Catholic Family Devotions

Understanding the Day

Season

Advent

Week

Week 1 of Advent

Rank

Weekday

Advent is the Church’s season of preparation for the coming of Christ: a time of watchful waiting, prayer, and hopeful expectation as Christians recall Christ’s first coming at Bethlehem and look forward to his promised return. The Tuesday of the first week of Advent falls within this early, expectant phase when Scripture and prayer emphasize repentance, vigilance, and the nearness of the Lord. The rank “Greater Non-Privileged Feria” means this is an ordinary weekday celebration of the liturgy (a feria) that has greater importance than a simple weekday but is not a privileged feast that would displace other commemorations; in practice the day’s proper Advent readings, prayers, and the season’s liturgical color take precedence in the Mass and the Liturgy of the Hours. There is no octave or special vigil attached to this day.

Introit (Daily Prayer)

Ps 24:1-3
To You I lift up my soul: in You, O my God, I trust; let me not be put to shame; let not my enemies exult over me. No one who waits for You shall be put to shame.
Ps 24:4
Your ways, O Lord, make known to me; teach me Your paths.
Glory Be to the Father…

Put forth Your power, O Lord, we beseech You, and come, that with You as our protector we may be rescued from the impending danger of our sins; and with You as our deliverer, may we obtain our salvation.
Who livest…

Weekly Prayer

Weekly prayer content will appear here once it is scheduled.

Weekly Formation

Obstinacy, Impenitence, and Charity

Sins Against the Theological Virtues

Obstinacy in sin
Obstinacy is the stubborn decision to remain attached to sin despite correction, grace, or clear knowledge of duty. It hardens the will against repentance and makes amendment increasingly difficult by turning a sinful choice into a settled refusal.
Final impenitence—refusal to repent
Final impenitence is perseverance in the refusal to repent until death. It is unforgiven not because God’s mercy is insufficient, but because forgiveness is knowingly rejected to the end and the will closes itself against the remedy God offers.

The Theological Virtues

Charity
Charity is the infused virtue by which God is loved above all things for His own sake and one’s neighbor is loved for God. It gives supernatural life to the other virtues by directing the whole person toward friendship with God and eternal union with Him.

Saint & Feast

Principal celebrationCalendar title

Tuesday of Week 1 of Advent

A biography or feast reflection has not yet been prepared.

Today in Church History

Pope John Paul II's Visit to Bangladesh
1989Papal
On December 1, 1989, Pope John Paul II visited Bangladesh, emphasizing interfaith dialogue and the importance of peace and human dignity.
Pope John Paul II's visit highlights the Church's commitment to peace and understanding among all people.

Catechism

Catechism of the Catholic Church

Praise is a fundamental form of prayer that recognizes God as God and gives him glory simply because he is. It joins us to the happiness of those who love God in faith and, through the Holy Spirit, bears witness that we are God’s children. The Church has long expressed this praise in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, celebrating the saving work God accomplished in his Son. In family prayer, we can make room for praise and thanksgiving, bringing every joy, suffering, event, and need before God with grateful hearts. The Holy Spirit teaches the Church to pray and inspires blessing, petition, intercession, thanksgiving, and praise. As we bless God, the source of every blessing, may our home grow in gratitude and give him glory.

Prayer is not merely a spontaneous expression of our feelings; it requires the will to pray and a willingness to learn. Through the living Tradition of the believing and praying Church, the Holy Spirit teaches God’s children how to pray, drawing us to Christ, the source of living water. Regular reading of Sacred Scripture, accompanied by prayer, becomes a loving dialogue with God: we speak to him when we pray and listen to him in his word. Prayer also helps us receive and internalize the Church’s liturgy and the mystery of salvation. Even in quiet, private moments, our prayer remains the prayer of the Church, a communion with the Holy Trinity.

¶ 2647

Prayer of intercession consists in asking on behalf of another. It knows no boundaries and extends to one's enemies.

Today's Mass Readings

Open the day's Sancta MissaDivinum Officium · Divino Afflatu - 1954View readings

Tuesday of Week 1 of Advent

Understanding the Day

Introit (Daily Prayer)

Collect

Weekly Prayer

Weekly Formation

Obstinacy, Impenitence, and Charity

Sins Against the Theological Virtues

The Theological Virtues

Saint & Feast

Tuesday of Week 1 of Advent

Today in Church History

Pope John Paul II's Visit to Bangladesh

Catechism

Catechism of the Catholic Church

Today's Mass Readings

Baltimore Catechism No. 3