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Candace’s Corner
· Make reparations to the Holy Face-Tuesday Devotion
· Pray Day 2 of the Novena for our Pope and Bishops
· Tuesday: Litany of St. Michael the Archangel
· How to celebrate Dec 3rd
· Ready for a wild day? Start off with a warm hug; it’s Let’s Hug Day! Spread some love and positivity. Next up, channel your inner athlete for World Trick Shot Day. Grab a ball, head outside, and start practicing those trick shots. Feeling crafty? It’s Make A Gift Day; get creative and make something special for a loved one. Hungry? Whip up a delicious Green Bean Casserole to celebrate National Green Bean Casserole Day. Try your hand at a new recipe and savor the flavors.
· Take a break from the ordinary and learn about coatis; it’s World Coati Day! Research these fascinating creatures and share your newfound knowledge with friends. Reflect on your blessings for National Roof Over Your Head Day. Take a moment to appreciate the comfort and security of your home.
· Celebrate the beauty of nature with National Heather Day. Go for a hike and admire the breathtaking views of heather in bloom. Show support for inclusivity on International Disability Day. Take action to promote equality and accessibility in your community. Spread kindness and generosity on National Day of Giving. Donate to a charity or volunteer your time to make a difference.
· There you have it, a day filled with hugs, skill-building, creativity, delicious food, learning, gratitude, nature appreciation, advocacy, and giving back. Embrace the spirit of these unique holidays and make the most of every moment. Cheers to a day well-spent!
DECEMBER
3 Tuesday-St.
Francis Xavier
Isaiah, Chapter 63, verse 17
Why do you make us wander, LORD, from your ways, and harden our hearts so that we do not FEAR you? Return for the sake of your servants, the tribes of your heritage.
This chapter in Isaiah is called the Divine Warrior and Isaiah in this chapter refers to Christ as a warrior. Isaiah laments that we in our weak human nature have turned our hearts away from God and that we have no fear of divine justice. Have we become so enamored with the world and our own lives that when we look into the heavens at night, we only see impressive specks of glittering rocks we call stars and not the love of the creator which made them? There is an expression, “Attitude is everything!” and so what should our attitude be and why is Isaiah lamenting that Israel did not fear God? The answer lies in our personal attitude toward life. Holy fear is born out of love and is a response to the God the creator; it is a fear more closely related to awe. It is the loving fear of a child that does not want to disappoint a parent and goes to great lengths to please them. So, we should develop this sense of Holy fear doing what is right and good to please the Father. Remembering that, “Whether you eat or drink, whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. (1 Corinthians 10:31). Let us ask our Lord daily to remove our hearts of stone and give us a heart of love thus making the winter brighter and our burdens lighter and bring cheer to the hearts of all we encounter. May we, through love, be brought to Holy fear enabling us to be careful in the practice of our faith and bring us to a spirit of penitence.
May we with the psalmist say, Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved. (Psalm 80)
St. Francis Xavier[1]
FANCIS XAVIER, surnamed the apostle of the indies, was born of noble parents April 7, 1506, at Xavier, a castle near Pamplona, in Spain. In his eighteenth year he became one of the first members of the society of Jesus, at Paris, and from that moment gave himself up so earnestly and perseveringly to meditation, self-denial, and the practice of Christian virtues that by no desire was he so much animated as by that of laboring and suffering for the glory of god and the salvation of men, wherever and however it might please god. In the year 1541 he was sent as missionary to India. Of his labors and sufferings there his works bear witness. He preached the gospel in fifty-two kingdoms, great and small, of India and Japan, and baptized about a hundred thousand pagans and Mahametan’s. Wherever he came, the idols temples were thrown down, and churches built to the true god. He died in 1552, poor and destitute of all bodily comforts, but rejoicing in the lord, with these words, “Lord, in Thee have I hoped; let me never be confounded.” let us learn from St. Francis Xavier to labor, according to our ability, for the glory of god and the salvation of our neighbor. Although we cannot become missionaries, we yet can pray, and we can join the association for the propagation of the faith.
Things
to Do:[2]
·
What does it mean to be
an apostle? Consider how you might imitate St. Francis Xavier in apostolic
works in your own situation. Read this letter from St. Francis to St. Ignatius to get an idea of his zeal.
·
Read some more about St.
Francis and ideas for Celebrating
the Feast of St. Francis Xavier.
·
St. Francis was sent to
India and Japan. Pray for the Church in these countries, and learn more about
the modern Church in India here and here, read about the history of the Church in Japan.
·
Find out about and
support the Holy
Childhood Association (St. Francis always
started with the children first).
·
Teach your children to
pray St. Francis' favorite prayer, "Give me souls" when they have
some suffering to offer up.
·
Spend some time
meditating on St. Ignatius' response to St. Francis before his conversion,
"What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world but suffers the
loss of his soul?"
·
Say the Litany
of St. Francis Xavier.
·
Make a big pot of soup for the Feast of St. Francis Xavier.
·
Study some beautiful art
depicting St. Francis Xavier at Olga's Gallery.
33 days to Christmas-Start the 33 days to Eucharistic Glory[3]
Want to start a small group? Download our 33 Days to Eucharistic Glory Study Guide
Day 7
On this 7th day, seek with all your
soul to hope in Christ’s intercession on behalf of your weakness in the flesh.
Copilot:
Placing your hope in Christ’s
intercession is a powerful act of faith, acknowledging His role as our advocate
and mediator before God. This can bring immense comfort and strength,
especially when dealing with personal weaknesses and struggles.
Ways to Cultivate Hope in Christ’s
Intercession
Deepen Your Understanding
1.
Scripture Reading: Focus
on passages that highlight Christ’s intercession, such as Hebrews 7:25 and
Romans 8:34. Reflect on the assurance these verses provide.
2.
Spiritual Writings: Read
works by theologians and saints that delve into the power and significance of
Christ’s intercessory role.
Prayer and Reflection
1.
Daily Prayer:
Incorporate prayers that specifically ask for Christ’s intercession. Express
your reliance on His strength and guidance.
2.
Meditation: Spend quiet
time meditating on Christ’s love and mercy, letting this contemplation
strengthen your hope and trust.
Participate in Sacraments
1.
Eucharist: Regularly
receive the Eucharist, embracing the profound connection it offers with
Christ’s sacrifice and ongoing intercession.
2.
Confession: Seek
reconciliation, trusting in Christ’s intercession to receive forgiveness and
renewal.
Community and Support
1.
Fellowship: Engage with
your faith community, sharing and supporting each other in your spiritual
journeys.
2.
Mentorship: Find a
spiritual mentor who can guide and encourage you in understanding and embracing
Christ’s intercessory role.
Catechism of the Catholic
Church
PART TWO: THE CELEBRATION OF THE CHRISTIAN
MYSTERY
SECTION TWO-THE SEVEN
SACRAMENTS OF THE CHURCH
CHAPTER ONE-THE SACRAMENTS OF CHRISTIAN
INITIATION
Article 1-THE SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM
IN BRIEF
Day
174
1275
Christian initiation is accomplished by three sacraments together: Baptism
which is the beginning of new life; Confirmation which is its strengthening;
and the Eucharist which nourishes the disciple with Christ's Body and Blood for
his transformation in Christ.
1276
"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the
name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to
observe all that I have commanded you" (Mt 28:19-20).
1277
Baptism is birth into the new life in Christ. In accordance with the Lord's
will, it is necessary for salvation, as is the Church herself, which we enter
by Baptism.
1278 The
essential rite of Baptism consists in immersing the candidate in water or
pouring water on his head, while pronouncing the invocation of the Most Holy
Trinity: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
1279 The
fruit of Baptism, or baptismal grace, is a rich reality that includes
forgiveness of original sin and all personal sins, birth into the new life by
which man becomes an adoptive son of the Father, a member of Christ and a
temple of the Holy Spirit. By this very fact the person baptized is
incorporated into the Church, the Body of Christ, and made a sharer in the
priesthood of Christ.
1280
Baptism imprints on the soul an indelible spiritual sign, the character, which
consecrates the baptized person for Christian worship. Because of the character
Baptism cannot be repeated (cf. DS 1609 and DS 1624).
1281
Those who die for the faith, those who are catechumens, and all those who,
without knowing of the Church but acting under the inspiration of grace, seek
God sincerely and strive to fulfill his will, are saved even if they have not
been baptized (cf. LG 16).
1282
Since the earliest times, Baptism has been administered to children, for it is
a grace and a gift of God that does not presuppose any human merit; children
are baptized in the faith of the Church. Entry into Christian life gives access
to true freedom.
1283 With
respect to children who have died without Baptism, the liturgy of the Church
invites us to trust in God's mercy and to pray for their salvation.
1284 In
case of necessity, any person can baptize provided that he have the intention
of doing that which the Church does and provided that he pours water on the
candidate's head while saying: "I baptize you in the name of the Father,
and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit."
Jesse Tree[4]
Jesse
Tree Scriptures (The Symbols Are Only Suggestions)
December 1 Creation: Gen. 1:1-31; 2:1-4 Symbols: sun,
moon, stars, animals, earth
December 2 Adam and Eve: Gen. 2:7-9, 18-24 Symbols:
tree, man, woman
December 3 Fall of Man: Gen. 3:1-7 and 23-24 Symbols:
tree, serpent, apple with bite
Daily Devotions
·
Today in honor of the
Holy Trinity do the Divine Office giving your day to God. To honor God REST: no
shopping after 6 pm Saturday till Monday. Don’t forget the internet.
·
Unite in the work of the Porters of St. Joseph by joining them
in fasting: Today's Fast: The
Pope
·
Religion
in the home: Preschool for December
·
Offering to
the sacred heart of Jesus
·
Make
reparations to the Holy Face
·
Rosary
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