Universalis
Thursday 11 December 2025    (other days)
Thursday of the 2nd week of Advent 
 or Saint Damasus I, Pope 

Using calendar: New Zealand. You can pick a diocese or region.

Let us adore the Lord, the King who is to come.

Year: A(II). Psalm week: 2. Liturgical Colour: Violet.

Pope St Damasus I (304 - 384)

A Spaniard, he was born about 305. Joining the Roman clergy, he was elected Pope in 366, in calamitous times. He held many synods against heretics and schismatics, but worked to heal divisions within the orthodox Church: for instance, between Rome and Antioch. He promoted the cult of the martyrs, and he got St Jerome to prepare a complete and correct Latin text of the Bible. He himself presided over the Council of Rome in 382, which definitively laid down which books were and were not to be considered to be part of the canon of Scripture. He died in 384 and his remains are preserved in the church of San Lorenzo in Damaso at Rome, which he had had rebuilt.
  Saint Theodoret calls Damasus the head of the famous doctors of divine grace of the Latin church. The General Council of Chalcedon called him the “honour and glory of Rome.”

Other saints: St Maria Maravillas of Jesus (1891-1974)

11 Dec (where celebrated)
Maria Maravillas was born at Madrid in 1891. She entered the El Escorial Carmel, Madrid on 12th October 1919. In 1924 she was inspired to found a Carmel at Cerro de los Angeles, alongside the monument to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. From this foundation followed nine others in Spain and one in India. She always gave first place to prayer and self-sacrifice. She had a true, passionate zeal for the glory of God and the salvation of souls. Even while living a life of poverty in the cloister she helped those who were in need, initiating apostolic, social and charitable works. In a particular way she helped those of her own order, priests, and other religious congregations. She died in the monastery of La Aldehuela, Madrid, on 11th December 1974. She was canonized on 4th May 2003 in Madrid.
Carmelite Breviary

About the author of the Second Reading in today's Office of Readings:

Second Reading: St Peter Chrysologus (380 - 450)

Peter was born and died in Imola in northern Italy. He was made bishop of Ravenna, the new capital of the Roman Empire, and was responsible for many of the building works there. The name “Chrysologus” means “golden speech”, and was given to Peter because he was such a gifted preacher; unfortunately, most of his writings have perished, and only a collection of short sermons remains.

Liturgical colour: violet

Violet is a dark colour, ‘the gloomy cast of the mortified, denoting affliction and melancholy’. Liturgically, it is the colour of Advent and Lent, the seasons of penance and preparation.

Mid-morning reading (Terce)Micah 5:3-4
He will stand and feed his flock with the power of the Lord, with the majesty of the name of his God. They will live secure, for from then on he will extend his power to the ends of the land. He himself will be peace.

Noon reading (Sext)Haggai 2:6,9
A little while now, and I am going to shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land. The new glory of this Temple is going to surpass the old, and in this place I will give peace – it is the Lord of Hosts who speaks.

Afternoon reading (None)Malachi 3:20-21
For you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness will shine out with healing in its rays; you will leap like calves going out to pasture. You will trample on the wicked, who will be like ashes under your feet on the day I am preparing, says the Lord of Hosts.

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