November 26
Thursday, week 34 in Ordinary Time
Year II
Belgium : St John Berchmans, religious
Today is a 'ferial' day in the Roman Catholic liturgical calendar, meaning it is an ordinary weekday without a specific saint or special feast assigned. During the Thirty-Fourth Week in Ordinary Time, the Church continues her rhythm of prayer, Scripture, and reflection on the mysteries of Christ, inviting the faithful to live out the Gospel in daily life. Ordinary Time, marked by the liturgical color green, emphasizes growth, hope, and the nurturing of spiritual life.
On ferial days, the readings and prayers direct the Church’s focus to the ongoing journey of faith, often calling attention to themes found in the day’s Scriptures—such as vigilance, perseverance, and hope in Christ’s promises. These days are valuable opportunities for quiet spiritual growth and for cultivating a deeper relationship with God through the celebration of the Eucharist and personal prayer. The Church encourages Christians to sanctify these ordinary moments, remembering that holiness is not only found in great celebrations but also in faithful living day by day.
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- Belgium — St John Berchmans, religious
The liturgical day
Mass readings
ReadingAp 18, 1-2.21-23 ; 19, 1-3.9a
I, John,
saw another angel coming down from heaven,
having great authority,
and the earth was illumined by his glory.
He cried out in a mighty voice:
"She has fallen, she has fallen,
Babylon the Great!
She has become a haunt for demons,
a den for every unclean spirit,
a den for every unclean bird,
a den for every unclean and loathsome beast!
Then a mighty angel
took a stone like a great millstone,
and hurled it into the sea, saying:
"Thus, with one throw, Babylon, the great city, will be cast down,
and will be found no more.
The sound of harpists and musicians,
of flute players and trumpeters,
will be heard in you no more.
No craftsman of any trade
will be found in you any more,
and the sound of the millstone
will be heard in you no more.
The light of a lamp
will never shine in you again.
The voice of bridegroom and bride
will be heard in you no more.
Yet your merchants were the great ones of the earth,
and your magic spell led all nations astray!"
After this, I heard what sounded like the loud voice
of a great multitude in heaven, proclaiming:
"Alleluia!
Salvation and glory,
power to our God.
True and just
are his judgments.
He has judged the great harlot
who corrupted the earth with her prostitution;
he has avenged the blood of his servants
that she shed with her hands."
And the crowd responded:
"Alleluia!
The smoke from her fire goes up forever and ever."
Then the angel said to me:
"Write this:
Blessed are those invited
to the wedding feast of the Lamb!"
– The word of the Lord.
PsalmPs 99 (100), 1-2, 3, 4, 5
Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth,
serve the Lord with gladness,
come before him with joyful songs!
Know that the Lord is God:
he made us, and we are his,
we, his people, his flock.
Enter his house giving thanks,
into his courts with songs of praise;
give thanks to him and bless his name!
Yes, the Lord is good,
his love is everlasting,
his faithfulness endures through every age.
GospelLc 21, 20-28
At that time,
Jesus said to his disciples:
"When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies,
then know that its desolation is near.
Then, let those who are in Judea
flee to the mountains;
those who are in the city,
let them leave;
those who are in the country,
let them not enter the city,
for these are days when justice will be done
so that all Scripture will be fulfilled.
Woe to women who are pregnant
and to those nursing in those days,
for there will be great distress in the land,
and great wrath against this people.
They will fall by the edge of the sword,
and will be taken captive among all the nations;
Jerusalem will be trampled on by Gentiles,
until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.
There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars.
On earth, the nations will be terrified and bewildered
by the roaring of the sea and the waves.
People will die of fear
in anticipation of what is coming to the world,
for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.
Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud,
with power and great glory.
When these events begin
stand up and raise your heads,
because your redemption is near."
– Let us acclaim the Word of God.
Liturgical texts: © AELF — aelf.org