Saint John Damascene, Priest and Doctor of the Church

Optional memorial

Wednesday of the First Week of Advent

The Church remembers Saint John Damascene, Priest and Doctor of the Church (d. c. 749). Today is an optional memorial.

Readings of the day

Glorious Mysteries

Third Mystery: The Descent of the Holy Spirit

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

“They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other languages, as the Spirit gave them the ability to speak.”Acts 2:4

On Pentecost, as the apostles are gathered with Mary in prayer, a sound like a mighty wind fills the house and tongues as of fire rest upon each of them. The Church goes forth to proclaim Christ.

Fruit of the mystery: Love of God · wisdom

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)

Get this prayer every morning

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 Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin MaryMon, Dec 9 · Solemnity
Our Lady of GuadalupeThu, Dec 12 · Feast
The Nativity of the Lord (Christmas)Wed, Dec 25 · Solemnity
Saint Stephen, the First MartyrThu, Dec 26 · Feast
Saint John, Apostle and EvangelistFri, Dec 27 · Feast

✝ 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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