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LITURGY FOR THE WEEKEND
This weekend we celebrate the FIRST FRIDAY and FIRST SATURDAY of Advent and of the month. Friday is also the feast of a little-known Doctor of the Church Saint John of Damascus while Monday is the Feast of a much more well-known Doctor of the Church, the esteemed bishop Saint Ambrose. In between we observe the SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT which supersedes the traditional Feast of Saint Nicholas - the Christian precursor to our modern concept of "Santa Claus." For the liturgies, readings, meditations and vignettes on the above feasts for this time period, click on LITURGY
PRAYER & DEVOTIONS
For the special Novena Prayers for Friday, Saturday and Sunday for this time of preparation during Advent, click on ADVENT
Events this weekend in Church History
Sunday is the Feast of Saint Nicholas, the fourth century bishop from Turkey whose miraculous deeds became the stuff of legends and who, down through the centuries, was deemed the "gift giver" and whose name in German is Klaus; hence the derivation of "Santa Claus" and the paganization of a saint. For other time capsule events that happened in Church history on December 4th through December 6th, click on MILLENNIUM MILESTONES AND MEMORIES
PROVERB OF THE DAY
"Man's pride causes his humiliation, but he who is humble of spirit obtains honor." Proverbs 29: 23
November 25th Medjugorje Monthly Message
Dear children! Today I call you to prepare yourselves for the coming of Jesus. In a special way, prepare your hearts. May holy Confession be the first act of conversion for you and then, dear children, decide for holiness. May your conversion and decision for holiness begin today and not tomorrow. Little children, I call you all to the way of salvation and I desire to show you the way to Heaven. That is why, little children, be mine and decide with me for holiness. Little children, accept prayer with seriousness and pray, pray, pray. Thank you for having responded to my call.
To review past articles in textonly format, click on Archives.
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WORLDWIDE NEWS & VIEWS with a Catholic slant
provided by Catholic World News Service
HEADLINES:
Vatican to Israel: Enough already! All has been made known in the archives regarding the holocaust! It's time to move on!
The Vatican is exhausted from the constant barbs from Israel and Jewish interests who demand the Vatican open all the archives regarding the holocaust. Thursday the Holy See curtly responded with the facts that all archives have been exhausted regarding this and it's time to accept it and move on. In an attempt to put closure to this incendiary issue which the media has muddled so, the director of the Vatican press office Monsignor Joaquin Navarro-Valls challenged anyone to show proof that the Vatican has not produced the said archives. Basically he was telling them that what they are looking for doesn't exist and you cannot squeeze blood from a turnip. Whether the Israelis and media will accept that remains to be seen as both of those entities seek to lay the blame on someone, anyone they can. For more, click on Vatican response.
Senate could be backtracking on fetal-tissue ban, but bishops standing firm
The scientists are at it again. Give them an inch and they'll take a mile. Such is the case in their appeal to the US Senate this past week when they asked the congressmen to relax the ban on fetal-tissue. They claim that they need the fetal-tissue of a newly-aborted baby to further their research into finding cures for such common illnesses as diabetes, heart disease and Parkinson Disease to name a few. While they are pushing to save lives through these findings, they are promoting the idea of destroying lives with more abortions and the bishops won't have any of the doublespeak even though some senators are trying to rationalize that an exception can be made because of the nomenclature "organism" even though it raises even more ethical concerns. For more, click on Fetal-tissue ban
Spain going to the devil as Church and State officials strive to stem satanic activities
The Church in Spain estimates that a quarter of a million people in Spain are involved in satanic activities which include the Black Mass and human sacrifices. These numbers and the fact devil worship is so prominent throughout Europe and especially in Spain alarms all. A theologian from the Spanish bishops conference has evidence of human sacrifices and warns there could be more murders and suicides as satan seeks to gain more souls by this means. What bothers most is the fact that many of these satanic cults are protected by legal means which allows them to continue unabated. For more, click on satan invades Spain.
Conflict among churches at World Council of Churches could result in some moving closer to returning to True Church
Plenty of fireworks are expected as the World Council of churches opens its annual meeting, this year in Zimbabwe, Africa. The Orthodox churches lead the way in protesting the liberaliztion of most churches which includes ordination of women and acceptance of homosexuality. Many suspect a strong contingent of gay-rights activist will try to wrestle control of the convention to pass liberal laws that will benefit the homosexual lifestyle, something that cannot be accepted by anyone who professes loyalty to Jesus Christ. These issues could very well push the Orthodox churches and others toward ecumenism with the one Church who will have none of these heresies or aberrations against what Our Lord established: the Roman Catholic Church. It is just one more example of how God allows evil for good. For more, click on Council needs counseling
For more headlines and articles, we suggest you go to the Catholic World News site. CWN is not affiliated with the Daily CATHOLIC but provides this service via e-mail to the Daily CATHOLIC Monday through Friday.
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How many are sick and tired of how Advent and Christmas have been suppressed?
In this weekend's editorial, as we enter the second week of Advent and struggle with the flu bug that is flying around our area and schools, we set the record straight on what the season of Advent really means, lamenting the lack of knowledge among so many Catholics on why we prepare for the birth of Jesus at Christmas, which is also, little by little, being taken away by a "politically correct" society that have sold their soul to the devil. We cannot be influenced by this secular wave of materialism nor the Protestant's protests that the Blessed Virgin Mary was not Immaculately conceived nor ever-virgin. To this we say: Rubbish! God said it, the Church decreed it, that settles it! For this weekend's commentary During Advent the Spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak! , click on CATHOLIC PewPOINT.
A story to prompt us all to give more of ourselves during Advent and this coming Christmas
In her column this week, Sister Mary Lucy Astuto shares an inspiring story of brotherly love. On this week when we celebrate the 81st anniversary of the founding of Father Edward Flanagan's Boys Town for wayward boys and eventually girls as well, Sister brings us a heart-warming story about giving and thinking of others. She borrows from another web page to bring us a story that illustrates "it is more blessed to give than to receive." For Sister's column, It is more blessed to give , click on GETTING TO THE HEART OF THE MATTER
"All is to be fulfilled. All I have spoken from LaSalette to the present moment shall be completed."
Those words were conveyed by Blessed Virgin Mary to the Hidden Flower of the Immaculate Heart in mid-March of 1993 in her messages 302 and 303 in which Our Lady assures all that her time of visits are soon coming to a close and when that happens the cream will rise to the top among those of her faithful little ones who strive to live the messages amidst a whirlwind of temptations and lax morals where satan has twisted so much to deceive even her faithful ones including her beloved priest-sons who are influenced by public opinion rather than strict obedience to the Holy Father and all the Church teaches. She laments that when a priest falls, many others fall with him because of his influence as a shepherd of souls. She cautions all to be united in purpose and pray to the Holy Spirit for guidance during these dark times. For messages 302 and 303 from Our Lady, click on "I SOLEMNLY TELL YOU..."
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