Fourth Sunday of Advent

Sunday

Every Sunday is a little Easter, the Lord’s Day, when the Church gathers for the Eucharist. From December 17 the Advent liturgy turns to the immediate preparation for Christmas, with the great “O Antiphons” at Evening Prayer.

Readings of the day

Joyful Mysteries

First Mystery: The Annunciation

On the Sundays of Advent many pray the Joyful Mysteries, keeping the season’s focus on the coming and birth of Christ.

“Behold, the servant of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word.”Luke 1:38

The angel Gabriel is sent by God to a virgin of Nazareth named Mary and tells her she will conceive by the power of the Holy Spirit and bear a Son, who will be called the Son of the Most High. Mary gives her humble, free consent.

Fruit of the mystery: Humility

“O King of the Nations” — the O Antiphon for December 22

O King of the nations and their desire, the cornerstone who makes both one: come, and save the human race, which you formed from clay.

Roman Breviary, Magnificat antiphon (translated for this app)

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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 (Joyful Mysteries)

The Annunciation
The Visitation
The Nativity
The Presentation
The Finding in the Temple

Coming up

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
The Holy Innocents, MartyrsSat, Dec 28 · Feast
The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and JosephSun, Dec 29 · 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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