Mary TV: December 31, 2020 Reflection - Time to pick a saint!

 

Time to pick a saint!

Time to pick a saint! December 31, 2020 Seventh Day of the Octave of Christmas St. Sylvester 1, Pope Dear Family of Mary! As 2020 draws to a close, and we enter into a New Year, this is a good time to choose a new saint for 2021! Our Mary TV family has a tradition of choosing a saint for the year, by printing out a list of saints which is then cut up, so that each saint is presented on a slip of paper. The saints are then placed in a container. On New Year's Day the family or prayer group can gather and pray for each person for a blessing, and the person can then pick a saint from the container. That saint is the saint that chooses them!! Our Lady has encouraged us to take the saints as our examples and to follow their example. Here is one message: October 25, 2020 "Dear children, At this time, I am calling you to return to God and to prayer. Invoke the help of all the saints, for them to be an example and a help to you. Satan is strong and is fighting to draw all the more hearts to himself. He wants war and hatred. That is why I am with you for this long, to lead you to the way of salvation, to Him who is the Way, the Truth and the Life. Little children, return to the love for God and He will be your strength and refuge. Thank you for having responded to my call." The saint that chooses us can become a daily example and help to us of how to live in the light, and an encouragement on the way to holiness. It is amazing how meaningful the saint that we receive can be. Here is an example that I shared last year: On the way out of church on Sunday, our parish had baskets of saints prepared for choosing a saint, and each parishioner was invited to choose a saint for 2020. It was wonderful to see the people praying and then diving into the container to receive their saint. One man was encouraging his children to choose a saint, and he seemed so excited. As we passed, he said to us, "This is just wonderful! I just chose my saint, and guess who it is!!!" Then he held up the paper and on it was written, "The Sacred Heart of Jesus". His face was filled with joy and light!! Having Jesus as his saint for 2020 was an inexpressible joy!! He told us he was so very happy and stunned!!  Choosing a saint can actually change your life! So if you haven't started this tradition in your family or parish, I am including a PDF of our list of saints for 2020 (since I haven’t been able to update the list this year). You can print this list out, and cut it up, and then pray together for the saint that will choose you!! Let's not forget that tomorrow is the Feast of the Mother of God. This title of Mary is so important and earth shaking!! Let's pray to understand it more and more! May 2021 be the year that the Mother of God will triumph in this sinful world and be crowned as Queen of Heaven and Earth for all to see!! In Jesus, Mary, and Joseph! Cathy Nolan (c)Mary TV 2020 PS. Here is the PDF of the list of saints for 2020:   List of Saints for 2020  And here is the link to find the list on our website: https://marytv.tv/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Saints-List-2020.pdf PPS.. The Christmas Greetings from our shipmates are just wonderful!!! You can view them in our video library window – “More from Medjugorje.” Thanks to all who contributed!!! We love you all!!    Mary TV. Inc. | www.marytv.tv ‌ "Medjugorje is the spiritual center of the world." St. John Paul II Be Connected! www.marytv.tv Mary TV | P.O. Box 899, Notre Dame, IN 46556

Mary TV: December 30, 2020 Reflection - I am carrying to you little Jesus!

 

 

I am carrying to you little Jesus!

I am carrying to you little Jesus! December 30, 2020 Sixth Day of the Octave of the Nativity of the Lord Dear Family of Mary! “Dear children! I am carrying to you little Jesus who brings you peace, Him who is the past, present and future of your existence…” (December 25, 2020) As we live these days of Christmas, we want to meditate on Jesus, the Son of God, who became Man to save us. There is so much to take in. Father Leon Pereira’s homily for Christmas Day offers us a beautiful meditation on the gift of God, Jesus, Incarnate. Enjoy!! Homily, Christmas Day, English Mass in Medjugorje. Father Leon Pereira: This season of Christmas highlights the rift between riches and poverty in our society, not just materially but spiritually. You can be poor despite having riches (in having all you want) and be rich despite your poverty (in having what you truly need). Let’s contrast these two things: possessions and being, between presents and being present. We take possession of things. Even with gifts we can either receive them or refuse them. Taking is essential to possessions. Being or life, on the other hand, can’t (in this sense) be taken. It can only be sheer utter gift. Anyone can give a present – but not everyone can give the gift of being present…. Only a true friend can do that. In this time of isolation, poverty, antisocial distancing, the covering of faces and depersonalisation, in this time of economic and social stress, when purpose of life and goals are denied many people, we can see more clearly what matters, and what makes us truly rich. We cannot speak of the literal riches of God because God does not have and could not have possessions. It is true that the Bible uses images, as though God possessed the earth: ‘In His hand are the depths of the earth; the heights of the mountains are His.’ But these are images of God, just like the images of God as a warrior or a rock or an eagle. They are not to be taken literally. We cannot speak literally of the possessions of God for He could not take anything to use for His own purposes. Nothing acts for the benefit of God because He needs nothing. We cannot speak literally of the riches of God, but we can speak literally of the poverty of God. His poverty is, of course, not the same as our poverty, just as His wisdom is not like ours. God is literally poor because He simply and literally has no possessions. God takes nothing for His own use. He only has life and being. And, if you want to press the point, He does not even have life and being, just as he does not have wisdom or goodness. In God, being alive and being wise and being good are simply being God and nothing more, nothing extra he has. It is what He is. So, for us to aim at poverty, is to aim in the direction of the simplicity and poverty of God – is a move away from possessing to being. When God creates all things it is an act of poverty, for God gains nothing by it. God makes without becoming any richer. His act of creation is simply and purely for the benefit of his creatures. If we ask what motive God had for making the world, the question is absurd. It is only created things which gain by God’s act of creating them. It is a purely gratuitous act of love, that characteristic act of love which is the giving of life – the very opposite of trying to possess. When we aim at possessing, we think if only we had such and such, then we could be happy, or content. If only I had money or more money or the respect of my peers. If only I had a happy family, or a family at all. If only people did what I wanted. If only people admired me, my wit, my looks. We fall into depression when what we want to possess is threatened with being taken away. Christmas can become an exercise in possession. We strive to play Happy Families, even though such things do not exist. We struggle to have all our loved ones with us, even though it is practically impossible for most people, and not advisable for many.  Or we can aim at poverty, at being, at what we need rather than what we want. The one who aims at poverty knows that we can only live by giving ourselves, as Jesus says, “Whoever seeks to gain his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will preserve it” (Luke 17.33). We can’t live by building a buffer of possessions around ourselves, by controlling those we claim to love. We live by giving to others the space to live. To the extent we live as genuine friends, we imitate and share in the inner life of the Blessed Trinity. In our own created and finite way we can live by the free gift we make to others: the free gift of ourselves. It is a question of which direction we are aiming for. The God we serve, the true and Living God, emptied Himself and became one of us, born poor, and cold, sheltering in a stable with His first worshippers: His mother Mary, His foster father Joseph, an ox, and an ass. He does not try to possess but gives Himself for our happiness. God, who needs nothing from us, becomes a baby, a baby who needs everything from us. And the baby Jesus needs us, not for His sake, but for ours. Don’t say you have nothing to offer him, because the truth is you have everything to offer Him, the most precious thing about you which you will only keep if you give it away. In the words of my favorite Christmas carol: What can I give him, Poor as I am? If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb, If I were a wise man, I would do my part, Yet what I can I give Him — Give my heart. https://marytv.tv/english-homily-in-medjugorje-2/?smid=rWTyWZsYfh9&slid=IRBKmbjFsDA Thank you, Father Leon! Merry Christmas everyone! In Jesus, Mary, and Joseph! Cathy Nolan ©Mary TV 2020 PS. The Christmas Greetings from our shipmates are just wonderful!!! You can view them in our video library window – “More from Medjugorje.” Thanks to all who contributed!!! We love you all!!   Mary TV. Inc. | www.marytv.tv ‌ "Medjugorje is the spiritual center of the world." St. John Paul II Be Connected! www.marytv.tv Mary TV | P.O. Box 899, Notre Dame, IN 46556

Mary TV: December 29, 2020 Reflection - You have been chosen to be witnesses of hope!

 

 

You have been chosen to be witnesses of hope!

You have been chosen to be witnesses of hope! December 29, 2020 Fifth Day in the Octave of the Nativity of the Lord Dear Family of Mary! “Dear children! I am carrying to you little Jesus who brings you peace, Him who is the past, present and future of your existence. Little children, do not permit for your faith and hope in a better future to be extinguished, because you are chosen to be witnesses of hope in every situation. That is why I am here with Jesus that He may bless you with His peace. Thank you for having responded to my call.” (December 25, 2020 Message) Our Lady gave us this message on Christmas Day!! It is so beautiful and hopeful. Our shipmate, Stefanie, transcribed Archbishop Henryck Hoser’s homily given on Christmas Eve at St. James Church. (Thank you, Stefanie!!!) His words are very powerful and insightful. He diagnoses the sad state of our world today. But he gives us reason to hope. Read it carefully, and then read the message once again! You will see that Mother Mary was listening to him and then gave us even more reason to hope! The Nativity of the Lord Mass During the Night Christmas, December 24, 2020 Archbishop Henryk Hoser     HOMILY   The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light.  Upon those who lived in the land of gloom, light is shown!  You have brought them abundant joy and great rejoicing!   Dear Brothers and Sisters, The beginning of the first reading of the prophet Isaiah introduces us to the mystery of the Holy Night that we are now celebrating.  Night in the history of salvation has a rich varied meaning. In the Bible, night indicates a time of danger; the time of fear; the time of sadness. Night can also correspond with the feeling of the absence of God. In the face of the presence of death, in adverse circumstances, the night brings visions and dreams, guidelines, something that is transmitting the Word of God.  The author of the apocalypse, St. John, assures us that in the new time, in the time of the New Jerusalem, there will be no more night, because God will be together with His people. No night. According to the old Biblical tradition, there were four major nights in the history of the world: the night of the Creation of Light; the Night of Abraham, who believed against all hope; the Night of the Exodus from Egyptian slavery; the Night of Bethlehem – the most important; because it is the night of the birth of the Son of God, among us, and for us. The Night of the Resurrection will come again, also full of light and full of joy. So, we entered in Bethlehem in the middle of the night of our present life; everything seems asleep, paralyzed. Life is flowing slowly. Health restrictions have slowed down social and economic activity, immobilizing everyone.  We can see this in Medjugorje as well. Medjugorje is an illustration of this. Medjugorje has always been filled with life, always echoing joyfully in various languages, always on the move. Our locality as a place of pilgrimage and of service still lives today. But it lives now, thanks to the faith and the hope of its inhabitants, the parishioners.  Wherever darkness is present in this world, we can see many Christian countries that were Christian for centuries, have become now the pagan countries or rather neo-pagan countries, without faith, without morality. Churches in those countries are empty. Churches are being sold and turned into restaurants or night clubs. Very often, these would then be demolished.  What is worse still, is that the destruction of the family progresses. Demoralization of youth increases. Life is not respected. There are many who are perhaps disturbed, who are weak, sinful, unproductive; they eliminate themselves from society, with euthanasia or abortion techniques.  In our daily, personal, and family life, there is less and less peace. Social conflicts begin to dominate in rich countries. Terrorism paralyzes and threatens the life of poor countries, where killing innocent people is becoming common and banal. Local wars flourish on every continent and the world spends billions on armaments and means of mass destruction.  This is the Night of the Light. The Lord has been through that Night. He has been through that Night in this world. During the Last Supper when Judas left the room to betray Jesus and hand him over to the executioner, it was dark; noted by John the Evangelist who witnessed this tragic moment. It was night.  That same Night, in the Garden of Olives, Jesus was sweating blood and He was able to see the sins of the world from the beginning to the end. When Jesus was dying on the Cross, it was already around the 6th hour which was the moment when the darkness over the whole earth occurred until the 9th hour. Jesus knows our darkness. He knows our pain. He knows our suffering.  But Jesus’ birth, as St. Paul says, was indeed the Grace of God which appeared. The Grace of God appeared saving us all! Training us to reject God-less ways and worldly desires, and to live temperately, justly, devoutly in this age, as we await the blessed hope, the appearance of the Glory of the Great God and of our Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave Himself to deliver us and all people from lawlessness and to cleanse for Himself a people who will be ready to do good deeds. Christmas Carols are so beautiful. Most of all, they mark the Night of the Birth of the Holy Lord in Bethlehem. All over the world we sing:   Silent Night, Holy Night!  All is calm, all is bright.  Round yon Virgin Mother and Child, Holy Infant so tender and mild. Sleep in heavenly peace! Sleep in heavenly peace.   The angel rushed to the shepherds, and shepherds were minding their sheep under the open sky. And he told them, “Do not be afraid. Behold! I am sending you good news for all people! Today in the City of David, a Savior is born to you who is Christ the Lord.”  Who were the shepherds? They were the poorest, the simplest, anonymous, marginalized by others, who consider themselves superior. But it is precisely they who had the privilege of hearing the Good News first. God is among us. He is near. He is humble. He is a child. Therefore, He depends on us and He seeks the manger within our heart. A celestial choir of angels had just appeared, praising God, and singing:     Glory to God in the Highest and on Earth, Peace to Men of Good Will!   Later would come the others, the members of high society, those who were kings, those who were wise men, of this world; however, they recognized the supremacy of this King Child, of this Prince of Peace, of this Savior of the World; who was in the arms of His Immaculate Mother, the Queen of Peace; our Mother in Medjugorje!  Let us follow them. Let us live in the light again and honor this Child who saves the world, who wishes to shine His light in us, to shine in our country, in our home, in our heart.  And may Peace be with you! Amen. Thank you, Archbishop Hoser and Dear Mother Mary! We will believe and hope and trust and shine like lights in this difficult time. You have encouraged us! In Jesus, Mary and Joseph! Cathy Nolan (c)Mary TV 2020 PS. Two more days for the Matching Grant!! Go to Mary TV and help us finish the year strong!  www.marytv.tv Mary TV. Inc. | www.marytv.tv ‌ "Medjugorje is the spiritual center of the world." St. John Paul II Be Connected! www.marytv.tv Mary TV | P.O. Box 899, Notre Dame, IN 46556

The "Extraordinary Ordinariness" of Christmas

 

 

Last week I wrote of how the nativity scene in Bethlehem sums up and celebrates the pro-life cause, illustrating the great dignity of the human person. Just as the Christ child, young and helpless, contains the fullness of the Godhead, so every human child is made in the image of that same God. Human dignity is not earned, it is baked into our very nature, the nature that God Himself chose to assume.   There is, however, another aspect of the nativity scene that always strikes me. And that is what I might call the extraordinary ordinariness of the scene. Now, it might seem paradoxical to call something “extraordinarily ordinary.” But that is how it seems to me: as if God chose to come into the world in a way that so ostentatiously unassertive, so remarkably unremarkable, so absurdly hidden and by-the-way, that we could not help but notice just how ordinary the whole thing was.    (Click here to continue reading this article.)   Sincerely yours in Christ, Father Shenan J. Boquet President, Human Life International Human Life International 4 Family Life Lane ● Front Royal, VA 22630 www.hli.org ● 540-635-7884 ● hli@hli.org Connect with HLI: