O Virgin Mary,

Mother of the Re-created World!

Reading for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception December 8

from a sermon by St. Anselm

Doctor of the Church

This excerpt from a sermon of St. Anselm (Oratio 52; PL 158, 955-956) is used in the Roman Office of Readings for the Solemnity (Solemn Feast) of the Immaculate Conception on December 8 along with the accompanying biblical reading from Romans 5:12-20. The doctrine of the sinlessness of Mary from the moment of her conception was believed and taught in the church long before it was solemnly defined as a dogma of faith by Pope Pius IX in the mid 19th century. Mary received her salvation as a pure gift of grace even before she could say yes to that grace. It was by way of anticipation that the fruit of her son's death and resurrection was applied to her at the moment of her conception so that she was spared both the guilt and damaging effects of original sin This was done by God in order to preserve and protect that the holiness of the human nature of his divine Son that would be totally drawn from Mary's human nature and then nurtured in her womb.

Blessed Lady, sky and stars, earth and rivers, day and night – everything that is subject to the power or use of man – rejoice that through you they are in some sense restored to their lost beauty and are endowed with inexpressible new grace. All creatures were dead, as it were, useless for men or for the praise of God, who made them. The world, contrary to its true destiny, was corrupted and tainted by the acts of men who served idols. Now all creation has been restored to life and rejoices that it is controlled and given splendor by men who believe in God.

The universe rejoices with new and indefinable loveliness. Not only does it feel the unseen presence of God himself, its Creator, it sees him openly, working and making it holy. These great blessings spring from the blessed fruit of Mary’s womb.

Through the fullness of the grace that was given you, dead things rejoice in their freedom, and those in heaven are glad to be made new. Through the Son who was the glorious fruit of your virgin womb, just souls who died before his life-giving death rejoice as they are freed from captivity, and the angels are glad at the restoration of their shattered domain.

Lady, full and overflowing with grace, all creation receives new life from your abundance. Virgin, blessed above all creatures, through your blessing all creation is blessed, not only creation from its Creator, but the Creator himself has been blessed by creation.

To Mary God gave his only-begotten Son, whom he loved as himself. Through Mary God made himself a Son, not different but the same, by nature Son of God and Son of Mary. The whole universe was created by God, and God was born of Mary. God created all things, and Mary gave birth to God. The God who made all things gave himself form through Mary, and thus he made his own creation. He who could create all things from nothing would not remake his ruined creation without Mary.

God, then, is the Father of the created world and Mary the mother of the re-created world. God is the Father by whom all things were given life, and Mary the mother through whom all things were given new life. For God begot the Son, through whom all things were made, and Mary gave birth to him as the Savior of the world. Without God’s Son, nothing could exist; without Mary’s Son, nothing could be redeemed.

Truly the Lord is with you, to whom the Lord granted that all nature should owe as much to you as to himself.

This reading is featured in the Advent & Christmas, Incarnation and the Mary & the Saints sections of The Crossroads Initiative Library.

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THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION OF
THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

From all eternity Father, Son, and Holy Spirit chose Mary to be the Mother of the Word Incarnate. It was unthinkable that she be defiled by sin, in any way or for the least second of time. Therefore, in the instant of creating Mary's person, the Trinity made her immaculate. This grace, like every other grace granted since the fall of Adam, was given her through the merits of Christ. She was truly saved, redeemed, not from an evil already present, but from an evil that threatened.

SCRIPTURE COMMENTARY #423

And some of the Pharisees, from amongst the multitude, said to him: "Master, rebuke thy disciples. To whom he said: "I say to you that if these shall hold their peace, the stones will cry out." And when he drew near, seeing the city, he wept over it. (Luke 19:39-41)

RESISTANCE TO GRACE: We see by the case of the unbelieving city of Jerusalem how possible it is to resist grace.

From 'A Practical Commentary on Holy Scripture' by Bishop Knecht, D.D.]
(1899 Douay-Rheims Bible)

NICE ADVENT VIDEO

Homily for the second Sunday of Advent - 12-07-08

Praise the Lord!
Here is my homily for this coming Sunday, the second Sunday of Advent.
Let us pray to the Lord, through Mary!
And may God bless you!
Canon Dr. Daniel Meynen



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Homily for the second Sunday of Advent - Year B - Mk. 1:1-8

" The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. "

" As it is written in Isaiah the prophet, 'Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, who shall prepare thy way; the voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight (Mal.3:1;  Is. 40:3).' John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And there went out to him all the country of Judea, and all the people of Jerusalem; and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel's hair, and had a leather girdle around his waist, and ate locusts and wild honey. And he preached, saying, 'After me comes he who is mightier than I, the thong of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.' "

Homily:

" The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. "

At the beginning of his gospel, Saint Mark takes care to announce that it  contains the message that he was called to pass on to his readers. It is the
"Gospel" or "Good News", a literal translation of the Greek term from which comes the word "evangelist". The term "Good News" places us right away in the Trinitarian context, in the mysterious dimension of the Holy Trinity. For the true and unique "Good News" is that of Christ himself, the Word of God made Man.

In God, in the Divinity itself, the Father, who is the first of the three Persons of the Holy Trinity, speaks, to Himself, ceaselessly and eternally, this Word who is His Son, the second Person of the Holy Trinity. God "is spirit" (John 4:24), and this divine Spirit carries out but a single divine action: He conceives and engenders in Himself a unique Word who fills Him completely. This Word who has been conceived and engendered is the Son of the divine Person who is the Father.

All of this is accomplished by God in Himself, which is to say in Love, for  "God is love" (1 Jn. 4:16). In other words, the Father engenders His Son in the Holy Spirit, who is the Love of God in person. Now, the Love of God is infinite and without limit. And there was a time when the Love of God overflowed, as it were, from Himself and poured out over the world: it was the time of the Incarnation, after which God spoke His Word, not only to Himself, but also to the world He had created in His Love.

" As it is written in Isaiah the prophet, 'Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, who shall prepare thy way; the voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight (Mal. 3:1; Is. 40:3).' John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And there went out to him all the country of Judea, and all the people of Jerusalem; and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. "

John the Baptist had been sent by God to directly prepare the People of God to receive this Word, who is the Son of God in person. This is why he speaks, he preaches, he proclaims to mankind the coming of the Messiah: the human word of John the Baptist serves as a preparation for the divine Word of Christ. But John the Baptist's human words alone do not suffice to suitably prepare mankind to receive the Word of God. That which is human is, and shall  always remain, inferior to what is divine.

In order to receive the very Word of God, one therefore requires a preparation which is not simply human, but also divine. This divine preparation is none other than the possession of the grace of God, the divine gift through which a man or woman becomes acceptable to God and finds himself or herself in his favor and in His friendship. Thus, it is clear that the complete and indispensable preparation for the full reception of the Word of God consists in purifying oneself of all one's personal sins, those for which one is personally responsible.

" Now John was clothed with camel's hair, and had a leather girdle around his waist, and ate locusts and wild honey. And he preached, saying, 'After me comes he who is mightier than I, the thong of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie.' "

In order to prepare the People of God for the reception of the Word of God, John the Baptist preached a baptism of repentance: in order for the grace of God to fill hearts, it was necessary for sin to be excluded from them. But John the Baptist had to set an example. If he preached repentance, he himself had to be repentant. His entire being had to become an instrument of preaching. The grace of God which was in him could not remain solely inside him, but instead had to be manifested outwardly, visible to all; for John the Baptist's mission was precisely that of preparing for the coming into the world of the Grace of graces which is the Word of God.

" I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit. "

John the Baptist proclaimed the baptism that Jesus would provide: the baptism of the Holy Spirit. For it is truly this Spirit of Love which purifies the soul through the remission of sins: the Holy Spirit is the Fire of Love  which purifies and transforms. In the Holy Trinity, everything is accomplished in the Love of God, which is the Holy Spirit. Similarly, when God communicates to man his divine Word, this is accomplished in the Holy Spirit who is Love.

During this time of Advent, let us therefore prepare our heart to receive the Word of God, let us ask God to forgive us our sins, let us pray to the Lord and ask him to send us His Spirit, in order that our soul might be pure, unstained by any sin, and so that the Word of God might thus come into us and the entire world. May Mary, the Mother of God, intercede for us and may we all, through her, be baptized in the Holy Spirit!

Canon Dr. Daniel Meynen

http://meynen.homily-service.net/

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"Is It Not Natural to Take Any Apprehensions to Your Mother?"

By "Anne," a Lay Apostle

Serving in Clarity: A Guide for Lay Apostles of Jesus Christ the Returning King is the latest writing by "Anne," a lay apostle. local ordinary, Bishop Leo O'Reilly, for the distribution of messages which she receives from Jesus, God the Father, Our Blessed Mother, the angels and saints (see article, "Discernment of Lay Apostolate of Jesus Christ the Returning King," Marian Private Revelation section). In Part I of Serving in Clarity, the messages of Jesus describe the "new time" and the responsibility of the Lay Apostolate of Jesus in bringing forth this time through their generous service and docility to the extraordinary graces that Jesus makes available at the present time of human history. – Ed. October 31, 2006 Blessed Mother Dearest apostles, I am filled with hope as I see you serving. How heaven rejoices in this new band of faithful servants. Many of you have been called from the world and from worldly pursuits because we are asking that you serve in the world. Your experience of the world will help you to understand how best to communicate with others who live outside of heaven's goals. Please do not worry about the sins of your past. God forgives. If you confess these sins, Jesus forgives and sends healing graces. You will then be free of them. Understand that Jesus wants you to be free of your sins and it is His will that you accept the forgiveness that He makes available in this holy sacrament. Rejoice in this forgiveness and mercy and do not fret over your past. If you continue to fret over your past mistakes, the enemy can create a hold on you. Jesus died for your sins and He did this so that you could be free of them. Rejoice, dear little apostles. Jesus loves you and counts you as His friend. He will forget your mistakes. So must you. November 2, 2006 Blessed Mother God's little apostles are part of a heavenly team that does not pause. The team pushes God's message further and further into the world. The team supports each other and encourages each other. The team members point always to Jesus when their fellow apostles become discouraged or distracted. God's truth gives such joy and it is in reminding each other of God's truth that you will sustain each other. When a friend and fellow apostle is discouraged, you must remind God's servant that he works for the cause of the Returning King. There is only one truth and one King, after all. If you are called to this mission, you are called to serve completely. Give your heart to my Son and allow Him to use you to heaven's fullest advantage. Do not be distracted by those who doubt your commitment. Serve in steadiness, understanding that you have been given many experiences and graces to allow you to serve as God needs you to serve in this time. Do not be like the ones who accepted God's healing but failed to thank Him. Everything you have has been given to you by God. Use everything you have to help heaven to prepare the world for the return of my Son. November 3, 2006 Blessed Mother Can you think of yourselves as my little children? Try to do this. If you begin to think of yourselves as my little children, you will begin to understand that you have a heavenly mother who protects you. Also, I send all guidance to you. Perhaps you are fearful and apprehensive about the work the Lord is asking you to do. Dearest apostles, is it not natural to take any apprehensions to your mother? With me you will find reassurance and understanding. With me you will find new courage and determination. Truly, when I ask you to think of yourself as my little son or daughter, I speak the truth. You are my son. You are my daughter. I am your mother. I am also the mother of Jesus so we are all in the same family. I work only for the goals of my Son. You will never find that my guidance takes you away from the will of God. This would be impossible. As Jesus' mother, I look out for His objectives in every situation. As your mother, I will look out for your well-being in every situation, but also, I will look out for the well-being of God's plan. Allow me to help you as a mother helps and you will find a new confidence. November 11, 2006 Blessed Mother Little apostles, gather near me in your hearts. I work tirelessly to keep you, my faithful little children, together so that you can console and help each other. In this way, you are sustained and encouraged. You understand that heaven is with you. Heaven understands that it is good for you to have earthly fellowship also. Take care of these relationships with your fellow apostles. Treat each other gently as Jesus treated everyone He encountered on earth. Those around you will make mistakes and fall victim to their weaknesses. When this occurs, you must rejoice in the opportunity to show God's mercy to them. You must rejoice in the opportunities to be forgiving. You must bring any anger or hurt to me and I will help you with it so that you can grow from it, benefiting heaven from your offerings to Jesus in the face of your pain. If you do this, offer your hurts to heaven, we can send great blessings on you, on the fellow apostle who has hurt you, and indeed, on the whole mission throughout the world. This mission is fueled by littleness, by humility. Seek out humility and you will find it. You will then be gentle as Jesus is gentle. Keep humility close to you as your most trusted friend because in humility you will find a clear sightedness that allows you to keep God's goals in the first place of all of your service. Dearest apostles, little children, what joy there is for me to teach you about heaven and heavenly behavior. These words and graces are a great gift to your world and your reading of these words is a great gift to me, your heavenly mother. For further information regarding the Lay Apostolate of Jesus Christ the Returning King, or to purchase Heaven Speaks booklets, please contact Direction for Our Times on the Web at www.directionforourtimes.com, or mail inquiries to the following address: 9000 West 81st St., Justice, IL 60458, U.S.A.

[MaryVitamin] St. Ambrose

Mary Vitamin for December 6^th

St. Ambrose

 

Topic: Let the spirit of Mary toil in your soul

 

Quote:

St. Ambrose:

"Let the soul of Mary be in each of us to glorify the Lord: let the spirit of Mary be in each of us to rejoice in God."

As quoted from

St. Louis de Montfort, True Devotion to Mary, 141.

 

Meditation:

"If Mary, who is the tree of life, is well cultivated in our soul by fidelity to the practices of this devotion [total consecration], she will bear her fruit in her own time, and her fruit is none other than Jesus Christ. … Jesus is yet feeble in you. But by that immaculate way of Mary and that divine practice which I am teaching, we toil during the day, we toil in a holy place, we toil but little. There is no night in Mary, because there is no sin nor even the slightest shade. Mary is a holy place, and the holy of holies where saints are formed and molded."

 St. Louis de Montfort, True Devotion to Mary, 141.

Resolution:

I want to have the spirit of Mary in my soul glorifying the Lord. I want to let Her do the work. If I place myself within her holy place, She will form and mold me into a saint. Today, I will pull on my miraculous medal and ask for the grace of the spirit of Mary and I will let Her toil in my soul. She said many graces will come to those who wear the miraculous medal. 

 

Marian Vow:

"My dear brother, when will that happy time, that age of Mary, come, when many souls, chosen and procured from the Most High by Mary, shall lose themselves in the abyss of her interior, shall become living copies of Mary, to love and glorify Jesus? That time will not come until men shall know and practice this devotion which I am teaching." [Total and unlimited consecration to the Immaculate]

St. Louis de Montfort's, True Devotion to Mary, 141.

 

I give this resolution to the Blessed Virgin Mary.

 

Thanks be to God for graces received.

 

Related site: Castle of the Immaculate & AirMaria

  

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Visit Your Group

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SCRIPTURE COMMENTARY #422

And when he drew near, seeing the city, he wept over it, saying: "If thou also hadst known, and that in this thy day, the things that are to thy peace: but now they are hidden from thy eyes. For the days shall come upon thee: and thy enemies shall cast a trench about thee and compass thee round and straiten thee on every side, And beat thee flat to the ground, and thy children who are in thee. And they shall not leave in thee a stone upon a stone: because thou hast not known the time of thy visitation." (Luke 19:41-44)

THE TEARS OF JESUS: All in the midst of the joy of the people and the homage paid to Him, Jesus burst into tears at the sight of the holy city! He who had dried the tears of so many, and had said to the mourners: "Weep not," now wept Himself. "This scene is so moving that it defies all attempts at description. The soul alone can try to discern what passed through the mind of Jesus, and weep with Him as a child weeps with its mother, the reason of whose tears it cannot understand. And in truth the tears of Jesus are a mystery to us, so incomprehensible is the love which brought Him from heaven to this vale of tears. He prayed for those who persecuted Him, but it is infinitely more that He should have wept over their misfortunes" (Schegg). Let us try to penetrate the mystery of these tears! He gazed at the Temple, both the erection and the services of which pointed to Him, the Redeemer, whom, in spite of all, this highly favored city refused to acknowledge! That day was the last day of grace for both city and people. His solemn entry was for them the last warning and the time of visitation: and Jesus knew but too well that this last grace would be passed by, unused, as all the rest had been, and that His chosen people would blindly reject salvation, while hatred and envy of their Savior filled the hearts of their leaders. Jesus wept therefore 1. over the blindness and obstinacy of the chosen people; for He, the Savior, was bringing no salvation to the impenitent city which, by its final rejection of Him, would fill the measure of God's wrath, and draw down on itself speedy and terrible judgment. This knowledge drew bitter tears from Him. He wept 2. over the coming downfall of Jerusalem, and the calamities which its people would bring on themselves; and still more over the eternal woe which would overtake this unfaithful and impenitent city. He therefore wept especially 3. over the eternal loss of so many souls which He had come to save. How very great is the love of the Divine Heart of Jesus, that it should make Him shed bitter tears over those who repaid His love with such ingratitude, and who were ruined by their own fault!

[From 'A Practical Commentary on Holy Scripture' by Bishop Knecht, D.D.]
(1899 Douay-Rheims Bible)

TEACHINGS TO LIFT YOU UP by RITA RING Post 39, October 24, 1993

I Am the Divine Healer

October 24, 1993

Jesus speaks: I am the divine dresser. I dress the fields and adorn them in a covering of frost. People go out and wonder how this just appeared, as if the cold covers your fields. But I make the grass turn white. Nothing happens in this world without My knowing it. I am this personal with you. I know more about your body than you do. I can heal a stubbed toe in an instant or I can leave it broken. Oh, child, why do you fret? Why do you not believe it is in Me you are made whole? I make the sun shine and the moon give its lights. I make the stars shine for you and you wonder what you must control next. You, child, control nothing. I am by your side constantly and I make all things work for you. Turn all your little most insignificant problems over to Me. I love you, child. I will tend to them. This is My promise and I am God. I am true. I am He Who loves you. Come and be filled by My goodness. No man can fill you as I do. I love you.

http://www.sofc.org

SCRIPTURE COMMENTARY #421

And when they were drawing near to Jerusalem and to Bethania, at the mount of Olives, he sendeth two of his disciples, And saith to them: "Go into the village that is over against you, and immediately at your coming in thither, you shall find a colt tied, upon which no man yet hath sat. Loose him and bring him. And if any man shall say to you: 'What are you doing?' Say ye that the Lord hath need of him. And immediately he will let him come hither." And going their way, they found the colt tied before the gate without, in the meeting of two ways. And they loose him. And some of them that stood there said to them: "What do you loosing the colt?" Who said to them as Jesus had commanded them. And they let him go with them. And they brought the colt to Jesus. And they lay their garments on him: and he sat upon him. And many spread their garments in the way: and others cut down boughs from the trees and strewed them in the way. And they that went before and they that followed cried, saying: "Hosanna: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord. Blessed be the kingdom of our father David that cometh: Hosanna in the highest." (Mark 11:1-10)

JESUS, THE SON OF GOD: Jesus showed Himself to be God, and this in a fourfold way.
1. He knew that His disciples would find the ass and her colt tied up, as described, in the village of Bethphage, and He knew the disposition of their owner.
2. He foretold the siege and destruction of Jerusalem. He knew the things which were invisible, as also those things which had not yet taken place, and the secret thoughts in the hearts of men. He was, therefore, omniscient.
3. He applied to Himself the passage in Psalm 8: "Out of the mouths of infants" etc. This Psalm relates to the adoration paid by all creation, and even little children, to the Lord God. By applying it to Himself, Jesus claimed to be the Lord and God of creation.
4. He showed His divine omnipotence by healing the lame, blind and sick who were brought to Him.

[From 'A Practical Commentary on Holy Scripture' by Bishop Knecht, D.D.]
(1899 Douay-Rheims Bible)

TEACHINGS TO LIFT YOU UP by RITA RING Post 38, October 23, 1993

See the Radiance in My Face

October 23, 1993 - 8:00a.m.

Jesus speaks: My dear child, I come to you as the brightest light, as a light that shines in the deepest darkness. I come with fire in My eyes and My heart. It is on fire for love of you. If you knew, you would see the radiance in My face at every moment. You must keep coming and just sitting. Long times alone with Me. No distraction. Do you see the fire in My eyes. My eyes sparkle. My heart is on fire. Keep this picture in your mind. My face glows. It is like nothing you have ever seen. Energy is emitted by My presence and when you recall the image I am now planting in your mind. My face glows and energy is radiating from Me. This, child, is power. When you recall this picture you have an instant energizer. I am the God of all the nations. I am He Who built all the worlds and all the people therein. My power is this radiance. It is endless. It is only I. Nothing else on the face of this earth has this power. See Me glowing in your mind. The glowing from My eyes. See Me on fire with love of you. Feel the fullness in your breast. Feel Me in your chest.

R. The more I kiss the ground, the more I am stricken at Your majesty, the more alive You become because this is Your reality. I need to focus on You with the power and light and greatness You are, to be awestruck with the very thought of You. Pictures of You do not transmit You as You are. You are power and awe and majesty. If that was truly Your picture, I couldn't hold the picture because of the power it generated.

Jesus speaks: Be as one crying in the desert. Make ready in your hearts a place for Him. Be holy and selfless, be true to all your inner promptings tell you. Listen with an open heart and let Me lead you on a path that leads to Me. My will for you I make known when you are open and ready to listen. But you must be quiet. You must be still. You must sit and wait. I do not do things in your time. My time is My own time. It may be when you least want a charge, but this is part of My plan. I want you obedient to Me in all things. Are you willing to put yourself aside and come and wait with Me? Are you willing to put aside your will for Mine? If you listen, you will know all that you need. I am your God. I make My way clear for you. Come and sit and be with Me. Be as an open door. What comes through the door you will not know, but you never close the door. You accept all the blessings and the sufferings as little children who have to accept what their parents give them. Open your heart. I will fill you with such delights, but you must be ready for all that I give. You can't take some and not the others. I want complete surrender. My way is the only way to My heart. My heart is full of power and love. Say "yes" to all I give you. Open your heart and say, "Lord, Thy will be done."

R. Doing things in God's time is like having a baby. It works out best when we wait for the time that He has planned for us. Man wants to control it. Man wants to get anxious. Man wants to do it his way. But it works out when we wait on Him and it works out for the best.

Jesus speaks: Wait on Me, My child and I will grant your heart's request-not a request from the world but a request that is best for you in My time. My will is doing things in My time, in My way. You must wait and surrender and accept all I give you, good and bad, and know it will work out for the good of your soul in the end. I am He Who loves you, little one. I will only give you out of love. Trust in Me and have faith. That is the key to your happiness: trust and faith in Me, doing it My way, not yours, being open to all I give you. You must become selfless, child. I am your God and I know all things. I know you as you do not know yourself. Trust Me and let Me work in you and you will live your life as I want you to. I love you, little one.

http://www.sofc.org

Fr. Tom Euteneuer: The Great Event of Advent

	Spirit & Life®
	"The words I spoke to you are spirit and life." (Jn 6:63) Human Life International e-Newsletter Volume 03, Number 43 | Friday, November 21, 2008
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	The Great Event of Advent One of the less appealing characteristics of American culture is that it doesn't seriously prepare for many things. We are an instantaneous culture. We don't like to wait for things: we have fast food, fast delivery, fast cash and on-demand banking. We have Fed Ex "when it absolutely has to be delivered overnight" and instant just-about-everything. Patience is not a virtue in this culture because we can have it all and have it now - or at least we think so. But God isn't that way. He has a time for everything under the sun, and no one rushes Him to meet deadlines. His Plan has been stored up for an eternity and presses on to completion with divine serenity. All things operate in their proper order and arrive at their completion in His time. Most importantly, God prepared this Plan of salvation with divine foresight. The Archangel Gabriel told Zechariah with utter certitude, "All I have said will come true in due course." But the question is always the type of reception God's Plan will find in our world. As the Virgin Mary and Joseph prepared a manger with swaddling clothes to receive the Son of God into the world, so every man must prepare his heart to receive the Son spiritually. The Church gives us the great event of Advent to help us get over the cultural sloth and make our hearts ready for Christ. Here are three simple but effective ways to prepare the throne of your heart to better welcome the King on the great Feast of Christmas: Walk with Mary: the best preparation for the feast of the Son is to live well the feasts of the Mother. Ah, if we would only treat the Immaculate Conception (this coming Monday) not as a day of dutiful "obligation" but as a chance to bind ourselves to this pregnant mother in purity and faith. We need to see the sublime Mystery of Christ through Her eyes. Next Friday is the feast of the Virgin of Guadalupe, the evangelizer of the Americas. How we need Her zeal for Christ to conquer our culture of death just like She did for the Aztec culture in the 16th century! Let us walk with Her this Advent, and She will help us in the preparation of our hearts. Show your desire for preparation by praying the Rosary regularly or making a consecration to the Virgin this Advent. Pray more: there is no better antidote to cultural lethargy than to admit to ourselves that we are not spiritual enough. Yes, we have to live in this world but often we are too much of this world! Prayer pulls us out of the work-a-day world of instant everything and places us before the serene Plan of God to see that all reality is not material. Faith grows, hope strengthens and charity inflames when we are prayerful. We just need to pray more in Advent, and we will be more spiritually prepared to receive Him. Why not make special visits to the Blessed Sacrament or, lacking that, dedicate a time each day for silent prayer. Devotion to duty: finally, and not least, is the need to do what God has asked us to do with deepest fidelity and zeal. Are there natural responsibilities that you have been neglecting? Now is the time to renew your fervor for them. Have you been apathetic or cowardly towards the difficult dimensions of your Christian duty? Has your family suffered because you have been involved in too many trivial matters that put family in second place? Return with all your heart and increase your enthusiasm toward those things He asks you to do for His Kingdom. A season of grace and favor awaits those who dedicate themselves with blessed ardor to their God-given callings. Thank God for Advent! We are purified and challenged by the message of salvation preached to us by the Church in this great season. If we live it well and prepare our hearts to receive Him, we will know the Truth in a new way at Christmas and beyond, and the Truth will set us free.	SL Links   About the Author SL Archives Donate Tell Us About Yourself   SL Action Items   The Holy Season of Advent The Immaculate Conception Origin of the Nativity Scene
	Sincerely Yours in Christ, Rev. Thomas J. Euteneuer, President, Human Life International
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Tribulation Times

READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: http://www.oneyearbibleonline.com/december.asp?version=63&startmmdd=0101

December 5, 2008    

THE TRIB TIMES WILL RETURN NEXT WEEK, GOD WILLING (James 4:15).

(Luk 1:28) And the angel being come in, said unto her: Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.

POPE BENEDICT XVI:  We greet you and call upon you with the Angel's words: "full of grace" (Lk 1:28), the most beautiful name that God himself has called you from eternity.

"Full of grace" are you, Mary, full of divine love from the very first moment of your existence, providentially predestined to be Mother of the Redeemer and intimately connected to him in the mystery of salvation.

In your Immaculate Conception shines forth the vocation of Christ's disciples, called to become, with his grace, saints and immaculate through love (cf. Eph 1:4). In you shines the dignity of every human being who is always precious in the Creator's eyes.

Those who look to you, All Holy Mother, never lose their serenity, no matter what the hardships of life.

FR. PHIL BLOOM HOMILY EXCERPT: In his life Dominic did not have many visions, but on today's Feast of the Immaculate Conception, I would like to tell you about a vision which underscores the motherly care of the Virgin Mary.

One night Dominic was praying alone in the chapel of his monastery. He saw the heavens open with Christ in the center and the Blessed Virgin Mary next to him. As St. Dominic looked around, he began to weep bitterly. The Lord asked him why he was so sad. "I am grieving," said Dominic, "because I see here members of every religious Order, but of my own, not one."

Jesus then asked him if he would like to see those of his own Order. Dominic replied that he ardently desired to see them. The Lord then placed his hand lovingly on the Virgin's shoulder and said, "I have given over your Order to my mother's care." At this the Blessed Virgin drew back her mantle, and opening it wide before St Dominic, it seemed to enclose nearly the whole of that heavenly country, so vast was it, and beneath it he saw a great host of his brethren.

The vision ended, but Dominic remained in joyful, grateful prayer. When the first light of dawn broke, Dominic rang the bell and gathered his brothers into the chapel. He told his brothers about the vision and exhorted them to love Blessed Virgin Mary and place themselves under her motherly care.

MORE ADVENT LINKS

Advent Provides Opportunity For Spiritual Preparation
Shedding light on Advent
Twelve Tips To A Better Advent Season

REFLECTIONS: Author finds listening to be key to Advent

SAMPLE: http://www.twentythirdpublications.com/images/products/pdf/957156.pdf

MORE: A Time for Listening, Advent for Families 2008 Daily Meditations, Activities, and Prayers

Ladder of Divine Ascent excerpt: Step 12- "On lying" 7.

He who has obtained the fear of the Lord has forsaken lying, having within himself an incorruptible judge- his own conscience.   

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Prayer request?  Send an email to: PrayerRequest3@aol.com

This month's archive can be found at: http://www.catholicprophecy.info/news2.html.

PATRIARCH ALEXIY HAS DIED

Russian Orthodox Church head dies

The patriarch oversaw a revival of the Church after communism

The head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Alexiy II, has died, Church officials say.

The patriarch died on Friday morning, aged 79, the Church told the BBC.

They did not give a reason for his death at his residence outside Moscow, but he had been sick for some time. No date has been set yet for the funeral.

Read this story here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/7766625.stm

SCRIPTURE COMMENTARY #420

And when they were drawing near to Jerusalem and to Bethania, at the mount of Olives, he sendeth two of his disciples, And saith to them: "Go into the village that is over against you, and immediately at your coming in thither, you shall find a colt tied, upon which no man yet hath sat. Loose him and bring him. And if any man shall say to you: 'What are you doing?' Say ye that the Lord hath need of him. And immediately he will let him come hither." And going their way, they found the colt tied before the gate without, in the meeting of two ways. And they loose him. And some of them that stood there said to them: "What do you loosing the colt?" Who said to them as Jesus had commanded them. And they let him go with them. And they brought the colt to Jesus. And they lay their garments on him: and he sat upon him. And many spread their garments in the way: and others cut down boughs from the trees and strewed them in the way. And they that went before and they that followed cried, saying: "Hosanna: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord. Blessed be the kingdom of our father David that cometh: Hosanna in the highest." (Mark 11:1-10)

JESUS, THE PROMISED REDEEMER: Hitherto our Lord had avoided all tokens of veneration on the part of the people; but now He was approaching Jerusalem to suffer and die for the Redemption of the world, it was His will to enter its walls solemnly, as Messiah and King. He desired that thousands of voices should proclaim in the presence of the unbelieving people of Jerusalem, that He was indeed their promised Redeemer. But He did not make this entry in battle-array, and mounted on a war-horse: He rode in, meek and gentle, sitting on an ass, the type of peace, to signify that He was not the Founder and King of an earthly city, raised by force of arms, such as most of the Jews fondly expected, but the Prince of Peace, whose kingdom was one of truth and grace.

[From 'A Practical Commentary on Holy Scripture' by Bishop Knecht, D.D.]
(1899 Douay-Rheims Bible)

TEACHINGS TO LIFT YOU UP by RITA RING Post 37, October 22, 1993

Be A Baby

October 22, 1993

Jesus speaks: Wait on the Lord and He will grant your heart's request. For I was hungry and you gave Me to eat. I was naked and you clothed Me. For I am the God of all nations, the Father of all justice. I make the winding roads open and My ways are straight and clear. Have no fear, My child, for I go before you to open the way. Your anxiety is useless. You worry and fret when I never leave your side. Oh, little one, how, indeed, I love you! Do not let your mind wander and focus on other things. I am God and I am talking to you. Little one, little one, you are not a baby. Babies do not worry. They do not let themselves get so full of fear. Babies just have fun. They know all they need and they simply ask for it. You are so afraid to ask for what you need. You are so afraid to let go. You are just afraid, child. Do you not listen to Me? You don't do anything anyway. You are fooling yourself. I am working when you don't even know it. I have a plan. I want it carried out. You are part of My plan. Your surrender is all you need to do. Making it work out is not your business. Surrender to the God Who loves you intently. I will use you. Don't get anxious about anything. I am going to make all things work for My glory.

The victory is already won. You will be okay. Surrender to Me, My little baby. Be as an infant at the breast. They wait and they are fed. They wait and they are changed. They wait and they are taken care of. I, My child, will take care of you. I need you to do My work. I want your total submission. That is your job-to surrender to Me. Take the weights off your shoulders. Go about your day in service of Me. I love you so, little one. I will take care of you. You are My baby. You I love. You will be provided for. I am your Savior. Harken to My commands, to surrender. That is your job. Pray and let go. Watch miracles grow in your life. My miracles unfold about you. "And they called and they were filled. Every minute was His to give. They only waited for His direction and life was no longer drudgery but a song-a song to sing in praise of Him Who loved them so much." Alleluia, Alleluia.

http://www.sofc.org

FROM MARK MALLETT:

The Secret Joy

Martyrdom of St. Ignatius of Antioch, Artist Unknown

JESUS reveals the reason for telling His disciples of coming tribulations:

The hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered… I have said this to you, that in me you may have peace. (John 16:33)

However, one might legitimately ask, "How is knowing that a persecution may be coming supposed to bring me peace?" And Jesus answers:

In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. (John 16:33)

I have updated this writing which was first published June 25th, 2007.

THE SECRET JOY

Jesus is really saying,

I have told you these things so that you will open your hearts completely in trust to Me. As you do, I will flood your souls with Grace. The wider you open your hearts, the more I will fill you with joy and peace. The more you let go of this world, the more you will gain of the next. The more you give of yourself, the more you gain of Me.

Consider the martyrs. Here you will find story after story of supernatural graces present to the Holy Ones as they gave their lives for Christ. In his recent encyclical, Saved In Hope, Pope Benedict XVI recounts the story of Vietnamese martyr, Paul Le-Bao-Tin († 1857) "which illustrates this transformation of suffering through the power of hope springing from faith."

The prison here is a true image of everlasting Hell: to cruel tortures of every kind—shackles, iron chains, manacles—are added hatred, vengeance, calumnies, obscene speech, quarrels, evil acts, swearing, curses, as well as anguish and grief. But the God who once freed the three children from the fiery furnace is with me always; he has delivered me from these tribulations and made them sweet, for his mercy is for ever. In the midst of these torments, which usually terrify others, I am, by the grace of God, full of joy and gladness, because I am not alone—Christ is with me… I write these things to you in order that your faith and mine may be united. In the midst of this storm I cast my anchor towards the throne of God, the anchor that is the lively hope in my heart… —Spe Salvi, n. 37

And how can we fail to rejoice when we hear the story of St. Lawrence, who, as he was being burned to death, exclaimed:

Turn me over! I’m done on this side!

St. Lawrence had found the Secret Joy: union with the Cross of Christ. Yes, most of us run the other way when sufferings and trials come.Yet, this usually compounds our pain:

It is when we attempt to avoid suffering by withdrawing from anything that might involve hurt, when we try to spare ourselves the effort and pain of pursuing truth, love, and goodness, that we drift into a life of emptiness, in which there may be almost no pain, but the dark sensation of meaninglessness and abandonment is all the greater. It is not by sidestepping or fleeing from suffering that we are healed, but rather by our capacity for accepting it, maturing through it and finding meaning through union with Christ, who suffered with infinite love. —POPE BENEDICT XVI, —Spe Salvi, n. 37

The saints are those who embrace and kiss these crosses, not because they are masochists, but because they have discovered the Secret Joy of the Resurrection hidden beneath the rough and rugged surface of the Wood. To lose themselves, they knew, was to gain Christ. But it is not a joy which one conjures up with the power of his will or emotions. It is a wellspring which erupts from within, like the sprout of life bursting from the seed which has fallen into the darkness of the soil. But it must first be willing to fall into the soil.

Even if you do suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled. (1 P4 3:14)

…because….

He will deliver my soul in peace in the attack against me… (Psalm 55:19)

THE MARTYR-WITNESSES

When St. Stephen, the first martyr of the early Church, was being persecuted by his own people, Scripture records that,

All those who sat in the Sanhedrin looked intently at him and saw that his face was like the face of an angel. (Acts 6:15)

St. Stephen radiated joy because his heart was like a little child, and to such as these, the Kingdom of Heaven belongs. Yes, it lives and burns in the heart of the one abandoned to Christ, who in the time of trial, unites Himself most especially to the soul. The soul then, no longer walking by sight but faith, perceives the hope which awaits him. If you do not experience this joy now, it is because the Lord is training you to love the Giver, and not the gifts. He is emptying your soul, so that it may be filled with nothing less than Himself.

When the time of trial comes, if you embrace the Cross, you will experience Resurrection at the right divinely appointed time. And that moment will never arrive late.

[The Sanhedrin] ground their teeth at him. But [Stephen], filled with the holy Spirit, looked up intently to heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God… They threw him out of the city, and began to stone him… Then he fell to his knees and cried out in a loud voice, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them"; and when he said this, he fell asleep. (Acts 7:54-60)

There is an intense purification happening among believers right now—those who are listening and responding to this period of preparation. It is as though we are being crushed between the teeth of life…

For in fire gold is tested, and worthy men in the crucible of humiliation. (Sirach 2:5)

Then there is St. Alban, the first martyr of Britain, who refused to deny his faith. The magistrate had him scourged, and on his way to be beheaded, St. Alban joyfully parted the waters of the river they were crossing so they could reach the hill where he was to be executed in dry clothing!

What is this humor that possessed these holy souls as they marched to their deaths? It is the Secret Joy of Christ’s heart beating within them! For they have chosen to lose the world and all it offers, even their very life, in exchange for the supernatural life of Christ. This pearl of great price is an indescribable joy which turns even the finest pleasures of this world into a pale gray. When people write or ask me what proof there is of God, I cannot help but laugh with joy: "I have not fallen in love with an ideology, but a Person! Jesus, I have encountered Jesus, the living God!"

Before his beheading, St. Thomas More declined a barber to groom his appearance.

The king has taken out a suit on my head and until the matter is resolved I shall spend no further cost upon it. —The Life of Thomas More, Peter Ackroyd

And then there is the radical witness of St. Ignatius of Antioch who reveals The Secret Joy in his desire for martyrdom:

How happy I will be with the beasts which are prepared for me! I hope that they will make short work of me. I shall even coax them to devour me quickly and not to be afraid of touching me, as sometimes happens; in fact, if they hold back, I shall force them to it. Bear with me, for I know what is good for me. Now I am beginning to be a disciple. May nothing visible or invisible rob me of my prize, which is Jesus Christ! The fire, the cross, packs of wild beats, lacerations, rendings, wrenching of bones, mangling of limbs, crushing of the whole body, the horrible tortures of the devil—let all these things come upon me, if only I may gain Jesus Christ! —Liturgy of the Hours, Vol. III, p. 325

How sad we feel when we seek the things of this world! What joy Christ wishes to bestow in this life and the life to come to the one who "renounces all that he has" (Lk 14:33) and seeks first the Kingdom of God. The things of this world are illusions: its comforts, material possessions, and statuses. He who willingly loses these things will uncover the Secret Joy: his true life in God.

He who lose his life for my sake will find it. (Matt 10:39)

I am God’s wheat, and I am being ground by the teeth of the wild beasts, that I might prove to be pure bread. —St. Ignatius of Antioch, Letter to the Romans

CHRIST HAS OVERCOME

While "red" martyrdom is only for some, all of us in this life will be persecuted if we are true followers of Jesus (Jn 15:20). But Christ will be with you in ways that will overcome your soul with joy, a Secret Joy which will elude your persecutors and defy your detractors. The words may sting, the stones may bruise, the fires may burn, but the joy of the Lord will be your strength (Neh 8:10).

Recently, I sensed the Lord saying that we should not think that we will suffer exactly like Him. Jesus took on a suffering unimaginable because He alone took on the sins of the whole world. That work is complete: "It is finished." As His Body, we must also follow in the footsteps of His Passion; but unlike Him, we carry only a sliver of the Cross. And it is not Simon of Cyrene, but Christ Himself who carries it with us. It is Jesus’ presence there beside me, and the realization that He will never leave, guiding me to the Father, which becomes the source of joy.

The Secret Joy.

After recalling the apostles, [the Sanhedrin] had them flogged, ordered them to stop speaking in the name of Jesus, and dismissed them. So they left the presence of the Sanhedrin, rejoicing that they had been found worthy to suffer dishonor for the sake of the name. (Acts 4:51)

Blessed are you when men hate you, and when they exclude you and revile you, and cast out your name as evil, on account of the Son of man! Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for so their fathers did to the prophets. (Luke 6:22-23)

FURTHER READING:

• Dealing with your fear in this tumultuous times: The Tempest of Fear

Published in: DAILY JOURNAL, SPIRITUALITY | on December 4th, 2008 |

[MaryVitamin] The Immaculate Conception & Duns Scotu

Mary Vitamin for December 4^th

 

Topic: The Immaculate Conception & Duns Scotus

 

Quote:

Bl. Duns Scotus

"Allow me to praise you, O most Holy Virgin,

Give me strength against your enemies."

The Subtle Doctor (also called the Marian Doctor)

 

Meditation:

Bl. John Scotus while a professor at the University of Paris, had to publicly defend the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin to his fellow intellectuals.

 

When the fixed day of the dispute arrived, on leaving the convent, he passed before a statue of Our Lady and with suppliant voice entreated her: "Allow me to praise You, O Most Holy Virgin; give me strength against your enemies." Our Lady responded with a prodigious visible sign: the head of the statue moved and bowed slightly before him. It was as if to say: "Yes I will give you all the strength you need."

Two Papal legates presided over the dispute. Then with powerful dialectic and with deep and subtle reasoning, Bl. Scotus refuted all the objections of the learned men in attendance, undermining the foundation of every argument contrary to Mary's Immaculate Conception. Bl. John Scotus pointed out: "The Perfect Redeemer, must in some case, have done the work of redemption most perfectly, which would not be, unless there is some person, at least, in whose regard, the wrath of God was anticipated and not merely appeased." Bl. John triumphed. From that day the University of Paris took up the same cause to defend this privilege of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

From: http://www.marymediatrix-resourceonline.com/library/files/franciscan/scotus.htm

 

Resolution:

Today, I will pray one time the prayer of Bl. Duns Scotus:

"Allow me to praise you, O most Holy Virgin,

Give me strength against your enemies."

 

Marian Vow:

The prayer of Bl. Duns Scotus concludes the

Solemn Act of Consecration to the Immaculate

by St. Maximilian Kolbe.

 

O Immaculate, Queen of heaven and earth, Refuge of sinners and our most loving Mother, God has willed to entrust the entire order of mercy to you. I, an unworthy sinner, cast myself at Your feet, humbly imploring You to take me with all that I am and have, wholly to yourself as Your possession and property. Please make of me, of all my powers of soul and body, of my whole life, death, and eternity, whatever pleases You. If it pleases You, use all that I am and have without reserve, wholly to accomplish what has been said of You: "She will crush your head", and "You alone have destroyed all heresies in the whole world." Let me be a fit instrument in Your immaculate and most merciful hands for introducing and increasing Your glory to the maximum in all the many strayed and indifferent souls, and thus help extend as far as possible the blessed Kingdom of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. For, wherever You enter, You obtain the grace of conversion and sanctification, since it is through Your hands that all graces come to us from the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus.

V. Allow me to praise You, O most holy Virgin.

R. Give me strength against Your enemies.

 

I give this resolution to the Blessed Virgin Mary.

 

Thanks be to God for graces received.

 

Related sites: Castle of the Immaculate & AirMaria

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