Intro to the day:  “​Do penance, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.” –Matthew 3:2

Today is Friday of the Third Week of Advent. We are praying for the faculty, staff, and families of St. Francis School in Litchfield, NH.

Today is the Feast of Blessed Kazimiera Wolowska, a Sister of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin in Poland. As prioress, she was in charge of the school and an orphanage, and extended her care to all in need, including Jews who sought refuge from German persecution. For this, Mother Kazimiera was arrested by the Gestapo in 1942 and killed; her final words were the final words of Our Lord: “Father, forgive them, for they know now what they do.”

Gospel: Luke 1:5-25

Saint of the Day: St. Thomas Aquinas on the necessity of penance 

Marian prayer for the day: Alma Redemptoris Mater

Mother of Christ, hear thou thy people's cry

Star of the deep and Portal of the sky!

Mother of Him who thee made from nothing made.

Sinking we strive and call to thee for aid:

Oh, by what joy which Gabriel brought to thee,

Thou Virgin first and last, let us thy mercy see.

V. The Angel of the Lord announced unto Mary.

R. And she conceived by the Holy Spirit.

Let us pray: Pour forth, we beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy grace into our hearts: that as we have known the incarnation of Thy Son Jesus Christ by the message of an Angel, so too by His Cross and passion may we be brought to the glory of His resurrection. Amen.

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Today is our last podcast of the calendar year. We will return on January 5th. May the Lord provide you all a blessed Christmas season, and may the joy of our newborn King fill your lives and work with his goodness.

To add intentions, get more resources and support, or if you would like to make a donation to support this podcast, visit us at missiondrivencatholic.com.

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