"The glory of God is the living man, but the life of man is the vision of God" -St. Irenaeus

"And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all things to myself." -John 12:32

"And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him, may not perish; but may have life everlasting." - John 3:14-15

Blessed Feast of Pope St. John XXIII

Blessed Feast of St. Teresa of Avila

"Let nothing disturb you,
Let nothing frighten you,
All things are passing away:
God never changes.
Patience obtains all things.
Whoever has God lacks nothing;
God alone suffices."

Pope Francis has called on all Christians to pray and fast today for peace in the Holy Land

"According to the traditional Catholic method of fasting, one may eat “one full meal” each day with meat included, plus two smaller meatless meals, both of which together do not equal the one full meal. No eating between meals is allowed, although drinking beverages such as coffee and tea are allowed and are not considered to break the fast."

-Baltimore Catechism II, 395 Q

"My confidence is placed in God who does not need our help for accomplishing his designs. Our single endeavor should be to give ourselves to the work and to be faithful to him, and not to spoil his work by our shortcomings."

Blessed Feast of St. Isaac Jogues

"You cannot do anything to glorify God more, nor profit your soul more, than by devoutly assisting at Mass, and assisting as often as possible" -St. Peter Julian Eymard

Do not forget to fast tomorrow

Réquiem ætérnam dona eis, Dómine: et lux perpétua lúceat eis.

Feast of the Dedication of the Archbasilica Cathedral of the Most Holy Savior and Saints John the Baptist and the Evangelist in Lateran, Mother and Head of All Churches in Rome and in the World. It was consecrated 1699 years ago by Pope Sylvester I.

After 95 years, St. Martin's Chapel at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Philadelphia has officially closed. The historic seminary property, including the chapel, was sold to a hospital.

Today is the Feast of the Dedication of the Basilicas of Sts. Peter and Paul

As Advent prepares us for the celebration of the first coming of Christ at Christmas, the season also focuses on the two other comings. As St. Bernard put it, "In the first coming, He comes in the flesh and in weakness; in the second, He comes in spirit and in power; in the third, He comes in glory and in majesty." Rather than focusing on the first coming, which has already occurred, or the second coming, which we are living through, the Church utilizes the first Sunday of the liturgical year to awaken us from the sleep of sin so that we might prepare for dreaded day of judgment during the final coming.

"Behold, I send my angel before thy face, who shall prepare thy way before thee."

Today marks the beginning of the "O Antiphons," which are sung before the Magnificat at Vespers from now until Christmas Eve. Each Antiphon addresses Our Lord using distinct titles derived from the prophecies of Isaias and Micheas. These titles, when their initial letters are read in reverse, form an acrostic for the Latin phrase "Ero Cras," which translates to "Tomorrow I come."