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 are miracles that took place which involved the infant Jesus? 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, which occurred nine months before the birth of Jesus, was that Mary became pregnant, 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. 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 the saints. For example, St. Francis, St. Clare, St. Faustina and St. Jerome each had a Christmas miracle.

Here is the true story of St. Francis of Assisi: In 1223, Francis made an unusual request to 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. With the permission of the local Bishop, he created an re-enactment of the Nativity of Jesus.

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 it, and he laid a wax figure of the Holy Infant.

Francis, who was a deacon, assisted at the Midnight Mass. 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 cheeks that were wet from weeping. 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. Just as St. Francis created a nativity scene.

St. Clare 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 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.”

In the Monitor Journal this past week, I put an article in the paper about St. Jerome and the Child Jesus. Jerome (327 to 420) lived as a hermit and worked in a cave next to the cave where Jesus was born. He was asked by the Pope to translate the bible from Greek into Latin, the common tongue of the people at that time. It took him more than 40 years.

Then, one Christmas night Jerome was praying in the holy cave. How often he kissed the sacred Crib where the Savior of the world was born for us. But all of a sudden, Oh wonder! Oh love! The night was illuminated with ravishing brightness, it shone like a radiant day. The Divine Child was there, extending His divine arms to His faithful friend. “Jerome,” He said to him, “Oh, see My poverty. To your God who begs, what present will you give? Jerome: “To You, O King of love, my heart, my goods, my life!” Jesus: “That is not enough, give Me more.” Jerome: “All that I have received from your blessed hand, all that with your grace I have been able to do for you, all my works, Lord, my tears, my prayers, my long nights of study, and my days of pain…, everything is yours, Jesus, take it for you alone.” The Divine Child: “No, I want more.” Jerome: “What is it, my tender love, that you are still waiting for? I have given You everything, I have nothing left… Speak, what do You want? Do you want me to pour at the foot of your altar, drop by drop my blood in the golden chalice?” Jesus: “No, My son, if I have left the splendors of My Heaven, it is not that I need the treasures of mortals, but I hunger to pour into souls the gifts of My love, the treasures of My grace. Destroying every obstacle, I want a divine fire to ignite them forever: Give Me your sins so that I may erase them.” Jerome was shocked. "But," he asked, "what would You do with them?" Jesus: "Give Me your sins, in order that I may pardon them all." The generosity which Jerome had shown Christ on His Birthday was more than repaid by the loving rapture he experienced upon hearing those merciful words. Jerome: "O Divine Infant, You make me weep for joy!"

Jerome died in Bethlehem, with his head in the manger where Our Lord was born. His body is now kept in the Church of Saint Mary Major in Rome, where Our Lord’s crib is also kept.

One Christmas Midnight Mass in a rural country parish in the United States, a parish priest elevated the Host after the Consecration, when the bread truly became the body of Christ, suddenly the priest saw the Host disappear and in his hands was the Divine Infant Jesus wrapped in a blanket. The Divine Child turned His face toward the priest and smiled and then turned His face toward heaven, and at that moment, red and white rays came forth from the Child’s chest and went forth up into the sky and to the heavens. It was as though His Divine Mercy illuminated the world. Then just as the vision began, suddenly the Child was gone, and the priest once again had the Host in His hands. Only he saw the vision at Mass and was taken by it all, he began to weep for joy inside his heart.

Today, let us give thanks to God for the gift of the miracle of the miraculous conception of Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit. Let us give thanks to God for the miraculous birth of Jesus, which kept the Virgin Mary free from pain and virginally intact. As well as all the Christmas miracles of the Child Jesus.

Let us turn to the Virgin Mary and ask our Mother to increase our faith and to acknowledge God’s love for us, which we are able to behold every time we come to Mass when Jesus comes in the Sacred Host to give us His love. Teach us not to forget that the infant Jesus is proof He loves us and the small white Host is truly our infinite, eternal and omnipotent God.

Oh what astounding miracle, greater than all the miracles-when Jesus, through the hands of the priest makes Calvary present on the altar as bread and wine are changed into His body and blood. Is there any greater miracle on earth, than the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and Jesus Christ truly present in the Sacred Host? Is there is any greater proof that God loves us-- is that He gives Himself to us in Holy Communion?

Christmas through Mary's Eyes

 

Let us enter into this holy night when Jesus was born through the eyes and Heart of Mary. When Caesar August made a decree that all the world should be enrolled for a census everyone had to return to their hometown from their family generation and register. Joseph took Mary his pregnant wife on an 80-mile journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem. But back then, they had no cars or trains or airplanes. Being poor, Joseph and Mary had a donkey that would carry their provisions and allow Mary to sit upon his back, but not the whole journey, for that was too long for the animal to carry an adult. Rich people had horses or camels, but Joseph and Mary were poor, and so had a lowly donkey. It would have been very difficult traveling for a woman 9 months pregnant. From all the jostling while ridding the donkey, Mary wouldn’t have been very comfortable. Due to walking with the donkey, it would take 3 or 4 days to make the long journey. They would have had to sleep out in the open air at night for 3 nights. Where they camped, Joseph gathered wood and lit a fire for the couple to keep warm. It would be a 20-mile daily walk for 4 days. Their feet must have been sore. They must have been thirsty and hungry and eating only the small provisions they brought with them. They needed to be sure the donkey had grain, and stopped every now and then, so it could drink water by a stream. Surely Joseph and Mary prayed the psalms together, that all Jews memorized, and daily prayed together. Mary noticed the hidden sacrifices of Joseph. She saw his bloody feet from walking. She saw how he ate less to allow Mary to eat more. She saw how he was careful to protect Her from passerby's heading in the opposite direction. She witnessed his humility, his trust and how he prayed so fervently when alone. When they weren’t talking, Mary prayed to the unborn Jesus in Her womb, and to God the Father in heaven, asking the Lord for safe travel, to help the world to be ready for the birth of Her child, and asked God to bless the world with peace.

Mary’s intellect and memory was perfect because She didn’t suffer from original sin. Therefore, Mary’s memory would have easily recalled the prophecy of Micah, that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. The prophet said “But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.” She therefore knew She was going to give birth to Him in Bethlehem.

She understood, She fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah, “a virgin shall conceive and bear and son and name Him Emmanuel, because God is with us.” When the angel appeared to Her, and announced She was going to bear a Son, and name Him Jesus, because He would free the people from their sins, She knew His role would be to reunite humanity back to God, to undo Adam’s disobedience. She knew by the angel’s words, Jesus is an eternal King whose throne would be given to Him by his father David and His kingdom would not end. Therefore, out of humility, She knew when Jesus came into Her womb, She was a queen, because back then, the mother of the Jewish King was a queen. Mary also knew within Her womb was the Messiah, and so is the Mother of the Messiah. But something began to cause Her to become anxious. The words from Isaiah, haunted her, that said, His hands and feet would be pierced and that He would be scorned and mocked. She wondered how this would be for Her Son. She understood that if Jesus was the Son of the Most High, that He is God, and therefore, She is the Mother of God. Imagine the prayers She prayed to Her unborn Child, when She carried Her divine Son in Her womb for 9 months. Imagine Her humility by not saying a word to anyone about who He is within Her. Imagine Her prayers to the unborn baby Jesus for humanity, for the Jewish people to accept Him, love Him and honor Him. Within Her womb, She adores thy divine Majesty; she gives thanks to His mercy; she rejoices that she has was chosen for the sublime ministry of being Mother to God. How She must have looked forward to moment She would gaze upon the real and true face God. She certainly could not wait to hold Him in Her arms, to lavish Him with kisses, and pour Her love into His tiny beating Heart. How She praised God for allowing Her to always remain a virgin, and yet be a mother, and so She would comfort, console, take care of, and breastfeed Her child. She longed for the day, She would bathe Him, teach Him to walk, explain the scriptures and ask Him questions, knowing He is God and had all the answers.

When they finally arrived in Bethlehem, they stood in line at the census booth, and when it was their turn, the holy couple recorded their names of “Joseph and Mary of the house of David”. But since the child was not yet born, His name was not to be recorded. They longed to sleep indoors, to get cleaned up from their travel, and to rest in a nice warm inn. But after going door to door, Joseph became sad and upset that he was unable to provide a comfortable place for his pregnant wife about to give birth. He was hurt by the cold hearted innkeepers. Mary trusted God would provide a place for them, and She prayed for those who were rude to them. Back then most people were born in homes and perhaps even at times in an inn. The shepherds who lived out in the field, had to give birth in caves or in tents. Mary and Joseph wondered where they would spend the night? Finally, a woman carrying a pail of water pointed out to them, a cave with animals. In the cave was a stable, and it smelled like manure from the ox and cattle within in it. Joseph gathered some straw, cleaned the floor of the cave and laid straw on the ground for Mary to lay down. Just after he gathered firewood and lit the fire, he went to fetch some water for them to drink. But when he was away, it is then, Mary laid down on the soft blanket. Because She did not suffer from original sin, She was not under the curse of Eve, whom the God said, would have labor pains during childbirth. Mary therefore, would not suffer any pain when giving birth.

Mary suddenly felt a profound peace come over Her. Her heart started to race, because She was excited about being able to hold the infant in Her arms. Suddenly from Her womb a light burst forth from Her side, and there on the blanket, beside Her, laid the Infant Jesus. She quickly grabbed Him and hugged Him to Her chest, weeping tears of joy, She kissed His face and looked at His tiny hands and feet with awe. She cried out, “O Jesus, my God and my baby, how I longed to see your face. Who am I, that you would have me be Your Mother. You created the sun, the moon, the stars, all the wild creatures, the mountains, and flowers, streams, rivers and oceans, and yet you come to us, as a helpless baby to save this dark world from sin. O little Child, O divine Infant, light of the world, I pray for peace in the world, in our hearts and in our families. By the power and grace of your birth split the hearts made of rock and touch the souls of men and women everywhere to grant their conversion. O little Child, who is God, You came to save us from the devil and bring us into the light of heaven. I rejoice with the angels and with all my heart, for you have done great things for us and here You are now coming to us as a baby, so we won’t be afraid to come to you. O how I love you baby Jesus. I adore you my God and my Son. Bless Joseph and Me and help us to fulfill your will.”

So full is Her heart of that divine joy that she cannot keep it to herself, and desires, and even longs to be able to draw others into such a joy. In this moment of the birth of Christ, we are able to understand something of the immense depths

As Mary adored Him, He began to shiver, and so, and from her travel bag, she pulled out swaddling bands of cloth, and wrapped His little body, to keep Him warm. When She was holding Him, and gazing upon Him with the tender love of Her Heart, Joseph arrived and witnessed the sublime silhouette as the light of the fire lit the faces of the Mary and the Child. This image would remain, in His memory for the rest of His life. There they were, Mother and Child. She held Him tightly in Her arms and covered His little body with Her mantle. The image of the Madonna and Child, touched his manly heart. The little babe looked intently at Joseph and as their eyes met, they were both filled with joy. The Infant smiled at him and Joseph’s heart leapt in amazement.

Suddenly, in the distance, they could hear angels singing, “Glory to God in the highest and peace to people on earth”. Then there was silence, no animal moved, no owl hooted, the wind suddenly died down, and the silence of the night penetrated the entire earth.

Joseph cleaned the manger, used as a feeding trough, and laid soft hay within it. Mary took the Child Jesus, and laid Him in the manger and the two knelt down and bowed in adoration weeping for love of the little babe. Within a few minutes, shepherds from the field came bringing curds, milk, and honey and a few sheep. One of them spoke up and told them what they witnessed in the field with their sheep. He said, “An angel appeared to us and then there was a multitude of angels who sang. The angel told us to go quickly to Bethlehem and you will find a child wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.” They asked to hold the baby Jesus, because as the angel said, “He is the Savior, who is the Christ, who is the Lord.” Joseph hesitated. He didn’t want strangers to touch the Child. But Mary nodded giving Her permission, She wanted all to adore Him. The Virgin Mary pondered how God chose the lowliest of the people in the area, who lived outside and had no homes of their own to reveal this incredible event and who the Child truly was. He was not born in a home or a palace for a king and not even in an inn, but rather in a cave where poor people were born. He wanted to be like the least of us, so that we would understand His love for everyone.

On this holy night, let us all look into the manger and cry out with joy, as we gaze upon the Divine Child with Mary and Joseph. “O Come let us adore Him, O come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord.”

4th Sunday, Conception

 

Today’s Gospel is the annunciation of the angel Gabriel to the Virgin Mary, who came to announce to Her, that God desires Her to become the Mother of God, by the conception of Jesus. Mary cannot understand how She can become a mother, because She made a vow of virginity and was not going to break the vow. That’s why She said, “How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?” But, the angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you, etc…” The angel’s words gave Mary assurance by telling Her God helped Elizabeth in her old age to conceive a child, who we come know is John the Baptist.

The angel said, “After all, nothing is impossible for God”. Mary then gave Her yes, “Fiat”, saying, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord, be it done unto me according to your word.” At that moment, Jesus, the Son of the living God, came down from heaven in Her womb. The divine person of Jesus united His divine nature with His new human nature, taken from the flesh of Mary. The person of Jesus is divine. We cannot say the person of Jesus is human, because His personhood is divine. He always existed. But when He came down from heaven, by the power of Holy Spirit, He also took upon human nature, called the “incarnation”, meaning “human flesh”.

The conception of Jesus is celebrated by the Church on March 25^th called the Solemnity of the Annunciation. We celebrate the birth of Jesus, Dec. 25^th because He was born 9 months after His conception, on March 25^th, the normal time it takes for a mother to carry Her child to full term. We don’t know if these are the exact dates of His conception or birth, but they are the dates the Church celebrates them.

Because Mary’s Immaculate Conception is celebrated on Dec. 8^th, we celebrate her birthday 9 months later on Sept. 8^th. Mary’s conception was free from original sin. The conception of Jesus was also free of sin, because He is God. We can call the conception of Jesus, “miraculous conception” because His conception occurred by the power of the Holy Spirit in a “miraculous” way.

If we celebrate the conception of Jesus and celebrate the conception of Mary, have you ever thought about celebrating your conception day, the day, you were conceived in your mother’s womb? While it may not be the actual day due to being born early or late, we can choose a day to celebrate our conception. For example, I celebrate my conception day on May 20^th, because my birthday is Feb. 20^th, 9 months before I was born.

Before we were conceived in our mother’s womb, God the Father in heaven, had the idea of creating us. Parents cooperate with God, and are called “co-creators” because they assist God, the creator, in bringing us into existence. At the moment we are created in our mother’s womb, God “places” an immortal soul within our body.

God knows the circumstances we will enter the world when we are born. Some are born into poverty, others into wealth or some enter the world with a single parent or others in a large family.

My oldest sister was created in my mother’s womb, before my parents were married. They divorced when I was 19. My parents eventually received an annulment and my mother re-married. An annulment declares a marriage invalid from the beginning.

After the annulment, I wondered if I was an illegitimate child. Did the annulment mean, I should have never been conceived, and never born, because my parents were never married. This greatly saddened me. But, No No No!

This type of thinking is false. The truth is the father of a child will always be the father. A mother will always be the mother. There is no such thing as an illegitimate child. God brings each person into the world by imparting a soul at the moment of conception. It’s not like He looked down from heaven and said, “Oh, no, here we go again. I have to bring a child into the world due to an accidental pregnancy.” God is not like that! When God creates a child, in the midst of difficult circumstances, He brings something beautiful out of it, (a child), created in the image and likeness of God. The presence of the child in -- what was thought to be an accident--, is there to help the mother and father to grow in love, and sometimes forgive each other or to change their life and lead a new one.

With God, there is no such thing as an “accidental” child. God intends every human being to come into the world, whom He creates, and when He creates the child. The day of our conception is something we should celebrate, no matter the circumstances. It’s the day God gave us life and an immortal soul, with the ability to choose heaven or hell.

Unlike all His other creatures, as human beings, our souls live forever because God created them to be immortal.

Today, some use “contra---ception”. Meaning “against” “conception”, to prevent the birth of a child.

On the weekend of Aug. 12^th and 13th, I did a mission in Oklahoma City on Contraception and Humanae Vitae, which is an encyclical of Pope Paul VI. The document explains why contra--ception is wrong. It tells God - “No”, for a child to come into the world; it prevents the total gift of self; it is contrary to God’s natural design; it can cause a person to use the other for pleasure. These are some of the reasons why it is mortally sinful to use contraception.

When couples begin to use contraception, they are being disobedient to the Church, but most likely don’t understand why.

Due to circumstances in a married couple’s life, they may be pressured into using contraception and not understood that it was sinful at the time. They also may have not known there was a safe, moral and more effective method to space children, when there are serious circumstances to do so. This is called Natural Family Planning, which is 99% effective much more effective than contraceptives.

I would like to give you an example. Suppose a priest discovers just before Mass, he is out of sacramental wine, and he doesn’t have time to go to a neighboring parish to get some. So he goes to the local liquor store and buys wine. He uses it for the Mass, and continues to use it. Later, he discovers the wine is made out of cherries, and therefore the Masses he offered were invalid, because the wine is supposed to be made of grapes. At seminary, he was taught to only use sacramental wine, but he was pressured into getting a different kind, and then was unaware of the severe consequences. It was a serious offense against God and the people of his parish. But, he didn’t intend to offend God or hurt anyone.

This is similar to those who began to use contraception. They are at first pressured into doing something they know they shouldn’t do, but don’t understand the severe consequences. Besides being a mortal sin due to the reasons I previously mentioned, there is also an even more grave reason to not use it.

Most people don’t know, the IUD, the pill, the patch, the injection-- all prevent a conceived child from implanting in the mother’s womb. It takes 5 days for a newly fertilized egg, (a baby), to travel down the Fallopian tube, and implant in the mother’s womb. But due to a device or medicine, it causes the womb to be irritated, and consequently, a newly conceived baby is unable to implant and dies. And the mother did not even know- she was pregnant. How sorrowful for mothers to learn this. They never would have done so, if they knew they could lose children from the medicine or device. They did not know or understand the grave consequences.

God has a purpose for every child conceived, even if it does not live long. God infinitely loves every person, no matter how small. Through the heartache of a child lost by miscarriage or by contraception, God helps the parents to love more, to greater appreciate their own life, and to look forward to being with the child in heaven. So every time, they think of the child, they think of heaven. God brings good out of everything.

We must realize, we are all human, and we all make mistakes, and sometimes we do not realize their gravity until later. For example, the priest should have never used wine from a liqour store, without first seeing if it was acceptable or not. He should have obeyed what the Church wanted and not risk invalid Masses. This is true for those who began to use contraception. They knew they were being disobedient to the Church, but they never checked into why it was wrong, or the consequences of doing so. But, later discover how grievous it was.

Whatever the sin, no matter how big, or how many, Our Lord’s Divine Mercy is for everyone. He wants to wash away all our sins in the ocean of His mercy. All He desires for us-- is to give our sins to Him. Jesus was conceived in His Mother’s womb to save us from our sins. He is our loving Savior. Jesus doesn’t want us to walk around beating our self over the head for what we did. Rather, all He wants of us, is to give Him our sins, and have confidence in His mercy, and once it’s confessed, to put our sins behind us, and forgive ourself.

When Jesus was conceived in the womb of Mary, and She went in haste to visit Her cousin Elizabeth, I am sure She prayed to Him inside her womb. She became the first tabernacle, the first one to adore His physical presence.

We can pray to the unborn Jesus through Mary. For example, we can pray:

“O Jesus, Son of the Most High God, and Son of the Virgin Mary, who created the heavens, the stars and every living creature. By the power of the Holy Spirit, You came down from heaven in the womb of Mary. When Your Mother visited Elizabeth, a 5-day journey from the moment of your conception, You did not have eyes, or hands or feet or even a beating heart. Yet, through the womb of your Mother and through the womb of St. Elizabeth, You blessed the unborn John the Baptist, and sanctified him, causing him to leap for joy. I thank you for my conception and birth, and pray, You will bless and protect all unborn children, and help mothers and fathers to follow God’s plan for marriage, spacing their children using Natural Family Planning, so no conceived child will die unnaturally, from a contra- “ception”. We also pray Lord, for mothers and fathers who have lost a child or children, that You will comfort them by pouring your love into their hearts in Holy Communion. Just as Your Mother was a Tabernacle, carrying Your physical presence for 9 months, and She prayed to You within Her, so we become tabernacles when Your physical presence comes down upon the altar-- when the bread is changed into your Body and when we receive Your flesh and blood, within our Heart in Holy Communion.

Give us O unborn baby Jesus, the graces, we need to love others, and to grow in our faith, so that someday, we may be with You and Your Mother in heaven.

When my soul, originally conceived in my mother’s womb, departs from this life, and be with You forever, then, on a future day, known to Father alone, at the resurrection of the dead, my soul will be reunited with its glorified body, and all will leap for joy because You will have blessed us through Mary, your Mother. Amen.”