Monday Night at the Movies
The Lady's Not Burning, 1974
· "Golden Nights" (December 16 to 24)
· How to celebrate Dec 16th
o You wake up to a day filled with the unexpected. Start by enjoying a breakfast of chocolate-covered treats – get creative with fruits, pretzels, or even bacon. Embrace your inner child by organizing a silly toy scavenger hunt, incorporating old favorites or thrift store finds. Use this as an opportunity to declutter and donate toys to a local charity.
Invite friends over for a themed costume party where each guest embodies an outlandish character, like a larger-than-life doll or a cartoon dinosaur.
Reflect on the reconciliations in your own life, reaching out to mend fences or simply appreciating those who bring positivity.
33 days to Christmas-Start the 33 days to Eucharistic Glory[1]
Want to start a small group? Download our 33 Days to Eucharistic Glory Study Guide
Day 19
On this 19th day, Holy Queen of heaven,
assist me, as you did the saints to my final perseverance.
Copilot:
The
saints are often looked to as examples of extraordinary perseverance and faith.
Their paths to achieving final perseverance varied, but there are some common
elements that many shared:
1. Deep Faith and Trust in
God: Saints
often had a profound and unwavering faith, trusting in God's plan for their
lives, even in the face of immense suffering and adversity.
2. Prayer and Sacraments: Regular prayer, participation in
the sacraments, and a strong devotional life were crucial. They found strength
and grace through these spiritual practices.
3. Humility and Surrender: Many saints embraced humility and
surrendered their will to God. They sought to align their lives with God's
will, accepting both joys and hardships with a spirit of humility.
4. Charity and Service: Living lives of service and
charity, many saints dedicated themselves to helping others. This outward focus
often helped them maintain perspective and strength.
5. Community and Support: Saints often found support and
encouragement within their faith communities, which helped them stay committed
to their spiritual journeys.
6. Resilience in Suffering: Many saints faced severe trials,
including persecution, illness, or personal loss. Their resilience and ability
to find meaning and strength in suffering helped them persevere.
DECEMBER 16 Monday of the Third Week in Advent
Las Posadas
Judith, Chapter 15,
Verse 1-2
1 On hearing what had
happened, those still in their tents were horrified. 2 Overcome
with FEAR and dread, no one kept
ranks any longer. They scattered in all directions, and fled along every path,
both through the valley and in the hill country.
Judith
even in the midst of the enemy camp demonstrates her piety and continues to
keep Jewish dietary laws. When offered rich fair she refuses and continues in
prayer. Every morning before dawn she leaves the camp to beseech the Lord. She
keeps ritual purification and bathes in the spring of the camp. Judith for
three days establishes this routine in the camp. She knows she must kill
Holofernes before the 5th day when the rulers of the city promised
to surrender. She pushes trust in Yahweh to its limits. On the 4th
day she is invited by Holofernes to a banquet. She accepts prepares her weapon,
her beauty and sallies forth to battle. The power of her beauty is immediately
evident. Holofernes is overcome with desire. He drinks too much and lies drunk
on the bed. All the guests depart thinking they are getting jiggy with it. They
are alone. She prays and draws Holofernes own sword; asks for strength and
strikes severing his head from his body. Judith calmly returns to her routine;
wraps the head in a food pouch and goes out of the camp for prayer. She goes
home and liberation is proclaimed. Victory now needs action. Judith acting as
general hangs the head on the city wall and initiates a fake attack on the
camp. The cry is heard in the camp of Holofernes: “A single Hebrew woman has
brought disgrace on the house of King Nebuchadnezzar!” The troops are dismayed.
They run back to Syria.[1]
Building
up the Kingdom[2]
Scripture
and the Church teach us that we have three divinely ordained purposes that give
our lives meaning:
·
Salvation
— seeking to save our eternal souls and help save the souls of others (that
salvation, the Church teaches, is God's free gift but requires our cooperation
through faith in God, obedience to his commandments, and repentance of our
grave sins).
·
Service
— using our God-given talents to build God's kingdom here on earth.
·
Sanctity
— growing in holiness.
The
third of these life goals, sanctity, is central to building Catholic character.
At the end of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus says something that is stunning:
"Be thou made perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect" (Mt 5:48).
St. Gregory put it this way: "The goal of a virtuous life is to become
like God." Scripture tells us, "God is love" (1 Jn 4:16). If we
want to be like God, our vocation is to love. The essence of love is to
sacrifice for the sake of another, as Jesus did. Love is self-gift. What, then,
is our goal if we want to develop Catholic character in our children and
ourselves? Look to the character of Christ: A life of self-giving.
Natural
Virtues
The
high goal of Christ-like character builds on a base of what the Church calls
"natural virtues." Among the natural virtues that families and
schools should nurture are the four advanced by the ancient Greeks, named in
Scripture (Wis 8:7), and adopted by the Church as "the cardinal
virtues": prudence, which enables us to judge what we should do; justice,
which enables us to respect the rights of others and give them what they are
due; fortitude, which enables us to do what is right in the face of difficulties;
temperance, which enables us to control our desires and avoid abuse of even
legitimate pleasures. These natural virtues are developed through effort and
practice, aided by God's grace.
In
order to develop a Christ-like character, however, we need more than the
natural virtues. We also need the three supernatural, or
"theological," virtues: Faith, Hope and Love.
Spiritual
Virtues
1.
Faith
in God, which enables us to believe in God and the teachings of his church.
2.
Hope
in God, which leads us to view eternal life as our most important goal and to
place total trust in God.
3. Love of God, which enables us to love God above all things and our neighbor as ourselves for the love of God.
The three theological virtues are considered supernatural because they come from God and have as their purpose our participation in God's divine life. As the Catechism (1813) teaches, the theological virtues are not separate from the natural virtues; rather, they "are the foundation of Christian moral activity; they animate it and give it its special character." The Catholic writer Peter Kreeft points out, "The Christian is prudent, just, courageous, and self-controlled out of faith in God, hope in God, and love of God." The supernatural virtues, like the natural virtues, grow stronger through our effort and practice, in cooperation with God's grace.
Monday of the Third Week in Advent[3]
Read: "Saint Francis of Assisi began the custom of the nativity scenes when he celebrated Christmas with his brothers at Greccio in 1223 with a Bethlehem scene which included live animals. This tradition quickly spread, and people began to construct their own nativity scenes in their homes. Children take great joy in helping to set up a nativity scene. The crèche may be made from various materials. Simplicity and beauty go often hand in hand. You may set up your entire scene at the beginning of Advent, leaving the crib empty for the Christ Child to arrive on Christmas Eve. Or you may set up the scene slowly, day by day . . . Mary and Joseph can also 'travel' to Bethlehem, as they move slowly across your room every day until they reach the cave." (excerpted from "Celebrating Advent as a Family" foryourmarriage.org)
Reflect: "While they were there, the time came for her to have her child, and she gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn." (Luke 2:6-7)
Pray: Add this "O Antiphon" to your daily or meal-time prayer today: "O Leader of the House of Israel, giver of the Law to Moses on Sinai: come to rescue us with your mighty power." (Catholic Household Blessings and Prayers, Revised Edition, 76)
Act: Take
time to bless the family creche in preparation for the coming of Jesus.
(Based on your family's tradition, you may choose to hide the baby Jesus until
Christmas morning.)
Las Posadas[4]
Here is a wonderful description of the tradition of the nine-day custom Posadas, that commemorates the journey of Mary and Joseph from Nazareth to Bethlehem.
·
Banuelos are the big crisp fried cakes
that Mexicans have for Christmas Eve supper. They are eaten either plain, with
cinnamon and brown sugar syrup, or sometimes with honey. But before supper
there is the traditional Misa de Gallo, or Mass of the Cock, at the
village church. And for nine consecutive nights before that, there are the
posadas to commemorate the journey of Mary and Joseph from Nazareth to
Bethlehem and their search for lodgings.
·
The word, posada, means an inn. To the
humble Mexican the re-enactment of the Holy Family's quest for lodgings is a
ritual of deep religious significance. The posadas, which start on the sixteenth
of December and end on Christmas Eve, take place at different houses each
night. Since Christmas, to the Mexican, is a community rather than a family
affair, relatives and friends in a neighborhood often club together to defray
posada expenses. The climax of each is the breaking of the Pinata.
·
Pinatas are pottery jars, filled with trinkets,
candies, and miniature toys. The jars are ingeniously decorated with bright
paper to represent birds of paradise, dancing girls in gaudy ruffled skirts, or
clowns with grotesque costumes and chalk white faces. Since Christmas is not a
time for gift-giving, pinatas, with their bright baubles and inexpensive
trifles, are as important to Mexicans as Christmas trees to their neighbors,
north of the Rio Grande.
· Posada ceremonies begin after dark on December 16. They start with a procession of pilgrims, led by two children. With poles on their shoulders, the little ones support a platform. with figures of Joseph, the Virgin riding a small burro, and a number of protecting angels. Green branches and paper stars adorn the platform. Each member of the procession has a lighted candle. As the pilgrims approach the door of the house assigned to the first posada, they chant traditional verses in which Joseph wakens the master of the place and asks for lodgings for Mary. From behind closed doors the master threatens beatings unless the company moves on. Once more Joseph pleads for admittance. At first, the owner of the house scoffs, but finally, convinced of his guests' identity, he joyously opens the door and bids the pilgrim’s welcome. Then everyone kneels before the Nacimiento, or miniature manger — often loaned to, the host for the evening — and offers prayers and Christmas hymns. When the religious ritual ends, there are refreshments. Then the children start a gay little song:
"Scatter
the candies, scatter the sweets, for we are children who want to eat."
·
Generally, the pinata is suspended by a long
rope or pulley cord hung from a tree in the patio. Each child in turn is
blindfolded, given a stout stick, and told to break the jar. But just as Lola
or Jose is about to hit, a yank on the rope takes the pinata out of reach. This
tantalizing performance continues for some time while everyone — except the
blindfolded victims shouts, jeers, and claps. Finally, the pinata is shattered.
With shouts and whoops, the guests drop to all fours and dart about after the
booty, scattered in every direction.
·
In this mingled atmosphere of religious fervor
and childlike enjoyment, posadas and pinata-breakings continue until Christmas
Eve. Then the search for lodgings ends and the Babe is born, with great
rejoicing on the part of the pilgrims. Shortly before midnight, they sing nine
Ave Marias and address a song to the Virgin, telling her that the night of her
confinement is at hand.
·
At some posada’s small children, dressed as
shepherds, stand at either side of the Nacimiento on this last night. Two of
the guests, acting the parts of godfather and godmother, walk between the
shepherds with an image of the Baby Jesus. As the pilgrims kneel, they chant a
litany to lull the Little One to sleep.
·
At midnight on Christmas Eve everyone surges
into the churches to celebrate the Mass of the Cock. After the service,
whistles blow, fireworks explode, bells ring, and magnificent processions form,
for Jesus' birth is the occasion of unbounded demonstration.
· In the midst of the happy tumult families hurry home to, supper. For the poor there are special holiday foods such as tonight bean soup, revoltijo, a traditional dish made with shrimp, potatoes, chili, and prickly pears, and a salad of nuts and fruits. Then come the Banuelos, the festal fried cakes that are puffed, brown, and delicious.
Activity Source: Feast-Day Cakes from Many Lands by Dorothy Gladys Spicer, Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1960
May the coming of our humble Lord help us to focus on our loyalties that are due to our God, Church, Nation, family and neighbors during this season and our own journey of life!
It is nine days
before Christmas. Today start a Christmas Novena with your family
or someone you love.
Spiritual Crib[5]
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.
·
6th day, December 16th. THE HAY—Meekness Prepare a soft little bed of Hay for the
Divine Infant by practicing this beautiful virtue. Do not yield to anger today;
and speak very kindly to such as are repulsive to you. When tempted to speak
harshly, say this little prayer instead. O Jesus meek and humble of Heart,
make my heart like unto Thine.
Catechism
of the Catholic Church-
Day
187
1369 The whole
Church is united with the offering and intercession of Christ. Since he has the
ministry of Peter in the Church, the Pope is associated with every celebration
of the Eucharist, wherein he is named as the sign and servant of the unity of
the universal Church. the bishop of the place is always responsible for the
Eucharist, even when a priest presides; the bishop's name is mentioned to
signify his presidency over the particular Church, in the midst of his
presbyterium and with the assistance of deacons. the community intercedes also
for all ministers who, for it and with it, offer the Eucharistic sacrifice:
Let only that Eucharist be
regarded as legitimate, which is celebrated under [the presidency of] the
bishop or him to whom he has entrusted it.
Through the ministry of priests,
The spiritual sacrifice of the
faithful is completed in union with the sacrifice of Christ the only Mediator,
which in the Eucharist is offered through the priests' hands in the name of the
whole Church in an unbloody and sacramental manner until the Lord himself
comes.
1370 To the
offering of Christ are united not only the members still here on earth, but
also those already in the glory of heaven. In communion with and commemorating
the Blessed Virgin Mary and all the saints, the Church offers the Eucharistic
sacrifice. In the Eucharist the Church is as it were at the foot of the cross
with Mary, united with the offering and intercession of Christ.
1371 The
Eucharistic sacrifice is also offered for the faithful departed who "have
died in Christ but are not yet wholly purified," so that they may be
able to enter into the light and peace of Christ:
Put this body anywhere! Don't
trouble yourselves about it! I simply ask you to remember me at the Lord's
altar wherever you are.
Then, we pray [in the anaphora]
for the holy fathers and bishops who have fallen asleep, and in general for all
who have fallen asleep before us, in the belief that it is a great benefit to
the souls on whose behalf the supplication is offered, while the holy and
tremendous Victim is present.... By offering to God our supplications for those
who have fallen asleep, if they have sinned, we . . . offer Christ sacrificed
for the sins of all, and so render favorable, for them and for us, the God who
loves man.
1372 St.
Augustine admirably summed up this doctrine that moves us to an ever more
complete participation in our Redeemer's sacrifice which we celebrate in the
Eucharist:
This wholly redeemed city, the
assembly and society of the saints, is offered to God as a universal sacrifice
by the high priest who in the form of a slave went so far as to offer himself
for us in his Passion, to make us the Body of so great a head.... Such is the
sacrifice of Christians: "we who are many are one Body in Christ" the
Church continues to reproduce this sacrifice in the sacrament of the altar so
well-known to believers wherein it is evident to them that in what she offers
she herself is offered.
Daily Devotions
·
Unite in the work of the Porters of St. Joseph by joining them
in fasting: Today's Fast: For
the Poor and Suffering
·
Litany
of the Most Precious Blood of Jesus
·
Offering to
the sacred heart of Jesus
·
Rosary
[1]The Collegeville Bible Commentary,
1986.
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