ATTENTION! Operation Overlord 2.0: November 30 - December 8
OPERATION OVERLORD 2.0
- Starting Monday, November 30, we will enter into the St. Maximillian Kolbe Nine-Day Preparation for Total Consecration
- Be in a State of Grace = Go to Confession
- Add whatever intense fasting, penance and mortification God is calling you to during these nine days. Renew fitness goals
- On December 8, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, we will all make our Marian Consecration (or renew it)
- Dedicate yourself to wear the Miraculous Medal every day (or carry it. The Combat Rosary has the Miraculous Medal)
- We call upon the intercession of the Blessed Mother, St. Michael, St. Maximillian Kolbe, Pope St. John Paul II and Mother Angelica
- PETITION: May truth be revealed, and may America and the Catholic Church become strong in God's power. - Ephesians 6:10
DAY 22 - MARY, SEAT OF WISDOM, PRAY THAT WE RECEIVE THE FRUIT OF LONGANIMITY!
GOD'S WORD
HEROES' WORDS
MEDITATION
PRAY A ROSARY
- Rosary of the Day: Joyful Mysteries
- Traditional 54 Day Rotation: Joyful Mysteries
John, Chapter 13, Verse 23
One of his disciples,
the one whom Jesus LOVED,
was reclining at Jesus’ side.
Lean
on Him!
Can, we say, “His mercy endures forever!” It is when we have received it (mercy) and have given it away that we find Him. Everybody needs to forgive somebody.
Forgiveness will unleash a power in your life that is underrated and often ignored. It is underrated mainly because it is underused. We fail to capture the power of forgiveness because we are afraid of it, because we have grown comfortable in our familiar wounds, or because we are sinfully stubborn. But the power is there waiting for us.[1]
Allen R. Hunt outlines
there are three parts to forgiveness: 1) Receiving Forgiveness which
involves experiencing God and forgiving yourself. 2) Deciding to Forgive.
3) Sharing Forgiveness.
Feast of Saint Andrew[2]
ANDREW,
a brother of St. Peter, born at Bethsaida, was first a disciple of John the
Baptist. Afterwards both the brothers were called by Christ, on the Sea of
Galilee, before all the other apostles, with the words: Come after Me, and I
will make you to become fishers of men (Mark i. 17). Immediately they left all,
and became faithful disciples of Jesus, arid witnesses of His deeds and
sufferings, of His resurrection and ascension. After the descent of the Holy
Ghost, Andrew travelled through Scythia, Epirus, and Thrace, and by his
teachings and miracles converted vast numbers to Christ. As he was preaching at
Patras, a city of Achaia, he was violently pressed by the proconsul, Aegeas, to
offer sacrifice to the idols; but he nobly answered him, I daily offer sacrifice
to God; not the flesh of oxen, nor the blood of rams, but an unspotted Lamb;
and although all the faithful may have partaken of His flesh, yet the Lamb
remains as before He was offered, alive and undivided. Aegeas, enraged,
committed him to prison, and on the following day caused him to be scourged;
and as he persevered in his declaration, condemned him to be put to death by
crucifixion. When he saw the cross, the instrument of his death, he greeted it
with joy, embraced it, and said, O good cross, that was adorned with the limbs
of Christ, thee have I long desired; thee have I fervently loved; thee have I
continually sought. Now thou art made ready for me, according to the wish of my
heart. Take me away from men, and restore me again to my Master, that through
thee I may come to Him Who through thee has redeemed me. After this he was
nailed to the cross. Two days he remained hanging thereon, preaching faith in
Jesus, until his soul was taken up to Him Whom he had so ardently desired to
resemble in the manner of His death.
In the Introit of the Mass the Church announces to
us how greatly the apostles were exalted by God, Who made them teachers and
fathers of the whole world. She cries out, therefore, “To me Thy friends, O
God, are made exceedingly honorable; their principality is exceedingly
strengthened. Lord, Thou hast proved me and known me; Thou hast known my
sitting down and my rising up” (Ps. cxxxviii.).
Prayer.
We suppliantly beseech Thy majesty, Lord, that as
blessed Andrew the apostle was both a preacher and ruler of Thy Church, so he
may be with Thee as a perpetual intercessor for us. Amen.
EPISTLE. Rom. x. 10-18.
Brethren: With the heart, we believe unto justice;
but, with the mouth, confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture saith:
Whosoever believeth in Him, shall not be confounded. For there is no
distinction of the Jew and the Greek: for the same is Lord overall, rich unto
all that call upon Him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord,
shall be saved. How then shall they call on Him, in Whom they have not
believed? Or how shall they believe Him, of Whom they have not heard? And how
shall they hear, without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they be
sent, as it is written: How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the
gospel of peace, of them that bring glad tidings of good things! But all do not
obey the gospel. For Isaias saith: Lord, who hath believed our report? Faith
then cometh by hearing: and hearing by the word of Christ. But I say: Have they
not heard? Yes, verily, their sound hath gone forth into all the earth and
their words unto the ends of the whole world.
GOSPEL. Matt. iv. 18-22.
At
that time: Jesus walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon who is
called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea (for they were
fishers). And He saith to them: Come ye after Me, and I will make you to be
fishers of men. And they immediately leaving their nets, followed Him. And
going on from thence, He saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and
John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets: and
He called them. And they forthwith left their nets and father, and followed
Him.
Explanation.
The
alacrity with which Andrew followed the call of Jesus teaches us:
1.
That we should, on the spot, give ear to God when He inspires us with a good
thought, or calls us to a better course of life.
2.
That, in order to follow His voice, we should cast behind us all desires for
temporal goods, and even leave our parents, if they should prove a hindrance to
us, for “he that loveth father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me” (Matt.
x. 37).
Aspiration.
Mayest
Thou be forever praised, most amiable Jesus, that Thou didst choose, not the
wise, the mighty, or the rich, but, what in the eyes of the world was
foolishness, to confound the wisdom and power of the world, and didst
accordingly graciously look upon poor fishermen, and exalt them to the height
of the apostolic dignity. Look also with fatherly regards upon us, Thy frail
children; call, nay, draw, us in such manner to Thee that, after the example of
St. Andrew, we may suffer nothing in the world to detain us from following
Thee, and may always glory in Thy cross, which is our salvation, our life, and
our resurrection.
Things to Do: [3]
·
Today's feast traditionally marks the end of the
Church year and beginning of Advent. Advent always begins on the Sunday closest
to November 30, with this day being the last possible day of the old Liturgical
Year. Christmas is right around the corner. An old saying reflected this:
St Andrew the King
Three weeks and three days
before Christmas begins.
Because weddings were not allowed
during Advent and Christmas and Andrew is the patron of unmarried maidens, many
countries have marriage-related superstitions connected to this day. See Patron Saints Index
for a few traditions.
·
Beginning today the Christmas
Anticipatory Prayer, also known as the "Novena to St. Andrew"
(Hail and Blessed be the hour...) is prayed every day until Christmas.
·
Read Anticipating Christmas, Beginning with the Saint Andrew.
·
View some of the art depictions of St. Andrew.
Here's another Gallery of Images of Andrew.
·
Remember to pray for fishermen
and all who make their livelihood by the sea.
·
Andrew is the patron saint of Scotland, Russia,
and Romania. The flag of Scotland (and the Union Flag and the arms and Flag of
Nova Scotia) feature a saltire (X-shaped cross) in commemoration of the shape
of St. Andrew's cross.
·
Read more about St. Andrew from Butler's
Lives of the Saints. Also read about Andrew from The Golden Legend.
·
Foods connected with this feast: St.
Andrew was a fisherman, so fish dishes and biblical themes would reign supreme.
Women
for Faith and Family have reprinted Evelyn Vitz's suggested "Biblical
Dinner" menu. But there are other foods connected with this day
o Scotland:
St. Andrew is the patron of Scotland. Scones, haggis, sheepshead and fish
dishes are traditional. The scones are called "wigs", although their
shape is rectangular.
o England:
St Andrew is a patron of lace-makers. On his feast, sometimes known as
"Tander", areas such as Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire
and Northamptonshire celebrate by feasting, drinking elderberry wine, sports
and serving a special cake called the Tandra
Cake, particularly in Bedfordshire. It has a bread dough base to which
lard, sugar, currants, lemon peel and eggs are added. This is also a day for
squirrel hunting in England, so Brunswick
Stew would be another dish on the table in England.
o Slovakian
Countries: Halushky
(pasta dish) is cooked. Unmarried girls place slips of paper with names of
single young men into the dish.
St Andrew Facts[4]
·
Andrew
was fishing with Simon Peter, James the Greater, John, and their father,
Zebedee, when Jesus came and said he would make them fishers of men (John 1:35-42).
·
Andrew
was reportedly martyred on November 30 in the year 60 A.D by a Roman governor's
order in Achaia (Greece). He was crucified and bound to the cross to
increase his suffering. The cross was tilted to create an "x,"
which is known today as St. Andrew's cross and is the basis for the Scottish
flag.
·
The
Feast of St. Andrew is the last holiday of the Christian year. It is held
the day before Advent begins, November 30 in Roman Catholic and some Protestant
churches. St. Andrew's Day is a holiday in Scotland that honors the
disciple as the country's patron saint.
·
St.
Andrew is the brother of St. Peter (Simon Peter), who was the first leader of
the church.
·
St.
Andrew is the Patron saint of: Amalfi (Italy), Barbados, Esgueira
(Portugal), Luqa (Malta), Patras (Greece), Romania, Russia, Scotland and
Ukraine.
St Andrew Top Events
and Things to Do
·
Travel
to Scotland to celebrate St. Andrew's Day. The holiday commences many
parties and festivals in Scotland, and it is also an official holiday in the
country.
·
St.
Andrew's remains, or relics, are thought to be buried in Italy at the cathedral
in Amalfi. Pilgrimage to Italy to visit.
·
Go
fishing or enjoy a seafood dinner. St. Andrew is the patron saint of
fishermen. He was a fisherman before he left his old life to follow Jesus
Christ.
·
Visit
St Andrew's Cathedral in Patras, Greece. It is the largest church in the
Balkans region and one of the largest in Europe. According to history, St.
Andrew was crucified just outside of the church.
·
Take
pictures of yourself on St Andrew's Day and use the Instagram tag #myinstagram
to win prizes.
Cyber
Monday[5]
(another secular
event)
This Christmas season
when you make out your gift list try to give a gift to those you love that
truly helps them to prosper!
Cyber Monday seeks to sell
massive quantities of goods through online stores at a sale price. Marketing
companies created the term Cyber Monday as a catchphrase to persuade people to
shop online. In 2014, Cyber Monday sales were a record 2.68 billion dollars,
making it one of the biggest shopping days of the year. Cyber Monday is not an
official holiday, but it is an international day recognized by consumers. The
term Cyber Monday developed naturally overtime as online sales following Thanksgiving
spiked. This was seen as an opportunity to brand the new shopping occasion;
much the same way black Friday was years earlier. Cyber Monday was first
originally held November of 2005. The day it is held varies from year to year,
but it is always held the Monday following Thanksgiving in the US.
Cyber Monday Facts & Quotes
Since 2010, Cyber Monday
has been the highest online spending day in the year in the US. Sales numbers
on Cyber Monday have gradually increased by at least $100 million each year
since the term was first coined. According to a survey by the National Retail
Federation, 90% of online shoppers surveyed said low prices were the most
important part of their shopping experience on Cyber Monday. The top 3 products
purchased online on Cyber Monday are: Apparel, books/DVDs/Videos/Games and
Consumer electronics. You may have heard of Black Friday and Cyber Monday. There's another
day you might want to know about: Giving Tuesday. The idea is pretty
straightforward. On the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, shoppers take a break from
their gift-buying and donate what they can to charity.
– Bill Gates, creator of Microsoft.
Cyber Monday Top Events and Things
to Do
Buy
something! You can buy just about anything online these days, so treat yourself
or a loved one to something you have been saving up for. Chances are it is at a
reduced price on Cyber Monday! Fill your online shopping cart with all the
things you were thinking of buying at all retail shops. Total up the cost of
all the things you were going to buy, and instead of buying them, donate that
exact amount of money to a charity of your choice. Spread awareness on social
media by using the hashtag#CyberMonday, #CyberDeals and #DealsDealsDeals.
Promote your favorite retailers over social media using their hashtags and by
reposting their posts. Save your money today and wait until Giving Tuesday
tomorrow to donate it all or use it to purchase items for donation.
Today
is a day for any last-minute shopping. Remember that “A happy heart is better than a full Purse.”
Ponder
on the thought that God wants us to study the world, fall in love with its
creator, and live happily forever after. “Lord
my God, teach my heart where and how to seek you, where and how to find you.” Anselm
of Canterbury
Blue
Christmas[6]
Christmas normally is a
time for joy. Decorations are set up, parties ensue, presents are given, and
laughter commences. Not many people realize that those in law enforcement work
tirelessly during the holiday season to keep people safe. Blue Christmas is a
holiday dedicated to those who work in that field, giving them an opportunity
to be thanked for their services and celebrate Christmas their own
way. While Elvis made the term “A Blue Christmas” popular to describe
Christmas blues, this holiday is for those who work in law enforcement, such as
police, firefighters, EMTs, and 911 dispatchers. For them, it is rough. Long
nights in the wet, cold snow or long nights in the office can be particularly
dangerous, especially for those who have the potential factor of being shot at,
having emotional trauma from an emergency situation, and so forth. Because of
their job, they keep people safe and save lives, but it comes at a cost. They
miss out on spending time with their families and lose out on enjoying what
Christmas is all about. That’s why when it comes to the holiday season, Blue
Christmas gives people a chance to give to others by giving gifts and thanking
them for their services. While some may be cheerful doing their job, because
they know that Christmas is about helping others, Blue Christmas helps raise
awareness for the behind-the-scenes action that the people working in law
enforcement and the medical field are the ones truly making the holiday seasons
special. With the potential dangers involved, they deserved their thanks and
gifts the most.
How to celebrate Blue
Christmas
To take part in a Blue
Christmas, you can easily do so by displaying a blue light throughout the
winter holidays. It can be a single porch light, blue candles in the window, or
blue Christmas lights as part of the display. If you know someone who works in
law enforcement or the medical industry, buy or make them a gift and take the
time out to thank them for what they do to keep society and the holidays going.
Share this holiday on social media using the hashtag #bluechristmas and let
everyone know how important it is to see those who don’t ask for much in
return.
Full Beaver Moon
According
to the almanac today is a Full Beaver Moon; plan to spend some time watching the
Narnia series or reading “The Witch the Lion and the Wardrobe” with your
children or grandchildren.
Daily Devotions
·
Eat
waffles and Pray for the assistance of the Angels
·
Monday: Litany of Humility
·
Rosary
DECEMBER
We turn our attention indoors with Advent prayers and
preparations for the birth of Christ; for most of us, the indoors makes up the
part of our environment in which we spend the most time. It is also the most
unregulated and can be the most polluted part of the total environment –due to
new home cleaning products and tighter ventilation. Consider a simpler home
environment, where houseplants purify the air, where fresh air is plentiful,
and where chemical products are limited and controlled. The yearly cycle of
twelve months can make us more aware of our human environment and should help
us as individuals and as a community to conduct a monthly examination of
conscience.
Overview of December[7]
The month of December is dedicated to the Immaculate
Conception. The first 24 days of December fall during the liturgical
season known as of Advent and are represented by the liturgical color
purple — a symbol of penance, mortification and the sorrow of a contrite heart.
The remaining days of December mark the beginning of the Christmas season. The liturgical color changes to
white or gold — a symbol of joy, purity and innocence. The liturgy of Advent
focuses on remembering Christ's first coming at Bethlehem which then directs
our mind to Christ's Second Coming at the end of time. The readings focus on
the people of the Old Testament awaiting the Messiah, John the Baptist,
heralding the way for Christ and the Blessed Virgin Mary and her maternal
preparations.
The feasts on the General Roman
Calendar celebrated during the month of December are:
3. Francis
Xavier, Memorial
6. Second
Sunday of Advent, Sunday
7. Ambrose,
Memorial
8. Immaculate
Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Patronal Feast day of the United States
of America , Solemnity
9. Juan
Diego (USA), Opt. Mem.
11. Damasus
I, Opt. Mem.
12. Our
Lady of Guadalupe (USA), Feast
13. Third
Sunday of Advent, Sunday
14. John
of the Cross, Memorial
20. Fourth
Sunday of Advent, Sunday
21. Peter
Canisius, Opt. Mem.
23. John
of Kanty, Opt. Mem.
25. Christmas,
Solemnity
26. Stephen,
Feast
27. Holy
Family, Feast
28. Holy
Innocents, Feast
29. Thomas
Becket, Opt. Mem.
31. Sylvester
I, Opt. Mem.
Christmastide begins with the First
Vespers (Evening Prayer) of Christmas on December 24th and ends on the Sunday
after Epiphany. Christmas and Easter are the only solemnities with octaves
attached in the revised calendar. The Christmas octave differs from Easter in
that it includes some major feasts: St. Stephen (December 26), St.
John the Evangelist (December 27), the Holy Innocents (December 28)
and St. Sylvester I (December 31). The octave closes on
January 1, the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God.
The Reason for the Season
The month of December is filled with expectation and
celebration. Preparation is the key word for the first 24 days of December.
Everyone is getting ready for Christmas — shopping and decorating, baking and
cleaning. Too often, however, we are so busy with the material preparations
that we lose sight of the real reason for our activity.
Christmas is a Christian feast — and we must reclaim it as
such! In the same way that a family eagerly prepares for a baby, so in Advent
should we prepare for the coming of the Christ Child. We should keep Advent as
a season of waiting and longing, of conversion and of hope and keep our
thoughts on the incredible love and humility of our God in taking on the flesh
of the Virgin Mary. Let us not forget to prepare a peaceful place in our hearts
wherein our Savior may come to dwell.
The best person we can turn to for help during Advent is
Mary, Christ's and our Mother. She awaited the day of His birth with more
eagerness than any other human being. Her preparation was complete in every
respect. Let's crown our preparation and borrow something of Mary's prayerfulness,
her purity and whole-hearted submission to God's will.
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