Gospel and Saint of the day: 15 December 2019

Book of Isaiah 35,1-6a.8a.10.
Let the desert and the arid land rejoice, the steppe rejoice and flourish.
How narcissus flower to bloom; yes, sing with joy and joy. It is given the glory of Lebanon, the splendor of Carmel and Saròn. They will see the glory of the Lord, the magnificence of our God.
Strengthen your weak hands, make your knees firm.
Tell the lost of heart: "Courage! Fear not; here is your God, vengeance comes, the divine reward. He comes to save you. "
Then the eyes of the blind will be opened and the ears of the deaf will open.
Then the lame will jump like a deer, the tongue of the silent will scream with joy, because waters will flow in the desert, streams will flow in the steppe.
There will be a leveled road and they will call it Via Santa; no unclean one will go through it, and fools will not go around it.
The ransomed by the Lord will return to it and come to Zion with jubilation; perennial happiness will shine on their head; joy and happiness will follow them and sadness and tears will flee.

Salmi 146(145),6-7.8-9a.9bc-10.
creator of heaven and earth,
of the sea and what it contains.
He is faithful forever.
does justice to the oppressed,

gives bread to the hungry.
The Lord sets prisoners free,
The Lord restores sight to the blind,
the Lord raises up those who have fallen,

the Lord loves the righteous,
the Lord protects the stranger.
He supports the orphan and the widow,
but it upsets the ways of the wicked.

The Lord reigns forever,
your God, or Zion, for each generation.

Letter of Saint James 5,7-10.
So be patient, brothers, until the Lord comes. Look at the farmer: he patiently waits for the precious fruit of the earth until he has received the autumn rains and the spring rains.
Be patient too, refresh your hearts, because the coming of the Lord is near.
Brothers, do not complain about each other, so as not to be judged; behold, the judge is at the gates.
Take, O brothers, as a model of endurance and patience the prophets who speak in the name of the Lord.

From the Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Matthew 11,2-11.
Meanwhile John, who was in prison, having heard of the works of Christ, sent to tell him through his disciples:
"Are you the one who has to come or do we have to wait for another?"
Jesus replied: «Go and report to John what you hear and see:
The blind regain their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are healed, the deaf regain their hearing, the dead are raised, the poor are preached the good news,
and blessed is he who is not offended by me. "
While these were leaving, Jesus began to speak to John of the crowds: «What did you go to see in the desert? A rod beaten by the wind?
So what did you go out to see? A man wrapped in soft clothes? Those who wear soft robes are in the palaces of kings!
So what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, even more than a prophet.
He is the one of whom it is written: Behold, I am sending before you my messenger who will prepare your way before you.
In truth I say to you: among the born of woman there was not one greater than John the Baptist; however the smallest in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he is.

15 December

SANTA VIRGINIA CENTURION BRACELLI

Widow - Genoa, April 2, 1587 - Carignano, December 15, 1651

Born in Genoa on April 2, 1587 from a noble family. Virginia was soon destined for an advantageous marriage by her father. He was 15. Widowed with two daughters at the age of 20, she understood that the Lord was calling her to serve Him in the poor. Endowed with lively intelligence, a woman with and passionate about Holy Scripture, from being rich she became poor to help the human miseries of her city; thus he consumed his life in the heroic exercise of all the virtues, among which charity and humility shine forth. His motto was: "To serve God in his poor". His apostolate was especially directed to the elderly, women in difficulty and the sick. The institution with which it went down in history was "The Work of Our Lady of the Refuge - Genoa" and the "Daughters of NS al Monte Calvario - Rome". Gratified by the Lord with ecstasy, visions, interior locutions, she died on December 15, 1651, at the age of 64.

PRAYER TO OBTAIN THANKS

Holy Father, source of all good, who make us partakers of your Spirit of life, we thank you for having granted Blessed Virginia the living flame of Love for you and for your brothers, especially for the poor and defenseless, the image of Your Crucified Son. Grant us to live his experience of mercy, acceptance and forgiveness and, through his intercession, the grace that we now ask of You… For Christ our Lord. Amen.

Father. Ave.