NIC’s Corner
· Jesse Tree ornament: Solomon: 1 Kings 3:5-14, 16-28 Symbols: scales of justice, temple, two babies and sword
· Today is the Day of the Horse-take a horse ride; bet on ponies or watch a movie about horses. My nephew’s name is Philip, which means, lover of horses.
· Royal Charter for Dartmouth College granted 1769
· Are you a Swifty? Today is Taylor Swifts’ Birthday 1989
o Start your day by celebrating National Cocoa Day with a cozy mug of hot cocoa. Take some time to savor the rich, chocolatey goodness and let it warm you up from the inside out.
o In honor of Day of the Horse, why not spend some time outdoors connecting with nature? Visit a local stable or park where you can admire these magnificent animals and maybe even enjoy a peaceful horseback ride.
o For Lost & Found Day, declutter and organize a small area of your home. Take the opportunity to rediscover items you thought were lost and donate any gently used belongings to those in need.
o On Pick a Pathologist Pal Day, indulge your curiosity by watching a crime documentary or reading a thrilling mystery novel. Channel your inner detective and try to solve the case before the big reveal.
o In honor of St. Lucia Day, bake a batch of traditional Swedish saffron buns or ginger snaps to share with friends and family. Embrace the holiday’s spirit of light and warmth by lighting some candles and enjoying a homemade treat.
o Finally, celebrate the U.S. National Guard Birthday by expressing gratitude for the brave men and women who serve our country. Write a heartfelt thank you note to a service member or donate to a veteran’s organization to show your support.
o Whether you spend the day enjoying hot cocoa, connecting with nature, organizing your space, solving mysteries, baking Swedish treats, or honoring our military, make the most of this eclectic mix of holidays and create memorable moments that are truly one-of-a-kind.
33 days to Christmas-Start the 33 days to Eucharistic Glory[8]
Want to start a small group? Download our 33 Days to Eucharistic Glory Study Guide
Day 16
On this 16th day, to have a heart filled with spiritual courage that resists yielding to the world, the flesh or the pride of Satan for the love of God only.
Copilot:
To cultivate a heart filled with spiritual courage that resists yielding to the world, the flesh, or the pride of Satan, solely for the love of God, consider these spiritual practices and reflections:
Daily Spiritual Practices
1. Prayer and Meditation: Dedicate time each day to pray and meditate, seeking strength and guidance from God. Prayers of devotion, such as the Rosary or the Prayer to St. Michael, can fortify your resolve.
2. Scripture Reading: Reflect on passages that emphasize spiritual courage and resistance to temptation. Examples include Ephesians 6:10-18 (The Armor of God) and James 4:7-10.
Strengthening Spiritual Courage
1. Sacraments: Regularly participate in the sacraments, especially the Eucharist and Reconciliation, to receive grace and spiritual strength.
2. Spiritual Mentorship: Seek guidance from a spiritual director or mentor who can provide support and accountability.
Reflecting on Love for God
1. Acts of Charity: Engage in acts of love and service for others, seeing these actions as expressions of your love for God.
2. Gratitude Journaling: Keep a journal of daily blessings and moments of grace, cultivating a heart of gratitude and deepening your love for God.
Example Prayer for Spiritual Courage
Here’s a prayer to help you seek spiritual courage and resist temptation:
Dear Heavenly Father, Grant me the courage to stand firm in my faith, Resisting the temptations of the world, the flesh, and the pride of Satan. Fill my heart with love for You above all else And guide me in Your truth and righteousness. May Your strength be my shield and Your love my guide, As I strive to live for Your glory alone. Amen.
DECEMBER 13 Friday of the Second Week in Advent
FEAST OF SAINT LUCY
Judith, Chapter 11,
Verse 1
Then Holofernes said to her: “Take
courage, woman! Have no FEAR in your
heart! I have never harmed anyone who chose to serve Nebuchadnezzar, king of
all the earth.
Beauty
meets the beast while he is reclining in bed. He wants her almost as much as
Jerusalem.
Two
Speeches[1]
Holofernes,
servant of the King of Assyria, tells the apple of his eye assuming she serves
his king to take courage. He is blinded to the fact that she serves the King of
Kings, the Lord of Lords and is a servant of Yahwah. Holofernes promises good
treatment for a servant of Nebuchadnezzar. Judith answer is a mixture of
cunning and truth. She states, “If you follow the words of your maidservant,
God will successfully perform a deed through you, and my lord will not fail to
achieve his designs.” She flatters and he loves it. In truth she states:
·
As
for Achior’s speech in your council, we have heard it…So then, my lord and
master, do not disregard his word, but bear it in mind, for it is true. Indeed,
our people are not punished, nor does the sword prevail against them, except
when they sin against their God.
·
But
now their sin* has caught up with them, by which
they will bring the wrath of their God upon them when they do wrong; so that my
lord will not be repulsed and fail, but death will overtake them. Because their
food has given out and all their water is running low, they have decided to
kill their animals, and are determined to consume all the things which God in
his laws has forbidden them to eat.
·
They
have decided that they would use the first fruits of grain and the tithes of
wine and oil, which they had consecrated and reserved for the priests who
minister in the presence of our God in Jerusalem—things which the people should
not so much as touch with their hands.
·
As
soon as I, your servant, learned all this, I fled from them. God has sent me to
perform with you such deeds as will astonish people throughout the whole earth
who hear of them.
As the Israelites did indeed hunger and thirst for food and water; let us hunger and thirst for our Lord in the Eucharist.
Saint Lucy[2]
Flames might not harm her: Saint Lucy stood fearless, still as a statue's the neck which they smote: Scarcely another save, Lucy, was tearless. When the sharp dagger was plunged in her throat.
The customs surrounding the Feast of St. Lucy also illuminate
the themes of Advent and Christmas. Lucy, whose name means light and whose
association with light has made her the patron saint of the "light of the
body" (the eyes), once had her feast fall on the shortest day of the year.
(Before the Gregorian calendar was reformed in the Middle Ages, December 13 was
the day of the winter solstice.) For all of these reasons, St. Lucy is honored
with a number of customs involving fire. Lucy candles were once lit in the home and Lucy fires burned outside.
In Sweden and Norway, a girl dressed in white and wearing an evergreen wreath
on her head with lit candles would awaken the family and offer them coffee and
cakes. She was called the Lussibrud
(Lucy bride) and her pastry the Lussekattor.
The Feast of St. Lucy comes at a propitious time during the observance of Advent. Reminding us of the importance of light, the light of St. Lucy foreshadows the coming of the Light of the World at Christmas like a spark foreshadows the sun.[4]
Things to Do[5]
·
Choose one of the customs for St. Lucy's feast
and try it with your family. See Celebrating for the Feast of St. Lucy, Swedish Lucia Feast, and St. Lucia Devotions.
·
Select one of the recipes for this feast to
prepare. Here is a recipe for cuccia, an Italian dish. This is another version.
·
Say a prayer to St. Lucy for those who are
physically and spiritually blind.
·
Read the Life of St. Lucy taken from Ælfric’s Lives of the Saints
written in the 10th century.
· For St. Lucia Swedish resources, see Hemslöjd. Especially recommended are the St. Lucia's Crowns, either plastic to wear or brass for display, the books and Lucia Morning in Sweden.
Perhaps today would be a good day to put up some Christmas lights and drink Hot Cocoa
Hot Cocoa Day[6]
” The superiority of chocolate (hot chocolate), both for health and nourishment, will soon give it the same preference over tea and coffee in America which it has in Spain.”
~ Thomas Jefferson
We’re sad to say that President Jefferson didn’t quite hit
the mark on this one, but we can all agree that he should have. Perhaps he
should have included it in the American constitution to ensure that his good
sense got passed on to the country he formed. It’s not too late to make this
statement come true! Hot Cocoa Day reminds you that your options go far beyond
“Tea or Coffee” when it comes to your morning hot beverage. Chocolate’s history
goes far back into history, far longer than most people are aware. It first was
found by European explorers in South America, where it had been being enjoyed
for hundreds of years prior to their arrival. We have reason to believe that
the reason the America’s didn’t make contact with Europe sooner is they didn’t
want to share this delightful beverage with the rest of the world. The first
origins of cocoa can be traced back to 500BC, but many archaeologists believe
that this is only as early as we can trace it, and that coffee consumption
predates even that august culture. Of course, the chocolate of those days was
much different than that which we consume now, as sugar was not something that
had found its way to the America’s. Instead, the beverage was flavored with
vanilla and often with chili and was served at all temperatures depending on
the recipe being used. The Spaniards first found the flavor unpleasant and one
an individual had to acquire. It would not be until it was introduced to Europe
and had spent some time there as a luxury drink of the wealthy that it would be
sweetened, and milk chocolate invented. It took until 1828 for powdered
chocolate to be made, and in that glorious moment of culinary history, both the
chocolate bar and instant hot cocoa came into existence.
How to Celebrate Hot Cocoa Day
We think the best way to celebrate Hot Cocoa Day is to try
every variety you can think of. Form a gathering of friends and have everyone
bring their favorite recipe and all their favorite varieties. White and Dark,
Milk and Bittersweet, there are as many different Hot Cocoa recipes as there
are individuals! Our personal favorite is to make Hot Cocoa with 50/50 Milk and
Sweetened Condensed milk and Dark Powdered Chocolate, followed by a sprinkling
of cinnamon and shavings of dark chocolate on top. Rich and flavorful, it’s not
for the timid.
Spiritual Crib[7]
A special devotion that can be performed during Advent to prepare for the coming of the Infant Savior. It can be adapted for adults and/or children and applied as is appropriate to your state in life.
3rd day, December 13th: THE WALLS—Charity Today we must erect the Walls of our little stable by showing great love and kindness towards others, in spite of our feelings for them. Always to excuse their faults, and if that is not possible, at least the intention. Take no offence at anything and show great kindness to such as put your patience to the test. Pray much for the Poor Souls and for poor sinners. Visit the tabernacle.
Catechism
of the Catholic Church
Day
184
The movement
of the celebration
1348 All
gather together. Christians come together in one place for the Eucharistic
assembly. At its head is Christ himself, the principal agent of the Eucharist.
He is high priest of the New Covenant; it is he himself who presides invisibly
over every Eucharistic celebration. It is in representing him that the bishop
or priest acting in the person of Christ the head (in persona Christi capitis)
presides over the assembly, speaks after the readings, receives the offerings,
and says the Eucharistic Prayer. All have their own active parts to play in the
celebration, each in his own way: readers, those who bring up the offerings,
those who give communion, and the whole people whose "Amen" manifests
their participation.
1349 The
Liturgy of the Word includes "the writings of the prophets," that is,
the Old Testament, and "the memoirs of the apostles" (their letters
and the Gospels). After the homily, which is an exhortation to accept this Word
as what it truly is, the Word of God, and to put it into practice, come
the intercessions for all men, according to the Apostle's words: "I urge
that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all
men, for kings, and all who are in high positions."
1350 The
presentation of the offerings (the Offertory). Then, sometimes in procession,
the bread and wine are brought to the altar; they will be offered by the priest
in the name of Christ in the Eucharistic sacrifice in which they will become
his body and blood. It is the very action of Christ at the Last Supper -
"taking the bread and a cup." "The Church alone offers this pure
oblation to the Creator, when she offers what comes forth from his creation
with thanksgiving." The presentation of the offerings at the altar
takes up the gesture of Melchizedek and commits the Creator's gifts into the
hands of Christ who, in his sacrifice, brings to perfection all human attempts
to offer sacrifices.
1351 From
the very beginning Christians have brought, along with the bread and wine for
the Eucharist, gifts to share with those in need. This custom of the
collection, ever appropriate, is inspired by the example of Christ who became
poor to make us rich:
Those who
are well off, and who are also willing, give as each chooses. What is gathered
is given to him who presides to assist orphans and widows, those whom illness
or any other cause has deprived of resources, prisoners, immigrants and, in a
word, all who are in need.
1352 The
anaphora: with the Eucharistic Prayer - the prayer of thanksgiving and
consecration - we come to the heart and summit of the celebration:
In the preface, the Church gives thanks to the Father, through Christ, in the Holy Spirit, for all his works: creation, redemption, and sanctification. the whole community thus joins in the unending praise that the Church in heaven, the angels and all the saints, sing to the thrice-holy God.
1353 In the
epiclesis, the Church asks the Father to send his Holy Spirit (or the power of
his blessing) on the bread and wine, so that by his power they may become the
body and blood of Jesus Christ and so that those who take part in the Eucharist
may be one body and one spirit (some liturgical traditions put the epiclesis
after the anamnesis).
In the institution narrative, the power of the words and the action of Christ,
and the power of the Holy Spirit, make sacramentally present under the species
of bread and wine Christ's body and blood, his sacrifice offered on the cross
once for all.
1354 In the
anamnesis that follows, the Church calls to mind the Passion, resurrection, and
glorious return of Christ Jesus; she presents to the Father the offering of his
Son which reconciles us with him.
In the intercessions, the Church indicates that the Eucharist is celebrated in
communion with the whole Church in heaven and on earth, the living and the
dead, and in communion with the pastors of the Church, the Pope, the diocesan
bishop, his presbyterium and his deacons, and all the bishops of the whole
world together with their Churches.
1355 In the
communion, preceded by the Lord's prayer and the breaking of the bread, the
faithful receive "the bread of heaven" and "the cup of
salvation," the body and blood of Christ who offered himself "for the
life of the world":
Because this bread and wine have been made Eucharist ("eucharisted," according to an ancient expression), "we call this food Eucharist, and no one may take part in it unless he believes that what we teach is true, has received baptism for the forgiveness of sins and new birth, and lives in keeping with what Christ taught."
Fitness Friday-Suffering[9]
When
I first started training for marathons a little over ten years ago, my coach told me something I’ve never
forgotten: that I would need to learn how to be comfortable with being
uncomfortable. I didn’t know it at the time, but that skill, cultivated
through running, would help me as much, if not more, off the road as it would
on it. It’s not just me, and it’s not just running.
Ask anyone whose day regularly includes a hard bike ride, sprints in the pool,
a complex problem on the climbing wall, or a progressive powerlifting circuit,
and they’ll likely tell you the same: A difficult conversation just doesn’t
seem so difficult anymore. A tight deadline is not so intimidating.
Relationship problems are not so problematic. Maybe it’s that if you’re
regularly working out, you’re simply too tired to care. But that’s probably not
the case. Research shows that, if anything, physical activity boosts short-term
brain function and heightens awareness. And even on days they don’t train —
which rules out fatigue as a factor — those who habitually push their bodies
tend to confront daily stressors with a stoic demeanor. While the traditional
benefits of vigorous exercise — like prevention and treatment of diabetes,
heart disease, stroke, hypertension, and osteoporosis — are well known and
often reported, the most powerful benefit might be the lesson that my coach
imparted to me: In a world where comfort is king, arduous physical activity
provides a rare opportunity to practice suffering.
Few hone this skill better than professional endurance and adventure athletes.
Regardless of sport, the most resounding theme, by far, is that they’ve all
learned how to embrace uncomfortable situations:
·
Olympic
marathoner Des Linden told me that at mile 20 of 26.2, when the inevitable
suffering kicks in, through years of practice she’s learned to stay relaxed and
in the moment. She repeats the mantra: “calm, calm, calm; relax, relax, relax.”
·
World-champion
big-wave surfer Nic Lamb says being uncomfortable, and even afraid, is a
prerequisite to riding four-story waves. But he also knows it’s “the path to
personal development.” He’s learned that while you can pull back, you can
almost always push through. “Pushing through is courage. Pulling back is
regret,” he says.
·
Free-soloist
Alex Honnold explains that, “The only way to deal with [pain] is practice. [I]
get used to it during training so that when it happens on big climbs, it feels normal.”
·
Evelyn
Stevens, the women’s record holder for most miles cycled in an hour (29.81 –
yes, that’s nuts), says that during her hardest training intervals, “instead of
thinking I want these to be over, I try to feel and sit with the pain.
Heck, I even try to embrace it.”
·
Big-mountain
climber Jimmy Chin, the first American to climb up — and then ski down — Mt.
Everest’s South Pillar Route, told me an element of fear is there in everything
he does, but he’s learned how to manage it: “It’s about sorting out perceived
risk from real risk, and then being as rational as possible with what’s left.”
But you don’t need to scale massive vertical pitches or run five-minute miles to reap the benefits. Simply training for your first half marathon or CrossFit competition can also yield huge dividends that carry over into other areas of life. In the words of Kelly Starrett, one of the founding fathers of the CrossFit movement, “Anyone can benefit from cultivating a physical practice.” Science backs him up. A study published in the British Journal of Health Psychology found that college students who went from not exercising at all to even a modest program (just two to three gym visits per week) reported a decrease in stress, smoking, alcohol and caffeine consumption, an increase in healthy eating and maintenance of household chores, and better spending and study habits. In addition to these real-life improvements, after two months of regular exercise, the students also performed better on laboratory tests of self-control. This led the researchers to speculate that exercise had a powerful impact on the students’ “capacity for self-regulation.” In laypeople’s terms, pushing through the discomfort associated with exercise — saying “yes” when their bodies and minds were telling them to say “no” — taught the students to stay cool, calm, and collected in the face of difficulty, whether that meant better managing stress, drinking less, or studying more. For this reason, the author Charles Duhigg, in his 2012 bestseller The Power of Habit, calls exercise a “keystone habit,” or a change in one area life that brings about positive effects in other areas. Duhigg says keystone habits are powerful because “they change our sense of self and our sense of what is possible.” This explains why the charity Back on My Feet uses running to help individuals who are experiencing homelessness improve their situations. Since launching in 2009, Back on My Feet has had over 5,500 runners, 40 percent of whom have gained employment after starting to run with the group and 25 percent of whom have found permanent housing. This is also likely why it’s so common to hear about people who started training for a marathon to help them get over a divorce or even the death of a loved one.
Another study, this one published in the European Journal of Applied Physiology,
evaluated how exercise changes our physiological response to stress.
Researchers at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, in Germany, divided
students into two groups at the beginning of the semester and instructed half
to run twice a week for 20 weeks. At the end of the 20 weeks, which coincided
with a particularly stressful time for the students — exams — the researchers
had the students wear heart-rate monitors to measure their heart-rate
variability, which is a common indicator of physiological stress (the more
variability, the less stress). As you might guess by now, the students who were
enrolled in the running program showed significantly greater heart-rate
variability. Their bodies literally were not as stressed during exams: They
were more comfortable during a generally uncomfortable time.
What’s remarkable and encouraging about these studies is that the subjects
weren’t exercising at heroic intensities or volumes. They were simply doing
something that was physically challenging for them – going from no exercise to
some exercise; one need not be an elite athlete or fitness nerd to reap the
bulletproofing benefits of exercise. Why does
any of this matter? For one, articles that claim prioritizing big fitness goals
is a waste of time (exhibit A: “Don’t Run a
Marathon”) are
downright wrong. But far more important than internet banter, perhaps a broader
reframing of exercise is in order. Exercise isn’t just about helping out your
health down the road, and it’s certainly not just about vanity. What you do in
the gym (or on the roads, in the ocean, etc.) makes you a better,
higher-performing person outside of it. The truth, cliché as it may sound, is
this: When you develop physical fitness, you’re developing life fitness, too.
Daily Devotions
·
Unite
in the work of the Porters of St. Joseph by joining them in fasting: Today's Fast: Victims
of clergy sexual abuse
·
Religion in the home: Preschool for
December
·
Offering to
the sacred heart of Jesus
·
Make
reparations to the Holy Face
·
Rosary
[1]The Collegeville Bible Commentary,
1986.
[3]https://books.google.com/books?id=BhsMAQAAIAAJ&pg=PA19&lpg=PA19&dq=St.+Lucy+and+fearlessness&source=bl&ots=Y_x4jQcTKQ&sig=yv0CWc4J8O9y_VAbz8R8FqM8hgE&hl=en&sa=X&ei=vqGIVNyhKcq3ogSDqoLACw&ved=0CDsQ6AEwBA#v=onepage&q=St.%20Lucy%20and%20fearlessness&f=true
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