† 2nd Week of ADVENT: Starting from the Second Sunday of Advent. Advent begins on the Sunday nearest the feast of St. Andrew the Apostle (November 30th) and ends on December 24th. The word Advent comes from the Latin word adventus, meaning 'arrival' or 'approach'. After the fall of mankind in the Garden of Eden, God promised to send a redeemer. God's people waited thousands of years for this promise to come true and we still experience this same longing for the coming of Christ even today! The second candle on the Advent wreath - a purple one - is often called the Bethlehem Candle. It is often said to symbolize Faith through the journey of Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem. Quote of the Day "The fruit of silence is prayer, the fruit of prayer is faith, the fruit of faith is love, the fruit of love is service, the fruit of service is peace." -St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta Today's Meditation "The Devil didn't deal out temptations to Our Lord only. He brings these evil schemes of his to bear on each of Jesus' servants—and not just on the mountain or in the wilderness or when we're by ourselves. No, he comes after us in the city as well, in the marketplaces, in courts of justice. He tempts us by means of others, even our own relatives. So what must we do? We must disbelieve him altogether, and close our ears against him, and hate his flattery. And when he tries to tempt us further by offering us even more, then we should shun him all the more. . . We aren't as intent on gaining our own salvation as he is intent on achieving our ruin. So we must shun him, not with words only, but also with works; not in mind only, but also in deed. We must do none of the things that he approves, for in that way will we do all those things that God approves. Yes, for the Devil also makes many promises, not so that he may give them to us, but so that he may take away from us. He promises plunder, so that he may deprive us of the kingdom of God and of righteousness. He sets out treasures in the earth as snares and traps, so that he may deprive us both of these and of the treasures in heaven. He would have us be rich in this life, so that we may not be rich in the next." —St. John Chrysostom, p. 152-153
An excerpt from Manual for Spiritual Warfare Daily Verse "Beloved, do not look for revenge but leave room for the wrath; for it is written, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord." Rather, "if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals upon his head." Do not be conquered by evil but conquer evil with good." -Romans 12:19-21 | St Patapios St. Patapios (4th c.) was born in Thebes, Egypt. His parents were prominent Christians, and his father was the governor of the region. Patapios was well-educated by the best tutors, and his learning awakened in him a desire to shun the world and its materialism and seek a life of asceticism. Inspired by the manner of life of the Church Fathers, Patapios became a desert hermit upon his father's death. He later moved away to live in a cave near Corinth, and then sailed to Constantinople to live as a simple monk in the Monastery of Blachernae. There he fasted, prayed, and performed miracles until his death at the age of 83. In the early 20th century, a local priest planning renovations discovered his relics after the saint appeared to him in a dream and informed him where they were located. His relics were found the next day holding a large wooden cross on his chest and a parchment scroll bearing his name. St. Patapios' feast day is December 8th. | Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary Reading 1 Genesis 3:9-15, 20 After the man, Adam, had eaten of the tree,
the LORD God called to the man and asked him, "Where are you?"
He answered, "I heard you in the garden;
but I was afraid, because I was naked,
so I hid myself."
Then he asked, "Who told you that you were naked?
You have eaten, then,
from the tree of which I had forbidden you to eat!"
The man replied, "The woman whom you put here with me--
she gave me fruit from the tree, and so I ate it."
The LORD God then asked the woman,
"Why did you do such a thing?"
The woman answered, "The serpent tricked me into it, so I ate it." Then the LORD God said to the serpent:
"Because you have done this, you shall be banned
from all the animals
and from all the wild creatures;
on your belly shall you crawl,
and dirt shall you eat
all the days of your life.
I will put enmity between you and the woman,
and between your offspring and hers;
he will strike at your head,
while you strike at his heel." The man called his wife Eve,
because she became the mother of all the living. Responsorial Psalm Psalm 98:1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4 R. (1) Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous deeds.
Sing to the LORD a new song,
for he has done wondrous deeds;
His right hand has won victory for him,
his holy arm. R. Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous deeds.
The LORD has made his salvation known:
in the sight of the nations he has revealed his justice.
He has remembered his kindness and his faithfulness
toward the house of Israel. R. Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous deeds.
All the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation by our God.
Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
break into song; sing praise. R. Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous deeds. Reading 2 Ephesians 1:3-6, 11-12 Brothers and sisters:
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who has blessed us in Christ
with every spiritual blessing in the heavens,
as he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world,
to be holy and without blemish before him.
In love he destined us for adoption to himself through Jesus Christ,
in accord with the favor of his will,
for the praise of the glory of his grace
that he granted us in the beloved. In him we were also chosen,
destined in accord with the purpose of the One
who accomplishes all things according to the intention of his will,
so that we might exist for the praise of his glory,
we who first hoped in Christ. Alleluia See Luke 1:28 R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you;
blessed are you among women.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Luke 1:26-38 The angel Gabriel was sent from God
to a town of Galilee called Nazareth,
to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph,
of the house of David,
and the virgin's name was Mary.
And coming to her, he said,
"Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you."
But she was greatly troubled at what was said
and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.
Then the angel said to her,
"Do not be afraid, Mary,
for you have found favor with God.
Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son,
and you shall name him Jesus.
He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High,
and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father,
and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever,
and of his Kingdom there will be no end."
But Mary said to the angel,
"How can this be,
since I have no relations with a man?"
And the angel said to her in reply,
"The Holy Spirit will come upon you,
and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.
Therefore the child to be born
will be called holy, the Son of God.
And behold, Elizabeth, your relative,
has also conceived a son in her old age,
and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren;
for nothing will be impossible for God."
Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord.
May it be done to me according to your word."
Then the angel departed from her.
| Praise to You Oh Lord Jesus Christ! | Daily Meditation: Luke 1:26-38 I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word. (Luke 1:38) Today's Gospel reveals three surprising truths about our life in Christ. First, it points to the miracle of Mary's Immaculate Conception, which we celebrate today. Since Mary was freed from the stain of original sin, she wasn't subject to the cynicism and the selfishness that often lurk in our hearts. We see this in her humble response to the angel Gabriel. He had just invited her to welcome into her womb a child conceived by the Holy Spirit. To say yes meant giving up her own earthly plans and expectations. It also meant becoming vulnerable to all sorts of trials, temptations, and dangers. But because of her Immaculate Conception, she could place her life completely in God's hands: Mary's yes reveals how pure and trusting she was. The second truth? Mary's yes also revealed the vulnerability of the Lord. God knew that Mary could have said no, but he took the risk anyway. By asking her to become the Mother of God, he placed his whole plan of salvation in her young, innocent hands. Then, in Jesus, God entered his own creation as a defenseless child. He allowed himself to experience pain and temptation every day. And then he offered up his very self to us when he surrendered to the pain of the cross. All because he loved us too much to leave us alone in our sin. Finally, today's Gospel reveals how God relates to us. Every day, Jesus stands before us and offers us his grace and his wisdom. He knows that, just like Mary, we are free to choose how to respond to his offer. Every day, he opens himself up to the possibility of being rejected by the people he loves so deeply. All in the hopes that we will instead surrender to him. All in the hopes that we will echo Mary's response: "Let it be done to me according to your will." Jesus is standing before you right now. He wants to share his heart with you. How will you respond? "Holy, Immaculate Mary, teach me how to say yes to the Lord, just as you did!" | Reflections with Brother Adrian: |  Audio of 2 Cents | From today's Holy Gospel: "...Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you."
But she was greatly troubled at what was said
and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.
Then the angel said to her,
"Do not be afraid, Mary,
for you have found favor with God.
Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son,
and you shall name him Jesus.
He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High,
and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father,
and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever,
and of his Kingdom there will be no end."...." Word of the Lord. | From Roberto Juarez: "Mary's response is short, simple, and eternal: "Here is the handmaid of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word."This is the center of the feast: Mary is Immaculate in order to be able to say a pure, free and total yes. The yes is not resignation; it is availability. It is not submission; it is profound freedom. It is not fear; It is love.
With that yes, Mary opens the door through which God enters history. And since then, each of our selves – humble, small, everyday – continues to open the way for Christ to be born into the world.
What does it mean for us to celebrate the Immaculate Conception? First, to contemplate the beauty of God. Mary reminds us that holiness is beautiful, that grace beautifies life, that sin does not have the last word. Second, regain confidence. God never tires of acting in our history, even when it seems small or insignificant to us. If he could work in Nazareth, he can also work in each one of us. Third, to learn from Mary's availability. We all have our own "annunciations": calls, invitations from the Lord in daily life, opportunities to serve, to forgive, to love more. Mary tells us: say yes without fear; God is with you. Fourth, to allow ourselves to be filled by grace. The Immaculate Conception is not a distant, impossible model. It is a mirror in which God shows us what he wants to do in us: to cleanse us, to renew us, to fill us with his Spirit. Mary is the first redeemed, and in her we see our own future. In the midst of Advent, Mary appears as a sign of hope. She precedes Christ as the dawn precedes the sun. When we look at Mary, we see that God keeps his promises, that he delicately prepares all the details of salvation. In a hurting, tired, divided world, Mary is a reminder that God continues to act, continues to create beauty, continues to lift up what is fallen.
Today, as we celebrate the Immaculate Conception, let us look to Mary with gratitude and affection. Let us give thanks for their yes, for their faith, for their purity, for their availability. Let us ask him to help us to say yes to God in the small things of each day. May she, full of grace, open us to grace. May she, without sin, encourage us to fight against evil. May she, humble and courageous, teach us to trust in the Word. And may she, Mother of Jesus and our Mother, accompany us this Advent towards a more open, cleaner and more God-like heart." end quote.
From Brother Adrian:
Wouldn't you like to hear words from someone who has been caught up into the Heavens with Mother Mary?
Wouldn't you like to hear first hand what that was like, and if you did, would you believe it?
There are no words to describe Mother Mary my brothers and sisters. Momma Mary, that is not even a good name for her, Mother Mary Immaculate is getting better, she deserves what our Lord deserves...honor...and how? Obedience. All the times she has appeared, she requests, commands things for Her son. For Chapel to be built she tells a poor indian man in Mexico, we will hear on Our Lady of Guadalupe. For rosaries for souls, penance, she asks of little children at Fatima. At Lourdes France, she asks a poor girl that a chapel be built, and how I wish I could visit that place for I am a parishioner of Our Lady of Lourdes, our patron saint of our church. For this is where our Mother in Heaven said " I AM THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION".
Wouldn't you like to hear how those words came to these children? To innocent children, to the pure.
I ran into a prayer for this day, to be prayed at noon for all souls, for a special grace, you can find it hear and it gives me chills on the website it is from, why? Because, I keep talking about the many volumes of the Book of Heaven, and it is a website in her name that provides the prayers for an hour of grace we are asked for. Find more details on the request origins at the website here at:https://luisapiccarreta.co/?page_id=7805 REQUEST OF BLESSED MOTHER FOR THE HOUR OF GRACE 1. Day and time of Hour of Grace – December 8th Feast of the Immaculate Conception – to be started at 12 noon and will continue until 1 PM (one full hour of prayer) 2. During this hour the person making the 'Hour of Grace' either at home or in the Church must put away all distractions (do not answer the telephone or answer any doors or do anything but totally concentrate on your union with God during this Special Hour of Grace) 3. Begin the Hour of Grace by praying three times the 51st Psalm with outstretched arms. Click here for Psalm 51. 4. The rest of the Hour of Grace may be spent in silent communication with God meditating upon the Passion of Jesus saying the Holy Rosary, praising God in your own way or by using favorite prayers, singing hymns, meditating upon other Psalms, etc. "The Sister asked how she was to prepare for this Hour of Grace. To which the Blessed Mother said, "With Prayers and Penance. Pray the 51st Psalm with outstretched arms three times. During the Hour of Grace, many spiritual graces would be granted. The most hard-hearted sinners will be touched by the grace of God." The Blessed Virgin promised that whatever a person asked Her for during this Hour of Grace (even in impossible cases) would be granted to them, if it was in accordance with the will of the Eternal Father. . ." end quote. I found this last night and shared with my wife and said, "you know, even if this is not a true anything, it is still very good, I think we should all do this hour of grace for Immaculate conception day."
And back to my original question, wouldn't you like to hear from a person who has had an experience of Mother Mary?
Look no further, and it pains me to say it...a horrible sinner was able to experience it, and this is abnormal. Perhaps, call it a personal revelation, that is fine. But in a deep prayer, when I was writing many songs, years ago, I was swept up into the universe in the mantle of Mary, and saw an impacting site of lights being ushered by angels into the throne, an altar of God so massive, to accommodate millions.
My brothers and my sisters, I cannot tell you what the light offerings were, I can only believe it is our love offerings to God...to fuel Heaven with God's will....fruits of Love, light to light, love to love, and what a grace from grace, if only we would do His will.... Mother Mary Immaculate Conception...pray for Us! That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ! |  Click for Audio | Random Bible Verse 1
John 14:23 "Jesus answered him, "If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him." . . . . . . . . Word of the Lord! | If one day you don't receive these, just visit Going4th.com
God Bless You! Peace | | |
