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Showing posts with the label Benedict XVI

Christmas Day 2025

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Adoration of the Shepherds Murillo, painted 1646-50 [ Web Gallery of Art ] And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger  (Luke 2:12; Gospel). The Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord  has four different Mass formularies, each with its own prayers and readings. Any of the four fulfils our obligation to attend Mass. These are: Vigil Mass , celebrated 'either before or after First Vespers (Evening Prayer) of the Nativity'; that means starting between 5pm and 7pm. Mass During the Night , known before as 'Midnight Mass'. Mass at Dawn . Mass During the Day . The readings from the Jerusalem Bible and from the English Standard Version for the four Masses are all on one page but with links to each individual Mass. When you click on 'Readings' below from the New American Bible you will find links to the readings for each of the four Masses. Readings   (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, Ireland, New Zealand) Readings ...

Christmas Day 2025

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Adoration of the Shepherds Murillo, painted 1646-50 [ Web Gallery of Art ] And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger  (Luke 2:12; Gospel). The Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord  has four different Mass formularies, each with its own prayers and readings. Any of the four fulfils our obligation to attend Mass. These are: Vigil Mass , celebrated 'either before or after First Vespers (Evening Prayer) of the Nativity'; that means starting between 5pm and 7pm. Mass During the Night , known before as 'Midnight Mass'. Mass at Dawn . Mass During the Day. The readings from the Jerusalem Bible and from the English Standard Version for the four Masses are all on one page but with links to each individual Mass. When you click on 'Readings' below from the New American Bible you will find links to the readings for each of the four Masses. Readings   (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, Ireland, New Zealand) Readings ...

Sunday Reflections, 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C, 26 October 2025

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Church Interior with the Parable of the Pharisee and the Publican Dirck van Delen [ Web Gallery of Art ] Readings   (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, Ireland, New Zealand) Readings   (English Standard Version, Catholic Edition: England & Wales, India, Scotland)  Readings   (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Gospel  Luke 18:1-8  (English Standard Version, Anglicised) At that time: Jesus told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: ‘Two men went up into the Temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: “God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.” But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner!” I tell you, ...

'The Gospel invites us to think about the future which awaits us.' Sunday Reflections, 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C

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Crowning a baby after baptism George Cardinal Alencherry,  Major Archbishop Emeritus of Ernakulam-Angamaly  (Syro-Malabar), India  [ Wikipedia ;  photo ] Readings   (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan,) Readings   (English Standard Version, Catholic Edition: England & Wales, India, Scotland)  Readings   (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Gospel   Luke 13:22-30  (English Standard Version, Anglicised) At that time: Jesus went on his way through towns and villages, teaching and journeying towards Jerusalem. And someone said to him, ‘Lord, will those who are saved be few?’ And he said to them, ‘Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. When once the master of the house has risen and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, “Lord, open to us”, then he will answer you, “I do not know where you come from.” Then yo...

'The world is charged with the grandeur of God.' Sunday Reflections, Pentecost, Year C

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Pentecost El Greco [ Web Gallery of Art ] Pentecost Sunday, at the Vigil Mass  (Saturday evening), Years ABC NB: The Vigil Mass has its own prayers and readings which should be used at the Vigil Mass. The prayers and readings for the Mass During the Day on Sunday should not be used only on Sunday, not at the Vigil Mass, though some priests seem to be unaware of this. It is incorrect to refer to this Vigil Mass as an ‘anticipated Mass’. It is a celebration proper to the evening before Pentecost Sunday and may be celebrated in an extended form. It also fulfils the Sunday obligation. Readings   (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland) Readings   (English Standard Version, Catholic Edition: England & Wales, India, Scotland)  Readings  (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Gospel   John 7:37-39  (English Standard Version, Anglicised)  On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out,  “If...

'Jesus walks before us and towards the heights.' Sunday Reflections, Palm Sunday, Year C

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Christ's Entry into Jerusalem Giotto di Bondone [ Web Gallery of Art ] And as he rode along, they spread their cloaks on the road  (Luke 19:36).   Readings   (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland) The gospel for the procession with palms is included here as is the Passion according to St Luke arranged for reading by   N. Narrator.  ✠  Jesus. O. Other single speaker. C. Crowd, or more than one speaker. Readings   (English Standard Version, Catholic Edition: England & Wales, India, Scotland)  The gospel for the procession with palms is included here as is the Passion according to St Luke arranged for reading by   N. Narrator.  ✠  Jesus. O. Other single speaker. C. Crowd, or more than one speaker. Readings   (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) The gospel for the procession with palms is included here as is the shorter form of the Passion according to St Luke, Luke 23:1-49. Gosp...