Today we're starting the second week of Christmas and this second week of the Christmas Season can be a great help for our daily connections with our Lord. On Tuesday we have the full and wonderful Solemnity in honor of Mary, in her role as Mother of God. We can ask her to be our guide all week as we desire to grow closer to her Son. We can read Pope Benedict's words for the World Day of Prayer for Peace and ponder them from time to time this week.

As we go through our daily, and often very busy lives in these days after Christmas, we can continue a sense of this brief season by continuing to ask that our Lord come to us in the ways we still need light and healing and peace. For some of us, this will be an easy prayer this week Waiting faithfully can continue into the Christmas Season.

A special grace to ask for this week would be the gift of celebrating our Lord's presence with us. We can ask for it every morning, as we get going and we can enter into brief conversations with our Lord, in the background, as we encounter some of the places in our life in which we can see more hope, more of an opportunity for peace. This week, we might hold up each member of our family, close friends and neighbors, and those we might work with, seeing and celebrating how our Lord is manifest in them. For some of us, there may be real epiphany moments, when we see what we haven't been seeing, feel what we haven't been feeling or experience a call we haven't felt before. Being watchful for and open to these special post-Christmas moments of grace is very important.

Tuesday, January 1 is the Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, The Mother of God. It is also marks the Naming of the Child, Jesus, a special day for the Society of Jesus and it is the World Day of Prayer for Peace. Wednesday is the Memorial of Saint Basil the Great and Saint Gregory Nazianzen, bishops and doctors of the Church. Friday is the Memorial of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton. Saturday is the Memorial of Saint John Neumann.

May you all have a blessed week and I hope that everybody

Blessings for everyone through the Holy Family Feast ( 30 December )

I'm back after one week Christmas holiday and gladly I wish you all passing through my humble journal : a very blessed and happy Holy Family Feast .



The Feast of the Holy Family is not just about the Holy Family, but about our own families. The main purpose of the Feast is to present the Holy Family as the model for all Christian families. Our family life becomes sanctified when we live the life of the Church within our homes. This is called the "domestic church" or the "church in miniature." St. John Chrysostom urged all Christians to make each home a "family church," and in doing so, we sanctify the family unit. Just how does one live out the Church in the family? The best way is by making Christ and his Church the center of family and individual life. Ways to do this include: reading scripture regularly, praying, attending Mass weekly, imitating the actions of the Holy Family, and so forth, all done together. In addition to cultivating positive actions, the Church understands that various actions and behaviors are contrary to God's Divine plan for the family, and these should be avoided. These include abortion, contraception, gay marriage, fetal stem-cell research, divorce, spousal abuse, child abuse, and co-habitation. In the Catholic Church, a marriage must be open to children. Anything artificial that prevents this is wrong. Also, poverty, lack of health care, and other social justice concerns must be addressed by faithful Christians because of the negative effect these conditions have on the family unit.

St. Paul gives us some advice on family life in Colossians 3:12-21:

Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassion, kindness, lowliness, meekness, and patience, forbearing one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teach and admonish one another in all wisdom, and sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Wives, be subject to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them. Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged (RSV).

The Holy Family feast is a good time to remember the family unit and pray for our human and spiritual families. We also may take this feast to reflect on the value and sanctity of the family unit, and to evaluate our own family life. What ways may it be improved? What would Jesus, Mary, and Joseph do? Finally, we can use this feast to ask ourselves what are we doing to promote the family within our own cultures, neighborhoods, and communities.

Let us pray
[for peace in our families]



Father,
help us to live as the Holy Family,
united in respect and love.
Bring us to the joy and peace of your eternal home.
Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.

Jesus, our most loving redeemer,
You came to enlighten the world
with your teaching and example.
You willed to spend the greater part of Your life
in humble obedience to Mary and Joseph
in the poor home of Nazareth.
In this way, You sanctified that family,
which was to be an example for all Christian families.

Graciously accept our family,
which we dedicate and consecrate to You this day.
Be pleased to protect, guard, and keep it
in holy fear, in peace,
and in the harmony of Christian charity.
By conforming ourselves to the Divine model
of Your family,
may we attain to eternal happiness.
( taken from New St. Joseph People's Prayer Book )

Heavenly Father,
we are reminded by the Second Vatican Council
that our family is a domestic Church
where family prayer and mutual affection
pay you special worship.
Help us to be a family of love,
support, forgiveness and courage.
We ask this through Christ, our Lord.

Wednesday of the Third Week of Advent

This third week of Advent, our daily prayer continues to allow us to become much more concrete about naming our desires and preparing the way for the Lord . A week of recognizing ourselves, and recognizing our need for a Savior is a wonderful way to prepare. We can only turn to our God and trust in the safety we find accepting our God as the only god of our lives if we first can name the place in which we are in danger, with the choices we are making. We can surrender our fear of being put to shame by humbly coming face to face with who we can sometimes be. The depths of gratitude and joy come when we can experience the tenderness with which our Lord keeps taking us back.

Father, may the coming celebration of the birth of Your Son bring us Your saving help and prepare us for Eternal Life. Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Join me in Christmas Novena ( started on December 16 )

On December 16 started Christmas Novena ( read more on my other journal )


Oh, how I love Thee, Lord of Heaven above!
Too well hast Thou deserved to gain my love;
Sweet Jesus, I would die for love of Thee,
For Thou didst not disdain to die for me.

I leave Thee, faithless world,-----farewell! depart!
This lovely Babe has loved and won my heart.
I love Thee, loving God, Who from above
Didst come on earth, a Babe, to gain my love.

Thou tremblest, darling Child, and yet I see
Thy heart is all on fire with love for me:
Love makes Thee thus a Child, my Saviour dear;
Love only brought Thee down to suffer here;

Love conquered Thee, Great God, love tied Thy hands,
A captive here for me, in swathing-bands;
And love, strong love, awaits Thy latest breath,
To make Thee die for me a cruel death

( St. Alphonsus Liguori Christmas Hymn )

God Bless you all abundantely , now and forever !

Today is the third Monday of Advent and the Feast of Saint Lazarus of Bethany

read more about on my other journal


Christ, Thou who knowest all things,
Thou hast asked to learn where the tomb of Lazarus is,
And arriving there, Thou hast raised him up on the fourth day,
O All-powerful One,
Taking pity, Merciful One,
On the tears of Mary and Martha.

The Master, checking the lamentations of Mary and Martha,
Immediately stilled them when He raised up their brother.
It was possible, then, to see marvel of marvels,
How the lifeless suddenly was seen to be alive.
For when His voice descended,
It caused the bolts of the gate of Hades
To shake; and it broke down the bars of the door of Death;
And on the fourth day, He raised up the dead; as the Merciful One,
He took pity on
The tears of Mary and Martha.

Let us all, with love, hurry to Bethany to see Christ there,
Weeping for his friend.
For wishing all things to be ordained by law,
He controls all things in His dual nature.
He suffers as son of David; as Son of God,
He redeems the whole world from all the evil of the serpent,
And on the fourth day, He raised up Lazarus, taking pity on
The tears of Mary and Martha.

Together sustained by faith,
The two announced to Christ and God the death
Of their brother, saying,
“Hasten, come, Thou who art always present in all places,
For Lazarus whom Thou dost love is ill: if Thou come near,
Death will vanish, and Thy friend will be saved from corruption,
And the Jews will see that Thou, the Merciful One,
Hast taken pity on
The tears of May and Martha.”

The Creator of all spoke on behalf of the disciples, saying:
“Friends and companions, our friend has fallen asleep.”
He was secretly teaching them in advance,
Because He knows and care for all things,
“Let us go, then, let us advance and see the unusual tomb,
And let us cause the mourning of Mary and Martha to cease
As I raise up Lazarus from the tomb,
And as the Merciful One take pity on
The tears of Mary and Martha.”

When the heard these words, the apostles
As with one voice cried out to the Lord,
“Sleep exists for man for his safety
And not at all for his destruction.”
And so He spoke to them openly: “He is dead.
As mortal I am away from him; but as God, I know all things.
If we truly arrive at the opportune time,
I shall resurrect the dead, and cause to cease
The tears of Mary and Martha.”

They all, then, arrived together,
When Mary and her sister came to meet them, crying bitterly,
“Lord, where wert Thou? For he whom Thou lovest has departed,
And lo, he is not here.”
As they cried out these words, He, himself, wept.
But he asked, “Where is the tomb of my friend? Now
I am going to release him from the chains of Hades,
Since as the only lover of mankind, I take pity on
The tears of Mary and Martha.”

When they arrived at the tomb,
He who is in the bosom of His Father, called out:
“Thou hast sent me into the world
That I might bring life to the dead.
I have come, then, to raise up Lazarus
And to reveal to the Jews that I am going to arise from my tomb
On the third day, I who after the fourth day resurrect my friend And now
take pity on
The tears of Mary and Martha.”

In order that He might bring an end to the mourning of Martha,
The Savior of all spoke to her and addressed
These divine words to her:
“I exist as the Light of the world
And the resurrection of all from the dead;
It was for this end that I appeared in order to resurrect Adam
And the descendants of Adam
And on the fourth day to resurrect Lazarus
Taking pity, as a Merciful One, on
The tears of Mary and Martha.”

When the command was given with a nod of His head,
Hades was made to totter,
And also the power of Death and the arrogance of the Devil.
With the sound of His voice,
He raised up from the depths of the earth
The one who was four days dead.
When they saw this, Abraham and all the righteous cried out:
“Now, take courage, since the resurrection of all has come.
He has delivered from the bonds of death
The one whom He loves, as He, the Merciful One, takes pity on
The tears of Mary and Martha.”

Hades, now a prisoner, sees himself despoiled of this Lazarus,
Whom a short time ago he held enchained below;
For when the King of angels came against him,
The strength of demons was destroyed;
And the serpent who trails over the earth on his stomach,
Now, pierced in the mouth by the Wooden Spear, appears as dead.
But Adam rejoices when he sees Christ,
In His goodness, take pity on
The tears of Mary and Martha.

Rising from the tomb, the friend reveals his eyes
And hands bound by a cloth;
They release him — those who have their hearts
Bound by the ill will of slander,
Those who, as they plug up their ears like the adder,
Prepare their hands for most wicked slaughter,
That they may pour out
The harmless and innocent blood of the One
Who raises up the dead, and checks
The tears of Mary and Martha.

Having heard the words of the children,
Which came from pure hearts and innocent lips,
They were all filled with fear
Saying to one another, “Who is this man?”
O madness and complete stupidity!
A short time ago they saw raised from the dead
A corpse who had become fetid,
And they do not know who resurrected him,
And who destroyed with His voice the power of Hades,
And in accord with His merciful nature checked
The tears of Mary and Martha!

O Thy unspeakable compassion, all merciful Jesus!
Who didst consent to come for me and to me,
How didst Thou calmly ride upon the ass
And advance into the city of God-slayers?
Foreseeing their terrible lack of faith, Thou didst command them
To release the bonds of Lazarus, that they might see
The One whom in a short time they wish to put to death
With no pity for
The tears of Mary and Martha.

O Savior, all came with palms on the occasion of Thy arrival,
Crying, “Hosanna!” to Thee,
Now all of us bring hymns to Thee out of piteous mouths,
As we wave the branches of our spirit and cry out:
“O Thou, truly among those on high, save the world
Which Thou hast created, Lord,
And blot out our sins, just as formerly Thou hast dried
The tears of Mary and Martha.

O Lover of mankind, the Holy Church holds a high festival,
Faithfully calling together her children;
It meets Thee with palms and spreads out garments of joy
So that, with Thy disciples and with Thy friend,
Thou mayest advance and legislate a deep peace for Thy servants,
And release them from oppression, as formerly Thou hast checked
The tears of Mary and Martha.

Incline Thy ear, O God of the universe, and hear our prayers,
And snatch us from the bonds of death,
For our enemies who always surround us, visibly and invisibly,
Threaten to have us put to death, and besides,
To deprive us of our faith.
Arise, and quickly let all be destroyed and let them know
That Thou art our God and dost pity us as Thou didst have pity on
The tears of Mary and Martha.

Let us, who are dead because of our sins, and who dwell in the tomb
Because of our knowledge of evil,
Imitate the sisters of faithful Lazarus as we cry to Christ
With tears, in faith and in love:
“Save us, Thou who didst will to become man.
And resurrect us from the tomb of our sins, Thou, alone immortal,
Through the prayers of Thy friend, Lazarus,
Whom Thou didst raise up, O Lord, in checking
The tears of Mary and Martha.”

Let us depart the mere material world, which is always in a state of flux,
And hasten to meet Christ the Savior in Bethany.
Let us then dine with Him
And with his friend Lazarus and the apostles
So that we may, by their prayers, be delivered from our past sins.
If we cleanse every stain from our hearts, we shall see perfectly
His divine resurrection, which He offered to us when He took away
The tears of Mary and Martha.

—St. Romanos the Melodist 6th century

Tomorrow is the Third Sunday of Advent , may God bless you all

Nine days until Christmas !
Now, as we approach the third Sunday of Advent 8 only one day and we shall lite the third candle , we must remind us that Advent truly is a beginning and a preparation. It is a beginning that, like all true beginnings, we make from nothing .
It is a soul preparation for great joy and light of Christmas .


Lord,
let Your glory dawn to take away our darkness.
May we be revealed as the children of Light
at the coming of Your Son,
who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
Lord ,
Let me be a child of Your light
and feel the fire of Your love
and the glory of Your words.
Most of all, let me be grateful to You
For the greatest gift of Christmas .
Amen

May the Lord bless us,
protect us from all evil
and bring us to everlasting life.
Amen.

Feast of Saint John of the Cross

read more about Saint John of the Cross and his life on my other journal


Let us pray and ask his intercession :

Father, you endowed John of the Cross with a spirit of self-denial and a love of the cross. By following his example, may we come to the eternal vision of your glory. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen

The Litany of St. John of the Cross

Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
God, the Father of Heaven,
Have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world,
Have mercy on us.
God the Holy Ghost,
Have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, One God,
Have mercy on us.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
Queen and Beauty of Carmel,
pray for us.
Saint John of the Cross,
pray for us.
St. John, our glorious father, pray for us
Beloved child of Mary, the Queen of Carmel, pray for us
Fragrant flower of the garden of Carmel,
Admirable possessor of the spirit of Elias,
Foundation stone of the Carmelite reform,
Spiritual son, and beloved father of St. Teresa,
Most vigilant in the practice of virtue,
Treasure of charity,
Abyss of humility,
Most perfect in obedience,
Invincible in patience,
Constant lover of poverty,
Dove of simplicity,
Thirsting for mortification,
Prodigy of holiness,
Mystical Doctor ,
Model of contemplation,
Zealous preacher of the Word of God,
Worker of miracles,
Bringing joy and peace to souls,
Terror of devils,
Model of penance,
Faithful guardian of Christ's vineyard,
Ornament and glory of Carmel,
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,
Spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,
Graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,
Have mercy on us.

Holy father Saint John of the Cross, pray for us,
That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let Us Pray.
O God, Who didst instill into the heart of Saint John of the Cross,
Thy confessor and our father, a perfect spirit of self-abnegation and a
surpassing love of Thy Cross, grant that assiduously following in his footsteps,
we may attain to eternal glory. Through Christ Our Lord.
Amen.

Saint Lucy Feast

more about this feast on my other journal


We present ourselves before thee, O virgin Martyr, beseeching thee to obtain for us that we may recognize in His lowliness that same Jesus Whom thou now seest in His glory. Take us under thy powerful patronage. Thy name signifies Light; guide us through the dark night of this life.
O fair light of virginity! enlighten us; evil concupiscence has wounded our eyes: pray for us, O thou bright light of virginity! that our blindness be healed, and that rising above created things, we may be able to see that true light, which shineth in darkness, but which darkness cannot comprehend.
Pray for us, that our eye may be purified, and may see, in the Child who is to be born at Bethlehem, the new Man, the second Adam, the model on Which the life of our regeneration must be formed.
Pray too, O holy virgin, for the Church of Rome and for all those which adopt her form of the holy Sacrifice; for they daily pronounce at the altar of God thy sweet name; and the Lamb, Who is present, loves to hear it. Heap thy choicest blessings on the fair Isle, which was thy native land, and where grew the palm of thy Martyrdom.
May thy intercession secure to her inhabitants firmness of faith, purity of morals, and temporal prosperity, and deliver them from the disorders which threaten her with destruction . Amen

A picture is worth a thousand words

When it's peace of mind you're seeking,
And from worldly problems you must depart
To the Old White Church on the hill ,
Where you bring a weary and troubled heart.

It is there that biblical words are flowing
Like the rays of the early dawn's light,
Bringing soothing comfort to your restless soul,
And reassurance and composure back in sight.

You'll find strength and courage to face the future,
And thankful for the lessons learned this day.
The solace of the Old White Church will remain,
But your faith will be restored in a glorious way.

( by Joseph T. Renaldi )

my other journal about this day feast : Our Lady of Guadalupe



"Hear me and understand well, my son the least, that nothing should frighten or grieve you. Let not your heart be disturbed. Do not fear that sickness, nor any other sickness or anguish. Am I not here, who is your Mother? Are you not under my protection? Am I not your health? Are you not happily within my fold? What else do you wish? Do not grieve nor be disturbed by anything."
— Our Lady to Juan Diego

Let us pray and meditate , through the Chaplet of Our Lady of Guadalupe :

Crucifix ~~ Mystical Rose Prayer
One Our Father.
Four Hail Marys in honor of her four apparitions to Blessed Juan Diego.
Glory Be.

First Apparition: Our Lady of Guadalupe appears to Blessed Juan Diego.
Our Lady requests a temple in her honor.
One Our Father.

Meditation: Our Lady of Guadalupe, my Queen and my Mother, "I thank thee for thy first apparition to Blessed Juan Diego when thou didst reveal that thou art the Most Pure Virgin, Mary, Mother of the True God and Mother of all mankind. I thank thee for requesting a temple to be built where thee stood, to bear witness to thy love, thy compassion, thy aid and thy protection for all who would love thee, trust thee, and invoke thy help.

Three Hail Marys, Glory be.

Second Apparition: Our Lady of Guadalupe gives Blessed Juan Diego encouragement after his return from the Bishop's house.
One Our Father.
Meditation: Our Lady of Guadalupe, my Queen and my Mother, I thank thee for thy second apparition to Blessed Juan Diego when, upon his return from the Bishop's house, he knelt in humiliation and defeat before thee since he was unable to accomplish thy mission. I thank thee for the courage and encouragement thou gavest to Blessed Juan Diego to make a second appeal to the Bishop.

Three Hail Marys, Glory be.

Third Apparition: Our Lady of Guadalupe promises a sign to Blessed Juan Diego for the Bishop.
One Our Father.
Meditation: Mother, I thank thee for thy third apparition to Blessed Juan Diego when, after this unsuccessful attempt to have a temple built, thou didst say to him, "So be it, son. Return tomorrow in order that thou mayest secure for the Bishop the sign for which he hath asked. When this is in thy possession, he will believe thee; he will no longer doubt thy word and suspect thy good faith. Be assured that I shall reward thee for all that thou hast undergone."

Three Hail Marys, Glory be.

Fourth Apparition: Our Lady of Guadalupe fulfills her promise by showing herself on the tilma of Blessed Juan Diego.
One Our Father.
Meditation: Our Lady of Guadalupe, my Queen and my Mother, I thank thee for thy fourth apparition to Blessed Juan Diego when thou didst order him to pick the roses he would find on the summit of the hill and bring them to thee. I thank thee for arranging them in his tilma when didst say, "This cluster of roses is the sign that thou shalt take to the Bishop. Thou art to tell him, in my name, that in this he will recognize my will and that he must fulfill it. Thou wilt be my ambassador, wholly worthy of my confidence. Only in the presence of the Bishop shalt thou unfold thy mantle and disclose that which thou doth carry." I thank thee for thine image printed on the tilma which appeared when the roses were released.

Three Hail Marys, Glory be and Memorare

Litany against Darkness and Modern Ills

Good Lord Jesus deliver us



From propaganda, fads, frivolity , untruthfulness , darkenss of spirit :
Good Lord, deliver us.

From arrogance, narrowness and meanness, from stupidity and pretence:
Good Lord, deliver us.

From the hunger and unemployment, and from forced eviction:
Good Lord, deliver us.

From unjust sentences and unjust wars:
Good Lord, deliver us.

From neglect by parents, neglect by children, and neglect by callous
institutions:
Good Lord, deliver us.

From cancer and stroke, ulcers, madness and senility:
Good Lord, deliver us.

From famine and epidemic, from pollution of the soil, the air, and the
waters:
Good Lord, deliver us.

From segregation and prejudice, from harassment, discrimination and
brutality:
Good Lord, deliver us.

From the concentration of power in the hands of ignorant, threatened or
hasty leaders:
Good Lord, deliver us.

From boredom, apathy and fatigue, from lack of conviction, from fear,
self-satisfaction and timidity:
Good Lord, deliver us.

From the consequences of our own folly:
Good Lord, deliver us.

From resignation and despair, from cynicism and manipulation:
Good Lord, deliver us.

Through all unmerciful suffering, our own and that of others:
Good Lord, deliver us.

Through the unending cry of all peoples for justice and freedom:
Good Lord, deliver us.

Through all concern and wonder, love and creativity:
Good Lord, deliver us.

In our strength and in our weakness, in occasional success and eventual
failure:
Good Lord, deliver us.

Alone and in community, in the days of action and the time of our dying:
Good Lord, deliver us.

Deliver us, Good Lord, by opening our eyes and unstopping our ears, that we
may hear Your Word and do Your Will:
Good Lord, deliver us. Amen.

Even soon is Holy Christmas ,

evil one is not sleeping . Latest malefic creation : Golden Compass . Precisely before Christmas .
I'm joining to all who unmask and put in the right light the movie based on the book written by the atheist writer Philip Pullman ( the trilogy His Dark Materials ) , books intended for children .
Without going into the review of the movie (that you will be able to access at MovieGuide.org , it is important to understand what's wrong with children seeing "The Golden Compass."
The role model for children in this movie is the heroine, Lyra. Lyra is immediately established as pugnacious, willful, rebellious, lawbreaking and deceitful. A witch tells Lyra that she is the fulfillment of a prophecy about a girl messiah who will overthrow authority, especially the Magisterium, a thinly cloaked reference to the Catholic Church.
What's bad is that it creates a heroine who is selfish, willful and stubborn to such a degree that she does not express love, kindness, joy, peace or any of those other wonderful virtues that make us put others before ourselves. The Good News of the Gospel is a message of love and forgiveness, not a message of control. It is a personal relationship with a living God, Jesus Christ, who loves us so much that He has laid down his life for us and has given us new life where we can experience real joy, real happiness and real fulfillment.
Finally, the world portrayed in "The Golden Compass," the book and the movie, is a mean and vicious world. It is too violent and too cruel for children and will plant hateful scripts of behavior in the minds of susceptible youths.
Beyond that, in the interest of self-satisfaction, it motivates children to seek to be joined with occult, demonic powers and principalities to get their own way. The official website has an area where children can meet their own daemon. It says:
"To discover your very own Daemon, look into your heart, and answer the following 20 questions openly and honestly. Your true character and the form of your Daemon will be revealed."
How "The Golden Compass" could have become a popular novel is amazing. Why people are interested in this story that is so destructive of their own happiness is a profound mystery about the human condition.
There are great movies in the theater right now, like "Bella" and Disney's delightful comedy "Enchanted," and there are great movies for rent and sale.
Let the Light of Christmas shine over our houses and families , far away of evil's creations , destinated to pervert innocent world of childhood .

Today Feast of the Translation of Holy House of Loreto : December 10

Our illustrious Pontiff Benedict XIV, speaking, in his beautiful work on the feasts of Mary, of this Holy House of Loreto, calls it 'the dwelling in which the Divine Word assumed human flesh, and which was translated by the ministry of Angels.' He then adds, that 'its authenticity is proved as well by ancient monuments and unbroken tradition as by the testimony of Sovereign Pontiffs, the common consent of the faithful, and the continual miracles which are there worked even to the present day.' In fact Tursellin, in his History of the House of Loreto, asserts that nearly all the Popes after Pius II, have spoken of its miraculous translation; and Sixtus V, in the year 1583, instituted an order under the auspices of our Blessed Lady of Loreto.

Is true that the authenticity of the Holy House does not constitute a dogma of faith. However, it is considered a historical fact and as such has been recognized by the sovereign pontiffs over the centuries even as other miraculous events have been acknowledged by the Church. As such there is valid reason in such instances for Catholics to respect and accept these rulings of the Church. The Church has always been cautious in its pronouncements. Many years passed before the Church officially accepted Lourdes and Fatima as supernatural events worthy of credence by all Catholics.

The story of the Holy House is a tale of unequaled wonder written in the stars. 700 years ago, after two prior angelic relocations, the tiny 3-sided structure was carried to its final resting place in Loreto, Italy by God's Holy Angels. As incredulous as this may sound to unbelievers, Anconan shepherds tending their flocks in coastal fields and a local monsignor were privileged eyewitnesses to this holy event.

The angelic flight of the Holy House from Nazareth across the Mediterranean via Yugoslavia to the Adriatic sea town of Loreto is known as "The Translation". It mirrors the flight of the Holy Family into Egypt and fulfills God's Will, that this heavenly sanctuary be preserved from Saracen invaders.

Beneath a narrow roof and within the hallowed walls of this humble stone abode, Jesus, Mary and Joseph once ate, confided and prayed.

Throughout the centuries, innumerable nobility, dignitaries, saints and popes have pilgrimaged to the Holy House. Tradition claims that Saint Francis of Assisi foresaw its arrival, and indicated the hilltop where it would come to rest to some of his friars. The King of Austria, ruler of the Holy League that defeated the Turks in the battle of Lepanto in 1517, brought his troops to Loreto before their history-changing victory. Upon her journey to the Holy Shrine, Saint Therese of Lisieux wrote, that if she were to live in Loreto she would surely die of joy.

The sick and infirmed from throughout Europe, Africa and the Middle East come to the Holy House to pay homage to the childhood tabernacle of Christ, the place where the Archangel Gabriel appeared to the Ever-Virgin Mary and our exalted Blessed Mother proclaimed her, "Yes!" to God and accepted the profound mystery of the Incarnation. "And the Word became flesh" within her womb, within this tiny chamber.

During the Renaissance, many renowned artists came to Loreto. Mozart wrote his "Litany of Loreto" inspired by the beauty of the shrine and the faithful attending its presence. Long used as a chapel to celebrate the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, today the Holy House is encased within marble statuary the envy of Rome, perfectly positioned in the Basilica's center formed at the holy crossing of apse and naves, beneath a dome vaulting hearts and spirits to thoughts of the Fatherland. Within its present adornment, the Holy House of Loreto represents over 100 years of loving artistic, intellectual and spiritual achievement. It is considered a principal wonder of the Golden Era of mankind.

But far more important than all the surrounding architectural and artistic glory is the sense of "DIVINE PRESENCE" that imbues the hardest of hearts the instant they pass through its portals. Inside the Holy House, on any given day, many a soul can be found deep in contemplation and prayer. Apart from Holy Mass and the privacy of silent meditation on and with God, the only sound one hears is the gentle pressing of Rosary beads between thumbs and forefingers and the cadence of pilgrims softly rubbing and kissing rough walls hewn smooth as glass from centuries of devotion.

The first place Pope john Paul II pilgrimaged after becoming our Shepherd was Loreto. Wise to and moved by its irresistible graces, he has called Loreto, the place in which God became man, the "holiest place on earth."

May every blessing of the Holy Family be upon all who discover these pages. May the Holy Angels of Loreto carry you far from harm as they did our holy role models.

This litany to the Blessed Virgin Mary was composed during the Middle Ages. The place of honor it now holds in the life of the Church is due to its faithful use at the shrine of the Holy House at Loreto. It was definitely approved by Sixtus V in 1587, and all other Marian litanies were suppressed, at least for public use. Its titles and invocations set before us Mary's exalted privileges, her holiness of life, her amiability and power, her motherly spirit and queenly majesty.

The principle that has been followed in their interpretation is the one enunciated by the same Pius IX: "God enriched her so wonderfully from the treasury of His divinity, far beyond all angels and saints with the abundance of all heavenly gifts, that she . . .should show forth such fullness of innocence and holiness, than which a greater under God is unthinkable and which, beside God, no one can even conceive in thought."

Hence, whatever virtue and holiness is found in angels and saints must be present in Mary in an immeasurably higher degree. Reflection on the titles of the litany will unfold before us the grand picture of our heavenly Mother, even though we know only little about her life. We will also come to see why Mary's example, guidance, and help is the need of the hour.

Lord, have mercy on us. Christ have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, hear us. Christ graciously hear us.
God, the Father of heaven, have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us.
God the Holy Ghost, have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us.

Holy Mary, pray for us.
Holy Mother of God, pray for us.
Holy Virgin of virgins, pray for us.

Mother of Christ, pray for us.
Mother of the Church, pray for us.


Mother of divine grace, pray for us.
Mother most pure, pray for us.
Mother most chaste, pray for us.
Mother inviolate, pray for us.
Mother undefiled, pray for us.
Mother most amiable, pray for us.
Mother most admirable, pray for us.
Mother of good counsel, pray for us.
Mother of our Creator, pray for us.
Mother of our Savior, pray for us.

Virgin most prudent, pray for us.
Virgin most venerable, pray for us.
Virgin most renowned, pray for us.
Virgin most powerful, pray for us.
Virgin most merciful, pray for us.
Virgin most faithful, pray for us.

Mirror of justice , pray for us.
Seat of wisdom , pray for us.
Cause of our joy , pray for us.
Spiritual vessel , pray for us.
Vessel of honor , pray for us.
Singular vessel of devotion , pray for us.
Mystical rose , pray for us.
Tower of David , pray for us.
Tower of ivory , pray for us.
House of gold , pray for us.
Ark of the covenant , pray for us.
Gate of heaven , pray for us.
Morning star , pray for us.

Health of the sick, pray for us.
Refuge of sinners, pray for us.
Comforter of the afflicted, pray for us.
Help of Christians, pray for us.

Queen of Angels, pray for us.
Queen of Patriarchs, pray for us.
Queen of Prophets, pray for us.
Queen of Apostles, pray for us.
Queen of Martyrs, pray for us.
Queen of Confessors, pray for us.
Queen of Virgins, pray for us.
Queen of all Saints, pray for us.
Queen conceived without original sin, pray for us.
Queen assumed into heaven, pray for us.
Queen of the most holy Rosary, pray for us.
Queen of the Family, pray for us.
Queen of Peace, pray for us.

Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world,
spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world,
graciously hear us O Lord
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world,
have mercy on us.

V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God.
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

LET US PRAY
Grant, we beseech Thee, O Lord God, unto us Thy servants, that we may rejoice in continual health of mind and body; and, by the glorious intercession of Blessed Mary ever Virgin, may be delivered from present sadness, and enter into the joy of Thy eternal gladness. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

This second week of Advent we shall celebrate this liturgical feasts :

10 Dec . Saint Melchiades , Saint Eulalia , Translation of the Holy House of Loretto
11 Dec . Saint Damasus
12 Dec . Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe
13 Dec . Saint Lucy
14 Dec . St. John of the Cross , Saint Nicasius and his companions martyrs
15 Dec . Saturday of Advent , Saint Virginia Centurione Bracelli , Blessed Mary Frances Schervier , Blessed John the Discalced , Saint Maximin
16 Dec . Third Sunday of Advent ( Today is Day One of the Christmas Novena )

I wish you all a most blessed Christmas season

Celebrating Immaculate Conception

We greet you and call upon you with the angel’s words: “full of grace” Luke 1:28, the most beauti­ful name that God himself has called you from eternity. “Full of grace” are you, Mary, full of divine love from the very first moment of your existence, providentially predestined to be Mother of the Redeemer and inti­mately connected to him in the mystery of salvation.
In your Immaculate Conception shines forth the vocation of Christ’s disciples, called to become with his grace, saints and immaculate through love (see Ephesians 1:4 ). In you shines the dignity of every human being who is always precious in the Creator’s eyes. Those who look to you, All Holy Mother, never lose their serenity, no matter what the hardships of life. Although the experience of sin is a sad one since it disfigures the dig­nity of God’s children, anyone who turns to you discovers the beauty of truth and love and finds the path that leads to the Father’s house.
Full of grace are you, Mary, who, welcoming with your Yes the Creator’s plan, opened to us the path of salvation. Teach us also at your school to say our Yes to the Lord’s will. Let it be a Yes that joins with your own Yes, without reser­vations or shadows, a Yes that the Heavenly Father willed to have need of in order to beget the new Man, Christ, the one Savior of the world and of history.
Give us the courage to say No to the deceptions of power, money, pleasure; to dishonest earnings, cor­ruption and hypocrisy, to selfish­ness and violence; No to the evil one, the deceitful prince of this world; to say Yes to Christ, who alone destroys the power of evil with the omnipotence of Love. We know that only hearts converted to Love, which is God, can build a better future for all.
Full of grace are you, Mary! For all generations your name is a pledge of sure Hope. Yes! Because as the great poet, Dante, wrote, f or us mortals you are “a source of living hope” (Paradise, 12). Let us come once again as trusting pil­grims to draw faith and comfort, joy and love, safety and peace from this source, the wellspring of your Immaculate Heart.
Virgin full of grace show yourself to be a tender and caring Mother to those who live in this city of yours, so that the true Gospel spirit may enliven and guide their conduct; show yourself a Mother and watchful guardian of Italy and Europe, so that people may draw from their ancient Christian roots fresh vigor to build their present and their future; show yourself a a provident and merciful Mother to the whole world so that, by respect­ing human dignity and rejecting every form of violence and exploita­tion, sound foundations may be laid for the Civilization of Love.
Show yourself a Mother, espe­cially to those most in need: the defenseless, the marginalized and outcasts, to the victims of a society that all too often sacrifices the human person for other ends and interests. Show yourself, 0 Mary, a Mother of all, and give us Christ, the Hope of the world!

Monstra te esse Matrem, 0 Virgin Immaculate, full of grace! Amen!

Meditation on the Immaculate Conception ( By blessed Padre Pio )

Blessed Padre Pio meditation on the Immaculate Conception .
and The life of Padre Pio

Blessed Be Christ The King
Eternal Love, Spirit of Light and Truth, make a way into my poor mind and allow me to penetrate as far as it is possible to a wretched creature like myself, into that abyss of grace, of purity and of holiness, that I may acquire a love of God that is continually renewed, a love of God Who, from all eternity planned the greatest of all the masterpieces created by His hands: the Immaculate Virgin Mary.

From all eternity Almighty God took delight in what was to be the most perfect work of His hands, and anticipated this wonderful plan with an outpouring of His Grace.

Man, created innocent, fell by disobeying Him; the mark of original sin remained engraved on his forehead and that of his progeny who will bear its consequences until the end of time.

A woman brought ruin, and a woman was to bring salvation. The one, being tempted by a serpent, stamped the mark of sin on the human race; the other was to rise through grace, pure and immaculate. She would crush the head of the serpent who was helpless before her and who struggled in vain under her heel; for she was conceived without sin, and through her came grace to mankind.

Protected with Grace by Him Who was to be the Savior of Mankind that had fallen into sin, she escaped all shadow of evil. She sprang from the mind of God as a pure ray of light, and will shine like a morning star over the human race that turns to her. She will be the sure guide who will direct our steps toward the Divine Sun which is Jesus Christ. He makes her radiant with divine splendor and points to her as our model of purity and sanctity. No creature surpasses her, but all creation defers her through the Grace of Him Who made her immaculate. He Whom she was to carry in her womb was the Son of God participating with the Father and the Holy Spirit in the glory of her conception.

Clothed in light from the moment of her conception, she grew in grace and comeliness. After Almighty God, she is the most perfect of creatures; more pure than the angels; God is indeed well pleased in her, since she most resembles Him and is the only worthy repository of His secrets.

In the natural order she preceded her Divine Child, Our Lord, but in the divine order Jesus, the Divine Son, arose before her, and she received from Him all grace, all purity and all beauty.

All is darkness compared to the pure light that renews all creation through Him Whom she bore in her womb, as the dew on the rose.

The Immaculate Conception is the first step in our salvation. Through this singular and unique gift Mary received a profusion of Divine Grace, and through her cooperation she became worthy of absorbing infinitely more.

My most pure Mother, my soul so poor, all stained with wretchedness and sin cries out to your maternal heart. In your goodness deign, I beseech you, to pour out on me at least a little of the grace that flowed into you with such infinite profusion from the Heart of God. Strengthened and supported by this grace, may I succeed in better loving and serving Almighty God Who Filled your heart completely, and Who created the temple of your body from the moment of your Immaculate Conception.

The Three Divine Persons imbue this sublime creature with all her privileges, her favors and her graces, and with all of her holiness.

The Eternal Father created her Pure and Immaculate and is well pleased in her for she is the worthy dwelling of His only Son. Through the generating of His Son in His bosom from all eternity, He forecasts the generation of His Son as Man in the pure womb of this mother, and He clothed her from her conception in the radiant snowy garment of grace and of most perfect sanctity; she participates in His perfection.

The Son Who chose her for His Mother poured His Wisdom into her that from the very beginning, by infused knowledge, she knew her God. She loved and served Him in the most perfect manner as He never until then had been loved and served on this earth.

The Holy Ghost poured His Love into her; she was the only creature worthy or capable of receiving this love in unlimited measure because no other had sufficient purity to come so near to God; and being near to Him could know and love Him ever more. She was the only creature capable of containing the stream of love which poured into her from on high. She alone was worthy to return to Him from Whom came that love. This very love prepared her for that "Fiat" which delivered the world from the tyranny of the infernal enemy and overshadowed her, the purest of doves making her pregnant with the Son of God.

Oh my Mother, how ashamed I feel in your presence, weighted down as I am with faults! You are most pure and immaculate from the moment of your conception, indeed from the moment in eternity when you were conceived in the mind of God.

Have pity on me! May one compassionate look of yours revive me, purify me and life me up to God; raising me from the filth of this world that I may go to Him Who created me, Who regenerated me in Holy Baptism, giving me back my white stole of innocence that original sin had so defiled. Dear Mother, make me love Him! Pour into my heart that love that burned in yours for Him. Even though I be clothed in misery, I revere the mystery of your Immaculate Conception, and I ardently wish that through it you may purify my heart so that I may love your God and my God. Cleanse my mind that it may reach up to Him and contemplate Him and adore Him in spirit and in truth. Purify my body that I too may be a tabernacle for Him and be less unworthy of possessing Him when He deigns to come to me in Holy Communion. Amen.

We too, redeemed by Holy Baptism, are corresponding to the grace of our vocation when in imitation of our Immaculate Mother we apply ourselves incessantly to the knowledge of God in order that we may ever learn better to know Him, to serve Him and to love Him.

The Feast of the blessed Virgin Mary Immaculate Conception

The Feast of the blessed Virgin's Immaculate Conception is the most solemn of all those which the Church celebrates during the holy time of Advent; and if the first part of the cycle had to offer us the commemoration of some one of the mysteries of Mary, there was none whose object could better harmonize with the spirit of the Church in this mystic season of expectation. Let us, then, celebrate this solemnity with joy; for the Conception of Mary tells us that the Birth of Jesus is not far off.
The intention of the Church, in this Feast, is not only to celebrate the anniversary of the happy moment in which began, in the womb of the pious Anne, the life of the ever-glorious Virgin Mary; but also to honour the sublime privilege, by which Mary was preserved from the Original Stain, which, by a sovereign and universal decree, is contracted by all the children of Adam the very moment they are conceived in their mother's womb.
The faith of the Catholic Church on the subject of the Conception of Mary is this: that at the very instant when God united the soul of Mary, which He had created, to the body which it was to animate, this ever-blessed soul did not only not contract the stain, which at that same instant defiles every human soul, but was filled with an immeasurable grace which rendered her, from that moment, the mirror of the sanctity of God Himself, as far as this is possible to a creature. The Church with her infallible authority, declared, by the lips of Pius IX , that this article of her faith had been revealed by God Himself. The Definition was received with enthusiasm by the whole of Christendom, and the eighth of December of the year 1854 was thus made one of the most memorable days of tile Church's history.
It was due to His Own infinite sanctity that God should suspend, in this instance, the law which His Divine justice had passed upon all the children of Adam. The relations which Mary was to bear to the Divinity, could not be reconciled with her undergoing the humiliation of this punishment. She was not only daughter of the eternal Father; she was destined also to become the very Mother of the Son, and the veritable bride of the Holy Ghost.
Nothing defiled could be permitted to enter, even for an instant of time, into the creature that was thus predestined to contract such close relations with the adorable Trinity; not a speck could be permitted to tarnish in Mary that perfect purity which the infinitely holy God requires even in those who are one day to be admitted to enjoy the sight of His Divine majesty in Heaven; in a word, as the great Doctor St. Anselm says, 'it was just that this holy Virgin should be adorned with since God the Father was to give to her, as her Child, that only-begotten Son, Whom He loved as Himself, as being begotten to Him from His Own bosom; and this in such a manner, that the self-same Son of God was, by nature, the Son of both God the Father and this blessed Virgin. This same Son chose her to be substantially His Mother; and the Holy Ghost willed that in her womb He would operate the conception and birth of Him from Whom He Himself proceeded.' [the greatest purity which can be conceived after that of God Himself]

This truth of Mary's Immaculate Conception-----which was revealed to the Apostles by the Divine Son of Mary, inherited by the Church, taught by the holy fathers, believed by each generation of the Christian people with an ever increasing explicitness-----was implied in the very notion of a Mother of God. To believe that Mary was Mother of God, was implicitly to believe that she, on whom this sublime dignity was conferred, had never been defiled with the slightest stain of sin, and that God had bestowed upon her an absolute exemption from sin. But now the Immaculate Conception of Mary rests on an explicit definition dictated by the Holy Ghost. Peter has spoken by the mouth of Pius; and when Peter has spoken, every Christian should believe; for the Son of God has said: 'I have prayed for thee, Peter, that thy faith fail not.' And again: 'The Holy Ghost, Whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring all things to your mind, whatsoever I shall have said to you.'

God Bless you all , through Holy Mother Mary and Her Immaculate Conception !

Little inspiration and worship through the day

Blessings and good thoughts for everyone

A Picture is worth a thousand Words

Gloria In Excelsis

Novena of the Immaculate Conception

"We declare, pronounce and define that the doctrine which asserts that the Blessed Virgin Mary, from the first moment of her conception, by a singular grace and privilege of almighty God, and in view of the merits of Jesus Christ, Saviour of the human race, was preserved free from every stain of original sin is a doctrine revealed by God and, for this reason, must be firmly and constantly believed by all the faithful." With these words in 1854, Pope Pius IX in the Papal Bull ineffabilis Dei, declared Mary's Immaculate Conception to be dogma. Pius was simply affirming a long-held belief of many Christians East and West before him, that Mary was conceived free of the stain of original sin, on account of Christ's work, in order to bear God-made-flesh.

Therefore we pray : Novena of Immaculate Conception

Immaculate Virgin! Mary, conceived without sin! Remember, thou wert miraculously preserved from even the shadow of sin, because thou wert destined to become not only the Mother of God, but also the mother, the refuge, and the advocate of man; therefore, with the most lively confidence in thy never-failing intercession, we most humbly implore thee to look with favor upon the intentions of this novena, and to obtain for us the graces and the favors we request. Thou knowest, O Mary, how often our hearts are the sanctuaries of God, Who abhors iniquity. Obtain for us, then, than angelic purity which was thy favorite virtue, that purity of heart which will attach us to God alone, and that purity of intention which will consecrate every thought, word, and action to His greater glory. Obtain also for us a constant spirit of prayer and self-denial, that we many recover by penance that innocence which we have lost by sin, and at length attain safety to that blessed abode of the saints, where nothing defiled can enter.

O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.

Thou are all fair, O Mary.
Thou art all fair, O Mary.
And the original stain is not in thee.
And the original stain is not in thee.
Thou art the glory of Jerusalem.
Thou art the joy of Israel
Thou art the honor of our people.
Thou art the advocate of sinners.
O Mary.
Virgin, most prudent.
Mother, most tender.
Pray for us.
Intercede for us with Jesus our Lord.
In thy conception, Holy Virgin, thou wast immaculate.
Pray for us to the Father Whose Son thou didst bring forth.
O Lady! aid my prayer.
And let my cry come unto thee.

Holy Mary, Queen of Heaven, Mother of Our Lord Jesus Christ, who forsakest no one, and despisest no one, look upon me, O Lady! with an eye of pity, and entreat for me of thy beloved Son the forgiveness of all my sins; that, as I now celebrate, with devout affection, thy holy and immaculate conception, so, hereafter I may receive the prize of eternal blessedness, by the grace of Him whom thou, in virginity, didst bring forth, Jesus Christ Our Lord: Who, with the Father and the Holy Ghost, liveth and reigneth, in perfect Trinity, God, world without end. Amen.

Overview of the Month

December , the Month of Holy Nativity and of The Immaculate Conception is rich in other great feasts as follow : the main Feasts of Advent are St. Francis Xavier (December 3), St. Nicholas (December 6), St. Ambrose (December 7), Immaculate Conception (December 8), St. Damascus (December 11), Our Lady of Guadalupe (December 12), St. Lucy (December 13), and St. John of the Cross (December 14).

Christmastide begins with the First Vespers (Evening Prayer) of Christmas on December 24th and ends on the Sunday after Epiphany. Christmas and Easter are the only solemnities with octaves attached in the revised calendar. The Christmas octave differs from Easter in that it includes some major feasts: St. Stephen (December 26), St. John the Evangelist (December 27), Holy Innocents (December 28) and the feast of the Holy Family (December 30). The octave closes on January 1, the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God.
The optional memorial of St. Juan Diego (December 9) is superceded by the Sunday liturgy.

2. First Sunday of Advent, Sunday
3. Francis Xavier, Memorial
4. John Damascene, Opt. Mem.
6. Nicholas, Opt. Mem.
7. Ambrose, Memorial
8. Immaculate Conception, Solemnity
9. Second Sunday of Advent, Sunday
11. Damasus I, Opt. Mem.
12. Our Lady of Guadalupe (USA), Feast
13. Lucy, Memorial
14. John of the Cross, Memorial
16. Third Sunday of Advent, Sunday
21. Peter Canisius, Opt. Mem.
23. Fourth Sunday of Advent, Sunday
24. Christmas Eve, Sunday
25. Christmas, Solemnity
26. Stephen, Feast
27. John, Feast
28. Holy Innocents, Feast
29. Thomas Becket, Opt. Mem.
30. Holy Family, Sunday
31. Sylvester I, Opt. Mem.

Rejoice , today is the 1st Sunday of Advent

We begin now a New year of grace - a new season of Hope - a new posture of longing for the fulfillment of the reality that has come to us already, which speaks of a future completion for those who have faith!

We begin the Season of Advent.

The first two weeks focus - as a tie-over from the last year - on the Second Coming of Jesus; the third and fourth weeks of Advent will prepare us to celebrate the anniversary of Jesus’ first coming: at Christmas.

The gospel passage today - as the readings from the last couple of Sundays - is about STAYING AWAKE! BEING PREPARED FOR THE COMING OF THE SON OF MAN! Only if we are “tuned in” to the spiritual realities of the coming of Jesus, will we be able to benefit from his arrival! We must be “spiritually awake,” “spiritually prepared” for the coming of the Son of Man! We do this by seeking the knowledge of who he is - who he revealed himself to be when he came the first time - what his arrival meant for us - and how it needs to affect our daily conduct!

The only way the people of God of the Old Testament could know that they were pleasing God was to follow an enormous amount of legal prescriptions - the Law of Moses was complex and demanding. Jesus summarized the entire Law of Moses by one simple law - simple but of a magnitude that cannot be measured: LOVE!

If we truly LOVE, after the manner which Jesus showed us - to the point of self-sacrificing death (if necessary), then we will be doing all of the Mosaic Law - and any other kind of legal prescription. For true love means loving God first, because he first loved us (this: after we have come to know him by hearing about him and studying about him); then, loving our brothers and sisters who we can see (not being able to see God physically), as we love and respect and take care of ourselves.

The formula is simple: all we really need to do is to do what Jesus said: “Love one another as I have loved you!” If we really understood that one sentence - our lives and the lives of the entire world would be different! There would be peace - there would be justice - there would be holy people on the earth!

In the first reading today from the Old Testament, we see that the people of God rejoiced because they could “go and climb the mountain of the Lord - to the house of God - so that he could instruct them in the way in which he wanted them to live - so that they could walk in his paths!” For they knew this was the only way that they would end up in his Kingdom eternally - by following specific laws that he gave them and taught them himself.

We, the new people of God, can do the same thing: we can “climb the mountain of the Lord’s teachings”- we can “go to the Church” - and find the God’s teachings as they are conceptualized and preserved in the great Deposit of Faith - and be instructed in his ways! For from the Lord’s mountain - from the Church - teaching shall go forth to all nations - and people will learn how to live peaceably and justly, with mutual affection and understanding. And one nation will not raise the sword against another!

At the top of the Lord’s mountain stands Jesus the Teacher! Jesus the Lord! Jesus the Savior! Jesus the Redeemer! Jesus the King of all kings! When we listen to the Church, we listen to Jesus! And we shall be guided in right paths!

There is so much to learn about our Catholic faith - and life as a Catholic. Perhaps during this Advent Season we can deliberately and consciously take time to study our faith more deeply. We need to avail ourselves of every opportunity and means to obtain greater, deeper and more complete knowledge of Jesus, his Father, and the Holy Spirit: who makes it all clear and understandable - and who empowers us to do what it suggests doing!

Let us “go to the Church!” Let us listen to the Word of God as it is proclaimed in many a varied ways - and may our lives become different - as we journey to our heavenly homeland - to the place that is promised us - the place of beatitude that is the object of our hope!

Let us rejoice in the light and Hope of Advent!