Tuesday, December 9, 2025

Candace’s Corner

· Kirk Douglas' birthday, 1916 Died aged: 103 years, 1 month, 27 days

· Make reparations to the Holy Face-Tuesday Devotion

· Pray Day 5 of the Novena for our Pope and Bishops

· Tuesday: Litany of St. Michael the Archangel

o Wake up to a day filled with surprises. Begin by whipping up some delicious pastries for breakfast to celebrate National Pastry Day. Dive into the world of techno music, cranking up your favorite beats while getting ready for the day ahead. Embrace sustainability by participating in Green Monday—opt for plant-based meals and reduce waste wherever possible.

o Take a moment to appreciate the charm of llamas on National Llama Day—watch videos online, or visit a local farm if one is nearby. Share some laughter by creating and sending out Christmas cards to loved ones. Show gratitude for our furry friends by learning more about veterinary medicine on its international day.

o Fight against corruption by staying informed and engaging in discussions on International Anti-Corruption Day. Reflect on the struggles of others on Weary Willie Day, and consider donating to a local shelter or volunteering your time. Snack on Opal apples while learning about new recipes or apple-related crafts.

o Lastly, honor the lives lost to genocide and champion the prevention of future atrocities on Genocide Prevention Day.

Take a moment of silence to remember, then educate yourself on global issues and organizations working towards justice and peace. Enjoy this diverse and meaningful day, embracing each theme in your own way.

🍇 Candace’s Worldwide Vineyard Tour

Week 6: Sicily, Italy
Theme: Volcanic Mercy, Marian Flame
Dates: December 9 – December 16, 2025
Base: Eastern Sicily – Catania, Mount Etna, and surrounding vineyards
Seasonal Note: Winter warmth by volcanic slopes, Marian shrines, and Sicilian hospitality.

🗓️ Tuesday, December 9 – Arrival in Sicily

⛴️ Travel: Ferry or flight to Catania Airport

🏨 Lodging: Il Principe Hotel Catania (~$95 USD/night)

🌙 Evening stroll through Catania’s historic center, toast with Etna Rosso

🔥 Symbolic Act: “Flame of Arrival” — light a candle at Catania Cathedral

🗓️ Wednesday, December 10 – Vineyard Mercy on Etna

🍷 Morning visit: Benanti Winery (~$35 USD tasting)

🚶 Vineyard walk on volcanic slopes, prayer of mercy for the land

🍽️ Lunch: Osteria Antica Marina (~$30 USD)

🌱 Symbolic Act: “Mercy in the Soil” — pour a drop of wine at the roots

🗓️ Thursday, December 11 – Pilgrim’s Table in Taormina

🍷 Visit: Gambino Vini (~$32 USD tasting)

📖 Afternoon journaling overlooking the Ionian Sea

🥖 Shared meal: bread, Sicilian cheese, olives, and Etna Bianco

✨ Symbolic Act: “Table of Flame” — name one mercy received and one joy shared

🗓️ Friday, December 12 – Marian Flame (Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe)

🚶 Morning walk through vineyards near Linguaglossa

🙏 Visit Marian shrine: Santuario della Madonna della Sciara

🧺 Picnic with local produce (~$15 USD)

🌸 Symbolic Act: “Marian Flame” — leave a flower at the shrine

Mass Option (Feast Day):

⛪ Catania Cathedral – Basilica Cattedrale di Sant’Agata

🕚 Feast Day Mass: typically 11:00 AM

🗓️ Saturday, December 13 – Vineyard Walk & Volcanic Pause

🚶 Morning hike on Mount Etna trails

🍷 Tasting: Planeta Sciaranuova Winery (~$30 USD)

✍️ Reflection at vineyard chapel

🌄 Symbolic Act: “Volcanic Pause” — write a psalm of mercy

🗓️ Sunday, December 14 – Vineyard Benediction & Mass

🍷 Visit: Tornatore Winery (~$28 USD tasting)

✍️ Write a vineyard blessing for the next traveler

🥂 Evening toast with Etna Riserva

🌄 Symbolic Act: “Sicilian Benediction” — bless the volcano and vineyards

Mass Option (Sunday):

⛪ San Nicolò l’Arena Monastery, Catania

🕚 Typical Sunday Mass: 11:00 AM

🗓️ Monday, December 15 – Pilgrim’s Mercy

🚶 Visit local villages: Randazzo or Castiglione di Sicilia

🍽️ Shared meal with vineyard families (~$25 USD)

🔔 Symbolic Act: “Mercy Shared” — light a candle for vineyard workers

💰 Estimated Total Cost: ~$595 USD

Includes:

7 nights lodging

5 vineyard tastings

2 symbolic meals

1 volcanic day trip with picnic

Feast & Sunday Mass

🍷 Candace’s Corner 7‑Course Meal (Traditional Sicilian Arc)

Antipasto – Pastry Dawn

Dish: Cannoli

Recipe: Authentic Sicilian Cannoli – Recipes from Italy

Cue: “Surprise of Dawn” — honoring Kirk Douglas’ cinematic birth.

Primo – Justice Table

Dish: Pasta alla Norma

Recipe: Pasta alla Norma – Recipes from Italy

Cue: “Mercy & Justice” — reflection on Anti‑Corruption and Weary Willie Day.

Secondo – Creature’s Gratitude

Dish: Pesce Spada alla Ghiotta (Swordfish)

Recipe: Pesce Spada alla Ghiotta – Great Italian Chefs

Cue: “Care for Creation” — gratitude for animals and veterinary healing.

Contorno – Green Mercy

Dish: Caponata (Eggplant relish)

Recipe: Authentic Sicilian Caponata – Recipes from Italy

Cue: “Mercy in the Soil” — echoing vineyard acts of sustainability.

Formaggi e Frutta – Peace Benediction

Dish: Pecorino Siciliano with honey and Opal apples

Recipe: Sardinian Pecorino & Honey Crostini – Cooking Mediterranean

Cue: “Flame of Arrival” — remembrance and blessing for peace.

Dolce – Fruit of Memory

Dish: Torta di Mele (Apple cake)

Recipe: Italian Apple Cake – Recipes from Italy

Cue: “Sweet Memory” — honoring Kirk Douglas’ long life and Opal apple joy.

Caffè & Digestivo – Llama Light

Dish: Arancini (Rice balls) with espresso or limoncello

Recipe: Traditional Sicilian Arancini – Nonna Box

Cue: “Joy Shared” — laughter, cards, and lightness at day’s end.

DECEMBER 9 Tuesday of the Second Week of Advent

Saint Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin-Christmas Card Day

Acts, Chapter 13, Verse 7-8

He was with the proconsul Sergius Paulus, a man of intelligence, who had summoned Barnabas and Saul and wanted to hear the word of God. But Elymas the magician (for that is what his name means) opposed them in an attempt to turn the proconsul away from the FAITH.

We still have many magicians today that attempt to distort the faith expressed by the apostles in their creed and illustrated in the preamble of the constitution of the United States that Life must be protected; it is number 1. That liberty must be protected, but it is number 2. And those individual pursuits of happiness (wealth) are protected; but it is number 3. It can be in no other order! Those that try and change the order as God ordained are deluded and are the conjurers of our time.

Copilot’s Take

On December 9, the Church honors Saint Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin, whose humble faith brought forth the miracle of Our Lady of Guadalupe, even as the world around him was filled with deception and false gods. In Acts 13:7–8, we see Sergius Paulus seeking the word of God while Elymas the magician tried to distort it, much like the conjurers of our own time who invert the divine order of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. America, too often, has sacrificed life through abortion, liberty through debt slavery, and wealth to the powerful few, echoing the tragic errors of civilizations that offered human lives to idols. Advent calls us to reorder our hearts and our nation: to protect life first, guard liberty second, and steward wealth last. Tonight, let us pray that we may be like Sergius Paulus—intelligent enough to seek truth, courageous enough to embrace it, and faithful enough to resist the magicians of our age.

Saint Juan Diego[1]

St Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin (1474-1548). Little is known about the life of Juan Diego before his conversion, but tradition and archaeological and iconographical sources, along with the most important and oldest indigenous document on the event of Guadalupe, "El Nican Mopohua" (written in Náhuatl with Latin characters, 1556, by the Indigenous writer Antonio Valeriano), give some information on the life of the saint and the apparitions. Juan Diego was born in 1474 with the name "Cuauhtlatoatzin" ("the talking eagle") in Cuautlitlán, today part of Mexico City, Mexico. He was a gifted member of the Chichimeca people, one of the more culturally advanced groups living in the Anáhuac Valley. When he was 50 years old, he was baptized by a Franciscan priest, Fr Peter da Gand, one of the first Franciscan missionaries.

On 9 December 1531, when Juan Diego was on his way to morning Mass, the Blessed Mother appeared to him on Tepeyac Hill, the outskirts of what is now Mexico City. She asked him to go to the bishop and to request in her name that a shrine be built at Tepeyac, where she promised to pour out her grace upon those who invoked her. The bishop, who did not believe Juan Diego, asked for a sign to prove that the apparition was true.

On 12 December, Juan Diego returned to Tepeyac. Here, the Blessed Mother told him to climb the hill and to pick the flowers that he would find in bloom. He obeyed, and although it was wintertime, he found roses flowering. He gathered the flowers and took them to Our Lady who carefully placed them in his mantle and told him to take them to the bishop as "proof". When he opened his mantle, the flowers fell on the ground and there remained impressed, in place of the flowers, an image of the Blessed Mother, the apparition at Tepeyac. With the Bishop's permission, Juan Diego lived the rest of his life as a hermit in a small hut near the chapel where the miraculous image was placed for veneration. Here he cared for the church and the first pilgrims who came to pray to the Mother of Jesus. Much deeper than the "exterior grace" of having been "chosen" as Our Lady's "messenger", Juan Diego received the grace of interior enlightenment and from that moment, he began a life dedicated to prayer and the practice of virtue and boundless love of God and neighbor.

He died in 1548 and was buried in the first chapel dedicated to the Virgin of Guadalupe. He was beatified on 6 May 1990 by Pope John Paul II in the Basilica of Santa Maria di Guadalupe, Mexico City. The miraculous image, which is preserved in the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, shows a woman with native features and dress. She is supported by an angel whose wings are reminiscent of one of the major gods of the traditional religion of that area. The moon is beneath her feet and her blue mantle is covered with gold stars. The black girdle about her waist signifies that she is pregnant. Thus, the image graphically depicts the fact that Christ is to be "born" again among the peoples of the New World and is a message as relevant to the "New World" today as it was during the lifetime of Juan Diego.

Things to Do[2]

· Read Pope John Paul II's homily at the canonization of St. Juan Diego.

· Meditate on Our Lady's beautiful words to St. Juan Diego: "Hear and let it penetrate into your heart, my dear little son; let nothing discourage you, nothing depress you. Let nothing alter your heart or your countenance. Also, do not fear any illness or vexation, anxiety or pain. Am I not here who am your Mother? Are you not under my shadow and protection? Am I not your fountain of life? Are you not in the crossing of my arms? Is there anything else that you need?"

· Cook some Mexican dishes for dinner and bake a Rose Petal Pound Cake or other rose theme for dessert in honor of St. Juan Diego.

· From the Catholic Culture Library:

o On The Canonization Of First Native American

o Mexico Has Seen a Great Light

o Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

· Recommended Reading: For children: The Lady of Guadalupe by Tomie dePaola. For adults: The Wonder of Guadalupe by Francis Johnston.

· For music for Juan Diego's and Our Lady of Guadalupe's feast, see www.savae.org. The San Antonio Vocal Arts Ensemble have two cds of authentic music by Mexican medieval composers. Very beautiful!

· Visit Our Lady of Guadalupe, Patroness of the Americas for detailed accounts on the apparition to Juan Diego.

33 days to Christmas-Start the 33 days to Eucharistic Glory[3]

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

Day 18

On this 18^th day, to have to strength to pardon personal injuries in emulation of Christ who pardoned those who crucified him knowing they knew not what they were doing.

Copilot:

To have the strength to pardon personal injuries in emulation of Christ, who pardoned those who crucified Him, is a profound act of grace and love. Here are some spiritual practices and reflections that may help cultivate this strength:

Daily Spiritual Practices

1. Prayer for Forgiveness: Pray daily for grace to forgive those who have wronged you, asking for strength and compassion. A simple prayer like, "Lord, grant me the heart to forgive as You forgave," can be very powerful.

2. Reflect on Christ's Forgiveness: Meditate on passages such as Luke 23:34, where Jesus says, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." Reflecting on Christ's example can inspire you to follow in His footsteps.

Strengthening the Resolve to Forgive

1. Sacraments: Regularly participate in the sacraments, especially Confession and the Eucharist. They provide the grace needed to forgive and be forgiven.

2. Seek Spiritual Guidance: Talk to a spiritual director or mentor about your struggles with forgiveness. They can offer guidance and support.

Reflecting on the Importance of Forgiveness

1. Acts of Kindness: Engage in acts of kindness toward those who have hurt you. Small gestures can help soften your heart and build bridges of reconciliation.

2. Gratitude Journaling: Keep a journal of moments when you have received forgiveness and the impact it had on your life. This can help foster a spirit of gratitude and a willingness to extend the same grace to others.

Example Prayer for Strength to Forgive

Here’s a prayer to help you seek the strength to forgive:

Heavenly Father,

Grant me the strength to forgive those who have wronged me, just as Christ forgave those who crucified Him. Fill my heart with compassion and understanding and help me to let go of resentment and pain. May Your love and grace flow through me, as I strive to live according to Your will.

Amen.

Bible in a Year Day 161 The Crucifixion of Christ

Fr. Mike finishes the gospel of Mark by reflecting on the death and resurrection of Christ. He also encourages us to reflect on the redemption of our own sins every time we see a crucifix and to return that same sacrificial love to God every day. Today's readings are Mark 15-16 and Psalm 22.

Christmas Card Day[4]

Way back in 1843, the first commercial Christmas card was created in England by Sir Henry Cole, a civil servant who was responsible for the idea of sending greetings scribbled into the now familiar cards we get around the season of good cheer. Christmas Card Day honors its inventor on the 9th of December. The first ever commercial Christmas card showed a family raising a toast, and in the following year’s designs showing flowers or depicting the promise of spring were favored. Lithograph firm Prang and Mayer started selling their whimsical Christmas cards, often featuring children or cartoon animals, across the pond to America in 1874. By 1880, Prang and Mayer were producing a massive five million cards a year. With so many designs, shapes and sizes, some Christmas cards have become collector’s items which have been known to shift at a pretty penny at auction. One of the world’s first cards, commissioned by Cole and produced by J. C. Horsley, saw the hammer come down at £22,250 in 2001. Another one of Horsley’s cards sold for almost £9000 in 2005 – and if you want to see a big collection of these coveted cards you can drop by the British Museum to see Queen Mary’s early 1900s collection.

Today, seasonal cards are posted all over the world and can be found in hundreds of thousands of designs. The most popular messages you’ll find inside a Christmas card are ‘seasons greetings’ and ‘merry Christmas, and a happy new year’ – but many also stick to religious roots by featuring a short biblical verse or a religious blessing.

How to Celebrate Christmas Card Day

If you’ve got time, it’s always nice to make handmade cards to send out. Get hold of some glitter and a dab of glue and see what you can come up with. The recipients are sure to appreciate it – or if you have children, get them involved in making cards for friends and family! With the advent of e-mail, it’s easier than ever to send Christmas wishes to friend and family across the world – e-cards appeared in the 90s and are frequently used in place of physical cards, so you’ve got no excuse nowadays not to send those season’s greetings. But since nothing beats the real thing, perhaps now is the right time to send out those Christmas cards so they all get to your family and friends before the last post on 23rd December! And if you don’t celebrate Christmas, you could always send out some cheery cards to celebrate the coming of the new year!

Jesse Tree[5]

Jesse Tree Scriptures (The Symbols Are Only Suggestions)

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

December 2 Adam and Eve: Gen. 2:7-9, 18-24 Symbols: tree, man, woman

December 3 Fall of Man: Gen. 3:1-7 and 23-24 Symbols: tree, serpent, apple with bite

December 4 Noah: Gen. 6:5-8, 13-22; 7:17, 23, 24; 8:1, 6-22 Symbols: ark, animals, dove, rainbow

December 5 Abraham: Gen. 12:1-3 Symbols: torch, sword, mountain

December 6 Isaac: Gen. 22:1-14 Symbols: bundle of wood, altar, ram in bush

December 7 Jacob: Gen. 25:1-34; 28:10-15 Symbols: kettle, ladder

December 8 Joseph: Gen. 37:23-28; 45:3-15 Symbols: bucket, well, silver coins, tunic

December 9 Moses: Ex. 2:1-10 Symbols: baby in basket, river and rushes

Daily Devotions

· Unite in the work of the Porters of St. Joseph by joining them in fasting: Today's Fast: Purity.

· Religion in the home: Preschool for December

· Offering to the sacred heart of Jesus

· Make reparations to the Holy Face

· Drops of Christ’s Blood

· Universal Man Plan

· Rosary

[1]http://www.vatican.va/news_services/liturgy/saints/ns_lit_doc_20020731_juan-diego_en.html

[2]http://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/calendar/day.cfm?date=2017-12-09

[3]https://www.dynamiccatholic.com/33-days-to-eucharistic-glory/33EG.html?srsltid=AfmBOopIHMivIR422BjtUtJ2KZm8-MrVMEJFtxZYH7ZkFuXRwdu5G1Qi#longDescription

[4]https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/christmas-card-day/

[5]http://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/activities/view.cfm?id=545

What is Truth?

✨ What Is Truth? Pilate to Christ and the Color Revolution

📖 The Ancient Confrontation

Pilate’s question—“What is truth?”—was not a search for wisdom but a dismissal of Christ’s witness. He stood at the intersection of power and conscience, unwilling to risk his position for the sake of truth. The crowd demanded crucifixion, and Pilate yielded, washing his hands of responsibility.
Here, truth was subordinated to expediency, relativized by politics, and silenced by fear.

🌍 The Modern Parallel

In today’s civic upheavals—often called color revolutions—truth is contested in the same way:

Narrative Warfare: Competing sides claim legitimacy, each insisting their version of events is “true.”
Crowd Dynamics: Mass mobilization forces rulers to act, even against their own judgment.
Relativism vs. Conviction: Expediency bends to pressure, while conviction holds fast to principles that cannot be negotiated.
Truth as destabilizer: Just as Christ’s testimony unsettled Pilate’s calculus, revolutionary movements destabilize regimes by insisting on truths—justice, freedom, dignity—that cannot be dismissed.

Pilate’s shrug echoes in leaders who dismiss popular cries as “subjective noise,” while Christ’s calm testimony reminds us that truth destabilizes every regime built on expediency.

🍷 Hospitality Overlay

Truth is not only debated in courts or streets—it is embodied in communal acts:

A shared meal becomes a witness to dignity.
A liturgical gathering proclaims truth beyond politics.
A devotional calendar anchors truth in cosmic and ancestral rhythms.

Where Pilate walked away, hospitality invites us to stay, to listen, and to embody truth together. Meals, Mass, and symbolic overlays become living revolutions of truth—quiet but enduring.

🕊️ Closing Reflection

Pilate’s question remains the hinge of history. In every revolution, in every gathering, the choice is the same:

To dismiss truth as relative, yielding to expediency.
Or to bear witness to truth as absolute, transforming history through conviction and communion.

The Gospel leaves the question open—but points us toward the answer already spoken by Jesus: Truth is found in Him, and those who belong to truth hear His voice.

📬 Stay Connected

If this reflection resonates with you, consider subscribing to the journey. Each week I share devotional overlays, hospitality guides, and civic-spiritual commentaries that tie Scripture to the rhythms of daily life.

👉 Subscribe now to receive the next entry directly in your inbox and join the conversation on truth, pilgrimage, and hospitality.

Monday, December 8, 2025

Monday Night at the Movies

The Bells of St. Mary's

The Bells of St. Mary’s (1945) tells the story of Father O’Malley and Sister Benedict working together—sometimes clashing, sometimes harmonizing—to save a struggling Catholic school. The film offers Catholic lessons on faith, perseverance, charity, and the power of community love.

🎬 Movie Summary

Setting: An inner-city Catholic parish school, St. Mary’s, run by nuns under Sister Mary Benedict.

Main Characters:

Father Charles “Chuck” O’Malley (Bing Crosby), a progressive priest.

Sister Mary Benedict (Ingrid Bergman), a devoted and traditional nun.

Conflict: The school building is deteriorating and faces condemnation. Sister Benedict hopes a wealthy businessman, Horace Bogardus, will donate his new building next door to the parish. Father O’Malley is more pragmatic, considering closure.

Subplots:

Mary Gallagher, a struggling mother, enrolls her daughter Patsy, who battles academic failure and shame.

Sister Benedict falls ill with tuberculosis and must be transferred, though she is not told the full truth to preserve her spirit.

Bogardus, initially selfish, is moved to acts of charity and ultimately donates his building to the school.

Resolution: Despite hardships, the school is saved, Patsy finds hope, and Sister Benedict departs with faith intact.

✝️ Catholic Lessons

Drawing from Catholic spirituality and biblical principles, the film conveys several enduring lessons:

Faith and Providence:
Sister Benedict’s unwavering trust in God reflects Matthew 17:20—faith as small as a mustard seed can move mountains. Her belief that God will provide teaches reliance on divine providence.

Perseverance in Mission:
The sisters’ determination to keep the school alive embodies Catholic teaching on vocation—remaining steadfast in service despite obstacles.

Charity and Conversion:
Bogardus’ transformation from selfishness to generosity illustrates the Catholic call to conversion and the healing power of good works (cf. James 2:17).

Community and Love:
The collaboration between Father O’Malley and Sister Benedict, despite differences, shows how love and respect build unity. This echoes 1 Peter 4:8: “Above all, love each other deeply”.

Education as Formation:
The insistence on academic integrity (Patsy failing honestly rather than being passed) highlights Catholic values of truth, discipline, and moral character in education.

Suffering and Redemptive Hope:
Sister Benedict’s illness and quiet acceptance reflect Catholic teaching on redemptive suffering—bearing trials with faith and offering them to God.

🌟 Why It Endures

The Bells of St. Mary’s remains beloved because it blends warm humor, human struggle, and spiritual depth. It portrays Catholic life not as rigid rules but as a living faith—where perseverance, charity, and love transform both individuals and communities.

Copilot-In The Bells of St. Mary’s, Father O’Malley and Sister Benedict embody the Catholic conviction that faith, charity, and perseverance can redeem even the hardest situations. The school is saved not by force, but by conversion—Bogardus, the businessman, is moved to generosity, and a struggling child finds hope through honest discipline. The film’s lesson is clear: God’s providence works through human cooperation, and redemption is possible when hearts are softened.

Yet, as Bill O’Reilly points out in his Sunday reflection, Catholic preaching today often emphasizes encouragement over warning. The Gospel itself reminds us that many may choose paths that lead to damnation, though modern homilies rarely dwell on Gehenna. O’Reilly contrasts this gentleness with the Puritan fire-and-brimstone tradition, noting that while threats of hell once dominated sermons, today’s Church leans toward mercy and invitation.

Still, the tension remains: if evil goes unpunished, if miscreants never repent—as O’Reilly highlights in his book Confronting Evil—then justice itself seems hollow. Catholic teaching insists that mercy and judgment are inseparable. The warmth of The Bells of St. Mary’s shows the Church at its most pastoral, but O’Reilly’s meditation reminds us that without the reality of final judgment, the story of salvation loses its moral weight.

Bill O'Reilly-At Mass on Sunday, the Gospel posited that a significant amount of people will go to hell, so they might want to wise up before it’s too late. Interestingly, a Gallup survey says about 60 percent of Americans believe in damnation, Evangelicals leading the league.

The priest sermonized about the prospect of Gehenna, but gently. These days, the Catholic Church rarely pounds home theological negativity, preferring to encourage good behavior from the pulpit.

It’s tough enough to get folks in the pews. Telling them a fire pit may await doesn’t make it easier.

The hell thing, of course, has been around since human beings harnessed fire to cook food and keep warm. Back at the first Thanksgiving time, the Puritan sermonizers spent hours threatening their flock with eternal suffering if their knee socks were too low. Plymouth was a tough place.

In the modern world, miscreants are running wild seemingly without restraint. None of the 15 horrendous human beings profiled in my book “Confronting Evil” repented. Not one.

To me, it just doesn’t stack up that a person can consistently harm others with no final judgment or consequence. I hope that is not the case.

Because if it is, we are all living in a meaningless world without true justice. And that would be a hell of a thing.

See you this evening for the No Spin News.

Christopher’s Corner

· Eat waffles and Pray for the assistance of the Angels

· Monday: Litany of Humility

Drops of Christ’s Blood

· How to celebrate Dec 8th

o National Donair Day calls for a hearty meal that satisfies your cravings. You can try making your own at home or support a local eatery that serves this tasty treat.

o Plant a tree, start a compost bin, or simply take a walk in nature and soak in the greenery around you.

o National Lard Day might seem a bit unconventional, but you can still join in on the fun by trying out a recipe that incorporates this ingredient. Whether it’s frying up some crispy treats or adding a dollop to your baking, embrace the day’s theme in your culinary adventures.

§ Lard or Tallow?

o Up next is National Health Savings Account Day. Take a moment to review your health finances and see if there are ways to save or optimize your healthcare spending. It may not sound glamorous, but a little financial check-up can go a long way in the long run.

o Lastly, embrace the beauty of Immaculate Conception by taking a moment to appreciate the wonders of life and the world around you. Reflect on the day’s journey through time, delicious treats, gratitude for hard work, environmental consciousness, culinary experiments, financial health, and soothing sounds. It’s been a day filled with odd and unexpected celebrations, but isn’t that what makes life interesting?

🕯️ Bucket List Trip [3] – Part 7: USA 70-Degree Year Journey

Dates: December 8–14, 2025
Theme: Pilgrimage by the Sea
Route: San Diego → La Jolla → Mission San Luis Rey → Balboa Park → Coronado
Style: Coastal pilgrimage, Advent reflection, Eucharistic hospitality
Climate Alignment: Daily highs 68–72°F

💰 Estimated Cost Overview

Category	Estimated Cost
Lodging (6 nights)	$600 (mid-range hotel or retreat house) OR ~$420 (military lodging)
Food (daily meals)	$210
Fuel/Transit	$80 (local drives, trolley passes)
Symbolic extras	$75
Total Estimate	$965 (civilian) / $785 (military)

🛏️ Lodging Options

Civilian: Hotel del Coronado (optional splurge), mid-range hotels near Balboa Park or La Jolla.

Military:

Navy Lodge San Diego

Navy Gateway Inns & Suites – Naval Base San Diego

Navy Lodge North Island (Coronado)

Inns of the Corps Miramar

🌠 Day 1 – Monday, December 8 (Feast of the Immaculate Conception)

Location: Mission Basilica San Diego de Alcalá / Immaculate Conception Parish (Old Town) / The Immaculata Catholic Church (USD)
Symbol: Marian Tide
Ritual Prompt: “Mary’s light flows like the sea—pure, patient, prepared.”

Attend Mass for the Immaculate Conception

Reflect on coastal waters as symbols of purity

🥗 Foodie Stop: Casa Guadalajara (~$25)

🏞️ Day 2 – Tuesday, December 9

Location: La Jolla Cove

Symbol: Shore of Wonder
Ritual Prompt: “Wonder is the tide that draws us outward.”

🍲 Foodie Stop: Oscar’s Mexican Seafood (~$20)

🕊️ Day 3 – Wednesday, December 10

Location: Mission San Luis Rey, Oceanside
Symbol: Pilgrim’s Rest
Ritual Prompt: “Rest is holy—it renews the pilgrim’s strength.”

Visit the “King of the Missions”

Quiet prayer in the historic chapel

🥘 Foodie Stop: Local Tap House Oceanside (~$25)

🏛️ Day 4 – Thursday, December 11

Location: Balboa Park
Symbol: Garden of Cultures
Ritual Prompt: “Culture is a garden—diverse, rooted, radiant.”

Explore museums and gardens (San Diego Museum of Art, Botanical Building)

🍷 Foodie Stop: Café Sevilla (~$30)

🌌 Day 5 – Friday, December 12 (Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe)

Location: Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, San Diego
Symbol: Guadalupe’s Mantle
Ritual Prompt: “Mary’s mantle shelters the pilgrim people.”

Attend Guadalupe Mass and procession

Offer roses at Marian shrine

🧺 Foodie Stop: Las Cuatro Milpas (~$20)

🌲 Day 6 – Saturday, December 13

Location: Coronado Island
Symbol: Bridge of Light
Ritual Prompt: “Light crosses—uniting shores, uniting hearts.”

Walk Coronado Bridge or beach

Optional stay at Hotel del Coronado OR Navy Lodge North Island (~$200 civilian / ~$70 military)

🍽️ Foodie Stop: Peohe’s Coronado (~$40)

🎶 Day 7 – Sunday, December 14 (Gaudete Sunday)

Location: St. Joseph Cathedral, Downtown San Diego / Our Lady of the Rosary (Little Italy) / St. Anne Catholic Church / St. Catherine Laboure Catholic Church
Symbol: Candle of Joy
Ritual Prompt: “Joy is the Advent flame—bright, breaking, bold.”

Attend Gaudete Sunday Mass at Cathedral or parish of choice

Light the rose candle at liturgy

Write blog post: “Gaudete by the Sea”

🍷 Foodie Stop: Bernardo Winery Brunch (~$30)

🍽️ Christopher’s Corner – One Table, Seven Courses

1. Waffles & Angels (Appetizer)

Make a small batch of Belgian waffles.

Serve with honey or fruit.

Pray for angelic assistance as you begin.

2. Litany of Humility (Soup)

Prepare a simple lentil soup or broth.

Pray the Litany of Humility while it simmers.

Symbol: warmth and grounding.

3. Drops of Christ’s Blood (Fish + Wine)

Cook a light fish dish (salmon or cod) with a red wine reduction sauce.

Symbol: Christ’s sacrifice paired with the sea’s offering.

4. Donair Day (Entrée)

Make a Halifax donair with pita, spiced beef, and sweet garlic sauce.

Symbol: hearty strength, communal hospitality.

5. Lard or Tallow (Salad/Side)

Bake lard biscuits or fry potatoes in tallow.

Symbol: humble provision, earthy tradition.

6. Healthy Dessert (Stewardship)

Prepare a fruit parfait with yogurt and granola.

Symbol: prudence and care for the body.

7. Immaculate Conception (Digestif/Closing)

End with a toast: wine,

cider, or sparkling juice.

Attend or stream Mass if possible.

Symbol: purity, preparation, and Marian devotion.

DECEMBER 8 Monday-Immaculate Conception (Solemnity)

Acts, Chapter 11, Verse 23-24

When he arrived and saw the grace of God, he rejoiced and encouraged them all to remain FAITHFUL to the Lord in firmness of heart,for he was a good man, filled with the Holy Spirit and faith. And a large number of people was added to the Lord.

The church grows because of the grace of God established a principle that Christ accepts all whether gentile or Jew as long as they remain faithful to the beatitudes and the teachings of the church with a firmness of heart. Antioch and Syria were the seedbed of the saints and martyrs in this time as it is now. Be firm.

Copilot’s Take

On December 8, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, the Church celebrates Mary as the pure vessel of grace, conceived without sin, who’s unwavering “yes” to God became the foundation of salvation history. Acts 11:23–24 reminds us that the Church grows not by human effort alone but by the grace of God, and Barnabas, filled with the Holy Spirit, rejoices to see this grace alive in Antioch, urging the faithful to remain firm in heart. Mary embodies this same firmness—her fidelity to God’s call is total, her heart steadfast, her life a witness to the universality of Christ’s embrace of Jew and Gentile alike. Just as Antioch became a seedbed of saints and martyrs, Mary’s immaculate beginning became the root of holiness for all generations. The message of this day is clear: rejoice in grace, remain faithful, and be firm in heart, following Mary’s example and Barnabas’s encouragement, so that the Church may continue to grow in holiness and unity.

Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception[1]

This is the plan of the Fathers salvation of man. The spiritual blessings we have received through Christ are the call to holiness; the gift of divine adoption establishing a unique spiritual relationship with God the Father through Christ; liberation from sin through Christ’s sacrificial death; revelation of God’s plan of salvation in Christ; the gift of election and faith in Christ bestowed upon Jewish Christians; and finally, the same gift granted to Gentiles. In the Christ-centered faith and existence of the Christian communities the apostle sees the predetermined plan of God to bring all creation under the final rule of Christ being made known and carried through, to God’s glory.

Darkest Hour[2]

Mary as the new Eve is an essential part of God’s redemptive plan bringing light to a dark world.

The season of Advent is about preparing to celebrate the birth of our redeemer. God in his love has chosen us, predestined us to be his children and then in the fullness of time, redeemed us.

These are our darkest afternoons. But surprise! For most of us, December 8, will bring the turnaround. It’s a major winter milestone: the day of our earliest sunset. This puzzles people, but in fact it’s a reliable yearly sequence. First comes earliest sunset, this week. Then there’s the solstice half a month later, the day with the fewest minutes of daylight. Finally, another two weeks later, in early January, we get our murkiest morning—the latest sunrise. So, we’re now slam bang at the low point of afternoon sunshine. And since far more people are awake and aware of things at 4:30 PM than they are at 6 in the morning, in a very real sense you can forget about the solstice and the “official” shortest day of the year. So far as what most folks actually experience, NOW is the darkest time of the year.

Mary who was conceived without sin on the Feast Day of the Immaculate Conception is our example of courage in the presence of God and His angels. Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. (Luke 1:30-31)

ON this and the following eight days the Church celebrates, with particular solemnity, the immaculate conception of the ever-blessed Virgin Mary, who, from all eternity, was chosen to be the daughter of the heavenly Father, the spouse of the Holy Ghost, the Mother of the divine Redeemer, and, by consequence, the queen of angels and of men. The consideration of these prerogatives convinced the most enlightened fathers and teachers of the Catholic Church that she was conceived immaculate, that is, without original sin. It is very remarkable that among the shining hosts of saints who have, in every century, adorned the Church no one wrote against this belief, while we find it confirmed by the decisions of the holy fathers from the earliest times. Pope Pius IX., forced, as it were, by the faith and devotion of the faithful throughout the world, finally, on December 8, 1854, sanctioned, as a dogma of faith falling within the infallible rule of Catholic traditions, this admirable prerogative of the Blessed Virgin. It is, therefore, now no longer, as formerly, a pious belief, but an article of faith, that Mary, like the purest morning light which precedes the rising of the most brilliant sun, was, from the first instant of her conception, free from original sin.

DECEMBER 8. ON this and the following eight days the Church celebrates, with particular solemnity, the immaculate conception of the ever-blessed Virgin Mary, who, from all eternity, was chosen to be the daughter of the heavenly Father, the spouse of the Holy Ghost, the Mother of the divine Redeemer, and, by consequence, the queen of angels and of men. The consideration of these prerogatives convinced the most enlightened fathers and teachers of the Catholic Church that she was conceived immaculate, that is, without original sin. It is very re markable that among the shining hosts of saints who have, in every century, adorned the Church no one wrote against this belief, while we find it confirmed by the decisions of the holy fathers from the earliest times. Pope Pius IX., forced, as it were, by the faith and devotion of the faithful throughout the world, finally, on December 8, 1854, sanctioned, as a dogma of faith falling within the infallible rule of Catholic traditions, this admirable prerogative of the Blessed Virgin. It is, therefore, now no longer, as formerly, a pious belief, but an article of the faith, that Mary, like the purest morning light which precedes the rising of the most brilliant sun, was, from the first instant of her conception, free from original sin. In the Introit of the Mass the Church sings: “Hail, holy parent, who as a happy mother brought forth the King Who rules heaven and earth from eternity to eternity.” “My heart hath uttered a good, I speak my works to the King.”

Prayer.

We beseech Thee, O Lord, to bestow on Thy servants the gift of heavenly grace, that, for those to whom the Blessed Virgin’s maternity was the beginning of salvation, the votive solemnity of her immaculate conception may procure increase of peace. Amen.

EPISTLE. Prov. viii. 22-35.

The Lord possessed Me in the beginning of His ways, before lie made anything from the beginning. I was set up from eternity, and of old before the earth was made. The depths were not as yet, and I was already conceived, neither had the fountains of waters as yet sprung out: the mountains with their huge bulk had not as yet been established: before the hills I was brought forth: He had not yet made the earth, nor the rivers, nor the poles of the world. When He prepared the heavens, I was present: when with a certain law and compass He enclosed the depths: when He established the sky above, and poised the fountains of waters: when He compassed the sea with its bounds, and set a law to the waters that they should not pass their limits: when He balanced the foundations of the earth, I was with Him forming all things ; and was delighted every day, playing before Him at all times; playing in the world, and My delights were to be with the children of men. Now, therefore, ye children, hear Me: Blessed are they that keep My ways. Hear instruction and be wise and refuse it not. Blessed is the man that heareth Me, and that watcheth daily at My gates, and waiteth at the posts of My doors. He that shall find Me shall find life and shall have salvation from the Lord.

Explanation.

This lesson is, in the literal sense, a eulogy on the divine and uncreated wisdom, which before all things was in God; through which all things were made, disposed, and preserved; which rejoices in its works, and calls upon all its creatures, especially on men, to render to it love and obedience. Most of what is here said is also to be applied to Mary, of whom it may with truth be said that, as the holiest and most admirable of all creatures, she occupies the first place in the heart of God.

Therefore, the Church also refers to her those words of the wise man: “I came out of the mouth of the Most High, the first born of all creatures.”

GOSPEL. Luke i. 26-28.

And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God into a city of Galilee, called Nazareth, to a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary. And the angel being come in, said unto her: Hail, full of grace: the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.

Immaculate Conception Facts[3]

· God gave Mary a pure soul incapable of sinning when she was received. It prepared her to be the mother of Jesus Christ, the Messiah. This teaching does not appear in Scripture. It was decreed by Pope Pious IX on December 8, 1854.

· Our Holy Lady Immaculately Conceived is the patroness for the United States - as decreed by Pope Pius IX in 1854.

· Our Mother Mary is full of beauty because she is full of grace. - Pope Francis via twitter on Dec 30, 2013.

· The most Blessed Virgin Mary was, from the first moment of her conception, by a singular grace and privilege of almighty God and by virtue of the merits of Jesus Christ, Savior of the human race, preserved immune from all stain of original sin. - Catechism of the Catholic Church

Immaculate Conception Top Events and Things to Do

· Go to Mass. It is a holy day of obligation for Roman Catholics in the United States.

· Study the Immaculate Conception in art. One famous painting, The Virgin of the Immaculate Conception was completed by Spanish artist Bartolome Esteban Murillo in the 17th century. It hangs in the Walters Art Museum in Baltimore, Maryland.

· Watch the movie, Mary of Nazareth (2013)

More Things to Do[4]

· The dogma of the Immaculate Conception lends itself to fruitful meditation and should be taught to children. The doctrine of original sin, the sin of Adam and its effects on the human race, is a good beginning for study. For the best explanation of the teachings of the Church on this, see the Catechism of the Catholic Church, numbers 386-412. Also you might read Pope Piux IX's bull, Ubi Primum (On The Immaculate Conception) proclaiming the Immaculate Conception as a dogma of Faith. Other reading from the Catholic Culture Library:

o Apostolic Constitution The Immaculate Conception (Ineffabilis Deus) by Pius IX;

o Ad Diem Illum Laetissimum (On The Immaculate Conception) by Pius X;

o Fulgens Corona (Proclaiming A Marian Year To Commemorate The Centenary Of The Definition Of The Dogma Of The Immaculate Conception) by Pope Pius XII;

o On Devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary (Marialis Cultus) by Pope Paul VI;

o Immaculate Conception Defined by Pius IX by Pope John Paul II;

o John Duns Scotus: Champion of the Immaculate Conception by Brother John M. Samaha, S.M.;

o The Message of the Virgin of Lourdes by Bishop Donald Montrose, D.D.;

o The Immaculate Conception by Abbot Gueranger

· Mary as the Immaculate Conception is the patroness of the United States. Visit or take a virtual tour of the Basilica of the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, America's patronal church.

· This day would also be appropriate for parents to plan their approach on family sex education, as it is the privilege and duty of parents to teach their own children in this area.

· Make a Mary candle for the feast of the Immaculate Conception. See Celebrating for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception for details and other ideas.

· Prepare an all-white meal for dinner and then discuss with your children the dogma of the Immaculate Conception with the visual aids of dinner showing the purity and the stainlessness of Mary's soul. Read Teaching the Immaculate Conception and Advent and the Immaculate Conception for discussion ideas.

Ideas for dinner:

Appetizers: Rice crackers and white cheeses;
Soups: cream soups, such as clam chowder, potato soup, cream of celery;
Main Course: chicken breasts, pasta with alfredo sauce;
Side Dishes: mashed potatoes, white rice, cauliflower with (or without) white cheese sauce, white bread (with crusts removed), white corn;
Dessert: White cake with white icing, meringue kisses, vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, white chocolate.

· The special treat for this feast is Moravian Spritz, or gingerbread cookies, loaded with fine, aromatic spices. These are mixed on the vigil, December 7. Or make your favorite gingerbread cookie. Perhaps for this solemnity the family could make a gingerbread house or Gingerbread Bowls.

· Today, plant an Immaculate Conception Rose Bush. During this winter season, it is also a good time to plan a Mary Garden. Flower Theology by John Stokes, the website Mary's Gardens and the book Mary's Flowers, Gardens, Legends and Meditations by Mary's Gardens Associate, Vincenzina Krymow, are good beginnings for planning your garden.

· No room for a garden? No time to nurture nature? Read Flowers for the Fairest by Daniel Foley to read about flowers appropriate for Our Lady, and purchase a small bouquet or a few flowers...real or silk to display for feasts of Mary.

Why Is the Octave of the Immaculate Conception No Longer Observed?[5]

On this octave day of the Immaculate Conception, it occurred to me that it was in 1956, six years before the Missal of 1962 was promulgated by Pope John XXIII, that the Feast of the Immaculate Conception lost its octave and became a feast celebrated in the course of one day.

A similar simplification occurred in 1955, when Pope Pius XII accepted the suggestions of Fr. Annibale Bugnini concerning the reform of Holy Week. Seven years later, Pope John XXIII himself would accept the suggestions of the same Fr. Bugnini to simplify Catholic pious devotions and remove the octaves from the Church calendar.

Why did John XXIII agree to Bugnini’s proposition to reform this feast of the Immaculate Conception?

Several answers can be given to this question. Here I want to stress just one point that I present as a hypothesis. The answer seems related to the fact that John XXIII also failed to consecrate Russia to the Immaculate Heart even though he knew he should do so. That was in 1960 after the Pope read the Third Secret and decided that “it was not for our time,” even though Our Lady had explicitly asked the Pope to make it known at that time. There is more that could be said but others have addressed the issue of Fatima in great detail, so I will not repeat what they have already written.

I think that when we disobey the will of God, we receive a curse from God rather than a blessing. St. Thomas Aquinas taught that when a person receives such a curse, God allows increased demonic activity and influence in his life, or if it happens to be a Pope in question, that demonic power would extend to the Church and the world.

At La Salette, Our Lady told Melanie that in the 1840s Satan and some of the other most powerful devils were released from Hell to punish mankind for sins committed.

Bugnini, proposed the octave be eliminated; John XXIII agreed: This fact was confirmed in a revelation received by Pope Leo XIII more than a half century later. After Mass one day, he had a vision of the confrontation between Jesus and Satan. The latter boasted that he could destroy Christ's Church if he were only given more time, which was granted to him. Shortly after this vision, the Holy Pontiff composed the St. Michael prayer [click here] as well as wrote several encyclicals on the Rosary. He also ordered that the St. Michael prayer, in addition to three Hail Mary’s, the Hail Holy Queen, and a prayer for the Church should be prayed at the end of every Mass for the conversion of sinners. These prayers were made optional in 1962 and abolished in 1965.

Where disobedience increases, degeneration increases, and as Fr. Patrick Perez pointed out in a recent talk in Indianapolis for the Catholic Family News Conference, this corrosion of the liturgy did not begin in 1969 with the New Mass. It did not begin even with the 1962 Missal. It began much earlier.

Why did it happen?

In 1929, Our Lady appeared to Sister Lucy in Tuy, Spain, requesting the Consecration of Russia to her Immaculate Heart. She wanted the Consecration made not only to bring about millions of conversions to the Catholic Faith, but also so that those who adhered in substance to the Catholic Faith would be more faithful and zealous.

By failing to honor the Immaculate Heart of Mary and fulfill the requests that would establish devotion to her Heart throughout the world, as Our Lord desires, the last Popes in succession became guilty of greater and greater disobedience to the Divine Will.

Our Lady of Fatima

The Popes disregarded Our Lady's command to consecrate Russia.

Just as a disease that is not cured spreads, so it happens with a malady in the Church. The internal crisis in the Church becomes worse and worse so long as the right remedy is not applied to it.

As the power and influence of Satan and his minions increase, the temptations to sin become greater and it becomes more difficult to resist, although it is never impossible. We must always keep before us the horror of all sin, especially mortal sin, in order to keep up our resistance to the evil of our times. Wherever we go, we should consign Jesus and Mary to go with us. They witness our every action.

Now, if we further reflect that the season of Advent commemorates that time when Our Lady was preparing to give birth to the Redeemer, then we realize we should ask for her protection in the name of the great love she had for her Son.

By honoring today, the octave of Our Lady's Immaculate Conception, we prove to her and to Almighty God that we will not accept any rebellion against the will of God, not even the trial balloon of the 1962 Missal. For already at that point in the game, Progressivism was preparing its great assault on the Church, which was Vatican II.

It is this kind of firm resistance to errors and concessions toward Progressivism that will help us to also resist temptation to mortal sin in our personal life, obtaining for us the graces necessary to remain firmly planted in the footsteps of Our Lady and Our Lord, far from Satan’s wicked instruments. The decree Maxima Redemptionis, which introduced the new rite in 1955, changed the times of the ceremonies of Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday to evenings.

It also suppressed the Last Gospel for the Masses of Holy Week, the psalm Judica me for the Prayers at the Foot of the Altar, initiated the practice of the priest facing the people in certain places, diminished the role of the priest in the readings, changed the Prayer for the Conversion of Heretics to the Prayer for Church Unity, introduced the vernacular in places, and many other such innovations.

[1] Goffine’s Devout Instructions, 1896

[2](https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?shva=1#inbox/158d405eb1637d53)

[3] http://www.wincalendar.com/Immaculate-Conception

[4]http://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/calendar/day.cfm?date=2017-12-08

[5]https://www.traditioninaction.org/religious/e009rp_OctaveImCon_Stretenovic.htm

33 days to Christmas-Start the 33 days to Eucharistic Glory[1]

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

Day 17

On this 17^th day, to have a mind filled with victory through humble obedience to your will.

Copilot:

To cultivate a mind filled with victory through humble obedience to God's will, consider these spiritual practices and reflections:

Daily Spiritual Practices

Prayer for Guidance: Start your day with a prayer asking God for the wisdom to understand His will and the humility to follow it. Prayers like the Prayer of Surrender or St. Ignatius' Prayer for Generosity can be particularly powerful.
Meditation on Scriptures: Reflect on passages that emphasize victory through obedience and humility. For example, Philippians 2:5-11 describes Christ's humility and obedience, leading to ultimate victory.

Strengthening Obedience and Humility

Sacraments: Regular participation in the sacraments, especially the Eucharist, provides grace and strength to follow God's will.
Spiritual Reflection: Spend time reflecting on areas in your life where you can grow in humility and obedience. Consider keeping a journal to document your thoughts and progress.

Reflecting on Victory through Obedience

Acts of Service: Engage in acts of service and kindness, seeing them as opportunities to practice humility and obey God's call to love others.
Gratitude Practices: Cultivate a mindset of gratitude by acknowledging the victories and blessings in your life, both big and small, that come from following God's will.

Example Prayer for Humble Obedience

Here’s a prayer to help you seek victory through humble obedience:

Heavenly Father, Grant me the grace to humbly obey Your will in all things. Fill my mind with the wisdom to understand Your guidance, And the strength to follow it with a humble heart. May Your will be done in my life, Leading me to victory through faith and trust in You. Amen.

Catechism of the Catholic Church

Jesse Tree[2]

Jesse Tree Scriptures (The Symbols Are Only Suggestions)

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

December 2 Adam and Eve: Gen. 2:7-9, 18-24 Symbols: tree, man, woman

December 3 Fall of Man: Gen. 3:1-7 and 23-24 Symbols: tree, serpent, apple with bite

December 4 Noah: Gen. 6:5-8, 13-22; 7:17, 23, 24; 8:1, 6-22 Symbols: ark, animals, dove, rainbow

December 5 Abraham: Gen. 12:1-3 Symbols: torch, sword, mountain

December 6 Isaac: Gen. 22:1-14 Symbols: bundle of wood, altar, ram in bush

December 7 Jacob: Gen. 25:1-34; 28:10-15 Symbols: kettle, ladder

December 8 Joseph: Gen. 37:23-28; 45:3-15 Symbols: bucket, well, silver coins, tunic

Daily Devotions