Pope Benedict has issued the post-synodal apostolic exhortation Verbum Domini [The Word of the Lord], the most important Church document devoted to Sacred Scripture since the Second Vatican Council’s Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation (Dei Verbum), which was promulgated in 1965.

via Catholic Culture : Latest Headlines : Pope Benedict issues major document on Sacred Scripture (link to full text).

Full text is over 200 pages. The ending is included here on AirMaria since it relates to Mary, Mother of God and so Mother of Joy:

“ Mater Verbi et Mater laetitiae ”

124. This close relationship between God’s
word and joy is evident in the Mother of God.
Let us recall the words of Saint Elizabeth: “ Blessed
is she who believed that there would be a fulfi
lment of what was spoken to her by the Lord ”
(Lk 1:45). Mary is blessed because she has faith,
because she believed, and in this faith she received
the Word of God into her womb in order
to give him to the world. The joy born of the
Word can now expand to all those who, by faith,
let themselves be changed by God’s word. The
Gospel of Luke presents this mystery of hearing
and joy in two texts. Jesus says: “ My mother and
my brothers are those who hear the word of God
and do it ” (8:21). And in reply to a woman from
the crowd who blesses the womb that bore him
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and the breasts that nursed him, Jesus reveals the
secret of true joy: “ Blessed rather are those who
hear the word of God and obey it! ” (11:28). Jesus
points out Mary’s true grandeur, making it possible
for each of us to attain that blessedness which
is born of the word received and put into practice.
I remind all Christians that our personal and
communal relationship with God depends on our
growing familiarity with the word of God. Finally,
I turn to every man and woman, including those
who have fallen away from the Church, who have
left the faith or who have never heard the proclamation
of salvation. To everyone the Lord says:
“ Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone
hears my voice and opens the door, I will
come in to him and eat with him, and he with me ”
(Rev 3:20).
May every day of our lives thus be shaped
by a renewed encounter with Christ, the Word
of the Father made fl esh: he stands at the beginning
and the end, and “ in him all things hold
together ” (Col 1:17). Let us be silent in order to
hear the Lord’s word and to meditate upon it, so
that by the working of the Holy Spirit it may remain
in our hearts and speak to us all the days of
our lives. In this way the Church will always be
renewed and rejuvenated, thanks to the word of
the Lord which remains for ever (cf. 1 Pet 1:25;
Is 40:8). Thus we too will enter into the great
nuptial dialogue which concludes sacred Scripture:
“ The Spirit and the bride say: ‘Come’.
And let everyone who hears say: ‘Come!’ ” The
194
one who testifi es to these things, says: ‘Surely I
am coming soon!’. Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! ”.
(Rev 22:17, 20).
Given in Rome, at Saint Peter’s, on 30 September,
the Memorial of Saint Jerome, in the year
2010, the sixth of my Pontificate.

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Today’s Gospel is the Canticle of Zechariah or the “Benedictus” (LK 1:67-79). This song of thanksgiving is prayed every morning in the Church’s liturgy, and is fittingly used today to thank the Father for sending Jesus to earth. Many people – even Christians – live with a complaining spirit, and while there is much wrong with the world, the “wrongness” of our own hearts is what we need to be most concerned about. To help cultivate an attitude of thanks and praise, let us take some time out of our busy Christmas preparations to thank and praise the God for descending into our humanity.

Ave Maria!

Mass: Weekdays of Advent – Dec 24 Morning
Readings: 
1st: 2sa 7:1-5, 8-11, 16
Resp: psa 89:2-3, 4-5, 27, 29 0
Gsp: luk 1:67-79

Audio (MP3)

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The post Dec 24 – Homily – Fr Jacinto: Take Some Time to Give Thanks first appeared on AirMaria.com.

Ave Maria!

Fr. Mahan on the Canticle of Zachariah called the “Benedictus” and how this song helps us to prepare for Advent and Christmas. It is the song that Zachariah sings (Luke 1:68-79) when he is given back his voice after his son John the Baptist, the precursor of Christ, is born in his old age.

Canticle of Zachariah: http://www.usccb.org/bible/luke#50001066

• “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, for he has visited and brought redemption to his people. He has visited and brought redemption to his people
• He has raised up a horn for our salvation within the house of David his servant,
• even as he promised through the mouth of his holy prophets from of old:
• salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us,
• to show mercy to our fathers
• and to be mindful of his holy covenant
• and of the oath he swore to Abraham our father,
• and to grant us that,
• rescued from the hand of enemies,  – which is primarily our own vices and opens our hearts,
• without fear we might worship him – Freedom to be holy, Freedom of Religion
• in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.
• And you, child, will be called prophet of the Most High,– we should be aware and appreciate our blessings from God especially what God wants from us in our discipleship.
• for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,
• to give his people knowledge of salvation – John baptized people to prepare them for the coming of Christ
• through the forgiveness of their sins,
• because of the tender mercy of our Gods
• by which the daybreak from on high will visit us – reflects the coming of Christ the light of the world coming to recreate the world. Let there be light.
• to shine on those who sit in darkness and death’s shadow,
• to guide our feet into the path of peace. – bring us to the paradise of heaven which begins on earth by being his disciple and be filled with the peace of the Holy Spirit.

This is the first talk of Fr. Mahan for the Advent Day of Reflection “Entering into the Mystery of the Incarnation with St. Luke” by reflecting on the three Gospel Canticles all found in the Gospel of Luke which itself provides so many details on the coming of Christ and His early life. As such, they provide a great preparation for Advent and Christmas. The day of reflection took place at the Mother of Redeemer Retreat Center in Bloomington, IN, on December 1, 2018.

Mother of Redeemer Retreat Center in Bloomington, IN: http://www.maryschildren.com/

For all the talks from this day of reflection: http://dev.airmaria.com/tag/advent-day-of-reflection-2018/

Fr Mahan is pastor of St. John the Evangelist in Bloomington, IN and St. Jude the Apostle in Spencer, IN

and YouTube: https://youtu.be/oSLTduk7BQM

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In the homily for the last day of Advent (Dec 24), Fr. Maximilian looks at the prophecies contained in today’s Scripture readings and explains the references to the “night” of sin that is about to end with the birth of the Savior, and the dawning of His Eternal Light.

Ave Maria!

Mass: Monday in the 4th Week in Advent – Wkdy

Readings: 
1st: 2 Sam 7:1-5, 8-11, 16
Resp: Ps 89:2-3, 4-5, 27, 29
Gsp: Lk 1:67-79

More on the Readings: http://dev.airmaria.com/r?m=1266

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On Christmas Eve (Dec 24, 2019, Tuesday in the Fourth Week of Advent), Fr. Andre comments on the “Benedictus” recounted in today’s Gospel—the prayer-song of Zechariah, John the Baptist’s father.  John the Baptist prepared the way of the Lord by proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins (cf Mk 1:4). What applied then still applies now: in order to prepare for the coming of Our Savior, we must repent and make a good confession of our sins.

Ave Maria!

Mass: Weekdays of Advent – Dec 24 Morning

Readings: 
1st: 2 Sam 7:1-5, 8-11, 16
Resp: Ps 89:2-3, 4-5, 27, 29
Gsp: Lk 1:67-79

More on the Readings: http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/122419.cfm

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Fr John Lawrence gives the homily at Bloomington, IN, on Dec 24, 2024, on God’s faithfulness in fulfilling His promises through Christ, urging repentance and preparation for His coming.

Father explained Zachariah’s praise of God for fulfilling promises made to Abraham and David. He noted the significance of their names: John meaning “the Lord is merciful” (Luke 1:13), Zachariah as “the Lord has remembered” (Luke 1:72-73), and Elizabeth embodying “God’s oath.” He highlighted God’s covenant promises to Abraham—a land, a dynasty, and seed (Genesis 12:1-3, 2 Samuel 7:12-16)—fulfilled through Christ. Father referenced the timeline of these fulfillments: the Exodus (Exodus 6:8), the house of David (1 Kings 8:16), and ultimately Jesus (Galatians 3:16), now present in Mary’s womb (Luke 1:43).

The temple as a dwelling place chosen by God prefigures Christ’s incarnation, Mary, and the Church (John 2:19-21). Father reflected on David’s humility in wanting to build the temple (2 Samuel 7:2-13), acknowledging that Solomon, not David, was the chosen builder, foreshadowing Christ as both builder and temple. Psalm 132:11 proclaims Jesus’ divine origin, “One from the fruit of your womb,” affirming His virgin birth (Isaiah 7:14, Revelation 12:1-2).

Zachariah’s Benedictus (Luke 1:68-79) celebrates God’s salvation, with John’s role as the prophet preparing the way for Jesus (Malachi 3:1, Luke 3:4). The “dawn from on high” (Luke 1:78) points to Christ as the messianic branch (Zechariah 3:8). Father urged preparing hearts for Christmas through repentance, echoing John’s call to combat sin (Luke 3:3).

For Further Reading
Luke 1:13 – NAB – Birth of John Foretold – https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/1?13
Genesis 12:1-3 – NAB – God’s Promises to Abraham – https://bible.usccb.org/bible/genesis/12?1
2 Samuel 7:12-16 – NAB – God’s Covenant with David – https://bible.usccb.org/bible/2samuel/7?12
Catechism of the Catholic Church – Mary as the Ark of the New Covenant – Text: http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p122a3p2.htm
Catechism of the Catholic Church – Incarnation and God’s Plan – Text: http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p122a3p1.htm#464
Catechism of the Catholic Church – Christ as Temple – Text: http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/para/586.htm

00:00 – Introduction: Praised Be Jesus and Mary
00:10 – Zachariah’s Prophecy Fulfilled
01:10 – Promises to Abraham and David
01:55 – Christ’s Fulfillment of Old Covenants
02:14 – David and the Temple’s Symbolism
03:36 – Solomon and Christ: Temple Builders
06:07 – Zachariah’s Canticle and Prophecy
09:19 – Advent Reflection and Repentance

Ave Maria!

Mass: Weekdays of Advent – Dec 24 Morning
Readings:  – http://usccb.org/bible/readings/122424.cfm
1st: 2sa 7:1-5, 8-11, 16
Resp: psa 89:2-5, 27, 29
Gsp: luk 1:67-79

More on the Readings: http://dev.airmaria.com/r?m=1335

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The post Zechariah’s Canticle: God’s Promises to Abraham Fulfilled – Dec 24 – Homily – Fr John Lawrence first appeared on AirMaria.com.