ICEMANforChrist

Sunday, November 30, 2025

Claire’s Corner-Go to Mass Feast of an Apostle

· Catholic Prayer: Novena to the Immaculate Conception

· Catholic Recipe: Sole with Red Wine and Onions

· Today is Mark Twain’s birthday, 1835

· How to celebrate Nov 30^th

o Start your day by enjoying a cozy cup of hot mate tea, perfect for a peaceful morning moment. Embrace the theme of simplicity by decluttering your space with a touch of mousse to style your hair effortlessly.

o Get creative by upcycling mason jars into practical and charming organizers for your desk or kitchen. Enhance your awareness of environmental, social, and governance issues by learning about sustainability practices and supporting businesses with strong values.

o Indulge in a lazy day at home, appreciating your well-being by reading a book, watching a favorite movie, or trying out a new recipe. Take time to secure your digital life by updating your passwords and software on National Computer Security Day.

o Support local businesses by exploring Small Business Saturday, discovering unique products and enjoying personalized customer service. Celebrate Scottish heritage on St. Andrew’s Day by learning about Scottish culture, trying traditional recipes, or enjoying some Scottish music.

Orlando itinerary for Nov 30–Dec 7

🎄 Bucket List Trip: Around the World “Perfect Weather”

7-day Orlando Stay & Reflection Itinerary, anchored at the affordable and peaceful Rosen Inn at Pointe Orlando (_{$101/night) or}_{Drury Plaza Hotel – Disney Springs Area}₍$128/night).

🕯️ Orlando Stay & Reflection Itinerary
November 30–December 7 • Advent Wonder, Eucharistic Clarity
Lodging: Rosen Inn or Drury Plaza – near gardens, museums, and Mass sites

Day 1: Advent Threshold (Nov 30 – First Sunday of Advent)
• Mass: Basilica of Mary, Queen of the Universe – begin with Eucharistic clarity
• Garden Walk: Harry P Leu Gardens – roses, camellias, and butterfly paths
• Evening Light Show: Dazzling Nights opens Nov 28 – immersive Advent walk through illuminated gardens
• Symbolic Act: Light your first candle and journal on “Come, Lord Jesus”

Day 2: Artistic Listening (Dec 1)
• Visit: Orlando Museum of Art – African and contemporary American works
• Symbolic Act: Sketch a symbol of hope or light from the exhibits

Day 3: Scientific Wonder (Dec 2)
• Explore: Orlando Science Center – hands-on exhibits and planetarium shows
• Reflection: Psalm 8 among stars and celestial displays

Day 4: Marian Clarity & Illusion Communion (Dec 3)
• Church Visit: St. James Catholic Cathedral – downtown sanctuary
• Museum Visit: Museum of Illusions Orlando – playful reflection on perception and truth
• Symbolic Act: Leave a blessing near a mirrored exhibit

Day 5: Sculptural Reverence (Dec 4)
• Garden Visit: Albin Polasek Museum & Sculpture Gardens – lakeside sculptures and tranquil paths
• Symbolic Act: Write a prayer for peace near a sculpture of mercy

Day 6: Eucharistic Table & Joy (Dec 5)
• Walk: Lake Nona Sculpture Garden

– modern works and civic clarity
• Meal: Shared supper with bread, wine, and citrus—sacramental and communal

Day 7: St. Nicholas Day Benediction (Dec 6)
• Morning Ritual:

· Place a small gift or note in your shoe—symbolizing hidden generosity

· Share breakfast with citrus slices, warm bread, and honey
• Mass or Visit: Return to the Basilica of Mary, Queen of the Universe for a prayer of intercession
• Symbolic Act: Leave a wrapped gift or note in a public garden or museum corner:
“In honor of St. Nicholas, may this bring you joy.”
• Evening Reflection: Journal on “Hidden Mercy”—how small acts echo through Advent

🍴 Advent Meal

1. Appetizer / Hors d’oeuvre

Plantain Fritters with Citrus Dip

2. Soup / Primi

Star-Shaped Ricotta Ravioli in Tomato Cream

3. Salad

Blueberry & Goat Cheese Salad with Edible Flowers

4. Fish Course

Sole with Red Wine and Onions

Catholic Culture – Sole with Red Wine and Onions

5. Main Course (Entrée)

Roast Lamb with Rosemary & Garlic

6. Palate Cleanser

Citrus Sorbet

7. Cheese Course

Cheese Selection with Bread & Citrus Olive Oil

The Cheese Lover – How to Build a Cheese Board
Joy Bauer – Best Roasted Vegetables (for pairing sides)

8. Dessert

Honey Cake with Candied Citrus Peel

9. Coffee/Tea & Digestif

Mate Tea, Mulled Wine, or Spiced Cider

NOVEMBER 30 First Sunday of Advent

Feast of Saint Andrew, Apostle

1 Corinthians, Chapter 2, Verse 9-10

But as it is written: “What eye has not seen, and ear has not heard, and what has not entered the human heart, what God has prepared for those who LOVE him,” this God has revealed to us through the Spirit.

The world can never recognize the wisdom of the cross. The other day while sitting in my church for mass, it was revealed to me the wisdom of the cross. As the Eucharistic celebration was being conducted, I was admiring our church and as I gazed on the altar, I notice we had the cross which represented Christ dead for our sins. Behind the cross lit up with the sun waning was the stained glass of Christ ascending to the Father.

I asked interiorly where the representation of Christ resurrected is?

Then almost immediately an interior voice stated, “You are the representation of Christ resurrected.” At first, I withdrew from the idea, sinner that I am. Then I knew that this was the divine wisdom that we physically and spiritually become the resurrected Christ to our families, neighbors, our friends and even dare I say our enemies. May God’s will and wisdom be done!

Copilot’s Take

In the quiet interplay of cross and stained glass, the Spirit revealed a truth that Advent itself embodies: the Resurrection is not only a past event or a future hope, but a present reality lived through us. As Christ’s followers, we are called to be the visible sign of His risen life—bearing His wisdom, His love, and His presence into the ordinary spaces of family, friendship, and even enmity. The wisdom of the cross confounds the world, yet it is precisely in our willingness to embody the risen Christ that God’s hidden promise becomes manifest. Advent begins not with passive waiting, but with active witness: we are the living testimony that Christ has risen, and through us, He comes again.

ON KEEPING THE LORD'S DAY HOLY[1]

CHAPTER I

DIES DOMINI

The Celebration of the Creator's Work

"God blessed the seventh day and made it holy" (Gn 2:3)

14. In the first place, therefore, Sunday is the day of rest because it is the day "blessed" by God and "made holy" by him, set apart from the other days to be, among all of them, "the Lord's Day".

In order to grasp fully what the first of the biblical creation accounts means by keeping the Sabbath "holy", we need to consider the whole story, which shows clearly how every reality, without exception, must be referred back to God. Time and space belong to him. He is not the God of one day alone, but the God of all the days of humanity.

Therefore, if God "sanctifies" the seventh day with a special blessing and makes it "his day" par excellence, this must be understood within the deep dynamic of the dialogue of the Covenant, indeed the dialogue of "marriage". This is the dialogue of love which knows no interruption, yet is never monotonous. In fact, it employs the different registers of love, from the ordinary and indirect to those more intense, which the words of Scripture and the witness of so many mystics do not hesitate to describe in imagery drawn from the experience of married love.

First Sunday of Advent[2]

A sudden announcement that the lord is coming.

WHAT does Advent mean?

Advent means the coming and is used by the Church to represent the four thousand years of preparation for the coming of the Redeemer, and at the same time points us to His second coming as our judge.

When is the season of Advent?

The season of Advent comprises the four weeks preceding Christmas.

When was the first coming of our Redeemer?

When the Son of God was conceived by the Holy Ghost in the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and was made flesh, to sanctify the world by His coming.

Was a redeemer necessary?

Yes, for all men sinned in Adam, and needed to be reconciled to God.

Could not the just under the Old Law be saved before the coming of Christ?

Yes, through the expectation of Him and through His future merits all might be saved under the Old Law who made themselves worthy of the grace of Christ by innocence and penance, though they could not be admitted to heaven until Our Lord’s ascension.

When will be the second coming of Christ?

At the end of the world, when Christ will come with great power and majesty to judge the living and the dead.

Why has the Church appointed the holy season of Advent?

1. That we may consider the wretched state of mankind before the coming of Christ, and bring before our minds the mercy of God, Who sent His only-begotten Son down from heaven for our redemption.

2. That we may prepare ourselves worthily for Christmas, that Christ may then enter our hearts in the fulness of His grace, to renew them and to dwell in them.

3. That we may prepare ourselves for the second advent that He may be to us a merciful judge. “Watch ye, therefore, because you know not what hour your Lord will come (St. Matt. xxiv. 42).

Prayer.

O God, Who hast brought joy to the world through Thy gracious advent, grant us, we beseech Thee, Thy grace, that we may prepare ourselves by sincere penance for its celebration and for the Last Judgment. Amen.

First Sunday of Advent

THIS is the first day of the ecclesiastical year; on it the Church begins to contemplate the coming of Our Savior, and, with the prophets, to long for Him; she exhorts the faithful to true penance for their sins, which oppose Christ’s entrance into their hearts; she sings, therefore, at the Introit of the Mass, in the words of the psalmist: “To Thee, O Lord, have I lifted up my soul.

Prayer.

Raise up Thy power, O Lord, we pray Thee, and come, that by Thy protection we may deserve to be rescued from the threatening dangers of our sins, and to be saved by Thy deliverance. Amen.

EPISTLE. Rom. xiii. 11-14.

Brethren: Knowing the season, that it is now the hour for us to rise from sleep. For now, our salvation is nearer than when we believed. The night is passed, and the day is at hand. Let us therefore cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us walk honestly as in the day: not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and impurities, not in contention and envy; but put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ.

What is understood here by sleep?

Sin, in which man, as if sunk in a torpor, no longer sees the light of the Gospel, no longer hears the warning of his conscience, neglects the means of salvation, and lives without care, until he awakes, alas! too late, as from a dream.

What is understood by night and day?

By night is to be understood ignorance, infidelity, and sin. The day represents faith, grace, and reconciliation with God.

What are the works of darkness?

All sin, especially that which is unknown to men, but seen and known by God, of Whose grace it deprives us.

What is the armor of light?

It consists in faith, hope, charity, and good works, the spiritual arms with which we have to overcome the world, the flesh, and the devil.

What does it mean to put on the Lord Jesus Christ?

It means that Christians should think, speak, and act like Jesus, adorning themselves by the imitation of Him as with precious garments.

Prayer.

O Lord Jesus Christ, Who became man for us, grant that we may in all things comply with the admonitions of this epistle; that we may arise from the slumber of our sins, and walk in the light of grace by the diligent performance of good works, and adorn our souls by putting on Thee, through the imitation of Thy virtues.

GOSPEL. Luke xxi. 25-33.

At that time Jesus said to His disciples: There shall be Signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars, and upon the earth distress of nations, by reason of the confusion of the roaring of the sea and of the waves: men withering away for fear, and expectation of what shall come upon the whole world, for the powers of heaven shall be moved ; and then they shall see the Son of man coming in a cloud with great power and majesty. But when these things begin to come to pass, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is at hand. And He spoke to them a similitude: See the fig-tree, and all the trees; when they now shoot forth their fruit, you know that summer is nigh. So, you also when you shall see these things come to pass, know that the kingdom of God is at hand. Amen I say to you, this generation shall not pass away till all things be fulfilled. Heaven and earth shall pass away: but My words shall not pass away.

Why does the Church cause this Gospel concerning the Last Judgment to be read to-day?

To prepare our hearts by penance for the coming of Jesus as our judge.

What signs shall precede the Last Judgment?

The sun shall be darkened, the moon shall not give light, the stars shall fall from heaven; the heavens themselves shall pass away with a great noise, the elements shall melt with heat, and the earth with all that is in it shall be burned up. At the command of God, the world shall be shaken to its center; fearful tempests shall arise; the sea and waves shall roar, and wild struggle and destruction take the place of quiet and order. Men shall wither away with fear, not knowing whither to fly. Then shall appear the holy cross, the sign of the Son of man a terror to sinners who have hated it, a consolation to- those who have loved it.

How will the Last Judgment begin?

At the command of God, the angels, with the round of the trumpet, shall summon all men to judgment (i. These, iv. 15). The bodies and souls of the dead shall be again united, and the wicked shall be separated from the righteous, the just on the right, the wicked on the left (St. Matt. xxv. 33). The angels and the devils will be present, and Christ Himself will appear in a bright cloud with such power and majesty that the wicked, for fear, will not be able to look at Him, but will say to the mountains, “Fall on us,” and to the hills, “Cover us” (St. Luke xxiii. 30).

Why will God hold a general and public judgment?

1. That all may know how just He has been in the particular judgment of each one.

2. That justice may at last be rendered to the afflicted and persecuted, while the wicked who have oppressed the poor, the widow, the orphan, the religious, and yet have often passed for upright and devout persons, may be known in their real characters and be forever disgraced.

3. That Jesus Christ may complete His redemption, and openly triumph over His enemies, who shall see the glory of the Crucified, and tremble at His power.

How will the Last Judgment proceed?

The books will be opened, and from them all men will be judged; all their good and bad thoughts, words, and deeds, even the most secret, known only to God, will be revealed before the whole world, and according to their works men will be rewarded or be damned forever. The wicked shall go into everlasting punishment, but the just into life everlasting (St. Matt. xxv.46).

Exhortation.

The Church, during the season of Advent, reminds thee, O Christian, of the coming of Christ to judgment, that thou mayest with the more zeal apply thyself to profit by His first coming; for they only will be justified and glorified who have acknowledged and received Him as their Redeemer. Examine thyself, therefore, to-day, and during this week, whether thou hast believed in Him, loved Him, admitted Him into thy heart, and kept His holy commands. Begin at once penance and good works, that thou mayest with confidence await the judgment-day of the Lord.

Aspiration.

Thou art just, O Lord! and just is Thy judgment. Oh, penetrate my soul with holy fear, that I may be kept from evil deeds, and incited to good works. Would that I could say, with St. Jerome, “Whether I eat or drink, or whatever I do, it is as if I heard the awful summons of the trumpet, Ye dead, arise, and come to judgment!”

Customs and Folklore

In 490, Bishop Perpetuus of Tours officially declared Advent a penitential season in the Frankish Church of Western Europe, ordering a fast on three days of every week from November 11 (the feast of St. Martin of Tours) till Christmas. These forty days’ fast, similar to Lent, was originally called Quadragesima Sancti Martini (Forty Days' Fast of Saint Martin's). The Readings for the Eucharistic Liturgies were taken from the Masses of Lent.

By contrast, the Advent season of the Roman liturgy, developing a century after that of the Frankish Church, was a non-penitential, festive and joyful time of preparation for Christmas. When the Church unified the liturgical season, the non-penitential nature of the Roman Advent conflicted with the longer and penitential Gallic Advent. By the thirteenth century a compromise was reached, which combined the fasting and penitential character of the Gallic observance with the Mass texts and shorter four-week cycle of the Roman Advent liturgy. The liturgy of Advent remained substantially unaltered until Vatican II mandated a few minor changes to more clearly delineate the spirit of the Lenten and Advent seasons.

The most perfect way to embrace the spirit of Advent is to attend daily Mass and pray the Liturgy of the Hours. If this is not possible, try smaller goals, such as attending one extra mass during the week; praying the Saturday Evening Prayer with the family in preparation for Sunday; reading and discussing the readings of the Mass of the day with the family.

The members of the domestic church should also try to receive the Sacrament of Penance during the Advent season to prepare for the coming of Christ “for it is not possible coherently to celebrate the birth of him ‘who saves his people from their sins’ without some effort to overcome sin in one’s own life.” (Directory on Popular Piety, #105)

There are many customs that can be incorporated in the domestic church to teach and reinforce the Advent spirit. For example, the first Sunday of Advent is a good time for each family member to choose a secret "Christkindl" or Christ Child for whom he or she will perform little acts of love — such as a prayer, a small gift, a sacrifice, a note or a piece of candy — throughout Advent.

Another such Advent practice is that of having an empty crib or manger, which each family member will soften with straw earned by a sacrifice, a prayer or a work of mercy. After Christmas, the family will gather before the Infant Savior, in his now-padded crib, for their evening prayers or for Scripture reading.

In the Activities section you will find suggestions and directions for such customs as Preparing the Manger, an Advent Wreath, Christmas Novena, and the O Antiphons, the Jesse Tree and the Advent calendar. All these traditions involve a countdown, or some action performed each day in anticipation of Christ’s birth.

When employing new Advent customs within your domestic church it is important to remember that they are only aids, not goals in themselves. With joyful hope and anticipation, then, let us prepare for the coming of the Son of God, praying with the Church: Come, Lord Jesus, do not delay!

Additional Links

For us Catholics, the new Liturgical Year commences with the first Sunday of Advent. In this new liturgical year, the Church not only wishes to indicate the beginning of a period, but the beginning of a renewed commitment to the faith by all those who follow Christ, the Lord. This time of prayer and path of penance that is so powerful, rich and intense, endeavors to give us a renewed impetus to truly welcome the message of the One who was incarnated for us. In fact, the entire Liturgy of the Advent Season, will spur us to an awakening in our Christian life and will put us in a ‘vigilant’ disposition, to wait for Our Lord Jesus who is coming:

‘Awaken! Remember that God comes! Not yesterday, not tomorrow, but today, now! The one true God, "the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob", is not a God who is there in Heaven, unconcerned with us and our history, but he is the-God-who-comes.’

The Season of Advent is therefore a season of vigilant waiting, that prepares us to welcome the mystery of the Word Incarnate, who will give the ‘Light’ to the womb of the Virgin Mary, but essentially this time prepares us not only to welcome this great event but to incarnate it in our lives. We could say that the true light enters the world through the immaculate womb of Mary, but it does not stay there. On the contrary, this light flows out into our dark, obscure, sinful lives to illuminate them, so that we can become the light that illuminates the world. For this reason, let us live this time of waiting not only to celebrate a historical memory but to repeat this memory in our lives and in the service of others. To wait for the Lord who comes, means to wait and to watch so that the Word of Love enters inside us and focuses us every day of our lives. As Blessed John Henry Newman reminded us in a homily for the Advent Season: “Advent is a time of waiting, it is a time of joy because the coming of Christ is not only a gift of grace and salvation, but it is also a time of commitment because it motivates us to live the present as a time of responsibility and vigilance. This ‘vigilance’ means the necessity, the urgency of an industrious, living ‘wait’. To make all this happen, then we need to wake up, as we are warned by the apostle to the Gentiles, in Romans: ‘Besides this you know what hour it is, how it is full time now for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed” (Rm 13:11). We must start our journey to ascend to the mountain of the Lord, to be illuminated by His Words of peace and to allow Him to indicate the path to tread. Moreover, we must change our conduct abandoning the works of darkness and put on the ‘armor of light’ and so seek only to do God’s work and to abandon the deeds of the flesh. (Rm 13:12-14). Jesus, through the story in the parable, outlines the Christian lifestyle that must not be distracted and indifferent but must be vigilant and recognize even the smallest sign of the Lord’s coming because we don’t know the hour in which He will arrive. (Mt 24:39-44)

Blessing of an Advent Wreath

The use of the Advent Wreath is a traditional practice which has found its place in the Church as well as in the home. The blessing of an Advent Wreath takes place on the First Sunday of Advent or on the evening before the First Sunday of Advent.

When the blessing of the Advent Wreath is celebrated in the home, it is appropriate that it be blessed by a parent or another member of the family.

All make the sign of the cross as the leader says:

Our help is in the name of the Lord.

Response (R/.) Who made heaven and earth.

Then the Scripture, Isaiah 9: (lines 1-2 and 5-6) or Isaiah 63 (lines 16-17 & 19) or Isaiah 64 (lines 2-7) is read:

Reader: The Word of the Lord.
R/. Thanks be to God.

With hands joined, the leader says:

Lord our God,
we praise you for your Son, Jesus Christ:
he is Emmanuel, the hope of the peoples,
he is the wisdom that teaches and guides us,
he is the Savior of every nation.
Lord God,
let your blessing come upon us
as we light the candles of this wreath.
May the wreath and its light
be a sign of Christ’s promise to bring us salvation.
May he come quickly and not delay.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
R/. Amen.

The blessing may conclude with a verse from
“O Come, O Come, Emmanuel”:

O come, desire of nations, bind
in one the hearts of humankind;
bid ev’ry sad division cease
and be thyself our Prince of peace.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
shall come to thee, O Israel.

Advent begins Facts & Quotes[4]

Each Sunday in Advent has a particular theme.

· the first week is faithfulness, associated with Christ coming in final victory.

· The second and third Sundays, which feature the stories about John the Baptist, represent hope and joy.

· The fourth Sunday, which covers the events that led up to the birth of Jesus, represents love.

Many churches light a candle on an advent wreath each Sunday to represent each theme. The wreath is either suspended from the ceiling or sits on a table. It is made of evergreen branches and holds four candles - three purple ones for the first weeks of Advent and a pink one for the last week. A white Christ candle is placed in the center and will be lit on Christmas. A common activity for children is to make Christmas ornaments. Many church Christmas trees are decorated with these ornaments that represent symbols in Christianity, like doves and fish. Advent starts the four Sundays before Christmas. Church banners and cleric's stoles are purple during the season. Advent is a journey towards Bethlehem. May we let ourselves be drawn by the light of God made man - Pope Francis via twitter on Dec 21, 2013.

Advent Begins Top Events and Things to Do

· Decorate your home with evergreens or go to a 'Hanging of the Greens' church service. Church members decorate the church in preparation for Christmas.

· Hang up an advent calendar. Many of these decorative pieces have little doors that open and reveal holiday images or have pockets with small items in them that reflect the season. They are especially popular with children who enjoy opening the little doors to reveal chocolates.

· Sing Advent Hymns. Two popular ones are in the Deep Midwinter, and O Come, O Come Emmanuel.

· Advent Workshop

Jesse Tree[5]

The Jesse Tree dates back to the Middle Ages and came from Europe. Even some ancient cathedrals have Jesse Tree designs in their stained-glass windows. The "tree" is usually a branch or sapling and is decorated with various symbols that remind us of the purpose and promises of God from Creation to the Birth of Jesus Christ. Jesse was the father of King David and God promised David that his Kingdom would last forever. Two centuries after the death of King David, God spoke through the prophet Isaiah and said: And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots: and the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him: the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and fortitude, the spirit of knowledge, and of the fear of the Lord. (Isaiah 11:1-2) Each Jesse Tree ornament usually consists of a handmade symbol or drawing that represents one of the major stories of the Old Testament along with a brief verse of Scripture from that story.

Jesse Tree Ornaments

If you decide to use one symbol each day during December, there are 24 symbolic ornaments to make for your Jesse Tree, so each family member will need to make several. Making the ornaments is a good project for Sunday afternoons during Advent. To make an ornament, first read the Scripture verses for the day. Then pick out one or two short verses that give the main idea. Copy these verses on the back of the ornament. By this time, you will probably be thinking of various ways to illustrate your Scripture verses. Use lots of creativity in making your ornament! You can use pictures from magazines or old greeting cards. Or draw pictures or symbols yourself. Color them with crayons, pencils, markers or paint. Look around the house for bits and pieces that will make your design beautiful! If you prefer to have a pattern already made, Caryn Talty, at Organic Living for a Healthy Family, has created 26 excellent ornaments which she graciously offers free – both full color and black and white.

Jesse Tree Scriptures (The Symbols Are Only Suggestions)

December 1 Creation: Gen. 1:1-31; 2:1-4 Symbols: sun, moon, stars, animals, earth

Feast of Saint Andrew[6]

ANDREW, a brother of St. Peter, born at Bethsaida, was first a disciple of John the Baptist. Afterwards both the brothers were called by Christ, on the Sea of Galilee, before all the other apostles, with the words: Come after Me, and I will make you to become fishers of men (Mark i. 17). Immediately they left all, and became faithful disciples of Jesus, arid witnesses of His deeds and sufferings, of His resurrection and ascension. After the descent of the Holy Ghost, Andrew travelled through Scythia, Epirus, and Thrace, and by his teachings and miracles converted vast numbers to Christ. As he was preaching at Patras, a city of Achaia, he was violently pressed by the proconsul, Aegeas, to offer sacrifice to the idols; but he nobly answered him, I daily offer sacrifice to God; not the flesh of oxen, nor the blood of rams, but an unspotted Lamb; and although all the faithful may have partaken of His flesh, yet the Lamb remains as before He was offered, alive and undivided. Aegeas, enraged, committed him to prison, and on the following day caused him to be scourged; and as he persevered in his declaration, condemned him to be put to death by crucifixion. When he saw the cross, the instrument of his death, he greeted it with joy, embraced it, and said, O good cross, that was adorned with the limbs of Christ, thee have I long desired; thee have I fervently loved; thee have I continually sought. Now thou art made ready for me, according to the wish of my heart. Take me away from men, and restore me again to my Master, that through thee I may come to Him Who through thee has redeemed me. After this he was nailed to the cross. Two days he remained hanging thereon, preaching faith in Jesus, until his soul was taken up to Him Whom he had so ardently desired to resemble in the manner of His death.

In the Introit of the Mass the Church announces to us how greatly the apostles were exalted by God, Who made them teachers and fathers of the whole world. She cries out, therefore, “To me Thy friends, O God, are made exceedingly honorable; their principality is exceedingly strengthened. Lord, Thou hast proved me and known me; Thou hast known my sitting down and my rising up” (Ps. cxxxviii.).

Prayer.

We suppliantly beseech Thy majesty, Lord, that as blessed Andrew the apostle was both a preacher and ruler of Thy Church, so he may be with Thee as a perpetual intercessor for us. Amen.

Things to Do: [7]

· Today's feast traditionally marks the end of the Church year and beginning of Advent. Advent always begins on the Sunday closest to November 30, with this day being the last possible day of the old Liturgical Year. Christmas is right around the corner. An old saying reflected this:

St Andrew the King
Three weeks and three days
before Christmas begins.

Because weddings were not allowed during Advent and Christmas and Andrew is the patron of unmarried maidens, many countries have marriage-related superstitions connected to this day. See Patron Saints Index for a few traditions.

· Beginning today the Christmas Anticipatory Prayer, also known as the "Novena to St. Andrew" (Hail and Blessed be the hour...) is prayed every day until Christmas.

· Read Anticipating Christmas, Beginning with the Saint Andrew.

· View some of the art depictions of St. Andrew. Here's another Gallery of Images of Andrew.

· Remember to pray for fishermen and all who make their livelihood by the sea.

· Andrew is the patron saint of Scotland, Russia, and Romania. The flag of Scotland (and the Union Flag and the arms and Flag of Nova Scotia) feature a saltire (X-shaped cross) in commemoration of the shape of St. Andrew's cross.

· Read more about St. Andrew from Butler's Lives of the Saints. Also read about Andrew from The Golden Legend.

· Foods connected with this feast: St. Andrew was a fisherman, so fish dishes and biblical themes would reign supreme. Women for Faith and Family have reprinted Evelyn Vitz's suggested "Biblical Dinner" menu. But there are other foods connected with this day

o Scotland: St. Andrew is the patron of Scotland. Scones, haggis, sheepshead and fish dishes are traditional. The scones are called "wigs", although their shape is rectangular.

o England: St Andrew is a patron of lace-makers. On his feast, sometimes known as "Tander", areas such as Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Northamptonshire celebrate by feasting, drinking elderberry wine, sports and serving a special cake called the Tandra Cake, particularly in Bedfordshire. It has a bread dough base to which lard, sugar, currants, lemon peel and eggs are added. This is also a day for squirrel hunting in England, so Brunswick Stew would be another dish on the table in England.

o Slovakian Countries: Halushky (pasta dish) is cooked. Unmarried girls place slips of paper with names of single young men into the dish.

St Andrew Facts[8]

· Andrew was fishing with Simon Peter, James the Greater, John, and their father, Zebedee, when Jesus came and said he would make them fishers of men (John 1:35-42).

· Andrew was reportedly martyred on November 30 in the year 60 A.D by a Roman governor's order in Achaia (Greece). He was crucified and bound to the cross to increase his suffering. The cross was tilted to create an "x," which is known today as St. Andrew's cross and is the basis for the Scottish flag.

· The Feast of St. Andrew is the last holiday of the Christian year. It is held the day before Advent begins, November 30 in Roman Catholic and some Protestant churches. St. Andrew's Day is a holiday in Scotland that honors the disciple as the country's patron saint.

· St. Andrew is the brother of St. Peter (Simon Peter), who was the first leader of the church.

· St. Andrew is the Patron saint of: Amalfi (Italy), Barbados, Esgueira (Portugal), Luqa (Malta), Patras (Greece), Romania, Russia, Scotland and Ukraine.

St Andrew Top Events and Things to Do

· Travel to Scotland to celebrate St. Andrew's Day. The holiday commences many parties and festivals in Scotland, and it is also an official holiday in the country.

· St. Andrew's remains, or relics, are thought to be buried in Italy at the cathedral in Amalfi. Pilgrimage to Italy to visit.

· Go fishing or enjoy a seafood dinner. St. Andrew is the patron saint of fishermen. He was a fisherman before he left his old life to follow Jesus Christ.

· Visit St Andrew's Cathedral in Patras, Greece. It is the largest church in the Balkans region and one of the largest in Europe. According to history, St. Andrew was crucified just outside of the church.

· Take pictures of yourself on St Andrew's Day and use the Instagram tag #myinstagram to win prizes.

Feast of St. Andrew, November 30—In Britain also known as “Andermess,” this marks the end of autumn and the last harvest feast. In later centuries when Advent was shortened, November 30 marked the beginning of the Advent season. See more information in my previous post, Anticipating Christmas, Beginning with St. Andrew.

Christmas Anticipation Prayer[9]

Description:

Beginning on St. Andrew the Apostle's feast day, November 30, the following beautiful prayer is traditionally recited fifteen times a day until Christmas. This is a very meditative prayer that helps us increase our awareness of the feast of Christmas and helps us prepare ourselves spiritually for His coming.

Prayer:

Hail and blessed be the hour and moment
In which the Son of God was born
Of the most pure Virgin Mary,
at midnight,
in Bethlehem,
in the piercing cold.
In that hour vouchsafe, O my God,
to hear my prayer and grant my desires,
[here mention your request]
through the merits of Our Savior Jesus Christ,
and of His blessed Mother. Amen.

33 days to Christmas-Start the 33 days to Eucharistic Glory[10]

Want to start a small group? Download our 33 Days to Eucharistic Glory Study Guide

Day 9

On this 9^th day, find peace in a spirit of poverty and be mindful of others

Copilot:

Finding peace in a spirit of poverty and mindfulness of others is a deeply transformative and fulfilling path. Embracing simplicity and focusing on the needs of others can bring profound inner peace and a greater sense of connection to the world around you. Here are some ways to cultivate this spirit:

Embrace Simplicity

1. Live Simply: Reduce excess in your life. This could mean decluttering your living space, simplifying your routines, or minimizing material possessions.

2. Gratitude: Practice gratitude for what you have, recognizing the value in simple joys and daily blessings.

Serve Others

1. Acts of Kindness: Engage in small acts of kindness daily. Whether it's helping a neighbor, volunteering, or simply offering a smile, these actions can make a significant difference.

2. Listen and Support: Be present and attentive to the needs of others. Offer your time, empathy, and support to those who may need it.

Mindful Living

1. Mindfulness Practices: Incorporate mindfulness and meditation into your daily routine. This can help you stay grounded and focused on the present moment.

2. Reflection: Spend time reflecting on your actions and intentions, ensuring they align with your values and the spirit of poverty and mindfulness.

Spiritual Practices

1. Prayer and Meditation: Dedicate time each day to prayer and meditation, seeking peace and guidance from a higher power.

2. Scripture Reading: Reflect on passages that emphasize humility, simplicity, and service to others.

Bible in a Year Day 152 Being Forgotten

Fr. Mike reminds us that, eventually, all of us will be forgotten by the world. He encourages us to keep our eyes fixed on heaven, focusing on surrender and trust in God, rather than control. Today's readings are 1 Kings 10, Ecclesiastes 8-9, and Psalm

Daily Devotions

· Unite in the work of the Porters of St. Joseph by joining them in fasting: Today's Fast: The lonely and destitute.

· Offering to the sacred heart of Jesus

· Make reparations to the Holy Face

· Drops of Christ’s Blood

· Rosary

DECEMBER

We turn our attention indoors with Advent prayers and preparations for the birth of Christ; for most of us, the indoors makes up the part of our environment in which we spend the most time. It is also the most unregulated and can be the most polluted part of the total environment –due to new home cleaning products and tighter ventilation. Consider a simpler home environment, where houseplants purify the air, where fresh air is plentiful, and where chemical products are limited and controlled. The yearly cycle of twelve months can make us more aware of our human environment and should help us as individuals and as a community to conduct a monthly examination of conscience.

Overview of December[11]

The liturgy of Advent focuses on remembering Christ's first coming at Bethlehem which then directs our mind to Christ's Second Coming at the end of time. The readings focus on the people of the Old Testament awaiting the Messiah, John the Baptist, heralding the way for Christ and the Blessed Virgin Mary and her maternal preparations.

Advent and Christmas

The Advent season in the Northern Hemisphere is normally cold, dark and the days are short. Traditions such as Thanksgiving and Christmas have been established to help dispel the psychological fear that develops as a result of the darkness. However, in the Southern Hemisphere the days are long and warm.

This is a good time if you have the means to take a winter break and go to a warmer climate to give you a chance to create a brighter spirit. However, if this is not possible, we can greatly reduce our fears by getting some sun for 10 or 15 minutes a day. Try to walk at the brightest time of the day, or if you have a sun window to sit in the sun. This would also be a good time to pray. Through prayer the Holy Spirit strengthens us from the inside and the sun charges us from the outside.

Also spending some time exercising daily will definitely dispel our fears. We are both physical and spiritual and having a balance of physical, mental, emotional and spiritual activities will make us resilient to the darkness in the world. I find hiking a wonderful anecdote to the blues and fears.

It is also important to reach out to others. We can strengthen ourselves by being with and for others. No matter what your cultural background, this season will provide many ethnic opportunities to celebrate together. Think of the giant Redwoods, they are the largest trees in the world. These trees survive by intertwining their roots because the ground is so hard the Redwood cannot strike a taproot to hold itself up but by supporting each other they become the largest trees in the world.

Events and Feasts for December 2025

Hit the Slopes

Ice Fishing Season

Holiday Events

· November 28-January 11 San Antonio River Walk

· Christmas Village in Philadelphia

· North Pole Experience

· Glendale Glitters

· Arizona Parks

Winter Get away Season

Bahamas International Film Festival: Official BIFF Website Hobbit Tour every day (closed Christmas) New Zealand
GetYourGuide – Phoenix/Scottsdale Apache Trail Tour
Detours American West – Apache Trail Tour
iCruise – Caribbean Cruises December 2025
Cruise Critic – December 2025 Cruise Deals
Royal Caribbean – Holiday Cruise Deals

Dolly Steamboat – Canyon Lake Tours

Dec 3-First Wednesday-St. Joseph’s Chaste Heart

· St. Francis Xavier

Dec 4-Thu. Full Cold Moon

· National Christmas Tree

Dec 5-First Friday-Sacred Heart of Jesus

· Night-Shoes out for Cinder Claus and Gluevine

Dec 6-First Saturday-Immaculate Heart of Mary

· St. Nicholas

Dec 7 Second Sunday of Advent

· Ambrose, Memorial

· Pearl Harbor memorial

Dec 8-Mon. Immaculate Conception of Mary, Solemnity

Dec 9-Tue. St. Juan Diego

Dec 10-Wed. Our Lady of Loreto

Dec 12-Fri. Our Lady of Guadalupe (USA), Feast

· Begin the Nutcracker Season

Dec 13-Sat. St. Lucy

Dec 14-Third Sunday of Advent, Gaudete Sunday

· Hanukkah 2025 – Begins at sundown Sunday, Dec. 14 and ends Monday, Dec. 22.

Dec 16-Tue.-Las Posadas- Antiphon “Golden Nights”

· 9 days before Christmas

Dec 17-Ember Wednesday-Fast Day

Dec 18-Thu. Expectation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Dec 19-Ember Friday-Fast Day

Dec 20-Ember Saturday-Fast Day

Dec 21-Fourth Sunday of Advent

· Winter Solstice

Dec 22-Mon. St. Thomas

Dec 24-Wed. Nativity of the Lord Midnite Mass

Christmastide begins with the First Vespers (Evening Prayer) of Christmas on December 24th and ends on the Sunday after Epiphany. Christmas and Easter are the only solemnities with octaves attached in the revised calendar. The Christmas octave differs from Easter in that it includes some major feasts: St. Stephen (December 26), St. John the Evangelist (December 27), the Holy Innocents (December 28) and St. Sylvester I (December 31). The octave closes on January 1, the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God.

The Reason for the Season

The month of December is filled with expectation and celebration. Preparation is the key word for the first 24 days of December. Everyone is getting ready for Christmas — shopping and decorating, baking and cleaning. Too often, however, we are so busy with the material preparations that we lose sight of the real reason for our activity.

Christmas is a Christian feast — and we must reclaim it as such! In the same way that a family eagerly prepares for a baby, so in Advent should we prepare for the coming of the Christ Child. We should keep Advent as a season of waiting and longing, of conversion and of hope and keep our thoughts on the incredible love and humility of our God in taking on the flesh of the Virgin Mary. Let us not forget to prepare a peaceful place in our hearts wherein our Savior may come to dwell.

The best person we can turn to for help during Advent is Mary, Christ's and our Mother. She awaited the day of His birth with more eagerness than any other human being. Her preparation was complete in every respect. Let's crown our preparation and borrow something of Mary's prayerfulness, her purity and whole-hearted submission to God's will.

Dec 25-Thu. Christmas

Dec 26-Friday in Octave of Christmas

· St. Stephen, Feast first Martyr

Dec 27-Saturday in Octave of Christmas

· St. John, Apostle, Feast-Blessing of Wine

Dec 28 Sunday Feast of the Holy Family

Dec 29 Monday in Octave of Christmas

Dec 30 Tuesday in Octave of Christmas

Dec 31 Wednesday in Octave of Christmas

· Sylvester I-New Years Eve

[1]https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?id=419

[2] Goffine’s Devout Instructions, 1896.