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The Spirit Of Advent is One Of Holy, Expectant Joy! Twenty hundred and eleven years ago, the Divine Redeemer appeared visible and incarnate when He was born a poor human Child in a stable at Bethlehem. But, this first coming of Our Lord occurs again, a merciful reality, not only on the feast of Christmas, but in the hearts of each one of us in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. The Church being, as it were, the stable of Bethlehem, and the Altar and our hearts the crib. At Christmas, the Church celebrates not only the first coming of Christ on earth as Our Redeemer, but also the merciful reality of His second coming on earth as our Judge! The day on which the work of Redemption was consummated, is a Triumph for Christ and His followers. By His first coming, Our Lord redeemed us from sin and obtained the resurrection of our souls to the life of Grace. By His second coming, Christ will heal us of all our frailties and will bring resurrection to our bodies. We shall reap the harvest of complete happiness with God even as we have served Him in this world with our whole being, body and soul. It is, then, exceedingly important to prepare our hearts during the Season of Advent for the two-fold coming of Christ: as our Redeemer and also as our Judge on the Last Day. At the great feast of Christmas, now approaching, Christ desires to be born in us that we may live a new, purer and more perfect life through His Grace. We have work to do. There are still countries where people sit in darkness and in the shadow of death; souls in whom Christ, the Sun of Justice, has not yet risen. Let us, during Advent, pray for the redemption of pagan people. Only too numerous, also, are the unbelievers and lukewarm Christians in our own countries, who are deaf to the call of Advent, who do not desire the Redeemer and do not fear Him as their Judge. Let us endeavor to lead these poorest of creatures to Christ and by our prayers, sacrifices and good works make their cold, barren hearts susceptible to the great Grace of Christmas! During the reign of Pope Pius XII and in the wake of the grave crisis of World War II, the Sovereign Pontiff consecrated the world to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Through this universal consecration, he gently led an unthinking and rebellious world to the feet of Mary. In the agony of those fateful days, he repeated the words of Jesus Christ upon the Cross: SON, BEHOLD THY MOTHER! At the first hour of human sin, God Himself revealed the Woman who would be victorious over Satan. “I will put enmities between thee and the Woman, between thy seed and Her seed; and She shall crush thy head, and thou shalt lie in wait for Her heel." Satan had deceived the first woman, Eve. Through her agency, Adam, our first Parent, fell and with him the whole human race. Disobedience ushered in the reign of death. Mary is the sign of hope, given by God to a sinful people. Through Her humble Fiat, She became His Mother and ours. The Son of God, Who exists from all Eternity became, in time, the Son of Mary! "Behold the handmaid of the Lord, And the Word was made Flesh and dwelt among us. Mary was a Virgin before the Birth of Jesus Christ, a Virgin in His Birth, by a miracle of God, and a Virgin ever after She brought forth Our Saviour: such is the Faith of all the Church since the earliest of times. In considering the glory of the Blessed Virgin, it is perhaps easy to forget the life-long sorrow that was Hers, for She is in fact the Mother of the suffering Redeemer. Our Blessed Mother was gifted with a vast intelligence. No sin had ever clouded Her understanding of the things of God. She knew well the sadness of the prophecies which foretold how the Messiah would take upon Himself the penalties of our sin. We count in our Rosaries, the Annunciation as a Joyful Mystery. The joy, in truth, is ours; we who have through Mary been given a Redeemer. The sorrow is Hers, for She knew that He must be the Man of Sorrows. Simeon confirmed the anguish in Her mother’s soul; the sword pierced Her Heart in that instant. In full submission, Mary had agreed to be His Mother. We can only guess at Her thoughts as She watched the beauty of Her Infant and growing Son. She saw His little Hands and Feet pierced with nails, His face bruised and bleeding, and in His side the brutal opening of the lance. His outstretched arms were already affixed upon the Cross.
The closeness of Mary’s union with the atonement of Her Son has won for Our Lady the title which is perhaps the sweetest that a man can use in Her regard: Mother of the Divine Redeemer. There is one Mediator of God and man, Jesus Christ. By His Death, mankind has been redeemed. Yet, in a very real sense, Our Lady by Her satisfaction and Her merits under Christ and in union with the only Saviour, is called Co-Redeemer. At the Incarnation, She gave Her fullest consent to be the Mother of the Crucified Redeemer, with all the martyrdom of soul that such an office could entail. In the Presentation, Mary offered to God a gift such as never before had been given Him. She, it was who cared for the Saviour at every stage of His infancy and His hidden life. To suffer and to live in union with Her Son, summed up Her entire life on earth. She was one in heart with all the thoughts and sentiments of Her Son. She offered Him to God in the Sacrifice on Calvary, with an understanding and a love, which were surpassed in fullness and perfection only by the sacrificial act of the Divine Victim on the Cross. By the Death of Jesus Christ, Her Son, and in the martyrdom of Her own Heart, we have cost Her too deeply for Her to forget us. God has bequeathed to Her the treasury of all the graces He won for us through His Redemption. Mary is the Mother of Divine Grace. She pleads for us with God and lavishly pours out upon us the graces of which we stand in need. Mary is truly Our Life, Our Sweetness and Our Hope in this vale of tears. Mary is the Mother of the living. On Christmas Day, let us approach the stable at Bethlehem and the foot of the Cross, where we find the Child with His Mother where He brought us forth to His Life of Grace. With all the love in Her Heart, She will care for the needs of our salvation and She will not rest until She numbers us among the trophies of His Most Precious Blood. To Her Mother’s Heart, we make this appeal for every Grace even unto our final breath: Holy Mary, Mother of God, We want to wish all of you a very holy and happy Christmas, filled with the most choice blessings! May your family be warmed and sustained by the furnace of charity which flows through our souls, by the great bond of prayer that unites us the world over! Cherish your family, count your blessings and set up solid spiritual goals for the New Year! We remain, One with you in the Pure Heart of Mary!
This is Our Life: To Let Christ live! |
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"The Twelve Days of Christmas" We all familiar with the Christmas song, "The Twelve Days of Christmas" To most it's a delightful nonsense rhyme set to music. But it had a quite serious purpose when it was written. It is a good deal more than just a repetitious melody with pretty phrases and a list of strange gifts. Catholics in England during the period 1558 to 1829, when Parliament finally emancipated Catholics in England, were prohibited from ANY practice of their faith by law – private OR public. It was a crime to BE a Catholic. The song's gifts are hidden meanings to the teachings of the faith. The "true love" mentioned in the song doesn't refer to an earthly suitor, it refers to God Himself. The "me" who receives the presents refers to every baptized person. The partridge in a pear tree is Jesus Christ, the Son of God. In the song, Christ is symbolically presented as a mother partridge which feigns injury to decoy predators from her helpless nestlings, much in memory of the expression of Christ's sadness over the fate of Jerusalem: "Jerusalem! Jerusalem! How often would I have sheltered thee under my wings, as a hen does her chicks, but thou wouldst not have it so …" The other symbols mean the following:
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From the Holy Land MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR! May the baby Jesus remain in your heart and may your tears be that of joy! May St. Michaels’ fighting angels of peace invade your home and drive away all that is ungodly and undesirable! May thieves steal all your debts! May the Archangel Raphael heal all your illnesses, heartaches and physical discomforts of the last years and keep you always healthy! May the angels of love stick to your face like expensive perfume and may laughter assault your lips! May love, peace, joy, good health, success and prosperity be the daily order of your day and may the days that follow be just as blessed! May your problems and heart aches disappear and may future challenges be light as feathers! May your faults be written in the sands and may your good deeds be carved into granite stones! May your soul be free of worldly debris and may your heart be filled with right faith, firm hope and perfect charity! May your Christmas and New Year wishes be answered and may your dreams come true! May our merciful God continue to bless you and may you humbly accept all with heartfelt gratitude! In other words, Merry Christmas! Be assured of my prayers for you and your family for the coming year! Prayerful best wishes,
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¡El Espíritu de Adviento es Uno de Gozo Piadoso, Expentante! Hace dos mil once años, el Divino Redentor apareció visible y encarnado cuando nació como un Niño pobre en el establo de Belén. Pero, este primer advenimiento de Nuestro Señor ocurre de nuevo, una realidad misericordiosa, no solo en la fiesta de Navidad, sino en los corazones de cada uno de nosotros en el Santo Sacrificio de la Misa. La Iglesia siendo, como si dijéramos, el establo de Belén, y el Altar y nuestros corazones el pesebre. En Navidad, la Iglesia celebra, no solo la primera venida de Cristo a la tierra como Nuestro Redentor, ¡sino también la misericordiosa realidad de Su segunda venida a la tierra como nuestro Juez! El día en el que la obra de Redención fue consumada, es un Triunfo para Cristo y sus seguidores. Por Su primera venida, Nuestro Señor nos redimió del pecado y obtuvo la resurrección de nuestras almas a la vida de Gracia. Por su segunda venida, Cristo nos sanará de nuestras flaquezas y traerá resurrección a nuestros cuerpos. Recogeremos la cosecha de felicidad completa con Dios según como le hayamos servido en este mundo con todo nuestro ser, cuerpo y alma. Es, entonces, sumamente importante preparar nuestros corazones durante la Temporada de Adviento para los dos aspectos de la venida de Cristo: como nuestro Redentor y también como nuestro Juez el Día del Juicio. En la gran fiesta de Navidad, que se acerca, Cristo desea nacer en nosotros para que vivamos de nuevo, por Su Gracia, una vida más pura y más perfecta. Tenemos trabajo por hacer. Todavía hay países donde la gente está en las tinieblas y en la sombra de la muerte; almas en las que Cristo, el Sol de la Justicia, aún no ha salido. Recemos, durante Adviento, por la redención de la gente pagana. Demasiado numerosos, también, son los cristianos incrédulos y tibios en nuestros propios países, que están sordos al llamado de Adviento, quienes no desean al Redentor y no le temen como su Juez. Procuremos guiar a estas creaturas paupérrimas a Cristo y por nuestras oraciones, sacrificios y buenas obras hacer sus corazones fríos y estériles, ¡suceptibles a la gran Gracia de Navidad! Durante el reinado del Papa Pío XII y en la estela de la grave crisis de la Segunda Guerra Mundial, el Soberano Pontífice consagró el mundo al Inmaculado Corazón de María. Por esta consagración universal, él suavemente guió un mundo irreflexivo y rebelde a los pies de María. En la agonía de esos días funestos, repitió las palabras de Jesucristo desde la Cruz: ¡AHÍ TIENES A TU MADRE! A la primera hora del pecado humano, Dios Mismo reveló a la Mujer que sería victoriosa sobre Satanás. “Yo pondré enemistades entre ti y la mujer, y entre tu raza y la descendencia suya: ella quebrantará tu cabeza, y tú andarás acechando a su calcañar." Satanás había engañado a la primera mujer, Eva. Por ella, Adán, nuestro primer Padre, cayó, y con él toda la raza humana. La desobediencia lanzó el reino de la muerte. María es la señal de esperanza, dada por Dios a un pueblo pecador. Por su humilde Fiat, ella se convirtió en Su Madre y la nuestra. ¡El Hijo de Dios, que existe desde toda la Eternidad se convirtió, en el tiempo, en el Hijo de María! "He aquí la esclava del Señor: Y el Verbo se hizo Carne y habitó entre nosotros. María fue Virgen antes del Nacimiento de Jesucristo, Virgen en Su Nacimiento, por un milagro de Dios, y siempre Virgen después de dar a luz a Ntro. Salvador: tal es la Fe de toda la Iglesia desde los primeros tiempos. En consideración a la Gloria de la Santísima Virgen, quizá sea fácil olvidar el sufrimiento de toda su vida, porque ella es de hecho la Madre del Redentor doloroso. Ntra. Santísima Madre fue dotada de una vasta inteligencia. Ningún pecado jamás había empañado su entendimiento de las cosas de Dios. Ella bien supo la tristeza de las profecías que predijeron cómo el Mesías tomaría sobre sí las penalidades por nuestro pecado. En nuestros Rosarios, contamos la Anunciación como un Misterio Gozoso. El gozo, en verdad, es nuestro; nosotros a quienes les ha sido dado por medio de María un Redentor. El dolor es de ella, puesto que ella sabía que Él debía ser el Varón de Dolores. Simeón confirmó la angustia en su alma de Madre; la espada traspasó su Corazón en ese instante. En completa sumisión, María había accedido a ser Su Madre. Solo podemos imaginar sus pensamientos al observar la belleza de su Hijo, de Niño y durante su crecimiento. Vio sus manitas y pies atravesados por los clavos, su rostro amoratado y sangrando, y en su costado la abierta brutal de la lanza. Sus brazos extendidos ya estaban fijos en la Cruz.
La estrechez de la unión de María con el desagravio de su Hijo ha ganado para Nuestra Señora el título que quizá sea el más dulce que un hombre pueda usar con respecto a ella: Madre del Divino Redentor. Hay un Mediador entre Dios y el hombre, Jesucristo. Por Su Muerte, el hombre ha sido redimido. Sin embargo, en un sentido muy real, Nuestra Señora por su satisfacción y sus méritos bajo Cristo y en unión con el único Salvador, es llamada Corredentora. En la Encarnación, ella dio su completo consentimiento para ser la Madre del Redentor Crucificado, con todo el martirio de alma que tal oficio pudiera acarrear. En la Presentación, María ofreció a Dios un don tal como jamás antes le había sido dado. Fue ella quien cuidó al Salvador a cada etapa de Su infancia y Su vida oculta. Sufrir y vivir en unión con su Hijo resumió su vida entera en la tierra. Ella de corazón fue una con todos los pensamientos y sentimientos de su Hijo. Ella lo ofreció a Dios en el Calvario, con un entendimiento y un amor, que fueron sobrepasados en plenitud y perfección solo por el acto expiatorio de la Divina Víctima en la Cruz. Por la Muerte de Jesucristo, su Hijo, y en el martirio de su propio Corazón, le hemos costado demasiado para que nos olvide. Dios le ha legado la tesorería de todas las gracias que Él ganó para nosotros por su Redención. María es la Madre de la Divina Gracia. Ella ruega por nosotros con Dios y espléndidamente derrama sobre nosotros las gracias que necesitamos. María es verdaderamente Nuestra Vida, Nuestra Dulzura y Nuestra Esperanza en este valle de lágrimas. María es la Madre de los vivos. El Día de Navidad, acerquémonos al establo de Belén y al pie de la Cruz, donde encontramos al Niño con Su madre, donde Él nos dio a luz a Su Vida de Gracia. Con todo el amor en su Corazón, tendrá cuidado de las necesidades de nuestra salvación y no descansará hasta que nos cuente entre los trofeos de Su Preciosísima Sangre. A su Corazón de Madre, hacemos esta súplica por todas las Gracias hasta nuestro último aliento: Santa María, Madre de Dios, ¡Queremos desearles a todos ustedes una muy bendita y feliz Navidad, llena de las mejores bendiciones! ¡Que su familia sea calentada y sostenida por la hoguera de caridad que fluye por nuestras almas, por el gran vínculo de oración que nos une por todo el mundo! ¡atesoren a su familia, cuenten sus bendiciones y preparen metas espirituales sólidas para el Nuevo Año! Permanecemos, Uno con ustedes en el Corazón Puro de María! Patti Melvin
ESTA ES NTRA. VIDA: ¡DEJAR QUE CRISTO VIVA! |
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May Mary, the Mother of God, mother Jesus in you, until you no longer are – but He lives and prays through you! This is our vocation as Christians: to again give to Christ, even as Mary did, a body of real flesh (our very own) in which to dwell and operate! This is our glory! This is our calling! Jesus looks to us for another humanity through which He can live again, through which He can again believe, obey and love His Father. 
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