Posts
Thu, Nov 27 – Thanksgiving (USA)
Virtue: Gratitude & Communion
Cigar: Nutty, festive (Cameroon)
Bourbon: Bardstown Fusion – rich, communal
Reflection: “What feast do I offer in thanks?”
What Feast Do I Offer in Thanks?
November 27 – Thanksgiving Monday
Liturgical Color: Green | Week of Christ the King
Mass Readings: Daily Readings – USCCB
🕯️ Opening Reflection
Gratitude is not a feeling—it’s a feast. In the Eucharist, Christ offers Himself in thanksgiving, even as betrayal looms. Today, we echo that offering. Whether our table is full or quiet, we bring bread, wine, and memory. We offer not perfection, but presence.
📖 Scriptural Lens
Psalm 116:12–13
“How can I repay the Lord for all His goodness to me? I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord.”
This is the heart of Eucharistic thanksgiving: not repayment, but reception. We lift the cup. We call His name.
🌿 Jesse Tree Overlay
Today’s branch: Noah
After the flood, Noah offers a thanksgiving sacrifice. His feast is not lavish—it’s faithful. In your devotional arc, Noah reminds us that gratitude begins with survival, and ends in offering.
🍽️ Symbolic Meal Offering
Feast of Thanks
Prepare a meal that honors Eucharistic gratitude:
- Starter: Barley soup with thyme – echoing Ruth’s humble harvest
- Main: Roasted lamb or turkey with bitter greens – sacrifice and sorrow held together
- Sides: Bread with olive oil, roasted root vegetables – Emmaus and endurance
- Drink: Red wine or cider – joy and memory
- Dessert: Honey cake or pumpkin pie – sweetness of resurrection
Include a moment of silence before the meal. Invite each guest to name one sorrow and one grace. Let the table become altar.
🐴 Witness of Reckless
Staff Sergeant Reckless did not feast—she served. Her story reminds us that thanksgiving is often carried through fire. Today, remember those who walk with us in suffering, and honor them with a place at the table.
🙏 Closing Prayer
Lord of the Harvest,
You do not ask for repayment—only reception.
Teach me to feast with humility,
To offer bread and wine with joy,
To remember those who suffer,
And to lift the cup of salvation with thanksgiving.
Amen.
NOVEMBER 27 Thursday in the Octave of
Christ the King
OUR LADY OF THE MIRACULOUS MEDAL-Thanksgiving Day
Best Place to visit in November:
A trip to the Berkshires is like jumping into the pages of
an Edith Wharton novel, with Gilded Age mansions and throes of New York City
weekenders. (You can even visit Wharton’s own house and gardens.) You could
easily spend a few days casually exploring the region’s antique shops,
farm-to-table restaurants, and luxury spas, but the main seasonal draw is, of
course, the fall foliage—the trees are still colorful in mid-November here. Get
the best views from the top of Mount Greylock, where you can see up to 90 miles
away when the air is clear.
One of the best places to set up camp is Miraval Berkshires
in the charming town of Lenox, where horse stables and cottage-style rooms will
make you feel like you’re at an upscale sleepaway camp.
Thursday Feast
Thursday is the day of the week
that our Lord gave himself up for consumption. Thursday commemorates the last
supper. Some theologians believe after Sunday Thursday is the holiest day of
the week. We should then try to make this day special by making a visit to the
blessed sacrament chapel, Mass or even stopping by the grave of a loved one.
Why not plan to count the blessing of the week and thank our Lord. Plan a
special meal. Be at Peace.
Dinner Menu
Thursday in the Octave of Christ the King
·
Meditate
on the virtues of Mary (Humility, Generosity, Chastity, Patience, Temperance,
Understanding/love and Wisdom. One for each day.
·
attend
Mass daily or via EWTN or the internet
·
Fast
doing the Daniel fast (Monday-Saturday).
·
Exercise-Universal Man Plan.
The Virtue of Patience[1]
CHRIST tells you:
MY CHILD, I came down from Heaven for your salvation and
perfection. Not only did I make reparation for your sins, but I also gave you
an example of the virtues which you need in order to gain eternal life. I took
upon Myself your daily trials and difficulties, in order to show you how to
deal with them.
One of the
virtues which you often need in your daily life is patience. I had to practice
a great deal of patience with the people around Me during My earthly life. I
had to bear the same things which annoy and irritate you. I bore these trials
with patience. Meditate on My patience and pray for the wisdom and strength to
imitate Me in this holy virtue.
Consider how I treat My loyal followers. I do not send them
an easy life, but one which demands great patience, not many earthly joys, but
many trials; not honors, but contempt and hatred; not ease, but endless labors.
Through their unwavering patience they earn a crown of unending glory.
Some are willing to suffer only what they choose to endure.
Others can be patient with certain people, but not with everyone. A truly
patient man, however, makes no exceptions and sets no conditions as to when, or
with whom he will be patient. One who possesses supernatural patience does not
consider what kind of people cause his trial; whether they are superiors,
equals, or inferiors, whether they are well meaning or malicious. He is
interested only in taking this trial as though I were handing it to him. As
long as the matter does not require him to defend his rights, or to correct the
people involved, he is willing to bear his trial for My sake.
THINK: The supernatural virtue of patience is an act of
love for God shown by the disregard of one’s own convenience or inconvenience.
It is another form of self-giving. Jesus could have saved me with far less
inconvenience to Himself. He endured much more for me than He needed to. That
was His way of showing His love for me. If I fix my eyes on Him, I shall never
again say that I can take anything except this or that. I shall be willing to
suffer anything for Jesus. I shall lose sight of the people involved and see
only Jesus.
PRAY: Dear patient Jesus, who can describe the boundless
love with which You suffered so many trials in Your daily life? Can I think of
this and still refuse to practice greater patience in my own life? You are
still practicing patience with me, as You wait for me to come to my senses and
start practicing a bit of humility in my daily life. If I were truly humble, I
would find it easy to be patient. I deserve far worse than what I now suffer in
my daily life. Therefore, I shall be patient with the trials which come along.
Someday I may rise to a higher generosity with You. I may even reach the joy
which Your saints had in suffering for You. I must, however, begin today. I
hope to face my problems and annoyances with patience, for Your sake, my Jesus.
Amen.
Thanksgiving Day[2]
Thanksgiving
Day is a celebration of giving thanks for the harvest and blessings of the past
year. It is a day of giving thanks to God for his many blessings and expressing
our gratitude to friends and family members. It is celebrated in the United
States. Thanksgiving Day dates back to the Reformation Period and is
accompanied by prayers, special ceremonies, and feasts. Thanksgiving is
observed on the fourth Thursday in November each year.
Thanksgiving
Day Facts & Quotes
·
The first Thanksgiving Day feast was held in
1621 between the Plymouth colonists and the Wampanoag Indians.
·
In 1863, in the midst of the Civil War,
President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national Thanksgiving Day to be held
each November.
·
According to the US Government Census, in 2014,
242 million turkeys were raised in the United States.
·
President Franklin D. Roosevelt established the
fourth Thursday in November as the official Thanksgiving Day in 1941.
·
Thanksgiving is almost here. It's my
favorite holiday, which is surprising since I'm no fan of giving or saying
thanks. - Stephen Colbert
Thanksgiving Day Top Events and Things to Do
·
Watch or attend a Parade. The largest are
the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade in New York and the McDonalds Thanksgiving
parade in Chicago.
·
Eat lots of traditional Thanksgiving food
including turkey, cranberry sauce, and sweet potatoes.
·
Watch or attend a football game. Besides
NFL, there are many college and high school football games on this day.
·
Go running or do some other form of exercise in
the morning - so you won't feel so guilty indulging in a grand Thanksgiving
meal.
·
Talk to relatives and friends by phone, email,
or internet to remind them how thankful you are that they are all part of your
life.
Thanksgiving: Plimoth
Plantation Plymouth, Massachusetts[3]
At Plimoth Plantation, it’s always 1627. The living
museum and its costumed “residents” re-create New England’s first successful
European settlement as well as a Native village. Thanksgiving dinner has its
roots in a harvest celebration that 52 Pilgrims shared with 90 members of the
Wampanoag tribe in 1621, one year after the settlers sailed from England. It
included fowl (probably ducks and geese rather than turkey), venison, corn, and
most likely fresh and dried fruits and vegetables. Every fall Plimoth Plantation
re-creates a harvest meal from that period as well as serving a classic
American Thanksgiving dinner.
Thanksgiving Antarctica 1973
from “The Ice is Nice & chee chee is
Peachy” by ME.
Growing up
in Arizona and living in the desert Thanksgiving was always sunny and usually
warm as well as a little disappointing because of no snow. In school we would
sing, “Over the river and through the woods to
Grandmothers house we would go…through the white and wintery snow.” I had
visions but no real experience. All that change when I joined the Navy and
became a structural steelworker and was assigned to build a station for the
National Science Foundation at the geographic South Pole in October 1973. It
was the summertime in Antarctic and the sun stayed up and would not set March
1974. Although it was the summer the temperatures still were belong zero and
averaged around 45 below zero. We worked two 12 hour shifts 24 hours a day. We
were in a hurry to complete the project before the sun went down. Sundays were
half days so we could attend religious services. We were not going to stop work
for Thanksgiving or Christmas. Then all that changed.
The evening
of November 21st there was a big party that night—because by of a
proclamation from President Nixon we were having the entire Thanksgiving Day
off! The guys were excited. Some of the
guys were planning to go over to the Old South Pole Station club but I was a
little tired I thought I would just take it easy.
Proclamation 4255 - Thanksgiving Day,
1973
November 16, 1973
By the President of the United States
of America
A Proclamation
In the first
Thanksgiving, man affirmed his determination to live in God’s grace and to act
in God’s will on the shores of a new land of promise. In this Thanksgiving
season we reaffirm that determination.
Time has not
dimmed, not circumstance diminished the need for God’s hand in all that America
may justly endeavor. In times of trial and of triumph that single truth
reasserts itself, and a people who have never bowed before men go gladly to
their knees in submission to divine power, and in thanks for divine sustenance.
On this
Thanksgiving Day we mark the 10th anniversary of the tragic death of President
John F. Kennedy. As we give thanks for the bounty and goodness of our land,
therefore, let us also pause to reflect on President Kennedy’s contributions to
the life of this Nation we love so dearly.
Those who
celebrated the first thanksgiving had endured hardship and loss, but they kept
alive their hope and their faith. Throughout our history, each generation has
endured hardship and loss, but our faith and trust in God’s providence has
remained undiminished. At this first thanksgiving in twelve years in which the
United States will have been at peace, we see that God’s grace also remain
undiminished. For this we give thanks.
Now,
Therefore, I, Richard M. Nixon, President of the United States of America, in
accordance with the wish of the Congress as expressed in Section 6103 of Title
5 of the United States Code, do hereby proclaim Thursday, November 22, 1973, as
a day of national thanksgiving, and concurrently, a day of prayer for the
memory of John F. Kennedy. Let all Americans unite on this day, giving thanks
for the manifold blessings vouchsafed our people, and inviting all of those
less fortunate than ourselves to share in those blessings in God’s name, for
His sake, and for our own.
In Witness
Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this sixteenth day of November, in the
year of our Lord nineteen hundred seventy-three, and of the Independence of the
United States of America the one hundred ninety-eight.
Club 250
Brillo, my
best friend, and I decided to use the day off to head on over to the Old South
Pole ourselves. It was about a half a
mile away, but it took us a lot longer than we thought. It was slow trekking the distance through the
loose snow. Along the way, we passed a
railroad sign that some humorous people put up out there. When we got there, our intent was
After our
outing we then we headed back to our camp for our Thanksgiving dinner
meticulously prepared for our delights. It was a great feast. After we ate our
Thanksgiving meal, watched movies, and we then of course stopped off at the
Last Chance Saloon where we sang, “Over the river and through the woods to
Grandmothers house we would go…through the white and wintery snow.” It was
indeed a Thanksgiving to remember.
The Mass: The Perfect Thanksgiving[4]
Men
have not only prayed in thanksgiving but have offered in thanksgiving:
something that was a sign of themselves, to show they were thankful for life,
were sorry for their sins against the Giver of life, would give their lives in
return, if they might, to the One they owe so much. They made offerings in
thanks for the things that sustain life, for the preservation of life.
"Abel also offered of the firstlings of his flock, and of their
fat." . . . "So Noe went out, he and his sons,
his wife and the wives of his sons . . . all living things
went out of the ark. And Noe built an altar unto the Lord: and taking of all
cattle and fowl that were dean, offered holocausts upon the
altar. . . ." They made bloody offerings, because the
offering is a symbol of the offerer, and blood is the essence of life. Blood is
life. There were other offerings. . . . "Melchidesech,
the king of Salem, bringing forth bread and wine, for he was the priest of the
most high God, blessed him and said: Blessed be Abram by the most high God, who
created heaven and earth." . . . Because bread maintains
life, and wine enhances life. God told them what to sacrifice, and how to
sacrifice; but especially He told them to make the sacrifice of the Pasch,
because it was a memorial to their freedom and their protection, a memorial of
thanksgiving to the God who loved them. ". . . and it shall
be a lamb without blemish, a male, one year . . . and the
whole multitude of the children of Israel shall sacrifice it in the
evening." . . . "And this day shall be a memorial unto
you: and you shall keep it a feast to the Lord . . . for
with a strong hand the Lord hath brought you out of this place." He
brought them through water, led them by fire, fed them with manna, and when
they sinned against Him, He chastised them and accepted their sacrifices of
expiation. He made it part of their Law, their Covenant, that they were to
offer sacrifice: of reparation, of petition, of praise, of thanksgiving.
Then
Christ came.
When
it was time for the thing to happen for which, He came, He said to the
Apostles: "This is My body, which is being given for you; do this, in
remembrance of Me." And He said: "This cup is the new covenant in My
blood, which shall be shed for you." This was the new covenant, the
new Pasch . . . "in My blood," He
said. From that moment on they were to make sacrifice "in My
blood." The offering is a symbol of the offerer. Blood is the essence of
life. This is our gift to offer: His Body and Blood, every day. Think of all
the things the Redemption accomplished, and do not forget this last: to put
into our hands the perfect Gift, the pure Victim — "holy and spotless, the
holy bread of everlasting life and the chalice of everlasting salvation."
With the sacrifice of Holy Mass, Catholics make their thanksgiving.
Ferdinand Magellan’s[5] three ships reached CAPE DESIRE on November 28, 1520, and crossed from the Atlantic to the Pacific via
the straits of Magellan.
The late Senator McCain states Ferdinand
Magellan was a man who is the best example of the virtue of Aspiration.
He left the service of one king and won
the support of another so that he could pursue an ambition as big as the world
he discovered. Ferdinand Magellan claimed the most daunting and marvelous
prize. By the greatest feat of seamanship in history, he was the first European
to go around the unknown world. At court, the young Magellan received an
excellent education in the arts and sciences as well as the martial arts. In
1505, he joined the fleet of the first Portuguese governor of India, and over
the course of several years’ service became a skilled navigator and a brave and
capable soldier of fortune. Soldiers of fortune were constantly searching for a
faster route to the prized Spice Islands. Whether Magellan had indeed reached
them while he was in service to the Portuguese crown, there is little doubt
that like all adventurers of the age, he held them as the richest prize on
earth, and surely dreamed of sharing in the wealth and reputation they offered.
Magellan believed that a passage between the Atlantic Ocean and that uncharted
sea to the west, and through it a western route to the Spice Islands, existed
at the unexplored end of the South American continent. He was determined to
locate it. On September 10, 1519, five small ships, the San Antonio, the Concepción,
the Victoria, the Santiago, and the Trinidad, carrying 265 men, a sizable
arsenal of arms and munitions, and a less-than-adequate store of food and
water, left the Spanish port of San Lucar de Barrameda for South America. The
ships’ captains were Spaniards. The fleet’s ultimate destination was kept
secret from the ships’ crews, who believed that they were sailing for South
America, and not for the unknown world beyond its shores. It would not have
been possible to find a crew willing to embark on such a perilous, if not
impossible, journey. Their Portuguese commander, Ferdinand Magellan, sailed
aboard the Trinidad, flying the imperial standard of Spain, the flag of
Castile. Only one of the ships would ever return.
Stella Maris Chapel, Cape
Horn Island
Next to the lighthouse on Cape Horn Island lies a tiny
wooden chapel dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary. It serves the sacramental
needs of the researchers and staff at this station, which lies between South
America’s Tierra de Fuego and the Antarctic continent. The first
Catholic, let alone human being, to visit the area was Ferdinand Magellan on
his round-the-world-trip across the straits that still bear his name. Oddly,
the 90 researchers and support staff of the Italian Mario Zucchelli Station at
Terra Nova Bay don’t have a permanent chapel, despite lay Italian Catholics
offering to build one for free. In fact, a German shipping company offered to
transport the prefab chapel to Terra Nova Bay gratis. Despite this, the Italian
government is dragging its feet, to the detriment of the devout scientists and
staff on the base. The Worldwide Antarctic Program (WAP) is spearheading the
construction of a Catholic chapel at the base. So far, the plan is on ice.
Let’s
go with Larnaca, Cyprus – “Salt and
Resurrection” for your November 27 hop from Souda Bay. It’s fresh,
symbolically layered, and seasonally resonant—perfect for Advent’s threshold.
🇨🇾
Larnaca, Cyprus – Salt and Resurrection
A
week of Lazarus light, monastic clarity, and Mediterranean exile
1. Lodging with Legacy
Stay
where salt winds meet sacred ground
·
Andreas Papandreou Air Base – Space-A Info
·
Hotel Opera Larnaca – steps from St. Lazarus Church
·
Rise Street Art Hotel – urban hospitality with rooftop views
2. Salt and Resurrection – Seven-Course Ritual
Meal
A
symbolic Cypriot supper rooted in exile, healing, and Eucharistic joy
1. Grilled halloumi with mint – monastic clarity and fire
2. Olive tapenade with carob bread – desert mercy and ancestral depth
3. Kolokassi (taro root stew) – hidden strength and slow healing
4. Sheftalia (grilled sausage parcels) – wrapped witness and communal joy
5. Tahini salad – bitterness transformed
6. Loukoumia (Cyprus delights) – sweetness preserved in dust
7. Rosewater mahaleb pudding – resurrection in fragrance and light
3. Symbolic Adventures
1. Church of St. Lazarus – resurrected witness and civic anchor
2. Larnaca Salt Lake – exile, flamingos, and baptismal stillness
3. Hala Sultan Tekke – Muslim pilgrimage and shared mercy
4. Kamares Aqueduct – Roman flow and civic endurance
4. Cultural Pilgrimage
·
Larnaca Fort & Medieval Museum – defense and devotion
·
Pierides Museum – layers of Cypriot civilization
·
Larnaca Art Workshops – icons, exile, and creative repair
5. Nature & Reflection
·
Cape Greco National Park – cliffs, caves, and Eucharistic wind
·
Finikoudes Beach – sunset mercy and communal joy
·
Lefkara Village – lace, legend, and Marian hospitality
6. Sacred Anchors
·
Stavrovouni Monastery – True Cross and desert silence
·
Agios Minas Monastery – iconic clarity and rural witness
·
Panagia Angeloktisti – angel-built and Eucharistic mystery
7. Firelight Finale
·
Bonfires
not permitted, but rose candles and rooftop vigils are welcome
·
Ritual Act: Pour salt into a bowl, light a rose-scented candle, and name one
exile that became resurrection
·
Film Pairing: Of Gods and Men – monastic endurance and mercy in
extremity
Revelation,
Chapter 15, Verse 4
Who
will not FEAR you, Lord, or glorify
your name? For you alone are holy. All the nations will come and worship before
you, for your righteous acts have been revealed.”
We glorify God when we are righteous as he is
righteous who makes the rain fall on both the good and the evil.
A righteous person, no
matter how blameless, will always take humanity’s failures personally. A righteous person has reverence for both God
and those He created.
Reverence is "a feeling or attitude of deep respect
tinged with awe; veneration". The word "reverence" in
the modern day is often used in relationship with religion. This is because
religion often stimulates the emotion through recognition of God, the
supernatural, and the ineffable. Reverence involves a humbling of the self in
respectful recognition of something perceived to be greater than the self.
Thus, religion is commonly a place where reverence is felt. However, similar to
awe, reverence is an emotion in its own right and can be felt outside of the
realm of religion. Whereas
awe may be characterized as an overwhelming "sensitivity to
greatness," reverence is seen more as "acknowledging a subjective
response to something excellent in a personal (moral or spiritual) way, but
qualitatively above oneself" Solomon
describes awe as passive, but reverence as active, noting that the feeling of
awe (i.e., becoming awestruck) implies paralysis, whereas feelings of reverence
are associated more with active engagement and responsibility toward that which
one reveres. Nature, science,
literature, philosophy, great philosophers, leaders, artists, art, music,
wisdom, and beauty may each act as the stimulus and focus of reverence.[6]
Our
Lady of the Miraculous Medal[7]
In the year 1830, Our Lady appeared to St.
Catherine Laboure, a Daughter of Charity in Paris, and told her that God had a
mission for her. Standing upon a globe, the Virgin Mary held a golden ball
which she seemed to offer to God, and on her fingers were rings with gems that
emitted rays of light. She told St. Catherine, "These rays symbolize the
graces I shed upon those who ask for them. The gems from which rays do not fall
are the graces for which souls forget to ask. The Blessed Virgin instructed St.
Catherine to have a medal made of these images, and she promised many graces to
all who wear it.
Highlights and Things to Do:
- Read the inspiring story of the converson of Alphonse
Ratisbonne. For a an entire book on the subject see The conversion of Marie-Alphonse Ratisbonne by
Bussieres, Theodore de, Baron.
- Read more
about the Miraculous Medal at the Central Association of the Miraculous Medal and obtain
a free Miraculous Medal.
- Read the
biography of St. Catherine Labouré by Fr. Joseph Dirvin, Saint Catherine Laboure of the Miraculous Medal.
Meaning of the Medal[8]
The Front
Here, we see a woman, the Mother of God, encircled by a
short and famous prayer: "O Mary conceived without sin. . . . " Being
conceived without sin—the mystery of her Immaculate Conception—means that from
the beginning this woman was full of grace. Mary stands on a globe, the world.
Around her feet a twisted serpent, the devil, struggles for mastery. It is a
conflict between good and evil. Satan's is a world of darkness and disgrace;
Mary's is a world of light and grace. But hers is the victory won by Christ—the
light of the world. So, we see the light and grace of Christ flowing from her
hands; and those who choose grace rather than darkness turn to her for help:
"pray for us who have recourse to thee."
The Back
On the back of the medal, we see a large letter M with a
cross above it. M is for Mary and Mother because she is indeed the Mother of
God's people—a people founded on the twelve Apostles, signified by the twelve
stars arranged around the rim. The two hearts are those of Jesus and Mary.
God's message for Mary was one of suffering "a sword will pierce your
heart too"—just as the heart of her Son would be pierced by a soldier's
lance. The showing of the two hearts in one grand alliance is a reminder of
God's love for us. Mother and Son are united in the work of redemption as
Christ offers himself on the cross and Mary stands compassionately at his feet,
assenting in faith so that the world might be saved. The medal, then, is a
summary in itself of the Church's teaching on Our Lady—a mini-catechism of the
faith for everyone.
The MI Movement
One of the most celebrated cases of a conversion, through
the use of the Miraculous Medal, was that of the agnostic, Alphonse Ratisbonne.
In January 1917, while still a seminarian at the Conventual Franciscan Friars'
Seraphicum in Rome, St. Maximilian Kolbe heard the Miraculous Medal conversion
story of Ratisbonne. This wonderful account inspired St. Maximilian to
recognize the powerful role that God had given Mary in the work of leading
people to conversion and growth in holiness. He understood that the Miraculous
Medal symbolized her active presence in the Church as Mediatrix of All Graces.
For the next nine months St. Maximilian meditated upon the Miraculous Medal,
the apparition of Our Lady to St. Catherine Laboure, and the marvel of
Ratisbonne's conversion.
On the evening of October 16, 1917, St. Maximilian was
ready to put these Marian insights into a concrete plan of action. He gathered
six Franciscan companions in a room at their seminary on Rome's Via San Teodoro
to establish what he called in Latin the Militia Immaculatae (MI), that is, the
"Knights of the Immaculata." This movement, which now numbers
millions of members worldwide, would bind people together around one compelling
and fruitful ideal: spiritual union with Mary the Immaculata. This ideal would
attract various kinds and classes of people (clergy, religious, and laity),
stirring each to form a person-to-person relationship with Mary by means of the
"Act of Total Consecration," and entrustment of self to her.
St. Maximilian made the Miraculous Medal the insignia of
the MI movement. He recommended that people wear it as an external sign of
their Total Consecration to the Immaculata. Mindful of Mary's promise to St.
Catherine that "all who wear it will receive great graces," St.
Maximilian saw the medal as a means of safeguarding the consecration. It
reminds MIs that by their consecration they are to belong to Mary, work for
her, and become one with her, so that she might act through them as her instruments.
The Miraculous Medal helps MIs to love Jesus through Mary,
so as to hasten the transformation of individuals, families, and society into a
"civilization of love."
Purpose of the
MI:
Pursue the conversion and growth in holiness of all people,
under the sponsorship of the Blessed and Immaculate Virgin Mary.
May I join the
MI?
All Catholics are welcome to join. One's "work"
in the MI is simply to live the spirit of Total Consecration to Mary as taught
by the saints and popes. MIs try to bring the presence of Mary into daily life,
by offering up daily duties, prayers, sufferings, and good works for the
conversion and sanctification of souls. MIs need not attend meetings, nor pay
dues, nor follow complicated rules.
Miraculous Medal Invocation Prayer
O Mary conceived without sin, pray
for us
who have recourse to you, and for all who do
not have recourse to you, especially the enemies
of the Church and those recommended to you.
Meditation Prayer with the Miraculous Medal
Mary, this medal is a sign and a
guarantee of your presence. You are present because your power is present, your
voice is present, and your love is present. Therefore, O wonderful Sinless
Woman and our Mystical Mother, we call on you now to fulfill your guarantee.
Bring us the great graces you promised to those who carry this medal,
especially to those who wear it around their neck. Make us perceive our
presence now and always. Make us consciously experience your power, your love
and your guidance, that in their strength we may begin to share in your perfect
response to God and to each of his creatures and join in your war with the
ancient Serpent. Help us utterly abandon our self-centered feelings and
preoccupations. Help us hear and understand you. Teach us to listen and learn.
Help us respond to you today and always; that made one with you we might more
fully respond with the rest of the Church to the Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
participating in their life and unity.
33 days to
Christmas-Start the 33 days to Eucharistic Glory[9]
Want to start a
small group? Download our 33 Days to Eucharistic Glory Study Guide
Day 6
On this 6th day, seek with all your
strength to mortify your flesh.
Copilot:
Mortifying the flesh, or practicing self-denial and
self-discipline, is a spiritual exercise aimed at overcoming temptations and
focusing more on spiritual growth and devotion. It’s a tradition rooted in many
religious practices and can be approached thoughtfully and with respect to
one's personal limits and health. Here are some ways to practice this:
Fasting and Abstinence
- Regular
Fasts: Set aside specific days for fasting, where you limit your intake of
food and drink to focus on prayer and reflection.
- Abstinence
from Pleasures: Give up certain pleasures or comforts, like sweets,
entertainment, or social media, for a set period.
Acts of Discipline
- Regular
Prayer: Establish a disciplined prayer routine, dedicating specific times
of day for reflection and communion with God.
- Scripture
Reading: Commit to reading and meditating on the Bible daily, seeking
deeper understanding and spiritual insight.
Physical and Mental Control
- Exercise
Moderation: Practice moderation in all aspects of life, including food,
drink, and leisure activities.
- Control of
Thoughts: Work on controlling negative or distracting thoughts through
mindfulness and meditation.
Service to Others
- Charitable
Acts: Engage in acts of charity and service to others, prioritizing their
needs over your own comforts.
- Volunteering:
Regularly volunteer your time and skills to help those in need.
Reflective Practices
- Daily
Examination: Reflect on your actions and thoughts each day, acknowledging
areas for improvement and seeking forgiveness and strength.
- Journaling:
Keep a journal to track your progress, reflect on your spiritual journey,
and set goals for further growth.
Catechism of the Catholic Church
PART TWO: THE CELEBRATION OF THE CHRISTIAN MYSTERY
SECTION
TWO-THE SEVEN SACRAMENTS OF THE CHURCH
CHAPTER ONE-THE SACRAMENTS OF
CHRISTIAN INITIATION
Article 1-THE
SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM
III. How is
the Sacrament of Baptism Celebrated?
Day 168
Christian Initiation
1229 From the time of the
apostles, becoming a Christian has been accomplished by a journey and
initiation in several stages. This journey can be covered rapidly or slowly,
but certain essential elements will always have to be present: proclamation of
the Word, acceptance of the Gospel entailing conversion, profession of faith,
Baptism itself, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, and admission to Eucharistic
communion.
1230 This initiation has varied
greatly through the centuries according to circumstances. In the first
centuries of the Church, Christian initiation saw considerable development. A
long period of catechumenate included a series of preparatory rites, which were
liturgical landmarks along the path of catechumenal preparation and culminated
in the celebration of the sacraments of Christian initiation.
1231 Where infant Baptism has
become the form in which this sacrament is usually celebrated, it has become a
single act encapsulating the preparatory stages of Christian initiation in a
very abridged way. By its very nature infant Baptism requires a post-baptismal
catechumenate. Not only is there a need for instruction after Baptism, but also
for the necessary flowering of baptismal grace in personal growth. The
catechism has its proper place here.
1232 The second Vatican Council
restored for the Latin Church "the catechumenate for adults, comprising
several distinct steps." The rites for these stages are to be found
in the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA). The Council also
gives permission that: "In mission countries, in addition to what is
furnished by the Christian tradition, those elements of initiation rites may be
admitted which are already in use among some peoples insofar as they can be
adapted to the Christian ritual."
1233 Today in all the rites,
Latin and Eastern, the Christian initiation of adults begins with their entry
into the catechumenate and reaches its culmination in a single celebration of
the three sacraments of initiation: Baptism, Confirmation, and the Eucharist. In
the Eastern rites the Christian initiation of infants also begins with Baptism
followed immediately by Confirmation and the Eucharist, while in the Roman rite
it is followed by years of catechesis before being completed later by Confirmation
and the Eucharist, the summit of their Christian initiation.
Rachel’s
Corner- My sister was born in
Hawaii-I in Germany
·
Mauna
Loa eruption began, 2022
·
How
to celebrate Nov 27th
o
Wake up early and savor the flavor of Bavarian
cream pie for breakfast.
o
Get crafty by making your own jerky snacks to
enjoy throughout the day.
o
Wear a pin to mark Pins and Needles Day,
celebrating creativity and innovation.
o
Visit a local zoo and consider adopting a
turtle or donate to a turtle conservation organization.
o
Attend a community event or virtual workshop to
learn about the history and culture of Lancashire.
o
Embrace the spirit of each holiday by trying
new things, whether it’s indulging in a sweet treat, creating something unique,
supporting animal welfare, or learning about different traditions.
o
Share your experiences on social media to
spread awareness and inspire others to get involved.
o
Today is Bruce Lee’s birthday so whatever you
do today KICK it.
Daily
Devotions
·
Unite in the work of the Porters of St. Joseph by joining them
in fasting: Today's Fast: Protection
of Life from Conception until natural death.
·
Religion
in the home: Preschool for December
·
Offering to
the sacred heart of Jesus
·
Make
reparations to the Holy Face
·
Rosary
[1]https://catholic-restoration.com/2019/11/30/the-virtue-of-patience/
[3]Schultz,
Patricia. 1,000 Places to See Before You Die
[5]Character
Is Destiny Inspiring Stories Every Young
Person Should Know and Every Adult Should Remember is a 2005 book by United States Senator John
McCain with Mark Salter.
