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December 7 Second Sunday of
Advent
Vigil Immaculate Conception-Pearl
Harbor Day
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)
15. All human
life, and therefore all human time, must become praise of the Creator and
thanksgiving to him. But man's relationship with God also demands times of
explicit prayer, in which the relationship becomes an intense dialogue,
involving every dimension of the person. "The Lord's Day" is the day
of this relationship par excellence when men and women raise their song
to God and become the voice of all creation.
This is precisely
why it is also the day of rest. Speaking vividly as it does of
"renewal" and "detachment", the interruption of the
often-oppressive rhythm of work expresses the dependence of man and the cosmos
upon God. Everything belongs to God! The Lord's Day returns again and
again to declare this principle within the weekly reckoning of time. The
"Sabbath" has therefore been interpreted evocatively as a determining
element in the kind of "sacred architecture" of time which marks
biblical revelation. It recalls that the universe and history belong to God;
and without a constant awareness of that truth, man cannot serve in the world
as co-worker of the Creator.
Second Sunday of Advent
The voices of Isaiah and John the Baptist tell us to
prepare.
“As the
journey of Advent continues, as we prepare to celebrate the nativity of Christ,
John the Baptist's calls us to conversion and sounds out in our communities. It
is a pressing invitation to open our hearts and to welcome the Son of God Who
comes among us to make divine judgement manifest. The Father, writes St. John
the Evangelist, does not judge anyone, but has entrusted the power of judgement
to the Son, because He is the Son of man. “And it is today, in the present,
that we decide our future destiny. It is with our concrete everyday behavior in
this life that we determine our eternal fate. At the end of our days on earth,
at the moment of death, we will be evaluated on the basis of our likeness or
otherwise to the Baby Who is about to be born in the poor grotto of Bethlehem,
because He is the measure God has given humanity. “Through the Gospel John the
Baptist continues to speak down the centuries to each generation. His
hard-clear words bring health to us, the men and women of this day in which even
the experience and perception of Christmas often, unfortunately, reflects
materialist attitudes. The 'voice' of the great prophet asks us to prepare the
way for the coming Lord in the deserts of today, internal and external deserts,
thirsting for the water of life which is Christ.” — Benedict XVI[2]
Goffine’s Devout Instructions, 1896.
HAVING taught us on the first Sunday of
Advent to sigh with the prophets for the redemption through Christ, the Church
on this day reminds us, in the holy sacrifice of the Mass, of the joyful
promises of God for the salvation of the gentiles, and of Jesus Christ s actual
coming, in order to quicken our desire for it, and to produce in us an alacrity
in making ready our hearts by penance and love.
For this reason, she says in the Introit
of the Mass: “People of Sion, behold the Lord shall come to save the nations,
and the Lord shall make the glory of His voice to be heard in the joy of your
heart.” “Give ear, O Thou that rulest Israel: Thou that leadest Joseph like a
sheep.”
Prayer.
Stir up our hearts, O Lord, to make ready
the ways of Thine only begotten Son, that by His coming we may be worthy to
serve Thee with purified minds.
EPISTLE. Rom. xv. 4-13.
Brethren: What things so ever were
written, were written for our learning: that through patience and the comfort
of the Scriptures we might have hope. Now the God of patience and of comfort
grant you to be of one mind one towards another, according to Jesus Christ:
that with one mind, and with one mouth, you may glorify God and the Father of
Our Lord Jesus Christ. Wherefore receive one another, as Christ also hath
received you unto the honor of God. For I say that Christ Jesus was minister of
the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the
fathers. But that the gentiles are to glorify God for His mercy, as it is
written: Therefore, will I confess to Thee, O Lord, among the gentiles, and
will sing to Thy name. And again, He saith: Rejoice, ye gentiles, with His
people. And again: Praise the Lord, all ye gentiles; and magnify Him, all ye
peoples. And again, Isaias saith: There shall be a root of Jesse; and He that
shall rise up to rule the gentiles, in Him the gentiles shall hope. Now the God
of hope fill you all with joy and peace in believing that you may abound in
hope, and in the power of the Holy Ghost.
What are we to learn by this epistle?
To be grateful to God for having called
us, by His grace, to the true faith, and for having received us into the bosom
of His holy Church. Again, we are taught that by envy, discord, pride, and
hatred we lose our salvation. Finally, St. Paul refers us to the Scriptures for
instruction.
Why do the Holy Scriptures profit us?
1. They teach, correct, and instruct
us in justice, that we may serve God faithfully, and be ever ready for good
works.
2. They sustain our patience in
suffering, and our hope of eternal life, by many promises, and by the example
of Jesus Christ and His saints.
Why is God called the God of patience,
comfort, and hope?
1. Because He looks with patience and
long-suffering upon our sinful lives.
2. Because He gives us grace to carry
our cross with patience and joy and removes our despair by spiritual
consolation.
3. Because He gives us hope that
after this life, we shall possess Him, the object of our desire.
Aspiration.
O God of
patience, comfort, and hope fill our hearts with joy and peace, and grant that
we may become perfect in all good works by faith, hope, and charity, and that
we may attain the promised salvation.
GOSPEL. Matt. xi. 2-10.
At that
time: When John had heard in prison the works of Christ, sending two of his
disciples, he said to Him: Art Thou He that art to come, or look we for
another? And Jesus making answer said to them: Go and relate to John what you
have heard and seen. The blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the
deaf hear, the dead rise again, the poor have the Gospel preached to them: And
blessed is he that shall not be scandalized in Me. And when they went their
way, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John: What went you out
into the desert to see? a reed shaken with the wind? But what went you out to
see? a man clothed in soft garments? Behold, they that are clothed in soft
garments are in the houses of kings. But what went you out to see? a prophet?
Yea, I tell you, and more than a prophet. For this is he of whom it is written:
Behold I send My angel before Thy face, who shall prepare Thy way before Thee.
Why was St. John cast into prison?
Because he rebuked King Herod, who was
living in adultery with the wife of his stepbrother. This teaches us that we
should not be deterred from our duty, though great suffering and misfortune
should thereby befall us. Is it not nobler and more profitable to our salvation
to be a martyr for truth, as St. John was, rather than to gain favor with the
world by timidly looking on, or by deceitful flattery?
Why
did St. John send his disciples to Jesus?
St. John sent his disciples to Christ so
that they, too, might be convinced that He was the Messiah.
Superiors and parents should learn from
this to see that their dependents and children are well instructed in the
faith.
Why
did Christ merely say to the disciples of St. John: Go and relate to John what
you have heard and seen: the blind see, the lame walk?
Because they ought to have been convinced
from the miracles He wrought, which were the fulfilment of the prophecies, that
He was the promised messiah.
What
was the object of the question, “What went you out to see?” which Our Savior
asked?
1. To praise the constancy of St.
John, who was not to be deterred from exercising his sacred functions either by
the commands of Herod or through fear of imprisonment and death.
2. To approve the austere life of St.
John, that we should thereby be encouraged to crucify the flesh and to do
penance.
Why
did Our Savior say that St. John was more than a prophet?
Because he was destined to see the
messiah, to preach to men, and declare Him to be the Savior of the world. And
as he was a messenger of God, to announce the coming of Christ and prepare His
way, he was called an angel (Malachi. iii. T).
Why
did Jesus add, “Blessed is he that shall not be scandalized in Me”?
On account of those who would be
scandalized, at His humility, His poverty, His ignominious suffering and death
upon the cross, and who would, accordingly, despise and reject Him; although
the more He humbled Himself for them the more they ought rather to love and
honor Him.
Why
does the Church set before us this gospel?
In order that we, like the disciples of
St. John, may, by His works, recognize Jesus as our Lord and Savior, and that
we may make ourselves worthy of the grace of redemption by doing penance
earnestly and firmly, thus preparing the way of the Lord in our hearts.
Consolation in Adversities and Afflictions
What can and
should console us in adversity?
1. A firm belief that everything is
ordered by God’s wise providence, and that no evil can befall us except by His
permission, who never allows us to suffer more than is for our good.
2. That if we call upon Him in
adversity God will help us, whenever it is expedient for our salvation. Thus,
to encourage us He says, “Call upon Me in the day of trouble, I will deliver
thee” (Ps. xlix. 15); and, “If God be for us, who is against us?” (Rom. viii.
31); and “Can a woman forget her infant so as not to have pity on the son of
her womb? and if she should forget, yet will not I forget thee: behold, I have
graven thee in My hands” (Isaias xlix. 15, 16).
3. That it is useless to resist
Divine Providence, for all who have done so have been filled with shame and
ignominy, “Who hath resisted Him and hath had peace?” (Job ix. 4.)
4. That our sufferings when borne
with patience and submission lose their sharpness and bring us merit and
reward. “For that which is at present momentary and light of our tribulation,
worketh for us, above measure exceedingly, an eternal weight of glory” (n. Cor.
iv.17).
Vigil
of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Day of Fast and Abstinence[3]
Besides being the feast
day of St. Ambrose, today is the Vigil of the Immaculate
Conception. And, consequently, today is traditionally a day of fasting
and partial abstinence from meat.
For today, we as traditional Catholics are called upon to fast and to refrain
from eating any flesh meat, except with the one principal meal allowed on a day
of fasting. Meat is considered to be the flesh and organs of mammals and
fowl. Also forbidden are soups or gravies made from them. Salt and freshwater
species of fish, amphibians, reptiles and shellfish are permitted. On
this day one, normal-sized meal and two smaller meals that do not equal the
normal meal are allowed. Eating between meals, however, is prohibited although
fruit juices and milk are allowed. The two smaller meals can not contain flesh meat.
History
of the Vigil of the Immaculate Conception:
On November 30, 1879, Pope Leo XIII added the Vigil of
the Immaculate Conception to the Universal Church's calendar, increasing the
number of liturgical vigils from 16 to 17, which not including Holy Saturday,
consisted of "the eves of Christmas, the Epiphany, the Ascension,
Pentecost, the Immaculate Conception, the Assumption, the eight feasts of the
Apostles, St. John the Baptist, St. Laurence, and All Saints." At this
time, the Vigil of the Immaculate Conception was not yet a fast day. These 17
vigils mentioned were still in place at the time of the writing of the Catholic
Encyclopedia in 1909.
On July 25, 1957, Pope Pius XII transferred the fast
in the Universal Church from the Vigil of the Assumption to the Vigil of the
Immaculate Conception on December 7, even though he had previously abrogated
the Mass for the Vigil of the Immaculate Conception. Thus, this day starting in
1957 was a day of mandatory fasting and abstinence. This is preserved in the
laws in force in 1962 for instance.
By 1962, the laws of fasting and abstinence were as
follows as described in "Moral Theology" by Rev. Heribert Jone and
adapted by Rev. Urban Adelman for the "laws and customs of the United
States of America" copyright 1961: "Complete abstinence is to be
observed on all Fridays of the year, Ash Wednesday, the Vigils of Immaculate
Conception and Christmas. Partial abstinence is to be observed on Ember
Wednesdays and Saturdays and on the Vigil of Pentecost. Days of fast are all
the weekdays of Lent, Ember Days, and the Vigil of Pentecost." If a vigil
falls on a Sunday, the law of abstinence and fasting is dispensed that year and
is not transferred to the preceding day. Father Jone adds additional guidance
for the Vigil of the Nativity fast: "General custom allows one who is
fasting to take a double portion of food at the collation on Christmas Eve
(jejunium gaudiosum)."
The Importance of the Immaculate Conception:
The Immaculate Conception is a dogma of the faith
stating that Mary was conceived sinless in the womb of her mother Anne, and
Mary remained without sin throughout her entire life. Remember, Mary is not
just an average woman but the Mother of God; she is extraordinary (Luke 1:42).
She is, by no means, divine in anyway, but she certainly is the greatest of all
saints. She is the perfect model of charity. Let us try and imitate Mary by
wearing her Brown Scapular and praying the Rosary. To imitate Mary, is to grow
closer to Jesus Christ, Our Savior.
Ad Diem Illum Laetissimum:
An interval of a few months will again bring round that most happy day on which, fifty years ago, Our Predecessor Pius IX., Pontiff of holy memory, surrounded by a noble crown of Cardinals and Bishops, pronounced and promulgated with the authority of the infallible magisterium as a truth revealed by God that the Most Blessed Virgin Mary in the first instant of her conception was free from all stain of original sin. All the world knows the feelings with which the faithful of all the nations of the earth received this proclamation and the manifestations of public satisfaction and joy which greeted it, for truly there has not been in the memory of man any more universal or more harmonious expression of sentiment shown towards the august Mother of God or the Vicar of Jesus Christ.
ENCYCLICAL OF POPE ST. PIUS X ON THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION, FEBRUARY 2, 1904
Mary, Immaculate Virgin Mother of God, pray for us who
have recourse to thee!
33 days to Christmas-Start the 33 days to
Eucharistic Glory[4]
Want to start a small group? Download
our 33 Days to Eucharistic Glory Study Guide
Day
16
On
this 16th day, to have a heart filled with spiritual courage that
resists yielding to the world, the flesh or the pride of Satan for the love of
God only.
Copilot:
To cultivate a heart filled with
spiritual courage that resists yielding to the world, the flesh, or the pride
of Satan, solely for the love of God, consider these spiritual practices and
reflections:
Daily Spiritual
Practices
1.
Prayer and Meditation: Dedicate
time each day to pray and meditate, seeking strength and guidance from God.
Prayers of devotion, such as the Rosary or the Prayer to St. Michael, can
fortify your resolve.
2.
Scripture Reading: Reflect on
passages that emphasize spiritual courage and resistance to temptation.
Examples include Ephesians 6:10-18 (The Armor of God) and James 4:7-10.
Strengthening Spiritual
Courage
1.
Sacraments: Regularly participate
in the sacraments, especially the Eucharist and Reconciliation, to receive
grace and spiritual strength.
2.
Spiritual Mentorship: Seek
guidance from a spiritual director or mentor who can provide support and
accountability.
Reflecting on Love for
God
1.
Acts of Charity: Engage in acts of
love and service for others, seeing these actions as expressions of your love
for God.
2.
Gratitude Journaling: Keep a
journal of daily blessings and moments of grace, cultivating a heart of
gratitude and deepening your love for God.
Example Prayer for Spiritual
Courage
Here’s a prayer to help you seek
spiritual courage and resist temptation:
Dear
Heavenly Father, Grant me the courage to stand firm in my faith, Resisting the
temptations of the world, the flesh, and the pride of Satan. Fill my heart with
love for You above all else And guide me in Your truth and righteousness. May
Your strength be my shield and Your love my guide, As I strive to live for Your
glory alone. Amen.
Catechism of the Catholic Church
Pearl Harbor
Remembrance Day[5]
Today we
honor the victims of Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor, an American Naval Station.
The attack is often cited as the catalyst for American involvement in the
Second World War, given that President Franklin D. Roosevelt declared war on
Japan the following day. At 8am on December 7th, 1941, without prior warning,
the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service attacked a Naval Station at Pearl
Harbor, located on Oahu, Hawaii. The base was attacked by 353 Japanese
fighter planes. In total, 2,403 people perished, another 1,178 were injured,
four U.S. Navy battleships were sunk, and 188 aircrafts were destroyed.
The aim of the attack was to immobilize the U.S. Pacific Fleet, which
would allow Japan to advance into Malaya and Dutch East Indies. On August
23, 1994, the United States Congress passed Public Law 103-308 to designate
December 7 of each year as the National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day.
Pearl Harbor
Remembrance Day Facts & Quotes
·
Within
hours of the attack, Canada was the first nation to declare war on Japan. The
United States declared war the following day.
·
The
Pearl Harbor Commemorative Medal was established by the United States Congress
on November 5, 1990. U.S. Armed Forces veterans and civilians who served,
were injured or killed during the attack on Pearl Harbor were eligible to
receive the medal to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the attack.
(Public Law 101-510, 104 Stat. 1721 and Public Law. 104-201, 110 Stat.
2654)
·
The
USS Arizona Memorial was built in 1962 to mark the resting place of the 1,102
sailors and marines who died on the USS Arizona during the attack on Pearl
Harbor.
·
...commemoration
of the attack on Pearl Harbor will instill in all people of the United States a
greater understanding and appreciation of the selfless sacrifice of the
individuals who served in the armed forces of the United States during World
War II... (Public Law 103-308)
·
Yesterday,
December 7, 1941 — a date which will live in infamy — the United States of
America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the
Empire of Japan. - President Franklin D. Roosevelt. This speech by
President Roosevelt is widely cited and referred to as the Infamy Speech or
Pearl Harbor Speech.
Pearl Harbor
Remembrance Day Top Events and Things to Do
·
Visit
Pearl Harbor and the USS Arizona Memorial on Oahu Island in Hawaii.
·
Spend
some time learning about the Second World War and the US involvement that began
after Pearl Harbor.
·
Attend
a remembrance ceremony at your local naval club, army base, naval base, or
museum of war.
·
Watch
movies about Pearl Harbor and World War II. Here are some
recommendations:
1) Pearl Harbor (2001)
2) Saving Private Ryan (1998)
3) Inglorious Basterds (2009)
4) Letters from Iwo Jima (2006)
5) Flags of Our Fathers (2006)
6) Empire of the Sun (1987)
7) The Longest Day (1962)
8) Tora! Tora! Tora! (1970)
9) Schindler's List (1993)
10) The Pianist (2002)
Father Aloysius H. Schmitt and the USS Schmitt[6]
Aloysius H. Schmitt was born in St. Lucas, Iowa on December 4, 1909, and was appointed acting chaplain with the rank of Lieutenant (Junior Grade) on June 28, 1939. Serving on his first sea tour, he was hearing confessions on board the battleship USS Oklahoma when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. When the ship capsized, he was entrapped along with several other members of the crew in a compartment where only a small porthole provided a means of escape. He assisted others through the porthole, giving up his own chance to escape, so that more men might be rescued. He received the Navy and Marine Corps Medal posthumously for his courage and self-sacrifice. St. Francis Xavier Chapel, erected at Camp Lejeune in 1942, was dedicated in his memory. The destroyer escort USS SCHMITT was laid down on February 22, 1943, launched on May 29, 1943, and was commissioned on July 24, 1943. The USS Schmitt was decommissioned and placed in reserve on June 28,1949 and struck from the Navy list on May 1,1967.
Jesse Tree[7]
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
Claire’s Corner
·
Catholic
Prayer: Novena to the Immaculate Conception
·
How to celebrate Dec 7th
o
Start
your day by lighting a candle in the morning, setting a cozy and calm
atmosphere.
o
Cheers
to National Rhubarb Vodka Day with a refreshing cocktail using
this unique flavor.
o
Embrace
Crate Day by getting outside for a picnic or
barbecue, enjoying good food and company.
o
Explore
the great outdoors on Global Fat Bike Day by going for a bike ride on trails
or beaches.
o
Spread
joy on Coats and Toys for Kids Day by donating gently used items to
those in need.
o
End
your day by lighting candles in your home to mark the Day of the Little Candles, creating a warm and peaceful
ambiance.
Around the World in Perfect
Weather: A 52-Week Dream Trip
🌿 Everglades & Gulf Coast
Extension
December
7 – December 14, 2025
Dec
7 – Departure & Threshold Drive
• Morning: Final reflection at Basilica of Mary, Queen of the Universe – Mass Times
• Drive west toward Florida’s Gulf Coast
• Lodging: Fort Myers – La Quinta Inn (~$89/night)
• Meals: ~$55/day (casual breakfast + seafood supper)
• Symbolic Act: Journal blessing – “Guide my steps into creation’s wonder”
Dec 8 –
Everglades Encounter (Feast of the Immaculate Conception)
• Mass: Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church –
Immaculate Conception Mass
• Explore: Everglades National Park – mangroves, coral reefs, untouched
wildlife
• Lodging: Homestead – Fairway Inn (~$72/night)
• Meals: ~$60/day (local Cuban breakfast + Everglades tour snack + dinner)
• Tickets: Everglades airboat tour ~$50
• Symbolic Act: Prayer of stewardship for fragile ecosystems
Dec
9 – Gulf Coast Sanctuary (Naples)
• Visit: Naples Botanical Garden – Tickets ($25)
• Lodging: Red Roof Inn Plus Naples Downtown (~$85/night)
• Meals: ~$65/day (garden café lunch + Gulf seafood supper)
• Symbolic Act: Gratitude note for creation’s abundance
Dec 10
– Marian Gulf Reflection
• Mass: St. Ann Catholic Church, Naples –
Mass Times
• Walk: Naples Pier at sunset – Advent horizon meditation
• Lodging: Naples (~$85/night)
• Meals: ~$55/day (light breakfast + pierside dinner)
• Symbolic Act: Leave a seashell with a prayer written inside
Dec
11 – Sarasota Artistic Communion
• Visit: The Ringling Museum of Art –
Tickets ($25)
• Lodging: Sleep Inn Sarasota North (~$79/night)
• Meals: ~$60/day (breakfast + museum café lunch + Italian dinner)
• Symbolic Act: Sketch or photograph Marian light
Dec 12
– Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe
• Mass: Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic
Church – Mass Times
• Lodging: Tampa – Quality Inn & Suites (~$82/night)
• Meals: ~$65/day (Mexican feast in honor of Guadalupe)
• Symbolic Act: Place flowers or a candle in honor of Guadalupe
Dec
13 – Tampa Bay Civic Joy (St. Lucy’s Day)
• Visit: Tampa Museum of Art – Tickets ($20)
• Lodging: La Quinta Inn Tampa Near Busch Gardens (~$88/night)
• Meals: ~$60/day (breakfast + museum café lunch + Cuban dinner)
• Symbolic Act: Light a candle in honor of St. Lucy
Dec 14
– Clearwater Benediction (Gaudete Sunday – Third Sunday of Advent)
• Mass: St. Cecelia Catholic Church,
Clearwater – Mass Times
• Walk: Clearwater Beach – Advent joy in ocean horizon
• Lodging: Clearwater Beach Hotel (~$95/night)
• Meals: ~$65/day (breakfast + seaside lunch + celebratory Gaudete supper)
• Symbolic Act: Journal on “Gaudete – Rejoice always” and leave a small token
of joy (flower, shell, or note) in a public place
💰 Cost Snapshot (Dec 7–14 Extension)
Lodging
(7 nights): ~$590
Meals
(8 days):
~$480–$520
Tickets/Activities: ~$145–$170
Transport
(car + gas):
~$350–$400
➡️ Total
per person: ~$1,600–$1,700 for the extension
Daily Devotions
·
Unite in the work of the Porters of St. Joseph
by joining them in fasting: Today's Fast: Holy
Bishops and Cardinals
·
Religion in the
home: Preschool for December
·
Offering to the sacred heart of Jesus
·
Make reparations to the Holy Face
·
Rosary
