Saint Andrew Christmas Novena

Today is the Feast Day of Saint Andrew the Apostle. As Our Blessed Mother Mary always leads us to Jesus, Saint Andrew brought others to Jesus. Andrew told his brother Simon: We have found the Messiah, the Christ; and he brought him to Jesus. 

When Jesus called Andrew and his brother Simon Peter, He said to them, "Come, follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men." Matthew 4:19

They immediately dropped their fishing nets and followed him. Let us say Yes to Jesus the way Andrew, Simon and Our Blessed Mother Mary did. Let us call on their intercession in our need.

A novena is normally a nine day prayer, the term is sometimes used for any prayer that is repeated over a series of days. This prayer is often called the "Christmas Novena" or the "Christmas Anticipation Prayer" because it is prayed 15 times every day from the Feast of Saint Andrew the Apostle until Christmas. The first Sunday of Advent is the Sunday closest to the Feast of Saint Andrew.

The novena is not actually addressed to Saint Andrew but to God Himself, asking Him to grant our request in the honor of the birth of His Son at Christmas. You can say the prayer all 15 times, all at once; or divide up the recitation as necessary, perhaps five times at each meal. Prayed as a family, the Saint Andrew Christmas Novena is a very good way to help focus the attention of your children on the Advent season.

Saint Andrew Christmas Novena
Hail and blessed be the hour and moment in which the Son of God was born of the most pure Virgin Mary, at midnight, in Bethlehem, in the piercing cold. In that hour, vouchsafe, O my God, to hear my prayer and grant my desires, through the merits of Our Savior Jesus Christ, and of His Blessed Mother. Amen.

Saint Andrew, you gave your life to follow Jesus. Help us offer our lives to follow Him in all we do and in all we say. Saint Andrew, pray for us.

St. Catherine Labouré and the Miraculous Medal

Today is the Feast Day of Saint Catherine Labouré. In 1830, Sister Catherine was entrusted with the mission of making and distributing the Medal of the Immaculate Conception, now known as the Miraculous Medal. On the Saturday before the first Sunday of Advent, she and her Sisters were gathered in the chapel for afternoon prayers. Suddenly Our Lady appeared to Catherine.  

At first Mary appeared standing on a globe and dressed in white having with a long white veil which fell to her feet. The Virgin held in her hands, at the height of her shoulders, a golden ball which she seemed to be offering to God as she raised her eyes to heaven. Her fingers were covered with rings whose precious jewels sparkled brilliantly and showered down innumerable rays of light on the globe beneath her feet, almost obscuring the view of her feet. Mary lowered her eyes and looked directly at Catherine. Mary said nothing, but Catherine heard this message, "The ball which you see represents the world, especially France, and each person in particular. These rays symbolize the graces I shed upon those who ask for them. The jewels which give no rays symbolize the graces that are not given because they are not asked for." 

Then the apparition changed. Our Lady appeared with a white dress, a blue mantle, and a white veil which draped back over her shoulders. She was still standing on the globe, and had one foot on the head of a serpent which lay at her feet. The 1830 was marked on the globe. The Virgin had her arms and hands pointed downwards, and a cascade of rays was falling down from both hands onto the globe. An oval frame formed around the Blessed Virgin, and written around within it, in letter of gold, was the beautiful prayer, 

"O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee."  

Then the vision revolved to show the reverse side of the medal. Catherine saw a Cross with a bar at its feet with which was intertwined an "M" and beneath the "M" were the Hearts of Jesus and Mary, both surmounted by flames of love, one having a crown of thorns, and the other pierced with a sword. Encircling all of this were twelve stars around the oval frame. 

Sister Catherine died on December 31, 1876. In 1895, her cause was introduced in Rome and she was beatified on May 28, 1933. When her body was exhumed, after fifty-seven years of burial, it was found to be completely incorrupt and supple. She was canonized a Saint on July 27, 1947.

Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, pray for us. Saint Catherine Labouré, pray for us and all the intentions we receive. 

Reflection: Prepare the Way of the Lord...

Be still and know that I am God.  Psalm 46:10

How can we prepare our hearts for the coming of the Baby Jesus on Christmas Day? Spend time with Jesus in Eucharistic Adoration. It is there, in the silence, that He will speak to your heart.  

The heart of the message of Advent is to bring light into a world of darkness. The Advent candles symbolize Jesus Christ, the Light of the world. It is He who can dispel the darkness and bring hope. The Lord is always coming to those who seek Him. Let us seek Him through the eyes and heart of Mary. Spend time during Advent with Mary and reflect on how she pondered God's Word. Mary invites us to be still and to listen to God.

The silent soul is capable of attaining the closest union with God.  It lives almost always under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.  Diary of Saint Faustina 198

Therefore, behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak persuasively to her. I will give her the vineyards she had and the valley of Achor as a door of hope. Hosea 2:16*17  

In the wilderness, John the Baptist proclaimed the saving Presence of God. After Jesus consented to be baptized by John, the heavens opened, and the Holy Spirit rested upon Him in the form of a dove. The voice of the Father was heard: This is My Beloved Son, listen to Him. 

The Holy Spirit, came to a deserted place to rest upon Jesus. He calls you into a deserted place, into the silence, where you can hear Him speak: You are my beloved. Come away and listen to Me.

Open the door of your heart, be still, come away and rest awhile. Jesus is waiting for you...

In Thanksgiving for you...

On this Thanksgiving Day, we give thanks for all your prayers. Every month, a Mass is offered for the John 10:10 prayer partners and all their intentions. The Lord receives all our prayers and little offerings and places them where they are needed.

Catechism of the Catholic Church #1330  The Eucharist is a sacrifice of thanksgiving to the Father, a blessing by which the Church expresses her gratitude to God for all His benefits, for all He has accomplished through creation, redemption, and sanctification.  Eucharist means, first of all, "thanksgiving."

Our Blessed Virgin Mary offered her life and gave her Fiat through her obedience and humble service. This is true worship of God, surrendering to His Will. In heaven, she leads a song of eternal praise, like incense raising up to God.

Listen, my faithful children: open up your petals, like roses planted near running waters; send up the sweet odor of incense, break forth in blossoms like the lily. Send up the sweet odor of your hymn of praise; bless the Lord for all He has done!  Sirach 39:13-14

O give thanks to the Lord for He is good; His love endures forever. Psalm 136:1

The Presentation of Mary

In accordance with Jewish custom Mary's parents, Anne and Joachim, named her eight days after her birth, and were inspired to call her Mary.

The Magnificat
The Canticle of Mary

And Mary said: “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior. For he has looked upon his handmaid’s lowliness; behold, from now on will all ages call me blessed. The Mighty One has done great things for me, and Holy is his Name." Luke 1:46-49

Let us pray the words of Saint Bernard who invites us to become a trusting child before Mary, even as the Son of God did:

Look to the star of the sea, call upon Mary. In danger, in distress, in doubt, think of Mary, call upon Mary. May her name never be far from your lips, or far from your heart. If you follow her, you will not stray; if you pray to her, you will not despair; if you turn your thoughts to her, you will not err. If she holds you, you will not fall; if she protects you, you need not fear; if she is your guide, you will not tire; if she is gracious to you, you will surely reach your destination.

The meanings ascribed to Mary's name by the early Christian writers and perpetuated by the Greek Fathers. "Bitter Sea," "Myrrh of the Sea," "The Light Giver," "The Enlightened One," "Lady," "Seal of the Lord," and "Mother of the Lord" are the principal interpretations. From the time of Saint Jerome until the 16th century, preferred interpretations of Mary's name in the West were "Lady," "Bitter Sea," "The Light Giver," and especially "Star of the Sea." Stella Maris was by far the favored interpretation. The Hebrew name of Mary, Miryãm, (in Latin Domina) means lady or sovereign; this Mary is in virtue of her Son's sovereign authority as Lord of the World.

We call Mary our Lady as we call Jesus our Lord, and when we pronounce her name we affirm her power, implore her aid and place ourselves under her protection.

Saint Ephrem said, "that the name of Mary is the key of the gates of heaven," in the hands of those who devoutly invoke it.

O Mary, on this Feast Day of your Presentation, we call upon you and entrust our prayers to you, our most loving Mother.

Feast Day of Christ, King of the Universe

The good thief, hanging next to Jesus on the cross said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into Your Kingdom." Jesus replied to him, "Amen, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise." Luke 23:42-43

Today we celebrate the Feast Day of Christ, King of the Universe. This Sunday provides a bridge to the new Church Year that begins next Sunday on the first Sunday of Advent, a time of waiting in hope and expectation, a time of longing for the coming of the Kingdom of God amid the darkness of a sinful world. It is through the Virgin Mary that we receive Christ the King into our hearts. She walked with Jesus and always brings us to Him. Mary is the guardian of our life, hidden in Christ. It is through Our Mother Mary's love that we have the knowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord.

“In that first ‘fusion’ with Jesus in Holy Communion, it was my Heavenly Mother again who accompanied me to the altar for it was she herself who placed her Jesus into my soul.”  Saint Therese of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church

"The Virgin Mary, being obedient to His Word, received from an angel the glad tidings that she would bear God."  Saint Irenaeus, Father of the Church

"I am not only the Queen of Heaven, but also the Mother of Mercy."  Our Lady to Saint Faustina

“King” was one of the earliest titles given to the Son of God. The title does not refer to a status of an earthly king, which many of the Jews had been expecting; someone to overthrow the Roman rule and be an earthly king of the Israel. Rather He came to be the spiritual king; His kingdom is in heaven, not confined to the earth alone. It is an eternal Kingdom of light and truth, of holiness and grace, of justice, love and peace.  The King is love.

And this will be made manifest at the proper time by the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords.  1 Timothy 6:15

Jesus Christ, King of Divine Majesty, have mercy on us. Remember us when You come into Your Kingdom. Blessed Mother Mary, Queen of Heaven and Earth, pray for us.

Reflection: Jesus drew near Jerusalem and He wept over it...

Jesus is our hope, our refuge and our shield. He wants to give us His peace. When we turn away from Him, we lose our peace.

Our Lady of Fatima appeared to the shepherd children and told them to pray the rosary daily for peace.  Let us pray for peace in the world, in our families and in our hearts. Let us entrust our lives and our families to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

"As Jesus drew near Jerusalem, He saw the city and He wept over it, saying 'If this day, you only knew what makes for peace, but now it is hidden from your eyes. For the days are coming upon you, when your enemies will raise a palisade against you; they will encircle you and hem you in on all sides. They will smash you to the ground and your children within you and they will not leave one stone upon another within you because you did not recognize the time of your visitation.'" Luke 19:41-44

When we turn away by sinning, Jesus weeps...When we turn back to Him, heaven rejoices...

In the midst of the trials and tribulations of this world, Jesus is knocking at the door of your heart. Open the door and invite Him in.

Come to the Throne of Mercy where Jesus is waiting for you.  He longs for you. Through the Sacrament of Reconciliation, Jesus, forgives, heals and pours out sanctifying grace upon you. Turn to Him and you will know His peace.

Mankind will not have peace until it turns with trust to My Mercy. Diary of Saint Faustina 300

This is the time of great Mercy. Come...

In honor of our veterans...

Let us reflect and remember all those who have served our country, past and present. Almighty Father, through the powerful intercession of Mary, the Immaculate Conception, we give You thanks for all the veterans who have served and given their lives for our country. O Mary, Queen of Peace, bless and protect them and their families.

"You gave for peace with courage that families may be free so children could grow strong and safe they'd ever be.  In giving for the sake of peace, you may have suffered loss. Your body may still show its wounds from taking up the cause.  May remembrance of your time away, your sacrifice for peace spur us on to strive more strongly for freedom, that there'll be release.  From causes that sent some away to fight that we may freely live with gratefulness we thank you, Veterans, for all you gave and give!" Prayer by Susan Helene Kramer

Blessed Mother Mary, protect our veterans and their families, especially their children. Bring comfort and peace to those who have lost loved ones defending our country. We are honored to have you as the Patroness of America because you are the most powerful intercessor.

In tribute to a special Vietnam veteran, Poppy, grandfather of Lily Grace and Norah.

Mary, the Immaculate Conception, Patroness of the United States, pray for us...

America, our country is truly blessed. God, through the powerful intercession of Mary, the Immaculate Conception, has shed His grace on America. May He continue to do so from sea to shining sea! May we elect a President today who will uphold the sanctity of life, religious freedom and marriage..

Blessed Mother Mary, protect our country. We are honored to have you as the Patroness of America as our most powerful intercessor.

By a decree from the First Council of Baltimore, Mary in her Immaculate Conception, was elected as our principal Patron. A patron is one who has been assigned, or in this case, chosen by election, as a special intercessor before God.

Saint Louis de Montfort, in his renowned manuscript True Devotion to Mary, boldly suggested that Christ is weak in front of His Mother. It’s as if He can’t say “No” to her! The Catechism of the Catholic Church (969) states that the Blessed Virgin is invoked under the title Mediatrix of all grace. While no creature measures up to the one and only Redeemer, we profess that Mary cooperates in a unique way in her Son’s redemptive mission. She knows what is best for her children and so intercedes for us before the very source of all grace, Jesus Christ.

Prayer to Mary Immaculate, Patroness of our Country

Reflection: The Parable of the Lost Sheep

In the Parable of the Lost Sheep, Jesus spoke of a hundred sheep and one of them strayed. The Good Shepherd left the ninety-nine sheep and went out in search of the one who was lost.

So Jesus addressed this parable to them, "What man among you having a hundred sheep and losing one of them would not leave the ninety-nine in the desert and go after the lost one until he finds it? And when he does find it, he sets it on his shoulders with great joy and, upon his arrival home, he calls together his friends and neighbors and says to them, 'Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.'"  Luke 15:3-6

I Myself will pasture My sheep; I Myself will give them rest. The lost I will search out, the strays I will bring back, the injured, I will bind up and the sick, I will heal. Ezekiel 34:15-16

Has it been a while since you have been to Confession?

When you walk away or stray away from Jesus and from the Sacrament of Reconciliation, you are that lost sheep. When you turn to Him and receive His forgiveness at the Throne of Mercy, all the angels rejoice because you have repented, you have been found.

And when he does find it, he sets it on his shoulders with great joy.  Luke 15:5

Jesus placed the lost sheep on His shoulders. Safe from harm, He took him home rejoicing.

Go to Confession. Ask Our Lady to accompany you. Jesus is waiting for you. He wants to forgive and heal you. Then He will pour out His Love and Mercy upon you. He will pick you up and put you on His shoulders and carry you home.

For the Son of Man has come to seek and save that which was lost.  Luke 19:10

All Souls Day

Today we celebrate All Souls Day. Pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy and the Prayer of Saint Gertrude for the souls in Purgatory to be released.

Our Lord dictated the following prayer to Saint Gertrude the Great to release 1,000 Souls from Purgatory each time it is said.

Prayer of Saint Gertrude the Great
"Eternal Father, I offer Thee the Most Precious Blood of Thy Divine Son, Jesus, in union with the Masses said throughout the world today, for all the holy souls in Purgatory, for sinners everywhere, for sinners in the universal church, those in my own home and within my family. Amen."

Saint Gertrude was a mystic and lived a cloistered life as a Benedictine nun. She meditated on the Passion of Christ, which many times brought a flood of tears to her eyes. She did many penances and Our Lord appeared to her many times. She had a tender love for the Blessed Virgin and was very devoted to the suffering souls in Purgatory. She died in 1334. Her feast day is November 16th.

The Holy Souls in Purgatory are those who die in God's grace but are still imperfectly purified. By undergoing purification after death, they attain the holiness necessary to enter heaven, to see the Face of God. The grace for souls to be cleansed in Purgatory comes from God in order for the souls to enter Heaven. Purgatory is the place where small sins and attachments are cut.  As Pope Francis speaks of the Church as a hospital for the wounded, purgatory is a place where the infection of sin and attachments is eliminated. 

One of the most important ways to prepare ourselves for eternal life is to go often to the Sacrament of Reconciliation. In confession, Jesus purifies, forgives, heals and pours out His grace so that we will have the strength to sin no more. Isn't it better to be purified on earth than have to spend time being purified in Purgatory! Think of the confessional as the hospital and the priest as the Divine Physician, our Savior Jesus. Run to confession. Go often and you will receive Divine Mercy which will help you remain in the state of grace. 

Pray for the souls in Purgatory. They need our help. Our prayers can release them into Heaven. May all the Holy Souls through the Mercy of God rest in peace. They may be our mothers and fathers, our relatives and friends. When they are finally released from their pains and enjoy the beatitude of Heaven, far from forgetting their friends on earth, their gratitude knows no bounds. As they prostrate before the Throne of God, they never cease to pray for those who helped them. By their prayers, they shield their friends from many dangers and protect them from the evils that threaten them.  

The Lord said to me, Enter into Purgatory often, because they need you there. O my Jesus, I understand the meaning of these words which You are speaking to me, but first let me enter the treasury of Your Mercy. Diary of Saint Faustina 1738

O Mary, Mother of God, we offer you our prayers and sufferings to release the Holy Souls in Purgatory though the intercession of Saint Gertrude and Saint Faustina.  May you carry these prayers to Jesus, your Beloved Son.

All Saints Day

Today we honor all the saints. They continually intercede with The Father for us. A saint is a person who reflects the holiness of God by living the virtues in a heroic way and showing boundless love and total faith in God.

The early history of the Church is filled with stories of the heroic faith of these of witnesses to Christ's truth. The stories of these saints, of all ages and all states in life, whose fidelity and courage led to their sanctity or holiness, have provided models for us throughout history. Many of those holy people whose names and stories were known, the Church later canonized or formally recognized that the life of that person was holy, or sanctified.

A saint is an example for us. The Church's calendar contains many saint's days, which Catholics observe at Mass, some with special festivities, but there were thousands and thousands of early Christian martyrs, whose names are known only to God. Throughout the history of the Church, there have been countless others who are saints, who are with God in heaven, even if their names are not on the list of canonized saints.

In order to honor the memory of these unnamed saints and to recall their example, the Church dedicated to the saints, a special Feast Day Mass, All Saints Day, to celebrate the lives and witness of those who have died and gone before us into the Presence of the Lord.

The saints are our friends. If you are named after a saint, that saint is your patron who you can call upon in your need, just as a special friend. If you do not have the name of a saint, choose a saint whose life inspires you and ask that saint to be your patron. Saints walk with us on the pilgrimage of our lives and they are ready to intercede for us when we ask. You may feel close to a number of saints, "a great a cloud of witnesses." Call upon them.

Hebrews 12:1-2 Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Holy Mary, Mother of God, all the Angels and the Communion of Saints, we call upon you as a great cloud of witnesses to help us each day and to pray for us and all those we pray for.