Saturday, First Week of Advent
Theme: Joseph the Patriarch
Symbol: Coat of Many Colors (Ornamented Tunic)
Prayer of Ven. Bruno Lanteri
Almighty and Eternal God, I (name), although most unworthy, but encouraged by your compassion and infinite mercy, and by the desire of serving you, offer before the Most Holy Virgin Mary and all the Court of Heaven, to your Divine Majesty, this day, and all my thoughts, words and actions in it. I humbly beg of your infinite goodness and mercy, by the Blood of Jesus Christ, that you choose to accept this offering in the odor of sweetness, and that as you have given me the grace to desire and to make this offering, so also you grant me the grace to fulfill it. Amen.
O Virgin immaculately conceived, put into my heart those things of your Son most pleasing to him. Amen.
Scripture: Genesis 37:3
Israel [Jacob] loved Joseph best of all his sons, for he was the child of his old age; and he had made him a long ornamented tunic.
Reflection: The coat of many colors was a gift from father to son to emphasize the great love with which Jacob loved Joseph. Ornamented coats were signs of great honor and privilege in the time of the Jewish patriarchs. You are greatly loved and favored by the Father who has clothed you in the grace of his only Son through baptism. Do you celebrate your baptismal day? Do you renew your baptismal vows on occasion? Do you “wear” your baptismal identity as a child of God over all your other clothes?