Sunday December 29, 2024
THE HOLY FAMILY OF JESUS, MARY, AND JOSEPH (FEAST)
Office: Proper, Te Deum
Mass prop. Gloria. Preface (Special insert)
of Christmas
Vestment: White
Today’s Rosary: The Glorious Mystery

Click HERE for the Previous Catholic Daily Reading

SOLEMN OPENING OF THE JUBILEE OF HOPE WITH THE HOLY MASS CELEBRATED BY DIOCESAN BISHOPS IN EVERY CATHEDRAL

DEATH ANNIVERSARY: Bishop Gregory Obinna Ochiagha (ORLU) – 29/12/1990

ENTRANCE ANTIPHON Lk 2: 16
The shepherds went in haste, and found Mary and Joseph and the Infant lying in a manger.

COLLECT
O God, who were pleased to give us the shining example of the Holy Family, graciously grant that we may imitate them in practising the virtues of family life and in the bonds of charity, and so, in the joy of your house, delight one day in eternal rewards. Through our Lord……..
FIRST READING:
A reading from the Book of 1 Samuel (Samuel 1:20-22,24-28)

And in due time Hannah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Samuel, for she said, “I have asked him of the Lord.” And the man Elkanah and all his house went up to offer the Lord the yearly sacrifice, and to pay his vow. But Hannah did not go up, for she said to her husband, “As soon as the child is weaned, I will bring him, that he may appear in the presence of the Lord, and abide there for ever.” And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, along with a three-year-old bull, an ephah of flour, and a skin of wine; and she brought him to the house of the Lord at Shiloh; and the child was young. Then they slew the bull, and they brought the child to Eli. And she said, “Oh, my Lord! As you live, my Lord, I am the woman who was standing here in your presence, praying to the Lord. For this child I prayed; and the Lord has granted me my petition which I made to him. Therefore I have lent him to the Lord; as long as he lives, he is lent to the Lord.

The word of the Lord.

or

FIRST READING:
“He who fears the Lord honours his parents. ”
A reading from the Book of Sirach (Sirach 3:2-6.12-14)

The Lord honoured the father above the children, and he confirmed the right of the mother over her sons. Whoever honours his father atones for sins, and preserves himself from them. When he prays, he is heard; and whoever glorifies his mother is like one who lays up treasure. Whoever honours his father will be gladdened by his own children, and when he prays he will be heard. Whoever glorifies his father will have long life, and whoever obeys the Lord will refresh his mother. O son, help your father in his old age, and do not grieve him as long as he lives; even if he is lacking in understanding, show forbearance; and do not despise him all the days of his life. For kindness to a father will not be forgotten, and against your sins it will be credited to you a house raised in justice to you.

The word of the Lord.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM   (Psalm 84:2-3, 5-6, 9-11 (R 5a)
R/. Blessed are they who dwell in your house, O Lord.

How lovely is your dwelling place,
O Lord of host.
My soul is longing and yearning
for the courts of the Lord.
My heart and my flesh cry out
to the living God. R/.

Blessed are they who dwell in your house,
for ever singing your praise.
Blessed is the man whose strength is in you,
whose heart is set on pilgrim ways. R/.

O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer;
give ear, O God of Jacob.
Turn your eyes, O God, our shield;
look on the face of your anointed. R/.

One day within your courts
is better than a thousand elsewhere.
The threshold of the house of God
I prefer to dwellings of the wicked. R/.

SECOND READING:
Concerning the Christian life in the family.
A reading from the book of 1 John (1 John 3:1-2, 21-24)

Beloved: See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God’s children now; it does not yet appear what we shall be, but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God; and we receive from him whatever we ask, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him. And this is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. All who keep his commandments abide in him, and he in them. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the spirit which he has given us.

The word of the Lord.

OR

SECOND READING
Concerning the Christian life in the family.
A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Colossians (Colossians 3:12-21)

Brethren: Put on, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassion, kindness, lowliness, meekness, and patience, forbearing one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And over all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, as you teach and admonish one another in all wisdom, and as you sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Wives, be subject to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them. Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.

The word of the Lord.

ALLELUIA 
Alleluia. Open our hearts, O Lord, that we may give heed to the words of your Son.
Alleluia.

GOSPEL
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (Luke 2:41-52)

The parents of Jesus went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the Passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom; and when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it, but supposing him to be in the company they went a day’s journey, and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintances; and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking him. After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions; and all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. And when they saw him they were astonished; and his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been looking for you anxiously.” And he said to them, “How is it that you sought me? Did you not know that I must be in my father’s house?” And they did not understand the saying which he spoke to them. And he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them; and his mother kept all these things in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature, and in favour with God and man.

The Gospel of the Lord.

PRAYER OF THE FAITHFUL

Celebrant:
By our baptism, we are members of the family of God. As we look up to the Holy Family for inspiration and guidance, let us present our petitions to God the Father, by whose will his Son shared in family life.

FOR THE MINISTERS OF THE CHURCH: that, through their ministry, family members may enjoy the grace of living in harmony among themselves, and that all people, regardless of race, religion and social class, may live as brothers and sisters. We pray O Lord.

FOR LEGISLATORS AND LEADERS OF THE WORLD: that they may make laws that are in accord with the plan of God for family life and do all within their power to promote the unity and indissolubility of marriage. We pray O Lord.

FOR FAMILIES GOING THROUGH DIFFICULTIES: that through the unfailing help of the Holy Family of Jesus, and Mary and Joseph, they may persevere through their challenges and experience the assuring closeness of God. We pray O Lord.

FOR CHILDREN IN OUR WORSHIPPING COMMUNITY: that they may be filled with the gifts of the Holy spirit and be sources of joy and blessing to their parents, the church and the world. We pray O Lord.

For other intentions: (the sick, church projects or other activities).

FOR THE DEAD, ESPECIALLY THOSE OF OUR PARISH COMMUNITY AND FAMILY MEMBERS: that they may find eternal rest with the Lord. We pray O Lord.

We pray in silence for our private intentions.

Celebrant:
God of all creation, you gave us the Holy Family as a model of true love and Christian living. Help us to follow the example of joseph, Mary and Jesus in being charitable to one another and in submitting always to your will. We ask this through Christ our Lord.

R/. Amen.

PRAYER OVER THE OFFERINGS
We offer you, Lord, the sacrifice of conciliation, humbly asking that, through the intercession of the Virgin Mother of God and Saint Joseph, you may establish our families firmly in your grace and your peace. Through Christ our Lord.

COMMUNION ANTIPHON Bar 3: 38
Our God has appeared on the earth, and lived among us.

PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
Bring those you refresh with this heavenly Sacrament, most merciful Father, to imitate constantly the example of the Holy Family, so that, after the trials of this world, we may share their company for ever. Through Christ our Lord.

TODAY’S REFLECTION
Today we celebrate the feast of the Holy Family. Many strongly believe, and they are right, that the family is the first basic human society. Family life initiates every individual into the reality that no human person is an island. We are dependent beings. That is why in the Holy Family we find model qualities that should govern every well-meaning family. They are: obedience, loyalty, respect, forgiveness, service, love etc.
Lord, as we celebrate the feast of the Holy Family, we pray that all mothers emulate the humility of our mother Mary; all fathers follow the devotion of St Joseph, and all children learn to obey as Jesus did.

Today’s Saint: SAINT THOMAS BECKET, Bishop and Martyr: Thomas Becket was a Saxon by birth and a cleric of the Church of Canterbury. He was appointed Chancellor of England by his friend King Henry II because of his many skills. Later, when he was named Archbishop of Canterbury, he showed great courage and holiness as he defended the rights of the Church against the King himself. He was exiled to France where he spent six years in a Cistercian Monastery. When he returned to Canterbury he was assassinated in his own cathedral by agents of the King. It was the year 1170.

Personal Devotional:

THE JUBILEE PRAYER

Father in heaven,
may the faith you have given us
in your son, Jesus Christ, our brother,
and the flame of charity enkindled
in our hearts by the Holy Spirit,
reawaken in us the blessed hope
for the coming of your Kingdom.
 
May your grace transform us
into tireless cultivators of the seeds of the Gospel.
May those seeds transform from within both humanity and the whole cosmos
in the sure expectation
of a new heaven and a new earth,
when, with the powers of Evil vanquished,
your glory will shine eternally.