Devotion for Saturday/Sunday: Selections from the Liturgy of the Hours

December 31 – Seventh Day in the Octave of Christmas

Morning Prayer:

Reading: Isaiah 4:2-3

On that day, the branch of the Lord will be luster and glory, and the fruit of the earth will be honor and splendor for the survivors of Israel. He who remains in Zion and he that is left in Jerusalem will be called holy, every one marked down for life in Jerusalem.

Prayer: Ever-living God, in the birth of your Son, our religion has its origin and its perfect fulfillment. Help us to share in the life of Christ, for he is the salvation of mankind, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.

January 1-Octave of Christmas, Mary, Mother of God

Evening Prayer 1 – to be said Saturday night

Reading: Galatians 4:3-7

In the same way, when we were not yet of age, we were like slaves subordinated to the elements of the world; but when the designated time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to deliver from the law those who were subjected to it, so that we might receive our status as adopted sons. The proof that you are sons is the fact that God has sent forth into our hearts the spirit of His Son which cries out “Abba!” (Father!) You are no longer a slave but a son! And the fact that you are a son makes you an heir, by God’s design.

Prayer: Father, source of light in every age, the virgin conceived and bore your Son who is called Wonderful God, Prince of Peace. May her prayer, the gift of a mother’s love, be your people’s joy through all ages. May her response, born of a humble heart, draw your Spirit to rest on your people. Grant this through Christ our Lord.

Morning Prayer:

Reading: Micah 5:1-4a, 6

But you, Bethlehem-Ephrathah, too small to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel; whose origin is from of old, from ancient times. (Therefore the Lord will give them up, until the time when she who is to give birth has borne, and the rest of his brethren shall return to the children of Israel.) He shall stand firm and shepherd his flock by the strength of the Lord, in the majestic name of the Lord, his God; and they shall remain, for now his greatness shall reach to the ends of the earth; he shall be peace. The remnant of Jacob shall be in the midst of many peoples, like dew coming from the Lord, like raindrops on the grass, which wait for no man, nor tarry for the sons of men.

Prayer: God our Father, may we always profit by the prayers of the Virgin Mother Mary, for you bring us life and salvation through Jesus Christ her Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.

Evening Prayer:

Reading: Galatians 4:3-7

In the same way, when we were not yet of age, we were like slaves subordinated to the elements of the world; but when the designated time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to deliver from the law those who were subjected to it, so that we might receive our status as adopted sons. The proof that you are sons is the fact that God has sent forth into our hearts the spirit of His Son which cries out “Abba!” (Father!) You are no longer a slave but a son! And the fact that you are a son makes you an heir, by God’s design.

Prayer: God our Father, may we always profit by the prayers of the Virgin Mother Mary, for you bring us life and salvation through Jesus Christ her Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.

Devotion for today: Fathers, protect your children

Silent Night

Silent Night, holy night,

All is calm, all is bright,

‘round yon virgin, Mother and Child,

Holy Infant so tender and mild,

Sleep in heavenly peace, sleep in heavenly peace.

Scripture for meditation: Matthew 2:13-15; 19-23

 Now when they had gone, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Get up! Take the Child and His mother and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is going to search for the Child to destroy Him.” So Joseph got up and took the Child and His mother while it was still night, and left for Egypt. He remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: “OUT OF EGYPT I CALLED MY SON.”

But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, and said,  “Get up, take the Child and His mother, and go into the land of Israel; for those who sought the Child’s life are dead.” So Joseph got up, took the Child and His mother, and came into the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Then after being warned by God in a dream, he left for the regions of Galilee, and came and lived in a city called Nazareth. This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophets: “He shall be called a Nazarene.”

Psalm 112:7-8

The good man takes pity and lends, he conducts his affairs with honor.

The just man will never waver: he will be remembered for ever.

He has no fear of evil news; with a firm heart he trusts in the Lord.

With a steadfast heart he will not fear; he will see the downfall of his foes.

The Oblates of St. Joseph tell us: In this section (Mt 2:13-23), Joseph is the visible protagonist who thwarts Herod in his intention to destroy the child. In this he exercises the protective role of father necessary for the survival of the child. Twice explicitly and once implicitly, it is again Joseph whom the angel of the Lord addresses for what regards the family. Both child and mother are mentioned in a passive role, entrusted to his care. As Joseph was a "just" or "upright" man of faith in accepting his role of father in Matthew 1, so now is he an upright man of faith in exercising that role by immediate, trusting, and unquestioning obedience to the three divine commands to flee by night to Egypt with Mary and Jesus, to return to Israel, and to move to Galilee where he settled at Nazareth. In the first two of these examples as in the initial dream in Matthew 1, Joseph's response is described in words that repeat almost verbatim the words of the angel. This absolute and exact faithfulness to God in fatherly concern for the welfare of the child makes Joseph God's instrument of liberation and fulfillment. Humbly and quietly he saves the Savior's life and establishes earthly residence for him. http://www.osjoseph.org/.

Prayer to St. Joseph: St. Joseph, protect our home. Pour forth from heaven blessings on our family. Remain in our midst. Help us to live in love and harmony, in peace and joy. May the wholesome fear of God strengthen us that virtue may adorn what we do and our way may lead to heaven. To you this day I give the key to our dwelling place. Lock out all things that could do us harm. Lock my home and my loved ones with me in the hearts of Jesus and Mary. This I beg of you, that our days may be like your days in the holy home at Nazareth. Amen. http://www.osjoseph.org/.

My thoughts: As a good father, Joseph made sure his child slept in heavenly peace. But it didn’t mean that he himself did. As my pastor, Fr. Andrew Fisher said, he never really got much sleep once he was picked to be the earthly father of Jesus. Three times he is awakened with commands for action. Three times he responds quickly. He is a good father, putting the needs of his child above his own. Even more importantly, he is a father who is so in tune with the word of God that he knows it when he hears it. How many of us today can say that? How many of us drown out any hope of God’s getting our attention? And even if He did, would we react so quickly and cause ourselves such inconvenience to submit to it?  Joseph married a woman with child, escaped with them to a foreign country, settled in a town that was not his own, and never once complained. His son and wife were his life. His love of God was his guide. “With a firm heart he trusted in the Lord.” On this, the feast of the Holy Family, may we all strive to become like Joseph, casting ourselves aside to do the will of God.

Our prayer to God:   Take time to meditate on the picture. Joseph stands tall and strong, defending his family, lovingly holding them in his protective embrace. Imagine God, your Abba – Father, doing the same for you. St. Joseph serves as a reminder that God will always be there for us. Let us take time today to thank Him for such a gift. And fear no more. Your Father loves you very, very much. (photo from www.osjoseph.org)

Devotion for today: "Christmas Bells"

 Christmas Bells

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

I heard the bells on Christmas Day
Their old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet
The words repeat
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

And thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along
The unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

A series of Christmas Day church bombings rocked Nigeria on Sunday in what appeared to be a coordinated assault by a radical Islamist sect with suspected training links to Al Qaeda, raising the sect’s violent antigovernment struggle to a new and more dangerous level that the Nigerian authorities seem powerless to contain. At least 25 people were killed.

The worst bombing was at the St. Theresa Catholic Church in Madala, a suburb of the capital, Abuja, where an explosion ripped through a crowd of worshipers as they left morning Mass. The bomb tore through the church, said Bassey Udo, a Nigerian journalist in Madala, and left a deep crater. A government spokesman, Reuben Abati, said at least 25 people were killed in that blast and that many were wounded in a chaos of fire and rubble, suggesting the toll would rise.  In Madala, there were charred bodies on the street and twisted cars burned in front of the church. Rescue workers struggling to cope with the mayhem faced a shortage of ambulances for the dozens of wounded and an enraged crowd that blocked them from entering the church until soldiers arrived. By ADAM NOSSITER

Published: December 25, 2011 The New York Times

And in despair I bowed my head;
"There is no peace on earth," I said;
"For hate is strong,
And mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!"

"The LORD liveth, in Truth, in Judgment, and in Righteousness; and the nations shall bless themselves in Him, and in Him shall they glory" (Jeremiah 4:2).

"Behold, He that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep" (Psalm 121:4).  

"To finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in Everlasting Righteousness" (Daniel 9:24).

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
"God is not dead; nor doth he sleep!
The Wrong shall fail,
The Right prevail,
With peace on earth, good-will to men!"

Tom Stewart tells us: One of America's best known poets, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882), contributed to the wealth of carols sung each Christmas season, when he composed the words to "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day" on December 25th 1864. As with any composition that touches the heart of the hearer, "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day" flowed from the experience of Longfellow-- involving the tragic death of his wife Fanny and the crippling injury of his son Charles from war wounds. The first Christmas after Fanny's death, Longfellow wrote, "How inexpressibly sad are all holidays." A year after the incident, he wrote, "I can make no record of these days. Better leave them wrapped in silence. Perhaps someday God will give me peace." Longfellow's journal entry for December 25th 1862 reads: "'A merry Christmas' say the children, but that is no more for me." Almost a year later, Longfellow received word that his oldest son Charles, a lieutenant in the Army of the Potomac, had been severely wounded with a bullet passing under his shoulder blades and taking off one of the spinal processes. The Christmas of 1863 was silent in Longfellow's journal. Finally, on Christmas Day of 1864, he wrote the words of the poem, "Christmas Bells." Longfellow's Christmas bells loudly proclaimed, "God is not dead."

The message that the Living God is a God of Peace is proclaimed in the close of the carol: "Of peace on Earth, good will to men." "For it pleased the Father that in [Jesus] should all fullness dwell; and, having made peace through the Blood of His Cross, by Him to reconcile all things unto Himself" (Colossians 1:19-20). Tom Stewart, December 20, 2001, www.whatsaiththescripture.com. (This is only a summary of his excellent article)

My thoughts: The world continues to bear bad tidings. Family members die, nation fights nation, and religious zealots kill or maim in the name of their God. Why should anyone find joy and hope at Christmas, or any time of the year for that matter? The reason is simple. Our God is a loving God, filled with mercy and kindness, and those who allow themselves to walk in His light will always overshadow those who dwell in darkness. As Longfellow realizes by the end of his poem, “The wrong shall fail, the good prevail.” Always look to the light, strengthen your resolve by holding firm to God’s word, and pray for those who follow the beat of an evil drum. God gave us the way to peace and joy on this earth. He gave us His commandments, and He sent us His Son who would spend His time on earth showing us how to love each other and live in harmony. The choice, however, rests with each individual. For peace to reign on earth, we must truly wish each other good-will. And remember, just as Longfellow eventually found the joy he so sadly lacked for many Christmases, so we, too can be confident that one day God will replace our sorrow with laughter, and wipe all tears from our eyes. Just hold onto His word, and His hand.

Scripture promises us: Rev. 21:4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes: and death shall be no more, nor mourning, nor crying, nor sorrow shall be any more, for the former things are passed away.

Our prayer to God: Dear God, we pray, bring light to this world. Soften the hearts of those who hate, mend the hearts torn apart by grief, and heal the wounds of sadness and despair. Let our hands and voices be the tools you use to bring your love and healing power into a hurting world. As the promises of Christmas remain in our souls, let us be joyful and rejoice that we are not lost, but found; not blind, but see. Thank you for the gift of Christ, our new-born king.  Amen

Devotion for today: Do You Know What I Know?

What is the message in today's carol?

Said the shepherd boy to the mighty king,
do you know what I know
In your palace warm, mighty king,
do you know what I know
A Child, a Child shivers in the cold
Let us bring Him silver and gold
Let us bring Him silver and gold

Said the king to the people everywhere,
listen to what I say
Pray for peace, people everywhere!
listen to what I say
The Child, the Child, sleeping in the night
He will bring us goodness and light
He will bring us goodness and light.

Scripture for meditation: Matthew 2:16-18

 When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi. Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled:

 “A voice is heard in Ramah,

 weeping and great mourning,
Rachel weeping for her children
and refusing to be comforted,  because they are no more.”

Pope Benedict XVI reminds us: Each of us has a mission, each of us is called to change the world, to work for a culture of life, a culture forged by love and respect for the dignity of each human person.
- Pope Benedict XVI (London, 9/18/10)

My thoughts: The king in our Christmas Carol for today is such a good man. He hears a message from a young boy, telling him of the birth of a baby, a small shivering child worthy of gifts meant for kings. The king immediately realizes that this is Christ, the Messiah, a King even greater than he himself, and he proclaims to all the people: Pray for peace! In other words, hail your new King! He is not governed by fear for his own position or power, but by the truth. Contrast that to Herod, who has innocent children murdered for fear one of them is the Christ-child, the new-born king, someone who might take away his own power, destroy the good life he has for himself, be greater than he is. Fear leads many people to do the wrong thing. They know the truth, yet the cost of following it is too great. In our world today, we must be like the first king. Pope Benedict calls us to save life, to value it, to recognize it as the gift it is, in all its many stages and appearances. Let us promise God today that He can count on us to bring goodness and light into the world, and not darkness and death.

Prayer: Collect for the Mass of the Holy Innocents, Martyrs

O God, whom the Holy Innocents confessed and proclaimed on this day not by speaking but by dying, grant, we pray, that the faith in you which we confess with our lips may also speak through our manner of life. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, on God, forever and ever.

Our prayer to God:  Today let us offer all of our prayers, sacrifices and good deeds for leaders of the world, and especially of our own country, that they will be like the king in the carol, and recognize goodness, light and life as the standard by which all governing should be based; leaders who recognize that a respect for all life leads to a country where all people are safe, loved and valued by all its citizens.

Devotion for today: What Child Is This?

What Child is this who, laid to rest
On Mary's lap, is sleeping?
Whom Angels greet with anthems sweet,
While shepherds watch are keeping?

This, this is Christ the King,
Whom shepherds guard and Angels sing;
Haste, haste, to bring Him laud,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.

Scripture for today:  Rev. 1:5-6

 To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Christ tells us: John 15:26-27:

“But when the Advocate comes, whom I will send you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he shall give testimony of me.  And you shall give testimony, because you are with me from the beginning.”

Blessed John Paul II, in his encyclical letter Redemptoris Missio states:

On the Permanent Validity of the Church's Missionary Mandate

42. People today put more trust in witnesses than in teachers, in experience than in teaching, and in life and action than in theories. The witness of a Christian life is the first and irreplaceable form of mission: Christ, whose mission we continue, is the "witness" par excellence (Rv 1:5; 3:14) and the model of all Christian witness. The Holy Spirit accompanies the Church along her way and associates her with the witness he gives to Christ (cf. Jn 15:26-27). The first form of witness is the very life of the missionary, of the Christian family, and of the ecclesial community, which reveal a new way of living. The missionary who, despite all his or her human limitations and defects, lives a simple life, taking Christ as the model, is a sign of God and of transcendent realities. But everyone in the Church, striving to imitate the Divine Master, can and must bear this kind of witness; in many cases it is the only possible way of being a missionary. The evangelical witness which the world finds most appealing is that of concern for people, and of charity toward the poor, the weak and those who suffer. The complete generosity underlying this attitude and these actions stands in marked contrast to human selfishness. It raises precise questions which lead to God and to the Gospel. A commitment to peace, justice, human rights and human promotion is also a witness to the Gospel when it is a sign of concern for persons and is directed toward integral human development.

My thoughts: Our Christmas Carol today asks a very important question. “What Child is this?” Many people in our lives can ask us that very question. “Who is this Jesus you believe in? Why do you believe in Him? What is in it for you? Where do you learn about Him? How can I learn more? Why should I even bother; your life seems the same as mine, and I don’t have all those rules to follow!” Today let us ask ourselves these very questions, and ask a few more, “If anyone knows me, do they know Christ? Does my very life itself make me a witness to a life filled with the love and grace of God? Am I someone who brings people closer to God’s love simply by the way I live?” If you can be Christ to others, they will no longer wonder “What Child is this?” They will know.

On the second day of Christmas, let us offer this prayer to God:

For Those Who Do Not Believe in Christ:

Let us pray:
For those who do not believe in Christ, that the light of the Holy Spirit may show them the way to salvation. Almighty and eternal God, enable those who do not acknowledge Christ to find the truth as they walk before you in sincerity of heart. Help us to grow in love for one another, to grasp more fully the mystery of your godhead, and to become more perfect witnesses of your love in the sight of men.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.  Amen.

For Those Who Do Not Believe in God:

Let us pray:
For those who do not believe in God, that they may find Him by sincerely following all that is right.

Almighty and eternal God, you created mankind so that all might long to find you and have peace when you are found, grant that, in a spite of the hurtful things that stand in their way, they may all recognize in the lives of Christians the tokens of your love and mercy, and gladly acknowledge you as the one true God and Father of us all.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen (Good Friday Prayer: intercessory prayer)

Devotion for today: Freedom to celebrate Christ is not always free

Here is one explanation for the popular song that dominates the airwaves this time of year:

One theory… connects the carol to the era when Catholicism was outlawed in England, from 1558 to 1829. The carol, it is said, was a catechism song for Catholics to learn "the tenets of their faith," as they could not openly practice in Anglican society [source: Snopes.com]. Here are the verses of the song, along with their… symbolism:

• A Partridge in a Pear Tree - Jesus Christ
• Two Turtle Doves - The Old and New Testaments
• Three French Hens - The three virtues of Faith, Hope and Charity
• Four Calling/Collie Birds - Four gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John
• Five Golden Rings - First five books of the Old Testament
• Six Geese-a-Laying - Six days of creation before God's rest on the seventh day
• Seven Swans-a-Swimming - Seven gifts of the Holy Spirit
• Eight Maids-a-Milking - Eight Beatitudes
• Nine Ladies Dancing - Nine fruits of the Holy Spirit
• Ten Lords-a-Leaping - Ten Commandments
• Eleven Pipers Piping - Eleven faithful disciples
• Twelve Drummers Drumming -Twelve points of belief in the Apostles' Creed

[Source: BBC.com]

December 26 – Feast of St. Stephen, the first martyr

St. Stephen, a disciple of Christ chosen after the Ascension as one of the seven deacons, and “Full of grace and fortitude was working great wonders and signs among the people.” Many rose up against him, but they were not able to withstand the wisdom and the spirit that spoke. Accused of blasphemy against Moses and against God, he was brought before the Sandedrin and condemned to be cast out of the city and stoned to death. Kneeling down before his murderers he cried out with a loud voice, saying: “Lord, do not lay this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep in the Lord, 35 A.D.(Lives of the Saints, Catholic Publishing Co. 1955)

My thoughts:  This is a little variance from the usual blog that I write, but the day after Christmas is usually spent recovering from much merriment and good cheer, celebrating our Savior’s birth. It is sobering to remember, however, that our faith is not always free. Just as the Catholics in England were persecuted for their beliefs, and just as St. Stephen was martyred for working great signs and wonders among the people in Jesus’ name, so, too, today, in many nations of the world, Catholics are persecuted for their Catholic faith. Let us pray today for all the people of the world who do not have the freedom to openly celebrate the 12 days of Christmas, and let us thank God if we are the fortunate ones who do.

Our Prayer: O Lord, as we remember your birth, we also remember the distress and dangers of peoples and nations persecuted for their belief in you. Hear the pleas of the imprisoned and captives, head the sorrow of the grief-stricken, the needs of refugees, and the cries of the oppressed. Protect the missionaries who place themselves in these dangerous conditions, and bring freedom of religion to all your children. We ask this through Mary, Your mother and ours. Amen.

Devotion for today: Jesus Christ is born!

Scripture for today: Luke 2:1-14

In those days Caesar Augustus published a decree ordering a census of the whole world. This first census took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria. Everyone went to register, each to his own town.

 And so Joseph went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to David’s town of Bethlehem – because he was of the house and lineage of David – to register with Mary, his espoused wife, who was with child.

While they were there the days of her confinement were completed. She gave birth to her first-born son and wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the place where travelers lodged.

There were shepherds in that locality, living in the fields and keeping night watch by turns over their flocks. The angel of the Lord appeared to them as the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were very much afraid.

The angel said to them: “You have nothing to fear! I come to proclaim good news to you – tidings of great joy to be shared by the whole people. This day in David’s city a savior has been born to you, the Messiah and Lord. Let this be a sign to you: in a manger you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes.

Suddenly, there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying,

“Glory to God in high heaven,

Peace on earth to those on whom his favor rests.”

Devotion for today: Readings from The Liturgy of the Hours for Christmas Eve

Saturday Morning Reading: Isaiah 11:1-5:  A shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse, and from his roots a bud shall blossom. The spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him: a spirit of wisdom and of understanding, a spirit of counsel and of strength, a spirit of knowledge and of fear of the Lord, and His delight shall be the fear of the Lord. Not by appearance shall He judge, nor by hearsay shall He decide, but He shall judge the poor with justice, and decide aright for the land’s afflicted. He shall strike the ruthless with the rod of His mouth, and with the breath of His lips He shall slay the wicked. Justice shall be the band around His waist, and faithfulness a belt upon His hips.

Saturday Morning Prayer: Come, Lord Jesus, do not delay; give new courage to your people who trust in your love. By your coming, raise us to the joy of your kingdom, where you live and reign with the Father and the Holy spirit, one God, forever and ever.

Evening Prayer I (to be said Saturday evening)

Canticle: Philippians 2:6-11: Though he was in the form of God, Jesus did not deem equality with God something to be grasped at. Rather, he emptied himself and took the form of a slave, being born in the likeness of men. He was known to be of human estate, and it was thus that he humbled himself, obediently accepting even death, death on a cross! Because of this, God highly exalted him, and bestowed on him the name above every other name, so that at Jesus’ name, every knee must bend in the heavens, on the earth, and under the earth, and every tongue proclaim to the glory of God the Father: JESUS CHRIST IS LORD!

Reading: Galatians 4:3-7: In the same way, while we were not yet of age we were like slaves subordinated to the elements of the world; but when the designated time had come, God sent forth his Son born of a woman, born under the law, to deliver from the law those who were subjected to it, so that we might receive our status as adopted sons. The proof that you are sons is the fact that God has sent forth into our hearts the spirit of his Son which cries out “Abba!” (“Father”) You are no longer a slave but a son! And the fact that you are a son makes you an heir, by God’s design.

Prayer: God our Father, every year we rejoice as we look forward to this feast of our salvation. May we welcome Christ as our Redeemer, and meet him with confidence when he comes to be our judge, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.

For the last time, don't forget to say your Christmas Novena 15 times today for your special intention!

Christmas Novena
Hail, and blessed be the hour and moment
At which the Son of God was born
Of a most pure Virgin
At a stable at midnight in Bethlehem
In the piercing cold
At that hour vouchsafe, I beseech Thee,
To hear my prayers and grant my desires(mention request here). 
Through Jesus Christ and His most Blessed Mother.

Read more: http://www.ewtn.com/Devotionals/novena/christmas.htm#ixzz1f7YZnI

Devotion for today: Our last gift this advent: forgiveness

The “O” Antiphon for today: “O Emmanuel, God with us, our King and Lawgiver, the expected of the nations and their Savior: Come to save us, O Lord our God. Isaiah 7:14, 33:22.

Scripture for meditation: Isaiah 9:1, 5

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light. For a child is born to us, a son is given to us; upon his shoulder dominion rests.

Christ tells us: Luke 11: 2-4

He said to them, “When you pray, say: Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread. Forgive us our sins for we too forgive all who do us wrong; and subject us not to the trial.”

We learn in the Christopher News Notes for Dec. 5, 2011: Is there a “right time” to forgive someone? Well, there is no time like the present. Forgiveness is always in season. But right now, with Christmas just around the corner, righting old wrongs seems to be especially appropriate. Jesus came to us with a message, and at its heart was a simple instruction: forgive those who trespass against us. Of course, it’s easier said than done. And the difficulty seems to climb with the severity of the original offense. Still, the Lord made no exceptions. A trespasser is a trespasser, no matter the crime, and under all circumstances He calls for forgiveness. That concept was among the topics addressed at a recent southern California conference on the criminal justice system, a major subtext of which involved the forgiveness of offenders. Doris Benavides of The Tidings, the Los Angeles archdiocesan newspaper, effectively captured its mood in her report on the proceedings, which featured interviews with parents of…murdered sons. Helene Davis has forgiven her son Darrell Davis’ murderer, but still chokes up when describing how he was killed following a verbal confrontation with the offender. Dick Harris has also forgiven the gang members who killed his son Bryan and his girlfriend back in 1985, but becomes tearful when talking about it….And all can benefit from the story of Maria Boffa of New York, whose experience was chronicled earlier this year in the Daily News. Reporter Oren Yaniv told of the “heart-stirring moment of mercy” in a Brooklyn courtroom when the 78 year old woman told her son’s sobbing killer, “I forgive you.”…. “It just came out of me,” Boffa said of her remarkable act.  “I did it for my son’s sake.”  Some people can never forgive. Some are working at it. And some – like Maria Boffa – find that the words “just come out.” That’s clearly an ideal to strive for. The offense can be far less serious, of course, than the loss of life: an argument, an angry word, a slight. All call for forgiveness, and moving on. Any time, remember, can be the right time. But just about now seems perfect. http://www.christophers.org/.

My thoughts: We have finally arrived at the end of our Advent preparation. We have sought to learn God’s word, immersed ourselves in prayer, found God’s forgiveness in the confessional, and admitted our hindrances to a full and loving relationshipwith God. One last present remains for us to give to the newborn King, and that is the gift of forgiveness towards others. There is an old Chinese proverb which states, “It is better to light a candle than curse the darkness.” Isaiah reminds us that Christ came into the world to be its light, to show the way to the Father.Christ tells us that we must forgive others if we want to be forgiven ourselves, and we all know by now that our eternal salvation rests on our being forgiven of our sins. Today is the day to light the candle in our hearts, to dispel the darkness and create a warm and loving home for Christ. If the people in the above story could do it, so can we. First we must ask for Mary’s help, for as our Mother, she wants desperately to see all her children at peace. Secondly, we come before God and ask His forgiveness for our hard hearts which have kept us in anger and hurt for so long, and lastly, let us reach out to our offender, or the one we have offended, and offer a candle of mercy for their offense, or a candle of sorrow for our actions. Even if we are rejected in our efforts, we can rest assured that our hearts are now open for God to begin His saving work. This last gift, the gift of light to the world through us, is the one perfect gift we can give. May we all be blessed this Christmas season with loving and forgiving hearts, and may we all say, as Maria Boffa so magnificently taught us, “I did it for Your Son’s sake.” May all of you find peace and joy in the coming of our Savior.

Our prayer to God: The Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi

Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love. Where there is injury, let me sow pardon. Where there is friction, let me sow union. Where there is error, let me sow truth. Where there is doubt, let me sow faith. Where there is despair, let me sow hope. Where there is darkness, let me sow light. Where there is sadness, let me sow joy. O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console, to be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive. It is in pardoning that we are pardoned. It is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

Don't forget to say your Christmas Novena 15 times today for your special intention!

Christmas Novena
Hail, and blessed be the hour and moment
At which the Son of God was born
Of a most pure Virgin
At a stable at midnight in Bethlehem
In the piercing cold
At that hour vouchsafe, I beseech Thee,
To hear my prayers and grant my desires(mention request here). 
Through Jesus Christ and His most Blessed Mother.

Read more: http://www.ewtn.com/Devotionals/novena/christmas.htm#ixzz1f7YZnI

Devotion for today: Come home for Christmas

The “O” Antiphon for today: O King of the Gentiles and their desired One, the Cornerstone that makes both one: Come, and deliver man, whom You formed out of the dust of the earth. Psalm2:7-8; Ephesians 2:14-20.

Scriptures for meditation: John 3:16-17 “Yes, God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him may not die, but may have eternal life. God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.”

John 6: 37-40: “All that the Father gives Me shall come to Me; no one who comes will I ever reject, because it is not to do My own will that I have come down from heaven, but to do the will of Him who sent Me. It is the will of Him who sent Me that I should lose nothing of what He has given Me; rather, that I should raise it up on the last day. Indeed, this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks upon the Son and believes in Him shall have eternal life. Him I will raise up on the last day.”

Christ revealed to Saint Faustina: (1777) “My daughter, know that My Heart is mercy itself. From this sea of mercy, graces flow out upon the whole world. No soul that has approached Me has ever gone away unconsoled. All misery gets buried in the depths of My mercy, and every saving and sanctifying grace flows from this fountain.” (1784) “How very much I desire the salvation of souls! My dearest secretary, write that I want to pour out My divine life into human souls and sanctify them, if only they were willing to accept My grace. The greatest sinners would achieve great sanctity, if only they would trust in My mercy. The very inner depths of My being are filled to overflowing with mercy, and it is being poured out upon all I have created. My delight is to act in a human soul and to fill it with My mercy and to justify it. My kingdom on earth is My life in the human soul.”Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska, Marion Press, 2007

My thoughts: Christmas is almost here. For four weeks we have been preparing our homes and our hearts for the birth of Christ the King. Now it is time to ask ourselves if there is anything standing between us and God. Are we hurt, angered, frustrated or disappointed over God’s will in our lives? Do we find ourselves half-heartedly dragging ourselves to Sunday Mass or saying only rote prayers to avoid an emotional, personal conversation with God. Do we feel we have hurt too many people, done too many awful things, or just plain walked away from God too many times to believe He can really love us? Christ answers all these questions so simply. He wants everyone in heaven with Him at the end of life. He has so much mercy to pour into everyone’s heart that He is sad when we don’t ask for it.  Christ loves us very, very much. There is no sin, no anger, no hurt and no disappointment that He hasn’t already faced. This Christmas, truly believe that God loves you very, very much, and come home to Him, with all your heart, mind and soul. Don’t spend another Christmas afraid or angry. Kneel before the baby Jesus, accept His smile and extended arms as His personal gift to you, and give Him your heart. If you do, I promise you, this will be your best Christmas ever. Here is your new song, “I’ll be home for Christmas,” in the arms of my loving Savior.

Don't forget to say your Christmas Novena 15 times today for your special intention!

Christmas Novena
Hail, and blessed be the hour and moment
At which the Son of God was born
Of a most pure Virgin
At a stable at midnight in Bethlehem
In the piercing cold
At that hour vouchsafe, I beseech Thee,
To hear my prayers and grant my desires(mention request here). 
Through Jesus Christ and His most Blessed Mother.

Read more: http://www.ewtn.com/Devotionals/novena/christmas.htm#ixzz1f7YZnI

Devotion for today: Jesus is God and man

The “O” Antiphon for today: O Dawn of the East, brightness of the light eternal, and Sun of Justice: Come, and enlighten them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death. Psalm 19:6-7

The Angelus

The Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary, and she conceived by the Holy Spirit. (Hail Mary)

Behold the handmaid of the Lord, be it done unto me according to Thy word (Hail Mary)

(Bow your head and say) And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us. (Hail Mary)

Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray: Pour forth we beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy grace into our hearts, that we to whom the incarnation of Christ Thy Son, was made know by the message of an angel, may by His passion and cross, be brought to glory of His resurrection, through the same, Christ our Lord. Amen

Today we look at the closing prayer of the Angelus. What exactly is the incarnation?

Scripture passage for meditation: Philippians 2:5-8: Your attitude must be that of Christ: though He was in the form of God, He did not deem equality with God something to be grasped at. Rather, He emptied Himself and took the form of a slave, being born in the likeness of men. He was known to be of human estate, and it was thus that He humbled Himself, obediently accepting even death, death on a cross.

John 4:2-3: This is how you can recognize God’s spirit: every spirit that acknowledges Jesus Christ come in the flesh belongs to God.

1 Timothy 3:16: Wonderful, indeed, is the mystery of our faith, as we say in professing it: “He was manifested in the flesh.”

Hebrews 10: 5-7: Wherefore, on coming into the world, Jesus said; “Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you have prepared for me. Holocausts and sin offerings you took no delight in. Then I said, ‘As is written in the book (Psalm 40:7-9), I have come to do your will, O God.”

The Catechism of the Catholic Church tells us: 461- Taking up St. John’s expression, “The Word became flesh,” (John 1:14) the Church calls “Incarnation” the fact that the Son of God assumed a human nature in order to accomplish our salvation in it. 463- Belief in the true Incarnation of the Son of God is the distinctive sign of Christian faith. 464- The unique and altogether singular event of the Incarnation of the Son of God does not mean that Jesus Christ is part God and part man, nor does it imply that he is the result of a confused mixture of the divine and the human. He became truly man while remaining truly God. Jesus Christ is true God and true man. 460- The Word became flesh to make us “partakers of the divine nature” (2Peter 1:4): For this is why the Word became man, and the Son of God became the Son of man: so that man, by entering into communion with the Word, and thus receiving divine sonship, might become a son of God.

My thoughts: In the new translation used in the Mass, we profess a belief that Christ is consubstantial with the Father. “The Eternal Son, who was born of the Virgin Mary, is neither ‘like’ the Father nor ‘practically the same substance’ as the Father. The Eternal Son enjoys the very same substance as the Father. The Son possesses fully the Godhead of the Father.(Fr. Cessario,www.romanmissalchanges.com)

It does require God’s pouring grace into our hearts for us to fully appreciate this tremendous gift of God becoming Man. Our minds balk at the idea, and our senses tell us this cannot be. Yet it is, and it is why the world pauses for one day, to bend a knee and adore the King, the God, the Savior of the world, born to die so that man may be forever a son of God. Let us spend the next few days before Christmas in awe of the gift so freely given. Christ loves each and every one of us enough to come into our hearts, and show us the way to the Father. Let Him in, with praise and thanksgiving, in sorrow and in joy, and trust in His benevolent kindness and mercy. “Haste, haste to bring Him laude, the babe, the son of Mary!”

Don't forget to say your Christmas Novena 15 times today for your special intention!

Christmas Novena
Hail, and blessed be the hour and moment
At which the Son of God was born
Of a most pure Virgin
At a stable at midnight in Bethlehem
In the piercing cold
At that hour vouchsafe, I beseech Thee,
To hear my prayers and grant my desires(mention request here). 
Through Jesus Christ and His most Blessed Mother.

Read more: http://www.ewtn.com/Devotionals/novena/christmas.htm#ixzz1f7YZnI

Devotion for today: worthy of the promises of Christ

The “O” Antiphon for today: O Key of David, and Scepter of the House of Israel, who opens and no man shuts, who shuts and no man opens: Come, and bring forth the captive from his prison, he who sits in darkness and in the shadow of death.  Isaiah 22:22.

The Angelus

The Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary, and she conceived by the Holy Spirit. (Hail Mary)

Behold the handmaid of the Lord, be it done unto me according to Thy word (Hail Mary)

(Bow your head and say) And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us. (Hail Mary)

Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray: Pour forth we beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy grace into our hearts, that we to whom the incarnation of Christ Thy Son, was made know by the message of an angel, may by His passion and cross, be brought to glory of His resurrection, through the same, Christ our Lord. Amen

Today’s line from the Angelus, “Pray for us O holy mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promise of Christ, begs the question: What are the promises of Christ for which we must be made worthy?

Scriptures for meditation:

Promise for followers of Christ:  John 12:26: If anyone would serve me, let him follow me; where I am, there will my servant be. If anyone serves me, him the Father will honor.

Promise of Comfort: Matthew 11:28-30: “Come to me, all you who are weary and find life burdensome, and I will refresh you. Take my yoke upon your shoulders and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble of heart. Your souls will find rest, for my yoke is easy and my burden light.”

Promise of the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist: John 6:51-58: “I myself am the living bread come down from heaven. If anyone eats this bread he shall live forever; the bread I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.” “Let me solemnly assure you, if you do not eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. He who feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has life eternal, and I will raise him up on the last day. For my flesh is real food and my blood real drink. The man who feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him. Just as the Father who has life sent me and I have life because of the Father, so the man who feeds on me will have life because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Unlike your ancestors who ate and died nonetheless, the man who feeds on this bread shall live forever.”

Promise of Eternal Life: John 11:26: “I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, though he should die, will come to life; and whoever is alive and believes in me, will never die.”

Promise of Joy: John 15:9-12: “As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you. Live on in my love. You will live in my love if you keep my commandments, even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and live in his love. All this I tell you, that your joy may be complete. This is my commandment: love one another as I have loved you.”

Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God: Padre Pio tells us: “When I think of the innumerable benefits received from this dear Mother, I am ashamed of myself, for I have never sufficiently appreciated her heart and her hand which have bestowed these benefits upon me with so much love. What troubles me most is that I have repaid the affectionate care of this Mother of ours by offending her.” “How often have I confided to this Mother the painful anxieties that troubled my heart, and how often has she consoled me. But in what did my gratitude consist? In my greatest sufferings, it seems to me that I no longer have a mother on this earth, but a very compassionate one in heaven. But, many times, when my heart was at peace, I have forgotten all this almost entirely. I have even forgotten my duty of gratitude towards this blessed heavenly Mother.” “But I am greatly indebted to our Mother Mary for driving away temptations of the enemy. Will you, too, thank this good Mother?”Padre Pio’s Words of Hope, Eileen Dunn Bertanzetti, Our Sunday Visitor Publishing, 1999

My thoughts: There are so many promises of Christ in the scriptures, so many pledges of mercy, love, kindness, forgiveness and eternal life. I listed a few, but you can spend the rest of your life pouring over scripture to see the beautiful promises God has for those who chose to know, love and serve Him in this world. As we prepare our hearts for the coming of Christ, let us turn to Mary, ask her to drive away any evil thought, word or deed that would keep us from Christ, and then let us remember to thank her for wrapping us in her protective mantle as she prepares to present us to her son on Christmas day. Venite Adoremus! O Come Let Us Adore Him!

Don't forget to say your Christmas Novena 15 times today for your special intention!

Christmas Novena
Hail, and blessed be the hour and moment
At which the Son of God was born
Of a most pure Virgin
At a stable at midnight in Bethlehem
In the piercing cold
At that hour vouchsafe, I beseech Thee,
To hear my prayers and grant my desires(mention request here). 
Through Jesus Christ and His most Blessed Mother.

Read more: http://www.ewtn.com/Devotionals/novena/christmas.htm#ixzz1f7YZnI