Universalis: Office of Readings

Universalis: Office of Readings:

"For this reason, when our Lord was born of the Virgin, the message of the angelic voices was: Glory to God in the highest, and peace to men of good will.

For how could there be peace on earth unless Truth has arisen from the earth, that is, unless Christ were born of our flesh? And he is our peace who made the two into one: that we might be men of good will, sweetly linked by the bond of unity.

Let us then rejoice in this grace, so that our glorying may bear witness to our good conscience by which we glory, not in ourselves, but in the Lord. That is why Scripture says: He is my glory, the one who lifts up my head. For what greater grace could God have made to dawn on us than to make his only Son become the son of man, so that a son of man might in his turn become son of God?

Ask if this were merited; ask for its reason, for its justification, and see whether you will find any other answer but sheer grace."

---from A sermon of St Augustine

USCCB - (NAB) - December 24, 2007

USCCB - (NAB) - December 24, 2007:

"In the tender compassion of our God
the dawn from on high shall break upon us,
to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death,
and to guide our feet into the way of peace.”"

Today's Prayer: May peace dwell within each one of us, within our families and friends, within our parishes...within our world.

Let your glory fall (video)

Pope On the Birth of Christ

ZENIT - On the Birth of Christ:

"It is therefore very important that we are true believers, and as believers, that we reaffirm forcefully, with our lives, the mystery of salvation that comes with the celebration of Christ's birth! In Bethlehem, the Light which illumines our life was made manifest to the world; the Way which leads to the fullness of our humanity was revealed to us. What sense does it make to celebrate Christmas if we don't acknowledge that God has become man? The celebration becomes empty.
Before all else, we Christians have to reassert with deep and heartfelt conviction the truth of Christ's birth in order to bear witness before all the awareness of an unparalleled gift that enriches not only us, but everyone.

---taken from reflection on Christmas that Benedict XVI delivered on December 19th at the general audience "

Jesus is Key!

Intercessors Of The Lamb
"In Acts 4:12 we read, “There is no salvation, for there is no other name in the whole world given to men by which we are saved, except by the name of Jesus.” In other words, there is no salvation, there is no covenant love, except in Jesus. Jesus is the key. He is not an option. He is absolutely essential. He was trying to say that in the Martha and Mary Scripture. “She has chosen the better part.” This is the one thing necessary – this union, this covenant love, this God coming to His people, is a major theme in the Old Testament, but it definitely, totally takes over the New. In Luke 1 the whole theme is all about God coming to His people in that beautiful Benedictus, particularly verse 72 which says through the mouth of Isaiah, “God is showing mercy to our fathers because He’s remembering His holy covenant.” He is getting ready, now, to establish the New Covenant. Of course John was chosen to prepare the way. In God’s mercy He is doing it again with His very self, His own Son."

Universalis: Office of Readings

Universalis: Office of Readings:

"Who will climb the mountain of the Lord? Who will stand in his holy place?
The one who is innocent of wrongdoing and pure of heart,
who has not given himself to vanities or sworn falsely.
He will receive the blessing of the Lord and be justified by God his saviour.
This is the way of those who seek him, seek the face of the God of Jacob."

Praise You Father, for sending us Your Son so that we all may climb to Your holy dwelling...left on our own, none of us would make it.

USCCB - (NAB) - December 23, 2007

USCCB - (NAB) - December 23, 2007:

"Through him we have received the grace of apostleship,
to bring about the obedience of faith,
for the sake of his name, among all the Gentiles,
among whom are you also, who are called to belong to Jesus Christ;
to all the beloved of God in Rome, called to be holy.

Grace to you and peace from God our Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ."

Prayer for today: The call to be holy and to belong to Jesus Christ is going out, may more hearts then ever before turn to Him now!

The Little Drummer Boy (video)

The Pearl Necklace

The Pearl Necklace


The cheerful girl with bouncy golden curls was almost five. Waiting with her mother at the checkout stand, she saw them: a circle of glistening white pearls in a pink foil box.

"Oh please, Mommy. Can I have them? Please, Mommy, please!"

Quickly the mother checked the back of the little foil box and then looked back into the pleading blue eyes of her little girl's upturned face.

"A dollar ninety-five. That's almost $2.00. If you really want them, I'll think of some extra chores for you and in no time you can save enough money to buy them for yourself. Your birthday's only a week away and you might get another crisp dollar bill from Grandma."

As soon as Jenny got home, she emptied her penny bank and counted out 17 pennies. After dinner, she did more than her share of chores and she went to the neighbor and asked Mrs. McJames if she could pick dandelions for ten cents.

On her birthday, Grandma did give her another new dollar bill and at last she had enough money to buy the necklace.

Jenny loved her pearls. They made her feel dressed up and grown up. She wore them everywhere--Sunday school, kindergarten, even to bed. The only time she took them off was when she went swimming or had a bubble bath. Mother said if they got wet, they might turn her neck green.

Jenny had a very loving daddy and every night when she was ready for bed, he would stop whatever he was doing and come upstairs to read her a story. One night when he finished the story, he asked Jenny, "Do you love me?"

"Oh yes, Daddy. You know that I love you."

"Then give me your pearls."

"Oh, Daddy, not my pearls. But you can have Princess--the white horse from my collection. The one with the pink tail. Remember, Daddy? The one you gave me. She's my favorite."

"That's okay, Honey. Daddy loves you. Good night." And he brushed her cheek with a kiss.

About a week later, after the story time, Jenny's daddy asked again, "Do you love me?"

"Daddy, you know I love you."

"Then give me your pearls."

"Oh Daddy, not my pearls. But you can have my babydoll. The brand new one I got for my birthday. She is so beautiful and you can have the yellow blanket that matches her sleeper."

"That's okay. Sleep well. God bless you, little one. Daddy loves you." And as always, he brushed her cheek with a gentle kiss.

A few nights later when her daddy came in, Jenny was sitting on her bed with her legs crossed Indian-style. As he came close, he noticed her chin was trembling and one silent tear rolled down her cheek.

"What is it, Jenny? What's the matter?"

Jenny didn't say anything but lifted her little hand up to her daddy. And when she opened it, there was her little pearl necklace. With a little quiver,she finally said, "Here, Daddy. It's for you."

With tears gathering in his own eyes, Jenny's kind daddy reached out with one hand to take the dime-store necklace, and with the other hand he reached into his pocket and pulled out a blue velvet case with a strand of genuine pearls and gave them to Jenny.

He had them all the time. He was just waiting for her to give up the dime-store stuff so he could give her genuine treasure.

What are you hanging on to?

--- Author Unknown ---

Universalis: Office of Readings

Universalis: Office of Readings:
Isaiah 49:14 - 50:1
"Look round about you, look,
all are assembling, coming to you.
By my life – it is the Lord who speaks –
you will wear these as your jewels,
they will adorn you as brides are adorned;
for your desolate places and your ruins
and your devastated country
will now be too small for all your inhabitants,
now that your devourers are far away."

Praise You Lord for all that You give us!

USCCB - (NAB) - December 22, 2007

USCCB - (NAB) - December 22, 2007:

"I prayed for this child, and the LORD granted my request.
Now I, in turn, give him to the LORD;
as long as he lives, he shall be dedicated to the LORD.”"

Prayer for Today: Lord help us to remember that it all belongs to You anyways. May all the gifts that You have given to us (and even the suffering and temptations that You have allowed) be used to glorify You.

Ora Pro Nobis!

Ora Pro Nobis! Custom Designed and Personalized Holy Cards for All Your Special Days

This was just brought to my attention and I think it is an awesome idea.

Christ within others

Spirit Daily - Daily spiritual news from around the world:

"View others as you want God to view you, and you will break through to love. Receive the blessing of blessing others."

Today: Let us not only acknowledge that Christ is within us but that He is also within those that we come in contact with.

O Little Town Of Bethlehem

O little town of Bethlehem
How still we see thee lie
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
The silent stars go by
Yet in thy dark streets shineth
The everlasting Light
The hopes and fears of all the years
Are met in thee tonight

For Christ is born of Mary
And gathered all above
While mortals sleep, the angels keep
Their watch of wondering love
O morning stars together
Proclaim the holy birth
And praises sing to God the King
And Peace to men on earth

How silently, how silently
The wondrous gift is given!
So God imparts to human hearts
The blessings of His heaven.
No ear may his His coming,
But in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive him still,
The dear Christ enters in.

O holy Child of Bethlehem
Descend to us, we pray
Cast out our sin and enter in
Be born to us today
We hear the Christmas angels
The great glad tidings tell
O come to us, abide with us
Our Lord Emmanuel

Come to Bethlehem

Intercessors Of The Lamb

Bethlehem is a contemplative type of prayer. There are not any words really; it’s an experience. Anytime we go there, the experience will be different. So St. Ignatius says to try to just let go of the thinking process in these meditations this coming week and become totally immersed in the scene—be there. This is where we want to use all five senses. Try to see the scene and the persons. Try to hear. You’re going to hear Mary and Joseph speaking. Are you going to hear the angels singing? Are you going to hear a baby’s noises? Are you coming to hear the animals? See what you hear. Are you going to hear the wind at night? Try to smell. It had to be very odorous there. Try to smell the smells because it makes it real. You’re there then. Try to smell the hay in the manger. Try to taste the sweetness of the moment of the mystery, of this tremendous gift of God in flesh—not only in flesh, but in baby flesh. You might find that the Spirit’s going to let you to experience the tremendous poverty of this child. Jesus was extremely rich. He’s God. He had everything in Heaven. He left it all when He descended. The last sense to use is touch. Try to touch something in the mysteries that you’ll be gazing upon. Maybe touch the straw at Bethlehem. Maybe hold the Baby, maybe touch Mary’s hand, maybe experience how hard the ground that Mary and Joseph were on was.

To conclude, this whole scene might lead you to an awareness that this is actually taking place within me. There’s a new birthing now within me. The child Jesus is being born now within me. The beautiful mystery of the rosary, “Finding the Child Jesus in the Temple”, might be your experience as you find them deep within yourself. So the week will be one of quietness. It will be one of revelation. It will primarily be one of experience. Contemplation is an experience. It’s the experience of the truth. It might be the experience more of the Incarnation itself.

Teresa of Avila said one of the greatest mystical graces a soul can receive is the experience of Incarnational spirituality—to really know that that Child now lives within me, that Child now has taken on my flesh. This is where it will ultimately lead me. That’s Incarnational spirituality: we become one with Jesus. He became one with me. The Word now has become enfleshed in me. So you want to have the experience. The Spirit will lead, and ultimately your prayer might end up just being lost in the mystery and wonderment because it’s so beyond the human mind. This is what contemplation ultimately comes to: being lost in the mystery, gazing at the beauty, and being lost in the goodness of God and that He has done this for me.

Excerpt from Mother Nadine’s “Heart- to-heart Listening: Experiencing Jesus Intimately,”March 13, 2000.

The Lord Magnified in us

Universalis: Office of Readings:

"Blessed are you,” said Elizabeth, “who believed”.
You too, my people, are blessed, you who have heard and who believe. Every soul that believes — that soul both conceives and gives birth to the Word of God and recognises his works.

Let the soul of Mary be in each one of you, to proclaim the greatness of the Lord. Let the spirit of Mary be in each one of you, to rejoice in God. According to the flesh only one woman can be the mother of Christ but in the world of faith Christ is the fruit of all of us. For every soul can receive the Word of God if only it is pure and preserves itself in chastity and modesty.

The soul that has been able to reach this state proclaims the greatness of the Lord just as Mary did and rejoices in God its saviour just like her.
The Lord’s greatness is proclaimed, as you have read elsewhere, where it says Join me in magnifying the Lord. This does not mean that anything can be added to the Lord’s greatness by human words, but that he is magnified in us. Christ is the image of God and so any good or religious act that a soul performs magnifies that image of God in that soul, the God in whose likeness the soul itself was made. And thus the soul itself has some share in his greatness and is ennobled."

---from St Ambrose's commentary on St Luke's Gospel

Universalis: Office of Readings

Universalis: Office of Readings:
Isaiah 48:12 - 49:13

"Thus says the Lord, your redeemer, the Holy One of Israel:
I, the Lord, your God, teach you what is good for you,
I lead you in the way that you must go.
If only you had been alert to my commandments,
your happiness would have been like a river,
your integrity like the waves of the sea.
Your children would have been numbered like the sand,
your descendants as many as its grains.
Never would your name have been cut off or blotted out before me."

Blessed are you...

USCCB - (NAB) - December 21, 2007:

"Blessed are you who believed
that what was spoken to you by the Lord
would be fulfilled.”"

Prayer for Today: As soon as Mary Got the word that her cousin Elizabeth was with child, she believed and set out to go to her. May we too act on the word that we are receiving daily from You Lord. May we in turn reach out to others with great love and not only be a blessing to others but be blessed ourselves.

transferences

Intercessors Of The Lamb
"First we go through a stage where we are informed. This is the Night of the Soul. God is good. He doesn’t let us stay in that birthing too long. Now the growth is going to start. There is a deeper purification of our hearts. Our intercession changes a little bit here. As we grow, the ministry does too, and there will be some transferences. Now, all of a sudden, it isn’t just me. We begin to see that, “I don’t have to be totally healed, totally well, or have my act all together to have effective and powerful intercession.” We see that He’s using us in a deeper way now. He begins to teach us about the transferences. We’ll begin to see that it’s not just my heart that is kind of anxious. It’s not just my heart that might be fearful. It might not just be my heart that is kind of distressed, even depressed maybe. God begins to show us, “Pray for others who are feeling the same way.” We start to pick up God’s plan more. We see that whatever I’m going through is going to affect my intercession for others because I’m gaining that territory. Why, I have compassion now! I know what it feels like to be anxious or to be fearful. We don’t want other people to have to continue living like that. Maybe people are fearful of death; maybe people are lonely, rejected. We’ll start to pick up feelings, or maybe events and circumstances, that we are actually going through ourselves. We don’t let it be wasted. We use it right away in intercession."

Universalis: Office of Readings

Universalis: Office of Readings
Isaiah 48:1 - 11

"Now I am revealing new things to you,
things hidden and unknown to you,
created just now, this very moment,
of these things you have heard nothing until now,
so that you cannot say, ‘Oh yes, I knew all this’.

You had never heard,
you did not know,
I had not opened your ear beforehand;
for I knew how treacherous you were,
and that you have deserved the name of rebel from your birth."

Speak Lord for Your servant is now listening.

USCCB - (NAB) - December 20, 2007

USCCB - (NAB) - December 20, 2007:

"And coming to her, he said,
“Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.”
But she was greatly troubled at what was said
and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.
Then the angel said to her,
“Do not be afraid, Mary,
for you have found favor with God."

Prayer for today: Calm our fears Lord! We want to do Your will, but there are so many things standing in the way...and one of them is not fully understanding what it all means. Illumine our hearts and understanding, Lord.

Mother Teresa Pro-Life Speech -

"And for this I appeal in India and I appeal everywhere - "Let us bring the child back." The child is God's gift to the family. Each child is created in the special image and likeness of God for greater things - to love and to be loved. In this year of the family we must bring the child back to the center of our care and concern. This is the only way that our world can survive because our children are the only hope for the future. As older people are called to God, only their children can take their places.

But what does God say to us? He says: "Even if a mother could forget her child, I will not forget you. I have carved you in the palm of my hand." We are carved in the palm of His hand; that unborn child has been carved in the hand of God from conception and is called by God to love and to be loved, not only now in this life, but forever. God can never forget us.

I will tell you something beautiful. We are fighting abortion by adoption - by care of the mother and adoption for her baby. We have saved thousands of lives. We have sent word to the clinics, to the hospitals and police stations: "Please don't destroy the child; we will take the child." So we always have someone tell the mothers in trouble: "Come, we will take care of you, we will get a home for your child." And we have a tremendous demand from couples who cannot have a child - but I never give a child to a couple who have done something not to have a child. Jesus said. "Anyone who receives a child in my name, receives me." By adopting a child, these couples receive Jesus but, by aborting a child, a couple refuses to receive Jesus.

Please don't kill the child. I want the child. Please give me the child. I am willing to accept any child who would be aborted and to give that child to a married couple who will love the child and be loved by the child.

From our children's home in Calcutta alone, we have saved over 3000 children from abortion. These children have brought such love and joy to their adopting parents and have grown up so full of love and joy.

I know that couples have to plan their family and for that there is natural family planning.

The way to plan the family is natural family planning, not contraception.

In destroying the power of giving life, through contraception, a husband or wife is doing something to self. This turns the attention to self and so it destroys the gift of love in him or her. In loving, the husband and wife must turn the attention to each other as happens in natural family planning, and not to self, as happens in contraception. Once that living love is destroyed by contraception, abortion follows very easily.

I also know that there are great problems in the world - that many spouses do not love each other enough to practice natural family planning. We cannot solve all the problems in the world, but let us never bring in the worst problem of all, and that is to destroy love. And this is what happens when we tell people to practice contraception and abortion."

A baby's prayer (video)

Evangelium vitae

Evangelium vitae - Ioannes Paulus PP. II - Encyclical Letter (1995.03.25)

"1. The Gospel of life is at the heart of Jesus' message. Lovingly received day after day by the Church, it is to be preached with dauntless fidelity as "good news" to the people of every age and culture.

At the dawn of salvation, it is the Birth of a Child which is proclaimed as joyful news: "I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people; for to you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord" (Lk 2:10-11). The source of this "great joy" is the Birth of the Saviour; but Christmas also reveals the full meaning of every human birth, and the joy which accompanies the Birth of the Messiah is thus seen to be the foundation and fulfilment of joy at every child born into the world (cf. Jn 16:21)."

The Cause of Life

"O, Mary, bright dawn of the new world, Mother of the living, to you do we entrust the cause of life. Look down, O Mother, upon the vast numbers of babies not allowed to be born, of the poor whose lives are made difficult, of men and women who are victims of brutal violance, of the elderly and the sick killed by indifference or out of misguided mercy. Grant that all who believe in your Son may proclaim the Gospel of life with honesty and love to the people of our time. Obtain for them the grace to accept that Gospel as a gift ever new, the joy of celebrating it with gratitude throughout their lives and the courage to bear witness to it resolutely, in order to build, together with all people of good will, the civilization of truth and love, to the praise and glory of God, the Creator and lover of life.

--John Paul II"

Universalis: Morning Prayer (Lauds)

Universalis: Morning Prayer (Lauds):

"God, you deigned to reveal the splendour of your glory to the world through the holy Virgin’s giving birth to your Son.
Grant us this gift: that we may celebrate this great mystery of the Incarnation
with complete faith and devotion for ever."

USCCB - (NAB) - December 19, 2007

USCCB - (NAB) - December 19, 2007:

"He will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah
to turn the hearts of fathers toward children
and the disobedient to the understanding of the righteous,
to prepare a people fit for the Lord.”"

Today's Prayer: For parents' hearts to be turned back towards the children. May we be a people who sees and appreciates the sancity of life from the first moments of conception to its natural end.

Shine Jesus Shine ( Video)

I've been singing this song all day as Sarah and I go around cleaning house and making it shine for Jesus. She asked me if we sang this at 'Monday night church' last night...lol. Nope...the Lord just put it into my heart today. Actually, I don't know the whole song by heart...so the tune you would hear if you were a fly on the wall is more like 'shine, Jesus shine...la, la, la...'..lol.

grow baby, grow

Intercessors Of The Lamb:

"So we have to allow this Word that we are receiving every day to grow, to grow in hiddenness, to grow within us, to grow in wisdom and grace. Wisdom, the highest form of wisdom, by the way, is always surrender. 'Be it done'. It is openness; it is receptivity. Just to hear God's word and not receive it is not enough. We have to receive it into our own self as Our Lady did. He will grow within us."

A baby is born!

Stepping Out of the Boat: WE GOT THE CALL!!!!!!!! WILL YOU HELP US!!!!!!:

"WOWZERS! We got THE CALL ! We got THE CALL ! We got THE CALL !It has been a crazy day of waiting to see what the final outcome was going to be. I am beyond excited to tell you that our tickets are booked, suitcases packed, video camera charged because....we are going to meet our SON!!!!!"

Let us rejoice and keep this family in our prayers. God is working in a mighty way over there! Babies and Christmas just go hand and hand so perfectly.

Let it be Christmas(video)

house cleaning

Spirit Daily - Daily spiritual news from around the world:

"Go through the house and rid it of objects that smack of the occult or salaciousness. Anything linked to the supernatural (other than that associated with Jesus), and anything attached to lust, should be cast out."

As all mothers know, the days just before the arrival of our special bundles are usually set apart for 'nesting'. Setting up our home in a way that will be comfortable for the baby and also so that we won't be distracted from our main priority when he does arrive. In this way we should also 'cleanse' our homes of anything that is not of God so that we can better focus on Him.

O Come O Come Emmanuel

Universalis: Office of Readings

Universalis: Office of Readings:
Psalm 67 (68)

"O God, command in your strength;
make firm what you have achieved in us.
From your temple in Jerusalem,
kings shall bring you tribute.
Rebuke the wild beast of the reeds,
the herd of bulls, the lords of peoples.
Let them lie prostrate before you with tribute of silver.
Scatter the peoples that delight in war.
Nobles will come from Egypt,
Ethiopia will stretch out its hands to God."

We pray that all the ends of the earth will finally receive the 'Good News'!

USCCB - (NAB) - December 18, 2007

USCCB - (NAB) - December 18, 2007:

"Behold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a son,
and they shall name him Emmanuel,

which means “God is with us.”"

Prayer for Today: Oh Lord, You are indeed with us! Give us the grace and courage like Mary to also 'deliver' You into the world that so desperately needs You today.

Love To Be Catholic

Joseph's Lullaby

USCCB - (NAB) - December 17, 2007

USCCB - (NAB) - December 17, 2007:

"Eleazar became the father of Matthan,
Matthan the father of Jacob,
Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary.
Of her was born Jesus who is called the Christ."

Today's Prayer:
Mary's spiritual lineage comes to her through her husband Joseph. That also means that Jesus' spiritual lineage came to Him through His Foster/Adoptive father, Joseph.

Today's let's pray for all married couples that they be able to access the graces that they have received through the Sacrament of Matrimony in order to raise their families and live in God's peace.

Let's also pray for all those involved in adoptive relationships. May the Lord blessed them and show them the 'realness' of their family. So that each one of us in turn can fully grasp the beauty of being adopted into God's family.

Family Healing Prayer

"what do they have?"

Intercessors Of The Lamb:

"Can you imagine what it will be like when the Church really goes into the desert again, really becomes contemplative again and really starts receiving the enfleshment of the Word, being fed, experiencing the joy? Can you imagine the evangelization that will go forth? People are drawn to happy people. Joy is contagious. You will be able to walk down the street and say, “What do they have?” That is what drew us, in the cloister, to the Charismatic renewal in the first place. Bishop Joseph McKenny came and was so filled with joy. It was wonderful to see a Bishop at the altar who was happy. You cannot camouflage joy, can you?"

For my mom...

We will be celebrating her 10th anniversary with Jesus on December 30th.

Let us pray for all who can't quite find joy during this Season because of the loss of loved ones, or those that are struggling with terminal illnesses. Lord grant them some peace in these days and show them and their loved ones a little taste of the joy that is to come.




My First Christmas in Heaven
I see the countless
Christmas trees
around the world below
With tiny lights, like Heaven's stars,
reflecting on the snow

The sight is so spectacular,
please wipe away the tear
For I am spending Christmas with
Jesus Christ this year.

I hear the many Christmas songs
that people hold so dear
But the sounds of music can't compare
with the Christmas choir up here.

I have no words to tell you,
the joy their voices bring,
For it is beyond description,
to hear the angels sing.

I know how much you miss me,
I see the pain inside your heart.
But I am not so far away,
We really aren't apart.

So be happy for me, dear ones,
You know I hold you dear.
And be glad I'm spending Christmas
with Jesus Christ this year.

I sent you each a special gift,
from my heavenly home above.
I sent you each a memory
of my undying love.

After all, love is a gift more precious
than pure gold.
was always most important
the stories Jesus told.

Please love and keep each other,
my Father said to do.
I can't count the blessing or love
has for each of you.

So have a Merry Christmas and
Wipe away that tear
Remember, I am spending Christmas with
Jesus Christ this year

REJOICE!

Gaudete Sunday: This Child is our Victory. REJOICE! - Catholic Online:

"The Third Sunday of Advent is Gaudete Sunday, the 'pink candle' Sunday, the Sunday we light the pink candle on the Advent wreath. Gaudete is the imperative plural form of the Latin verb gaudere (to rejoice). It is a command ordering us to rejoice! In these days of penance and preparation leading up to the feast of our Savior's birth, it reminds us of the joy that is to come, and serves, amid this season of penance, as a kind of 'break' when we recall the hope we have because of the coming of Jesus."

Joy to the World

praise looks good on you

ice and snow bless the Lord

Universalis: Morning Prayer (Lauds):
"All creatures, bless the Lord
Bless the Lord, all his works, praise and exalt him for ever.

Bless the Lord, you heavens; all his angels, bless the Lord.
Bless the Lord, you waters above the heavens; all his powers, bless the Lord.
Bless the Lord, sun and moon; all stars of the sky, bless the Lord.
Bless the Lord, rain and dew; all you winds, bless the Lord.
Bless the Lord, fire and heat; cold and warmth, bless the Lord.
Bless the Lord, dew and frost; ice and cold, bless the Lord.
Bless the Lord, ice and snow; day and night, bless the Lord.
Bless the Lord, light and darkness; lightning and storm-clouds, bless the Lord.

Bless the Lord, all the earth, praise and exalt him for ever."

Let us praise God for all His deeds including the beautiful blanket of snow that we have been blessed with this morning. Let us also pray for safety for His children during this storm.

USCCB - (NAB) - December 16, 2007

USCCB - (NAB) - December 16, 2007:

"Those whom the LORD has ransomed will return
and enter Zion singing,
crowned with everlasting joy;
they will meet with joy and gladness,
sorrow and mourning will flee."

Today's Prayer: May our focus today be on the Lord, all the great things that He has done for us, and all the beauty that He has placed in our midst. A heart that is full of praise and thanksgiving cannot know sorrow and depression.

called to purity

Intercessors Of The Lamb:

"We’ll change when we begin to experience God’s love for us personally. So He said, “I’ve called you. I’ve called you for this victory of justice. I want you to wear this breastplate of justice. I’ve called you for the victory over sin. I’ve called you to have a pure heart.” Jesus said, “Blessed are the pure of heart, they shall see God” (Mt 5:8). Oh to see God! Here are those mystical gifts again—to see God in others, to see God in situations, and to see God moving in different countries. The pure of heart can see the movement of God."

a pure heart

Spirit Daily - Daily spiritual news from around the world:

"The truth is clear only when the soul is pure, and so purify this Christmas and see like you have never seen! See the truth. See the full picture. Stop imagining the worst.
Ask Our Blessed Immaculate Mother to give you immaculate vision. Purify yourself by elevating yourself into a mindset of love. Go to Confession. Fast before the feast.
This will help you observe matters in a new, fuller way -- and that can be the source of what Christmas is all about: comfort and joy. Go for it!

It is the time of year when matters can be unusually lucid and you should take advantage of it: 'Lord, let me have new eyesight. Let me see what I should see, clearly. Let me see reality in more fullness.'"

I am the God that Healeth Thee (video)

Medjugorje Graces

Medjugorje Graces: Children of Medjugorje Newsletter:

"On December 2nd, one could see tears in Mirjana’s eyes. When the apparition was over, she wept for a long while before sharing with us the following message:

“Dear children! Today, while I am looking at your hearts, my heart is filled with pain and apprehension. My children, stop for a moment and look into your hearts. Is my Son, your God, truly in the first place? Are His commandments truly the measure of your life? I am
warning you again: without faith there is no God’s nearness and no God’s word which is the light of salvation and the light of common sense.”


Mirjana added, “I painfully asked Our Lady not to leave us and not to take her hands away from us. She painfully smiled at my request and left. This time Our Lady did not say, I thank you!”"

Blessed Mother please help us to search our hearts for anything that does not resemble your Son...and help us to acquire the graces to get rid of it through the Sacrament of Reconciliation, so that He alone can reside there!

St. Anthony's Parish

Cardinal Seán’s Blog » Christ Speaks in the City

Father Walter Carreiro's installation as pastor of St. Anthony of Padua Parish in Cambridge. Check out the link above for more pictures.

USCCB - (NAB) - December 15, 2007

USCCB - (NAB) - December 15, 2007:
"Mt 17:9a, 10-13

As they were coming down from the mountain,
the disciples asked Jesus,
“Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?”
He said in reply, “Elijah will indeed come and restore all things;
but I tell you that Elijah has already come,
and they did not recognize him but did to him whatever they pleased. So also will the Son of Man suffer at their hands.”
Then the disciples understood
that he was speaking to them of John the Baptist."

Today's Prayer: Open our eyes Lord so that we may see the true treasures that You have layed out before us.

Universalis: Office of Readings

Universalis: Office of Readings:
"Psalm 105 (106)

At Horeb they made a calf
and worshipped a statue.
They exchanged the glory of their people
for the likeness of a bull, that eats grass.
They forgot their God, who had saved them,
who had done great miracles for them in Egypt,
wonders in the land of Ham,
terrors at the Red Sea.
Then he said that he would destroy them,
but Moses, his chosen one, was there:
he stood in the breach before him
to turn aside his wrath,
to prevent the destruction.

To them, the Promised Land meant nothing,
they did not believe the Lord’s word.
They stayed muttering in their tents,
they were deaf to the voice of the Lord."

Seasons of the Heart

John Welch, O.Carm - Seasons of the Heart - AN ENSLAVED HEART:
"Summary

"The hungers of our heart send us into the world seeking nourishment. In many ways we ask the world, 'Have you seen the one who did this to my heart, causing it to ache?' Our heart finds itself scattered over the landscape as we ask each person and each possession and each activity to tell us more about the Mystery at the core of our lives.

So enamoured by the messengers of God, the soul mistakes them for God. We take the good things of God and ask that they be god. The heart, tired of its pilgrimage, seeks to settle down and make a home. It pours its deepest desires into relationships, possessions, plans, activities, goals, and asks that they bring fulfilment to our deepest hungers. We ask too much from them and they begin to crumble under our expectations. Over and over the Carmelite saints remind us that only God is sufficient food for the hungers of the heart."

The Nada Path

John Welch, O.Carm - Seasons of the Heart - AN ENSLAVED HEART

"When John of the Cross drew a stylised mountain to picture the journey of transformation he drew three paths up the mountain. The two outside paths, one of worldly goods, the other of spiritual goods, did not reach the top. Only the middle path of the nadas attained the summit of Carmel. He amplified his teaching in the picture with several lines of text at the bottom. The lines of the text were variations of the theme, "to possess all, possess nothing".

The text at the bottom of the picture gives insight into John's basic understanding of the spiritual journey. He agrees that we are made to possess all, know all, be all, etc. But he also understands that we will never have all if we ask any part of God's creation to be sufficient for these hungers. His counsel to possess nothing in order to possess all is a cryptic encouragement to never ask some thing (some part of God's creation) to be all. Only the one who is no-thing can be our All.

Such asceticism sounds difficult unless one understands that John is addressing men and women who have tried the other paths in life for fulfilment. Their hearts have gone out in search of the one who loved them and they have become enmeshed in life with hearts broken and scattered. John's counsels are words of life for people dying for lack of proper nourishment. He is pointing out the path of life for pilgrims who have lost their way."

FOR THESE TIMES

For These Times lyrics

In these times in which we live
Where the worst of what we live
Is laid out for all the world on the front page
And the sound of someone's heartbreak
Is a soundbite at the news break
With a close shot of the tears rollin' down their face
Blessed be the child who turns a loving eye
And stops to pray
For these times in which we live

In these most uncertain hours
Where the balance of power
Is a fight that is fought every day
And freedom is a word
Some cry out and some whisper
And some are just too quick to give away
Blessed be the one who stands by the one
On the battle line
For these times in which we live

Well give me a heart full of tender mercy
And arms I will open wide

For these times in which we live
Seems like the only answer is
Givin' up on findin' one at all
And we hide behind unsure
Pull the blinds and lock the doors
And hang a pleasant picture on the wall
Blessed is the believer who knows love is our redeemer
And the only breath of life
For these times in which we live

Well give me a heart full of tender mercy
And arms I will open wide
Yeah give me words full of loving kindness
And hands ready to hold up a light
For these times in which we live
For these times in which we live

USCCB - (NAB) - December 14, 2007

USCCB - (NAB) - December 14, 2007:
"Reading 1
Is 48:17-19

Thus says the LORD, your redeemer,
the Holy One of Israel:
I, the LORD, your God,
teach you what is for your good,
and lead you on the way you should go.
If you would hearken to my commandments,
your prosperity would be like a river,
and your vindication like the waves of the sea;
Your descendants would be like the sand,
and those born of your stock like its grains,
Their name never cut off
or blotted out from my presence."

Today's Prayer: With so many 'voices' vying for our attention and each wanting to be 'Lord of our Life'. May we look at each and firmly be able to say as St. John of the Cross did, 'nope' not this...only Jesus is truly worthy to bring us to Him. Only He can deliver on the promises that He makes.

St. John of the Cross

St John of the Cross (1542 - 1591)

He was born in Fontiveros, in Spain, in about 1542. He spent some time as a Carmelite friar before, in 1568, Saint Teresa of Ávila persuaded him to pioneer the reform of the Carmelite order. This was a difficult task and a dangerous one: he suffered imprisonment and severe punishment at the hands of the Church authorities. He died at the monastery of Ubeda in Andalusia on 14 December 1591: the monks there had initially treated him as the worst of sinners, but by the time he died they had recognised his sanctity and his funeral was the occasion of a great outburst of enthusiasm.
His works include two major mystical poems – he is considered one of the great poets of the Spanish language – and detailed commentaries on them and the spiritual truths they convey. He was canonised in 1726 and declared a Doctor of the Church in 1926.

Leave the Results to God

Pushing Against The Rock
Author Unknown

There once was a man who was asleep one night in his cabin when suddenly his room filled with light and the Saviour appeared to him.

The Lord told him He had a work for him to do, and showed him a large rock explaining that he was to push against the rock with all his might. This the man did, and for many days he toiled from sunup to sundown; his shoulder set squarely against the cold massive surface of the rock, pushing with all his might. Each night the man returned to his cabin sore and worn out, feeling his whole day had been spent in vain.

Seeing that the man showed signs of discouragement, Satan decided to enter the picture - placing thoughts in the man's mind, such as ``Why kill yourself over this?, you're never going to move it!'' or ``Boy, you've been at it a long time and you haven't even scratched the surface!'' etc. giving the man the impression the task was impossible and the man was an unworthy servant because he wasn't moving the massive stone.

These thoughts discouraged and disheartened the man and he started to ease up in his efforts. ``Why kill myself?'' he thought. ``I'll just put in my time putting forth just the minimum of effort and that will be good enough.'' And this he did or at least planned on doing until, one day, he decided to take his troubles to the Lord.

``Lord,'' he said, ``I have labored hard and long in Your service, putting forth all my strength to do that which You have asked of me. Yet after all this time, I have not even budged that rock even half a millimeter. What is wrong? Why am I failing?''

To this the Lord responded compassionately, ``My friend, when long ago I asked you to serve Me and you accepted, I told you to push against the rock with all your strength and that you have done. But never once did I mention to you that I expected you to move it. At least not by yourself. Your task was to push. And now you come to Me, your strength spent, thinking that you have failed, ready to quit. But is this really so? Look at yourself. Your arms are strong and muscled; your back sinewed and brown. Your hands are calloused from constant pressure and your legs have become massive and hard. Through opposition you have grown much and your ability now far surpasses that which you used to have. Yet still, you haven't succeeded in moving the rock; and you come to Me now with a heavy heart and your strength spent. I, my friend will move the rock. Your calling was to be obedient and push, and to exercise your faith and trust in My wisdom, and this you have done.''

This old story came to mind as I was re-reading today's posts. What the Lord wants from each of us is obedience...the results should be left up to Him. This is a very, very hard lesson for me...one that He seems to have to repeat every so often in order to get through to me. I'm so glad that He never tires of that though. It's ALL gift...all of it!

Thank You Lord for Your amazing Grace!

Love God!

“Love God and do what you will.”
---St. Agustine

May our love for God be so strong and so pure that our will and His become one.

The Shout of El-Shaddai (video)

It all rests on God

Intercessors Of The Lamb

I said, “How can we pray for you today?” She said, “Maybe you could pray for my headache. I have a headache.” I thought to myself, “Oh God, thank You. That’s all she wants us to pray for—a headache. I mean, we certainly should be able to get the grace for a headache!” See how much of self is still here. How much I thought it depended on my partner and me. We both kind of looked at each other and breathed a sigh of relief that this was all she wanted. So we just said this simple little prayer, “God, would You touch her and take away her headache?” That was all, and she jumped up out of the chair, energized, and said, “It’s gone! It’s gone!” We said, “It is?!” “Yes!” I said, “Well, that’s wonderful. How long have you had this headache?” “Five years.” So God was teaching us. Every time we pray, He teaches us something. He teaches us that this kind of ministry is for children because children know they don’t have any power. They know it all rests on God. They just ask. That’s the key: it all rests on God.



Excerpt from “Desert Prayer,” city, New Mexico, 1998.

Universalis: Office of Readings

Universalis: Office of Readings:

"It was not by their own swords that our fathers took over the land, it was not their own strength that gave them victory; but your hand and your strength, the light of your face, for you were pleased in them."

May we trust God and His strength more then our own.

USCCB - (NAB) - December 13, 2007

USCCB - (NAB) - December 13, 2007:

"The afflicted and the needy seek water in vain, their tongues are parched with thirst. I, the LORD, will answer them; I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them. I will open up rivers on the bare heights, and fountains in the broad valleys; I will turn the desert into a marshland, and the dry ground into springs of water. I will plant in the desert the cedar, acacia, myrtle, and olive; I will set in the wasteland the cypress, together with the plane tree and the pine, That all may see and know, observe and understand, That the hand of the LORD has done this, the Holy One of Israel has created it."

Prayer for Today: May all His people be filled with hope and joyful anticipation.

Prayer warriors needed

Intercessors Of The Lamb:

"God wants us to bloom wherever we are planted. Wherever God has placed us, that’s where He wants us to pray. Intercession is a ministry for all people in all walks of life. God asks us to pray where we pray best—right where He has placed us. Intercession fits into any vocational call because it comes out of our baptismal vocation, which we all have in common. That’s the beauty of it. We’re all in this together as a Church, as God’s people. All of us together make up the Body of Christ. Together we focus on Jesus, and together we intercede for the Father’s greater honor and glory."

Excerpt from Interceding with Jesus, Chapter 4, 2000.

Let's pray for all who the Lord brings to this site...whether they are looking for prayers, or to join us in intercession.

for a friend's dad

Could you keep my Dad in your prayers today (Wednesday)? He is having a stent put in his corotid artery. He has had this before (in the other side) and it is pretty "routine" but prayers are always welcomed. Please keep the doctors and nurses in prayer as well.
Thank you very much.

Alicia

I Want To Live(video)

Prayer for the Unborn

Our Lady of Guadalupe Patroness of the unborn

The Lord a while back lead us to pray for the children, he is now asking us to take a step back and go even further in our prayer to cover all children from the moment of conception on. John the Baptist lept in his mother's womb when he heard Mary's greeting. If children can experience joy and grace at that stage then the opposite is certainly true also. Let us pray for their protection from the evil one who has targeted them from the very beginning. Let us also pray for all the children that received soul wounds so early in their life that it is beyond their memory...may healing be theirs.

Our Lady of Guadalupe

Universalis: Today:
"Our Lady of Guadalupe

The shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, near Mexico City, is one of the most celebrated places of pilgrimage in North America. On December 9, 1531, the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to an Indian convert, Juan Diego, and left with him a picture of herself impressed upon his cloak. Devotion to Mary under this title has continually increased, and today she is the Patroness of the Americas."

leaping for joy

USCCB - (NAB) - December 12, 2007:

"When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice and said, “Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.” And Mary said: “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior.” "


Prayer for Today: May all Christians today leap for joy at the sound of Mary's 'voice' and boldly stand united to proclaim Elizabeth's words 'blessed are you among women'.

May Mary's own words too echo in our hearts "My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior."

Meal Time

Intercessors Of The Lamb

"We come to the table every day, no matter how busy we are, even though we might be eating on the run, but we have to be fed. Have you ever thought at Thanksgiving, "Oh I'm never going eat again? I'm just stuffed". But we are there the next day. We have to come back to the table of the Lord, as well. We have to come back into His presence. He is there for us, a personal friend. He is there for us as our Shepherd. He is there for us to feed us so that we do not fall by the wayside. We must make our prayer time a priority. If He is our friend, if He is our Beloved, if this time with Him is our top priority, if we are convinced that it is the one thing necessary, then we will be there. We will be there seeking God in quiet communication. We will come apart and simply rest awhile in his presence. Each day you need to have a quiet time. It might just be that you have to go in the bathroom and lock the door. It might be a little prayer chair you have or a prayer closet, some place where the family knows that this is your time and you can have that space because God said, "I want you to know Me. But you need to be still. You need to be quiet.""

Excerpt from Mother Nadine’s, “Gift of the Desert,” Corpus Christi, TX 2006

Live the Life

Preach the gospel to all the world, and if necessary, use words.
-st. francis of assisi

Were passengers aboard the train
Silent little lambs amidst the pain
Thats no longer good enough
And when its time to speak our faith
We use a language no one can explain
Thats no longer good enough

And God knows its a shame
As we look to pass the flame
We are not the worthy bearers of his name

Chorus:

For the world to know the truth
There can be no greater proof
Than to live the life, live the life
Theres no love thats quite as pure
Theres no pain we cant endure
If we live the life, live the life
Be a light for all to see
For every act of love will set you free

Theres something beautiful and bold
The power of a million human souls
Come together as one
And each in turn goes out to lead
Another by his word, his love, his deed
Now the circle is done

It all comes back to one
For it is he and he alone
Who has lived the only perfect life weve known

Chorus

setting captives free

Intercessors Of The Lamb:
"And what is the Spirit saying to us? He is saying the same thing that He said to Jesus. Jesus said, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me to bring good news to the poor” ( ). Mother Teresa of Calcutta especially showed us our poverty of spirit. So many people don’t know God. So many people are estranged from God. So many people are starving for God’s love, joy, and compassion. God loves to come and bring His Good News to the poor, proclaiming freedom to the captives. Jesus said, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me to proclaim freedom to captives” ( ). "

USCCB - (NAB) - December 11, 2007

USCCB - (NAB) - December 11, 2007:
"Like a shepherd he feeds his flock; in his arms he gathers the lambs, Carrying them in his bosom, and leading the ewes with care."

Today's Prayer: May we be filled with a burning desire to also 'feed His flock'. May the needs of others carry a higher burden within us then our own.

JOY = Jesus, Others, You.

Praise God!

Prayer for Healing the Family Tree

Prayer for Healing the Family Tree

Heavenly Father, I come before You as Your child, in great need of Your help. I have physical health needs, emotional needs, spiritual needs, and interpersonal needs. Many of my problems have been caused by my own failures, neglect and sinfulness, for which I humbly beg Your forgiveness, Lord. But I also ask You to forgive the sins of my ancestors whose failures have left their effects on me in the form of unwanted tendencies, behavior patterns and defects in body, mind and spirit. Heal me, Lord, of all these disorders.

With Your help I sincerely forgive everyone, especially living or dead members of my family tree, who have directly offended me or my loved ones in any way, or those whose sins have resulted in our present sufferings and disorders. In the name of Your divine Son Jesus, and in the power of His Holy Spirit, I ask You, Father, to deliver me and my entire family tree from the influence of the evil one. Free all living and dead members of my family tree, including those in adoptive relationships, and those in extended family relationships, from every contaminating form of bondage. By Your loving concern for us, heavenly Father, and by the shed blood of your Precious Son Jesus, I beg You to extend Your blessing to me and all my living and deceased relatives. Heal every negative effect transmitted through all past generations, and prevent such negative effects in future generations of my family tree.

I symbolically place the Cross of Jesus over the head of each person in my family tree, and between each generation; I ask You to let the cleansing blood of Jesus purify the blood lines in my family lineage. Set Your protective angels to encamp around us, and permit Archangel Raphael, the patron of healing, to administer Your divine healing power to all of us, even in areas of genetic disability. Give special power to our family members' guardian angels to heal, protect, guide and encourage each of us in all our needs. Let Your healing power be released at this very moment and let it continue as long as Your sovereignty permits.

In our family tree, Lord, replace all bondage with a holy bonding in family love. And let there be an ever deeper bonding with You, Lord, by the Holy Spirit, to Your Son Jesus. Let the family of the Holy Trinity pervade our family with its tender, warm, loving presence, so that our family may recognize and manifest that love in all our relationships. All of our unknown needs we include with this petition that we pray in Jesus precious Name.

Amen.

[ Rev. John H. Hampsch, C.M.F. ]

Prayers for my aunt

Yesterday I posted about her sister that was diagnosed with liver cancer, we now need prayers for her nephew as well (this same sister's son)...he was diagnosed with kidney cancer...his name is Pedro...if you could all please storm heaven for this family. My aunt herself is in need of prayers also...her immediate family has been heavily stricken with this disease in recent years (she lost her husband...about five years ago to it)and she's not taking these latest developments very well.

Be strong, fear Not!

USCCB - (NAB) - December 10, 2007:
"Say to those whose hearts are frightened: Be strong, fear not! Here is your God, he comes with vindication; With divine recompense he comes to save you. Then will the eyes of the blind be opened, the ears of the deaf be cleared; Then will the lame leap like a stag, then the tongue of the mute will sing. Streams will burst forth in the desert, and rivers in the steppe."

Prayer for Today: Let us pray for all that are facing any type of anxiety or fear this Advent Season...may the Lord make His love shown and liberate hearts in a new and powerful way.

In Jesus' Name...Amen!

God Will Make A Way

God will make a way
God will make a way
Where there seems to be no way
He works in ways we cannot see
He will make a way for me
He will be my guide
Hold me closely to His side
With love and strength for each new day
He will make a way He will make a way

By a roadway in the wilderness
He'll lead me
And rivers in the desert will I see
Heaven and earth will fade
But His word will still remain
He will do something new today.

prayers going out

FOXNews.com - Six Wounded, Two Dead, in Separate Colorado Shootings - Local News | News Articles | National News | US News

Praying for the family members and friends of the victims.

Bicentennial Homily

Bicentennial Year opening Mass homily

Let the Fire Fall

Taking Baths

Taking Baths : A Catholic Reflection:
"Before Christmas, we must take a bath. In fact, we should take two baths, a baptismal bath 'in water for the sake of reform' and a bath 'in the Holy Spirit and fire' (Mt 3:11). Unlike the bath in water, this fire-baptism removes impurities from even the most precious metals."

His winnowing fan is in hand

USCCB - (NAB) - December 9, 2007:

"He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fan is in his hand. He will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.” "

win·now (wĭn'ō) Pronunciation Key
v. win·nowed, win·now·ing, win·nows

v. tr.


To separate the chaff from (grain) by means of a current of air.
To rid of undesirable parts.
To separate or get rid of (an undesirable part); eliminate: winnowing out the errors in logic.
To sort or select (a desirable part); extract.
To blow (chaff) off or away.
To blow away; scatter.
To blow on; fan: a breeze winnowing the tall grass.
To examine closely in order to separate the good from the bad; sift.

To separate or get rid of (an undesirable part); eliminate: winnowing out the errors in logic.
To sort or select (a desirable part); extract.

Prayer request

Please pray for my cousin's aunt(her mom's side of the family)that has just been diagnosed with cancer...the aunt's name is Bernadette.

The woman of Genesis

Intercessors Of The Lamb

"Mary’s obedience didn’t just stop there at the Annunciation, we see it at Cana as well because she asked Jesus really to do a miracle when she said, “They have no wine.” Now that seems simple but Jesus did not seem to be aware of that and He seemed surprised at the request and He says, “Woman what is that to you and to Me? My hour is not yet come.” It is interesting that in this Scripture, we now hear Jesus calling Mary, “Woman.”

At the beginning of this passage, John writes, “The Mother of Jesus was there.” But now Jesus did not call her, “Mother,” but, “Woman.” He knows, as she herself knew, that she is the woman of Genesis which the Father spoke about when He said to satan, to the serpent. “I will be put enmity between you and the woman.” Our Lady knew her identity! She is still prompted by the Holy Spirit who is her spouse. She is Our Lady of Light, spouse of the Holy Spirit! And, it was the prompting of the Holy Spirit at that wedding that made Mary ask for the miracle. The Spirit was letting her know, “They have no wine.” He is the New Wine. The Spirit was letting her know, “They need Me.” "

Excerpt From Mother Nadine’s, “On Earth as it is In Heaven” The Philippines, 11/05

the woman

USCCB - (NAB) - December 8, 2007:

"I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will strike at your head, while you strike at his heel.”"

Universalis: Office of Readings

Universalis: Office of Readings:

"Concluding Prayer God,

by her Immaculate Conception you made the Virgin a fit habitation for your Son. You preserved her from the stain of the Fall by the merits of your Son’s future death: through her intercession, make us pure and permit us to come to you at last."

Feast of the Immaculate Conception

Universalis: Today:
"The Feast of the Immaculate Conception

The doctrine of the Immaculate Conception is the doctrine that the Virgin Mary was conceived without original sin, that twist in our nature that makes our will unable to follow what it knows to be right. It was this grace that enabled Mary to give a true and considered “Yes” to the request, conveyed by the Angel Gabriel, that she should consent to be the mother of the incarnate God. The doctrine was almost universally believed over the centuries and but was only formally defined as a doctrine of the Church by Pope Pius IX in 1854. It is one of the Marian doctrines that Islam shares with the Catholic Church."

Reminder

A Bravenet.com Calendar - Friday December 7, 2007:

"Title:Praise and Worship

Duration:9:00 pm - 12:00 am

Details:Eucharistic Adoration with Praise and Worship at St. Joseph's Chapel in Wakefield, MA. "

Come and go at your convenience. It is pure blessing.

Calling in deeper...

Intercessors Of The Lamb

Today He is calling us in a deeper way to be the light of the world—to be so filled with this consecration, His holiness, His Truth, that we will be a light to all the nations. He wants us to be an epiphany of His love and His presence. He wants us to be holy. He wants us to be a royal priesthood. He wants us to be Church and to look like His Church. So I believe He is telling us to go forth now as the prophetic Church, as the Church that has learned to listen to Him everyday, and can take His words out. He is calling us to be a Church that has received His gift of Wisdom and knows the secrets of His heart and what the Father has taught. We need to become a prophetic Church again. I believe this is manifested in one of the beautiful gifts that we will hear about today in Scripture—the incense of prayer. This is being given to us today in a deeper way so that we can come forth and be this house of prayer and this prophetic Church.

Excerpt from “One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic,” Kingstown, West Indies, 2001.

I Will Praise You

USCCB - (NAB) - December 7, 2007

USCCB - (NAB) - December 7, 2007:
"Reading 1
Is 29:17-24

Thus says the Lord GOD: But a very little while, and Lebanon shall be changed into an orchard, and the orchard be regarded as a forest! On that day the deaf shall hear the words of a book; And out of gloom and darkness, the eyes of the blind shall see. The lowly will ever find joy in the LORD, and the poor rejoice in the Holy One of Israel."

Let us praise Him NOW for what He has done, for what He is doing and for what He will continue to do in the future.

Just add your own personal prayer at this moment and give Him thanks and praise for all that He has blessed you with. Praise Him even for those things that you can't quite understand...He WILL bring good out of them if we allow Him to.

Universalis: Vespers

Universalis: Vespers:
"Psalm 147 (147B)
God, the foundation of Jerusalem

Praise the Lord, Jerusalem — Sion, praise your God. For he has strengthened the bars of your gates, he has blessed your children. He keeps your borders in peace, he fills you with the richest wheat. He sends out his command over the earth, and swiftly runs his word. He sends down snow that is like wool, frost that is like ashes. He sends hailstones like crumbs — who can withstand his cold? He will send out his word, and all will be melted; his spirit will breathe, and the waters will flow. He proclaims his word to Jacob, his laws and judgements to Israel. He has not done this for other nations: he has not shown them his judgements."

Oh Lord, may we be filled with Praise on this day. Bring to our mind all that good that You have done for us...fill us with Your peace and joy. Amem.

Reminder

A Bravenet.com Calendar - Thursday December 6, 2007:

"Title: Advent Evening of Reflection

Duration:7:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Details:St. Joseph Parish in Wakefield.

Let us assess our relationship to the Lord & look how we serve and meet him through others. "

Prayers for the victims and their families

Gunman kills 8, self at Omaha mall - Crime & courts- msnbc.com

We need to pray not only for these families, but for all the potential 'gunmen' out there. Earlier this week the Lord was leading us to pray for the children to be released from darkness. I think we need to hike up those prayers. Especially for media influence to be broken (darkness and evil that is coming in from movies, tv, music, internet, video games). Pray, pray, pray for the children! Pray also for their parents...the adults too need to be living in freedom (from evil) in order to be able to be obedient to the Lord in how to raise them.

For our Priests

Spirit Daily - Daily spiritual news from around the world:

"Can you imagine the guts, the faith, it takes, in these times, to be a priest? These days, we can say that good priests (and they're in the majority) are true heroes. They suffer a white martyrdom."

Let us pray today for our Priests and Bishops and for all stepping out in obedience to the Lord in ministry, by dedicating their lives to Him.

In a very particular way, I pray for my own Parish...St. Joseph's and for our Pastor, Fr. Ron. May we lead the way in serving Him!

You Raise me Up

Whatever

Intercessors Of The Lamb

"Our Lady said, “Now you do whatever He tells you.” She said that to the servants. Hopefully we are all servants of the Lord! She is saying that to us as well. “You do whatever He tells you.” That “whatever” can be frightening. What does that mean –“whatever”? We do not always know. It simply means whatever - whatever God’s word is, whatever God’s will is, whatever God wants. This is exactly what she is asking of us. “Do whatever He tells you.” Much of the time, we are not listening. We do not know what He is saying. That is why the contemplative posture is so important. We must be able to can hear what God is asking. We can hear His preference and then we can do whatever His word is showing us. Obedience is also the fruit of humility. There is only one way to know if we are humble and that is to ask ourselves, “Are we being obedient?” If we are being obedient to God’s way, God’s preference, then that is humility. That is the kind of obedience, the kind of humility, that will crush pride – that will crush the serpent’s head. It will crush satan."

Excerpt From Mother Nadine’s, “On Earth as it is In Heaven” The Philippines, 11/05

Universalis: Morning Prayer (Lauds)

Universalis: Morning Prayer (Lauds):

"Show forth your power, O Lord, and bring your great strength to our aid. Although our sins impede our steps, let your grace help us to go forward."

St. Nicholas Feast Day!

Universalis: Today:
"St Nicholas

He was bishop of Myra, in Lycia (now part of Turkey) and died about the middle of the fourth century. He has been venerated throughout the Church, especially since the 10th century. Because of his help to the poor he is the patron saint of pawnbrokers, whose insignia of three golden balls represent the three purses of gold he is said to have given secretly to a poor man who could not afford dowries for his three daughters. "

Gracious and good Lord,
we bless you on this feast of St. Nicholas, your servant,
who is an example to us of a life of charity and love.
May we see in his life an invitation to imitate his good deeds.
Make us always mindful of the needs of others
and help us rejoice in the abundance of your goodness around us.
Through Jesus our Lord. Amen.

obedience

USCCB - (NAB) - December 6, 2007

Gospel
Mt 7:21, 24-27

Jesus said to his disciples:
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’
will enter the Kingdom of heaven,
but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.

Today's Prayer: Dear Lord, today we come to You seeking the grace to be obedient to Your Will and the perseverance to stick with it even when we can't see what the results might be.