Intro to the day:  “There are two births of Christ, one unto the world in Bethlehem; the other in the soul, when it is spiritually reborn. Men think of the former much more than the latter, and celebrate it every year; but the spiritual Bethlehem is equally momentous.” –Venerable Fulton J Sheen

Today is Thursday of the first week of Advent. We are praying for the faculty, staff, and families of Trinity High School in Manchester, NH.

The saint of the Day, St. John Damascene, was known as Chrysorrhoas, which means "golden-stream", for his excellent oration and writing. Born in 676 in Syria, he was highly educated and served as a Christian representative in the Muslim caliph’s court. He defended the use of icons and had his hand miraculously restored by the Blessed Virgin after it was cut off when falsely convicted of betraying the caliph.

Gospel: Matthew 7:21, 24-27

Saint of the Day: St. Thomas Aquinas on The Necessity of the Incarnation to Satisfy Sufficiently for Sin from Summa Contra Gentiles

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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