Take the First Step

"Ask, and it shall be given you: seek, and you shall find: knock, and it shall be opened to you" (Matthew 7:8)

Nothing else needs to be said. Simply, one must take the first step to find Christ and He will leap to you. Seek out the Sacraments and the Church - it is in the heart of the Catholic Church, the Most Holy Eucharist, where Christ dwells. Seek Him and you shall find Him.

Image Source: Photo believed to be in the Public Domain

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On The Way to Bethlehem

In the book I'm reading to help journey through Advent, "On the Way to Bethlehem", today's short reading is centered on how to avoid becoming "soul-napped" on the way to Christmas. Christmas is the second greatest feast day, after Easter, where Our God actually came to Earth to save us. He took human form and lived for us. He lived only for us and died for us. Yet, there are still many people that don't have hope in Jesus.

As the reading illustrated, the journey ahead seems long, but in no time it will arrive. Don't stand back and give up. Remember there is a right answer out there on faith. There is a God - Jesus Christ. Read the scriptures, the look at the beauty of the Catholic faith. We are rooted in Christ's beliefs; and Christ is still with us. He said, "I am with you ever more" and today he is in the beauty of the Eucharist.

Pope John Paul ll said, "How can they believe if they have not heard?" It is our duty as followers of Christ to at least live and active, noticeable faith in Jesus. Jesus at the end of the Gospel of Matthew told us to go out and baptize all nations. We are called to love God. We should feel no shame in at least discussing our faith and helping another to see the light of Christ.

Tomorrow let us go out and perform our duties and nourish our soul before all. After receiving the shining brilliance of love in the Eucharist you can't doubt. Jesus Christ is risen from the dead and living for our lives. He is with us, the question is will you live for Him. Will you give up your comforts and care for your soul? Will you work to bring the faith so that others might know of it? Will you love Him who loved you to the death?

As we journey closer to Advent let us remember to keep this first week's theme of hope rooted in our heart. May we only grow in love preparing for the celebration of the Savior of the world's birth.

Read up on my top 10 ways to live a God-centered life each day

Image Source: Believed to be in the Public Domain, Title Unknown

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St. Andrew the Apostle

Feast (1969 Calendar): November 30
Double of the II Class (1955 Calendar): November 30

Today is the Feast of St. Andrew. St. Andrew, the first apostle, was with our Lord throughout His life, as recorded in the Bible. St. Andrew's brother was Simon Peter, the first pope. After Our Lord's Ascension into Heaven, St. Andrew journeyed to Greece to spread the faith. He was martyred in Patras, Acaia (in the southern part of Greec) on November 30, 60 AD by Nero who bounded him, not nailed, to an X-shaped Cross. As St. Andrew suffered for 2 days, people still came to him to hear his words. He is the patron saint of Russia and Scotland.

For more on the lives of all the Apostles, pick up a copy of "The Twelve: Lives and Legends of the Apostles" on paperback or as part of the online course on the Apostles, which includes a Certificate of Completion.

Excerpt of The Church's Year of Grace by Pius Parsch:

Andrew, Peter's brother, and John were the first disciples to follow the Lord. With tender delicacy the Gospel (John 1:35-42) describes their first meeting with Jesus. Andrew did not belong to the inner circle of the apostles, Peter, James and John, and the evangelists narrate nothing extraordinary about him (John 6:8); but tradition (resting on apocrpyhal Acts) extols his great love of the Cross and of the Savior; and the Church distinguishes him both in the Mass (his name occurs in the Canon and in the Libera since the time of Pope St. Gregory I who had a special devotion to him) and in the Breviary.

The story of his martyrdom rests on the apocryphal Acts which lack historical foundation. The pagan judge exhorted him to sacrifice to the gods. Andrew replied: "I sacrifice daily to almighty God, the one and true God. Not the flesh of oxen and the blood of goats do I offer, but the unspotted Lamb upon the altar. All the faithful partake of His flesh, yet the Lamb remains unharmed and living." Angered by the reply, Aegeas commanded him to be thrown into prison. With little difficulty the people would have freed him, but Andrew personally calmed the mob and earnestly entreated them to desist, as he was hastening toward an ardently desired crown of martyrdom.

When Andrew was led to the place of martyrdom, on beholding the cross from a distance he cried out: "O good Cross, so long desired and now set up for my longing soul I confident and rejoicing come to you; exultingly receive me, a disciple of Him who hung on you." Forthwith he was nailed to the cross. For two days he hung there alive, unceasingly proclaiming the doctrine of Christ until he passed on to Him whose likeness in death he had so vehemently desired. --The legendary account of our saint's martyrdom has this value: it presents to us the mysticism of the Cross of later times.

The Miracle of the Manna of St. Andrew

According to tradition, St. Andrew was martyred in Patras, Greece. In 357 AD, his remains were transferred to the city of Constantinople, where they were placed in the Church of the Holy Apostles, which was newly constructed by the order of Emperor Constantine. During the Fourth Crusade in 1206, St. Andrew’s relics were brought from Constantinople to Amalfi, Italy, where they remain today. 

In the 14th century, it was discovered that the bones of St. Andrew excrete a substance known as the "manna of St. Andrew" four times a year: January 28, June 26, November 29 (his Feast Day is November 30 ), and December 7. Though the Church has not issued any formal pronouncement regarding this miracle, the faithful Catholics of Amalfi joyously celebrate its occurrence and thank God through the intercession of St. Andrew for continuing to work miracles among us.

Today is the Beginning of the St. Andrew's Christmas Novena:

Hail and blessed be the hour and moment in which the Son of God was born of the most pure Virgin Mary, at midnight, in Bethlehem, in piercing cold. In that hour, vouchsafe, O my God! to hear my prayer and grant my desires, through the merits of Our Saviour Jesus Christ, and of His Blessed Mother. Amen.

Imprimatur
+ MICHAEL AUGUSTINE,
Archbishop of New York, New York, February 6, 1897

Prayer:

We humbly entreat Thy majesty, O Lord: that as the blessed Apostle Andrew was once a teacher and a ruler of Thy Church: so he may be a constant advocate for us before Thee. Through our Lord.

Prayer Source: 1962 Roman Catholic Daily Missal

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Prayer of Reparation for Unbelievers

Dear Lord:

On the night before your passion you were taken from us, beaten and mocked and condemned to death. On the road to Calvary so many hated you; you almost died on the way. Your precious face was disfigured, your body beaten and riped open. O Lord, your precious hands which worked so many wonders, were pierced. On that day Lord, you liberated me. May your blessings be upon me this Advent and transform me on my pilgrimage to Christmas Day. May the grace and joy of Christmas enkindle an eternal flame in my heart for love of you and neighbor. And, permit me O Lord, to die in love of Thee for Thou hast died for love of me.

But, O Lord, so many hate you. So many call you false and a liar. So many pretend as if you ascended to Heaven and left us here - alone. So many pretend the Eucharist is not truly YOU. So many hate the good of your Church and deny your eternal word of scripture; so many utter lies against your faithful. Lord, so many hate you. They refuse to acknowledge you and say "one's deity" in politically correct language instead of acknowledging You, the only God to have worked wonders. But, You O Lord are the only truth. You are the only light on our journey. If I died today, would I be no more? No! For the miracles you worked are forever recorded in scripture, the miracle of the Eucharist is ever before us. May your light shine upon those that hate you, Lord. O Lord, your skin was ripped open for them. Your blood poured forth from your heart for them. It was by your Cross alone we are saved.

Lord, you need nothing as You alone are perfect. Please, permit me, if you will, to offer up the sacrifices in my life to you in reparation for those that hate you, my best friend, my love. O Lord, you let your apostles help you in the miracles of the loaves, permit me to offer my small sacrifices in union with Your perfect gift on the Cross. May my sufferings offered for you bring one soul to the truth of your Church. O Lord, grant that my work may produce much fruit and at the end, when I leave this world, you may say, "Well done, my good and faithful servant." Lord, I love you. Glory to your everlasting name!

Amen

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Living a Life of Hope

In this time, as Pope Benedict XVI has said, "We are moving towards a dictatorship of relativism which does not recognize anything as for certain and which has as its highest goal one’s own ego and one’s own desires" (Read entire Homily).

Advent is a time to put aside these thoughts. There is no hope without God. Our theme this week of Advent is Hope and there is no other Hope than that of God.

Some people do kind works and try and help others. I have talked before on the need to have works with faith and atheists have said that they also have works. But does this mean anything? James 2:26 states that "faith without works is dead". And of course works without faith also is dead. How could someone not believe. Since the beginning of the human race God has stood by His people and guarded them. Even when some wandered off and over time started other religions, they still had faith. Atheism is a lie of the heart and spirit and truly chokes off our love. Christ died for everyone on the Cross; He died for those that would hate Him too. My question is why don't some people care?

Our beautiful faith is based on hope. Our Faith is based on Matthew 16:18 as we are the first Christian Church. And for over 2,000 years we have kept to Christ's teachings. While we are all sinners, there have been great saints in our midst. And this is one problem I have with other churches. Not only do they destroy the teachings of the sacraments and forget Mary, who stood by Our Lord His entire life, but they forget about the saints. They people were filled with such love and hope. Let us, this week, nurture our souls and grow closer to God, the Only Hope.

"Every one therefore that shall confess me before men, I will also confess him before my Father who is in heaven. But he that shall deny me before men, I will also deny him before my Father who is in heaven" (Matthew 10:32-33, Douay-Rheims)

Let us all pray:

Father, in the wilderness of the Jordan you sent a messenger to prepare people's hearts for the coming of your Son. Help me to hear his words and repent of my sins, so that I may clearly see the way to walk, the truth to speak, and the life to live for Him, our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Image Source: Photo believed to be in the Public Domain

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Required Reading

Advent is a spiritual time to not only help us on our journeys to Christ but bring others along. When we prepare for this journey, as a book I'm reading, "On the Way to Jerusalem" reminds us not to worry about so much to pack. Think of the love and humility of Christ. Imagine the king of the Wworld was born in a manager, a place for animals to eat. He was born in a shack in the cold of the night instead of even a building. Christ chose humility; He chose poverty to show us His love for us. Christ never even had to leave Heaven, but think about how much he loved us. Think about the Cross, He never complained but pleaded, "Father, forgive them."

So, during this time of year, I would like to recommend a great book for newer Catholics called "The Confirmed Catholic's Companion: A Guide to Abundant Living". It features in-depth coverage of prayers, the basics, tradition, the Sacraments, Mary and more. It also includes great side-bar notes and a journal section at the end for readers to reflect and write down their thoughts. This is a guide for those teaching the faith to newcomers or those in RCIA or those that have recently gone through the program.

For those of you hoping to rediscover the faith please try "A Faith Interrupted: An Honest Conversation with Alienanted Catholics" by Alice L. Camille. 17 million American Catholics are inactive in Our awesome faith. Let us bring someone else closer to God this Christmas. Let us pray for the poor and those in desolation and hope to rekindle our anticipation for the Day Our Savior was born to us. The day of His Second Coming is just as glorious. Let us be ever watchful.

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First Sunday of Advent

Traditional Propers:

INTROIT
Psalms 24: 1-3
To Thee, O Lord, have I lifted up my soul: in Thee, O my God, I put my trust; let me not be ashamed. Neither let my enemies laugh at me: for none of them that wait on Thee shall be confounded. Ps. Show, O Lord, Thy ways to me, and teach me Thy paths. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. To Thee...

COLLECT - Bestir, O Lord, Thy might, we pray Thee and come; That, defended by Thee, we may deserve rescue from approaching dangers brought on by our sins, and being set free by Thee, obtain our salvation. Who livest and reignest with God the Father in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen.

EPISTLE
Romans 13:11-14
Brethren, knowing the time, that it is now the hour for us to rise from sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we believed. The night is past, and the day is at hand; let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and put on the armour of light. Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and impurities, not in contention and envy; but put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ.

Gradual
Psalms. 24: 3-4
None of them that wait on Thee shall be confounded. Show, O Lord, Thy ways to me, and teach me Thy paths.

LESSER ALLELUIA - ALLELUIA, alleluia. V. Ps. 84, 8. Show us, O Lord, Thy mercy: and grant us Thy salvation. Alleluia.

GOSPEL
Luke 21:25-33

At that time, Jesus said to His disciples: There shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, by reason of the confusion of the roaring of the sea and of the waves: men withering away for fear and expectation of what shall come upon the whole world. For the powers of heaven shall be moved; and then they shall see the Son of man coming in a cloud with great power and majesty. But when these things begin to come to pass, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is at hand. And He spoke to them a similitude: See the fig tree, and all the trees; when they now shoot forth their fruit, you know that summer is nigh; so you also, when you shall see these things come to pass, know that the kingdom of God is at hand. Amen I say to you, this generation shall not pass away till all things be fulfilled. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My words shall not pass away.

OFFERTORY
Psalms 24:1,-3
To Thee have I lifted up my soul: in Thee, O my God, I put my trust, let me not be ashamed: neither let my enemies laugh at me: for none of them that wait for Thee shall be confounded.

SECRET - May, O Lord, these Sacred Rites enable us, whom by Thy mighty power Thou hast cleansed from sin, to come pure in heart before Thee who art their author. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen.. .

PREFACE (Preface of the Most Holy Trinity) - It it truly meet and just, right and for our salvation, that we should at all times, and in all places, give thanks unto Thee, O holy Lord, Father almighty, everlasting God; Who, together with Thine only-begotten Son, and the Holy Ghost, art one God, one Lord: not in the oneness of a single Person, but in the Trinity of one substance. For what we believe by Thy revelation of Thy glory, the same do we believe of Thy Son, the same of the Holy Ghost, without difference or separation. So that in confessing the true and everlasting Godhead, distinction in persons, unity in essence, and equality in majesty may be adored. Which the Angels and Archangels, the Cherubim also and Seraphim do praise: who cease not daily to cry out, with one voice saying:

COMMUNION
Psalms 84: 13
The Lord will give goodness: and our earth shall yield her fruit.

POST COMMUNION - May we in the midst of Thy holy temple, O Lord, receive of Thy mercy, who seek with fitting honour to welcome the coming festival of our Redemption. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen.

Upcoming Christmas Devotions:

Nov. 30: Begin Christmas Novena
Dec. 17-23: The Antiphons

Typically some people will even read the entire Book of the Prophet Isaiah throughout Advent too. Remember, this time is all about welcome our Savior. He will come again. As today's Gospel states, "Watch!" Be ready. If tomorrow Our Lord came to judge us, would you be ready?

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Prayers for the Poor: My Advent Theme

With Thanksgiving Thursday I couldn't help to think of those people too poor to afford anything to eat. And with Christmas coming up, I realized there are people out there that won't be sharing its joy because of their poverty.

Besides this, the Salvation Army has been banned from certain stores and most people have forgetten the real meaning of Christmas - Our Lord's Nativity. Basically, some people don't care and that's what I want to stop. I thought of an idea based out of a book for prayers for priests for Advent.

My idea is to record our prayers for the poor on a table. Let us offer our Rosary, and Our Fathers, and Stations of the Cross and other prayers all for them. They have nothing, but Christ had nothing too in Bethlehem! We could save someone from lonliness this Christmas. The concept is to pray for the poor this Advent season as we all await the joy of Christmas.

The idea comes from the metaphor that each prayer is a rose. If we offer more and more prayers we slow gather a bouquet of roses for the poor. And how beautiful roses are. St. Francis de Sales suggested gathers "bouquets of devotion" when we pray.The idea is to record all of our prayers through Advent and look at that list on Christmas morning. That will be our gift to the poor; Our Lord will certainly hear our prayers for them. Trust in God!

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A Reminder of World Hunger

For those of us that sat at home with our families on Thanskgiving, let us not forget of those that could not eat. Several places in my community raised large amounts of food; the food pantry was actually empty before. Please donate to a reputable organization to ease poverty. So many people are dying from it (statistics). Even Pope Benedict XVI recently reminded us to combat poverty.

Christ was born in Bethlehem and chose poverty! Have mercy on His children; Adore Him!

I read of an idea in a magazine on praying for our priests. There was a chart that said various prayers and included lines for the Stations, Rosary, Chaplet, etc. And, all prayers recorded on their were for priests. This year I thought about doing the same thing but for those people out there that can't have Christmas - the poor. Would anyone join me spiritually in this? On Christmas Day we can look at this sheet and see all of our prayers and know that through God's mercy someone is now better off. God requires nothing to make anything beautiful or perfect but allows us to add our own merit to His perfect one - the Cross.

Image Source: ~The Holy Mass~

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What is Advent?

Advent is the time of preparation leading up to Christ and consisting of four Sundays. While Advent does focus us on preparing for Christmas, its primary focus is on preparation for the Second Coming of Christ. At this time of year we remember the three comings of Christ: 

1. At Bethlehem as a baby
2. Daily in the Holy Eucharist
3. In all-glory at the Second Coming. 

In the Roman Rite of the Catholic Church, Advent begins four Sundays before Christmas and concludes on Christmas Eve at sundown. The typical vestment color during Advent is purple because this is a time of penance as we prepare for the birth of Christ.

A Brief Overview of Advent:

The name Advent is applied, in the Latin Church, to that period of the year, during which the Church requires the faithful to prepare for the celebration of the feast of Christmas, the anniversary of the birth of Jesus Christ. The mystery of that great day had every right to the honour of being prepared for by prayer and works of penance; and, in fact, it is impossible to state, with any certainty, when this season of preparation (which had long been observed before receiving its present name of Advent) was first instituted. It would seem, however, that its observance first began in the west, since it is evident that Advent could not have been looked on as a preparation for the feast of Christmas, until that feast was definitively fixed to the twenty-fifth of December; which was done in the east only towards the close of the fourth century; whereas it is certain that the Church of Rome kept the feast on that day at a much earlier period.

We must look upon Advent in two different lights: first, as a time of preparation, properly so called, for the birth of our Saviour, by works of penance; and secondly, as a series of ecclesiastical Offices drawn up for the same purpose. We find, as far back as the fifth century, the custom of giving exhortations to the people in order to prepare them for the feast of Christmas. We have two sermons of Saint Maximus of Turin on this subject, not to speak of several others which were formerly attributed to St. Ambrose and St. Augustine, but which were probably written by St. Cesarius of Arles. If these documents do not tell us what was the duration and what the exercises of this holy season, they at least show us how ancient was the practice of distinguishing the time of Advent by special sermons. Saint Ivo of Chartres, St. Bernard, and several other doctors of the eleventh and twelfth centuries, have left us set sermons de Adventu Domini, quite distinct from their Sunday homilies on the Gospels of that season. In the capitularia of Charles the Bald, in 846, the bishops admonish that prince not to call them away from their Churches during Lent or Advent, under pretext of affairs of the State or the necessities of war, seeing that they have special duties to fulfill, and particularly that of preaching during those sacred times.

Source: Dom Prosper Guéranger, OSB, Advent, ca. 1841, Volume 1, The Liturgical Year, translated from the French by Dom Laurence Shepherd, O.S.B., ca. 1867. London: Stanbrook Abbey, 1918.

More in-depth information can be found at Fish Eaters. Please also see the Advent/Christmas Compilation list on this site.

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