Day: December 1, 2024

Posted in DECEMBER - The DIVINE INFANCY and The IMMACULATE CONCEPTION, PRAYERS to the DIVINE INFANT JESUS, The DIVINE INFANT

DECEMBER: – The Month of Devotion to The DIVINE INFANCY and The IMMACULATE CONCEPTION of the BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

Posted on by AnaStpaul

DECEMBER:
The Month of Devotion to The DIVINE INFANCY
and The IMMACULATE CONCEPTION
of the BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

The observance of Divine Infancy Month recalls the first Christmas more than 2,000 years ago when Jesus humbled Himself and became Completely Human, while remaining Completely Divine.
The Blessed Virgin Mary was chosen to be the glorious Tabernacle of the Son of God. Therefore, in the first moment of her existence, God, called her into being that she might assume the exalted dignity of the Mother of His Son and, therefore, granted her the singular privilege of exemption from Original Sin.

Look to Our Lady – she is already waiting at the crib, desiring to teach us to make our hearts a pleasant crib for the Christ Child to dwell in.

Cultivate a spirit of prayer and attentiveness to His Presence as the Divine Infant by adopting Aspirations suitable to the season, such as:

Divine Infant King Jesus, come down into our hearts!
​
​Lord Jesus, through Thy Infant cries in the manger,
when Thou was born for me;
through Thy tears, when Thou died for me on the Cross;
throughThy love, as Thou do live for me
in the Tabernacle, have mercy upon me and save me.
Amen!

Posted in ADVENT QUOTES, ADVENT REFLECTIONS, Meditations for ADVENT

Thought for the Day – 1 December – What is Advent?

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Thought for the Day – 1 December – Meditations with Fr Richard Frederick Clarke SJ (1839-1900)

Meditations for Advent
From “The Devout Year”
By Fr Richard Frederick Clarke SJ (1839-1900)

What is Advent?

+I. Advent is the season when we are taught to look forward, both to the First Coming of Our Lord into the world at Christmas-time and also, to His Second Coming at the end of time, to judge the living and the dead .
His First Coming was to seek and to save that which was lost. His
Second Coming will be, to gather His elect into the Celestial Paradise and, to trample all His enemies under His feet.
Shall I, on that day, be regarded by Him as a friend or as an enemy? Is my present life one of devotion to Him and union with Him, or one of selfishness, pride, impatience of the yoke of Christ?

+2. Of all the miracles in the world, never was there one to be compared to His Coming on earth in the form of a man. It was a miracle so entirely above and beyond our reason that, unless we knew it by faith, to be a fact, we should be inclined to pronounce it impossible.
That the Infinite God should take the form of a creature! that the Eternal Word should be clad in a body formed of the dust of the earth! that He should, of His Own accord leave the highest heaven for a life of suffering and a death of agony! Nothing but the power of God could work such a wonder as this!

+3. Yet, we know that it is a fact . “For us men and for our salvation He came down from heaven.”
He yearned after us with a Divine Love. Willingly , joyfully, almost eagerly, He stripped Himself of all His glory. “He humbled Himself and became obedient unto death.”
Who, after this, can refuse to believe that He loved us and still loves us fondly, tenderly? Who can refuse to love Him in return and, to show this love by a loyal obedience to all He asks of us?

Posted in ADVENT QUOTES, CATECHESIS, CHRIST the LIGHT, CHRIST the SUN of JUSTICE, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, MARCH the month of ST JOSEPH, QUOTES on GRACE, QUOTES on PEACE, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, SEPTEMBER-The SEVEN SORROWS of MARY and The HOLY CROSS, St JOSEPH, The DIVINE INFANT, The HEART, The HOLY CROSS

Quote/s of the Day – 1 December – ‘Open your heart and run to meet the Sun of Eternal Light …’

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Quote/s of the Day – 1 December – “The Month of the Divine Infancy and the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary” – The First Sunday of Advent

“Open wide your door to the One who comes.
Open your soul,
throw open the depths of your heart
to see the riches of simplicity,
the treasures of peace,
the sweetness of grace.
Open your heart
and run to meet
the Sun of Eternal Light
Who illuminates all men.”

St Ambrose (340-397)
Father and Doctor of the Church

“And the Lord God shall give unto Him
the throne of David, His father
and He shall reign in the house of Jacob forever.
And of His Kingdom there shall be no end.”

Luke 1:32-33

“What is said of the House of David
applies, not only to Joseph but also to Mary.
It was a precept of the law that each man should marry
a wife from his own tribe and kindred.”

St Bede the Venerable (673-735)
Father and Doctor of the Church

“The day will come when this Child
will no longer be offered in the Temple,
nor in Simeon’s arms
but outside the City
in the arms of the Cross.
The day will come when He
will not be redeemed
by the blood of a sacrifice
but redeem others ,
with His own Blood. …”
That will be the evening sacrifice;
this is the morning sacrifice;
this one is the happiest
but that one is the most complete;
for this one was offered
at the time of birth
and that one will be offered
in the fullness of time,..”

St Bernard (1091-1153)
Mellifluous Doctor of the Church

Posted in CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on THE WORLD, The KINGDOM of GOD / HEAVEN, The SECOND COMING, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 1 December – … Know that the Kingdom of God is near. – Luke 21:29-31

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One Minute Reflection – 1 December – “The Month of the Divine Infancy and the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary” – The First Sunday of Advent – Romans 13:11-14; Luke 21:25-33 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“Look at the fig tree and all the trees, when they produce their fruit you know that summer is near. So too, when you see these things happening, know that the Kingdom of God is near.” – Luke 21:29-31

REFLECTION – “Look at the fig tree and all the trees, when they produce their fruit you know that summer is near. So too, when you see these things happening, know that the Kingdom of God is near.” He means that just as the coming of summer is recognised by the fruit on the trees, so is the nearness of the Kingdom of God recognised by the destruction of the world. These words show that the fruit of the world is destruction – it increases only to fall, it produces, only to destroy by its disasters whatever it produces. The Kingdom of God is aptly compared to summer because, it is then that the clouds of our sorrow pass away and the days of life shine with the brightness of the Eternal Sun. …

“Heaven and earth will pass away but My words will not pass away.” Nothing among material realities is more lasting than the heavens and the earth and nothing among realities, passes away, as quickly as an utterance. … Therefore, the Lord declares: “Heaven and earth will pass away but My words will not pass away.” He means: “Nothing that is lasting in your world lasts for eternity without change and everything that in Me, is perceived as passing away, is kept firm, without passing away. My utterance, which passes away, expresses thoughts that endure without change.” …

Therefore, my friends, do not love what you see cannot long exist. Keep in mind the Apostle John’s precept, in which he counsels us not “to love the world or the things in the world because, if anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him” (1 Jn 2:15). – St Gregory the Great (540-604) Pope, Father and Doctor of the Church (Sermons on the Gospels No 1 )

PRAYER – O God, Who, by the message of an Angel, willed to take flesh in the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary, grant we, Thou suppliants, who believe her to be truly the Mother of God, maybe aided by her intercession with Thee. Through the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).

Posted in ADVENT PRAYERS, BREVIARY Prayers, CATHOLIC-PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH, CHRISTMAS Prayers & Hymns, HYMNS, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the CHURCH

Our Morning Offering – 1 December – O Come, O come, Emmanuel

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Our Morning Offering – 1 December – “The Month of the Divine Infancy and the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary” – The First Sunday of Advent

O Come, O come, Emmanuel

O Come, O come, Emmanuel
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear.
Refrain:
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel!

O come, Thou Wisdom, from on high
And order all things far and nigh,
To us the path of knowledge show
And teach us in her ways to go.
Refrain

O come, o come, Thou Lord of might,
Who to Thy tribes on Sinai’s height
In ancient times did give the law,
In cloud and majesty and awe.
Refrain

O come, Thou Rod of Jesse’s stem,
From ev’ry foe deliver them
That trust Thy mighty power to save
And give them vict’ry o’er the grave.
Refrain

O come, Thou Key of David, come
And open wide our heav’nly home,
Make safe the way that leads on high,
That we no more have cause to sigh.
Refrain

O come, Thou Dayspring from on high
And cheer us by Thy drawing nigh.
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night
And death’s dark shadow put to flight.
Refrain

O come, Desire of nations, bind
In one the hearts of all mankind.
Bid every strife and quarrel cease
And fill the world with heaven’s peace.
Refrain

The favourite O Come, O Come Emmanuel carol was originally written in Latin text in the 12th Century. The author of the words and composer to the music of O Come, O Come Emmanuel is unknown. It is, however, believed that the melody was of French origin and added to the text a hundred years later. The Latin was translated into English by John Mason Neale in 1851.

Posted in SAINT of the DAY

Saint of the Day – 1 December – Saint Castritian of Milan (3rd Century) Bishop

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Saint of the Day – 1 December – Saint Castritian of Milan (3rd Century) Bishop, constructer of the first and many more Churches in Milan. Also known as – Castritianus, Castritiano.

The Roman Martyrology reads today: “At Milan, St Castritian, the Bishop, who was eminent for virtues and the practice of pious and religious deeds in very troubled times for the Church.”

Castritian He was the third bishop of Milan in the first decades of the 3rd Century. According to the Datiana Historia of the 11th Century, his election, however, would have taken place much earlier, after eleven years of Episcopal vacancy, due to the persecution of Domitian.

Castritian would have governed the Milanese Church for forty-one years. The holy Bishop is attributed with the construction of the first Church of Milan, located in the area of ​​the current St Ambrose Basilica and, furthermore, the construction of the Basilica Porziana, in the area of ​​the current Basilica of St Vittore al Corpo and of the Basilica St Fausta which would be the current Chapel of St Vittore in Ciel d’Oro, near the Basilica of St Ambrose.

From the same 11th Century source, we discover that, having died on 1 December, Castritian was buried in the Cemetery, located along the Via Romana (which corresponds to the current Corso Roma). The ancient Milanese catalogues contrast with this report which, although agreeing on the date of Castritian’s death, says that he was buried in the Basilica of St John within the City walls. From this disagreement, the inference is drawn, according to which, the Relics of our Saint were translated in a later period from the Cemetery along the Via Romana to the Church of St John in Conca. This Church, desecrated in 1810, and was subsequently almost completely demolished. Sadly, all trace of St Castritian’s Relics has been lost.

Posted in MARIAN TITLES, SAINT of the DAY

The First Sunday of Advent, The Third Day of the Immaculate Conception Novena, December Devotion, Our Lady of Ratisbon, Bavaria (1842) and Memorials of the Saints – 1 December

Posted on by AnaStpaul

The First Sunday of Advent

DECEMBER: Month of Devotion to The DIVINE INFANCY
and The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Novena in Honour of the Immaculate Conception
of the Blessed Virgin Mary – LINK: THE THIRD DAY – 1 December

Our Lady of Ratisbon, Bavaria (1842) – 1 December:
HERE:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/12/01/our-lady-of-ratisbon-bavaria-1842-and-memorials-of-the-saints-1-december/

St Agericus of Verdun
St Agnofleta
St Alexander Briant
St Ambon of Rome
St Ananias of Arbela
St Ansanus the Baptizer
Bl Antony Bonfadini
St Candida of Rome
St Candres of Maestricht
St Cassian of Rome
St Castritian of Milan (3rd Century) Bishop
Bl Christian of Perugia
St Constantine of Javron
St Declan
St Didorus
St Domnolus of Le Mans

Bl Edmund Campion SJ (1540-1581 aged 41) Martyr, Priest of the Society of Jesus, one of the Forty Martyrs of England and Wales, Poet, Writer.
About dear Bl Edmund:
https://anastpaul.wordpress.com/2016/12/01/saint-of-the-day-1-december/

St Eligius (c588-660) “Good St Eligius” Bishop, Goldsmith, Royal Courtier and adviser to the King, peace-maker, servant of the poor and of slaves. He founded Monasteries and donated his own property for the founding of the first female Monastery in the area.
The wonderful St Eligius:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/12/01/saint-of-the-day-1-december-good-st-eligius-st-eligius-of-noyon-c-588-660/

St Evasius of Asti (Died c362) Bishop Martyr, Missionary. Miracle-worker
His Life and Death:
https://anastpaul.com/2023/12/01/saint-of-the-day-1-december-saint-evasius-of-asti-died-c362-bishop-martyr/

St Filatus of Rome
St Florence of Poitiers
St Florentius
St Grwst
St Jabinus of Rome and Companions

Blessed John Beche OSB (Died 1539) Benedictine Abbot Martyr. The Last Abbot of St John in Colchester, friend of St John Fisher and St Thomas More, both Martyrs.
His Life and Death:
https://anastpaul.com/2022/12/01/saint-of-the-day-1-december-blessed-john-beche-osb-died-1539-abbot-martyr/

St Latinus of Rome
St Leontius of Fréjus
St Lucius of Rome
St Marianus
St Marina of Rome
St Martinus
St Nahum the Prophet
St Natalia of Nicomedia
St Olympiades
St Proculus of Narni
St Resignatus of Maastricht
Bl Richard Langley
St Rogatus of Rome
St Simon of Cyrene
St Superatus of Rome
St Ursicinus of Brescia

Martyrs of Oxford University: A joint commemoration of all the men who studied at one of the colleges of Oxford University and who were later Martyred for their loyalty to the Catholic Church during the official persecutions in the Protestant Reformation in England under Elizabeth I.
They are: Blessed Edward James • Blessed Edward Powell • Blessed Edward Stransham • Blessed George Napper • Blessed George Nichols • Blessed Hugh More • Blessed Humphrey Pritchard • Blessed James Bell • Blessed James Fenn • Blessed John Bodey • Blessed John Cornelius • Blessed John Forest • Blessed John Ingram • Blessed John Mason • Blessed John Munden • Blessed John Shert • Blessed John Slade • Blessed John Storey • Blessed Lawrence Richardson • Blessed Mark Barkworth • Blessed Richard Bere • Blessed Richard Rolle de Hampole • Blessed Richard Sergeant • Blessed Richard Thirkeld • Blessed Richard Yaxley • Blessed Robert Anderton • Blessed Robert Nutter • Blessed Robert Widmerpool • Blessed Stephen Rowsham • Blessed Thomas Belson • Blessed Thomas Cottam • Blessed Thomas Pilcher • Blessed Thomas Plumtree • Blessed Thomas Reynolds • Blessed William Filby • Blessed William Hart • Blessed William Hartley • Saint Alexander Briant • Saint Cuthbert Mayne • Saint Edmund Campion • Saint John Boste • Saint John of Bridlington • Saint John Roberts • Saint Ralph Sherwin • Saint Thomas Garnet • Saint Thomas More.