Daybreak

Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a holy day of obligation Saturday of the First Week of Advent Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 12/8/18 Gospel: Luke 1:26-38

Memorial of St. Ambrose, 337-397; Bishop and Doctor of the Church; an otherworldly man involved in the great issues of his day; mentor to St. Augustine of Hippo Friday of the First Week of Advent Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 12/7/18 Gospel: Matthew 9:27-31

Optional Memorial of St. Nicholas, 270-343; bishop of Myra, known for generosity and gift-giving Thursday of the First Week of Advent Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 12/6/18 Gospel: Matthew 7:21, 24-27

Wednesday of the First Week of Advent Spotlight on St. Gerald of Braga; after serving as choir director of the Cathedral of Toledo, became bishop of Braga, eradicating abuses; died 1109 Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 12/5/18 Gospel: Matthew 15:29-37

Optional Memorial of St. John Damascene, 676-749; last of the Greek Fathers; wrote against the iconoclasts; one of the greatest poets of the Eastern Church Tuesday of the First Week of Advent Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 12/4/18 Gospel: Luke 10:21-24

Memorial of St. Francis Xavier, 1506-1552; friend of St. Ignatius of Loyola, and one of the first Jesuits; ministered in India Monday of the First Week of Advent Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 12/3/18 Gospel: Matthew 8:5-11

First Sunday of Advent Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 12/2/18 Gospel: Luke 21:25-28, 34-36

Saturday of the 34th Week in Ordinary Time Spotlight on St. Edmund Campion, 1540-1581; English Jesuit, martyred under Queen Elizabeth I Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 12/1/18 Gospel: Luke 21:34-36

Feast of St. Andrew, apostle; brother of St. Peter; died about 60 A.D. Friday of the 34th Week in Ordinary Time Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 11/30/18 Gospel: Matthew 4:18-22

Thursday of the 34th Week in Ordinary Time Spotlight on St. Radbod of Utrecht, 850-917; Great-grandson of the last pagan King of Friesland, nephew of Gunther, Bishop of Cologne; became bishop of Utrecht in 900; known for his aid to the poor and poetry Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 11/29/18 Gospel: Luke 21:20-28