Bible Verse
-- Luke 10:27 --
He answered: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your
soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your
neighbor as yourself.' "
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The art of kindness has not been lost, but sometimes it gets tucked away,
especially during the holidays. There are so many errands to run, goodies to
bake and gists to wrap that we forget the spirit of Christmas, sharing the
good news of Jesus' birth with others by showing our love and generosity.
When you take the time to encourage someone, it might be the small act that
changes his or her entire life! Go the extra mile for someone in need --
become involved in your community. The art of kindness is in you.
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December 8th - The Immaculate Conception
(Declared a dogma December 8, 1854 by Pius IX)
On this day, so dear to every Catholic heart, we celebrate first of all the
moment when Almighty God, in a vision telescoping the ages, showed Mary both
to our first parents and to the demon, as the Virgin Mother of the future
divine Redeemer, the Woman destined to crush the proud head of the serpent.
This episode is narrated in the first book of Scripture, Genesis chapter 3.
We find Her again in the last canonical prophecy of the Bible, the
Apocalypse or Revelation of Saint John the Apostle, as the Woman clothed
with the sun, having on Her head a crown of twelve stars. In this beautiful
vision She is also identified with the persecuted Apostolic Church, obliged
to flee into the "desert", and as the Mother of a great Head of that Church,
destined to govern the flock of the latter times in the final combat, who
like that flock is Her own Child. (chapter 12) Mary, like Her Son, is at the
beginning and the end of all God's intentions, an integral part of His
designs for the Redemption of the human race.
Since by eternal decree She was exempted from all stain of original sin from
the first moment of Her Creation, and was endowed with the richest treasures
of grace and sanctity, it is fitting that we honor Her glorious prerogatives
by this special feast of the Immaculate Conception. We should join in spirit
with the Blessed in heaven and rejoice with our dear Mother, not only for
Her own sake, but for ours, Her children, for we are partakers of Her glory
and happiness. "The treasures of the mother are the heritage of the
children," said Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus.
We celebrate at the same time the ever-memorable day, the 8th of December of
1854, which raised the Immaculate Conception of Our Blessed Lady from a
pious belief to the dignity of a dogma of the infallible Church, causing a
great and universal joy among the faithful. The Holy See had already
permitted the feast day from the time of Sixtus IV, by his papal bull *****
Praecelsa (1477), formally allowing its celebration for all dioceses
desiring it. In 1854, the ancient faith of the people in their Mother
exulted.
Reflection: Let us repeat frequently these words applied by the Church to
the Blessed Virgin: "Thou art all fair, O Mary! and there is no stain in
Thee" (Cant. 4:7).
Sources: The Holy Bible: Old and New Testaments; Little Pictorial Lives of
the Saints, a compilation based on Butler's Lives of the Saints and other
sources, by John Gilmary Shea (Benziger Brothers: New York, 1894).
Bible Quote:
26 And in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God into a city
of Galilee, called Nazareth, 27 To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was
Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. 28 And the
angel being come in, said unto her: Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with
thee: blessed art thou among women. (Luke 1:26-28 )
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Martyrology
At Treves, St. Eucharius, who was a disciple of St. Peter the Apostle, and
first Bishop of Treves.
At Alexandria, St. Macarius, martyr. In the time of Decius, the judge tried
by many arguments to persuade him to deny Christ, but he confessed the faith
with all the greater firmness. Finally, he was ordered to be burned alive.
In Cyprus, St. Sophronius, bishop. He was a wonderful protector of wards,
orphans, and widows, and a helper of all the poor and oppressed.
In the monastery of Luxeuil in Gaul, St. Romaricus, abbot. He had very high
rank at the court of King Theodebert, but, forsaking the world, he exceeded
others in his observance of the monastic life.
At Constantinople, St. Patapius, hermit, who was renowned for his virtues
and miracles.
At Rome, the finding of the bodies of the holy martyrs Nemesius, deacon, his
daughter the virgin Lucina, Symphronius, Olympius the tribune, Exuperia, his
wife, and Theodulus, his son. Commemoration of them is made on August 25.
At Verona, the ordination of St. Zeno, bishop.
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Prayer
Blessed art Thou, O Christ our God: Thou hast revealed the
fishermen as most wise By sending down upon them the Holy
Spirit; Through them thou drewest the world into Thy net.
Lover of humanity, glory to Thee!
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
Grant swift and steadfast consolation to Thy servants,
Lord Jesus Christ, When our spirit is downcast within us.
Do not depart from our souls in affliction Do not be far from our
thoughts in time of trouble, but always defend us.
Draw near to us, for Thou art present everywhere. As Thou art
ever with Thy Apostles, So also, bountiful One, unite Thyself to
those who long for Thee, That with one accord we may sing
praise to Thee And to Thy most Holy Spirit.
Now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Sovereign Lady, thou art the hope and refuge of Christians,
The unassailable wall, and the haven untouched by storms.
Most pure Theotokos, as thou didst save the world by thy
unceasing intercessions, So call us also to remembrance,
Blessed Virgin, worthy of all praise.
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