Gospel and Saint of the day: 20 December 2019

Book of Isaiah 7,10-14.
In those days, the Lord spoke to Ahaz:
"Ask for a sign from the Lord your God, from the depths of the underworld or up there."
But Ahaz answered, "I won't ask, I don't want to tempt the Lord."
Then Isaiah said, "Listen, house of David! Is it not enough for you to tire the patience of men, because now you also want to tire that of my God?
Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Here: the virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, whom he will call Emmanuel: God-with-us ».

Salmi 24(23),1-2.3-4ab.5-6.
Of the Lord is the earth and what it contains,
the universe and its inhabitants.
It is he who founded it on the seas,
and on the rivers he established it.

Who will ascend the mountain of the Lord,
who will stay in his holy place?
Who has innocent hands and pure heart,
who does not pronounce a lie.

He will get blessing from the Lord,
justice from God his salvation.
Here is the generation that seeks it,
who seeks your face, God of Jacob.

From the Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Luke 1,26-38.
At that time, the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city in Galilee called Nazareth,
to a virgin, betrothed to a man from the house of David, called Joseph. The virgin was called Maria.
Entering her, she said: "I salute you, full of grace, the Lord is with you."
At these words she was disturbed and wondered what was the meaning of such a greeting.
The angel said to her: «Do not be afraid, Mary, because you have found grace with God.
Behold, you will conceive a son, give birth to him and call him Jesus.
He will be great and called the Son of the Most High; the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David
and he will reign forever over the house of Jacob and his reign will have no end. "
Then Mary said to the angel, "How is this possible? I don't know man ».
The angel replied: "The Holy Spirit will descend on you, the power of the Most High will cast his shadow over you. He who is born will therefore be holy and called the Son of God.
See: Elizabeth, your relative, in her old age, also conceived a son and this is the sixth month for her, which everyone said sterile:
nothing is impossible for God ».
Then Mary said, "Here I am, I am the handmaid of the Lord, let what you have said be done to me."
And the angel left her.

20 December

BLESSED VINCENZO ROMANO

Torre del Greco (NA), June 3, 1751 - December 20, 1831

He was born in Torre del Greco (Naples) on June 3, 1751. He was parish priest for 33 years (from 1799 to 1831) of the only parish in the city at the time, the church of Santa Croce today a pontifical basilica. He studied in the diocesan seminary of Naples, also receiving the teachings of Saint Alfonso Maria de 'Liguori. Ordained priest on 10 June 1775, he carried out his apostolate for 20 years in his native Torre del Greco. On June 15, 1794 a terrible eruption of Vesuvius almost completely destroyed the city, including the church of Santa Croce, he immediately devoted himself to the difficult work of material and moral reconstruction of both the city and the church, which he wanted bigger and safer. In search of ever new methods of bringing the faithful closer, he introduced the so-called "seine" to Torre, a missionary strategy aimed at bringing together clusters of people or individual passersby with the crucifix in hand, improvising a preaching on the spot, only to accompany them if consenting to the nearest church or oratory to pray together. Often he mediated the conflicts that arose between the owners of the "coralline" and the sailors who faced the risks and fatigue of coral fishing. He died on December 20, 1831 and was beatified on November 17, 1963. (Avvenire)

PRAYER

Lord Jesus, you wanted to donate the parish priest Vincenzo Romano to the church, who made the announcement of the Gospel the substance of his own life. His example of firm faith, of living hope, of tireless and industrious charity, still speaks to our hearts, making us rediscover the beauty of contemplating Your Face in prayer and in the service of love that alleviates the miseries of the world. Let him be venerated in the same way as the canonized Saints of the Church. Listen to the requests of all those who seek his intercession, particularly the grace that I now implore (ask for grace). Make him like all the shepherds of your flock, so that it may always and abundantly be nourished by a good pasture of the Word and the Sacraments. . We ask for this in Your name and through the intercession of Mary Most Holy, Your Mother and the whole people of God. Amen.