*A New Year's Wish To All.................December 31

Glory to God in highest heaven,

Who unto man His Son hath given;

While angels sing with tender mirth,

A glad new year to all the earth.

Martin Luther

*Glory to God..........December 30

"Christ saved men not with thunder and lightning,

but as a wailing babe in the manger

and as a silent sufferer upon the Cross."

St. Jerome

from http://www.AskACatholic.com.

Polish words at top say "Happy Holy Days of God's Birth" (probably referring to the "Twelve Days of Christmas" (through Epiphany).

Angel's banner has the Latin "GLORIA IN EXCELSIS DEO" (literally, "Glory to God in the heights").

Below the clouds are banners (in the colors of Poland's flag), crossed spears, a crown, and the Polish "coat of arms" (a stylized white eagle on a red background).

*Silent Adoration..........Decembere 29

"Gaze upon Christ,

Consider Him,

Contemplate Him and desire to imitate Him."

St. Clare of Assisi to her nuns

*Feast of the Holy Family......December 28

Feast of the Holy Family supersedes the Feast of the Holy Innocents when the date falls on a Sunday.

"We can't help thinking of the millions who aren't given a chance to be born, the little ones killed in the womb. ....Child Jesus, help us protect and defend life."

from MY DAILY VISITOR, November/December 2008

Feast of the Holy Family calls us to commemorate the life of Jesus, Mary and Joseph and to model our family life after theirs.

Joseph provided, Mary took care of the family in her
home and would have taught Jesus Scriptures and prayers of their people.

Make of your home a family church in which to find sanctification. Put Christ at the center of all individual and family life by working and praying together, reading Scriptures and worshiping as a unit.

.....parts taken fromwww.aquinasandmore

*St. John, Apostle and Evangelist......December 27

FEAST OF ST. JOHN,

Apostle and Evangelist


"We have come to know and to believe

in the love God has for us.

God is love,

and whoever remains in love

remains in God and God in him"

(1 John 4:16).

Read about St. John the Apostle

*St. Stephen..........December 26

FEAST OF ST. STEPHEN

First Martyr

The martyr bears witness to the faith

by remaining true

to the point of death.

St. Stephen information

*Joyous Christmas...December 25

Prayers are being made for you

On this Christmas Day,

Prayers that God may bless you

In His own loving way,

Prayers that He may send you

From His home above,

His greatest and most priceless gifts

Of Faith, Hope and Love.

Wishing all who come

to this blog the most

joyful and blessed

Christmas.

Today we have

received HIM whom

we love and who loves

us more.

Thank you all for the blessings you share with me.

I consider each and every one of you

a gift from God.

Hugs to all,

Micki and Family

*Mary's Music..........December 24

Jesus comes down from heaven

to establish a dwelling place among us.

Mary gives the music of her heart to

accompany the gift she brings.

The Latin words on this card mean the following:

"O Queen conceived without original sin, pray for us."

*Child Jesus..........December 23

"God became a little child

to enter into our world;

our becoming childlike

is a sure way to enter into His kingdom."

from MY DAILY VISITOR,

November/December 2008

*Is He Here Yet?..........December 22

Are you ready for God,
the almighty, all-perfect, all-knowing?
Are you prepared for HIM to come?
Is there anything that should be
"cleaned up" in your life
to prepare for His coming?

from Creative Communications "Prepared?"

*Fourth Sunday of Advent........December 21

"O God,

fill us with a holy longing

for the coming of your Son, Jesus,

to brighten our dark and dreary world."

from LIVING IN HOPE,

Henri Nouwen's writings

*Courage..........December 20

Mary's courage is one of love....in just five days She courageously gives us Him.

"Courage does not always roar.

Sometimes it is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying,

I will try again tomorrow."

Anonymous

French Translation:

"O Jesus, You gave Yourself completely to me.

I give myself to You without reserve and forever!"

*God's Presence..........December 19

"Joy, it has been said, is the sure sign of God's presence. Those who live in the Spirit of Jesus are happy, grateful, compassionate and generous people.

As we welcome the coming of the Lord into our hearts and our homes, let us be prepared for the joy of Emmanuel, God with us."

from WAKE UP TO JOY, Mark Neilsen

*Waiting for the One We Love......December 18

"Advent...leads to a growing inner stillness and joy allowing me to realize that the One for whom I am waiting has already arrived and speaks to me in the silence of my heart."

from the writings of Henri Nouwen

*Make Ready for Him..........December 17

As the children make ready for

His coming by placing statues

in the creche, let us remember

during this Advent day, to open

our minds and hearts and

invite the Holy Spirit to prepare

us for Christ's coming in such

a short time.

*Jesus in Cradle..........December 16

As we fix our attention on Jesus
and the manger this Advent,
let's also turn our gaze
to the final home
He has prepared for us

--heaven.

French Translation:

"O Humble Maidservant of the Lord, your sacrifice begins with your joy. Sweet Jesus is born to you, but He is in poverty and destitution."

*Pray one Our Father..........December 15

"It is better to say one Our Father
fervently and devoutly
than a thousand with no devotion
and full of distraction."

St. Edmund

*Third Sunday of Advent..........December 14

Advent Thought

Three words for the Third Week of Advent
Happy, Hopeful, Anticipation

Feast of St. John of the Cross

"In the dark night of the soul, bright flows the river of God"

St. John of the Cross

Read about St. John of the Cross

*St. Lucy........December 13

Lucy's feast is celebrated during the season of Advent, when we wait for the coming of Christ our Light.

Lucy, whose name means "light," kept the light of her faith burning.

Perhaps because her name means "light,"

she is the patron of eyes.





Read about St. Lucy

*Our Lady of Guadalupe..........December 12

"For we are certain

that as long as you are recognized

as Queen and Mother,

Mexico and America

will be safe."

Pope Pius XII

*Meet Christ..........December 11

"We can't meet Him there (in our hearts) if we can't meet the naked Christ in the street."

St. Basil

Often we limit ourselves to visiting the child Jesus in the decorated crib in the church and forget the Christ who is amidst the poor and hungry. This Advent, let's come out of our narrow worlds and meet Christ in our life situations.

from MY DAILY VISITOR, Dec. 7

German words mean:

"Let us love Him, because He first loved us."

(based on 1 John 4:19)

*God's Love..........December 10

Let us think of God's love during

this second week of Advent.

God's love made human in the baby Jesus.

*St. Juan Diego..........December 9

"For I am a merciful Mother to thee and to all thy fellow people on this earth who love me and trust me and invoke my help. I listen to their lamentations and solace all their suffering..........."

Words spoken to Juan Diego from the Blessed Virgin Mary

Read St. Diego's instructions from Mary regarding her wishes here

*Feast of the Immaculate Conception..........December 8

Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.

Blessed art thou among women.

We firmly believe that Mary was shielded from all stain of sin by the the grace of God.

She was the first tabernacle to hold the body of Christ.

The Immaculate Conception

Patron of America

Read about OUR LADY OF AMERICA

http://oltiv.org./

http://www.ourladyofamerica.com/
http://www.ourladyofamerica.org/

Latin words mean, "A New Star, the Immaculate Virgin."

*Second Sunday of Advent........December 7

This Advent let us prepare for God's coming through humility and repentance.

Let your "precious guide" help you on your way to Confession/Reconciliation.

*St. Nicholas..........December 6

St. Nicholas was known for his charity. Let us look closer at our thoughts regarding material goods in this Christmas season and find ways to share more with those in real need.

There is a legend that St. Nicholas raised three children from the dead who had been killed and put into a barrel, and thus became the patron saint of children. Legend grew so that he became associated with helping and loving children, and this also contributed to the legend of Santa Claus.

Read more about St. Nicholas.

Here is a translation of the French words on the front of today's St. Nicholas card:[The hanging sign says, "Butcher Shop"]

[At the bottom:] "St. Nicholas and the Miracle of the Three Little Children. Ask him for his help in your small troubles. He will protect you from dangers of the present day, and he will maintain the faith in your serene souls. Never in vain did a child invoke his assistance."I looked at the poem on the back of the card and got a very rough translation of it. I decided not to perfect the translation because the text is pretty gruesome (about the butcher's preparation to kill the kids), and I don't think that it adds anything of value.

*Desiring to Receive..........December 5

"I love so much a soul's desire to receive Me,

that I hasten to it

each time it summons Me

by its yearnings."

Words of Jesus to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque

*Stairway of Heaven..........December 4

Mary may be truly called the Stairway of Heaven.

By her God descended from heaven to the world

so that by her we might ascend

from earth to heaven.

St. Fulgentius

[At the top:] The Imitation of Jesus Christ, or the Three Degrees of Perfect Conformity.

[In the halos:] Let us go! ... Thus, Father ... Let it be done, let it be done, let it be done.

[At the bottom:] In the first, one accepts the Cross with resignation ...In the second, one accepts the way with filial submission ...In the third, one embraces it with faith and love.

.

*Feast of St. Francis Xavier......December 3

"It is not the actual physical exertion

that counts toward a man's progress,

nor the nature of the task,

but the spirit of faith with which it is undertaken."

St. Francis Xavier

Read about St. Francis Xavier

St. Francis Xavier - Friend of Children

*Church..........December 2

"A church is a hospital for sinners,

not a museum for saints."

L.L. Nash

*Religious Nuns..........December 1

"No one has a right to sit down and feel hopeless.

There's too much work to do."

Dorothy Day

Let us thank in prayerful remembrance, all that the

religious sisters have given to us in their teaching, nursing, and holy prayer filled lives.

*First Sunday of Advent..........November 30

Come, Lord Jesus!

Prepare our hearts for your arrival.

*Jesus My Source..........November 29

Happiness keeps you sweet,

Trials keep you strong,

Sorrows keep you human,

Failures keep you humble,

Success keeps you glowing,

But only God keeps you going.

From an e-mail

*Come to Jesus..........November 28

In Loving Thee I Will Suffer With Thee

O Mary, grant me the graces God intends for me this day. Then offer to your Divine Son all the good works that I do as a result of these graces.

*Thanksgiving Day..........November 27

Happy Thanksgiving to all those who visit this blog. I am so very thankful to all who stop by and hopefully receive some inspiration or enjoyment. You are all in my prayers today.

God bless you all.

A Thanksgiving Prayer

Oh, God, when I have food,

help me to remember the hungry.

When I have work,

help me to remember the jobless.

When I have a warm home,

help me to remember the homeless.

When I am without pain,

help me to remember those who suffer.

And remembering, help me

to destroy my complacency

and bestir my compassion.

Make me concerned enough to help, by word and deed, those who cry out for what we take for granted.

Samuel F. Pugh

*O Holy Angels..........November 26

"O Holy angels,

make me see God on the altar

as you see Him in heaven."

Blessed Brother Andre

*Bring a Basket..........November 25

When you go to Communion

Jesus wants to give you so many graces.

Too bad some people come with a thimble

instead of a bushel basket.

Anonymous

*Come to Me..........November 24

"........come to me........learn from me."
Matthew 11:28-29

Go to Him, He is the way, the truth, and the life.

Go to Him, learn how He lived and what He thought.

Go to Him, He will teach you the way to God.

Go to Him if you are weary of life.

Go to Him, He will lift your burdens.

Go to Him if you want clarity and direction for your life.

Go to Him, He will comfort you and give rest to your soul.

Translation at the top: "God is stern only toward the ungrateful."At the bottom: "Bless my love, which has protected you. ... And see how these souls are to be pitied. ... They do not even know that they have a heart capable of loving their God!"

*Feast of Christ the King.......November 23

Crown Him with many crowns,

The Lamb upon his throne;

All kingdoms of the earth resound

in praise of Him alone.

Awake my soul and sing,

Of Him who died for thee,

And hail Him as thy risen King

For all eternity.

*St. Cecilia..........November 22

"Like any good Christian,

Cecilia sang in her heart, and sometimes with her voice. She has become a symbol of the Church's conviction that good music is an integral part of the liturgy,

of greater value to the Church than any other art. "

Above taken from Saint of the Day

Read about St. Cecilia

This particular series of holy cards, called "Cielo", features an art form where only the main character is in color. The background behind the main person is all in black and white.

*Presentation of Mary..........November 21

"Tradition tells us that the Blessed Virgin Mary was vowed to God by her parents, St. Joachim and St. Ann, and taken by them to the temple when she was three years old

PRAYER.......Today we celebrate the glorious memory of the most holy Virgin Mary. Grant, Lord, that through her intercession we too may receive many graces from Your superabundant bounty. Amen "

From......"Lives of the Saints"

Read about The Presentation

Translation - French words:
"THE PRESENTATION OF MARY AT THE TEMPLE. Mary heard the voice of her Well-Beloved. She understood that He wanted her for Himself and, obedient to His voice, she came to dedicate herself to Him without reserve."

"This is My Body"..........November 20

"He is everything for everybody,

everywhere,

every time,

and every way.

He is God,

He is faithful.

I am His, and He is mine!

He said it and that settles it.

God is in control,

I am on His side,

and that means all is well with my soul."

Anonymous

*Confession.........November 19

"The sin of the century

is the loss of the sense of sin."

"I have never heard a confession

that was worse than the first one I made

when I returned to the Church."

quotes from Father John Corapi, SOLT

(Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity)

*Our Lady of the Aborigines..........November 18

"Let Mary never be far from your lips or heart.

And to obtain the fruit of her prayers,

do not forget the example of her life.

With her support, you will never fall.

Beneath her protection, you will never fear.

Under her guidance, you will never tire.
And with her help, you will reach your heavenly goal."

St. Bernard of Clairvaux

St. Elizabeth of Hungary........November 17

Patroness of the Franciscan Third Order and of all Catholic Charities.

Prayer

God,

You taught St. Elizabeth to recognize

and serve Christ in the poor.

Grant, through her intercession,

that we may always lovingly serve the needy

and the oppressed.

Amen

from: "Lives of the Saints"

Read about St. Elizabeth

The following comes from Janette. Thank you. It's just too precious not to pass on.

St Elizabeth of Hungary, when she was a little girl and used to play about the palace with her companions, would always pick a spot near the chapel so that every now and then, without being noticed, she might stop by the chapel door, kiss the lock, and say to Jesus, "My Jesus, I am playing, but I am not forgetting You. Bless me and my companions. Goodbye."

My Heavy Cross..........November 14

He Has Loved Us All

O Divine crucified One,

when my strength leaves me,

when the cross weighs heavily upon me,

I fall,

do Thou raise me up.