THURSDAY

December 18, 1997     vol 8, no.55

Front Page of Today's Issue: To print out entire text of Today's issue, go to SECTION ONE and SECTION TWO

One Week until Christmas

      The true countdown to Christmas morning has begun as we scurry to complete all that is on our pre-Christmas itinerary. As we do, don't forget Advent is a time for preparation and in this final week of Advent, in order to worthily receive the Messiah in the Holy Eucharist at Holy Mass, we need to prepare our souls and cleanse our souls and hearts of any transgressions against God and our neighbors. The Sacrament of Penance is the perfect way to accomplish this and we remind you most parishes this week are offering extended hours for confession. Don't let this opportunity pass you by or there may be no room at the "Inn" - the everlasting Inn, when it's your time to check in. Today's capsule paragraphs on catechetical teaching of the Sarament of Reconciliation treats the effects of sin and how confession erases sin from our souls but we still need to pay for them - either here or in Purgatory. Click on CATECHISM CAPSULES

Mary and Joseph enroute...

      The Holy Couple had left Nazareth, enroute to Bethlehem on the dusty road. Mary must have been considerably uncomfortable as her due date drew near and riding atop the beast of burden couldn't have helped her constitution, but yet she persevered and prayed as Joseph kept steady sentinel at her side as we shuffled alongside. Perseverance and prayer are the essence of the messages imparted to the Hidden Flower of the Immaculate Heart with messages one hundred twelve, after one hundred eleven which the Hidden Flower depicts the interior vision she was given. Click on "I SOLEMNLY TELL YOU..."

The manger is empty, awaiting its Prize

      Meanwhile in Bethlehem, as the innkeepers readied rooms for the expected influx of overflow visitors to their city for tax recording, a small stable tucked within a cave at the foothill of the city, cast a winter shadow over the village as animals ate and slept in the tiny confines of their abode. There were no shepherds here, only bovine and sheep who fed from a trough called a manger, replenished with hay. In one week they would give this up as their gift to the new born babe in swaddling clothes, providing their meal as meagre mattress for the new-born King. But for now it remained empty, in much the same manner as hearts do today in the face of countless persecutions and politically correct agendas which downgrade and ridicule Holy Mother Church in the media and through the vehicle Hollywood controls. Sadly, many Catholics are playing an unknowing role in this tragedy by saying nothing. Like the oxen and the sheep, they only baah and nod, plodding on with their lives with nary a thought to God's Divine Will. In the twenty sixth installment of our on-going feature megaseries we address this and specific media attacks prejudiced against the Church in the nineties as well as the manipulation and fabrication of polls that paint a picture which is totally incorrect but, in their eyes, politically correct. For the thirteenth clarion call against the false prophets of the American Church entitled "Puffed-up pontificating pushes pc poison in pursuit of parting the power of Peter", click on WHERE IS HOLY MOTHER CHURCH HEADING AS WE NEAR THE MILLENNIUM?

Mary's journey necessitated her leaving her cousin Elizabeth, now occupied with her new-born son John

      After spending several months helping Elizabeth and bonding with her cousin, it couldn't have been easy for the Blessed Virgin to part company, but she knew that this glorious moment was near and, always complying with God's Will, she willingly undertook the journey with Joseph. As she inched along the road to Bethlehem her thoughts must have flashed back to Elizabeth's tiny baby who she held in her arms - the tiny infant Zacharia had called John - the same one who had leapt in the womb because Jesus was within Mary's womb. The two men would be reunited at the shores of the Jordan when John would baptize Jesus thirty years later. The beautiful sacrament of Baptism and the abuses that have taken place are the focus of today's Instructions handed down by the Holy See last month to rectify liturgical abuses and clarify for the laity and clergy their proper roles. We continue bringing you this entire document with the twentieth installment - Article 11 of Practical Provisions dealing with "The Minister of Baptism." Click on THE VICAR OF CHRIST SPEAKS

Starlight, Starbright - such a Star the world has never seen!

     From Moses until now there had never been a star so bright and poignant in the annals of astronomy. This mystical star, placed by the Almighty, signaled to all the arrival of the Messiah. In the east a small group of intellectual rulers, known as the Magi, knew in their hearts what the star meant. They saw it in the distance and made plans to travel in search of where it led. They did not know exactly what they would find, but they knew they would know when they found it. History records they did indeed find "It" - the grace of God in the person of the Son of God on Whom they lavished priceless gifts. As we near His birthday, let us all lavish the one gift we have - a total fiat to His Will through prayer and compliance to all His Church teaches. The Liturgy of the Mass helps us fulfill this. Following are today and tomorrow's liturgy and the third prayer of the nine day novena before Christmas. THIRD DAY OF CHRISTMAS NOVENA: "O Adonai, and Ruler of the house of Israel, Who didst appear unto Moses in the burning bush, and gavest him the law in Sinai, come to redeem us with an outstretched arm!" (Add an Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be) Click on LITURGY OF THE DAY

PRAYERS & DEVOTION


For the Advent Novena Prayer and all prayers up until today, click on ADVENT Novena Prayers

December 18, 1997

      St. Joseph, your work has brought barely enough income for you and Mary, and you have made what you can from your carpenter's shop to provide for the care of the Child Jesus. You see that Mary is in good health and you are relieved, yet you, too, desired to provide for her. Help us, St. Joseph, to realize that God is our Father and desires also to provide for us His children, if only we allow Him. By our obedience may we shun the wickedness of the world, all its glitter and false promises, and rely only on our Heavenly Father for our every need.

NEWS & VIEWS with a Catholic slant

HEADLINES:

Medjugorje Monthly Message for November 25th

    Dear children: Today I invite you to comprehend your Christian vocation. Little children, I led and am leading you through this time of grace, that you may become conscious of your Christian vocation. Holy martyrs died witnessing: I am a Christian and love God over everything. Little children, today also I invite you to rejoice and be joyful Christians, responsible and conscious that God called you in a special way to be joyfully extended hands toward those who do not believe, and that through the example of your life, they may receive faith and love for God. Therefore, pray, pray, pray that your heart may open and be sensitive for the Word of God. Thank you for having responded to my call!
For more on Medjugorje, Click on MEDJUGORJE

PROVERB OF THE DAY

"A newsmonger reveals secrets, but a trustworthy man keeps a confidence."

Proverbs 12: 13

For all other standard features, articles and columns, click on Archives

December 18, 1997 volume 8, no. 55         DAILY CATHOLIC

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December 1997