Advent, week II
〰 1st Prelude. —Represent to yourself the Infant Jesus coming as a deliverer, and the King Jesus coming as a judge.
〰 2nd Prelude. —Pray that you may so prepare each year for the anniversary of His first coming, as to be enabled to meet Him at His second coming without fear.
Feast of the Immaculate Conception
"The Prince of Peace and the Lord of Lords chose you for the singular grace and honor of being His beloved mother. By the power of His Cross, He preserved you from all sin. Therefore, by His power and love, I have hope and bold confidence in your prayers for my holiness and salvation". (Prayer from The Immaculate Conception Novena)
GO SAINTS! Saints 10 Panthers 41
Black and Gold Boys, it's time for y'all to play some real football
It was not to be about getting mauled, but to maul.
The Veggies = My 2⃣ cents 💰
The Potatoes = A commentary on the Diatessaron, by St. Ephrem
The Meat = The Hour of Grace
The Dessert = THE ART OF WAITING: A RETREAT GUIDE FOR ADVENT", Meditation 1: By Fr. John Bartunek
The Cheese & Crackers
🔴"It becomes you to be mindful of us, as you stand near Him Who granted you all graces, for you are the Mother of God and our Queen. Help us for the sake of the King, the Lord God Master Who was born of you. For this reason you are called "full of grace". Remember us, most holy Virgin and bestow on us gifts from the riches of your graces, Virgin, full of grace." by ~St. Athanasius
⚫️"Let us make our own the words of this Advent prayer:Dear Lord, Through the darkness, I look for your wisdom. I want my heart to be open to you. But sometimes in these days, it seems that so many things come between us. Help me to be awake and aware of the radiance you bring to my life. Help me to be grateful each day for the blessings of family and friends. Let me be a peacemaker in my own life, and in the world. Let me pray especially for this difficult world
and those who are so in need of an end to violence. My heart begs for this as my Advent prayer today". By Edward O'Donnell, OCD
⚪️"St. Irenaeus compares the virginity of the pure earth from which Adam was drawn to the virginity of the immaculate humanity of Mary from which the Second Adam was drawn. ‘And as the protoplast himself Adam, had his substance from untilled and as yet virgin soil (for God had not yet sent rain, and man had not tilled the ground:
Genesis 2:5 "there was no field shrub on earth and no grass of the field had sprouted, for the LORD God had sent no rain upon the earth and there was no man to till the ground"
so did He who is the Word, recapitulating Adam in Himself, rightly receive a birth, enabling Him to gather up Adam [into Himself], from Mary, who was as yet a virgin’ (Adversus hereses III, 21:10)."
The veggies
Received this at Holy Hour one day:
Holy Hour 5:18-6:21
The ones who hear the sound of the trumpet are obliged to respond. Why?, because graces are flowing. Be attentive to the moment of visitation, for to the one that have, more will be given. Grace builds upon grace. My desire is for you to be enriched. Grow more and more in holiness of soul, in purity, regarding the truth, so that you might embrace and understand the mission to which you are called. All are called to bear fruits that will last. I am the truth and the way to life in the spirit. Come closer, inch in, for those who seek me wholeheartedly find treasures untold. Hidden treasures in the spirit to those who are obedient and docile to the Holy Spirit, leading to joy for all ages.
Turned at random to 2 Thessalonians 2, the following verses garnered my attention.:
encourage your hearts and strengthen them in every good deed and word"
My Response- God, my Lord my God and my all. It is to you I bow and adore and offer love. Help me to take the high road, to be obedient and reap what good that is possible to help the kingdom. Blessed be you in all your works.
Well, two days later the following is in an email from
"The Catholic Company":
🔗"As we have seen, there is sometimes a big difference between what God is actually asking of us, and what we imagine he is asking. We won’t have the grace to do what God is not asking of us. But for what he is asking, he has promised us his grace: God grants what he commands. When God inspires us to do something (if it really is God who is the source of the inspiration), at the same time he supplies the ability to do it, even if it is beyond our capacity or scares us at the start. Every motion that comes from God brings both the light to understand what God intends, and the strength to accomplish it: light that illuminates the mind, and strength that gives power to the will."— Fr. Jacques Philippe, p. 21. Found in the book: "In the School of the Holy Spirit"
Another email on the same day from "The Divine Mercy" daily, contains a message that fits in perfectly as a confirmation to what was given at Holy Hour two days earlier:
🔗"I was your Teacher, I am and I will be; strive to make your heart like unto My humble and gentle Heart. Never claim your rights. Bear with great calm and patience everything that befalls you (Diary, 1701)."
Here is the complete message from "Divine Mercy" Daily:
🔗Day Great Calm and Patience, Meditation:
"I asked the Lord today that He might deign to teach me about the interior life, because of myself I can neither understand nor conceive anything perfectly. The Lord answered me, I was your Teacher, I am and I will be; strive to make your heart like unto My humble and gentle Heart. Never claim your rights. Bear with great calm and patience everything that befalls you (Diary, 1701).
My Prayer Response: Lord Jesus, teach me about the interior life. Help me to make my heart like Your humble and gentle Heart. May I be calm and patient with everything that comes my way."
The potatoes
A commentary on the Diatessaron, by St. Ephrem. "Keep watch: he is to come again"
Info found at this site:
http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?ca=4788133b-00a2-4a62-b4bd-c902f76580f5&c=4b561280-1f9f-11e3-83f8-d4ae52733d3a&ch=4b9edb50-1f9f-11e3-8436-d4ae52733d3a
"To prevent his disciples from asking the time of his coming, Christ said: About that hour no one knows, neither the angels nor the Son. It is not for you to know times or moments. He has kept those things hidden so that we may keep watch, each of us thinking that he will come in our own day. If he had revealed the time of his coming, his coming would have lost its savor: it would no longer be an object of yearning for the nations and the age in which it will be revealed. He promised that he would come but did not say when he would come, and so all generations and ages await him eagerly.
Though the Lord has established the signs of his coming, the time of their fulfillment has not been plainly revealed. These signs have come and gone with a multiplicity of change; more than that, they are still present. His final coming is like his first. As holy men and prophets waited for him, thinking that he would reveal himself in their own day, so today each of the faithful longs to welcome him in his own day, because Christ has not made plain the day of his coming.
He has not made it plain for this reason especially, that no one may think that he whose power and dominion rule all numbers and times is ruled by fate and time. He described the signs of his coming; how could what he has himself decided be hidden from him? Therefore, he used these words to increase respect for the signs of his coming, so that from that day forward all generations and ages might think that he would come again in their own day.
Keep watch; when the body is asleep nature takes control of us, and what is done is not done by our will but by force, by the impulse of nature. When deep listlessness takes possession of the soul, for example, faint-heartedness or melancholy, the enemy overpowers it and makes it do what it does not will. The force of nature, the enemy of the soul, is in control.
When the Lord commanded us to be vigilant, he meant vigilance in both parts of man: in the body, against the tendency to sleep; in the soul, against lethargy and timidity. As Scripture says: Wake up, you just, and I have risen, and am still with you; and again, Do not lose heart. Therefore, having this ministry, we do not lose heart. (Diatessaron: a harmonized Gospel text)"
The Meat
The Hour of Grace
Info from this website:
http://english.santisimavirgen.com.ar/hora_de_gracia_eng.htm
HOUR OF GRACE December 8, 1947
"Pierina - the viewer of the apparitions of Mystical Rose contemplated the mother of God say - "I am the Immaculate Conception" and with great majesty she affirmed "I am Mary of the Graces, that is to say, full of Grace, Mother of my Divine Son Jesus Christ". She descended smoothly down the stairs and she added. - "For my visit to Montichiari I wish to be invoked and to be venerated as Mystical Rose.I WANT THAT AT NOON OF EVERY 8TH OF DECEMBER (SOLEMNITY OF THE IMMACULATE ONE) The HOUR OF GRACE IS CELEBRATED EVERYWHERE, THROUGH THIS DEVOTION MANY GRACES WILL BE OBTAINED FOR THE BODY AND THE SOUL. Our Lord, my Divine Son Jesus, will spill his mercy copiously, as long as the good ones pray for their brothers who remain in sin. It is imperative to inform as soon as possible to the Supreme Shepherd of the Catholic Church Pope Pío XII my desire that this hour of grace be well-known and is extended throughout the world. Whoever cannot go to church, they can be at their house at noon and they will obtain my graces." Soon after, showing her purest heart, She said: "Look at this heart that loves men so much, while most of them overwhelm It with insults." She kept quiet for a moment and continued: "If all, good and evil, unite in prayer, they will obtain from this heart mercy and peace. The good ones just obtained through my mediation the mercy of the Lord, who stopped a great chastisement. In a little while, the effective greatness of this grace will be known ".
While Pierina noticed that the shining Lady was leaving, she fervently implored to her: "Oh beautiful and beloved Mother of God, I thank You". Bless the whole world, especially the Holy Father, the priests, monks, and the sinners. She replied: "I have prepared an overabundance of graces for all those children who listen to my voice and take to heart my desires". With these words the vision was finished.
THE REQUEST OF OUR BLESSED MOTHER FOR THE HOUR OF GRACE :
✏️ 1. Day and time of the Hour of Grace: December 8th, Feast of the Immaculate Conception, to be started at 12:00 noon and continuing until 1:00 p.m. for one full hour of prayer.
✏️ 2. During this hour, the person making the "Hour of Grace" either at home or at Church must put away all distractions (do not answer the telephones, or answer any doors, or do anything but totally concentrate on your union with God during this special Hour of Grace).
✏️ 3. Begin the Hour of Grace by praying three (3) times the 51st Psalm with out-stretched arms. (Psalm 51 appears below)
✏️ 4. The rest of the Hour of Grace may be spent in silent communication with God meditating upon the Passion of Jesus, saying the Holy Rosary, praising God in your own way, or by using favorite prayers, singing hymns, meditating upon other psalms, etc.
Please copy and distribute this message. Remember to pray for your country during this hour. The Blessed Virgin has requested that her important message be sent throughout the entire world. Please help her Mission: that all souls be drawn to GOD, and that JESUS will be loved in every heart. This is the perpetual song of her heart. Let it also be ours".
"Have mercy on me, God, in your goodness; in your abundant compassion blot out my offense. Wash away all my guilt; from my sin cleanse me. For I know my offense; my sin is always before me.
Against you alone have I sinned; I have done such evil in your sight That you are just in your sentence, blameless when you condemn.
True, I was born guilty, a sinner, even as my mother conceived me.
Still, you insist on sincerity of heart; in my inmost being teach me wisdom. Cleanse me with hyssop, that I may be pure; wash me, make me whiter than snow. Let me hear sounds of joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice. Turn away your face from my sins; blot out all my guilt. A clean heart create for me, God; renew in me a steadfast spirit. Do not drive me from your presence, nor take from me your holy spirit.
Restore my joy in your salvation; sustain in me a willing spirit. I will teach the wicked your ways, that sinners may return to you.
Rescue me from death, God, my saving God, that my tongue may praise your healing power. Lord, open my lips; my mouth will proclaim your praise. For you do not desire sacrifice; a burnt offering you would not accept. My sacrifice, God, is a broken spirit; God, do not spurn a broken, humbled heart. Make Zion prosper in your good pleasure; rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. Then you will be pleased with proper sacrifice, burnt offerings and holocausts; then bullocks will be offered on your altar".
The Dessert
THE ART OF WAITING: A RETREAT GUIDE FOR ADVENT", Meditation 1. By Fr. John Bartunek
http://rcspirituality.org/the-art-of-waitinga-retreat-guide-for-advent-guide/?submissionGuid=0b83d29e-84e8-4ad2-86b3-417b3ca091fd
- In the first meditation, we will learn the art of waiting from two of Advent’s main characters: John the Baptist, and Mary.
Thdanks 4 taking a little time out to feed you soul
Trying to provide quality nourishment is my number one goal
To prevent a lack of spiritual knowledge from taking it's toll
M ✞ⓂⓂ/℘✞L̶o̶r̶d̶ \o/
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