As we welcome a new liturgical year on November 27, the First Sunday of Advent, please note the following offerings that will be available on this "Virtual Mission House" for 2023. 

Sunday Liturgy Resource -- We have now completed a full 3-year Lectionary cycle offering an opportunity both to prepare for the coming Sunday's Mass as well as allow the Liturgy to echo in one's prayer during the following week.  Beginning on the First Sunday of Advent, I will be including, in addition to the usual musical selections, the proper chants of the Mass in Gregorian chant as found in the Roman Gradual – the source for the official music of the Latin rite of the Catholic Church.  The propers include the entrance chant (Introit), the response to the first reading (Gradual), Alleluia, Offertory and Communion chants.  These will be accompanied by brief comments from pioneers of the 20th Century liturgical movement, beginning with the magistral work of Bl. Ildefonso Schuster, The Sacramentary.  I will also be adding a choice of Collects from other liturgical traditions.  The Catena Nova -- modelled after the famous Catena Aurea of St. Thomas Aquinas -- will remain with its series of quotes on the Sunday readings drawn from sources both ancient and new followed by a homily.

Feast Days and Saints' Days -- Beginning in January, in addition to the Sunday resource, I will be adding entries for the solemnities and feasts of the Lord and the Blessed Virgin Mary.  A resource for select saints commemorated during each month will also appear consisting of an icon, a synopsis of their life, a Scriptural passage, a piece of writing by or about them, a muscial selection and finally, a collect.  

Advent --  Once again, I will be posting a daily chapter from the Apocalyspse of John (Book of Revelation) with artwork, a brief commentary by theologian Hans Urs von Balthasar, a muscial selection and a concluding collect. There will also be a Late Advent (December 17-24) devotion based on the O Antiphons sung during Vespers in the days prior to Christmas.

Lent -- Each day of the Lenten season will feature an entry from the Book of Exodus with commentary, a muscial selection and collect.  A series of Stations of the Cross will appear weekly especially for use on the Fridays of Lent. 

Eucharistic Revival -- In response to the American bishops' call for a "Eucharistic revival," the Precious Blood Gems for 2023 will feature a quotation on the Blood of Christ in a Eucharistisc context.  A fuller set of Eucharistic readings will accompany each day of July, the month dedicated to the Precious Blood, modeled on the Office of Readings from the Liturgy of the Hours.

Season of Creation (September 1-October 4) --  This year's readings will have a "Franciscan" flavor with readings each day from St. Bonaventure and Pope Francis.

Devotions -- Interspersed throughout the year will be the customary devotions including the Novena to St. Joseph (March 10-18); the Pentecost Novena (May 19-27), and the Novena to the Transforming Light (August 6-14). 

I hope this wide array of biblical, theological, spiritual and liturgical resources will enrich your ongoing Christian formation throughout the coming year of our Lord.

Fr. John Colacino C.PP.S.