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From: Isaiah 63:16b-17, 19b; 64:2-7

Victory at the End (Continuation)

[16b] Thou, O Lord, art our Father,
our Redeemer from of old is thy name.
[17] O Lord, why dost thou make us err from thy ways
and harden our heart, so that we fear thee not?
Return for the sake of thy servants,
the tribes of thy heritage.

[1] O that thou wouldst rend the heavens and come down,
that the mountains might quake at thy presence —
[2b] to make thy name known to thy adversaries,
and that the nations might tremble at thy presence!
[3] When thou didst terrible things which we looked not for,
thou camest down the mountains quaked at thy presence.
[4] From of old no one has heard
or perceived by the ear,
no eye has seen a God besides thee,
who works for those who wait for him.
[5] Thou meetest him that joyfully works righteousness,
those that remember thee in thy ways.
Behold, thou wast angry, and we sinned;
in our sins we have been a long time, and shall we be saved?
[6] We have all become like one who is unclean,
and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment.
We all fade like a leaf,
and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.
[7] There is no one that calls upon thy name,
that bestirs himself to take hold of thee;
for thou hast hid thy face from us,
and hast delivered us into the hand of our iniquities.

([8] Yet, O Lord, thou art our Father;
we are the clay, and thou art our potter;
we are all the work of thy hand.)

*********************************************************************************************
Commentary:

63:1-64:12. The previous oracle sang of the glory of the new Jerusalem and the
prospect of its savior’s imminent arrival (cf. 62:11). Now at last the Lord comes
as a conqueror and a Judge to dispense rewards and punishments. There are a
number of oracles here to do with this theme, and they combine to create a long
and beautiful apocalyptic poem. There are three stanzas in it: the first (63:1-6)
describes the Lord’s victory over the Edomites, the epitome of a nation hostile to
Israel; the second (63:7-14) celebrates the mercy of God and all he has done for
his people; the third (63:15-64:12) is an entreaty full of confidence in the Lord,
our Father.

God is twice invoked in urgent tones as the Father of Israel (63:16; 64:8). This is
one of the most eloquent Old Testament passages about God’s tender fatherly
feelings towards his people. The author of the poem is fully confident that the
Lord’s fatherly heart will be sensitive towards everything his people suffer, even
though they brought it on themselves (64:3-6). He beseeches God for help (63:
17-19), even asking for a spectacular miracle (64:1).

The listing of the calamities that beset Israel continues in 64:1-12 in the same
tone as 63:15-19: the prophet spells out why God should help his people.

63:1-6. The poem uses surprisingly strong, apocalyptic, language. It refers to a
victory that appears to have two very different effects. On the one hand, victory
is obtained after a very real and bloody struggle, symbolized by the treading of
the wine-press, and it ends with the blood-stained clothes (v. 3). The conqueror
works on his own, unaided (v. 5). On the other hand, his victory over the enemy
means redemption for his people: the conqueror is first and foremost, the redee-
mer (”goel”: v. 4; cf. 41:14).

Christian tradition has interpreted this passage as a prophecy about the Mes-
siah. The Revelation to John combines it with Psalm 2 to describe Christ’s battle
with the beast and his eventual victory (Rev 19:11-21). The “Divine Office”, which
offers the poem as an optional reading in Eastertide, suggests that these words
of Isaiah apply to Jesus Christ, Judge of the living and the dead, who shed his
blood during his passion. And just as the vine harvester does his heavy work on
his own, with none to help him (v. 5), so too Jesus Christ was abandoned by his
disciples and left alone on Calvary when he was redeeming the world.

64:1. The prophet’s cry sums up very well the long years when Israel waited pa-
tiently for God to bring salvation; set in a messianic context, it expresses the
hope in a Savior that the chosen people maintained over the centuries. And in
some way it is a cry that everyone utters to God when be or she begs to see
their noble aspirations bear fruit. This centuries-long Advent, which in some way
is being relived in our own days, finds its answer once again in the purpose of
God the Father, who sent his Son, made Man, to bring about our Redemption,
and who sent the Holy Spirit to enable human beings to share in his Love.

64:4. St Paul quotes from this verse when writing about the wisdom of God, and
his love for those who love him, and the gifts he has in store for man: “As it is
written, ‘What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man conceived,
what God has prepared for those who love him’” (1 Cor 2:9). Because these gifts
will not be fully bestowed until the next life, the verse is often quoted in Christian
spirituality to describe the happiness enjoyed in heaven. For example, St Robert
Bellarmine says: “You promise to those who obey your commandments a re-
ward more precious than gold and sweeter than honey from the comb. It is a
great reward, as St James says: ‘The crown of life which the Lord has prepared
for those who love him.’ And what is the crown of life? It is a gift greater than any
we can imagine or desire. St Paul says, quoting the prophet Isaiah: ‘What no
eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man conceived, what God has pre-
pared for those who love him’” (”De Ascensione Mentis In Deum”, first step).

*********************************************************************************************
Source: “The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries”. Biblical text from the
Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries by members of
the Faculty of Theology, University of Navarre, Spain.

Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland, and
by Scepter Publishers in the United States.

From: 1 Corinthians 1:3-9

Greeting

[3] Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Thanksgiving

[4] I give thanks to God always for you because of the grace of God which was
given you in Christ Jesus, [5] that in every way you were enriched in him with
all speech and all knowledge [6] even as the testimony to Christ was confirmed
among you—[7] so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift, as you wait for
the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ; [8] who will sustain you to the end, guilt-
less in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. [9] God is faithful, by whom you were
called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

*********************************************************************************************
Commentary:

1-9. With slight variations almost all St Paul’s letters begin in the same kind of
way: there is a greeting (vv. 1-3), which carries the name of the writer, information
on the addressee(s), and the conventional phrase; and an act of thanksgiving to
God (vv. 4-9), in which the Apostle refers to the main qualities and endowments
of the Christians to whom he is writing. By comparing his letters with other letters
that have come down to us from the same period, it is quite apparent that St Paul
usually begins his letters in the style of the time. yet he does not entirely follow
this rigid pattern: he changes the usual opening—”Greeting!” (cf. Acts 15:23; 23:
26) — to this more personal one, which has a pronounced Christian stamp: “Grace
to you and peace.” Also, the way in which he introduces himself and describes
those he is addressing tells much more than a simple “Paul to the Corinthians:
greeting!” Even his words of thanksgiving convey tenderness and warmth — and
their tone is not merely human, for he attributes to God the virtues he praises in
the faithful.

The Fathers of the Church have drawn attention to this characteristic of Paul’s let-
ters — the way he manages to convey a deep doctrinal message in a familiar style,
nicely suited to whomever he happens to be addressing: “A doctor”, St John Chry-
sostom explains, “does not treat the patient in the same way at the start of his ill-
ness as when he is recovering; nor does a teacher use the same method with chil-
dren as with those who need more advanced tuition. That is how the Apostle acts:
he writes as suits the needs and the times” (”Hom. On Rom”, Prologue).

3. Peace of soul, that “serenity of mind, tranquillity of soul, simplicity of heart, bond
of love, union of charity” of which St Augustine spoke (”De Verb. Dom. Serm.”, 58),
originates in the friendship with God which grace brings with it; it is one of the fruits
of the Holy Spirit (cf. Gal 5:22-23). This is the only true kind of peace: “There is no
true peace, just as there is no true grace, other than the grace and peace which
come from God,” St John Chrysostom teaches, “Possess this divine peace and
you will have nothing to fear, even if you be threatened by the direct danger, whe-
ther from men or even from the demons them- selves; whereas see how every-
thing is a cause of fear for the man who is at war with God through sin” (”Hom. on
1 Cor”, 1, “ad loc”.).

4-9. After the greeting, words of thanksgiving conclude the introduction to the let-
ter, before St Paul begins the doctrinal part. He reminds the Corinthians that they
owe their privileged position to God. They, like all Christians, received God’s
grace in Christ, and that grace has enriched them in every way, for it causes man
to share in God’s very nature (cf. 2 Pet 1:4), raising him to an entirely new level
of existence. This transfiguration enables a person, even here, to know the per-
fections of God’s inner life and to partake of that life—albeit in a limited, imperfect
way — through the theological virtues of faith, hope and charity, which grace
brings and which elevate the mind and will to know and love God, One and
Three.

St Paul teaches the need to give thanks to God and he sets us an example in this
regard. Obdurate sinners fail to acknowledge the benefits God gives them (cf.
Rom 1:21), but Christians should always base their prayer on gratitude to God (cf.
Phil 4:6). “Nothing charms God more than a heart that is grateful either on its own
account or on account of others” (Chrysostom, “Hom. on 1 Cor”, 2, “ad loc”.).

5-6. The grace of God, mentioned in the previous verse, embraces gifts, including
those to do with eloquence and knowledge. So richly does God endow the Chris-
tian that St Alphonsus exclaims: “Our wretchedness should not make us uneasy,
for in Jesus crucified we shall find all richness and all grace (cf. 1 Cor 1:5, 7). The
merits of Jesus Christ have enriched us with all the wealth of God and there is no
grace we might desire that we cannot obtain by asking for it” (”The Love of God
Reduced to Practice”, chap. 3). The Fathers interpret these gifts as meaning that
the Corinthians had such a good grasp of Christian teaching that they were able
to express it clearly: “There are those who have the gift of knowledge but not that
of speech; and there are others who have the gift of speech but not knowledge.
The faithful in general, who are uneducated, know these truths, but they cannot
clearly explain what they have in their soul. You on the other hand, St Paul says,
are different; you know these truths and you can speak about them; you are rich
in the gift of speech and in that of knowledge” (Chrysostom, “Hom. on 1 Cor”, 2,
“ad loc”.).

8-9. “The day of our Lord’: in St Paul’s writings and in the New Testament gene-
rally, this refers to the day of the General Judgment when Christ will appear
Judge, clothed in glory (cf. 2 Cor 1:14; 1 Thess 5:2).

Christians actively hope that that Day will find them “blameless” (cf. Phil 1:10; 1
Thess 3:13; 5:23); the basis for this hope is God’s faithfulness—an attitude fre-
quently applied to him in the Old Testament (cf. Deut 7:9; Is 49:7) and in St Paul’s
letters (cf. 1 Cor 10:13; 2 Cor 1:18; 1 Thess 5:24; 2 Thess 3:3; Heb 10:23): the
Covenant which God made with the chosen people was primarily a gift and a
grace, but it also was a legal commitment. The Covenant was grounded on God’s
fidelity, which was not merely a matter of legal obligation: it involved faithful, con-
stant love. The God’s fidelity will finds its fullest expression in the Redemption
brought about by Jesus Christ: “If, in fact, the reality of the Redemption,” St. John
Paul II says, “in its human dimension, reveals the unheard-of greatness of man,
“qui talem ac tantum meruit habere Redemptorem”, at the same time “the divine
dimension of the Redemption” enables us [...] to uncover the depth of that love
which does not recoil before the extraordinary sacrifice of the Son, in order to
satisfy the fidelity of the Creator and Father towards human beings, created in
his image” (”Dives In Misericordia”, 7).

*********************************************************************************************
Source: “The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries”. Biblical text from the
Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries by members of
the Faculty of Theology, University of Navarre, Spain.

Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland, and
by Scepter Publishers in the United States.

From: Mark 13:33-37

The Time of the Destruction of Jerusalem (Continuation)

(Jesus said to His disciples,) [33] “Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not
know when the time will come. [34] It is like a man going on a journey, when
he leaves home and puts his servants in charge, each with his work, and com-
mands the doorkeeper to be on the watch. [35] Watch, therefore—for you do not
know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or
at cockcrow, or in the morning—[36] lest he come suddenly and find you asleep.
[37] And what I say to you I say to all: Watch.”

********************************************************************************************
Commentary:

33-37. “Watch”: since we do not know when the Lord will come, we must be pre-
pared. Vigilance is, above all, love. A person who loves keeps the command-
ments and looks forward to Christ’s return; for life is a period of hope and waiting.
It is the way towards our encounter with Christ the Lord. The first Christians often
tenderly repeated the aspiration: “Come, Lord Jesus” (1 Cor 16:22; Rev 22:20).
By expressing their faith and charity in this way, those Christians found the inte-
rior strength and optimism necessary for fulfilling their family and social duties,
and interiorly detached themselves from earthly goods, with the self-mastery that
came from hope of eternal life.

********************************************************************************************
Source: “The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries”. Biblical text from the
Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries by members of
the Faculty of Theology, University of Navarre, Spain.

Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland, and
by Scepter Publishers in the United States.

Readings at Mass

First reading

Isaiah 63:16-17,64:1,3-8 ©

You, Lord, yourself are our Father,

‘Our Redeemer’ is your ancient name.

Why, Lord, leave us to stray from your ways

and harden our hearts against fearing you?

Return, for the sake of your servants,

the tribes of your inheritance.

Oh, that you would tear the heavens open and come down!

– at your Presence the mountains would melt.

No ear has heard,

no eye has seen

any god but you act like this

for those who trust him.

You guide those who act with integrity

and keep your ways in mind.

You were angry when we were sinners;

we had long been rebels against you.

We were all like men unclean,

all that integrity of ours like filthy clothing.

We have all withered like leaves

and our sins blew us away like the wind.

No one invoked your name

or roused himself to catch hold of you.

For you hid your face from us

and gave us up to the power of our sins.

And yet, Lord, you are our Father;

we the clay, you the potter,

we are all the work of your hand.

Psalm

Psalm 79:2-3,15-16,18-19 ©

Lord of hosts, bring us back; let your face shine on us and we shall be saved.

O shepherd of Israel, hear us,

shine forth from your cherubim throne.

O Lord, rouse up your might,

O Lord, come to our help.

Lord of hosts, bring us back; let your face shine on us and we shall be saved.

God of hosts, turn again, we implore,

look down from heaven and see.

Visit this vine and protect it,

the vine your right hand has planted.

Lord of hosts, bring us back; let your face shine on us and we shall be saved.

May your hand be on the man you have chosen,

the man you have given your strength.

And we shall never forsake you again;

give us life that we may call upon your name.

Lord of hosts, bring us back; let your face shine on us and we shall be saved.

Second reading

1 Corinthians 1:3-9 ©

May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ send you grace and peace.

I never stop thanking God for all the graces you have received through Jesus Christ. I thank him that you have been enriched in so many ways, especially in your teachers and preachers; the witness to Christ has indeed been strong among you so that you will not be without any of the gifts of the Spirit while you are waiting for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed; and he will keep you steady and without blame until the last day, the day of our Lord Jesus Christ, because God by calling you has joined you to his Son, Jesus Christ; and God is faithful.

Gospel Acclamation

Ps84:8

Alleluia, alleluia!

Let us see, O Lord, your mercy

and give us your saving help.

Alleluia!

Gospel

Mark 13:33-37 ©

Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Be on your guard, stay awake, because you never know when the time will come. It is like a man travelling abroad: he has gone from home, and left his servants in charge, each with his own task; and he has told the doorkeeper to stay awake. So stay awake, because you do not know when the master of the house is coming, evening, midnight, cockcrow, dawn; if he comes unexpectedly, he must not find you asleep. And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake!’

Perpetual Novena for the Nation (Ecumenical)

Prayers for The Religion Forum (Ecumenical)

7 Powerful Ways to Pray for Christians Suffering in the Middle East

Jesus, High Priest

We thank you, God our Father, for those who have responded to your call to priestly ministry.

Accept this prayer we offer on their behalf: Fill your priests with the sure knowledge of your love.

Open their hearts to the power and consolation of the Holy Spirit.

Lead them to new depths of union with your Son.

Increase in them profound faith in the Sacraments they celebrate as they nourish, strengthen and heal us.

Lord Jesus Christ, grant that these, your priests, may inspire us to strive for holiness by the power of their example, as men of prayer who ponder your word and follow your will.

O Mary, Mother of Christ and our mother, guard with your maternal care these chosen ones, so dear to the Heart of your Son.

Intercede for our priests, that offering the Sacrifice of your Son, they may be conformed more each day to the image of your Son, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Saint John Vianney, universal patron of priests, pray for us and our priests

This icon shows Jesus Christ, our eternal high priest.

The gold pelican over His heart represents self-sacrifice.

The border contains an altar and grapevines, representing the Mass, and icons of Melchizedek and St. Jean-Baptiste Vianney.

Melchizedek: king of righteousness (left icon) was priest and king of Jerusalem. He blessed Abraham and has been considered an ideal priest-king.

St. Jean-Baptiste Vianney is the patron saint of parish priests.

Pray a Rosary each day for our nation.

Pray the Rosary

1. Sign of the Cross: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

2. The Apostles Creed: I BELIEVE in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell; on the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty; from there He shall come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

3. The Lord's Prayer: OUR Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.

4. (3) Hail Mary: HAIL Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now, and in the hour of our death. Amen. (Three times)

5. Glory Be: GLORY be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Fatima Prayer: Oh, my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, lead all souls to heaven, especially those in most need of your mercy.

Announce each mystery, then say 1 Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, 1 Glory Be and 1 Fatima prayer. Repeat the process with each mystery.

End with the Hail Holy Queen:

Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, our life, our sweetness and our hope! To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve! To thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this vale of tears! Turn then, most gracious advocate, thine eyes of mercy towards us; and after this, our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus!

O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary! Pray for us, O holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Final step -- The Sign of the Cross

The Mysteries of the Rosary

By tradition, Catholics meditate on these Mysteries during prayers of the Rosary.
The biblical references follow each of the Mysteries below.

The Glorious Mysteries
(Wednesdays and Sundays)
1.The Resurrection (Matthew 28:1-8, Mark 16:1-18, Luke 24:1-12, John 20:1-29) [Spiritual fruit - Faith]
2. The Ascension (Mark 16:19-20, Luke 24:50-53, Acts 1:6-11) [Spiritual fruit - Christian Hope]
3. The Descent of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1-13) [Spiritual fruit - Gifts of the Holy Spirit]
4. The Assumption [Spiritual fruit - To Jesus through Mary]
5. The Coronation [Spiritual fruit - Grace of Final Perseverance]

~ PRAYER ~

St. Michael, the Archangel, defend us in battle
Be our protection against the wickedness
and snares of the devil;
May God rebuke him, we humbly pray,
and do thou, O Prince of the heavenly host,
by the power of God,
Cast into hell Satan and all the evil spirits
who prowl through the world seeking the ruin of souls.
Amen
+

A Prayer for our Free Nation Under God
God Save Our Country web site (prayer warriors)
Prayer Chain Request for the United States of America
Pray for Nancy Pelosi
Prayer and fasting will help defeat health care reform (Freeper Prayer Thread)
Prayer Campaign Started to Convert Pro-Abortion Catholic Politicians to Pro-Life
[Catholic Caucus] One Million Rosaries
Non-stop Rosary vigil to defeat ObamaCare

From an Obama bumper sticker on a car:

"Pray for Obama. Psalm 109:8"

PLEASE JOIN US -

Evening Prayer
Someone has said that if people really understood the full extent of the power we have available through prayer, we might be speechless.
Did you know that during WWII there was an advisor to Churchill who organized a group of people who dropped what they were doing every day at a prescribed hour for one minute to collectively pray for the safety of England, its people and peace?

There is now a group of people organizing the same thing here in America. If you would like to participate: Every evening at 9:00 PM Eastern Time (8:00 PM Central) (7:00 PM Mountain) (6:00 PM Pacific), stop whatever you are doing and spend one minute praying for the safety of the United States, our troops, our citizens, and for a return to a Godly nation. If you know anyone else who would like to participate, please pass this along. Our prayers are the most powerful asset we have. Please forward this to your praying friends.

December Devotion: The Immaculate Conception

Since the 16th century Catholic piety has assigned entire months to special devotions. The month of December is traditionally dedicated to the Immaculate Conception. The Blessed Virgin Mary, in the first moment of her conception, by a singular privilege of Almighty God, and in view of the merits of Jesus Christ, our Savior and hers, was preserved from all stain of original sin. This age-old belief of the Church was defined by Pope Pius IX in 1854 as an article of revealed truth.

Mary was in need of redemption and she was indeed redeemed by the Precious Blood of Jesus Christ. The manner of Mary's redemption, however, was unique. Instead of being freed from original sin after having contracted it, she was preserved from contracting it. This was a most fitting favor for the Mother of the Redeemer.

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

The Immaculate Conception from the Catechism of the Catholic Church

To become the mother of the Savior, Mary “was enriched by God with gifts appropriate to such a role.” The angel Gabriel at the moment of the annunciation salutes her as “full of grace”. In fact, in order for Mary to be able to give the free assent of her faith to the announcement of her vocation, it was necessary that she be wholly borne by God’s grace.

Through the centuries the Church has become ever more aware that Mary, “full of grace” through God, was redeemed from the moment of her conception. That is what the dogma of the Immaculate Conception confesses, as Pope Pius IX proclaimed in 1854:

The most Blessed Virgin Mary was, from the first moment of her conception, by a singular grace and privilege of almighty God and by virtue of the merits of Jesus Christ, Savior of the human race, preserved immune from all stain of original sin.

The “splendor of an entirely unique holiness” by which Mary is “enriched from the first instant of her conception” comes wholly from Christ: she is “redeemed, in a more exalted fashion, by reason of the merits of her Son”. The Father blessed Mary more than any other created person “in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places” and chose her “in Christ before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless before him in love”.

The Fathers of the Eastern tradition call the Mother of God “the All-Holy” (Panagia), and celebrate her as “free from any stain of sin, as though fashioned by the Holy Spirit and formed as a new creature”. By the grace of God Mary remained free of every personal sin her whole life long.

PRAYER OF POPE PIUS XII
This prayer, dedicated to Mary Immaculate, was composed by the Pope for the Marian Year (December 8, 1953-December 8, 1954), which was proclaimed to mark the centenary of the definition of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception.

Enraptured by the splendor of your heavenly beauty, and impelled by the anxieties of the world, we cast ourselves into your arms, 0 Immacuate Mother of Jesus and our Mother, Mary, confident of finding in your most loving heart appeasement of our ardent desires, and a safe harbor from the tempests which beset us on every side.

Though degraded by our faults and overwhelmed by infinite misery, we admire and praise the peerless richness of sublime gifts with which God has filled you, above every other mere creature, from the first moment of your conception until the day on which, after your assumption into heaven, He crowned you Queen of the Universe.

O crystal fountain of faith, bathe our minds with the eternal truths! O fragrant Lily of all holiness, captivate our hearts with your heavenly perfume! 0 Conqueress of evil and death, inspire in us a deep horror of sin, which makes the soul detestable to God and a slave of hell!

O well-beloved of God, hear the ardent cry which rises up from every heart. Bend tenderly over our aching wounds. Convert the wicked, dry the tears of the afflicted and oppressed, comfort the poor and humble, quench hatreds, sweeten harshness, safeguard the flower of purity in youth, protect the holy Church, make all men feel the attraction of Christian goodness. In your name, resounding harmoniously in heaven, may they recognize that they are brothers, and that the nations are members of one family, upon which may there shine forth the sun of a universal and sincere peace.

Receive, O most sweet Mother, our humble supplications, and above all obtain for us that, one day, happy with you, we may repeat before your throne that hymn which today is sung on earth around your altars: You are all-beautiful, O Mary! You are the glory, you are the joy, you are the honor of our people! Amen.

Prayer Source: Prayer Book, The by Reverend John P. O'Connell, M.A., S.T.D. and Jex Martin, M.A., The Catholic Press, Inc., Chicago, Illinois, 1954

Litany of the Blessed Virgin

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 Spirit, ...
Holy Trinity, one God, ...

Holy Mary, pray for us
Holy Mother of God, pray for us
Holy Virgin of virgins, ...
Mother of Christ, ...
Mother of Divine Grace, ...
Mother most pure, ...
Mother most chaste, ...
Mother inviolate, ...
Mother undefiled, ...
Mother most amiable, ...
Mother most admirable, ...
Mother of good counsel, ...
Mother of our Creator, ...
Mother of our Saviour, ...
Virgin most prudent, ...
Virgin most venerable, ...
Virgin most renowned, ...
Virgin most powerful, ...
Virgin most merciful, ...
Virgin most faithful, ...
Mirror of justice, ...
Seat of wisdom, ...
Cause of our joy, ...
Spiritual vessel, ...
Vessel of honour, ...
Singular vessel of devotion, ...
Mystical rose, ...
Tower of David, ...
Tower of ivory, ...
House of gold, ...
Ark of the covenant, ...
Gate of heaven, ...
Morning star, ...
Health of the sick, ...
Refuge of sinners, ...
Comforter of the afflicted, ...
Help of Christians, ...
Queen of Angels, ...
Queen of Patriarchs, ...
Queen of Prophets, ...
Queen of Apostles, ...
Queen of Martyrs, ...
Queen of Confessors, ...
Queen of Virgins, ...
Queen of all Saints, ...
Queen conceived without original sin, ...
Queen assumed into heaven, ...
Queen of the most holy Rosary, ...
Queen of Peace, ...

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.

Grant we beseech Thee, O Lord God,
that we, Thy servants, may enjoy perpetual health of mind and body: and, by the glorious intercession of the blessed Mary, ever Virgin, be delivered from present sorrow and enjoy eternal gladness.
Through Christ, our Lord.

Amen

Why Catholics Believe in the Immaculate Conception

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Essays for Lent: The Immaculate Conception
"I Am The Immaculate Conception"
The Corona of the Immaculate Conception [Catholic Caucus]
Catholic Caucus: Immaculate Conception Novena Prayer Thread
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Feast of the The Conception by St. Anna of the Most Holy Theotokos December 9th
On the Immaculate Conception
Immaculate Mary: "Trust Jesus, he will save you" (Catholic Caucus)
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LAND OF MARY IMMACULATE [Ecumenical]
Mary as the New Eve - St. Irenaeus
Mary - the Immaculate Ark of the New Covenant [Catholic Caucus]
THE LIFE OF BLESSED JOHN DUNS SCOTUS, Defender of the Immaculate Conception [Catholic Caucus]
An Unfathomable Marian Richness [Catholic Caucus]
Catholic Biblical Apologetics: The Immaculate Conception of Mary
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Father Marquette's Devotion to the Immaculate Conception (Catholic Caucus)

St. John Neumann and the Doctrine of the Immaculate Conception (Catholic Caucus)
Our Jewish Roots: The Immaculate Conception [Ecumenical]
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I Love that Woman! My Unworthy Reflections on The Immaculate Conception
Mary Immaculate: Patroness of the United States [Catholic/Orthodox Caucus]
Catholic/Orthodox Caucus: The Immaculate Conception: A Marvelous Theme - Novena Starts Nov. 30
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Ark of the new covenant
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The Immaculate Vs. the Proud

Immaculate Conception Novena -- starts November 30th [Catholic/Orthodox Caucus]
Blessed John Duns Scotus Champion Of Mary's Immaculate Conception (CATHOLIC CAUCUS)
The Crusade of Mary Immaculate - St. Maximilian Kolbe (Catholic Caucus)
The Early Church Fathers on the Immaculate Conception - Catholic/Orthodox Caucus
Three Reasons the Church’s ... The Immaculate Conception
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Mary Is a Model Who Works With Us and in Us
U.S. Catholic bishops to renew consecration of nation to Immaculate Conception
Catholic Meditation: To the Immaculate Conception on this Election Day
Saint Bernadette of Lourdes (Sermon from 1934)

Advent Wreath Coloring Page

December 2014

Pope's Intentions

Universal: That the birth of the Redeemer may bring peace and hope to all people of good will.

For Evangelization: That parents may be true evangelizers, passing on to their children the precious gift of faith.

Daily Gospel Commentary

First Sunday of Advent - Year B

Commentary of the day
Pierre de Blois (c.1130-1211), Archdeacon in England
Sermon 3 for Advent

The three advents of Christ

There are three advents of the Lord: the first in the flesh, the second in the soul, the third at the judgement. The first took place at midnight according to these words of the Gospel: “At midnight a cry was heard: The Bridegroom is here!” (Mt 25,6). This first advent has already happened since Christ has been seen on earth and has spoken with men (Bar 3,38).

Now we are in the second advent, provided we are such that he can thus come to us, since he said that, if we love him, he will come to us and make his home in us (Jn 14,23). This second advent is therefore something mingled with uncertainty, since who other but the Holy Spirit knows who is God's? (1Cor 2,11). Those whose longing for heavenly things transports them out of themselves know well when he comes; however, they “do not know where he comes from or where he is going” (Jn 3,8).

As for the third advent: it is most certain that it will happen, most uncertain when it will happen. For there is nothing more certain than death, nothing less certain than the day of our death. “It is when people are saying: 'peace and security' that death comes upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a pregnant woman, and none will be able to escape it” (cf. 1Thes 5,3). Thus the first advent was lowly and hidden; the second is mysterious and full of love; the third will be dazzling and terrible. In his first advent Christ was judged unjustly by men; in the second, he grants us justice by his grace; in the last, he will judge all things with equity: Lamb in the first advent; Lion in the last; our most gentle Friend in the second.

Zenit.org

Keep Advent Before It Is Too Late

One Day, the Waiting Will End

Atchison, Kansas, November 29, 2014 (Zenit.org) Tom Hoopes | 391 hits

Sunday, Nov. 30, is the first Sunday in Advent, when we are called to wait for Jesus, just like the Jewish people did for years before Christ. That is hard to do. After all, Jesus has already come; what’s more, he is still here, right there in the tabernacle.

Waiting for Jesus to come at Christmas feels a little bit like waiting for that Christmas present your spouse bought you on Amazon. You saw the order. Maybe you even saw the gift when the package came in. You know what it is, and it feels a little silly to go through the charade of waiting to experience it again.

Likewise, it is hard to put yourself in the place of the Old Testament believers waiting for the Messiah. But the Psalms can help you do it.

Dominican Father Peter John Cameron, editor of Magnificat, speaks about how Paul must have felt encountering Christ for the first time.

Paul had prayed the Psalms all his life, but perhaps he didn’t ever expect them to literally come true. He would have prayed in this Sunday’s Psalm, “Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved.”

He was a devout man. He prayed that with all his heart. But did he expect to see the face of God? Did he expect Israel to be saved?

He also would have been familiar with the words of Isaiah from today’s readings: “O, that you would rend the heavens and come down.”

What did he think as he prayed it? Perhaps he thought: “This is what we always pray and hope for — and the hope does us good. But this is something that will happen another day, not to us.”

Then God surprised and delighted Paul and others by giving them just what they asked for. They saw his face. He ripped open the heavens and came down. He saved them.

We often hear this Sunday’s Gospel reading about Christ coming again and have the same attitude toward it. Some day it will happen. We believe it. But it won’t be today.

But what if it is?

God has surprised us before. Remember when it seemed that the Iron Curtain was a permanent feature of life in Europe? That there would always be an atheistic Soviet communist bloc? We prayed that it would change, hoping but not presuming that it would. Then it did. Exactly 25 years ago, the wall came down and today faith is making a comeback in Eastern Europe and Russia.

Remember praying in 2001 that we wouldn’t be hit by large-scale terrorist attacks on our soil again? We prayed it wouldn’t happen, but assumed it would. We heard all the scenarios. Maybe they would go after the electric grid. Maybe it would be anthrax in the mail. Maybe it would be airplanes again.

Well, we always need to be vigilant, but those prayers were answered, too.

What about our prayer that Christ will come again? That he will bring peace in our day? That his justice and love will reign where humanity has spread error and violence and hatred?

We might be praying for these things like St. Paul did, saying, “This is what we always pray and hope for — and the hope does us good. But this is always something that will happen another day, not to us.”

But maybe, like St. Paul, we will be startled to see it start to happen tomorrow.

Or today.

We can pray today’s Psalm like Paul did: “Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved.”

And we can bring the same attitude to today’s Gospel: “Be watchful! Be alert! You do not know when the time will come.”

The God who created and saves us is a God of surprises. He has graciously given us seasons like Advent to remind us to confess our sins and reform our lives.

We should take him up on it – before it’s too late.

--

Reprinted with permission from the Gregorian Institute at Benedictine College.

The Work of God

Stay awake because you don’t know when the time will come

Catholic Gospels - Homilies, Matthew, Luke, Mark, John - Inspirations of the Holy Spirit

Stay awake because you don’t know when the time will come Catholic Gospels - Homilies - Matthew, Luke, Mark, John - Inspirations of the Holy Spirit "

Year B

- First Sunday of Advent

Stay awake because you don’t know when the time will come

Mark 13:33-37

33 Beware, keep alert; for you do not know when the time will come.
34 It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his slaves in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to be on the watch.
35 Therefore, keep awake -- for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or at dawn,
36 or else he may find you asleep when he comes suddenly.
37 And what I say to you I say to all: Keep awake."
(NRSV)

Inspiration of the Holy Spirit - From the Sacred Heart of Jesus

Stay awake because you don’t know when the time will come

Accidents happen when you least expect them. A sensible man would be prepared for the unexpected. He would protect himself with insurance to protect his property; he would save money for a rainy day, would anticipate for a moment of disgrace and would at least be prepared mentally to cope with any situation or distress.

On the other hand, the foolish man never plans the future; he never anticipates for calamities, he takes everything for granted. When evil strikes him, he is caught unaware.

You are living in a time of great calamities, when apocalyptical prophecies are being fulfilled. Do you think you are safe? Do you think you are better off than anyone else and that you may escape the tribulation that has been predicted for everyone?

If you are going away on a trip, you prepare yourself in many ways. You prepare your luggage, make travel arrangements, prepare your camera, obtain foreign currency, get a passport and obtain visas for the places you will visit, in other words you spare no effort in order to secure a safe and happy holiday.

Preparation is the secret of success, not only in earthly activities, but more importantly in your spiritual life. And just as you anticipate the weather by movements of the clouds and the winds, you can also understand that you are living in very dangerous times when things may change very quickly from one moment to the next.

We are talking here about your trip from this life into eternity. A whole life is given to you so that you may stop frequently and meditate about it. It is very important for you to be constant and persevere in your spiritual life otherwise when the final moment arrives it will catch you unaware.

I do not want anyone to be lost; this is why I came personally to proclaim my message of salvation to everyone, so that no one would be lost.

It is never too late to stop and reflect on these spiritual realities that unfortunately get obscured with all the worldly occupations.

I am telling you once more, repent, amend your life, be more aware of your reality as a spiritual being. Remember that the time will come when you will be called to enter into the spiritual realm for eternity and depending on how you lived your life you will either be saved or condemned. It is a very serious situation that needs urgent attention; do not procrastinate. Start doing something about it before it is too late.

Author: Joseph of Jesus and Mary