December 5
Saturday, week 1 of Advent
Africa : St. Crispina, martyr
Today is a weekday, or 'feria', of the first week of Advent, marked simply as 'Saturday of the First Week of Advent' in the Roman Catholic liturgical calendar. Advent is a sacred season lasting about four weeks, during which the faithful prepare for the coming of Christ—both in remembrance of His Nativity at Christmas and in anticipation of His final coming at the end of time. On ferial days like this, the Church does not celebrate a specific saint or feast but focuses on the daily readings and prayers proper to the Advent season. The violet liturgical color reminds us of Advent’s dual themes: expectant hope and penitence.
During Advent, Catholics are called to prayer, reflection, and works of charity, heeding the scriptural calls to 'prepare the way of the Lord.' The daily Mass readings during this period are rich with prophecies and promises from the Old Testament, echoing the longing of Israel for the Messiah. The Gospel readings gradually lead the faithful to focus on John the Baptist’s announcement and then on Mary, the Mother of God, highlighting their roles in salvation history. Celebrating a ferial day in the Advent season is an invitation to enter more deeply into these themes within the rhythm of ordinary daily life, steadily growing in readiness for Christ’s coming.
Permanent link
Ask a question about today’s feast
Questions about Saturday, week 1 of Advent (Novus Ordo Missae)
Local variations
- Africa — St. Crispina, martyr
The liturgical day
Mass readings
ReadingIs 30, 19-21.23-26
Thus says the Lord, the Holy One of Israel:
People of Zion,
you who dwell in Jerusalem,
you shall weep no more.
At the sound of your cry, the Lord will show you grace.
As soon as he has heard you, he will answer you.
The Lord will give you bread in times of distress,
and water in times of trial.
He who teaches you will hide no more,
and your eyes will see him.
Your ears will hear a voice behind you saying:
"Here is the way, walk in it!",
whether you turn to the right or to the left.
The Lord will give rain
for the seed that you sowed in the ground,
and the bread produced by the land
will be rich and nourishing.
Your livestock will graze, on that day,
on wide pastures.
The oxen and donkeys working the fields
will eat salted fodder,
spread out with shovel and fork.
On every high mountain, on every lofty hill
streams will flow,
on the day of the great slaughter,
when the towers fall.
The moon will shine like the sun,
the sun will shine seven times brighter,
– as bright as seven days of light –
on the day when the Lord binds up the wounds of his people
and heals their bruises.
– The word of the Lord.
Psalm146 (147A), 1-2, 3-4, 5-6
It is good to celebrate our God,
it is beautiful to sing his praise!
The Lord rebuilds Jerusalem,
he gathers the exiles of Israel.
He heals the brokenhearted
and binds up their wounds.
He counts the number of the stars,
he gives each one its name.
Great is our Lord, mighty in power:
no one can measure his understanding.
The Lord lifts up the humble
and brings the wicked down to the ground.
GospelMt 9, 35 – 10, 1.5a.6-8
At that time,
Jesus went through all the towns and villages,
teaching in their synagogues,
proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom
and healing every disease and every infirmity.
Seeing the crowds, Jesus was moved with compassion for them
because they were distressed and dejected
like sheep without a shepherd.
Then he said to his disciples:
"The harvest is abundant,
but the laborers are few.
Therefore ask the Lord of the harvest
to send out laborers for his harvest."
Then Jesus called his twelve disciples
and gave them the authority to drive out unclean spirits
and to heal every disease and every infirmity.
These twelve Jesus sent out on mission
with the following instructions:
"Go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
As you go,
proclaim that the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Heal the sick, raise the dead,
cleanse lepers, cast out demons.
You have received without cost:
give without cost."
– Let us acclaim the Word of God.
Liturgical texts: © AELF — aelf.org