Daily Archives: November 21, 2024

St. Lydia Purpuraria

Feast dayNovember 26
Patronof Altar servers
Birth1599
Death1621

St. Lydia of Thyatira, also known as St. Lydia Purpuraria or Lydia the Purple Seller, is recognized as the first documented convert to Christianity in Europe. She is mentioned in the Book of Acts in the New Testament.

Key Highlights of Her Life
Background: Lydia was from Thyatira, a city in Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey), known for its production of purple dye. She was a seller of purple cloth, which is why she is often referred to as “Lydia Purpuraria” (the purple seller).

Encounter with Paul: Lydia met Apostle Paul and his companions during his second missionary journey. She was gathered with other women by the riverbank in Philippi when Paul spoke to them about the life of Christ. Lydia’s heart was opened to listen, and she became a believer2.

Conversion and Baptism: Lydia and her household were baptized, and she insisted that Paul and his companions stay at her home in Philippi. Her house likely became an early meeting place for Christians in the area2.

Legacy: Lydia is considered the patron saint of dyers and is honored for her role in spreading Christianity in Europe2. Her feast day is celebrated on August 3rd in the Eastern Orthodox Church and January 27th in the Episcopal Church in the United States.


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Bible readings

Daily mass readings for Nov 29,2024

Daily mass readings : Friday of the Thirty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time

Reading 1 : RV 20:1-4, 11—21:2

I, John, saw an angel come down from heaven,
holding in his hand the key to the abyss and a heavy chain.
He seized the dragon, the ancient serpent,
which is the Devil or Satan,
and tied it up for a thousand years and threw it into the abyss,
which he locked over it and sealed,
so that it could no longer lead the nations astray
until the thousand years are completed.
After this, it is to be released for a short time.

Then I saw thrones; those who sat on them were entrusted with judgment.
I also saw the souls of those who had been beheaded
for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God,
and who had not worshiped the beast or its image
nor had accepted its mark on their foreheads or hands.
They came to life and they reigned with Christ for a thousand years.

Next I saw a large white throne and the one who was sitting on it.
The earth and the sky fled from his presence
and there was no place for them.
I saw the dead, the great and the lowly, standing before the throne,
and scrolls were opened.
Then another scroll was opened, the book of life.
The dead were judged according to their deeds,
by what was written in the scrolls.
The sea gave up its dead;
then Death and Hades gave up their dead.
All the dead were judged according to their deeds.
Then Death and Hades were thrown into the pool of fire.
(This pool of fire is the second death.)
Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life
was thrown into the pool of fire.

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth.
The former heaven and the former earth had passed away,
and the sea was no more.
I also saw the holy city, a new Jerusalem,
coming down out of heaven from God,
prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

Responsorial Psalm : PS 84:3, 4, 5-6A AND 8A

R. (Rev. 21:3b) Here God lives among his people.
My soul yearns and pines
for the courts of the LORD.
My heart and my flesh
cry out for the living God.
R. Here God lives among his people.
Even the sparrow finds a home,
and the swallow a nest
in which she puts her young–
Your altars, O LORD of hosts,
my king and my God!
R. Here God lives among his people.
Blessed they who dwell in your house!
continually they praise you.
Blessed the men whose strength you are!
They go from strength to strength.
R. Here God lives among his people.

Alleluia : LUKE 21:28

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Stand erect and raise your heads
because your redemption is at hand.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel : LK 21:29-33

Jesus told his disciples a parable.
“Consider the fig tree and all the other trees.
When their buds burst open,
you see for yourselves and know that summer is now near;
in the same way, when you see these things happening,
know that the Kingdom of God is near.
Amen, I say to you, this generation will not pass away
until all these things have taken place.
Heaven and earth will pass away, 
but my words will not pass away.”


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