Dara’s Corner
· Jesse Tree ornament: Jesse: 1 Sam. 16:1-13 Symbols: crimson robe, shepherd's staff
· Anniversary of the Statute of Westminster
· Actress Rita Moreno born 1931
· How to celebrate Dec 11th
o First things first, start your day by indulging in a dance session. Put on your favorite tango music, and sway to the rhythm. It doesn’t matter if you’re a seasoned pro or have two left feet, just have fun and let loose.
o After working up an appetite with all that dancing, it’s time for a delightful breakfast. Toast a bagel to perfection and top it with your favorite spread. Whether it’s cream cheese, smoked salmon, or avocado, make it your own and relish every bite.
o Feeling energized after your meal, head outdoors for a hike or a leisurely walk in the mountains. Take in the fresh air, admire the scenic views, and appreciate the beauty of nature all around you. Don’t forget to snap a few photos to capture the moment.
o To cap off the day, take a moment to acknowledge and appreciate the history and culture around you. Learn about the Statute of Westminster and its significance. Reflect on how this historical event has shaped the world we live in today.
o And finally, end the day on a fun note by indulging in a classic comfort food – a delicious noodle ring dish. Whether it’s baked, fried, or boiled, savor the flavors and enjoy a simple yet satisfying meal.
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 14
On this 14th day, develop the strength not to yield and carry our crosses patiently
Copilot:
Developing the strength to resist temptation and patiently carry our crosses is a journey that involves faith, perseverance, and practical steps. Here are some ways to build that strength:
Spiritual Practices
1. Daily Prayer: Start and end your day with prayer, seeking God’s strength to resist temptation and carry your burdens with patience.
2. Scripture Reading: Meditate on passages that provide encouragement and guidance. Verses like Philippians 4:13 and Matthew 16:24 can be particularly inspiring.
3. Sacraments: Participate in the sacraments regularly to receive grace and fortify your spirit.
Practical Steps
1. Mindfulness and Meditation: Practice mindfulness to become aware of your thoughts and actions, helping you to make conscious, positive choices.
2. Accountability Partners: Share your journey with trusted friends or mentors who can provide support, encouragement, and accountability.
3. Healthy Boundaries: Establish boundaries to protect yourself from negative influences and environments.
Lifestyle Habits
1. Physical Health: Maintain a healthy lifestyle through regular exercise and a balanced diet. Physical well-being can positively impact your mental and spiritual health.
2. Positive Activities: Engage in hobbies and activities that uplift and inspire you, keeping your mind occupied with positive pursuits.
Community Support
1. Faith Community: Be active in your faith community, participating in group prayers, study sessions, and service activities.
2. Volunteer Work: Serving others can provide a sense of purpose and fulfillment, helping you stay focused on positive values.
Reflective Practices
1. Examination of Conscience: Regularly reflect on your actions and intentions, seeking areas for growth and improvement.
2. Gratitude Journal: Keep a journal to note down the blessings and positive experiences in your life, helping you maintain a hopeful and thankful mindset.
Example Prayer for Strength and Patience
Here’s a prayer to help you seek strength and patience:
Dear Lord, Grant me the strength to resist temptation and carry my crosses with patience and grace. Fill me with Your peace and guide me in moments of struggle and doubt. Help me to embrace my challenges as opportunities for growth and to trust in Your plan. May Your love and presence sustain me and give me the courage to follow Your path.
Amen.
DECEMBER 11 Wednesday of the Second Week in Advent
SPIRITUAL crib-Mountain Day
Judith, Chapter 8,
Verse 8
No one had a bad word to say about
her, for she FEARED God greatly.
Think
what it would be like if you could hear what others say about you?
Would
no one have a bad word to say about you?
How
is Judith described?
Judith[1]
·
She
was a widow of a successful man “Mannasseh” who died of heat stroke during a
barley harvest.
·
During
the war she had been a widow for 3 years and 4 months, choosing not to remarry.
·
She
lived in a tent on the roof of her house and mourned her husband and
worshipped.
·
She
fasted except for the Holy Days.
·
She
was beautiful and very lovely to behold.
·
She
maintained her husband’s property which she owned.
Judith,
Instrument of Yahwah
War
had been declared between God and Nebuchadnezzar, god against God. Each
divinity has an acting human representative. Judith and Holofernes. Judith is a
model of Jewish observance. She is a widow whom all knows that she is under the
protection of God. She is a strong woman, with the fear of God. Judith counsels
the elders of the city Bethulia, that is a mountain stronghold that prevents
Holofernes from marching on Jerusalem. The people are thirsty the cisterns are
empty all is hopeless and the elders want to quit. Judith challenges their
resolve. She scolds the elders for limiting God to human understanding.
"You cannot plumb the depths
of the human heart or grasp the workings of the human mind; how then can you
fathom God, who has made all these things, or discern his mind, or understand
his plan?”
Judith
prepares for war with prayer.
Her
call for action has 3 parts.
1.
They
must set an example because the fate
of the nation, the temple, and the people depend on them.
2.
They
must be grateful to God for this test
their affliction is a proof of God’s love for them.
3.
They
must remember that God tests those He
loves and never doubt his fidelity in the midst of their sufferings.
Judith’s
prayer illustrates three principles of Holy War
·
Trust
in God. Do not trust in horses or chariots. Trust in armament is the same as
trusting in another god-it is idolatry.
·
Power
comes from God. Frequently the power of God comes from a chosen person, Moses,
David, Jesus, Peter and Judith or Mary Mother of God. The weapons of God are
not the same as man. God’s chosen instrument is sometimes weak.
·
Victory
belongs to the lowly and vulnerable. The weak have no hope except in the power
of God. Judith calls on God to win the victory.
Every
Wednesday is Dedicated to St. Joseph
The Italian culture has
always had a close association with St. Joseph perhaps you could make
Wednesdays centered around Jesus’s Papa. Plan an Italian dinner of pizza or
spaghetti after attending Mass as most parishes have a Wednesday evening Mass.
You could even do carry out to help restaurants. If you are adventurous, you
could do the Universal Man Plan: St. Joseph style. Make the evening a family
night perhaps it could be a game night. Whatever you do make the day special.
·
Devotion to the 7 Joys and Sorrows of St.
Joseph
·
Do the St.
Joseph Universal Man Plan.
Spiritual Crib[2]
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.
·
1st day, December 11th: THE STONES—Pure Intention By pure intention today, we will
bring together the materials for the stable. The Wagon to carry the stones
shall be the pure intention, the Horses the great fervor in the service of God,
and the stones we collect by making 100
aspirations to the most Sacred Heart of our dear Redeemer.
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 3-THE SACRAMENT OF THE EUCHARIST
III. The Eucharist in the Economy of Salvation
Day
182
The signs of bread and wine
1333 At the
heart of the Eucharistic celebration are the bread and wine that, by the words
of Christ and the invocation of the Holy Spirit, become Christ's Body and
Blood. Faithful to the Lord's command the Church continues to do, in his memory
and until his glorious return, what he did on the eve of his Passion: "He
took bread...." "He took the cup filled with wine...." the signs
of bread and wine become, in a way surpassing understanding, the Body and Blood
of Christ; they continue also to signify the goodness of creation. Thus in the
Offertory we give thanks to the Creator for bread and wine, fruit of the
"work of human hands," but above all as "fruit of the
earth" and "of the vine" - gifts of the Creator. the Church sees
in the gesture of the king-priest Melchizedek, who "brought out bread and
wine," a prefiguring of her own offering.
1334 In the
Old Covenant bread and wine were offered in sacrifice among the first fruits of
the earth as a sign of grateful acknowledgment to the Creator. But they also
received a new significance in the context of the Exodus: the unleavened bread
that Israel eats every year at Passover commemorates the haste of the departure
that liberated them from Egypt; the remembrance of the manna in the desert will
always recall to Israel that it lives by the bread of the Word of
God; their daily bread is the fruit of the promised land, the pledge of
God's faithfulness to his promises.
The "cup of blessing" at the end of the Jewish Passover meal
adds to the festive joy of wine an eschatological dimension: the messianic
expectation of the rebuilding of Jerusalem. When Jesus instituted the
Eucharist, he gave a new and definitive meaning to the blessing of the bread
and the cup.
1335 The
miracles of the multiplication of the loaves, when the Lord says the blessing,
breaks and distributes the loaves through his disciples to feed the multitude,
prefigure the superabundance of this unique bread of his Eucharist. The
sign of water turned into wine at Cana already announces the Hour of Jesus'
glorification. It makes manifest the fulfillment of the wedding feast in the
Father's kingdom, where the faithful will drink the new wine that has become
the Blood of Christ.
1336 The first
announcement of the Eucharist divided the disciples, just as the announcement
of the Passion scandalized them: "This is a hard saying; who can listen to
it?" The Eucharist and the Cross are stumbling blocks. It is the same
mystery and it never ceases to be an occasion of division. "Will you also
go away?": The Lord's question echoes through the ages, as a loving
invitation to discover that only he has "the words of eternal
life" and that to receive in faith the gift of his Eucharist is to
receive the Lord himself.
The institution of the
Eucharist
1337 The Lord,
having loved those who were his own, loved them to the end. Knowing that the
hour had come to leave this world and return to the Father, in the course of a
meal he washed their feet and gave them the commandment of love. In order
to leave them a pledge of this love, in order never to depart from his own and
to make them sharers in his Passover, he instituted the Eucharist as the
memorial of his death and Resurrection, and commanded his apostles to celebrate
it until his return; "thereby he constituted them priests of the New
Testament."
1338 The three
synoptic Gospels and St. Paul have handed on to us the account of the
institution of the Eucharist; St. John, for his part, reports the words of
Jesus in the synagogue of Capernaum that prepare for the institution of the
Eucharist: Christ calls himself the bread of life, come down from heaven.
1339 Jesus
chose the time of Passover to fulfill what he had announced at Capernaum:
giving his disciples his Body and his Blood:
Then came
the day of Unleavened Bread, on which the passover lamb had to be sacrificed.
So Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, "Go and prepare the passover meal
for us, that we may eat it...." They went ... and prepared the passover.
and when the hour came, he sat at table, and the apostles with him. and he said
to them, "I have earnestly desired to eat this passover with you before I
suffer; for I tell you I shall not eat it again until it is fulfilled in the
kingdom of God.".... and he took bread, and when he had given thanks he
broke it and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body which is given for
you. Do this in remembrance of me." and likewise the cup after supper,
saying, "This cup which is poured out for you is the New Covenant in my
blood."
1340 By
celebrating the Last Supper with his apostles in the course of the Passover
meal, Jesus gave the Jewish Passover its definitive meaning. Jesus' passing
over to his father by his death and Resurrection, the new Passover, is
anticipated in the Supper and celebrated in the Eucharist, which fulfills the
Jewish Passover and anticipates the final Passover of the Church in the glory
of the kingdom.
International Mountain Day[4]
In certain areas of the world, they are also a source of
unique agriculture, providing ample space for the production of those products
that grow best on their slopes. Coffee, Cocoa, Herbs, Spices, and the form of
handicrafts that spring from the minds of those who live in the unchanging
protection of these towering edifices to geology. International Mountain Day is
your opportunity to head out and appreciate these unique landforms, and all
they have to offer. Established in December of 2003, the United Nations General
Assembly created this day to help bring awareness to all of the things we rely
on mountains for. Whether it’s all of the glories mentioned above, or how
necessary they are for the health and well-being of the flora and fauna that
call them their home, International Mountain Day promotes them all.
How to Celebrate International Mountain Day
International Mountain Day can be
celebrated in a cavalcade of fun and educational ways. Head out to your local
mountain to discover all the things it has to offer. Whether it’s a day in the
numerous parks and hidden places that can be found in their craggy terrain, or
amazing tourist towns like Leavenworth, WA, get on out there and explore.
Hiking enthusiasts will find the many trails and secret places a joy, as well
as being able to enjoy the far-flung places that so few ever visit. Due to the
challenges of developing them, there is almost always an opportunity to enjoy
nature in all its glory. Even better, once you’ve hiked your way into the far
reaches of untouched wilderness, you can settle down to camp away from the
light pollution and noise of city life. Or maybe you prefer to drive, the
twisting winding roads that navigate the mountainsides have some of the most
beautiful country that can be found, near or far. Snugged down between the
rising cliff-face and the sheer drop into the valley, the view is simply
unmatched, and such a thing can be refreshing to the human soul. International
Mountain Day is a call to get out into the wild and see what it has to offer!
10 Sacred Mountains Around the World[5]
Since ancient
times various mountains around the world have been held sacred. Here are 10
places worth visiting for a spiritual high.
1. Mount
Nebo, Jordan (2,330 ft)
2. Mount Croagh Patrick, Ireland (2,507 ft)
As many as one million pilgrims trek this peak annually to
pray at the stations of the cross, participate in Mass, or just enjoy the
spectacular view over Ireland’s western coast. Pre-Christian Celts believed the
deity Crom Dubh lived on the mountain and later St. Patrick who introduced
Christianity to Ireland “is believed to have spent 40 days and nights fasting
and praying atop the mountain.
3.
Mount Olympus, Greece
The legendary home
of the Greek Gods and throne of Zeus is the highest mountain in Greece at 9,577
feet. The 2-3-day hike to the summit features a close-up look at the roughly
1,700 different species of flora that grow on the mountain.
4.
Mount Agung, Bali
The Balinese
consider the volcanic Mount Agung to be the center of the universe. It rises
10,308 feet high in eastern Bali. The Mother Temple of Besakih, the largest and
holiest temple in Bali, sits roughly 3,000 feet up its slopes.
5.
Mount Fuji, Japan
This snowcapped
mountain west of Tokyo is sacred in both Buddhism and Shintoism. During the
July and August climbing season more than 200,000 people hike to the top of
this 12,388 ft. peak. Also, an active volcano, Mount Fuji has been venerated as
the home of a fire god, a Shinto goddess and Dainichi Nyorai, the Great Sun
Buddha.
6. The
San Francisco Peaks, Arizona
More than a dozen Native American tribes consider this volcanic chain in the Coconino National Forest to be sacred, including the Hopi, who believe the peaks are the mythological home of the Kachina People. In order to protect the area as much as possible, there are no paved roads to the summit. The 9-mile Humphreys Peak Trail is a strenuous round-trip journey that leads to the highest point in Arizona at 12,633 feet.
7.
Mount of the Holy Cross, Colorado
Legends of a giant
cross hidden deep in the Rocky Mountains proved true when photographer William
Henry Jackson returned from an expedition in 1873 with a picture of this
mythical peak, the northernmost 14,000 ft mountain in the Sawatch Range. Mount
of the Holy Cross is named for the distinctive cross-shaped snowfield that
adorns its northeastern face and is a popular Christian pilgrimage site.
8. Popocatepel, Mexico (17,802 ft)
This volcanic peak located roughly 45 miles southeast of
Mexico City figures largely in both Aztec and Nahua legends and among local
Nahua today El Popo, as its called for short, is a living, breathing entity.
Spanish missionaries built 14 monasteries on El Popoâs slopes during the 16th
century, and they’ve been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
9. Mount Kailash, China/Tibet (21,778 ft)
Thousands of Buddhists, Hindu, Jain and Bonpo pilgrims’ journey to the remote Himalayan town of Darchen each year to make koras, ritual circuits, around the base of Mount Kailash. Setting foot on the mountain is considered to be a sacrilege, but one 32-mile kora around the base is believed to erase a lifetime of sins.
10. Mount Everest, Nepal/China border
Tibetans call
Mount Everest the Goddess Mother of the Universe, the Nepalese call Everest
Goddess of the Sky. At 29,029 feet, it is the highest mountain on the planet.
Everest is part of the Himalayan Mountain range and it is a day hike from the
Rongbuk Monastery in Tibet to Base Camp.
Daily Devotions
·
Unite in the work of the Porters of St. Joseph by joining them
in fasting: Today's Fast: End
Sex Trafficking Slavery
·
Religion
in the home: Preschool for December
·
Offering to
the sacred heart of Jesus
·
Make
reparations to the Holy Face
·
Rosary
[3]https://www.dynamiccatholic.com/33-days-to-eucharistic-glory/33EG.html?srsltid=AfmBOopIHMivIR422BjtUtJ2KZm8-MrVMEJFtxZYH7ZkFuXRwdu5G1Qi#longDescription
[5]https://matadornetwork.com/bnt/photo-essay-10-sacred-mountains-around-the-world/
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