Advent Calendar

I didn't have any ideas on reflections or mortifications to put into our Advent calendar drawers. Thankfully, Lisa shared A Spiritual Christmas Crib for Advent. One reflection for each day of this liturgical season. It was perfect!

DEC. 1 - THE STABLE
Frequently during the day offer your heart to the little Infant Jesus. Ask Him to make it His home.

--Sweet Jesus, take my heart and make it meek and pure.


DEC. 2 - THE ROOF
See that the roof of the stable is in good condition, so that the Infant Jesus is protected from rain and snow. This you will do by carefully avoiding every uncharitable remark.

--Jesus, teach me to love my neighbor as myself.

DEC. 3 - CREVICES
Carefully stop every crevice in the walls of the stable, so that the wind and cold may not enter there. Guard your senses against temptations. Guard especially your ears against sinful conversations.
--Jesus, help me to keep temptations out of my heart.

DEC. 4 - COBWEBS
Clean the cobwebs from your spiritual crib. Diligently remove from your heart every inordinate desire of being praised. Renew this intention at least three times today.
--My Jesus, I want to please You in all I do today.


DEC. 5 - FENCE
Build a fence about the crib of your heart by keeping a strict watch over your eyes, especially at prayer.

--Sweet Jesus, I long to see You.

DEC. 6 - MANGER
Fix the best and warmest corner of your heart for the manger of Jesus. You will do so by abstaining from what you like most in the line of comfort and amusement.

--Dear Mother Mary, use these sacrifices to prepare my heart for Jesus in Holy Communion.

DEC. 7 - HAY
Supply the manger of your heart with hay, by overcoming all feelings of pride, anger or envy.

--Jesus, teach me to know and correct my greatest sins.

DEC. 8 - SOFT STRAW
Also provide your manger with soft straw by performing little acts of mortification; for instance, bear the cold without complaints; or sit and stand erect.

--Dear Jesus, Who suffered so much for me, let me suffer for love of You.

DEC. 9 - SWADDLING CLOTHES
Prepare these for the Divine Infant by folding your hands when you pray, and praying slowly and thoughtfully.

--Jesus, help me love you more and more.

DEC. 10 - BLANKETS
Provide the manger of your crib with soft warm blankets. Avoid harsh and angry words; be kind and gentle to all.

--Jesus, help me to be meek and humble like You.

DEC. 11 - FUEL
Bring fuel to the crib of Jesus. Give up your own will; obey your superiors cheerfully and promptly.

--Jesus, help me do Your will in all things.

DEC. 12 - WATER
Bring fresh, clean water to the crib. Avoid every untruthful word and every deceitful act.

--Dearest Mary, obtain for me true contrition for my sins.

DEC. 13 - PROVISIONS
Bring a supply of food to the crib. Deprive yourself of some food at mealtime or candy as a treat.

--Jesus, be my strength and nourishment.

DEC. 14 - LIGHT
See that the crib has sufficient light. Be neat and orderly about your person; keep everything in its place in your room.

--Jesus, be the life and light of my soul.

DEC. 15 - FIRE
Take care to have the crib of your heart warmed by a cozy fire. Be grateful to God for the love He has shown us in becoming man; behave with grateful respect towards your parents and relatives.

--Jesus, how can I return Your love; how can I show my gratitude to You?

DEC. 16 - THE OX
Lead the ox to the crib. Obey cheerfully without making excuses and without asking "why."

--I will obey for love of You, Jesus.

DEC. 17 - THE DONKEY
Bring the donkey to the crib. Offer to the Divine Infant your bodily strength; use it in the service of others.

--Jesus, accept my service of love; I offer it for those who do not love You.

DEC. 18 - GIFTS
Gather some presents for the Divine Infant and His Blessed Mother. Give alms for the poor and say an extra decade of the rosary.

--Come, Jesus, to accept my gifts and to take possession of my heart.

DEC. 19 - LAMBS
Strive to bring some little lambs, meek and patient. Do not murmur or complain.

--Jesus, meek and humble of heart, make my heart like unto Thine.

DEC. 20 - SHEPHERDS
Invite the shepherds to pay homage to our newborn King. Imitate their watchfulness; stress in your speech and thoughts the idea that Christmas is important because Jesus will be born again in you.

--Jesus, teach me to love You above all things.

DEC. 21 - THE KEY
Provide the stable with a key to keep out thieves. Exclude from your heart every sinful thought, every rash judgment.

-- Dear Jesus, close my heart to all that hurts You.

DEC. 22 - ANGELS
Invite the angels to adore God with you. Cheerfully obey the inspirations of your guardian angel and of your conscience.

--Holy Guardian Angel, never let me forget that you are with me always.

DEC. 23 - ST. JOSEPH
Accompany Saint Joseph from door to door. Learn from him silently and patiently to bear refusals and disappointments. Open wide your heart and beg him to enter with the Blessed Virgin Mary.

--Saint Joseph, help me to prepare for a worthy Christmas Communion.

DEC. 24 - THE BLESSED VIRGIN
Go meet your Blessed Mother. Lead her to the manger of your heart and beg her to lay the Divine Infant in it. Shorten your chats and telephone conversations and spend more time today thinking of Jesus and Mary and Joseph.
--Come, dear Jesus, Come; my heart belongs to You."

Homeschooling "Fans"

Insight Scoop's Homeschooling, It's Not Just for Fantatics Anymore

In their post the reference this article Hoover Institution's Homeschool Goes Mainstream

At the time we decided to homeschool, we were happy with the public school our then 2nd grader was attending. But we knew as he grew older, we wanted him to have good influences from peers and we saw a problem in middle school and high school. We tried Catholic school when he was in the 8th grade and 9th grade. It was tough trying to find ways of paying for an increase in tuition. And, we probably would have made some sacrifices had the religious part of his education been more orthodox.

Our son made the difficult decision for us when he asked to be permitted to homeschool again.

Our son was always a good student. His father and I are convinced that homeschooling has really helped him excel as a student. He did not have to suffer through the peer pressure part of school.

We joke that when he graduates he will be the Valedictorian of his class ;-)

Only 150 Mass So Far Out of the 10,000 Masses Needed for the Unborn Needed

I received the following email:

...Thanks so much for the great news that 3 Masses will be offered at Sacred Heart in the diocese of Honolulu. I really appreciate it.

Presently, there are 131 Masses scheduled to be offered as part of the 10,000 MASSES FOR UNBORN BABIES.

God bless you.

Sincerely,

Patrick Benedict

St. Michael the Archangel Organization

Please request a few Masses at your church. It is really easy to do. The unborn are counting on us.

So, What's Their Secret? - Many types of vocations blooming in Missouri diocese

CNA Article

Encouraging and supporting vocations to the priesthood and religious life has been a top priority for Bishop Robert Finn since his installation in the Diocese of Kansas City - St. Joseph. Currently, the diocese has nearly 30 men studying to become diocesan priests while others have been called to nearby religious orders.

Dying to Self in Marriage

The following is a response to this interview in Zenit - Marriage Leads to Heaven.

I think it is very telling that the Church chose to honor the Martins based in their wedding anniversary. During my marriage preparation in the Catholic church, we learned that a proper, holy marriage requires 'dying to self' each day. On the day I was married to my wonderful husband, I was blessed to feel a physical change take place - it was beautiful. In essence, the old me had died, and the new me, this man's wife, was ready to take on the challenges of married love. Praise the Lord!

Louis and Marie-Zélie Guérin Martin, pray for us!

Tara Szymanski

During this Advent Season, I have been thinking of doing more to die to myself. But after reading the above statement, I think I will concentrate more of dying to myself in my marriage. Like most couples who have been married awhile, we start to take our spouse for granted. I often do nice things for others outside my family. But when is the last time I did something special for my husband?

One of my good friend's husband has been found to be terminally ill from cancer. I see her pain and her regrets because she doesn't thing she has been a very good wife to him.

I do not know how long my husband and I will be together here on earth. I have to remind myself that each minute that God permits us to live is a gift and we should be mindful of that time.

My husband is a very good man and he has his faults that irritate me as I'm sure I have LOTS of faults that irritate him. But if I truly love him, I need to overlook those little failings and consider the man God chose to be my husband, and love him more and more each day.

Prayer Request for a Priest and His Seminarians in Nigeria

Photo of Patrick Latta, Nancy Latta and Fr. Peter Kamai on the left,
courtesy of Ed Sousa

The following was shared by Ed on his blog and also via email. It is an email received from Fr. Peter regarding the situation in his homeland. Please pray for them and for the persecuted church around the world:

...Greetings from Jos and many thanks for the concern. Its really bad here! Over five hundred have been killed in what is now seemingly a religious riot. Our Seminary is under siege up to now. It seems their intention is to destroy it. Already the Monastery which is next to us has been touched; their library and other buildings have been destroyed. I really dont know what the moslems are up to but its really bad. At the moment we can not come out. They have barricaded the seminary and who knows what their next plan of action is?...

Here is a recent news report Riots 'kill hundreds in Nigeria'

Recent Holy Souls Newsletter

Friends of the Holy Souls

The following is from the November issue.

Purgatory Is Necessary Purification

Following John Paul II’s catecheses on Heaven and Hell, the Holy Father reflected on Purgatory.

For those who find themselves in a condition of being open to God, but still imperfectly, the journey towards full beatitude requires a purification, which the faith of the Church illustrates in the doctrine of "Purgatory" (cf. Catechism of the Catholic Church, n. 1030-1032).

Before we enter into full communion with God, every trace of sin within us must be eliminated and every imperfection in our soul must be corrected. To share in divine life we must be totally purified.

Every trace of attachment to evil must be eliminated, every imperfection of the soul corrected. Purification must be complete, and indeed this is precisely what is meant by the Church's teaching on Purgatory.

Those, in fact, who find themselves in the state of purification are united both with the blessed who already enjoy the fullness of eternal life, and with us on this earth on our way towards the Father's house.

Just as in their earthly life believers are united in the one Mystical Body, so after death those who live in a state of purification experience the same ecclesial solidarity which works through prayer, prayers for suffrage and love for their other brothers and sisters in the faith. Purification is lived in the essential bond created between those who live in this world and those who enjoy eternal beatitude.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

GREGORIAN MASSES

There is perhaps no better way to let our loved ones - living and deceased - know that we are thinking of them than to celebrate the Eucharist in their name. The sacrifice of the Mass consists in the offering of the Body and Blood of Christ to God the Father. During the Consecration the Body and Blood of Christ become present on the Altar and available for us to offer them to God.

There are three different ways in which you can ensure that a loved one is remembered: Mass Offering, Spiritual Association Perpetual Membership and Gregorian Masses.

Gregorian Masses are a series of thirty Masses offered up on thirty consecutive days for the repose of a particular person in Purgatory. It is based on a tradition started by Pope St. Gregory the Great who saw the soul of one of his friends released from Purgatory after the 30th mass.

The Sacred Congregation of Indulgences has declared that "the offering of thirty Gregorian Masses has a special efficacy for obtaining from the Divine Goodness and Mercy the deliverance of a suffering soul, and is a pious and reasonable belief of the Faithful" (Rescript, 1884).

We can still give a deceased friend or relative a Christmas gift—the gift of a mass for delivery of their soul.

(if any of you are interested in having Gregorian Masses said for a loved one, please contact us and we will give be able to set up the masses for you.

News From the Central Office

Bob and I wish to thank all of you who sent us get well cards, masses and prayers. I am sure they all did wonders as I am now at home after 5 months in the hospital. You will remain in our prayers.

Since Christmas will be here soon remember to have said a mass or an extra rosary as a gift to your loved deceased ones.

Remember to pray for all those enrolled in the Golden Book. If you include them in your prayers it may help shorten their purgatory. You may not know them now but you will meet them in Heaven. We have received all your emails and letters with names for the Golden Book and have enrolled them all.

We also wish to thank those who have sent donations so we can continue with Friends of the Poor Souls.

The Story of St Lidwina
and the Sins of Lust not Expiated

St Lidwina saw in Purgatory a soul that suffered also for mortal sins not sufficiently expiated on earth. The incident is thus related in the Life of the saint.

A man who had been for a long time a slave of the demon of impurity, finally had the happiness of being converted. He confessed his sins with great contrition, but, prevented by death, he had not time to atone by just penance for his numerous sins. Lidwina, who knew him well, prayed much for him.

Twelve years after his death she continued to pray, when, in one of her ecstasies, being taken into Purgatory by her angel-guardian, she heard a mournful voice issuing from a deep pit.

"It is the soul of that man" said the angel, "for whom you have prayed with much fervour and constancy." She was astonished to see him so deep in Purgatory twelve years after his death. The angel, seeing her so greatly affected, asked if she was willing to suffer something for his deliverance. "With all my heart," replied the charitable maiden.

From that moment she suffered new pains and frightful torments, which appeared to surpass the strength of human endurance. Nevertheless, she bore them with courage, sustained by a charity stronger than death, until it pleased God to send her relief.

She then breathed as one restored to a new life, and, at the same time, she saw that soul for which she had suffered so much come forth from the abyss as white as snow and take its flight to Heaven.

Taken from: Purgatory Explained (pp 89-90)

Authored by: Father F.X. Shouppe, S.J.

Please keep Mary Ann and Bob in your prayers.

Christmas Carol Karaoke on YouTube

Shared by my friend Becca.

Christmas Carol Karaoke

Family Advent Wreath and Helping Christians in the Holy Land

This will be our little sacred space during the Advent Season. In the center of the wreath is the small statue of Jesus at the Garden of Gethsemane. It is made of olive wood from the Holy Land. In the center is a tiny well for Holy Water.

The proceeds are going to help the dwindling number of Christians still living in the Holy Land. It is sad to hear how the churches will soon be empty and will be turned into marketplaces if we don't help them now that tourism is down.

If your church offers the sale of these items as they did in our church today and my mom's church in New Jersey, please consider purchasing one of these lovely works of art and at the same time, help a fellow Christian in need.

First Sunday of Advent

Picture of the Advent Wreath Sacred Hearts Church, Punahou

"Lord, your mother Mary could never have expected or planned the way in which you came to her and to the world. Open my heart that I may welcme you in my life in the way you choose. Become flesh in the world through em, as you did through Mary.

- The Magnificat Advent Companion.