Thursday Highlights and Spiritual Insights



Video: O' Antiphons~December 20 via EJGcatholi at Love To Be Catholic.

Thursday of the Third Week of Advent

Today is the fourth of the O Antiphons. O sublime majesty of the coming Redeemer! To Him has been delivered the key, the government of the house of David (Is 22:22). Boundless is His power over the graces and privileges of the Church, over the souls and hearts and the wills of men. He holds the destiny of the Church in the palm of His hand. He is Master of the storms that arise to destroy the Church and the souls committed to her. He is capable of dealing with the false principles and the errors that threaten her doctrines. He has overcome the devil and his associates, the world, the flesh and its tribulations. To Him all power is given (Matt. 28:18). "He shall open and none shall shut" (Is 22:22). Against the power that is His all other forces are powerless. The destiny of souls and the government of the Church are placed in His hand. He is the Lord of all. O Key of David, I believe in Thy power; and in the many difficult situations that confront the Church and my own soul, I place my trust in Thee.

~Via Catholic Culture.

Today's Mass Readings

Today is Day Five of the Christmas Novena.

Advent Meditation: Fr. Philippe, O.P.

On This Day in Catholic History

107 - Ignatius of Antioch, third bishop of Antioch, was martyred, according to tradition, under Trajan and is commemorated on this date (b. ca. 35).

2002 - Pope John Paul II brought Mother Teresa (d.1997) closer to sainthood when he approved a miracle attributed to the nun.

Birthdays

1629 - Pieter de Hooch, Dutch painter (d. 1684)

1868 - Harvey Firestone, American automobile pioneer (d. 1938)

1881 - Branch Rickey, baseball executive (d. 1965)

1898 - Irene Dunn, a Catholic American actress and singer of the 1930s and 1940s, nominated 5 times for the Best Actress Oscar; ( Cimarron (1931), It Happened One Night (1934), Theodora Goes Wild (1936), Love Affair (1939) I Remember Mama (1948), (d. 1990).

1918 - Jean Marchand, French Canadian trade unionist and politician (d. 1988)

1932 - John Hillerman, American actor; nominated for Golden Globe Awards for Best Supporting Actor in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for TV in 1982, 1983, 1985, 1987 and 1988 for his role in Magnum, P.I. He won the award in 1982.

1944 - Bobby Colomby, American musician (Blood, Sweat & Tears)

1949 - Cecil Cooper, Major League baseball player

1982 - David Wright, an All-Star Third Baseman in Major League Baseball who plays for the New York Mets.
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