Today marks the beginning of the Great Advent Antiphons (O Antiphons), a sacred countdown to Christmas. The Church lifts her voice in longing, calling upon Christ by His ancient titles.
This is a day of deep hope — a reminder that God hears the cry of the oppressed and comes to set His people free.
Prayer of the Day
O Wisdom from on high,
You order all things with gentleness and strength.
Come and guide our hearts as we wait for Your Son.
Free us from the chains of fear, sin, and despair,
and help us prepare a dwelling place worthy of Christ.
May our lives proclaim Your mercy and truth
as we await the joy of His coming.
Through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Mass Reading of the Day
First Reading — Genesis 49:2, 8–10
Jacob blesses his sons, prophesying that kingship will come from Judah. This ancient promise points forward to Christ, the Lion of Judah, whose kingdom will have no end.
Responsorial Psalm — Psalm 72:1–2, 3–4ab, 7–8, 17
Response: “Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace forever.”
A royal psalm announcing a king who brings justice, peace, and blessing to all nations.
Gospel — Matthew 1:1–17
The genealogy of Jesus reveals God’s faithfulness through generations — saints and sinners alike — showing that salvation history is woven through ordinary, broken human lives.
Saint of the Day: St. John of Matha
Priest • Founder • Liberator of Captives (1160–1213)
St. John of Matha was born in France and ordained a priest with a deep desire to serve God’s forgotten ones. While celebrating his first Mass, he experienced a vision that changed his life forever.
He saw Christ holding the hands of two prisoners — one Christian and one Muslim — bound in chains. This vision revealed God’s heart for those enslaved and forgotten.
Moved by divine compassion, John founded the Order of the Most Holy Trinity (Trinitarians), dedicated to rescuing Christians held captive during times of war. The order even vowed to use its own resources — and sometimes exchange members themselves — to free prisoners.
St. John’s life proclaimed a powerful truth:
God’s mercy knows no borders.
He died in 1213, leaving behind a legacy of freedom, courage, and sacrificial love.
10 Facts About St. John of Matha
- Born in 1160 in France.
- Ordained a Catholic priest with a deep love for the poor.
- Had a life-changing vision during his first Mass.
- Saw Christ freeing captives in his vision.
- Founded the Trinitarian Order.
- His order worked to ransom Christian captives.
- Trinitarians took a special vow of redemption of prisoners.
- His mission crossed religious and cultural boundaries.
- Died in 1213 with a reputation for holiness.
- Patron saint of captives and prisoners.
