Advent: December 11th

MASS READINGS

December 11, 2024 (Readings on USCCB website)

PROPERS [Show]

Mass Propers for the Wednesday of the Second Week of Advent:

Entrance Antiphon, Cf. Hb 2:3; 1 Cor 4:5: The Lord will come and he will not delay. He will illumine what is hidden in darkness and reveal himself to all the nations.

Alleluia Verse: Behold, the Lord comes to save his people; blessed are those prepared to meet him.

Preface I of Advent: It is truly right and just, our duty and our salvation, always and everywhere to give you thanks, Lord, holy Father, almighty and eternal God, through Christ our Lord.

For he assumed at his first coming the lowliness of human flesh, and so fulfilled the design you formed long ago, and opened for us the way to eternal salvation, that, when he comes again in glory and majesty and all is at last made manifest, we who watch for that day may inherit the great promise in which now we dare to hope.

And so, with Angels and Archangels, with Thrones and Dominions, and with all the hosts and Powers of heaven, we sing the hymn of your glory, as without end we acclaim:

Communion Antiphon, Cf. Is 40:10; 35:5: Behold, our Lord will come with power and will enlighten the eyes of his servants.

---

Mass Propers for the Optional Memorial of St. Damasus:

Entrance Antiphon: The Lord chose him for himself as high priest, and, opening his treasure house, made him rich in all good things.

Alleluia Verse, John 15:15b: I call you my friends, says the Lord, for I have made known to you all that the Father has told me.

Communion Antiphon, Cf. Jn 10:11: The Good Shepherd has laid down his life for his sheep.

COLLECT PRAYER

Wednesday of the Second Week of Advent: Almighty God, who command us to prepare the way for Christ the Lord, grant in your kindness, we pray, that no infirmity may weary us as we long for the comforting presence of our heavenly physician. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.

---

Optional Memorial of St. Damasus: Grant, we pray, O Lord, that we may constantly exalt the merits of your Martyrs, whom Pope Saint Damasus so venerated and loved. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.

show

Recipes (1)

• Skewered Beef Roman Style

show

Activities (4)

• Advent and the Year of the Eucharist
• Celebrating for the Feast of Pope St. Damasus I
• Religion in the Home for Elementary School: December
• Religion in the Home for Preschool: December

show

Prayers (7)

• Advent Wreath Prayers I
• Advent Wreath Prayers II
• Book of Blessings: Blessing Before and After Meals: Advent (2nd Plan)
• December Devotion: The Immaculate Conception
• Novena in Honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe
• Christmas Anticipation Prayer
• Book of Blessings: Blessing Before and After Meals: Advent (1st Plan)

show

Library (2)

• Catacombs: Witness To Early Heroism | Pope Saint John Paul II
• Eastern Orthodoxy: Primacy and Reunion | James Likoudis

Blog & Podcasts (0)

» Enjoy our Liturgical Seasons series of e-books!

The Church celebrates the Optional Memorial of St. Damasus I (306-384), who was Supreme Pontiff from 366 to 384. He was a very learned man, well versed in the Scriptures. He commissioned St. Jerome to complete the translation of the Bible into the Latin language. Shortly after his reign the 72 books of the Bible, hitherto scattered in different parts of the Orient, were collected into one volume. He defended the rights of the Holy See, and beautified the Roman resting places of the Christian dead and of the saints. He also confirmed the practice of singing the Psalms day and night in the churches and adding a Glory Be at the end of each Psalm.

Jesse Tree, Day 11 ~ Joshua and Samuel
Jesse Tree Overview

St. Damasus
On Liberius' death, riots broke out over the election of a successor. The majority favored Damasus, who was born in Rome of Spanish descent. He had served as a deacon under Liberius and upheld the Nicene Creed. In less than a month, Damasus was installed in the Lateran palace. A minority, however, refused to accept the decision; they set up the antipope Ursinus. As the violence continued, Emperor Valentinian, who now ruled the West, was compelled to intercede and expel the antipope.

Pope Damasus fostered the development of the Church during this period of peace by publishing a list of the books of both the Old and New Testaments. He also encouraged his longtime friend and secretary, St. Jerome, to translate the Bible into Latin. This Vulgate edition continues to serve the Church usefully. Damasus himself composed eloquent verse which he had inscribed on marble slabs and placed over the tombs of martyrs and popes alike. But Damasus is best known for his devoted project in the catacombs. He ardently searched for the tombs of martyrs which had been both blocked up and hidden during previous persecutions. He lighted the passages and stairwells of the catacombs, encouraging pilgrimages to the martyrs. He did much to beautify existing churches, such as building the baptistery in St. Peter's and laying down marble pavement in the basilica of St. Sebastian.

Damasus was a vigorous defender of the orthodoxy, as well. He condemned the heresies of such men as Macedonius and Apollinaris and continued the march against Eastern Arians. Although Emperor Valentinian was a Catholic, his less capable brother Valens was under the Arian influence. Valens kept the Eastern bishops in turmoil until his death in 378 by the determined Goths. Emperor Theodosius, who succeeded Valens, supported the orthodox and convened the Second Ecumenical Council at Constantinople in 381. The council settled the dispute by recondemning Arianism and adopting the pope's teachings.

The chair of St. Peter was never more respected than during the pontificate of Damasus. He tirelessly promoted the Roman primacy, successfully persuading the government to recognize the Holy See as a court of first instance, although it declined to give the pope himself any particular immunity against the civil courts. Next in hierarchy came Alexandria, founded by St. Mark, and then Antioch, where Peter reigned before leaving for Rome.

Pious Pope Damasus died in December of 384 after a reign of eighteen years.
—The Popes: A Papal History, J.V. Bartlett

Patronage: Archeologists.

Highlights and Things to Do:

• Learn more about St. Damasus:
  • Catholic Encyclopedia
  • Saint of the Day
  • Catholic Ireland
  • Saints Stories for All Ages
  • New Liturgical Movement
  • Popes in a Year
  • Pope History
• Read about the Catacombs of St. Callistus where Pope St. Damasus wrote an inscription on the tomb of Pope St Cornelius.
• St. Damasus I commissioned St. Jerome to revise a translation of Scripture. Spend some time reading the Bible.
• See Celebrating the Feast of St. Damasus for ideas.