Sunday after CHRISTMAS

Tomorrow is the Sunday within the octave of Christmas, 2013. We are still contemplating the great mystery of Christmas. I had an epiphany of my own this morning, when I finally realized that when God said at the beginning of the world, "Let there be Light", He was referring to Christ already. What a dope I am. Anyway, I'm going to let our beloved Abott Gueranger, as he always does, explain about this day we are celebrating.

'...Thus the Church, or, more correctly, God--for God is the first author of the cycle of the year--shows us how the Incarnate Word, who came to save mankind, desires to give mankind confidence by this His adorable familiarity.

We have already shown that the Birth of our Lord took place on a Sunday, the Day on which, in the beginning of the world, God created Light. We shall find, later on, that his Resurrection also was on a Sunday. This the first day of creation, and the first of the week, was consecrated by the old Pagans to the Sun: with us Christians, it is most sacred and holy, on account of the two risings of our divine Sun of Justice--His Birth and His Resurrection. Whilst the solemnity of Easter is always kept on a Sunday, that of Christmas falls by turns on each of the days of the week--we have already had this difference explained to us by the Holy Fathers: but the mystery of Jesus' Birth is more aptly and strongly expressed, when its anniversary falls on a Sunday...

The Child that is born of Mary and is couched in the Crib at Bethlehem, raises his feeble voice to the Eternal Father, and calls him, My Father! He turns towards us and calls us My Brethren! We, consequently, when we speak to his Father, may call him Our Father! This is the mystery of adoption, revealed to us by the great event we are solemnizing. All things are changed, both is heaven and on earth: God has not only one Son, he has many sons; henceforth we stand before this our God, not merely creatures drawn out of nothing by his power, but children that he fondly loves. Heaven is now not only the throne of his sovereign Majesty; it has become our inheritance, in which we are joint-heirs with our Brother Jesus, the Son of Mary, Son of Eve, Son of Adam, according to his Human Nature, and (in the unity of Person) Son of God according to his Divine Nature. Let us turn our wondering and loving thoughts first to this sweet Babe, that has brought us all these blessings, and then to the blessings themselves, to the dear inheritance made ours by Him. Let our mind be seized with astonishment at creatures having such a destiny! and then let our heart pour out its thanks for the incomprehensible gift!'

And, to paraphrase the Abbot in another place: The Church(thanks to God) gives this Divine Infant to her faithful children in Holy communion(Christ always was, always is, and always will be), in order that they may carry him in their hearts, and bids them guard him against the snares laid for him by his and their enemies. Let the Christian, therefore, take heed lest Jesus should be taken from him. Let him, by strict watchfulness and by good works, crush the tyrant, sin, that seeks the life of the Divine Guest of his soul.

We need to be constantly vigilant in all that we do.

LET THERE BE LIGHTS!

Yay! We finally got power turned back on, after 5 days of darkness. The winter solstice happened this last weekend, and we supposedly had the shortest day of the year. Then, why, did it seem like the longest? The wife and I were thinking of the season, and thinking that this power outage, due to an ice storm, made us pretend we were in the stable on THAT night. I just wish we had an ox or an ass to breathe on us, for warmth, of course. But, thanks to caring neighbors with a generator, we survived. Thanks you God for the lesson! Just sayin'.

HE'S HERE!!!!!!!!

I'm sending this post out today, since we've been out of power since Saturday. Thanks to great neighbors, and through their generators, we have some power, at least to do some things(like this blog) that are vitally important, at least in my humble imagination. Ha Ha!

Christ is born today of a Virgin. Our redemption is at hand. In this season of giving, God the Father has given us the greatest Gift of all, His Son. Come, let us adore Him!

MERRY CHRIST MASS!

Be sure to check out the next post, which is actually for today. Keep those soldiers who can't be home for Christmas in your prayers.

THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS

I read this poem in my union paper, which is usually filled with a socialistic pantload, but this time they actually printed something I could relate to. It was written by Lance Corporal James Schmidt, and is a variation on his original one, and was published in the 'Leatherneck' magazine in 1991. It is about our soldiers in Afghanistan, but I think it could be for all those serving all over the world. I feel sorry for them, since they have to regurgitate the drivel of the government, and, therefore, cannot express their beliefs in God. This soldier has nailed the sentiments. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do. Keep these brave people in your prayers.

Twas the night before Christmas, he lived all alone,
in a one bedroom house made of plaster and stone.
I had come down the chimney with presents to give,
and to see just who in this home did live.
No stocking hung by mantle, just boots filled with sand,
on the wall hung pictures of far distant lands.

With medals and badges, awards of all kinds,
a sober thought came through my mind.
For this house was different, it was dark and dreary,
I found the home of a soldier, once I could see clearly.
The soldier lay sleeping, silent, alone,
curled up on the floor in this one bedroom home.

The face was so gentle, the room is such disorder,
not how I pictured a United States Soldier.
Was this the hero of whom I'd just read?
curled up on a poncho, the floor for a bed?
I realized the families that I saw this night
owed their lives to these soldiers
who were willing to fight.

Soon round the world, the children would play,
and grownups would celebrate a bright Christmas Day.
They all enjoyed freedom each month of the year,
because of the soldiers, like the one lying here.
I couldn't help wonder how many lay alone,
on a cold Christmas Eve in a land far from home.

The very thought brought a tear to my eye,
I dropped to my knees and started to cry.
The soldier awakened and I heard a rough voice,
"Santa, don't cry, this life is my choice;
I fight for freedom, I don't ask for more.
my life is my God, my Country, my Corps."

The soldier rolled over and drifted to sleep,
I couldn't control it, I continued to weep.
I kept watch for hours, so silent and still
and we both shivered from the cold night's chill.
I didn't want to leave on that cold, dark night,
this guardian of honor so willing to fight.

Then the soldier rolled over, with a voice soft and pure,
whispered, "Carry on Santa, it's Christmas Day; all is secure."
One look at my watch, and I knew he was right.
"Merry Christmas my friend,
and to all a good night."

Doubting Thomas

SAINT THOMAS
Apostle and Martyr
(† First Century)

Saint Thomas was one of the fisherman on the Lake of Galilee whom Our Lord called to be His Apostles. By nature slow to believe, too apt to see difficulties and to look at the dark side of things, he had nonetheless a very sympathetic, loving, and courageous heart. Even if we are skeptical of things, we can still believe in miracles, and that Christ Himself is present at the Holy Mass.

When Jesus spoke to His apostles of His forthcoming departure, and told His faithful disciples that they already knew the Way to follow Him, Saint Thomas, in his simplicity, asked: "Lord, we know not whither Thou goest, and how can we know the way?"

When the Master during a journey turned back to go toward Bethany, near Jerusalem, to the grave of Lazarus, the apostle Thomas, knowing of the malevolent intentions of the Jerusalem religious authorities, at once feared the worst for his beloved Lord. Yet he cried out bravely: "Let us go then and die with Him!"

After the Resurrection his doubts prevailed, and while the wounds of the crucifixion remained vividly imprinted in his affectionate memory, he could not credit the report that Christ had risen. He said that he would not believe unless he saw the wounds in His hands, and probed the wound in His side. Then, eight days later, at the actual sight of the pierced Hands and Side, and the gentle rebuke of his Saviour, his unbelief vanished forever. His faith and ours have always triumphed in his joyous utterance: "My Lord and my God!" This is why we say this phrase at the elevations of the Flesh and the Blood at the Consecration at Mass.

That Saint Thomas, after the dispersion of the Apostles, went to India, where he labored and died at Meliapour, is a certain fact of history. The Roman Breviary states that he preached in Ethiopia and Abyssinia, as well as in Persia and Media. Surely his was a remarkable history, reserved for the inhabitants of Christ's glory to see in its fullness some day.

Before he died in Meliapour, he erected a very large cross and predicted to the people that when the sea would advance to the very foot of that cross, God would send them, from a far-distant land, white men who would preach to them the same doctrine he had taught them. This prophecy was verified when the Portuguese arrived in the region, and found that the ocean had advanced so far as to be truly at the foot of the cross. At the foot of this cross was a rock where Saint Thomas, while praying fervently, suffered his martyrdom by a blow from the lance of a pagan priest. This happened, according to the Roman Breviary, at Calamine, which is in fact Meliapour, for in the language of the people the word Calurmine means on the rock (mina). The name was given the site in memory of the Apostle's martyrdom.

Reflection: Cast away all disquieting doubts, and learn to triumph over outlived weaknesses as Saint Thomas did, who by his ignorance has instructed the ignorant, and by his incredulity has served the faith of all ages.

Read on for tomorrow's thoughts.

4th Sunday of Advent 2013

The Lord is now nigh: come, let us adore Him.

Tomorrow is the last Sunday of Advent, 2013. In a few days, He will be here again. Here's something I learned: the name of Bethlehem means 'House of Bread.' Go figure! Could it the Living Bread come down from heaven? I wonder?!

Anyway, I would like to share something from the 'Liturgical Year' by Abbot Gueranger. It is a hymn taken from the Anthology of the Greeks. It's about our Blessed Mother.

'As a royal throne, thou carriest the Creator; as a living couch, thou encirclest the King, O creature most dear to God:

Branch most vigorous, thou didst bud forth the Christ on whom we lean and are supported; for Aaron's branch, which, of old, budded unplanted, was a type of thee, thou chaste dove, and ever a Virgin.

To sing the more than wonderful manner of thy extraordinary and incomprehensible maternity, is above the power of all the choirs of men: for not mind, no thought, no understanding, no words, can reach the mystery.

Isaias, seeing the unspeakable miracle, the ineffable miracle of thy maternity, spoke thus divinely: The holy Spirit hath come upon thee, O Mother of God! preserving thee, as heretofore he kept entire the burning bush: and, therefore, we cry out with the angel: 'Rejoice, O thou tabernacle of God!'

Come, Lord Jesus

St. Eusebius and me

First of all, I'd like to straighten out something. The picture at the top is NOT me. I was much cuter, and my parents did not put a ribbon on me. Just sayin'.

Now, on to this day. We honor St. Eusebius. His day also coincides with my birthday. Anyway, he was one of the handful of Bishops who fought against the Arian heresy, along with St. Athanasius, St. Ambrose, St. Nicholas, and St. Hilary; the heresy which denied the Divinity of Jesus Christ. He is listed in the Book of Saints as a Martyr, although he actually did not die as one, but because of the agonies he had to endure thanks to the Arians, he died a dry martyrdom. St. Eusebius actually convinced the emperor of the time, Constantius, to convene a council to deal with this heresy. The Council was held at Milan. Eusebius, knowing that the Arians were in heresy, wanted them to subscribe to the Nicene Creed before the Council convened. They protested. Just like today, when the leaders will NOT subscribe to the 'Oath Against Modernism', which St. Pius X put forth to fight against he called 'The Synthesis of all heresies', which we are fighting today. I am going to put each oath here, and you can see why those opposed to Christ and His Church are so much against saying them. We need to ask the prayers of these great Saints, to fix what is wrong with the Church today. Here are the oaths; notice they do NOT begin with 'We believe', because they are suppose to be personal beliefs, not communal:

NICENE CREED

I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.

And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds; God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God; begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made.

Who, for us men for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary, and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate; He suffered and was buried; and the third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures; and ascended into heaven, and sits on the right hand of the Father; and He shall come again, with glory, to judge the quick and the dead; whose kingdom shall have no end.

And I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver of Life; who proceeds from the Father [and the Son]; who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified; who spoke by the prophets.

And I believe One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. I acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins; and I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.


And now, the 'OATH AGAINST MODERNISM


Given by His Holiness St. Pius X September 1, 1910.

To be sworn to by all clergy, pastors, confessors, preachers, religious superiors, and professors in philosophical-theological seminaries.

I . . . . firmly embrace and accept each and every definition that has been set forth and declared by the unerring teaching authority of the Church, especially those principal truths which are directly opposed to the errors of this day. And first of all, I profess that God, the origin and end of all things, can be known with certainty by the natural light of reason from the created world (see Rom. 1:90), that is, from the visible works of creation, as a cause from its effects, and that, therefore, his existence can also be demonstrated: Secondly, I accept and acknowledge the external proofs of revelation, that is, divine acts and especially miracles and prophecies as the surest signs of the divine origin of the Christian religion and I hold that these same proofs are well adapted to the understanding of all eras and all men, even of this time. Thirdly, I believe with equally firm faith that the Church, the guardian and teacher of the revealed word, was personally instituted by the real and historical Christ when he lived among us, and that the Church was built upon Peter, the prince of the apostolic hierarchy, and his successors for the duration of time. Fourthly, I sincerely hold that the doctrine of faith was handed down to us from the apostles through the orthodox Fathers in exactly the same meaning and always in the same purport. Therefore, I entirely reject the heretical' misrepresentation that dogmas evolve and change from one meaning to another different from the one which the Church held previously. I also condemn every error according to which, in place of the divine deposit which has been given to the spouse of Christ to be carefully guarded by her, there is put a philosophical figment or product of a human conscience that has gradually been developed by human effort and will continue to develop indefinitely. Fifthly, I hold with certainty and sincerely confess that faith is not a blind sentiment of religion welling up from the depths of the subconscious under the impulse of the heart and the motion of a will trained to morality; but faith is a genuine assent of the intellect to truth received by hearing from an external source. By this assent, because of the authority of the supremely truthful God, we believe to be true that which has been revealed and attested to by a personal God, our creator and lord.

Furthermore, with due reverence, I submit and adhere with my whole heart to the condemnations, declarations, and all the prescripts contained in the encyclical Pascendi and in the decree Lamentabili, especially those concerning what is known as the history of dogmas. I also reject the error of those who say that the faith held by the Church can contradict history, and that Catholic dogmas, in the sense in which they are now understood, are irreconcilable with a more realistic view of the origins of the Christian religion. I also condemn and reject the opinion of those who say that a well-educated Christian assumes a dual personality-that of a believer and at the same time of a historian, as if it were permissible for a historian to hold things that contradict the faith of the believer, or to establish premises which, provided there be no direct denial of dogmas, would lead to the conclusion that dogmas are either false or doubtful. Likewise, I reject that method of judging and interpreting Sacred Scripture which, departing from the tradition of the Church, the analogy of faith, and the norms of the Apostolic See, embraces the misrepresentations of the rationalists and with no prudence or restraint adopts textual criticism as the one and supreme norm. Furthermore, I reject the opinion of those who hold that a professor lecturing or writing on a historico-theological subject should first put aside any preconceived opinion about the supernatural origin of Catholic tradition or about the divine promise of help to preserve all revealed truth forever; and that they should then interpret the writings of each of the Fathers solely by scientific principles, excluding all sacred authority, and with the same liberty of judgment that is common in the investigation of all ordinary historical documents.

Finally, I declare that I am completely opposed to the error of the modernists who hold that there is nothing divine in sacred tradition; or what is far worse, say that there is, but in a pantheistic sense, with the result that there would remain nothing but this plain simple fact-one to be put on a par with the ordinary facts of history-the fact, namely, that a group of men by their own labor, skill, and talent have continued through subsequent ages a school begun by Christ and his apostles. I firmly hold, then, and shall hold to my dying breath the belief of the Fathers in the charism of truth, which certainly is, was, and always will be in the succession of the episcopacy from the apostles. The purpose of this is, then, not that dogma may be tailored according to what seems better and more suited to the culture of each age; rather, that the absolute and immutable truth preached by the apostles from the beginning may never be believed to be different, may never be understood in any other way.

I promise that I shall keep all these articles faithfully, entirely, and sincerely, and guard them inviolate, in no way deviating from them in teaching or in any way in word or in writing. Thus I promise, this I swear, so help me God. . .

3RD SUNDAY OF ADVENT--GAUDETE!

Tomorrow is Gaudete Sunday. The vestments are rose-colored. We are nearing the birth of our Lord and Saviour. We should be excited, knowing He is coming again this year. Our beloved Abbot Gueranger brings us closer to that day.

'...the Lord is nigh; nigh to His Church, and nigh to each of our souls. Who can be near so burning a fire, and yet be so cold? Do we not feel that He is coming to us, in spite of all obstacles? He will let nothing be a barrier between Himself and us, neither His own infinite high majesty, not our exceeding lowliness, nor our many sins. Yet a little while, and He will be with us. Let us go out to meet Him by these prayers and supplications, and thanksgiving which the apostle (St. Paul), recommends to us. Let our zeal to unite ourselves with our holy mother the Church become more than ever fervent: now every day her prayers will increase in intense earnestness, and her longings after Him, who is her light and her love, will grow more ardent...'

St. John the Baptist has told those of that time: the Messiah was in their midst. Of course, they knew Him not! Our beloved Abbot continues: 'In this, St. John is the type of the Church, and of all such as seek Jesus. St. John is full of joy because the Saviour has come: but the men around him are as indifferent as though they neither expected nor wanted a Saviour. This is the third week of Advent; and are all hearts excited by the great tidings told them by the Church, that the Messias is near at hand? they that love Him not as their Saviour, do they fear Him as their Judge? Are the crooked ways being made straight, and the hills being brought low? Are Christians seriously engaged in removing from their hearts the love of riches and the love of sensual pleasures? there is NO time to lose: the Lord is nigh! If these lines should come under the eye of any of those Christians who are in this state of sinful indifference, we would conjure them to shake off their lethargy, and render themselves worthy of the visit of the Divine Infant: such a visit will bring them the greatest consolation here, and give them confidence hereafter, when our Lord will come to judge all mankind.'

Think of all those souls who are indifferent these days, and will be lost to the evil one at their judgment if they do not repent, and come back to the eternal Truth, which is JESUS CHRIST!



The Lord is nigh. Come, let us adore Him.
Come, Lord Jesus

THE TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS

THE TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS

The Twelve Days of Christmas are December 26 to Epiphany, January 6. The song, “The Twelve Days of Christmas” is an English carol written during the time of persecution in England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, against Roman Catholics. “The Twelve Days of Christmas” was a coded message that helped young Catholic children learn the tenets of the Faith and be able to recite them without fear of going to jail. Each “day” has a hidden meaning concerning teachings of the Catholic Faith.

The “true love” refers to God. The “me” who receives the gifts, refers to every baptized person. The Pear Tree is the cross and the Partridge is Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Christ is symbolically portrayed as a mother partridge that fakes injury to trick predators from her helpless chicks. It reminds us of Christ’s sadness over the fate of Jerusalem: “How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!” Matthew 23:37

THE PARTRIDGE IN A PEAR TREE REFERS TO JESUS ON THE CROSS

2. Turtle Doves: The Old and New Testaments
3. French Hens: The Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Also, the Theological Virtues of
Faith, Hope, and Charity
4. Calling Birds: The four Gospels and/or the four Gospel writers-Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John
5. Gold Rings: The first 5 Books of the Old Testament; also the five wounds of Jesus Christ
6. Geese A-laying: The Six days of Creation
7. Swans A-swimming: The Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit and the seven Sacraments
8. Maids A-milking: The Eight Beatitudes
9. Ladies dancing: The nine Fruits of the Holy Spirit
10. Lords A-leaping: The Ten Commandments
11. Pipers piping: The Eleven Faithful Apostles after Judas’s betrayal
12. Drummers drumming: The Twelve Points of Doctrine in the Apostle’s Creed


Merry CHRIST MASS to all when it arrives

OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE

Today we honor our Blessed Mother with the title, 'Our Lady of Guadalupe', Patroness of the Americas. She is the one who will save this lost country, knowing what is happening to it at the present time. We have socialists to our north in Canada, and socialists to our south with Mexico, and our beloved country is rapidly becoming the same with this current administration, thanks to all of the idiots who put it there.

Our Lady of Guadalupe

In 1531 a "Lady from Heaven" appeared to a humble Native American, Juan Diego, at Tepeyac, a hill northwest of what is now Mexico City.
She identified herself as the ever virgin Holy Mary, Mother of the True God for whom we live, of the Creator of all things, Lord of heaven and the earth.
She made a request for a church to be built on the site, and submitted her wish to the local Bishop. When the Bishop hesitated, and requested her for a sign, the Mother of God obeyed without delay or question to the Church's local Bishop, and sent her native messenger to the top of the hill in mid-December to gather an assorment of roses for the Bishop.

After complying to the Bishop's request for a sign, She also left for us an image of herself imprinted miraculously on the native's tilma, a poor quality cactus-cloth, which should have deteriorated in 20 years but shows no sign of decay 480 years later and still defies all scientific explanations of its origin. It apparently even reflects in Her eyes what was in front of her in 1531.

Her message of love and compassion, and her universal promise of help and protection to all mankind, as well as the story of the apparitions, are described in the "Nican Mopohua", a 16th century document written in the native Nahuatl language. There is reason to believe that at Tepeyac Mary came in her glorified body, and her actual physical hands rearranged the roses in Juan Diego’s tilma, which makes this apparition very special. Also, as something that only Heaven can do; the stars on the tilma are arranged in such an order that they are as if seen from Heaven. There are many other things about it; such as, the times about the end things, what will happen.
An incredible list of miracles, cures and interventions are attributed to Her. Altogether 25 popes have officially honored Our Lady of Guadalupe.

The Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe is celebrated on December 12th. In 1999, Pope John Paul II, in his homily from the Solemn Mass at the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, during his third visit to the sanctuary, declared the date of December the 12th as a Liturgical Holy Day for the whole continent.
During the same visit Pope John Paul II entrusted the cause of life to her loving protection, and placed under her motherly care the innocent lives of children, especially those who are in danger of not being born. At least he did something which was probably pleasing to the Almighty.

THE 'AVE'

I would like to attempt to write something concerning the Hail Mary in the most Holy Rosary of Our Blessed Mother, Mary. I know this has been done eleventy billion times, but I'm going to give it a shot anyway. In writing this, I'm going to try to make everyone understand that while praying the Rosary, we should be consciously aware of what we are saying while contemplating the mysteries. Most people say the Rosary way too fast, in order to just get it over and done with. We are not really thinking about the mystery. Remember, all time is present to God at all times. Keeping this in mind, when we say the Rosary of our Lady, we are present with her at each event. Whether we are a spectator in the crowd, shepherd of the flock, a flea on the ox in the stable, whatever; we need to focus on what we are saying. Remember, pray the Rosary, not just say the Rosary. We can be beside John at the Cross, or one of the women weeping. We could be in the Temple when Jesus is presented, or hiding in the Garden when He is arrested. Or maybe, we are taking Him to Herod and Pilate and Annas.

The Rosary was given to us through St. Dominic, even though she was honored hundreds of years before. She told him how she wanted it said. Let's start:

'Hail Mary',: This is we start each 'Ave'. She is hailed by all who are real Christians.
Actually, the Archangel Gabriel said: "Hail, full of Grace". We all are given graces by God when we do things that please Him. However, our Blessed Mother was 'full' of grace when the Angel appeared. She was most in line with the teachings of God. He even spared her the taint of 'original sin' at her conception. She was to be the 'new' Ark of the New Covenant, Jesus Himself. Therefore, she had to be as clean as possible. And we know, that nothing is impossible with God. The Angel did NOT say: 'Hail, oh highly favored daughter.' PERIOD!

'The Lord is with thee;'. God has found favor with her. She is the most pleasing person the world has ever known, and nobody else will ever reach that pinnacle.

'Blessed art thou among women',. She is the most blessed woman ever, and she will be called blessed to the end of the world. Think about this; whenever we say this part, we are imitating an Archangel, Gabriel, who God sent to her to announce the great things that were to happen! Also, we imitate Elizabeth, when she also said these words. We're in good company whenever we use these words.

'and Blessed is the Fruit of thy womb, Jesus'. The angel did not have the name of Jesus in his salutation, but was added later by Our Lady to St. Dominic and the Church. Blessed does not justify the Holy Name of Jesus; we can not say this part without seeing the Truth of the awesomeness of a person having this greeting from a being sent by God, one of the seven Archangels before the throne of Him in heaven.

'Holy Mary',. She is the holiest woman ever, and was chosen to bear the Christ Child.

'Mother of God',. Do you realize how awesome this title is? The Mother of God! The Mother of Him Who will judge each one of us when we reach the edge of eternity.

'Pray for us sinners',. We are asking her to pray for us, because all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. We all need prayers, and to ask her for them is the ultimate joy we can bring her.

'now',. We ask for her to pray for us at the present time, because of our shortcomings. We are always distracted by some means.

'and at the hour of our death'. We ask her to help us out when that transition point appears.

'Amen'. So be it.


We need to actually THINK about the happenings of Christ's life, as well as our Blessed Mother's position when these things happened. She will hear us if we are sincere enough. And now, some thoughts from St. Louis de Montfort, who passed on True Devotion to our Lady:

'...Mary, being the most gracious and liberal of all pure creatures, never lets herself be outdone in love and liberality. As a holy man said of her, for an egg she gives an ox; that is to say, for a little that is given to her, she gives much of what she has received from God. Hence, if a soul gives itself to her without reserve, she gives herself to that soul without reserve, if only we put our confidence in her without presumption, and on our side labor to acquire virtues and to bridle our passions.' And again:

Concerning some kind of act to her, such as the Rosary or the litany or the Ave Maris Stella, it would be well also on that day they should pay some kind of tribute to Jesus Christ and our Blessed Lady, either as a penance for their past unfaithfulness to the vows of their Baptism, or as a testimony of their dependence on the dominion of Jesus and Mary. This tribute ought to be according to the devotion and ability of each one, such as a fast, a mortification, an alms or a candle. If they had but a pin to give in homage, and gave it with a good heart, it would be enough for Jesus, who looks only at the good will.'

Therefore, we should always be aware of what we are saying during the Most Holy Rosary of Our Lady. Slow down and pay attention!

Here is the Ave Maris Stella, which some might not know. Mary will hear us, but we have to be sincere and actually think.

Hail, bright star of ocean,
God's own Mother blest,
Ever sinless Virgin,
Gate of heavenly rest.

Taking that sweet Ave
which from Gabriel came,
Peace confirm within us,
Changing Eva's name.

Break the captives' fetters,
Light on blindness pour,
All our ills expelling,
Every bliss implore.

Show thyself a Mother;
May the Word Divine,
Born for us thy Infant,
Hear our prayers through thine.

Virgin all excelling,
Mildest of the mild,
Freed from guilt, preserve us,
Pure and undefiled.

Keep our life all spotless,
Make our way secure,
Til we find in Jesus
Joy forevermore.

Through the highest Heaven
to the Almighty Three,
Father, Son, and Spirit,
One same glory be. Amen.

Think this child is NOT set up for good things, as well for a devotion to our Lady?

IMMACULATE CONCEPTION OF OUR BLESSED MOTHER

This Sunday is the 2nd Sunday of Advent 3013. However, it is also December 8, the day we honor the Immaculate Conception of Mary, the Mother of all believing Christians. It supercedes the normal celebration for the Sunday, no matter what those in charge say. They have abandoned the Faith that comes to us through Jesus Christ, and pronounced by His Apostles. This is the Faith we are to honor and cherish. They want to honor Mary on Monday, but is NOT a day of obligation. Like I said, they have left the ship struggling through the waves without someone competent enough to right it. Our Blessed Mother should be the navigator of the ship, to guide the pilot (the Pope). Just sayin'

In the book of Wisdom, we read: 'For she is the brightness of eternal light, and the unspotted mirror of God's majesty, and the image of His goodness.' Wis. vii, 26

She herself said that her soul magnifies the Lord, which, to me, means that if we look to her, we will see things more clearly. It is NOT that her being proclaiming the Lord, as it is said in the newer version of scripture. Those translations are WRONG! Protestants say that we should go directly to Jesus with our petitions. However, they seem to miss the fact, that if it hadn't been for Mary and her fiat, Christ would not have come in person, unless God had chosen someone else to do it. Granted, God can do whatever He wants, but He chose to come through Mary. Jesus even gave her to us as our Mother when He was on the Cross, when he told John, who was standing in the place of all true Christians, 'behold your mother.' All scripture in the newer bibles has been changed whenever it is about Mary. She is the 'Woman' in Genesis, and is the woman in the Apocalypse, Chapter 12. Scripture started with her, and ended with her. And, remember, even she said at Cana: "Do whatever He tells you to do."

I will now take some words from a book I have entitled 'Half-hours with the Servants of God', printed in 1891.

'That God should have willed that Mary's body should not be endowed with a more excellent purity than that of her soul, is not what could reasonably be expected of His wisdom, since the soul is the noblest part of man.

If the body, according to the expression of the Apostle, is a beautiful vase, the soul is the most precious of liquors which ought to fill it; and consequently the Virginal body of Mary, whose purity surpassed that of angels and near unto God, as St. Bernard says, had to contain a soul still more pure, inasmuch as the purity of the body,
without the purity of the soul, can have no value or consideration with God.' Le Pere Houdry, S.J.

There is something in Mary which moves and affects me much more than this privilege of having been exempt from original sin--something which adds additional lustre to this first prerogative. Mary received this grace from the very first moment of her conception; it was a wondrous gift; but what appears to me to be still more wonderful is that she kept this grace until the last moment of her life, as pure, as entire, as when she first received it--no sin, no imperfection, no weakness, no surprise, have ever done her harm.

It is a wonder to see water springing from the bosom of the earth as clear, as fresh, as if it fell from heaven; but it is a thing unheard of that this same water from the well, after having bedewed the fields and dirty places, should flow at last into the sea without a taint of smell, as unpolluted as when it issues from the spring.

This is, however, what our Blessed Lady has done. She lived in this valley of tears for more than sixty years--this, too, in the midst of the same sins and occasions of sins which corrupt daily even innocent souls--without ever losing the purity of her heart. Her humility and patience were put to proofs without a parallel, and she gained fresh lustre from every trial. The Holy Ghost gave her the preference among the many virgins without losing her honor; she had her joys, but she had her dolours too, and though these she never lost for a single moment the peace and tranquility of her soul.

Let us contrast ourselves with this holy and immaculate Mother. She received grace with life, and, what is more glorious still, she kept it intact until she died.

And we, alas! have been conceived and brought into the world in sin; and we have received the grace of the Sacrament of Baptism which made us friends of God.

But, what is more lamentable, we lose the benefit of this grace almost as soon as we have received it, and then pass the remainder of our days in the dread uncertainty of forgiveness. For it must be confessed, to our shame, that we, for the most part, remain in a state of grace so long as we are unacquainted with sin.

It seems to me that there may be a contradiction between innocence and reason, and that they may clash together unless they are kept asunder. Le Pere de la Colombiere, S.J.

I would like to include part of the sermon for this day, given by Archbishop LeFebvre in 1972:

'The influence of the Blessed Virgin Mary has not ceased. Even now in heaven, the Blessed Virgin Mary continues to be the Mother of the Mystical Body of Our Lord, the Mother of the Church, the Mother of our souls. She shows it, she proves it, she proves it in every one of us, but she also proves it in her apparitions. Is it not admirable to think that after the Sovereign Pontiff Pius IX proclaimed the dogma of the Immaculate Conception as a revealed truth, that the Blessed Virgin Mary was Immaculate from her Conception — already four years later on March 21, 1858, the Blessed Virgin herself said to little Bernadette, the little shepherdess, "I am the Immaculate Conception."

Remember that Bernadette was incapable of understanding, she could not understand what these words meant, and she left the grotto on her way to her pastor’s house repeating these words which she did not understand, to make sure she would not forget them. The history of the life of Bernadette tells us that it was at that moment that the parish priest of Lourdes, Fr. Pomian, was truly convinced by the apparitions at Lourdes. He realized that the poor little shepherdess was incapable of inventing this herself, and that the dogma had been proclaimed four years before by the Sovereign Pontiff. Thus it was confirmed by the Blessed Virgin herself that she was the Immaculate Conception.'

As men are conceived in sin, and we do not read of any one who was sanctified in his mother's womb excepting Jeremias and St. John the Baptist; although there is no doubt that the Blessed Virgin, enclosed in her mother's womb, should have been purified by a much more sublime degree of sanctification, seeing that she was to be the sanctuary where God the Son was to be made Flesh. St. Bernard

Let us, therefore, strive to hold onto the Eternal Truths of Christ's Church, no matter who tries to tell us different. Me.

St. Ambrose

Today is one of the all-stars of the Church, St. Ambrose. He is listed along with those others: Gregory, Augustine, and Jerome. These are the great masters and interpreters of the Faith that we are supposed to be following. They didn't wash down the Faith like we see these days.

SAINT AMBROSE
Bishop of Milan and Doctor of the Church
(340-397)

When in the year 369 Saint Ambrose, the young son of a Roman Senator, was sent by Probus, the Prefect of Italy, to the large province of Liguria and Emilia in Italy, the officer said to him, "Go and act not as a judge, but as a bishop." Ambrose, though not Christian, had already resisted by his pureness the corrupting influence of the Roman youth of his day. In Liguria he showed himself to be clement as directed, and his great erudition also became well known to the inhabitants of the region. In the year 374 he was already governor of the province, at the moment when at Milan, in this same region, a bishop was needed for that great see. Since the heretics in Milan were many and fierce, he went to preserve order during the election of the new prelate. Though he was still only a catechumen, it was the Will of God that the provincial governor be chosen by acclamation. Despite his protestations and his subsequent flight from Milan when they were not accepted, he was found, baptized and consecrated for the archiepiscopal see.

He applied himself to the study of sacred Scriptures, so that he might prepare himself to become the defender of the Church, which was attacked, in the fundamental dogma of the Incarnation, by the false science of the Arians. Unwearied then in every pastoral duty, full of sympathy and charity, gentle and condescending in matters of indifference, he was inflexible in questions of principle. He manifested his fearless zeal when it was necessary to brave the anger of the Empress Justina, by resisting and foiling her impious attempt to give one of the churches of Milan to the Arians. He distributed all that he had of gold and silver to the poor, and confided all financial administration of his archdiocese to his brother, Saint Satyrus, who came to reside with him in Milan. To master theology, he studied the Sacred Scriptures and the Fathers of the Church, and conferred with learned Christians concerning the rules of ecclesiastical discipline. He was very active, and took such great care of the catechumens' instruction that no one could surpass him in that duty.

His zeal in rebuking and bringing to penance the great Emperor Theodosius, who in a moment of irritation had cruelly punished a sedition by the inhabitants of Thessalonica, is a well known fact of history. The Saint met him at the door of the cathedral to prevent his entering, and said to him that if he had imitated David in his crime, he must now imitate him in his penance. Later the chastened and humble Emperor said that in his life he had known but one true bishop - Ambrose.

Saint Ambrose was the friend and consoler of Saint Monica in all her sorrows, and in 387 had the joy of admitting to the Church Saint Augustine, her son. He died in 397, full of years and of honors, and is revered by the Church of God as one of her greatest Doctors.

Reflection: Whence came to Saint Ambrose his grandeur of mind, his clearness of insight, his intrepidity in maintaining the faith and discipline of the Church? Whence, if not from his contempt of the world and his fear of God alone?

Let us glorify the Holy Spirit, Who has vouchsafed to produce this sublime model in the Church, and let us beg of St. Ambrose to obtain for us, by his prayers, a share in that lively Faith and ardent love which he himself had, and which he evinces in the delicious and eloquent writings he has left us on the mystery of the Incarnation.

O Almighty and Eternal God, who hast given the blessed Ambrose, the Confessor of thy holy Name, to be a Doctor of heavenly truth, not to this Church (of Milan) alone, but to all the Churches throughout the world: grant, that the doctrine he taught by the inspiration of the Holy ghost, may be ever firmly fixed in our hearts, and that he whom we tenderly love as the patron thou hast given to us, may be to us a defender, powerful to obtain us thy mercy. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

St. Ambrose, pray for us.

REMEMBER PEARL HARBOR!

Today is the 72nd anniversary of the senseless slaughter of lives at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. Our 'beloved' FDR knew the times, the dates, and everything else about the attack, yet refused to inform the military at Pearl Harbor so they could defend themselves. Just like all good Democrats/Socialists, he allowed all of the deaths to occur because he wanted war! The bastard! Of course, he was a 33rd degree Mason, and apparently intent on destroying everything we have, killing innocent lives, and starting to lead us to a one-world government. I wonder how it went when he finally croaked? I would bet, 'Not too good.' Let's pray for all of those who were slaughtered at Pearl, and, if they haven't reached happiness yet, maybe we can help push them over into the Eternal Light.

St. Nicholas

This week is filled with those great saints who preached the True Faith, and kept it going in the early years. Divine wisdom has willed that on the way which leads to the Messias, our great High Priest, there should be many pontiffs to pay Him the honour due to Him alone. Two Popes, St. Melchiades and St. Damasus; two holy doctors, St. Peter Chrysologus and St. Ambrose; two holy bishops, St. Nicholas and St. Eusebius; these are the glorious pontiffs who have been entrusted with the charge of preparing, by their prayers, the way of the Christian people towards Him, who is the sovereign Priest according to the order of Melchisedech. As each of their feasts comes we will show their right to have been thus admitted into the court of Jesus. Today the Church celebrates with joy the feast of the great thaumaturgus(miracle worker), Nicholas. Notice that this is NOT Santa Clause!

SAINT NICHOLAS
Archbishop of Myra in Lycia
(†342)

Saint Nicholas, the patron Saint of Russia, has won the warmest of praises from other Saints such as Saint John Chrysostom and Saint Peter Damian, who called him the glory of young men, the honor of the elderly, the splendor of priests and the light of Pontiffs. All the world was filled with his praises, Saint Peter added. The universal Church, in the Collect of his office, claims that God made known his nobility by an infinite number of miracles.

He was born during the third century, nephew of the Archbishop of Myra. He had lost his parents while still very young, and he desired not to conserve his rich heritage. Gradually he gave away everything of which he could dispose, establishing dowries for poor maidens and seeking out the needy wherever they could be found. The Archbishop, his uncle, already aware of his vocation to sanctity, ordained Saint Nicholas priest and appointed him Abbot of the monastery of Holy Sion near Myra. He undertook a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, resurrecting a sailor who fell from a mast during the voyage; he prayed for the frightened passengers in a near-fatal tempest and calmed it. He visited Saint Anthony of the Desert and healed many sick persons in Alexandria during a stopover in Egypt.

On the death of the Archbishop of Myra, he was elected to the vacant see. Immediately after the pontifical Mass, he resurrected an infant who had fallen into a fire. During his episcopate, he never got tired retaining the virtues looked for a in a bishop; chastity, which indeed he had always preserved, gravity, assiduity in prayer, watchings, abstinence, generosity, and hospitality, meekness in exhortations, severity in reproving those who needed it. He befriended widows and orphans by money, by advice, and by every service in his power. He was a zealous defender of all who suffered oppression.

Throughout his life he retained the bright and simple manners of his early years; no one could converse with him without finding himself spiritually renewed. Saint Nicholas was the special protector of the innocent and the wronged. He is usually represented at the side of a container in which a cruel butcher had concealed the bodies of three young persons, whom he had killed and was intending to use in his commerce, but who were restored to life by the Saint. This miracle was reported by Saint Bonaventure in a sermon.

Saint Nicholas rejoiced when God made known to him that the end of his pilgrimage was near. He retired to his Monastery of Holy Sion, and after a short but intense episode of fever. When he knew his time was at an end, he looked up to heaven, and seeing angels coming to meet him, he began the psalm: 'In Thee. O Lord, have I hoped'; and having come to those words, 'Into thy hands I commend my spirit', and his soul took its flight to the heavenly country. He died in the year 342. He is the patron of schoolchildren, sailors, travelers and pilgrims, prisoners and many others. His relics were translated in 1087 to Bari, Italy, where a church was built in their honor. And there, after fifteen centuries, the manna of Saint Nicholas still flows from his bones and heals all kinds of illnesses.

Reflection: Those who would enter heaven must become like little children, whose greatest glory is their innocence. Two duties impose themselves on Christians: first, either to preserve our innocence by sage precautions or regain it by penance; secondly, to love and shield it in others.

Let us end with the Sequence for today:

The sick are restored to health by the miraculous oil.
They who are in danger of shipwreck are delivered by Nicholas' prayers.
He raised from amongst the dead a corpse which lay on the road.
A Jew asks for Baptism, on witnessing the miraculous recovery of his money.
A vase that had sunk in the deep sea, and a child that was lost to his father, are both recovered.
Oh how great a saint did he appear by multiplying corn in a famine!
Let, then, this congregation sing the hymns of Nicholas' praise;
For all who pray to him with earnest hearts, will go back cured of their spiritual ailments.
Amen.