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Childermas

by Filed Under: 12 December, 12 December Saints, Holy Innocents 2 Comments

innocentsDuccio

reposted & updated from 2010

HOLY INNOCENTS
Martyrs

Within the Octave of Christmas

DOUBLE, SECOND CLASS / PURPLE
There is mixed joy and sorrow in the feast of the innocent victims of the first persecution. The Church rejoices at the spiritual victory of the young witnesses to Christ. The purple vestments of the Mass denote the Church’s common grief with the mothers of Bethlehem, who saw their babies massacred by the jealousy of Herod.

Triumph of the Innocents, by William Holman Hunt, 1883-4

While it is easy to get lost in the nightmare of what happened to the Innocents, it’s to be remembered that they ultimately triumphed! They are Saints of God, as this painting by William Holman Hunt shows. The Innocents are seen with the Holy Family, in spirit, during the Family’s Flight to Egypt. ~ Fisheaters

RESOURCES:

Let us pray. O Lord Jesus Christ, once You embraced and placed Your hands upon the little children who came to You, and said: “Suffer the little children to come unto Me, and forbid them not, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven, and their angels always see the face of my Father!” Look now with fatherly eyes on the innocence of these children and their parents’ devotion, and bless them this day through our ministry. (The father signs the forehead of each child with the sign of the cross.) In Your grace and goodness let them advance continually, longing for You, loving You, fearing You, keeping Your commandments. Then they will surely come to their destined home, through You, Savior of the world. Who lives and reigns forever and ever. ~ Blessing of Children on Holy Innocents

May God bless you, and may He be the Guardian of your heart and mind —  In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti. Amen.

Rorate Mass

by Filed Under: 12 December, Advent, Marian, Rorate

 

The "Rorate Mass," so called because it begins with the words of Isaiah 45:8,  "Rorate caeli desuper, et nubes pluant iustum…" (Drop down dew, ye heavens, from above, and let the clouds rain the Just One…), is a votive Mass offered within the season of Advent in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Celebrated by candlelight, and traditionally held before dawn.

As the Mass ends the sky is just starting to glow with the new day and we journey from darkness to light and the coming of the Word Made Flesh in the womb of the Virgin Mother is upon us.

mass for our lady in advent

Will we be the darkness who receive Him not or will we be children of the light?

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Resources:

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Santa Lucia

by Filed Under: 12 December, 12 December Saints, St. Lucia, St. Lucy Leave a Comment

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Saint Lucy
Virgin and Martyr

Feast – December 13

Lucy, patron of Sicily, and one of the saints of the Canon of the Mass, was martyred at Syracuse in the persecution of Diocletian about the year 304. The legend of her martyrdom says that she was denounced as a Christian by a rejected suitor. Refusing to apostatize, she was condemned to a brothel, but a mysterious force prevented the persecutors from moving her from the tribunal. After an unsuccessful attempt had been made to burn her to death, her neck was pierced with a dagger.

 

 

 

Prayer in Honor of St. Lucy

O God, our Creator and Redeemer, Mercifully hear our prayers that a we venerate Thy servant, St. Lucy, for the light of faith Thou didst bestow upon her, Thou wouldst vouchsafe to increase and to preserve this same light in our souls, that we may be able to avoid evil, to do good and to abhor nothing so much as the blindness and the darkness of evil and of sin.

Relying on Thy goodness, O God, we humbly ask Thee, by the intercession of Thy servant, St. Lucy that Thou wouldst give perfect vision to our eyes, that they may serve for Thy greater honor and glory, and for the salvation of our souls in this world, that we may come to the enjoyment of the unfailing light of the Lamb of God in paradise.

St. Lucy, virgin and martyr, hear our prayer and obtain our petitions.

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 santa lucia feast day treat

This year’s St. Lucy’s treat is a far stretch from that of last year’s feast day.  It’s the result of parents feeling guilty that we have been “treatless” for many of he feast days this year.  It’s what results when we return home at 10:30 pm the previous night from Mass & celebrations for Our Lady of Guadalupe.  It’s us (as parents) making the best of our recent crosses and taking advantage of a good deal – Krispy Kreme offering free dozen donuts on 12.12.12.  ALL FOR!

krispy kreme ~~~

Resources:

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Sparkles, the youngest girl in the family, served up the morning treat.

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2012 Santa Lucia Day Link-Up

O Antiphons

by Filed Under: 12 December, Advent, Christmas, O Antiphons Leave a Comment

The O Antiphons are short prayers sung before and after the Magnificat(Luke 1:46-55).

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17 Dec. O Sapientia – Wisdom

O Sapientia, quae ex ore Altissimi prodidisti, attingens a fine usque ad finem, fortiter suaviter disponensque omnia: veni ad docendum nos viam prudentiae.

O Wisdom, who came from the mouth of the Most High, reaching from end to end and ordering all things mightily and sweetly: come, and teach us the way of prudence.

18 Dec. O Adonai – Lord

O Adonai, et Dux domus Israel, qui Moysi in igne flammae rubi apparuisti, et ei in Sina legem dedisti: veni ad redimendum nos in brachio extento..

O Lord and Ruler the house of Israel, who appeared to Moses in the flame of the burning bush and gave him the law on Sinai: come, and redeem us with outstretched arms.

19 Dec. O Radix Jesse – Root

O Radix Jesse, qui stas in signum populorum, super quem continebunt reges os suum, quem gentes deprecabuntur: veni ad liberandum nos, iam noli tardare.

O Root of Jesse, that stands for an ensign of the people, before whom the kings keep silence and unto whom the Gentiles shall make supplication: come, to deliver us, and tarry not.

20 Dec. O Clavis David – Key

O clavis David, et sceptrum domus Israel: qui aperis, et nemo claudit; claudis, et nemo aperit: veni, et educ vinctum de domo carceris, sedentem in tenebris.

O Key of David, and scepter of the house of Israel, who opens and no man shuts, who shuts and no man opens: come, and lead forth the captive who sits in the shadows from his prison.

21 Dec. O Oriens – Dawn

O Oriens, splendor lucis aeternae, et sol iustitiae: veni, et illumina sedentes in tenebris et umbra mortis.

O dawn of the east, brightness of light eternal, and sun of justice: come, and enlighten those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death.

22 Dec. O Rex Gentium – King

O Rex gentium, et desideratus earum, lapisque angularis, qui facis utraque unum: veni, et salva hominem, quem de limo formasti.

O King of the gentiles and their desired One, the cornerstone that makes both one: come, and deliver man, whom you formed out of the dust of the earth.

23 Dec. O Emmanuel – Emmanuel

O Emmanuel, Rex et legifer noster, exspectatio gentium, et Salvator earum: veni ad salvandum nos Domine Deus noster.

O Emmanuel, God with us, our King and lawgiver, the expected of the nations and their Savior: come to save us, O Lord our God.

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Ero Cras

Take the first letters of each of the titles, starting with the last and working back to the first. You spell: EROCRAS or “ero cras… I will be (there) tomorrow”.

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Titles and Prayer Requests
Meditation Notes on the “O Antiphons” – Father Roger J. Landry
  • O Sapientia — Teach us the way of prudence
  • O Adonai et Dux — Come to redeem us with arm outstretched
  • O radix Iesse — Come to free us without delay
  • O clavis David — Free us from prison of darkness & shadow of death
  • O oriens — Illumine those sitting in darkness & the shadow of death
  • O Rex gentium — Save man whom you formed from the dust
  • O Emmanuel — Come to save us

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Resources:

O Antiphons Playlist

Holy Family of Nazareth

by Filed Under: 12 December, Advent, Holy Family, Mother Teresa of Calcutta, Prayer 2 Comments

Journey to Bethlehem

The Journey to Bethlehem is a fairly new tradition for us, we started about three years ago.  The journey helps to put all of our senses on the coming of the Messiah.  There are feelings of apprehension, anxiety, anticipation, fear, inspiration, faith, sense of family, love, thankfulness, amazement,  and JOY.

We all walk away feeling a little closer to the Holy Family and Christ, knowing that we’ve experienced a small part of what they may have experienced.  We pray that we grow closer to the Holy Family throughout the entire Holy Season and year – where love, peace and joy reign. 

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Journey To Bethlehem  is an interactive walking tour from the town of Nazareth to Bethlehem.  The journey recreates the events that happened on the evening of Christ’s birth.  The journey begins as you become a part of a family (about 30 people) making a trip to Bethlehem to pay their taxes and be counted under the law of the land.

The trip, which takes about 45 minutes, and is one mile in length, will provide you with a glimpse of the events of the times.  Your journey will start as you look at a map & speak with the mapmaker who will direct you on your journey.  Along the way you will meet with other families who are journeying to their birthplace.  You will talk with the shepherds who have a magnificent story to tell about a baby that has been born in Bethlehem, and meet the three wise men who also are seeking this child.

Your journey will be full of encounters with Roman Soldiers, both on horseback and in patrol teams.  They will order you, "Jews" to comply with Roman Law.


The mysterious appearance of an angel who announces the birth of Christ, and a visit to the Bethlehem marketplace will quicken your spirit and fill your senses.  The culmination of the trip finds you visiting the inn where there is no room for your family to sleep, and finally the stable where you will discover the Christ child, Mary and Joseph.

collage journey to bethlehemjourney to bethlehem 2011

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Mother Teresa’s Prayer for Families

Heavenly Father, you have given us the model of life in the Holy Family of Nazareth.  Help us, O Loving Father,to make our family another Nazareth where love, peace and joy reign.

Nativity-Bicci-di-Lorenzo-detail1-300x225
May it be deeply contemplative, intensely Eucharistic, revived with joy.  Help us to stay together in joy and sorrow in family prayer.

Teach us to see Jesus in the members of our families, especially in their distressing disguise. 

May the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus make our hearts humble like his and help us to carry out our family duties in a holy way.

May we love one another as God loves each one of us, more and more each day, and forgive each other’s faults as you forgive our sins.

Help us, O Loving Father, to take whatever you give and give whatever you take with a big smile.

Immaculate Heart of Mary, cause of our joy, pray for us. 
St. Joseph, pray for us.
Holy Guardian Angels, be always with us, guide and protect us.
Amen.

 

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{pretty, happy, funny, real}

~ Capturing the context of contentment in everyday life ~ Every Thursday, here at Like Mother, Like Daughter!

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