The next gathering of the Philosophy Club is Sunday, January 6th at 6:00 p.m. in the lower level. Come share dinner and discussion with others on this intellectual journey. It is highly recommended that everyone reads Plato's "Phaedo" and, if anyone feels inclined to reread, "The Allegory of the Cave" in Book VII (514a-520a) of "The Republic". Both of these can be Googled (or click on the links above).

For more information, contact Matt Starnowski.

MESSAGE OF POPE BENEDICT XVI
FOR THE WORLD DAY OF PEACE
1 January 2008
THE HUMAN FAMILY, A COMMUNITY OF PEACE

1. At the beginning of a New Year, I wish to send my fervent good wishes for peace, together with a heartfelt message of hope to men and women throughout the world. I do so by offering for our common reflection the theme which I have placed at the beginning of this message. It is one which I consider particularly important: the human family, a community of peace. The first form of communion between persons is that born of the love of a man and a woman who decide to enter a stable union in order to build together a new family. But the peoples of the earth, too, are called to build relationships of solidarity and cooperation among themselves, as befits members of the one human family: "All peoples"--as the Second Vatican Council declared--"are one community and have one origin, because God caused the whole human race to dwell on the face of the earth (cf. Acts 17:26); they also have one final end, God".

Click here to read the full text.

December 30th is the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph.




Readings:

Sirach 3:2-6, 12-14
Psalms 128:1-5
Colossians 3:12-21
Matthew 2:13-15,19-23

Here are a few commentaries on these readings:

Benedict XVI on the Holy Family (Courtesy of Zenit)

St. Charles Borromeo Lectionary Site (PDF)

St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology

The Congregation of Beth Israel cordially invites the parishioners of Holy Comforter for Kabbalat Shabbat services on Friday, December 28th at 8:15 p.m. Kabbalat Shabbat services are prayerful songs welcoming the Day of Rest for our bodies and our souls. Much of the service will be in English. It is a wonderful opportunity to strengthen our connection with our neighbors and to further understanding between our two faiths. Please RSVP in the commons.

Merry Christmas! The Christmas mass times are as follows: On Monday, December 24th, there is a Christmas vigil mass at 5:00 p.m. On Tuesday, December 25th, there is a midnight mass and a 10:00 a.m. mass.



Here are a few commentaries on the readings for Christmas mass:

Christmas Vigil (5:00 p.m.)

Christmas Midnight Mass

Christmas Day (10:00 a.m)

O Emmanuel, Rex et legifer noster,
exspectatio Gentium, et Salvator earum:
veni ad salvandum nos, Domine, Deus noster.

O Emmanuel, our king and our lawgiver,
the hope of the nations and their Saviour:
Come and save us, O Lord our God.

Therefore the Lord himself will give you this sign: the virgin shall be with child, and bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel. Isaiah 7:14

For more information on the O Antiphons, click here to read the December 17th post.

December 23rd is the Fourth Sunday in Advent. The Gospel reading recounts the revelation to St. Joseph of Mary's virginal conception.



Readings:

Isaiah 7:10-14
Psalm 24:1-6
Romans 1:1-7
Matthew 1:18-24

Here are a few commentaries on these readings:

Pontifical Household preacher, Capuchin Father Raniero Cantalamessa (Courtesy of Zenit)

St. Charles Borromeo Lectionary Site (PDF)

St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology

O Rex Gentium, et desideratus earum,
lapisque angularis, qui facis utraque unum:
veni, et salva hominem,
quem de limo formasti.

O King of the nations, and their desire,
the cornerstone making both one:
Come and save the human race,
which you fashioned from clay.

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government will be upon his shoulder, and his name will be called "Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." Isaiah 9:6

He shall judge between the nations, and shall decide for many peoples; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. Isaiah 2:4

For more information on the O Antiphons, click here to read the December 17th post.

O Oriens,
splendor lucis aeternae, et sol justitiae:
veni, et illumina sedentes in tenebris, et umbra mortis.

O Sunrise,
splendour of light eternal and sun of righteousness:
Come and enlighten those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death.

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shined. Isaiah 9:2

For more information on the O Antiphons, click here to read the December 17th post.

O Clavis David, et sceptrum domus Israel;
qui aperis, et nemo claudit;
claudis, et nemo aperit:
veni, et educ vinctum de domo carceris,
sedentem in tenebris, et umbra mortis.

O Key of David and sceptre of the House of Israel;
you open and no one can shut;
you shut and no one can open:
Come and lead the prisoners from the prison house,
those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death.

And I will place on his shoulder the key of the house of David; he shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open. Isaiah 22:22

Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David, and over his kingdom, to establish it, and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and for evermore. Isaiah 9:7

For more information on the O Antiphons, click here to read the December 17th post.

O Radix Jesse, qui stas in signum populorum,
super quem continebunt reges os suum,
quem Gentes deprecabuntur:
veni ad liberandum nos, jam noli tardare.

O Root of Jesse, standing as a sign among the peoples;
before you kings will shut their mouths,
to you the nations will make their prayer:
Come and deliver us, and delay no longer.

There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots. Isaiah 11:1

In that day the root of Jesse shall stand as an ensign to the peoples; him shall the nations seek, and his dwellings shall be glorious. Isaiah 11:10

For more information on the O Antiphons, click here to read the December 17th post.

O Adonai, et Dux domus Israel,
qui Moysi in igne flammae rubi apparuisti,
et ei in Sina legem dedisti:
veni ad redimendum nos in brachio extento.

O Adonai, and leader of the House of Israel,
who appeared to Moses in the fire of the burning bush
and gave him the law on Sinai:
Come and redeem us with an outstretched arm.

But with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall slay the wicked. Righteousness shall be the girdle of his waist, and faithfulness the girdle of his loins. Isaiah 11:4-5

For the LORD is our judge, the LORD is our ruler, the LORD is our king; he will save us. Isaiah 33:22

For more information on the O Antiphons, click here to read the December 17th post.

During the evening prayer of the Liturgy of Hours, which is also known as Vespers, the Church prays the beautiful prayer of Mary known as the Magnificat. Preceding the Magnificat, there is an antiphon which is simply a short verse which connects the prayer to the particular feast day or liturgical season. On the last seven days of Advent, from December 17th through December 23rd, the antiphon for Vespers is one of the so-called "O Antiphons". It is related to a particular title of Christ's, and the antiphon ends with a plea for the Messiah to come.

December 17th

O Sapientia, quae ex ore Altissimi prodiisti,
attingens a fine usque ad finem,
fortiter suaviterque disponens omnia:
veni ad docendum nos viam prudentiae.

O Wisdom, coming forth from the mouth of the Most High,
reaching from one end to the other,
mightily and sweetly ordering all things:
Come and teach us the way of prudence.

And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD. And his delight shall be in the fear of the LORD. Isaiah 11:2

This also comes from the LORD of hosts; he is wonderful in counsel, and excellent in wisdom. Isaiah 28:29

The Christmas Novena is from December 16th until Christmas Eve.

Hail, and blessed be the hour and moment
At which the Son of God was born
Of a most pure Virgin
At a stable at midnight in Bethlehem
In the piercing cold
At that hour vouchsafe, I beseech Thee,
To hear my prayers and grant my desires
(Mention Requests Here)

Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5 Day 6 Day 7 Day 8 Day 9

December 16th is the Third Sunday in Advent. The Third Sunday in Advent is also known as Gaudete Sunday because of the first word of the Entrance Antiphon at Mass (Gaudete, i.e. Rejoice). The liturgical color is rose which emphasizes the joy that Christmas is near.

Readings:

Isaiah 35:1-6,10
Psalm 146:6-10
James 5:7-10
Matthew 11:2-11

Here are a few commentaries on these readings:

Pontifical Household preacher, Capuchin Father Raniero Cantalamessa (Courtesy of Zenit)

St. Charles Borromeo Lectionary Site (PDF)

St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology

December 9th is the Second Sunday in Advent.

Readings:

Isaiah 11:1-10
Psalm 72:1-2, 7-8, 12-13, 17
Romans 15:4-9
Matthew 3:1-12

Here are a few commentaries on these readings:

Pontifical Household preacher, Capuchin Father Raniero Cantalamessa (Courtesy of Zenit)

St. Charles Borromeo Lectionary Site (PDF)

St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology

December 8th is the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Readings:

Genesis 3:9-15,20
Psalm 98:1-4
Ephesians 1:3-6,11-12
Luke 1:26-38

Here are a few commentaries on these readings:

Pontifical Household preacher, Capuchin Father Raniero Cantalamessa (Courtesy of Zenit

St. Charles Borromeo Lectionary Site (PDF)

The Holy Father's prayer intentions for December are:

General: That human society may be solicitous in the care of all those stricken with AIDS, especially children and women, and that the Church may make them feel the Lord's love.

Mission: That the incarnation of the Son of God, which the Church celebrates solemnly at Christmas, may help the peoples of the Asiatic Continent to recognize God's Envoy, the only Saviour of the world, in Jesus.

Pro-Life Prayer Intention

That God may give eternal rest to the women who died from abortion.

December 2nd is the First Sunday in Advent.

Readings:

Isaiah 2:1-5
Psalm 122:1-9
Romans 13:11-14
Matthew 24:37-44

Here are a few commentaries on these readings:

Pontifical Household preacher, Capuchin Father Raniero Cantalamessa (Courtesy of Zenit

St. Charles Borromeo Lectionary Site (PDF)

St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology