December

For those who pray for souls to return

 to the Catholic Faith,

 and for conversion of sinners 

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened to you."  Matthew 7:7

Remember to continue to ask until you receive, to continue to seek until you find, and continue to knock until the door is opened.  Do not grow weary in asking, seeking or knocking.  Advent is a time of waiting for His coming, to strengthen you to persevere.

God, you reward those who bring their loved ones to you in faith.

From the Magnificat, December 2007:

Luke 5: 17-26, and Isaiah 35: 1-10.

Jesus heals the paralytic because He saw the faith of those who lowered him through the roof. 

In their own hearts they have seen "the glory of the Lord", and that is why they are so eager to make firm, knees that are weak and to say to their frightened friend, "Be strong, fear not!  Here is your God."

Advent calls us to be such a friend "for those with a journey to make".

HOW CAN WE BRING THEM TO JESUS?

Today we see young mothers bring their infants and toddlers to the altar to be blessed by the priest when they receive Communion.  So, too, can we bring to the altar those we are praying to return to the Catholic Faith and return to union with us, their family. 

          We can do this in many ways: by reciting the St. Monica Sodality Prayer every day, by reciting the Rosary and the Divine Mercy Chaplet for their intention, by writing their names on the petitions slips found at the Petition Box in the hallway.  We can also attend the monthly Mass where our petition slips will be placed in a covered album and brought to the altar during the Mass which is offered for the intention of the St. Monica Sodality.  And, when possible, we can ask them to attend Mass with us.

Mass is at the Assumption Grotto Shrine, January 5, 4:00 pm

 Mass at Ss. Cyril & Methodius Roman Catholic Slovak Church January 27, 1:30 pm
 

The Holy Mass is the most powerful prayer this side of Heaven because our prayers are united to the offering of Jesus, to His Father and our Father.

WHO CAN WE BRING TO JESUS?

Jesus healed the paralytic because He saw the faith of those who brought him.  We assume they are his friends, but they could easily have been family, or even strangers who took pity on him. 

          At first, we generally ask the intercession of St. Monica and St. Augustine for a person we love most dearly.  Soon, we begin to pray for family members, friends, co-workers, and neighbors.  And each time we pray the St. Monica Sodality Prayer, we are also praying for total strangers on whom we take pity because we know their only true happiness is to be united with God, the Catholic Church and their loved ones who are also praying the St. Monica Sodality Prayer.          

God creates us out of love, we return His love in our acts of mercy.  Each act offered for love of another strengthens us to persevere and increases the depth of our love.

HOW CAN WE PREPARE OURSELVES TO RECEIVE JESUS?

Traditionally, the month of December is dedicated to

the Divine Infancy of Jesus.  And the virtue is Union.

Union of persons is agreement of mind and heart and will with the one it loves.  Supernaturally it is union of the soul with God.  In growth in the spiritual life, it is the last stage of sanctity which follows the purgative and illuminative way.  In it one is constantly aware of God's presence, and becomes habitually conformed to the will of God.  

This beautiful prayer from the Blue Army can be used during Advent as an efficacious preparation for Christmas:

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.

Also, this short Novena may be said December 16 to December 25:

O sweet little Lord Jesus, Prince of Peace, born in a stable for love of us, please help me to make my heart ready for Your coming.  O holy, happy Mary, Mother of God, pray to your little Son for me.  Ask Him to bless us all. 

Amen.                            

"The more God wishes to bestow on us,

the more does He make us desire." 

St. John of the Cross