Friday, First Week of Advent
Blessed St. Ambrose’ Day!
St. Ambrose converting Emperor Theodosius I
You can find his story here.
Entrance Antiphon:
In the midst of the Church he opened his mouth,
and the Lord filled him with the spirit of wisdom and understanding
and clothed him in a robe of glory
Collect:
O God, Who made the bishop St. Ambrose
a teacher of the Catholic faith
and a model of apostolic courage,
raise up in Your Church men after Your own heart
to govern Her with courage and wisdom.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son,
who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
Readings:
Ephesians 3:8-12, 14-19 (To know the love of Christ which surpasses all knowledge)
Psalm 89:2-5,21-22, 25, 27 “For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord”
+ John 10:11-18 (The Good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep)
God’s partial to unlikely candidates
unconventional means.
He chooses the weakest, the poorest, most rebellious, most despised…
He has cast down the mighty from their thrones
and has lifted up the lowly
-Luke 1:52
…sending them out to be slaughtered like sheep
For thy sake we are put to death all the day long.
We are regarded as sheep for the slaughter
-Romans 8:36
…just like Him.
The most wretched of men
the most hopeless of situations
are indeed our greatest reason to hope…
in God.
Lord, You have said that You choose what is weak and contemptible,
what is nothing.
I have all the requirements…
I indeed rank with what is contemptible,
and likewise with what is nothing.
I have nothing at all, my God;
I therefore have all the requisite qualities.
Therefore, do great things by me.
-St. Peter Julian Eymard
Is that you?
Attempt great things
in God!