Mother admirable,  pray for us.Mother of good counsel,  pray for us.Mother of our Creator,  pray for us.Mother of our Saviour,  pray for us.Virgin most prudent,  pray for us.Virgin most venerable,  pray for us.Virgin most renowned,  pray for us.Virgin most powerful,  pray for us.Virgin most merciful,  pray for us.Virgin most faithful,  pray for us.Mirror of justice,  pray for us.Seat of wisdom,  pray for us.Cause of our joy,  pray for us.Spiritual vessel,  pray for us.Vessel of honour,  pray for us.Singular vessel of devotion,  pray for us.Mystical rose,  pray for us.Tower of David,  pray for us.Tower of ivory,  pray for us.House of gold,  pray for us.Ark of the covenant,  pray for us.Gate of heaven,  pray for us.Morning star,  pray for us.Health of the sick,  pray for us.Refuge of sinners,  pray for us.Solace of Migrants, pray for us.Comfort of the afflicted,  pray for us.Help of Christians,  pray for us.Queen of Angels,  pray for us.Queen of Patriarchs, pray for us.Queen of Prophets, pray for us.Queen of Apostles,  pray for us.Queen of Martyrs,  pray for us.Queen of Confessors,  pray for us.Queen of Virgins,  pray for us.Queen of all Saints,  pray for us.Queen conceived without original sin,  pray for us.Queen assumed into heaven,  pray for us.Queen of the most holy Rosary,  pray for us.Queen of families,  pray for us.Queen of peace. pray for us.Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world,  spare us, O Lord.Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world,  graciously hear us, O Lord.Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world,  have mercy on us.Pray for us, O holy Mother of God.  That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.Let us pray. Grant, we beseech thee, O Lord God, that we, your servants,may enjoy perpetual health of mind and body; and by the glorious intercession of the Blessed Mary, ever Virgin, may be delivered from present sorrow, and obtain eternal joy. Through Christ our Lord.  Amen.(St Melchiades (d. 314)) Born in Africa, Melchiades was pope in Rome when the Church obtained its freedom after centuries of persecution. He took advantage of the new favourable situation to organise the Church on solid foundations. He ordered the construction of many churches and was the first pope to occupy the cathedral of St John Lateran. He was pope for only 3 years.(St John Roberts (1575 - 1610)) He was born in north Wales and studied law. He travelled on the Continent in 1598 and was converted to Catholicism. He entered the English College at Valladolid to study for the priesthood; he then became a Benedictine monk. He was ordained in 1602 and set out on a mission to England. He was arrested and banished, returned to England, arrested and banished again, arrested, imprisoned, and banished yet again. By now it was July 1606. He spent fourteen months at Douai in northern France, where he founded the English Benedictine community of St Gregory, which, having been exiled from France at the time of the French Revolution, is now at Downside Abbey, near Bath. He returned to England and was arrested in October 1607, escaped, went on the run for a year, was arrested again and imprisoned: the intercession of the French Ambassador saved him from execution, and he was banished. He returned to England within a year, and was arrested on 2 December 1610 while celebrating Mass and taken to prison still wearing his vestments. He was tried on 5 December and convicted of being a priest, and hanged, drawn and quartered at Tyburn on 10 December.(St John Roberts OSB (1575-1610)) John Roberts was born in 1575, the son of John and Anna Roberts from North Wales. He matriculated at St John’s College, Oxford, in 1595-6, but left after two years without taking a degree (possibly because he was unable to take the Oath of Supremacy) and was very briefly a law student at one of the Inns of Court. In 1598 he travelled on the continent and, through the influence of a Catholic fellow-countryman, was received into the Catholic Church at Notre Dame in Paris. He then entered the English College at Valladolid, Spain where he was admitted in 1598. The following year he joined the Abbey of St Benedict in Valladolid. After ordination in 1602 he set out for England. Although observed by a Government spy, Roberts and his companions succeeded in entering the country in April, 1603; but, his arrival being known, he was soon arrested and banished. He almost immediately returned to England where he worked for a time among the plague-stricken people in London, where he became known as “the parish priest of London”. In 1604, while embarking for Spain with four postulants, he was again arrested, but not being recognized as a priest was soon released and banished, but returned again at once. He was immediately rearrested and though acquitted of any crime was imprisoned in the Gatehouse at Westminster for seven months before again being exiled. Back at Douai he founded a house for the English Benedictine monks; this was the beginning of the monastery of St Gregory at Douai which today exists as Downside Abbey. In October, 1607, he returned to England, was once more arrested and placed in the Gatehouse, from which he contrived to escape after some months. He now lived for about a year in London before being taken and this time was committed to Newgate; he would have been executed but for the intercession of the French ambassador, whose petition reduced the sentence to banishment. However he returned to England within a year, and was captured on 2 December, 1610. On 5 December he was tried and found guilty under the Act forbidding priests to minister in England, and on 10 December was hanged, drawn, and quartered at Tyburn.DK (St Edmund Gennings (1567-1591)) Edmund Gennings (or Jennings), born in 1567, came from Lichfield, Staffordshire. He was a thoughtful, serious boy naturally inclined to matters of faith. At around sixteen years of age he converted to Catholicism. He went immediately to the English College at Reims where he was ordained a priest in 1590. He soon returned to England under the assumed name of Ironmonger. His missionary career was brief. He and Polydore Plasden were seized by Richard Topcliffe and his officers whilst celebrating Mass in the house of Swithin Wells at Gray’s Inn in London on 7 November 1591 and was hanged, drawn and quartered outside the same house on 10 December. His execution was particularly bloody, as his final speech angered Topcliffe, who ordered the rope to be cut down when he was barely stunned from the hanging. It is reported that he uttered the words, Sancte Gregori ora pro me while he was being disembowelled. His martyrdom was the occasion of the conversion of his younger brother John, who had disowned him but who later became a Franciscan, and wrote his biography, published in 1614 at Saint-Omer.DK (St Eustace White (1559-1591)) Eustace White was born in Louth, Lincolnshire in 1559, he was a convert to Catholicism who travelled to Europe to study for the priesthood. He was ordained, probably at the Venerable English College, Rome in 1588, and returned to England for his ministry later that year – the year of the Spanish Armada. He thus began his ministry just as anti-Catholic feeling was reaching fever pitch. A friendly conversation with a fellow traveller led to his arrest in Dorset three years later. Eustace put up a very articulate defence in the West Country but was given no chance to defend himself when he was taken to London to face trial. He was severely tortured. He is recorded as having described his torture in the following way: “The morrow after Simon and Jude’s day I was hanged at the wall from the ground, my manacles fast locked into a staple as high as I could reach upon a stool: the stool taken away where I hanged from a little after 8 o’clock in the morning till after 4 in the afternoon, without any ease or comfort at all”. After several days of such treatment he was hanged, drawn and quartered at Tyburn on 10 December 1591.DK (St Polydore Plasden (1563-1591)) Polydore Plasden, aka Oliver Palmer, was born in London in 1563. He was the son of a London horner. He was educated at Reims and at Rome, where he was ordained priest on 7 December, 1586. He remained at Rome for more than a year, and then was at Reims for some months in 1588, before being sent on the mission to England. He was captured on 8 November 1591, in London, at Swithin Wells’s house in Gray’s Inn Fields, where Edmund Gennings was celebrating Mass. At his execution he acknowledged Elizabeth as his lawful queen, whom he would defend to the best of his power against all her enemies, and he prayed for her and the whole realm, but said that he would rather forfeit a thousand lives than deny or fight against his religion. By the orders of Sir Walter Raleigh, he was allowed to hang till he was dead, and the final part of the sentence was carried out upon his already dead body.DK (St Swithin Wells (c.1536-1591)) Swithin Wells was born at Brambridge, Hampshire, around 1536, and was christened with the name of the local saint and bishop Swithin. He was for many years a schoolmaster at Monkton Farleigh in Wiltshire. During this period, he attended Church of England services, but in 1583 was reconciled to the Catholic Church. In 1585 he went to London, where he took a house in Gray’s Inn Lane. In 1591, Edmund Gennings was saying Mass at Wells’s house, when the priest-hunter Richard Topcliffe burst in with his officers. The congregation, not wishing the Mass to be interrupted, held the door and beat back the officers until the Mass was finished, after which they all surrendered quietly. Wells was not present at the time, but his wife was, and was arrested along with Gennings, another priest, Polydore Plasden, and three laymen, John Mason, Sidney Hodgson, and Brian Lacey. On his return Wells was immediately arrested and imprisoned. At his trial, he said that he had not been present at the Mass, but wished he had been. He was sentenced to be hanged, and was executed outside his own house on 10 December 1591, just after Edmund Gennings. On the scaffold, he said to Topcliffe, “I pray God make you a Paul of a Saul, of a bloody persecutor one of the Catholic Church’s children.” His wife, Alice, was reprieved, and died in prison some 10 years later.St Swithin Wells was canonised by Paul VI on 25 October 1970 as one of the Forty Martyrs of England and Wales.DK (Saints Augustine Webster and Eustace White, and the Martyrs of Lincolnshire)

Tuesday of the 2nd week of Advent, or Saint Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin Office of Readings | Morning Prayer | Evening Prayer | Night Prayer | Mass(Saint Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin (1474 - 1548)) He was born in about 1474 in Cuauhtitlan in the kingdom of Texcoco, part of present-day Mexico. As an adult he embraced Christianity and he and his wife were baptized. In 1531 the Mother of God appeared to him, on the hill called Tepeyac near Mexico City, and told him to ask the bishop to have a church built on the spot. Through the purity of his faith, his humility and his fervour, a church was built, in honour of Our Lady of Guadalupe (whose feast is celebrated on 12 December). He left everything and devoted himself to the care of the sanctuary and the reception of pilgrims until his death in 1548.

Pope Francis' top diplomats met with U.S. Vice President JD Vance on April 19, where the two sides discussed migrants and refugees following months of clashes between U.S. church leaders and the Trump administration over immigration policy and foreign aid.