This is the Fourth Day of Las Posadas, a Mexican tradition that originated in the 16th century in order to act out the birth of Jesus and the journey of Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem in search of a shelter so the Messiah could be brought into this world to save all mankind. This Nine-day Novena prepares us for and leads up to Christmas.

    O Root of Jesse, which standest for an ensign of the people, at Whom the kings shall shut their mouths, Whom the Gentiles shall seek, come to deliver us, do not tarry.

TUESDAY'S
LITURGY:

First Reading: Judges 13: 2-7, 24-25
Psalms: Psalm 71: 3-6, 16-17
Gospel Reading: Luke 1: 5-25

   Blessed Mother, the Baby stirs in your womb and you smile, knowing how near Heaven is to all the earth. You desired to share your joy with all, but kept silent, knowing the time had not yet come. Blessed Mother, through your intercession help us in these final days before the Feast of Christmas, to ponder in our hearts all of God's benevolence for us, and to proclaim proudly His Name and that we are His children in every aspect of our lives.

The DAILY WORD

"And the angel answered and said to him 'I am Gabriel, who stand in the presence of God; and I have been sent to speak to thee and to bring thee this good news.'"

Support Pro-Life and the DAILY CATHOLIC by signing-up with a Catholic Pro-Life Phone Company with GREAT RATES at PRO-LIFE COMMUNICATIONS
SUPPORT THE Artwork "I Knew You" by Shannon Wirrenga, Bismarck, ND. c 1998. All rights reserved

   We are grateful to the artist Shannon Wirrenga (701-255-7312) for permission to use the phenomenal and touching original painting above of Jesus smiling at a newborn babe full of life, a life that He allows. It is appropriately titled "I Knew You," taken from Jeremiah 1: 5. No entity, matter or energy can exist without God and He alone gives and takes life. Life is the most precious gift we have been given. That is why we dedicate this section to the Sanctity of Life for so few realize the treasures it holds from conception to the grave.

    Because the Pro-Life movement is so important to all Catholics, we are also very pleased to announce our association with PRO-LIFE COMMUNICATIONS, a telecommunications firm owned and operated by Joseph and Jane Dalton of St. Charles, Missouri. They are both devoted, staunch Catholics who have dedicated their lives to the Pro-Life cause for the sake of His little ones. We can't endorse their company and benefits enough. In addition, when you abandon AT&T, MCI, Sprint and all those others who contribute to abortion causes, you will not only be receiving better rates and people you can actually talk to rather than the ol' runaround, but for every person who signs up Pro-Life Communications will donate 100% of the net profits to help keep the DAILY CATHOLIC on line. It's a win-win-win situation that God richly blesses. It is not only a necessity to continue this ministry, but it's a necessity that every reader has the peace of mind of being with a phone company that is truly Pro-Life. We pray everyone will realize the need to make this commitment to help eradicate the culture of death.

    The elections are over, but the battle for life is not. We cannot give up the fight. Please continue to pray for the Sanctity of Life and pray for those pro-abort candidates who were elected that they will have a conversion of heart and recognize the evil of their ways. Remember, nothing is impossible with God. We encourage you to go to the Pro-Life links below to keep up to date on the great battle between life and death - the Sanctity of Life vs. the culture of death led by pro-abort candidates and those who would advance murder, immorality, sodomy, perjury, etc.

   Today is the 1,599th anniversary of the death of Pope Saint Anastasius I, the 39th successor of the Apostle Peter. He led the Church into the fifth century, having been elected on November 27, 399. During his two year pontificate he was renowned for resolving the schism between Rome and the Church in Antioch. Anastasius strenuously defended the moral teachings of the Church, fighting the followers of immoral practices who maintained that the Divinity of God was hidden in material things. Nothing could be further from the truth and he successfully suppressed the heresy. In addition it was St. Anastasius who decreed that priests would remain standing at the Gospel during the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. For other time capsule events that happened Today in Church history, see MILLENNIUM MILESTONES AND MEMORIES

Our conscience guides our behavior

   They say a picture is worth a thousand words, but the words of Bishop Fulton J. Sheen have been known to launch a thousand images in one's mind, one of the ways this late luminary did so much to evangelize the faith. Because of the urgency of the times and because few there are today who possess the wisdom, simplicity and insight than the late Archbishop who touched millions, we are bringing you daily gems from his writings. The good bishop makes it so simple that we have dubbed this daily series: "SIMPLY SHEEN".

"Two considerations are helpful in developing a good disposition. The first is to be mindful that a happy conscience makes a happy outlook on life, and an unhappy conscience makes us miserable on the inside and everyone else miserable on the outside. When our conscience bothers us, whether we admit it or not, we often try to justify it by correcting others, or by finding fault with them."

NOTE: We respectfully recognize and accept the final authority regarding apparitions, locutions and prophecies presently being reported around the world rests with the Holy See of Rome and the Magisterium of Holy Mother Church to whose judjment we humbly and obediently submit. For more Our Lady's message for November and more on Medjugorje, click on MEDJUGORJE AND MORE