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Friday, December 5
Friday of the First Week of Advent
History: Pope Innocent VIII issues the Summis desiderantes, a papal bull that deputizes Heinrich Kramer and Jacob Sprenger as inquisitors to root out alleged witchcraft in Germany and leads to one of the severest witchhunts in European history (1484); Niccolò Sfondrati becomes Pope Gregory XIV (1590); Birth of Pope Julius II (1443); Death of Saint John of Damascus (749)
Today's Readings
Saturday, December 6
Saturday of the First Week of Advent
Optional Memorial: Saint Nicholas, bishop
History: Leo VIII elected pope (963); Death of Pope Clement VI (1352)
Today's Readings
Sunday, December 7
Second Sunday of Advent
History: Pope Paul VI and Patriarch Athenagoras mutually lifted the excommunications that had been in place since 1054 (1965); Birth of Saint Columba (521); Deaths of Pope Eutychian (283) and Pope Innocent IV (1254)
Today's Readings
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Year of Saint Paul |
Reflection of Pope Benedict XVI
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In the Acts of the Apostles, Saint Luke recounts for us the dramatic episode on the road to Damascus which transformed Paul from a fierce persecutor of the Church into a zealous evangelizer. In his own letters, Paul describes his experience not so much in terms of a conversion, but as a call to apostleship and a commission to preach the Gospel. In the first instance, this was an encounter not with concepts or ideas but with the person of Jesus himself. In fact, Paul met not only the historical Jesus of the past, but the living Christ who revealed himself as the one Savior and Lord. Similarly, the ultimate source of our own conversion lies neither in esoteric philosophical theories nor abstract moral codes, but in Christ and his Gospel. He alone defines our identity as Christians, since in him we discover the ultimate meaning of our lives. Paul, because Christ had made him his own, could not help but preach the Good News he had received. So it is with us. Transfixed by the greatness of our Savior, we – like Saint Paul – cannot help but speak of him to others. May we always do so with joyful conviction!
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Year of Saint Paul Resources |
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