The Third Week of Advent

Evangelizing with the Saints: Part 3

There are not very many saints on the liturgical calendar this week, as if to help us focus more intently on preparing for the Nativity of the Lord. Even so, there are saints commemorated every day of the year in the Roman Martyrology, the Church's official book of saints. Here are a few little-known saints commemorated this week who can help us in our mission to share the good news:

St. Virginia Centurione Bracelli

Sunday, December 15

Born into an aristocratic family in sixteenth-century Italy, St. Virginia was pressured into an arranged marriage despite her desire to live a consecrated life. She was widowed five years later, after which she dedicated herself to prayer, caring for the needy, and raising her children. St. Virginia, pray that our efforts of evangelization will always be accompanied by contemplation and the works of mercy!

St. Dominic of Silos

Friday, December 20

St. Dominic was a monk and priest in eleventh-century Spain. His monastery became a center of pilgrimage and healing. A hundred years after his death, St. Dominic appeared to Bl. Joan of Aza, who was having difficulty conceiving, and told her she would soon bear a son. She named that son after St. Dominic; the boy would go on to found the Order of Preachers (Dominicans) and become a saint himself. St. Dominic, pray that the next generation of priests and religious will preach the gospel zealously!

St. Peter Canisius

Saturday, December 21

St. Peter Canisius was one of the early members of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits). After being ordained a priest in the mid-sixteenth century, he busied himself with writing, preaching, teaching, and charitable work. He was instrumental in reestablishing the Catholic faith in post-Reformation Germany, especially by publishing a catechism for common people. St. Peter Canisius, pray that we would be tireless in proposing the gospel to all those who need to hear it!
Grant, O Lord, that we may begin with holy fasting this campaign of Christian service, so that, as we take up battle against spiritual evils, we may be armed with weapons of self-restraint.

This collect prayer begins the Mass for Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent. Jesus is calling us to "take up battle against spiritual evils." We'll explore fasting itself in a few weeks; during the week of Ash Wednesday, we're going to dig into an important set of weapons the Lord gives us to fight evil: sacramentals.

What's a sacramental? Well, if you attend Mass on Ash Wednesday, you're probably going to receive one on your forehead.

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