1 January 2022 – Mary, The Holy Mother of God 1st Reading: Numbers 6:22-27 The solemn priestly prayer for God to bless and protect us is especially apt at the beginning of a new year The Lord spoke to Moses, saying: Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, Thus you shall bless the Israelites: You…

31 December 2021 – Seventh Day in the Octave of Christmas Saint Sylvester, pope. Sylvester (250?-325) was born in Rome and served as a priest under pope Marcellinus before the persecutions of Diocletian. He saw the triumph of Constantine in the year 312 and succeeded Melchiades as bishop of Rome in 314. Later that year,…

30 December 2021 – Sixth Day in the Christmas Octave First Reading: 1 John 2:12-17 (The world and its desire are passing away, but those who do the will of God live forever) I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven on account of his name. I am writing to you,…

29 December 2021 – Fifth Day in the Octave of Christmas Saint Thomas a Becket (opt.mem.) 1st Reading: 1 John 2:3-11 The link between love and walking in the light of God Beloved: The way we may be sure that we know Jesus is to keep his commandments. Whoever says, “I know him,” but does…

28 December 2021 – The Holy Innocents, martyrs 1st Reading: 1 John 1:5–2:2 Our fellowship with God through Jesus Christ the righteous one Beloved: This is the message that we have heard from Jesus Christ and proclaim to you: God is light, and in him there is no darkness at all. If we say, “We…

27 December 2021, St John, Apostle and Evangelist 1st Reading: 1 John 1:1-4 What we have seen with our eyes, what we have touched with our hands Beloved: What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we looked upon and touched with our hands concerns the…

Christmas Day, 25 December 2021 – The Word was made flesh, he lived among us and we saw his glory. Is 52:7-10; Heb 1:1-6; Jn 1:1-18 (Mass during the day) Today we celebrate the birth in our world of Jesus Christ, who was with God before all ages. His birth opens for us a new…

And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High;
 for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,
to give knowledge of salvation to his people
 by the forgiveness of their sins.

“His name is John.” And all of them were amazed. Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue freed, and he began to speak, praising God. Fear came over all their neighbours, and all these things were talked about throughout the entire hill country of Judea. All who heard them pondered them and said, “What then will this child become?” For, indeed, the hand of the Lord was with him.

“My soul magnifies the Lord,
 and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour,
 for he has looked with favour on the lowliness of his servant.
Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
 for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name.”

For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfilment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.”

Then Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.”