~ 2nd Week of Advent~

During the Advent season families should spend time together preparing for the approaching celebration of the birth of Christ. An Advent wreath can be a great focal point for family prayers and holiday celebrations.

We often miss Advent's power because these December weeks are full of secular Christmas parties and preparations for Christmas. Each year, the busyness of this season serves to distract us from having an Advent season that truly prepares us for the celebration of Christmas, with all its meaning.

Let us pray:
“Lord, the light I choose to let into my life today is based on my trust in you. It is a weak flame, but I so much desire that it dispel a bit more darkness today. Today, I just want to taste the longing I have for you as I go to the meeting this morning, carry out the responsibilities of my work, face the frustration of some difficult relationships. Let this candle be my reminder today of my hope in your coming.”

Come, Lord Jesus! Come and visit your people.
We await your coming. Come, O Lord.

This is the beginning of a new liturgical year:

The Advent liturgy opens with that great yearning cry of the prophets of Israel to the Messiah and Redeemer whose advent they awaited.
"Come!" God is not deaf to His people's cry.. Amen

Liturgical Month Features:

- December 3 - ST. FRANCIS XAVIER (M) read more...
- December 6 - St. Nichola read more...
- December 7 - ST. AMBROSE (M) read more...
- December 9 -
- THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY (S) read more...
- December 12 - OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE (F) read more...
- December 13 -ST. LUCY (M) read more...
- December 14 - ST. JOHN OF THE CROSS (M) read more...
- December 21 - St. Peter Canisius read more...
- December 24 - Vigil of the Nativity read more...
- December 25 - THE NATIVITY OF THE LORD read more...
- December 29 - THE HOLY FAMILY OF JESUS, MARY and JOSEPH (F) read more...

- January 01, 2013 - THE SOLEMNITY OF MARY, THE HOLY MOTHER OF GOD (S)
& World Day of Peace

- 1st Week of Advent (December 01 - December 07)
- 2nd Week of Advent (December 08 - December 14)
- 3rd Week of Advent (December 15 - December 21)
- 4th Week of Advent (December 22 - December 24)

*There are always four Sundays in Advent, though not necessarily four full weeks. The liturgical color of the season is violet or purple, except on the Third Sunday of Advent, called Gaudete or Rejoice Sunday, when optional rose vestments may be worn.

*The readings of Advent open up a whole series of promises, full of powerful images, that keep reminding us that our God will come to save us. They free our imaginations to see and experience that coming with drama and joy – a banquet with “choice wines and rich, juicy food.” They invite us to imagine when “a time will come for singing.”

"Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths."

Holy Father's Intentions for the Month of December

Victimized Children. That children who are victims of abandonment or violence may find the love and protection they need.

Prepare the Savior's Coming. That Christians, enlightened by the Word incarnate, may prepare humanity for the Savior's coming.

MESSAGE OF HIS HOLINESS FRANCIS: ENCYCLICAL LETTER LUMEN FIDEI

1. The light of Faith: this is how the Church’s tradition speaks of the great gift brought by Jesus. In John’s Gospel, Christ says of himself: "I have come as light into the world, that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness" (Jn 12:46). Saint Paul uses the same image: "God who said ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ has shone in our hearts" (2 Cor 4:6). The pagan world, which hungered for light, had seen the growth of the cult of the sun god, Sol Invictus, invoked each day at sunrise. Yet though the sun was born anew each morning, it was clearly incapable of casting its light on all of human existence. The sun does not illumine all reality; its rays cannot penetrate to the shadow of death, the place where men’s eyes are closed to its light.

Read full text of the Holy Father’s message (Vatican translation)...