Daily Readings:
Saints/Martyrs/Feasts/Fasts to be observed/commemmorated/celebrated: the Feast of the Nativity
St. Eugenia
Feastday: December 25
There definitely was a Roman martyr named Eugenia but the rest of her story is a romantic fictitious legend. According to it she was the daughter of Duke Philip of Alexandria, governor of Egypt during the reign of Emporer Valerian. She fled her father's house dressed in men's clothing and was baptized by Helenus, bishop of Heliopolis, who sent her to an abbey of which she later became abbot. Accused of adultery by a woman she had cured of a sickness and whose advances she had resisted, she was hailed before a judge to answer the charges; the judge was her father. Exonerated when she revealed she was a woman and his daughter, she converted him to Christianity (he later became a bishop and was beheaded for his faith). Eugenia converted many others, including her mother, Claudia, and suffered martyrdom by sword for her faith in Rome, where she had gone with her mother. Her feast day is December 25th.
St. Adalsindis
Feastday: December 25
715
Benedictine nun from a sainted family. Adalsindis was the daughter of Sts. Adalbald and Rictrudis. She entered the Benedictine convent at Hamayles-Marchiennes, near Arras, France. Her sister, St. Eusebia, was abbess there.
St. Anastasia III
Feastday: December 25
304
Martyr honored with a special commemoration in the second Mass celebrated on Christmas Day. She is also included in the Roman canon of the Mass, although she was not venerated in Rome until the end of the fifth century. Probably a native of Sirmium, Pannonia, she was martyred during the persecutions initiated by Emperor Diocletian. Tradition states that she was the daughter of Praetextatus, a noble Roman. She married a pagan named Publius, who died while on a mission to Persia. As a widow, Anastasia cared for the Christians, enduring persecution, and was arrested herself. On a ship with other prisoners, Anastasia was miraculously saved from drowning by St. Theodata. The prisoners, including Anastasia, landed on the island of Palmaria, where they were burned to death. She was made patroness of a basilica in Rome in the sixth century.
St. Alburga
Feastday: December 25
800
Abbess and foundress, born a princess in Wessex, England. The sister of King Egbert of Wessex, Alburga displayed piety at an early age. She was married to Wulfstan of Wiltshire as part of a political alliance. She founded Wilton Abbey while married to Wulfstan. Upon his death, Alburga retired to Wilton and became the abbess.
Bl. Michael Nakashima
Feastday: December 25
1628
Jesuit martyr of Japan. A native Japanese, Michael was admitted to the Society of Jesus because of his holiness and courage. He hid priests and was placed under arrest for many months for harboring missionaries. Michael was then taken to Shimabara and was scalded to death in the hot springs at Mount Ungen. Pope Pius LX beatified him in 1867.
Scriptural Readings:
11:01 PM (37 minutes ago)
First Reading - Is 52:7-10
7 How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, and that preacheth peace: of him that sheweth forth good, that preacheth salvation, that saith to Sion: Thy God shall reign! 8 The voice of thy watchmen: they have lifted up their voice, they shall praise together: for they shall see eye to eye when the Lord shall convert Sion. 9 Rejoice, and give praise together, O ye deserts of Jerusalem: for the Lord hath comforted his people: he hath redeemed Jerusalem. 10 The Lord hath prepared his holy arm in the sight of all the Gentiles: and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.
Second Reading - Heb 1:1-6
1 God, who, at sundry times and in divers manners, spoke in times past to the fathers by the prophets, last of all, 2 In these days hath spoken to us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the world. 3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the figure of his substance, and upholding all things by the word of his power, making purgation of sins, sitteth on the right hand of the majesty on high. 4 Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath inherited a more excellent name than they. 5 For to which of the angels hath he said at any time, Thou art my Son, today have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son? 6 And again, when he bringeth in the first begotten into the world, he saith: And let all the angels of God adore him
Psalm - Ps 98:1-6
1 A psalm for David himself. Sing ye to the Lord anew canticle: because he hath done wonderful things. His right hand hath wrought for him salvation, and his arm is holy. 2 The Lord hath made known his salvation: he hath revealed his justice in the sight of the Gentiles. 3 He hath remembered his mercy his truth toward the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. 4 Sing joyfully to God, all the earth; make melody, rejoice and sing. 5 Sing praise to the Lord on the harp, on the harp, and with the voice of a psalm: 6 With long trumpets, and sound of comet. Make a joyful noise before the Lord our king:
11:01 PM (37 minutes ago)
Gospel - Jn 1:1-18
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him: and without him was made nothing that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shineth in darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. ] 6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 This man came for a witness, to give testimony of the light, that all men might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but was to give testimony of the light. 9 That was the true light, which enlighteneth every man that cometh into this world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not. 12 But as many as received him, he gave them power to be made the sons of God, to them that believe in his name. 13 Who are born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. 14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we saw his glory, the glory as it were of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. 15 John beareth witness of him, and crieth out, saying: This was he of whom I spoke: He that shall come after me, is preferred before me: because he was before me. 16 And of his fulness we all have received, and grace for grace. 17 For the law was given by Moses; grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. 18 No man hath seen God at any time: the only begotten Son who is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him
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