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Rorate Mass & Gaudete Sunday

December 12, 2021 by Lena {JOYfilledfamily} Filed Under: 12 December, Advent, Rorate, The Church’s Year, The Liturgical Year, Third Sunday in Advent Leave a Comment

There is no exercise which is more pleasing to God, or more meritorious, or which has greater influence in infusing solid piety into the soul, than the assisting at the holy sacrifice of the Mass. If this be true at all the various seasons of the Christian year, it is so, in a very special manner, during the holy time of Advent. The faithful, therefore, should make every effort in order to enjoy this precious blessing, even on those days when they are not obliged to it by the precept of the Church. #domprospergueranger

The Rorate Mass offered at our Parish the First Saturday of Advent in 2021

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The beauty and austerity of the morning can not be put into words. The senses are drawn in more than ever before.

Some years we all go and other times one of us stays behind with the littles.

We wake up at 3am to prepare for this Holy Mass and depart at 4:30am, arriving before the gates open.

We remind the children about the darkness that we will be surrounded with in the Church, the world, and that which is placed before us for this Holy Mass. We impress the necessity for us to trust in the maternal love of Our Lady for all our needs as we prepare for Holy Mass.

Holy Mass begins and all the worries fade. The darkness is almost unnoticeable as all the senses are drawn into the true light. It’s all a beautiful preparation for the Christchild.

Divine Infant King Jesus, come down into our hearts! 🙏🏼

The following Advent reflection is one worth reading for all.

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Everyone who acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father.
—Mt. 10:32

Meditation

Our Lord may be the occasion of fall in different ways and notably by human respect. As the name indicates, human respect is the respect of man, but an exaggerated respect, a respect which leads us to renounce doing good to our neighbor by fear of displeasing him.

This subject is especially pertinent insofar as Catholics today are easily singled out and ridiculed.

The desire which we have of pleasing men and the exaggerated fear which we have of displeasing them can make us not dare to bear witness to our Faith. As Bourdaloue says, “We are ashamed to declare ourselves [Christians] and we do not see that this shame is in itself more shameful than the declaration we would have to make. A word, a mockery troubles us, and we do not consider by what or by whom we are letting ourselves be troubled. By what? Since there is nothing more frivolous than mockery when it is attacking virtue. By whom? Since it is by vain men whose blame or approval ought to matter to us but little.”

Under pretext of not shocking people, we may be leaving them in their mediocrity. Human respect puts a muzzle on us and prevents us from being apostles.

Let us acknowledge that this excessive timidity is unworthy of a Catholic and let us strive to make up for it in the future.

Lord Jesus, give me the grace to overcome human respect when Thy honor is at stake. I wish from now on to defend the Catholic Faith, with humility and prudence but also with strength and constancy.

Prayer

O Jesus, who left the imprint of Thy holy Face on the veil of St. Veronica, deign so to imprint Thy features on my soul that, fortified by the courage of this holy woman, never again may I let myself be drawn down by cowardly human respect.
—Way of the Cross, 6th station
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This meditation is taken from #adventtoepiphany

I pray that your Advent has been fruitful thus far and that you have a blessed Gaudete Sunday. 💜💗

Second Sunday in Advent

Third Sunday in Advent

Let us enter into her spirit, and be glad on this third Sunday of her Advent, because our Lord is now so near unto us. Tomorrow we will resume our attitude of servants mourning for the absence of their Lord and waiting for Him; for every delay, however short, is painful and makes love sad.

The Station is kept in the basilica of St. Peter, at the Vatican. This august temple, which contains the tomb of the prince of the apostles, is the home and refuge of all the faithful of the world; it is but natural that it should be chosen to witness both the joy and the sadness of the Church.

The Night Office commences with a new Invitatory. The voice of the Church no longer invites the faithful to come and adore in fear and trembling the King, our Lord, who is to come. Her language assumes another character; her tone is one of gladness; and now, every day, until the Vigil of Christmas, she begins her Nocturns with these grand words:

The Lord is now nigh; come, let us adore. #domprospergueranger

A Young Man’s Patron

December 8, 2021 by Lena {JOYfilledfamily} Filed Under: 12 December Saints, Advent, Patron Saint, St. Ambrose Leave a Comment

Today we celebrate a patronal feast of our oldest son — one which he chose for himself.

Our son at his Confirmation with the announcement of his new patron, Ambrosi. 3.16.19

Powerful would be an understatement. I can’t begin to articulate the weight of knowing that your child was specifically called to a saint after great discernment.

What is God calling him to?

That’s the question that I no longer ask. I merely entrust my children to Our Blessed Mother & their patrons, pray for their protection, and ask that they cooperate with all God’s grace.

St. Ambrose, ora pro nobis!

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Remove our prejudices, O you great lover of truth! and crush within us those time-serving and unwise theories, which tend to make us Christians forget that Jesus is the King of this world, and look on the law, which equally protects error and truth, as the perfection of modern systems.

May we understand that the rights of the Son of God and his Church do not cease to exist, because the world ceases to acknowledge them; that to give the same protection to the true religion and to those false doctrines, which men have set up in opposition to the teaching of the Church, is to deny that all power has been given to Jesus in heaven and on earth; that those scourges which periodically come upon the world are the lessons which Jesus gives to those who trample on the Rights of his Church, Rights which he so justly acquired by dying on the Cross for all mankind; that, finally, though it be out of our power to restore those Rights to people that have had the misfortune to resign them, yet it is our duty, under pain of being accomplices with those who would not have Jesus reign over them, to acknowledge that they are the Rights of the Church.

And lastly, dear Saint, in the midst of the dark clouds which lower over the world, console our holy Mother the Church, who is now but a stranger and pilgrim amid those nations which were her children, but have now denied her. ➕

A car selfie of with my son after his braces were removed on 11.21.

Practical Considerations from Father Francis Xavier Weninger, 1871

• Remember the words of Saint Ambrose: “In too much eating many have found their death; but none in fasting.” Heed this sentence well; especially if you belong to those poor and deluded beings who imagine that the fasts, ordained by the Church, are injurious to health. Even the word of God assures us, that many have shortened their lives by intemperance in eating and drinking, and the experience of almost every day is another overwhelming evidence of this fact. But where can you point out to me any one who shortened his life, by observing the fasts ordained by the Church? The word of God assures us that those who are temperate in eating and drinking, prolong their lives. Whom do you believe, the word of God, or the evil Spirit, who, through the mouth of the free-thinkers, the heretics, or of those wicked persons, whose life makes them despicable, says, that fasting and abstaining is hurtful to man, that it is the cause of many infirmities and that it shortens life. The true Church, by whose mouth God speaks, prays: “O Lord, who, by holy fasting and abstinence, dost help both soul and body:” which means: curest soul and body as by a remedy. I believe in this prayer, and with me all those who are true Catholic Christians.

• “I fear not to die, because we have a merciful Lord,” says Saint Ambrose. So it is; we have a merciful, a most kind Lord. All who endeavor to serve Him faithfully during their life, can and may comfort themselves with the thought of the divine mercy in their last hour. Satan sometimes tries to frighten and drive to despondency even pious souls, but recollecting that they have served the Lord rightly, and confessed their sins, they ought not to listen to the Evil One; but, contemplating the infinite mercy of God, comfort themselves and say: “We have a merciful Lord.” In Him will I trust; He will not forsake me. But those who during their life, have abused the divine goodness in order to be more wicked; who sinned because God, so infinitely good and merciful, would forgive them; these, I say, have reason to fear the temptations of Satan in their last hour; for, he generally comes then to throw us into gloom and despair by representing the severity , of the divine Justice. Take care not to be of the number of these unhappy people. Serve God faithfully during your life; do not offend Him: and if you have done wrong, do penance and seek to regain the grace of the Almighty. In this manner, you will be able to comfort yourself on your death-bed with the thought of His goodness, and say: “I have a merciful God; in Him will I trust.” Exercise yourself today in this hope, and say with King David: “The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear? The Lord is the protector of my life, of whom shall I be afraid? If armies in camp should stand together against me, my heart shall not fear. Turn not away thy face from me. Be you my helper, forsake me not, do not you despise me, O God, my Saviour!” (Psalm 26) And again: “I cried to thee, O Lord, I said: you art my hope, my portion in the land of the living.” (Psalm 141)

Saint Nicholas

December 6, 2021 by Lena {JOYfilledfamily} Filed Under: 12 December Saints, Advent, St. Nicholas Leave a Comment

So many stories surround this beloved saint.

We read from a few different sources. The following hymn from the Roman Breviary sums it all so simply.

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Tell, O my tongue,
the praise of the pontiff Nicholas;
that so the sovereign Adonai,
the King and Father of all creatures,
may grant us to be brought by his Son,
to the port of salvation.

When yet a babe at his mother’s breast,
he took it but once
on each fourth and sixth feria,
nor would the child
break his fast
by one drop of milk.

Elevated to the dignity of pontiff,
Nicholas so abundantly
gave to all men the dew of piety,
that scarce could any age
find a better
or so good a pastor.

He gives his gold to secure virgins their treasure;
he distributes corn to the people in a famine;
he brings up from the depths of the sea a vase
that had fallen in;
he brings help to mariners
who were well nigh to shipwreck.

He brings to life a dead man
who had committed a theft;
the Jew is baptized and recovers
what had been stolen from him;
the one is restored to life;
the other is brought to the faith.

Nicholas! thou fair gem,
and honour, and glory of the priesthood!
help by thy gracious intercession
the whole people, the whole clergy;
that their minds, and hands, and lips,
may pay their tribute to our God.

Praise, power, and triumph,
to the most high Trinity!
May it give us to come, after this life,
with our laurel wreaths upon us,
to the joys which Nicholas the blessed
possesses in our country of heaven.

Amen

This year’s books:

These are all books that we already have in our homes library but they are new to littles so we gifted them their own copies. The story books are new to the Family Advent Library.

These titles are all (family) requirements for our older children.

Saint Nicholas

December 6, 2021 by Lena {JOYfilledfamily} Filed Under: 12 December Saints, Advent, St. Nicholas Leave a Comment

So many stories surround this beloved saint.

We read from a few different sources. The following hymn from the Roman Breviary sums it all so simply.

➕

Tell, O my tongue,
the praise of the pontiff Nicholas;
that so the sovereign Adonai,
the King and Father of all creatures,
may grant us to be brought by his Son,
to the port of salvation.

When yet a babe at his mother’s breast,
he took it but once
on each fourth and sixth feria,
nor would the child
break his fast
by one drop of milk.

Elevated to the dignity of pontiff,
Nicholas so abundantly
gave to all men the dew of piety,
that scarce could any age
find a better
or so good a pastor.

He brings to life a dead man
who had committed a theft;
the Jew is baptized and recovers
what had been stolen from him;
the one is restored to life;
the other is brought to the faith.

Amen

This year’s books:

St. Francis Xavier

December 6, 2021 by Lena {JOYfilledfamily} Filed Under: 12 December Saints, St. Francis Xavier, The Liturgical Year Leave a Comment

“The life & apostolate of St. Francis Xavier were a great triumph for our mother the holy Catholic Church; for he came just at a period when heresy, encouraged by false learning, by political intrigues, by covetousness, and by all the wicked passions of the human heart, seemed on the eve of victory.

Emboldened by all these, this enemy of God spoke, with the deepest contempt, of that ancient Church which rested on the promises of Jesus Christ; it declared that she was unworthy of the confidence of men, and dared even to call her the harlot of Babylon, as though the vices of her children could taint the purity of the mother.

God’s time came at last, and He showed Himself in His power…Heroes and heroines issued from that apparent barrenness; and whilst the pretended reformers showed themselves to be the most wicked of men, two countries, Italy & Spain, gave to the world the most magnificent saints.

A this time (16th Century) a society of apostles was offering itself to the Roman Pontiff, that he might send them to plant the true faith among people who were sitting in the thickest shades of death.

Not one of these holy men so closely imitated the first apostles as did Francis, the disciple of Ignatius. He had all the marks and labours of an apostle: an immense world of people evangelized by his zeal, hundreds of thousands of infidels baptized by his indefatigable ministration, and miracles of every kind, which proved him, to the infidel, to be marked with the sign which they received who, living in the flesh, planted the Church, as the Church speaks in her liturgy.

May our Lord Jesus be forever praised for having vindicated the honour of the Church, His bride, by raising up Francis Xavier, and giving to men, in this His servant, a representation of what the first apostles were, whom He sent to preach the Gospel when the whole world was pagan.” #domprospergueranger

He would most likely be accused by many today for lacking charity in his speech.

They would be wrong. The saints did not use the honeyed language of the false ecumenism that is prevalent in today’s Church.

The words of St. Francis Xavier shows us what a true Catholic apostle should be like.

May St. Francis Xavier & Our Lady grant us the courage, until we die, to use this language.

Advent Resolutions

December 1, 2021 by Lena {JOYfilledfamily} Filed Under: Advent Leave a Comment

Advent is traditionally observed as a “mini-Lent.” We make Advent plans which include various spiritual resolutions, similar to Lent.

Our children also make their own resolutions. This year, my little boys had assistance from a beloved Sister.

Our church’s nativity — waiting for the Christ Child

They mediated on the Nativity and all present. Then the following list was shared with them to help them decide which spiritual resolution they would make this Advent.

We loved it so much that we shared it with all of our children and we want to share it with you.

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ADVENT RESOLUTIONS – Who will you work to be like this Advent, in preparation for the Christ Child?

• Lamb – silence, no arguing or fighting, patience
• Ox – diligence, working hard and carefully
• Shepherds – piety
• Wisemen – purity of intention
• St. Joseph – obedience

After their spiritual resolution was set, they took it before our crèche for veneration as they will do daily through Advent — to help them recall why they are working on these areas and ask for the grace. 🙏🏼

💜 Have you set your resolutions?

I’m actually still working on refining my resolutions and my husband is still guiding our older children to help them discern their Advent plans. Our goal is to have all of our plans solidified by the First Friday in Advent. But it’s never too late! 💜➕🙏🏼

Thursday of the First Week of Advent

December 1, 2021 by Lena {JOYfilledfamily} Filed Under: Advent, First Week of Advent, Thursday of the First Week of Advent Leave a Comment

Regem venturum Dominum, venite, adoremus. Come, let us adore the King, our Lord, who is to come.

From the Prophet Isaias.

Ch. v.

Cantabo dilecto meo canticum patruelis mei vineæ suæ. Vinea facta est dilecto meo in cornu filio olei. Et sepivit eam, et lapides elegit ex illa, et plantavit eam electam; et aedificavit turrim in medio ejus, et torcular exstruxit in ea; et exspectavit ut faceret uvas, et fecit labruscas. Nunc ergo, habitatores Jerusalem et viri Juda, judicate inter me et vineam meam. Quid est quod debui ultra facere vineæ meæ, et non feci ei? an quod exspectavi ut faceret uvas, et fecit labruscas? Et nunc ostendam vobis quid ego faciam vineæ meæ: auferam sepem ejus, et erit in direptionem; diruam maceriam ejus, et erit in conculcationem. Et ponam eam desertam; non putabitur et non fodietur: et ascendent vepres et spinæ, et nubibus mandabo ne pluant super eam imbrem. Vinea enim Domini exercituum domus Israel est; et vir Juda germen ejus delectabile: et exspectavi ut faceret judicium, et ecce iniquitas; et justitiam, et ecce clamor.

I will sing to my beloved the canticle of my cousin concerning his vineyard. My beloved had a vineyard on a hill in a fruitful place. And he fenced it in, and picked the stones out of it, and planted it with the choicest vines, and built a tower in the midst thereof, and set up a winepress therein: and he looked that it should bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes. And now, O ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and ye men of Juda, judge between me and my vineyard. What is there that I ought to do more to my vineyard, that I have not done to it? And now I will shew you what I will do to my vineyard. I will take away the hedge thereof, and it shall be wasted: I will break down the wall thereof, and it shall be trodden down. And I will make it desolate: it shall not be pruned, and it shall not be digged: but briers and thorns shall come up: and I will command the clouds to rain no rain upon it. For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel: and the man of Juda, his pleasant plant: and I looked that he should do judgment, and behold iniquity: and do justice, and behold a cry.

We are awaiting the Birth of a Child who is to appear seven hundred years after the time of Isaias; and this Child will be the world’s Savior.

Men will persecute him, load him with calumnies and injuries and, but a few hours before they crucify him, they shall hear this parable from his lips: There was a man, a householder, who planted a vineyard, and made a hedge round about it, and dug in it a press, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen; and went into a strange country. And when the time of the fruits drew nigh, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, that they might receive the fruits thereof.

And the husbandmen laying hands on his servants, beat one and killed another, and stoned another. Again he sent other servants more than the former; and they did to them in like manner. And last of all he sent to them his son, saying: They will reverence my son.

See, Christians, this Son is coming to you. Will you reverence him? Will you treat him as the Son of God, with that honor and love which are due to him? Take notice of the wickedness of men; it has a progress in malice. In the days of Isaias, the Jews despised the Prophets; but the Prophets, though sent by God, were only men. The Son of God came, and they would not acknowledge him; a far greater crime, assuredly, than to stone the Prophets.

What, then, would be the crime of Christians, who not only acknowledge him who is now coming to them, but are his members by Baptism, if they will not open their hearts to this Messias, whom the Father is sending into the vineyard? What punishment would not the ungrateful vine deserve, planted, as it has been, with so much love, should it persist in yielding nothing but bitter fruit?

Ah, dear Jesus! let not this be: make us generous: make us produce abundant flower and fruit for the day of thy Coming, which is so near at hand.

Prayer of the Churches of France During Advent

(Taken from the Prophet Isaias)

Rorate, cœli, desuper, et nubes pluant Justum.