FRIDAY NOVEMBER 21, 2025
THE PRESENTATION OF THE
BLESSED VIRGIN MARY (MEMORIAL)
Office: Memorial, Psalter week 1
Mass and Preface of the Memorial
Vestment: White
Today’s Rosary: The Sorrowful Mystery.
FIRST READING
A reading from the First Book of Maccabees 4:36-37. 52-59
“They celebrated the dedication of the altar and offered burnt offerings with gladness.”
In those days: Judas and his brothers said, “Behold, our enemies are crushed; let us go up to cleanse the sanctuary and dedicate it.” So all the army assembled and they went up to Mount Zion. Early in the morning on the twenty-fifth day of the ninth month, which is the month of Chislev, in the one hundred and forty-eighth year, they rose and offered sacrifice, as the law directs, on the new altar of burnt offering which they had built. At the very season and on the very day that the Gentiles had profaned it, it was dedicated with songs and harps and lutes and cymbals. All the people fell on their faces and worshipped and blessed Heaven, who had prospered them. So they celebrated the dedication of the altar for eight days, and offered burnt offerings with gladness; they offered a sacrifice of deliverance and praise. They decorated the front of the temple with
golden crowns and small shields; they restored the gates and the chambers for the priests, and furnished them with doors. There was very great gladness among the people, and the reproach of the Gentiles was removed. Then Judas and his brothers and all the assembly of Israel determined that every year at that season the days of the dedication of the altar should be observed with gladness and joy for eight days, beginning with the twenty—fifth day of the month of Chislev.
V/ The word of the Lord.
R/ Thanks be to God.
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