Wednesday of the Third Week of Advent

Advent weekday

Advent prepares us for Christmas — the coming of Christ at Bethlehem and his return in glory — with watchful, joyful hope.

Readings of the day

Glorious Mysteries

Fourth Mystery: The Assumption of Mary

In Advent, the Joyful Mysteries are a natural companion any day.

“The Immaculate Mother of God, the ever Virgin Mary, having completed the course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory.”Pope Pius XII, Munificentissimus Deus (1950)

At the end of her earthly life, the Blessed Virgin Mary is taken up body and soul into the glory of heaven, sharing first in her Son’s Resurrection. The Church solemnly defined this truth in 1950.

Fruit of the mystery: Grace of a happy death

The Angelus

V. The Angel of the Lord declared to Mary.
R. And she conceived of the Holy Spirit. Hail Mary…

V. Behold the handmaid of the Lord.
R. Let it be done to me according to your word. Hail Mary…

V. And the Word was made flesh.
R. And dwelt among us. Hail Mary…

Pour forth, we pray, O Lord, your grace into our hearts; that we, to whom the Incarnation of Christ your Son was made known by the message of an angel, may by his Passion and Cross be brought to the glory of his Resurrection. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

Traditional (from the 16th century)

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A notification each morning with the day’s mysteries, a mystery to meditate on with its scripture, and a short prayer. Free, no account.

This day’s five mysteries (Glorious Mysteries)

The Resurrection
The Ascension
The Descent of the Holy Spirit
The Assumption of Mary
The Coronation of Mary

Coming up

The Nativity of the Lord (Christmas)Fri, Dec 25 · Solemnity
Saint Stephen, the First MartyrSat, Dec 26 · Feast
The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and JosephSun, Dec 27 · Feast
The Holy Innocents, MartyrsMon, Dec 28 · Feast
Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of GodFri, Jan 1 · Solemnity

✝ Pray the full Rosary

Liturgical calendar for the dioceses of the USA (General Roman Calendar and U.S. proper), checked against the USCCB liturgical calendar. Readings: citations from the U.S. Lectionary for Mass, text from the Douay-Rheims Bible (public domain).

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