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 30th
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
- Pretty Little Shoppers – Berry & Goat Cheese Salad with Edible Flowers
- Sungrown Kitchen – Blueberry Goat Cheese Salad with Candied Pecans
4. Fish Course
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
- YeyFood – Honey Cake with Citrus Frosting & Candied Citrus
- Yummy Tummy – Citrus Pound Cake with Candied Citrus Peel
9. Coffee/Tea & Digestif
Mate Tea, Mulled Wine, or Spiced Cider
- The Spruce Eats – How to Make Yerba Mate Tea
- BBC Good Food – Mulled Wine
- Taste of Home – Hot Spiced Cider
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
- Living the Liturgy in the Home for Advent and Christmas
- The Advent Wreath
- Penitential Aspect During Advent
- Gifts for Jesus, the Advent Manger
- Christkindl Brief or Letter to the Christ Child
Activity
Source: Original Text (JGM) by Jennifer Gregory Miller, © Copyright 2003-2023
by Jennifer Gregory Miller First Sunday of Advent[3] #Advent
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.
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 9th 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
· 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
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
- Wolford
Mountain Reservoir – Colorado River District
- Arizona Ice
Fishing Lakes & Species Guide
- Grand
County Ice Fishing Tournaments
- Rainbow
Lake Fishing Report 2025
Holiday Events
·
November
28-January 11 San Antonio River Walk
·
Christmas Village in Philadelphia
·
Arizona Parks
Winter Get away Season
- Bahamas International Film Festival: Official BIFF WebsiteHobbit 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
Dec
3-First
Wednesday-St. Joseph’s Chaste Heart
·
St.
Francis Xavier
Dec
4-Thu.
Full Cold Moon
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
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
[2] Goffine’s
Devout Instructions, 1896.
[6]Goffine’s
Devout Instructions, 1896.