Holy Name of Jesus - Jan. 3rd

  

Today, the Church celebrates the Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus.

From the moment of His conception, His birth, His Circumcision, His Cross, during the lives of the apostles and early Church, throughout history and even today, the Holy Name of Jesus continues to save.

Jesus means “Savior”. The first mention of the name of Jesus, was at the annunciation, when the angel Gabriel said to Mary, “You shall conceive and bear a Son and give Him the name Jesus”.(Luke 1:31) The angel Gabriel then appeared to St. Joseph in a dream, and said, “Thou shall name Him Jesus, because He shall save His people from their sins”. (Matt. 1:21)

Scripture tells us, that “When the eighth day arrived for His circumcision, the name Jesus was given to the Child..” (Luke 2:21)

Our Lord wanted His disciples to call upon His name. He said, “Whatever you ask in my name, I will do it.” (Jn. 14:13)

And at Our Lord’s Crucifixion, His Holy Name was nailed above His head, which said, “This is Jesus, King of the Jews” (Matt. 27:37).

At Pentecost, the name of Jesus was used by St. Peter to heal a man crippled from birth, as He said, “In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazorean, walk!” When St. Peter was arrested for healing the cripple, he told the rulers, “There is no other name under heaven given to men by which, we must be saved”. (Acts 4:12) .

St. Paul told the Philippians, “God has exalted Him, and bestowed upon the name that is above every other name, so that at the Name of Jesus every knee should bow.” (Pil. 2:9)

St. Bernadine of Sienna had a great devotion to the Holy Name of Jesus and preached on it often. Once, when he learned that there was a man possessed by the devil in the city of Alessandria, where he was passing through, the gave a child a piece of paper on which the glorious Name of the Savior was written. He told the child to put in on the possessed man. The child had hardly placed it on the man, when the unclean spirit immediately took flight.

The name of Jesus, as we know-- means, savior. Jesus not only saves us from sin, but also saves us from physical harm as we can tell by the following story.

The day after Christmas in 2005, a missionary, who was working at an orphanage, spotted a large tsunami, approaching the banks of an island. Not knowing what to do, the missionary raised his hand in the direction of the flood, and shouted, “I command you in the name of Jesus—stop!” He thought he was imagining things, because the water seemed to “momentarily stop”. As the wave stopped, he and all the children from the orphanage got into a boat. And just as their boat headed away, the water poured into the mouth of the lagoon, and destroyed the orphanage. All escaped unharmed and were saved by the Holy Name of Jesus.

When we pray the Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we will say the name of Jesus 58 times, as we pray the Hail Mary and the Fatima prayer. If we are frightened, worried or distressed, call upon the Holy Name of Jesus. If we are being tempted to sin, or notice others who seem to behave in a sinful manner, call on the name of Jesus.

If we are lonely, troubled and in need of consolation and love, call on the name of Jesus. “Lord Jesus, save me” “Lord Jesus, help me.” “Jesus protect me from my enemies.”

On this feast of the Holy Name of Jesus, and everyday, may we gently and softly repeat the Holy Name of Jesus, asking Him to save us from our sins, save us from physical harm, and make reparation for those who take the Holy Name of Jesus in vain.

Just imagine how many times, the Blessed Virgin lovingly said the name of Jesus, may She remind us to call upon the name of Her Son with trust, with love, with respect and with devotion.

Saints Basil & Gregory Nanzianzen Jan. 2nd

 

Today, the Church celebrates the memorial of St. Basil the Great and St. Gregory Nazianzen, who lived from the early to middle 300’s and are both doctors of the Church.

Today’s first reading from the letter of St. John states, “Who is the liar? Whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ? Whoever denies the Father and the Son, this is the antichrist.” An anti-Christ in the early Church was one who denied well-known doctrines about Christ and His Church and especially denied the divinity of Christ.

During the time of Saints Gregory and Basil, Bishop Arius taught Jesus is “like” the Father, but less than the Father. He denied the divinity of Jesus.

Saints Basil and Gregory were mutual friends and both defended the divinity of Jesus, Bishop Arius, who was “like” an anti-Christ, because he taught Jesus was not divine.

Born in Turkey, St. Basil resolved to devote his life to God. In a letter he wrote, he said, “I had wasted much time on follies and spent nearly all my youth in labors. Suddenly I awoke as out of a deep sleep. I beheld the wonderful light of the Gospel truth… I shed a flood of tears over my wretched life, and I prayed for a guide form in me the principles of piety.”

He was baptized and sought spiritual advice from the ascetics in the desert. He gave his wealth to the poor, and returned to an austere life in the desert. Others began to follow his way of life, and so, a monastic movement of monks grew in the east. He later became known as the “father of eastern monasticism”. His younger brother Gregory of Nyssa, and his friend Gregory of Nazianzen, and Basil made up a trio of teachers of the faith.

St. Gregory comes from a family of saints. His mother St. Nonna and his brother St. Ceaesarius are also saints. Gregory was ordained a priest and then joined Basil’s monks in the desert. He was later named bishop of Nazianzen. St. Gregory was an eloquent preacher and poet. Gregory and Basil, as friends and bishops of the Church, both battled the Arian heresy and strived for virtue together. Because Gregory, so eloquently, wrote many theological treatises and sermons defending the divinity of Jesus, he became known as “The theologian”.

St. Gregory always emphasized that a good life was necessary to understand the truth about God. He said, “If you want to become a theologian. --Keep the commandments. Conduct is the step to contemplation.”

Today, if we want to know God and the truth about Him, let us strive for virtue, and to live a good life, and ask saints Basil and Gregory to pray for us, that with Mary, may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Mother of God - Jan. 1st

 

 Today, we celebrate with great joy, the Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God.

When St. Paul began preaching in the city of Ephesus, he stirred up the anger of citizens devoted to their Greek goddess, Artemis. He told them that gods made by human hands are not gods at all. Enraged, the people shouted for two hours, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians.” 

Four hundred years later, Bishop Nestorius, Patriarch of Constantinople, began preaching Mary was only the mother of Jesus, a human person, not God. 

But  to refute this heresy, the Council of Ephesus, in 431AD, which took place in the same city of Ephesus, where St. Paul refuted the false Greek god, Artemis, now affirmed and proclaimed Mary as the Mother of God, who is not a goddess, but rather, Mother of God. The council said, “…we confess the holy virgin to be the Mother of God because God the Word took flesh and became man and from His very conception united to Himself the temple He took from her.”

Due to their infallible proclamation, the council refuted the heretic Nestorius and affirmed that Jesus is God, a divine Person, so Mary truly is the Mother of God. When the people heard the affirmation of the Virgin Mary as the Mother of God, the enthusiastic crowds surged through the streets as they did four hundred years earlier, but now in stead of shouting, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians”, they people in the streets cried out, “Holy Mary, Mother of God!” 

Because of this proclamation, centuries later, the prayer, “Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death.” would be added to the Rosary.

When the dogma was proclaimed, it helped to better define who Jesus is. That He has two natures, both human and divine, and yet Jesus is only one person and Mary is the Mother of Jesus and person of Jesus is God. This does not mean that Mary is divine nor does it mean She created Jesus in Her womb. No, rather, all it means is Jesus is God and Mary is His Mother.

Therefore, the dogma of Mary being the Mother of God, clarified who Jesus really is. Both God and man, and whose person-hood is God.

The night of His birth, the shepherds, who watched over their flocks, came upon Mary, His Mother, with Joseph, and the Infant lying in the manger. They gazed upon the face of God, as a little Child, as Jesus shed His face upon them, and was gracious to them. The Virgin Mary was the first person to see the face of God (the face of Jesus) and then St. Joseph. Outcast poor shepherds were chosen by God through the angel in the shepherd’s field, to be the next human beings to see the face of God in the little infant lying in the manger.

When Our Blessed Mother visited Her cousin, Elizabeth, Elizabeth cried out, “Who am I that the Mother of my Lord should come to me?” In the New Testament, whenever the word “Lord” is used, it always refers to God, so when Elizabeth said, “Mother of my Lord”, she was saying “Mother of my God.”

Later in Mary’s life, a woman in the crowd cried out, “Blessed is the womb, who bore you, and the woman, who nursed you!” Mary was blessed, because, as His Mother, She carried Him in Her womb, gave birth to Him, and held the baby Jesus in Her arms! She was blessed because She adored the face of God, kissed His chubby cheeks, touched His tiny nose, and grasped His little fingers, nursed Him, bathed Him, and changed His diapers. She cooked and sewed for Him and cared for His every need.

The Virgin Mary and all mothers give their blood during pregnancy. They give their milk after the child is born. They give up sleep for the first two years; they give immense amounts of her time, sweat, tears, anxiety and attention to Her child. They teach their children to read, to write, to learn the faith, as Jesus was taught the Jewish traditions and prayers.

At the Cross, when Jesus said, “Woman behold thy Son and Son behold thy Mother!”-- It is then all of us became Her children. At the foot of the Cross, John took Mary into His home. And since Our Lord providentially wanted His Mother at the foot of the Cross at His death, then He wants us to know Mary is our Mother too--- from our birth to our death. He wants us to be like John and to take Mary into our home and to make Her our Mother.

Have we taken Mary into our home and into our heart? Do we approach Her, as our Mother, and ask Her to obtain everything we need?

While scripture and tradition is important, we truly need to have a personal friendship with Mary, as our Mother. We should pray the rosary every day, but also speak personal words to Her. Do we talk to Her, ask Her intercession, and address Her—as—Mother?

For example, “O Mother Mary, when I am lonely or saddened, please console me. “Mother Mary, when I am in pain, help me to suffer for Jesus, as you suffered for Him! Or we can say to Mary, “Please O Mother turn your eyes of mercy upon me and hear my prayers. I am in great need. Do not abandon me your little child! And Most importantly--- my Mother Mary, help me to get to heaven, when I stray-- bring me back, when I fall--- pick me up, when I am lost-- please find me and when I need a Mother, let me know you are there!”

Today, each and everyone one us, no matter age, young or old, should call upon Mary, as our Mother. If She is the Mother of outcast shepherds, then surely, She is also the mother of all of us sinners, who are mothers, fathers, grandparents, children, teachers, farmers, nurses, ordinary workers, & nurses.

In short, She is the Mother of us all. “Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.”

Holy Innocents - Dec. 28th

 

Today is the feast of the Holy Innocents killed by Herod’s men to try to kill the Child Jesus. They are martyrs because they died directly for Christ. The mothers and fathers of the children in Bethlehem suffered greatly due to the soldiers who ripped these children from their arms and killed them in their presence.

Today, mothers and fathers of unborn children freely hand over their children to be killed because they don’t want their child. They even pay a stranger to kill them.

Today, we have different kinds of Herods, who are abortionists and political leaders who advocate the killing of the unborn. And some of these call themselves practicing Catholics, who also receive Holy Communion sacrilegiously and give scandal.

We know now every COVID vaccine was designed and developed from fetal cell lines of aborted children. Originally they said some of them did not, but it has been discovered this to be untrue.

Fr. Leon Piera, who is a medical doctor, a moral theologian and a Dominican priest said: “The AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson, and Sputnik V vaccines are made using foetal cell lines. These cells are used in the development, design, production, and subsequent testing of the vaccines. The vaccines themselves almost certainly contain foetal cellular debris.” In another words, those who received these vaccines, were injected with tiny baby particles in them. https://motheroftheunborn.com/vaccine-article/

“The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines use foetal cell lines for the design and development of the vaccine, and for subsequent batch testing. They do not use the aborted cell lines for the cellular production of the vaccine, so these vaccines should not contain any foetal cellular debris. Many Catholics consider the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines to be less objectionable simply by not being the direct by-products of foetal cells. Production however includes the redesigning of the spike protein, the subsequent recoding of the mRNA fragments, the expression of pseudoviruses and neutralization. All these steps used the aborted foetal cells.”

Therefore, even though a person who was vaccinated with these, did not have unborn baby particles injected in them, the vaccines heavily relied on aborted babies when they were designed and developed. https://motheroftheunborn.com/vaccine-article/ Therefore the only difference between the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines and those that were said to created from embroyic cells, is that the Pfizer and Moderna do not have tiny particles of babies in them, while the others do.

Fr. Leon also gave names to 12 infants as representatives of the thousands of babies who have died due to medical experimentation. Their names are Mans, Freuja, Kjerstin, Patrick/Patricia, Gregory, Joanna, Rebecca, Melissa, Jason/Jennifer, Zachary, Martin, Anna Mei Xian.

Thousands of aborted children have been and still are exploited. The organs and tissues harvested from aborted babies are used in different industries: the food industry (although actual food and drink do not contain the cells), cosmetics (some do contain aborted baby cells) and for vaccines and medicines (some of them actually do contain cells derived from these aborted babies). These tissues are harvested from the babies while they are still alive.

The following information comes from the National Institute of Health website and the Canadian Journal of Medicine. “Human embryos of two and one-half to five months gestation were placed in a sterile container and promptly transported to the virus laboratory of the adjacent Hospital for Sick Children. No macerated specimens were used and in many of the embryos the heart was still beating at the time of receipt in the virus laboratory.” “Several infants of a gestational age of 2–4 months were screened, picked for their gender, race and pristine medical history. The date of the abortion is chosen, labor is induced, organs are extracted while the child is alive (denoted by the word “fresh”), then transported. The cause of death is the removal of the organs by vivisection. The method described above in 2015 is virtually unchanged from the method of organ harvesting in 1952 https://www.lifesitenews.com/opinion/is-it-true-that-covid-19-vaccines-are-created-using-organs-of-aborted-infants/

There has been a long and dark history of exploiting aborted babies for the production of vaccines: The remains of these children are often treated as waste.

In 1991, I went to Tiller’s abortion clinic in Wichita for the first time to pray rosaries with some friends. When I arrived, I smelled a terrible odor that smelled like burnt flesh. I discovered there was an incinerator being used on the property to burn the bodies of the dead babies. When I learned what the odor was, I became nauseated.

When the abortion clinic on Central Ave in Wichita closed, in 2005, they discovered aborted babies were being placed in a garbage disposal and ground up so they would go into the sewer because it was illegal to throw them in the trash.

Today, many abortion clinics especially those through Planned Parenthood, sell the body parts of the unborn babies to drug companies who perform experiments on them. This was revealed by David Danielon, who was known for taping undercover videos putting them on YouTube. Since then, have these companies and people ever been held accountable for selling the bodies of infants?

I would like to give some quotes from Church documents on what the Church says about medical experimentation.

Saint John Paul II, Evangelium vitae, 63 said, “The use of human embryos or fetuses as an object of experimentation constitutes a crime against their dignity as human beings who have a right to the same respect owed to a child once born, just as to every person.”
Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Dignitas personae, 35 said, “There is a duty to refuse to use such “biological material” even when there is no close connection between the researcher and the actions of those who performed the artificial fertilization or the abortion. This duty springs from the necessity to remove one-self, within the area of one’s own research, from a gravely unjust legal situation and to affirm with clarity the value of human life.”

Pontifical Academy for Life, Moral Reflections on Vaccines Prepared from Cells Derived from Aborted Human Fetuses, 5 said, “The faithful and citizens of upright conscience have a duty to take recourse to alternative vaccines (if they exist), putting pressure on the political authorities and health systems so that other vaccines without moral problems become available. They should take recourse, if necessary, to the use of conscientious objection with regard to the use of vaccines produced by means of cell lines of aborted human fetal origin.”

“The fundamental reason for considering the use of these vaccines morally licit is that the kind of cooperation in evil (passive material cooperation) in the procured abortion from which these cell lines originate is, on the part of those making use of the resulting vaccines, remote. The moral duty to avoid such passive material cooperation is not obligatory if there is a grave danger, such as the otherwise uncontainable spread of a serious pathological agent[3]--in this case, the pandemic spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes Covid-19. It must therefore be considered that, in such a case, all vaccinations recognized as clinically safe and effective can be used in good conscience with the certain knowledge that the use of such vaccines does not constitute formal cooperation with the abortion from which the cells used in production of the vaccines derive. It should be emphasized, however, that the morally licit use of these types of vaccines, in the particular conditions that make it so, does not in itself constitute a legitimation, even indirect, of the practice of abortion, and necessarily assumes the opposition to this practice by those who make use of these vaccines.” “At the same time, practical reason makes evident that vaccination is not, as a rule, a moral obligation and that, therefore, it must be voluntary.”

Equally, they should oppose by all means (in writing, through the various associations, mass media) the vaccines which do not yet have morally acceptable alternatives, creating pressure so that alternative vaccines are prepared, which are not connected with the abortion of a human fetus, and requesting rigorous legal control of the pharmaceutical industry producers.”

As Catholics we need to stand up against this tragedy. We need to take time to write drug companies and tell them we want only medicines that are not made nor tested on infants.

We need to do what we are able to help everyone respect the dignity of all children.

May Our Lady of Guadalupe, save our state, our country and the world from this terrible tragedy. And may all the Holy Innocents pray for mothers and fathers to help them love their babies and convert the Herods of today, bent on killing unborn children.

And we pray for those who made the terrible mistake, that they come to know the loving and tender mercy of Jesus.

God’s mercy is infinite. Its for everyone. The abortionists, politicians, and those who have supported abortions and embryonic stem cell research. All one needs to do is ask Jesus for forgiveness and begin to follow His way of life and love.

St. John the Apostle Dec. 27th

 

We continue the Octave of Christmas, as we celebrate the Feast of John the Apostle.

John was called to follow Jesus while mending his nets. John’s family had a fishing business. He had a brother, James, was also called by Jesus to follow Him. Both were fishing with their father Zebedee, when they dropped their nets, left their father behind and began to follow Jesus. Their mother was a rather bold woman, who asked Jesus, that her sons would sit one on the right, and thee other on the left hand of Our Lord in His kingdom. Although they most likely put her up to it, she joyfully wanted what was best for her sons.

The two brothers, James and John were called “Sons of Thunder”, most likely because both had a temper. When the people of a village rejected Jesus, John and his brother asked the Lord, if they could call down fire. Our tender Lord, looked with great love on their zeal, but immediately corrected them.

Peter, James and John, were chosen to follow Our Lord in a closer way, than the other disciples. For example, the three were taken to the top of Mount Tabor to witness Our Lord’s transfiguration. The three were also asked to be close to Our Lord during His agony in the garden.

At the Last Supper, John rested his head against the chest of Jesus, and drank from the streams of His Sacred Heart. At the Last Supper, he is the one who asked the Lord who would betray him. John believed he was loved more than the other disciples, and so, called himself “the disciple, whom Jesus loved”, or the “beloved disciple”.

John was the only apostle to faithfully stand at the foot of Our Lord’s cross. Therefore, he is the only apostle Our Lord spoke to-- on the Cross. On the Cross, Jesus gave His most precious gift, His Mother--- to John. Jesus told Mary, “Woman, behold your son.” And to John, Jesus said, “Behold your mother”. Not only did John receive Mary, but Mary received John, as Her son. This is remarkable, since John’s mother, Mrs. Zebedee, likewise was standing at the foot of the Cross.

John would receive the grace of taking Mary into his home. He lived with Mary and took care of her until the day of Her Assumption into heaven. Tradition states that Mary went with John to Ephesus, where they both lived. Prior to going to Ephesus, he was primarily in Jerusalem, and founded many churches in Asia Minor.

After the resurrection, John ran to the tomb, with Peter, only to see the linen wrapped up by itself, and he believed. Out of respect for Peter, who was the head of the apostles and vicar of Christ, John allowed Peter to enter the tomb first.

Recall that after, Our Lord appeared to the apostles in the upper room, also appeared to them while on the Lake. It was there John first recognized Jesus on the shore, as he said, “It’s the Lord!”

John wrote, the Gospel of John, three epistles and the book of Revelation. His Gospel is different from the other three. He is often symbolically represented as an eagle because His Gospel writings soar, above the earth, as he evangelized the divinity of Christ.

John was taken to Rome by the order of the Emperor Domition, who cast him into a caldron of boiling oil, but he came out miraculously unhurt, and was banished to the island of Patmos for a year.

Living to be about the age of 100, and he died about the year 110 in Ephesus. He was the only apostle, who wasn’t martyred.

In Ephesus, a beautiful church was erected over his tomb. Afterwards, however, Muslims converted the church into a mosque.

Let us imitate St. John the Apostle, by developing a devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, whom John rested, and saw pierced. By pondering what John saw, the Crucified Lord on Calvary, it will inspire us to love Our Lord, as John did.

Because, John rested his head-- on the heart of Jesus at the Last Supper, and because He wrote the beautiful discourse about the Bread of life, John inspires us to a great love and devotion to the Eucharist. And since, Our Blessed Mother lived with John, he most certainly would have offered Mass with Mary in attendance, and given Her, the body of Her Son in the Holy Communion. By taking the Blessed Mother, into our home, and in our heart, like John, we will behold our Mother, and seek to live with Her as John did.

St. John, the apostle, pray for us, that we may worthily imitate you!

St. Stephen Dec. 26th

 

"Behold, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God."  But they cried out in a loud voice, covered their ears, and rushed upon him together.  They threw him out of the city, and began to stone him.

Today is the feast of Saint Stephen, Protomartyr, the first martyr after the death and glorious resurrection of Christ to witness to him unto the shedding of his blood.  Saint Stephen's death this close, the very next day after, the birth of the Savior, teaches us why this child was born.  He was born to be THE Martyr, the Witness of the Father's love by shedding his blood on the Cross.  Yes, God wants us to rejoice and enjoy the glow of the manger scene, but not have illusion whatsoever about this little child.
He was born in a town called Bethlehem, which means in Hebrew house of bread, and placed in a manger, where animals eat, so that it would be very clear that he is for us a sacrificial victim, which feeds and nourishes us.  He is our Eucharist.  It is sacrificial love that nourishes a soul, the sacrifice of a mother sheltering her baby from the cold, the sacrifice of a man who lays his life down for his friends that truly feeds the human heart with the love that it longs for.  Saint Stephen is a good companion to the child we see in Bethlehem, because his example feeds us with strength of soul to witness to the identity of the child.
Do we need strength today? When rights of babies in the womb are not respected and treated as intruders unworthy of the protection of law?  When the sacred institution of marriage is threatened by all sorts of abominable distortions of the one-man, one-woman irrevocable covenanted union?  When government leaders have the temptation like King Herod to seek to destroy Christ, to trample upon the commandments of God and rub out the name of God in our public institutions, schools, and communities?
We need courage. Where does courage come from?  Saint Stephen teaches us the answer.  He gazed upon Christ seated at the right hand of the Father.  Prayer - we need to find strength from the experience of being loved that can only come from frequent, intense, and profound contact with God through prayer, especially the source, summit, and center of Christian prayer, the holy sacrifice of the Mass.
The Christmas Octave should be a time of profound prayer and silence, of powerful joy-filled communion with Jesus Christ.  We should be overcome and swept up with his tiny littleness, the vulnerability, innocence, all clothed in divine Power and Perfection.  This mystery ought to make our hearts strong and courageous.  We ought to therefore be given the confidence which makes us, as it says in the Gospel, "not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say" when it comes to situations that threaten the very basic core of a Christian culture.
The rest of the Christmas Octave shows us different dimensions of closeness with this mystery. The feast of Saint John the beloved, who placed his head upon the breast of the Redeemer; the feast of the H0ly Innocents, who suffered and unknowingly witnessed to the Innocent One like the victims of abortion today; Saint Thomas Becket who defied the government of the day in favor of the divine Governor; the Holy Family who lived in intimate communion with Christ; and finally the Mother of God, who worshiped in intimate tenderness the Infant-God with love beyond all telling.  All of these feasts should show us a sweet closeness to the Christ child, that ought to give us a Christmas courage, eloquence in defending life, and a renewed sense of being children of the Eternal God.

May the prayers of Saint Stephen, Saint John the beloved, the Holy Innocents, Saint Thomas Becket, good Saint Joseph, and especially the Holy Mother of God, obtain for us many graces this Christmas Octave.

Christmas Mass - Now I See Why Jesus Became One of Us

  

As, Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist, said,“In the tender compassion of our God, the dawn from on high shall break upon us, to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, and to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

What was Mary and Joseph doing on this day, just hours before the birth of Jesus on that cold winter night? They were going from door to door in Bethlehem, looking for a place to stay. Knowing full well, it was time for the infant Jesus to be born, they trusted God would provide some place, somewhere where the Child would come into the world. Where would it be? Would it be in an Inn, would it be in the home of family who would have pity on a woman about to give birth? They were disheartened by the coldness of so many who would not let them stay the night, the anguish of waiting. All they wanted was a dry warm place for the arrival of the baby Jesus, but where?

Finally, as the sun disappeared and darkness covered the little town of Bethlehem, a maid servant pointed the young couple to cave used to shelter animals. At least it was dry and it was a place out of the cold wind. There in the cave--- were animals, an ox, a cow and a few sheep. It smelled of hay and animal manure. Joseph found a shovel and cleaned the floor of the cave. He put clean straw in the manger to be used as a cradle. He found wood for a fire and warmth was felt by Mary as She prayed near the flames. She knew it was time.

Just as Joseph went to get some fresh water and was but a stone’s throw from the cave, when suddenly, Mary laid down on her blanket and within a few moments, a miraculous birth happened with no labor pains. Suddenly light filled the cave, as the dawn from on high broke, to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death.

Shouldn’t the king of heaven and earth be born in a palace for a king? He wasn’t surrounded by the rich and the famous of his time. Rather, He was surrounded by by an ox and a donkey and some sheep. He didn’t have any cute pajamas. Only long pieces of cloth used to swaddle a tiny infant. He was not placed in a crib made by hand. Rather, he was placed in a manger, which is a feeding trough for animals. Oh what poverty. What an example for us!

The birth of the Child Jesus tonight reveals the tender compassion of our God. The tender babe, born during the cold winter night, is the dawn from on high. As He comes forth from His mother’s womb, the dawn from on high, breaks forth upon the world. The tiny infant, who is King, Messiah, the Christ, the Savior and God is seen for the first time by two humble people (His earthly parents), Mary and Joseph, for the first time in a poor stable surrounded by animals. As the shepherds and magi will come to adore the newborn king, the smiling face of the babe shines on those who had dwelt in darkness and the shadow of death. This tiny child will guide our feet into the way of peace. He will walk the face of the earth, proclaiming good news to those who dwell in darkness and freedom for those captive by sin. His good news will lead to His way of the Cross, which is our way of peace, until He suffers His sorrowful death on the Cross. His death will give victory over the reign of death, and bring about, the blossoming of life in the world. His true life is a life, which is everlasting in heaven.

Isn’t Christmas exciting! There was so much preparation for it. Some look forward to Christmas because of the special foods, desserts, cookies. There is the family dinner where we sit around to catch up on what’s going on in the lives of family members. We go to Christmas concerts and Christmas plays. Its exciting to open presents under the Christmas tree. Some of us are able to see grandparents, cousins, and aunts and uncles we haven’t seen for some time. Christmas cards give cheer to friends and family. We try to help the poor, so they too can have a happy Christmas. Most people look forward to coming to Christmas Mass in order to hear the story about the birth of Jesus.

When I was in college, just after my parents divorced, and some of my sisters were married and had their own families, one Christmas, nobody invited me to come to their home. I was afraid to ask anyone. Then I had my pity party. I received no Christmas presents, no cards, and no one called. I thought, “Whoa is me! Poor me. Nobody cares. Nobody loves me.” All of which was not true. Any one who spent Christmas alone knows the depth of longing to be with our family.

Back then, I decided my Christmas would be a happy one. I went to Christmas Mass, I stopped by the grocery store and purchased turkey drumsticks, canned corn, and a potato to make mash potatoes. Then I cooked the turkey legs, and cooked them, and cooked them some more, until they were tough, at least I thought I wasn’t going to get sick from under cooked turkey.

Years later, as I reflected on that Christmas, and a few others like it, I discovered I am happiest not to receive presents or cards or to be even be with family, I am happiest when I give to be with God’s family at church, to receive the gift of Jesus in Holy Communion and to make others happy. I realized, the meaning of Christmas is more than being with our family and I became aware we are never alone. Jesus is always with us. I found out, to send Christmas cards and make phone calls to others and give presents to others gives joy to the heart. For it is in giving, we receive.

More and more non-Catholic churches cancel their “Christmas services” on Christmas day. Josh Carmody, the pastor of New Covenant Christian Church in Fort Dodge, Iowa as well as many other non-Catholic pastors, posted a video on Twitter saying there would be no services on December 25. "Enjoy some time at home with your family.", he said.

Did Jesus come into the world only, so we could spend time with our family? He came as a child and was raised in a family to show us the importance of family. But later, when He was 33 years old, after Joseph died, He left the home of His Mother, and began His public ministry. Even when He was just 12 years old and stayed in the temple, He pointed to His spiritual family, when He said, “Did you not know, I must be in my Father’s house”. He had His spiritual family in mind.

Through baptism, we become a member of God’s family. We are His adopted children. The Trinity (the Father, Son and Holy Spirit) is a family of divine persons. God created the Church not for His benefit, but for our benefit to be part of the Christian family. At church, we come together as a community, as a Christian family, to be present at the Holy Sacrifice, and receive Jesus in Holy Communion who gives graces and gifts we need to live out our lives.

The book of Hebrews states, “Don’t forsake the assembly of ourselves, as in the manner of some.” A Christian who rejects the need to attend church, is rejecting God’s family. As holy and awesome was His birth, and as important as it was, the totality of the life of Jesus has tremendous meaning for us. Our Lord performed miracles, expelled demons, forgave sinners, and then, He went through His passion, death and resurrection for the purpose of allowing us to become members of God’s family. Families gather to eat a meal together. At Church, we gather together as a Christian family to eat the flesh and blood of the Lamb of God at the banquet of the Lord (the Holy Altar). The Last Supper means something to us today, because it is the Mass today and because of it we receive Jesus in Holy Communion. His crucifixion means something to us today, because it’s present on the altar at every Mass today.

Our Lord’s coming as a Child was a prelude to His walking the face of the earth, and then the depth of His love was revealed on the Cross, with the climax being His resurrection, when He conquered sin and death and opened the gates of heaven. As the angel told Joseph, “She will bear a son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”

There was once a man who decided to stay home and not attend Christmas Mass. His family went to church, but he said to himself, “Why bother. What’s the big deal anyway?” What difference does it make to me?

Shortly after his family drove away in the car, snow began to fall. He went to the window and watched the flurries getting heavier and heavier. “If we must have Christmas,” he thought, “it’s nice to have a white one.” He went back to his chair by the fireside and began to read his newspaper. A few minutes later he was startled by a thudding sound. It was quickly followed by another, then another. He thought someone must be throwing snowballs at his living room window. But, when he went to the front door to investigate, he found a flock of birds huddled miserably in the storm. They had been caught in the storm and in a desperate search for shelter, had tried to fly through his window. “I can’t let these poor creatures lie there and freeze,” he thought. “But how can I help them?” Then he remembered the barn where the children’s pony was stabled. It would provide a warm shelter. He put on his coat and galoshes and tramped through the deepening snow to the barn. He opened the door wide and turned on a light. But the birds wouldn’t come in. “Food will lure them in,” he thought. So, he hurried back to the house for breadcrumbs, which he sprinkled on the snow to make a trail into the barn. To his dismay, the birds ignored the breadcrumbs and continued to flop around helplessly in the snow. He tried shooing them into the barn by walking around and waving his arms. They scattered in every direction—except into the warm lighted barn. “They find me a strange and terrifying creature,” he said to himself, “and I can’t seem to think of any way to let them know they can trust me. If only I could be a bird myself for a few minutes, perhaps I could lead them to safety. . . .” Just at that moment the church bells began to ring. He stood silent for a while, listening to the bells pealing the glad tidings of Christmas and calling the people to Mass. Then he sank to his knees in the snow and said, “O baby Jesus, now I understand,” he whispered. “Now I see why You became one of us.” “As I tried to lead the birds into the safety of the barn by giving them bread, You became one of us to lead us to the safety of heaven. You feed us with spiritual bread (the Holy Eucharist) for the journey home. You came to save us from our sins (through baptism and Confession) and You reveal your love for us and walk with us to our eternal home of heaven.” “Oh thank you, baby Jesus, my Lord, my savior.”

The man quickly got into his car, and drove to the church just in time to go to Confession before Mass, and then he sat with his family and received Holy Communion with them and with tears in his eyes, he said, “You helped me to understand why You came as one of us. Thank you my God, for giving me the best Christmas present. You washed away my sins and now you come inside my heart. Here I am with my natural family, but more importantly, I am now with You and Your family, God’s family.”

If we turn our life over to Jesus, and practice our Catholic faith, no matter what circumstances or difficulties we have in our life, we will have peace and joy knowing God loves us. And if we seek to give, rather than to receive, we allow Him to help us to be with Him forever in the heaven.

Christmas Midnight Mass - Christmas Miracles

 

Christmas Miracles. Deep down inside our hearts many of us want proof of God’s love for us. Yet, we really shouldn’t need proof, because we live by faith.

Did you know, there were two miracles associated with the birth of Jesus. When Mary was found with Child, the prophecy of Isaiah was fulfilled, “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and they shall name Him, Emmanuel, which means God is with us.” But how could a virgin give birth to a child? The first miracle, occurred nine months before the birth of Jesus, happened when She conceived in a miraculous manner through the power of the Holy Spirit. At that moment, Jesus, the Son of the Eternal Father, who always existed, took upon our human nature, as He came down from heaven in the Virgin Mary’s womb. What an astounding miracle. God became man in the womb of the Immaculate Virgin Mary.

Then for nine months, the Virgin Mary carried the tiny infant, who grew from a fetus unto an unborn child ready to be born. When it was time for Our Lord to be born, the second miracle occurred in the little town of Bethlehem, when She gave birth to Jesus. Catholics believe the birth of Jesus was miraculous and not in the ordinary way in which women give birth. Because Mary was not subject to original sin, as a Virgin, She gave birth without any labor pains and in a miraculous manner, without the normal opening of Her womb and so Her virginal integrity was kept intact. It’s believed Jesus miraculously came forth from Mary’s womb and into Her motherly arms. It was the first time in human history, the face of God could be gazed upon by human eyes. It was the first time God could be physically touched and even held within the arms of His human creatures.

There have been miracles on Christmas in the lives of some of the saints. For example, St. Francis and St. Clare each had a miracle at Christmas Midnight Mass. Here is the true story of St. Francis of Assisi: In 1223, Francis made an unusual request to John Vellita, who was a landowner. He wished to recreate a live Nativity scene of Bethlehem for the townspeople. What better way, Francis felt, to welcome the Christ Child than to actually see, hear, and feel the harsh and poor conditions He was born into. Sentimental stories and artists' renditions were fine, but this "reenactment" would help people understand how God used the ordinary to bring about the most extraordinary happening in human history. With the permission of the local Bishop, John Vellita eagerly agreed, and soon a manger was set up in a cave on the hill, fresh hay was scattered around, and a donkey and ox were brought up to complete the scene. A simple altar was erected, beneath which lay a wax figure of the Holy Infant. Francis, who was a deacon, assisted at the Midnight Mass. Many curious townspeople, who had made the trek up the dark mountain with lit torches and faith-filled hearts, surrounded the altar and the live nativity scene, as chosen people played the parts of Joseph and Mary. As Francis spoke during Mass, emotion overtook him to the point that tears rolled down his face. The onlookers were awestruck at the love and joy and piety that engulfed the humble man at the altar.

When St. Francis was standing near the priest by the altar, at the moment when the bread totally and completely changed into the Body of Christ, as the priest said the words of Jesus at the Last Supper, “This is my body, which will be given up for you”, there in the arms of St. Francis appeared the baby Jesus for all to see. The baby Jesus smiled at Francis and stroked his wet cheeks. Francis sighed deeply and was overcome with joy. From that time on people began to build small nativity scenes to commemorate the birth of Jesus.

The next miracle of Christmas occurred by St. Clare. She started a cloistered religious order of nuns, who would follow the life of St. Francis of Assisi. One Christmas night, Clare was too sick to attend Christmas Midnight Mass. All the other sisters, except Mother Clare when to the chapel to Mass.

As Mass began, suddenly in the room of St. Clare there appeared to her the Mass on the wall. She was able to see the Mass, to listen to the sisters sing Christmas hymns and heard the sermon of the priest. After Mass, when the sisters returned to Clare’s room, they wanted to console her because she was unable to attend Mass, but it was then she confided, everything she saw in her room and told them the words from the priest’s sermon. That is why today, she is the patron of television.

Once during Midnight Mass, St. Faustina had a vision of the birth of Jesus and this is what she saw, she said, “When I arrived at Midnight Mass, from the very beginning I steeped myself in deep recollection, during which time I saw the stable of Bethlehem filled with great radiance. The Blessed Virgin, all lost in the deepest of love, was wrapping Jesus in swaddling clothes, but Saint Joseph was still asleep. Only after the Mother of God put Jesus in the manger did the light of God awaken Joseph, who also prayed. But after a while, I was left alone with the Infant Jesus who stretched out His little hands to me, and I understood that I was to take Him in my arms. Jesus pressed His head against my heart and gave me to know, by His profound gaze, how good He found it to be next to my heart.”

On a different occasion, St. Faustina said, “I often see the Child Jesus during Holy Mass. He is extremely beautiful. He appears to be about one year old. Once, when I saw the same Child during Mass in our chapel, I was seized with a violent desire and an irresistible longing to approach the altar and take the Child Jesus.”

Another Christmas miracle occurred in a small country parish in the United States, in 2009, during midnight Mass. During the consecration, after the priest said the words, “For this is my body, which will be given up for you.”, then when the priest raised the Host above the altar for the people to gaze upon, He suddenly felt a throbbing between His fingers embracing the Host. He thought, “Oh, I must be pressing my fingers to hard on the Host, that I feel this throbbing coming from the Host.” But then, he thought, “Wait a minute. I’m not supposed to feel the Host beating in my fingers.” After Mass, he was so puzzled by what happened, he took an unconsecrated host from a package and pressed firmly to see if he would once again feel if he could once again make the throbbing feeling occur again between his fingers. But he couldn’t. It was then, he finally realized, he had felt the beating Heart of Jesus between his fingers, and since it was Midnight Mass on Christmas, he surmised it was the beating Heart of the Infant Jesus.

On this Christmas, let us turn to the Virgin Mary and ask our Mother to increase our faith and to acknowledge God’s love for us, as can been seen by His miraculous conception and His miraculous birth as proofs, He loves us. He increases our faith in Himself through the miracles of the lives of the saints, as proof He loves us. We experience the miracle of Jesus, as Savior, who is Christ the Lord, when He forgives ours sins baptism and through the sacrament of Confession, as more proofs He loves us.

O baby Jesus, on this silent night, when You were born in a cave, on a cold winter night, and You were wrapped in swaddling clothes by Your Mother, the Virgin Mary, and then laid in a manger because there was no crib for Your head. We praise You for Your miraculous conception and miraculous birth. Help us to remember every time we come to Mass, we experience the miracle of the sacrifice of Calvary becoming present on the altar, and the miracle of bread and wine being changed into Your Body and Blood. At every Mass, we experience the miracle of we on earth, being united with the angels and saints in heaven, as we sing with the angels and saints at every Mass, “Glory to God in the Highest and peace to men of good will.” and when You come upon the altar, we gaze upon You in love and adore You, as the shepherds and wise men came to adore the newborn king. And when You come inside our Heart in Holy Communion, we experience the miracle of Your love within us, so that we can give Your love to others. We give thanks to You Lord for these and all the miracles you work in our lives, seen and unseen. Amen.

Dec. 22nd Mary's Magnificat

Our Lady’s magnificat echoes the glory of God revealed through Mary. Her hymn of praise to God reveals Her profound humility and Her example can help us to reveal the glory of God.

When Mary proclaimed Her magnificat, She was fully aware of what She was saying. She completely understood Her soul proclaimed the greatness of the Lord, because He who is mighty has done great things for Her. What a great marvel, what a great thing, to be conceived without sin and to become the Mother of God.

Mary’s spirit rejoices in God Her Savior, because She knows Her unborn Son, is Her Savior. She knows, as His Mother, She is the Lord’s servant. She will serve Her Savior taking care of His every need, as a Child, a young man, and as an adult. She keenly comprehends and desires to do God’s will, and so serve the Father, and His Son, with all Her Heart. Mary rejoiced in God Her savior, because She too would be saved--- like all of us--- by way of the death of Her beloved Son—on the Cross and be assumed into heaven at Her death.

Mary is lowly because She knows all the good, She had done, and will do, is the work of God, through Her. It is God who inspired Her to do a great act of charity by quickly going to Ain Kareem to visit Her cousin Elizabeth to help her during her pregnancy.

As a creature, She is nothing, and does nothing except by the grace of God and Her choice in cooperating with His graces. She is nothing compared to the omnipotent, eternal, and all-mighty God, who constantly overshadowed Her.

God reveals His glory through each of us by the ordinary things we do in our daily duties. The daily tasks that do glorify God because they are God’s will for us and if we do them with joy and to the best of our ability we help bring about His kingdom and allow the Lord to sanctify our soul and the souls of others. We are to always remember all the good we do is really God doing it through us. To take credit for our accomplishments is to prevent God from being magnified in us.

When we write out Christmas cards, give our presents, say our special prayers, do our acts of charity, we do all these things because we hope to surprise and delight other people. We want them to know we love and value them, that we think of them and we will go out of our way to show them we care.

And whether we realize it or not, we are doing this in imitation of our heavenly Father, who delights in filling His children with good things. We are always on His mind and the object of His affection. His love for us is steadfast and forever unfailing. God constantly bestows His gifts on us and sends us special letters of encouragement in forms of spiritual graces. And we should thank Him regularly for all that He has done for us, for He who is mighty has done great things for us.

Rather than patting our self on the back for all the good things we have done for others during the Advent and Christmas season we need to be humble like Mary and rejoice in God our Savior, for He who is mighty has done great things through us and if we give God the credit, we will be able to say with Mary, “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord and my spirit rejoice in God my Savior.”

As we approach Christmas is just a few days, let us proclaim the greatness of the Lord, by our words and actions, and so reveal the glory of God, imitating Our Blessed Mother in thanksgiving, humility and joy.

Dec. 21st Visitation

 

Today’s Gospel is the visitation, which is the second joyful mystery of the rosary. Recall the Blessed Virgin Mary, was told by the angel Gabriel, that her cousin Elizabeth, was with child. The Holy Spirit had come down upon Mary, and Jesus came in Her womb. Immediately Mary, who was carrying the unborn baby Jesus, set out to travel in order to visit her cousin Elizabeth. When She arrived and greeted Elizabeth, the unborn baby in the womb of St. Elizabeth leapt for joy. Elizabeth’s unborn baby is John the Baptist, who would prepare the way of the Lord.

When I was a child, my mother let me feel my sister in her tummy, and my sister kicked inside. And you who are mothers, wasn’t your heart filled with joy, when you felt the unborn baby within you.

When Mary greeted Elizabeth, Elizabeth said, “Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb.” We are familiar with these words because we pray these words, every time we pray the Hail Mary. If Mary had just become pregnant with the baby Jesus, so how is that Elizabeth would have known Mary was pregnant? Mary didn’t tell Elizabeth. The baby Jesus was too small to kick in Mary’s tummy. So, how could Elizabeth have known Mary was pregnant, and even more interesting is why would she say, “Blessed is the fruit of your womb”? After she said these words, she also said, “How does this happen to me, that the Mother of my Lord, should come to me.” Not only did Elizabeth know Mary was pregnant. Not only did Elizabeth predict that the unborn baby would be blessed, but Elizabeth even knew the unborn baby, was the Lord. This is absolutely most remarkable! The Gospel gives us the answer to the question of how could Elizabeth had known these things. The Gospel states, “Elizabeth was filled with Holy Spirit”. It was the Holy Spirit who revealed to Elizabeth, Mary was pregnant, the unborn baby would be blessed, and the baby was the Lord.

As Christmas approaches, we should pick up the bible, and read the first two chapters of the Gospel of Luke, which is about the baby Jesus. And if we pray to the Holy Spirit, before we read the scripture, perhaps, just perhaps, the Holy Spirit may reveal many things to us about the baby Jesus. We can also pray to the Blessed Virgin, and ask Mary to help us to understand scripture. We can ask Mary to help us think about the birth of Jesus. After all, Mary is the one who carried the unborn Jesus for 9 months. Mary is the one gave birth to Jesus. Mary is the one who wrapped the baby Jesus in swaddling clothes and laid Him in a manger. Mary was the first to hold the tiny babe in Her arms, to kiss the babe on the cheek, and to wipe away His tears, when He cried. Let us therefore resolve to read the first two chapters of the Gospel of Luke in preparation for Christmas, let us also pray to the Holy Spirit and to the Blessed Virgin Mary asking them to help us to understand the beauty of that Christmas night, when Jesus was born, on that cold winter night!

Dec. 20th The Annunciation

 

In the Gospel today, the angel Gabriel appeared to the Virgin Mary and asked Her if She would become the Mother of Jesus.

God desired Our Lady to respond with either a Yes or a No. And so the angel waited, all mankind waited, and God waited, for Mary’s yes. Listen to the beautiful words of St. Bernard in a homily, called “In the Praise of Mary”.

St. Bernard said, “You have heard O Virgin, that you will conceive and bear a Son; you have heard that it will not be, by a man, but the Holy Spirit. The angel awaits your answer; it is time to return to God, whom sent him. We too are waiting, O Lady, for your word of compassion; The price of our salvation is offered you. Tearful Adam with his sorrowing family begs this of you, O loving Virgin, in their exile from Paradise. Abraham begs it. David begs it. All the other patriarchs, your ancestors, ask it of you, as they dwell in the country of the shadow of death. This is what the whole earth waits for, prostrate at your feet. …. For your word depends comfort for the wretched, ransom for the captive, freedom from the condemned, indeed, salvation for all the sons of Adam, the whole of your race. Answer quickly, O Virgin! Reply in haste to the angel, or rather through the angel, to the Lord. Why do you delay, why are you afraid? Let humility be bold, let modesty be confident. Open your heart to faith, O Blessed Virgin, your lips to praise, your womb to the Creator. See, the desire of all the nations, is at your door, knocking to enter. Arise in faith, hasten to devotion, open to praise and thanksgiving.”

And Mary said, “Behold the handmaid of the Lord, be it done unto me according to the word.” And at that moment, Mary gave Her, “Yes” and the Child Jesus descended from heaven into Her womb, and the world would be changed forever, because of Jesus, our Savior.

Today, let us praise Mary, for Her Yes, and ask Her, to help us, give our Yes, to God, by doing His will. May we turn from sin, and to the best of our ability, do what is expected. And by doing so, prepare for the birth of the Infant Jesus, born in a manger, wrapped in swaddling clothes, who would forever change the world. Give your “Yes”! God awaits your answer.

And in the silence of our heart cry out, “Be it done unto me according to thy word”.