Posts
Claire’s Corner
· Today in honor of the Holy Trinity do the Divine Office giving your day to God. To honor God REST: no shopping after 6 pm Saturday till Monday. Don’t forget the internet
· Jesse Tree ornament: Joseph: Matt. 1:18-25 Symbols: hammer, saw, chisel, angle
· How to celebrate Dec 14th
o You wake up to the sun shining through your window, ready to embark on a day filled with surprising delights. Begin your day by embracing your playful side and celebrating Monkey Day. Visit a nearby zoo or wildlife sanctuary to observe these curious creatures up close. If that’s not an option, spend some time watching funny monkey videos online for a good chuckle.
o Moving on to National Alabama Day, why not explore the culture of the southern state by whipping up a batch of homemade Southern comfort food? Cook up some classic dishes like fried green tomatoes or shrimp and grits to transport your taste buds to the heart of Alabama.
o Next, channel your inner entrepreneur on Sustainable Entrepreneurship Day. Support local businesses by shopping at a farmer’s market or thrift store. Get creative by upcycling old items into new treasures or starting a mini herb garden on your windowsill.
o Spread some positivity on More Good Today Day by performing random acts of kindness. Whether it’s buying a coffee for a stranger or leaving an uplifting note for a loved one, brighten someone’s day with a small gesture of kindness.
Around the World in Perfect Weather: A 52‑Week Dream Trip
🌊 Bermuda Extension • Claire’s Island Homecoming
December 15 – December 21, 2025
Dec 15 – Arrival in Mount Pleasant, Bermuda
• Flight: Quick hop from Florida into the Atlantic ($163–$257 round‑trip per person)
• Lodging: Mount Pleasant Guesthouse ($110/night) – cozy, budget‑friendly stay near beaches
• Meals: ~$65/day (fresh seafood, tropical fruit, island breakfast cafés)
• Symbolic Act: Journal on “Claire’s Island” — reflect on how birthplace ties into Advent’s theme of incarnation and roots
Dec 16 – Pink Sand & Rock Coves
• Visit: Horseshoe Bay Beach – iconic pink sand and turquoise waters
• Lodging: Mount Pleasant Guesthouse (~$110/night)
• Meals: ~$60/day (beach picnic + local fish chowder)
• Symbolic Act: Collect a shell or stone inscribed with Claire’s name as a gesture of gratitude for origins
Dec 17 – Island Gardens & Maritime Reflection
• Visit: Bermuda Botanical Gardens – subtropical blooms and shaded paths
• Lodging: Mount Pleasant Guesthouse (~$110/night)
• Meals: ~$65/day (garden café lunch + island supper)
• Symbolic Act: Sketch a flower as a symbol of Advent growth and Claire’s Bermudian heritage
Dec 18 – Eucharistic Horizon (Thursday of the Third Week of Advent)
• Mass: St. Theresa’s Cathedral, Hamilton – Mass Schedule
• Walk: Hamilton Harbour promenade – blend civic life with ocean clarity
• Lodging: Mount Pleasant Guesthouse (~$110/night)
• Meals: ~$60/day (light breakfast + harbour dinner)
• Symbolic Act: Light a candle for seafarers and journal on “Claire’s horizon” — the gift of beginnings
Dec 19 – Maritime Wonder (Friday of the Third Week of Advent)
• Visit: Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute – ocean science and shipwreck exhibits
• Lodging: Mount Pleasant Guesthouse (~$110/night)
• Meals: ~$65/day (museum café + seafood supper)
• Tickets: ~$20 entry
• Symbolic Act: Journal on “Depths unseen” — reflect on hidden mercy and Claire’s island roots
Dec 20 – Coastal Communion (Saturday of the Third Week of Advent)
• Walk: Warwick Long Bay – quiet coves and coral reefs
• Lodging: Mount Pleasant Guesthouse (~$110/night)
• Meals: ~$60/day (beach breakfast + shared island supper)
• Symbolic Act: Share fruit or bread with fellow travelers, naming Claire’s birthplace as a blessing
Dec 21 – Advent Joy in Bermuda (Fourth Sunday of Advent)
• Mass: St. Theresa’s Cathedral, Hamilton – Mass Schedule
• Reflection: Journal on “Prepare the way” — Advent’s final call, tied to Claire’s island beginnings
• Lodging: Mount Pleasant Guesthouse (~$110/night)
• Meals: ~$65/day (celebratory Advent supper with citrus and wine)
• Symbolic Act: Leave a note of joy in a public place — “Rejoice, the Lord is near — Claire’s island sings”
💰 Cost Snapshot (Dec 15–21 Extension)
Lodging (7 nights): ~$770
Meals (7 days): ~$420–$455
Tickets/Activities: ~$40–$60
Local Transport (bus/ferry): ~$100–$150
Flight hop Florida → Bermuda: ~$163–$257 round‑trip per person
➡️ Total per person: ~$1,700–$1,850 for the Bermuda extension
DECEMBER
14 Third Sunday of Advent
John Of the Cross-Chanukah-Halcyon
Days-Roast Chestnuts
Isaiah, chapter 35, verse 3-4
Strengthen hands that are feeble, make firm knees that are weak, say to the fearful of heart: Be strong, DO NOT FEAR! Here is your God, he comes with vindication; With divine recompense he comes to save you.
Isaiah in this chapter is proclaiming the deliverance of Israel specifically but upon examining the wording in this verse it is referring to the day of our death. On that day our hands will be feeble, but our hearts must remain strong. Will you be vindicated and what compensation will be due you. Honestly few will be due recompense, but our Lords love is such that he wishes to save us at this final hour with the sacrament which was formerly called the “Last Rites”.
1524 In addition to the Anointing of the Sick, the Church offers those who are about to leave this life the Eucharist as viaticum. Communion in the body and blood of Christ, received at this moment of "passing over" to the Father, has a particular significance and importance. It is the seed of eternal life and the power of resurrection, according to the words of the Lord: "He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day." The sacrament of Christ once dead and now risen, the Eucharist is here the sacrament of passing over from death to life, from this world to the Father.
1525 Thus, just as the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and the Eucharist form a unity called "the sacraments of Christian initiation," so too it can be said that Penance, the Anointing of the Sick and the Eucharist as viaticum constitute at the end of Christian life "the sacraments that prepare for our heavenly homeland" or the sacraments that complete the earthly pilgrimage.
Such is the Love of our Lord that we should be delivered. His love is such that by receiving our Lord in the viaticum he delivers us to the Father saying here is blood of my blood and He transfers His recompense; His vindication to us. There is no greater love than this!
The Last Blessing
Let us pray. Most gracious God, Father of mercies and God of all consolation, Thou wish none to perish that believes and hopes in Thee, according to Thy many mercies look down favourably upon Thy servant (handmaid) N.____ whom true faith and Christian hope commend to Thee. Visit him (her) in Thy saving mercy, and by the passion and death of Thy only-begotten Son, graciously grant to him (her) forgiveness and pardon of all his (her) sins that his (her) soul in the hour of its leaving the earth may find Thee as a Judge appeased, and being washed from all stain in the Blood of Thy same Son may deserve to pass to everlasting life. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.
Lord, teach me to be generous. Teach me to serve you
as you deserve; to give and not to count the cost…to labor and not to ask for
reward, except to know that I am doing your will. (Saint Ignatius, Prayer for
Generosity)
Lord, let me not fear death with an empty fear, but with a wise and holy fear. An empty fear does not make men any better, but a wise and holy fear urges them to improve their lives. I will prepare for death by trying today to please you more and more in my thoughts, desires, words and actions. If I live this day as You desire, I shall be ready at any moment, and death will be nothing worse than Your loving call. Amen[1]
The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom should I fear? The LORD is my life’s refuge; of
whom should I be afraid? (Ps. 27:1)
Copilot’s Take
On this Third Sunday of Advent, the words of Isaiah resound with both urgency and consolation: “Be strong, do not fear! Here is your God.” They remind us that even as our hands grow feeble and our knees weaken, our hearts must remain steadfast in hope. St. John of the Cross, whose feast we mark today, teaches that the dark night is not despair but purification, a passage toward divine union. In this season of Gaudete joy, we are invited to see death not as emptiness but as the loving call of the Father, who delivers us through the sacraments of Penance, Anointing, and Viaticum. The Eucharist at life’s end is Christ Himself walking us across the threshold, blood of His blood, love of His love, transferring His vindication to us. Like chestnuts roasted by fire, our trials are broken open to reveal sweetness, and our earthly pilgrimage finds completion in the embrace of eternal life. Thus, Advent joy is not naïve—it is joy that looks death in the face and proclaims: the Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?
ON
KEEPING THE LORD'S DAY HOLY[2]
CHAPTER I
DIES DOMINI
The Celebration of the Creator's Work
To
"keep holy" by "remembering"
16.
The commandment of the Decalogue by which God decrees the Sabbath observance is
formulated in the Book of Exodus in a distinctive way: "Remember the
Sabbath day in order to keep it holy" (20:8). And the inspired text goes
on to give the reason for this, recalling as it does the work of God: "For
in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them,
and rested on the seventh day; therefore, the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and
made it holy" (v. 11). Before decreasing that something be done,
the commandment urges that something be remembered. It is a call to
awaken remembrance of the grand and fundamental work of God, which is creation,
a remembrance which must inspire the entire religious life of man and then fill
the day on which man is called to rest. Rest therefore acquires a sacred
value: the faithful are called to rest not only as God rested, but to
rest in the Lord, bringing the entire creation to him, in praise and
thanksgiving, intimate as a child and friendly as a spouse.
Third Sunday of Advent[3]
THE nearer the coming of the Lord the more earnestly the Church calls upon us to rejoice; and to-day, therefore, at the Introit of the Mass, she sings in the words of St. Paul: “Rejoice in the Lord always; again, I say, rejoice. Let your modesty be known to all men: The Lord is nigh. Be nothing solicitous, but in everything by prayer let your petitions be made known to God.” (Phil. iv. 4-6.) “Lord, thou hast blessed Thy land; Thou hast turned away the captivity of Jacob”.
Prayer.
We beseech Thee, O Lord, mercifully incline Thine ear unto our prayers, and enlighten the darkness of our minds by the grace of Thy heavenly visitation.
EPISTLE. Phil. iv. 4-7.
Rejoice in the Lord always; again, I say, rejoice. Let your modesty be known to all men: The Lord is nigh. Be nothing solicitous, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your petitions be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasseth all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus our Lord.
What does it mean to rejoice in the Lord?
It means to be glad in remembering the grace by which God called us to the true faith, and gave us the hope of eternal salvation, and to rejoice even in all our tribulations and adversities for the Lord’s sake, as St. Paul did (n. Cor. vii. 4). It also admonishes us to give a good example by modesty and an edifying life, and to fix our desires on God, Who will never fail us if we make our wants known to Him by prayer and supplication, and give Him thanks for benefits received.
In what does the peace of God consist?
It consists in a good conscience, such as St. Paul enjoyed. It is this peace, this tranquility of the soul, which sustained the holy martyrs in their agonies, and consoled others under persecution for Christ’s sake (St. Matt. v. 11, 12).
Aspiration.
O Lord grant that Thy peace, which Thou hast given us, and which the world knows not, may keep our hearts and minds in Thee. O wisdom! proceeding from the mouth of the Highest, and reaching to the ends of the world, who governest with power and grace, come and direct us all, that we may walk in the path of wisdom and of the peace which surpasseth all understanding. Amen.
THE BEST REMEDY IN THE HOUR OF SORROW.
In need, sorrow, and dejection the best means to relieve our distressed hearts is humble and confiding prayer, in which we can pour out our hearts before God, and give ourselves up to His love and mercy, as did Anna, the sorrowful mother of Samuel the prophet, Josaphat in painful uncertainty, Susanna falsely accused and condemned to death, and innumerable other servants of God. These all prayed to God and were delivered from their afflictions, receiving help and consolation. St. James therefore admonishes us,
“Is any one of you sad?
let him pray” (James v. 13); and St. Paul, in the epistle for this Sunday, encourages us not to be solicitous about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, to let our requests be known to God.
Are you, then, sad and discouraged?
Lift up your soul to God, and say with David, “Give joy to the soul of Thy servant, for to Thee, O Lord, I have lifted up my soul” (Ps. Ixxxv. 4).
GOSPEL. John i. 19-28.
At that time: The Jews sent from Jerusalem priests and Levites to John to ask him,
Who art thou?
And he confessed and did not deny and he confessed: I am not the Christ. And they asked him:
What then? Art thou Elias? And he said: I am not. Art thou the prophet?
And he answered: No. They said, therefore, unto him:
Who art thou, that we may give an answer to them that sent us? what sayest thou of thyself?
He said: I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Isaias. And they that were sent were of the Pharisees. And they asked him and said to him:
Why then dost thou baptize, if thou be not Christ, nor Elias, nor the prophet?
John answered them, saying: I baptize with water; but there hath stood One in the midst of you, Whom you know not. The same is He that shall come after me, Who is preferred before me: the latchet of Whose shoe I am not worthy to loose. These things were done in Bethania, beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
Why did the Jews send messengers to John to ask him who he was?
Because his baptizing and preaching, with his life of austerity and penance, made such an impression that the people took him not for an ordinary prophet, but for the Messias Himself.
Why did the messengers ask John whether he was Elias or the prophet?
The Jews believed that either Elias or another of the prophets would return to earth to prepare the way for the coming of Christ; and from St. John’s denying that he was the Christ they concluded that he was either Elias or that prophet.
Why did St. John say that he was not that prophet, but only the voice of one crying in the wilderness?
He said so out of humility; but he uttered no untruth, since he was not the prophet predicted by Moses (Deut. xviii. 15), but only the voice of one crying in the wilderness,” Make straight the way of the Lord”, as the prophet Isaias said (Is. Ix. 3).
How do we make straight the way of the Lord?
By sincere penance, which consists not merely in going to confession, and making hollow resolutions, but in bringing forth fruits worthy of penance (Matt. iii. 8; Luke iii. 8).
How do we bring forth fruits worthy of penance?
If we wish to bring forth fruits worthy of penance, we must endeavor to make amends for what is past and use all possible means to avoid in future those sins to which we have been most given; we must love and serve God as much as and more than we before loved and served the world.
What was the baptism of John, and what was the effect of it?
It was a baptism of penance, for the forgiveness of sins; thus, it was a preparation for the Baptism of Christ, through which sins are actually forgiven, and the Holy Ghost received (Mark i. 4, 5).
What are we further taught by this gospel?
We are taught to always speak the truth, like St. John; not to desire to appear more, or better, than we are; and, in particular, to make a good and sincere confession. We should, therefore, before confession often ask ourselves,
Who am I?
How do I live?
How do I stand before God?
How do I deal with my neighbor?
We learn also from St. John to confess our sins without reserve, neither concealing nor excusing them; above all, we learn to be humble, for although he might have passed for the Messiah had he chosen to, he refused that honor, and held himself unworthy to loose the latchet of Christ’s shoe.
Prayer.
O Lord banish from my heart envy, self-love, and pride; give me grace so to know Thee and myself that, in contemplation of Thy majesty, omnipotence, love and wisdom, and other perfections, I may love Thee above all things, and in regarding my own nothingness, misery, and sins may always humble myself before Thee, and be little in my own eyes. Grant also that I may judge my neighbor with justness and tenderness, and love him as myself.
Gaudete Sunday[4]
A joyful warning comes from the Lord's heralds. "Rejoice: The Lord is nigh." As Christmas draws near, the Church emphasizes the joy which should be in our hearts over all that the birth of our Savior means for us. The great joy of Christians is to see the day drawing nigh when the Lord will come again in His glory to lead them into His kingdom. The oft-repeated Veni ("Come") of Advent is an echo not only of the prophets but also of the conclusion of the Apocalypse of St. John: "Come, Lord Jesus," the last words of the New Testament. Today is known as Gaudete Sunday. The term Gaudete refers to the first word of the Entrance Antiphon, "Rejoice". Rose vestments are worn to emphasize our joy that Christmas is near, and we also light the rose candle on our Advent wreath.
St. John of the Cross[5]
Juan de Yepes was the Castilian son of a poor silk weaver of Fontiberos, Toledo, Spain and was born in 1542. His father was of noble birth; he had married much beneath him, and for that offense had been entirely cut off by his family. He had taken to silk weaving as a means of livelihood but had never been able to make much of it. Soon after the birth of Juan he died, worn out with the effort to keep his wife and three children. The family was left in direst poverty; the children grew up always underfed, so that to the end of his life Juan remained dwarfed in stature.
Unable to learn a trade, he became the servant of the poor in the hospital of Medina, while still pursuing his sacred studies. In 1563, being then twenty-one, he humbly offered himself as a lay brother to the Carmelite friars, who, however, knowing his talents, had him ordained priest. He would now have exchanged to the severe Carthusian Order, had not St. Teresa of Avila, with the instinct of a saint, persuaded him to remain and help her in the reform of his own Order.
Thus, he became the first prior of the Discalced (meaning "barefoot") Carmelites. His reform, though approved by the general, was rejected by the elder friars, who condemned the saint as a fugitive and an apostrophe, and cast him into prison, whence he only escaped, after nine months' suffering, at the risk of his life. Twice again, before his death, he was shamefully persecuted by his brethren, and publicly disgraced. But his complete abandonment by creatures only deepened his interior peace and devout longing for heaven.
St. John was a great contemplative and spiritual writer. He was proclaimed Doctor of the Church by Pope Pius XI on August 24, 1926. He is the patron of contemplative life, mystical theology, mystics, and Spanish poets.
—Excerpted from Little Pictorial Lives of the Saints ©1878 and Saints for Sinners by Alban Goodier, S.J.
"With what procrastinations do you wait, since from this very moment you can love God in your heart?"
—Excerpted from Prayer of a Soul Taken with Love — St. John of the Cross
Mine are the heavens and mine is the earth. Mine are the nations, the just are mine and mine the sinners. The angels are mine, and the Mother of God, and all things are mine; and God himself is mine and for me, because Christ is mine and all for me.
What do you ask, then, and seek my soul?
Yours
is all of this, and all is for you. Do not engage your self in something less
or pay heed to the crumbs that fall from your Father's table. Go forth and
exult in your Glory! Hide yourself in it and rejoice, and you will obtain the
supplications of your heart.
—Excerpted from Sayings of Light and Love, 26-27
—St. John of the Cross
Patronage: Contemplative life;
contemplatives; mystical theology; mystics; Spanish poets; Segovia, Spain; Ta’
Xbiex, Malta
Symbols and Representation: eagle; priest in Carmelite robes holding a cross
Highlights and Things to Do:
·
See Celebrating the Feast of St.
John of the Cross for ideas.
·
Read more about St. John of the Cross at the ICS website.
·
Three of his works, Ascent
of Mount Carmel, Dark Night of the Soul and Spiritual Canticle of
the Soul and the Bridegroom Christ are available online at the Christian Classics Ethereal Library.
Find
out more about the Discalced Carmelites, which is the Carmelite order St. John belonged. Discalced
simply means "unshod or barefooted" which means this division of
Carmelites either wear sandals or are barefooted.
·
Learn more about St.
John of the Cross:
St. John of the Cross-Advent Calendar[6]
Read: St. John of the Cross, who we honor today, was known for his deep spirituality and compassion.
Reflect: "We must dig deeply in Christ. He is like a rich mine with many pockets containing treasures: however deep we dig we will never find their end or their limit. Indeed, in every pocket new seams of fresh riches are discovered on all sides." —St. John of the Cross
Pray: Pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy today.
Act: Brainstorm ideas for how you can live out your call to "imbue every area of social life with the spirit of the Gospel" as an active citizen. For ideas, visit the Faithful Citizenship website.
Spiritual Crib[7]
A special devotion that can be performed during Advent to prepare for the coming of the Infant Savior. It can be adapted for adults and/or children and applied as is appropriate to your state in life.
·
4th
day, December 14th: THE ROOF—Self-denial Today we must practice
self-denial in everything great or small. We must therefore do the very things
from which nature shrinks, and if opportunity permits, abstain from some
amusement in whatever way it presents itself. No TV today
33 days to Christmas-Start the 33 days to
Eucharistic Glory[8]
Want to start a small group? Download our 33 Days to Eucharistic Glory Study Guide
Day
23
On
this 23rd day the reception of the Eucharist renews our purpose to
live out the Beatitudes of Christ and build a Kingdom of God.
Copilot:
The reception of the Eucharist
profoundly renews our purpose to live out the Beatitudes and build the Kingdom
of God in several keyways:
1.
Union with Christ:
By receiving the Eucharist, believers are united with Christ, whose teachings
and example are the foundation of the Beatitudes. This union strengthens their
commitment to embodying these values.
2.
Spiritual Nourishment:
The Eucharist provides the spiritual nourishment and grace needed to live out
the Beatitudes, which often require going against worldly values and embracing
humility, mercy, and peacemaking.
3.
Reflection and
Commitment: Participation in the Eucharist
involves reflecting on Christ’s life and teachings. This reflection renews
one's commitment to living out the Beatitudes in daily life.
4.
Strength in Trials:
The grace received from the Eucharist provides the strength to persevere in
living out the Beatitudes, even in the face of challenges and adversity.
5.
Inspiration for Mercy
and Compassion: The Eucharist reminds believers
of Christ’s infinite mercy and love, inspiring them to show mercy and
compassion to others, as called for in the Beatitudes.
6.
Promotion of Peace: By
partaking in the Eucharist, Catholics are encouraged to be peacemakers in their
communities, fostering reconciliation and harmony.
7.
Humility and Poverty of
Spirit: The Eucharist helps believers embrace humility and
recognize their dependence on God, aligning with the Beatitude of being
"poor in spirit."
8.
Comfort in Mourning:
The Eucharist provides comfort and hope for those who mourn, reinforcing the
promise that they shall be comforted.
9.
Righteousness and
Justice: Receiving the Eucharist strengthens the desire to
seek justice and righteousness, upholding these Beatitudes in society.
10. Pure Heart: The transformative
power of the Eucharist helps believers strive for purity of heart, enabling
them to see God more clearly in their lives.
11. Endurance in Persecution: The
Eucharist fortifies believers to endure persecution for righteousness' sake, as
many saints have exemplified.
12. Community Building: The communal aspect of
the Eucharist fosters a sense of solidarity and shared mission among believers,
encouraging them to work together to build the Kingdom of God.
13. Living Witness: Finally, the Eucharist
empowers believers to be living witnesses of Christ’s love and teachings,
spreading the values of the Beatitudes through their actions and words.
Through these ways, the Eucharist
continuously renews and inspires Catholics to live out the Beatitudes and
actively participate in building the Kingdom of God here on earth.
Bible in a Year Day 166 Responding in Faith
Today, we are introduced to the prophet Elijah, who again and again responds to
God's invitations with faith. The readings are 1 Kings 17-18, 2 Chronicles
18-19, and Song of Solomon 5.
Chanukah Begins at Sundown[9]
One wonders if
Jesus and Mary celebrated Chanukah.
Chanukah
(Hebrew: חנוכה) is an eight-day
Jewish festival, also known as the festival of lights. On each day a Menorah
(an eight branched candelabra) is lit with an ascending number of candles to
match the day. The reason for Chanukah is based on the story of the
Maccabees battle with the Greeks. It is told that one pure bottle of
olive oil lasted for eight days in the Holy Temple. It should have lasted
only for the first day.
Chanukah Facts
·
It
is customary to eat fried foods on Chanukah because of the significance of oil
to the holiday. Among Ashkenazic Jews, this usually includes latkes
(potato pancakes fried in oil) and doughnuts.
·
A
popular game during Hanukkah is dreidel. The dreidel is a four-sided
spinning top with one Hebrew letter inscribed on each face/side. These
letters are Nun (like N), Gimel (like G), Hei (Like H) and Shin (like Sh).
These letters stand for the Hebrew phrase Nes Gadol Hayah Sham, a great
miracle happened there, referring to the miracle of the oil.
·
There
is a special prayer called for the Miracles said during all prayer
sessions and grace after meals. In this prayer the Lord is thanked for
allowing the Jewish minority to overcome their much larger and stronger enemies
(a recurrent theme in Jewish survival).
·
Chanukah
is not one of the Biblical festivals and Jews are permitted to work on
Chanukah.
Hanukkah Top
Events and Things to Do
·
An
event that gathers much attention is the White House Hanukkah Party.
Watch it on TV (some parts are broadcast) or YouTube.
·
Play
a dreidel game, which consists of spinning a special four-sided block with
Hebrew letters. Once you're out of game pieces, you can either get a loan or
you're out until one person collects all of the game pieces.
·
Make
latkes and donuts at home. Many recipes can be found online.
·
Listen
to a special song is sung after the lighting of the candles, called Maoz Zur,
'the Rock of our Salvation'. Many renditions of it can be found on
YouTube
The Holy Family
almost certainly observed Chanukah as part of their Jewish life, since Jesus,
Mary, and Joseph were faithful Jews living in first‑century Galilee and Judea.
The
Gospels themselves hint at this: John 10:22–23 records Jesus in Jerusalem
during “the Feast of Dedication” (Hanukkah), walking in the Temple precincts.
🕎 What Chanukah Meant in Their Time
Historical context: Chanukah
commemorates the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem after the Maccabean
revolt (2nd century BCE). By the time of Jesus, it was already a well‑established
winter festival.
Practices in the first century: Families lit
lamps (often oil lamps rather than candles), recited blessings, and remembered
God’s deliverance. Olive oil was the preferred fuel, echoing the miracle of the
Temple lamp.
Communal atmosphere: Chanukah was
celebrated in homes and in public spaces. Lamps were placed at doorways or
windows to “publicize the miracle.” Families gathered for prayer, storytelling,
and festive meals.
🌿 How the Holy Family Likely
Celebrated
Lighting lamps: Joseph, as head of household,
would have led the lighting of oil lamps each evening, with Mary and the child
Jesus participating.
Prayers and Psalms: Blessings
thanking God for miracles and deliverance would have been recited. Psalms of
thanksgiving (like Psalm 30 or 118) were commonly associated with Temple
rededication.
Simple festive foods: While latkes and
sufganiyot are later traditions, the family likely ate foods fried in oil to
recall the miracle. In Galilee, this may have meant olive‑oil breads or fish.
Temple observance: When in
Jerusalem, they would have joined larger crowds at the Temple. John’s Gospel
shows Jesus Himself honoring the feast by teaching during Chanukah (John
10:22–23).
✨ Spiritual Significance
For
the Holy Family, Chanukah was not just cultural—it was a living memory
of God’s faithfulness.
Mary and Joseph: As devout Jews,
they would have taught Jesus the meaning of dedication and trust in God’s
providence.
Jesus: His presence at the Temple during
Chanukah shows He embraced its symbolism. Later, Christians saw Chanukah as
foreshadowing Christ Himself as the “Light of the World.”
📖 Closing Reflection
Chanukah
in the Holy Family’s life was a rhythm of light, prayer, and
remembrance. They lit lamps in Nazareth, prayed blessings of
thanksgiving, and when possible, joined the Temple celebration in Jerusalem.
For Christians today, reflecting on how Jesus Himself honored Chanukah can
deepen Advent: both seasons proclaim that God’s light shines in the
darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
Sources:
Chabad’s guide to Chanukah practices, The Everymom’s overview of Hanukkah
traditions.
Halcyon Days begin
The word Halcyon
carries with it the memory of calm seas, a mythic promise of peace in the midst
of winter storms. In Greek legend, the halcyon bird was granted a season of
still waters so that life could be nurtured. Today’s work—anchoring Advent
themes, hospitality acts, and devotional journeys—echoes that same longing: to
carve out halcyon days amid the turbulence of civic life and personal labor.
🌿 Reflection
Life often moves in cycles of
busyness and quiet, of challenge and rest. In each season, there is an
invitation to pause and notice the deeper rhythms beneath the surface. Whether
through work, travel, or simple daily tasks, we are given opportunities to
rediscover peace, gratitude, and purpose. The calm moments remind us that joy
is not found only in grand achievements but in the steady faithfulness of
living each day with intention. Just as the halcyon bird was said to bring
stillness to stormy seas, so too can we cultivate spaces of calm in our own
lives—moments where hope is renewed and light shines through.
Roast Chestnut Day
In the chill of December,
there’s one warming treat that is especially popular across the world to keep
the cold away. Roasted chestnuts are often seen this time of year being cooked
by street vendors, and the earthy, spicy scent is more than enough to get
anyone into the Christmas spirit.
On this day, it’s time to
honor the humble chestnut. Or specifically, mark the time-honored tradition of
roasting chestnuts round about the season of good cheer.
How to Celebrate Roast
Chestnuts Day
Try Roasting Chestnuts at Home
It’s so, so easy to make roast
chestnuts, so why not roast up a batch? Have them as a snack on their own, add
them to stuffing or pair them with roast beef.
Chestnuts are often roasted on
a grill, which helps to remove their bitter, shiny skins, but you can make them
at home using your conventional kitchen oven. All you need to do is cut a cross
into each nut, put them on a roasting tin and bake them until the skins open.
They are eaten after peeling away that tough, shiny skin.
And you’ll be able to find
them in most supermarkets during the festive season, so you won’t have to go
foraging for them in the woods!
Learn About Roast Chestnuts
When chestnuts are carefully
roasted, the natural sweetness of the nut is revealed. This makes them an ideal
snack if you want something to stave off a sweet tooth that also happens to be
quite nutritious, chestnuts being comparatively low in calories and being a
good source of fiber.
They are also very rich in
vitamin C, which may come as a surprise to you. Although they are technically
nuts, they taste very unlike other nuts – the sweet, earthy taste is certainly
worth a try if you’ve never had one before – and Roast Chestnuts Day is the
perfect time to try that first one.
History of Roast Chestnuts Day
Roast Chestnut Day is a
relatively new day in the calendar, but the practice of roasting chestnuts has
been around for quite some time!
Although it’s hard to pinpoint
exactly when they started to become so popular, historians pencil the 16th
century in as being a turning point, when the nuts would be sold by street
vendors to anyone wanting a quick and warming snack. It has also long been a
tradition in Portugal to eat them roasted on Saint Martin’s Day, and in Tuscany
on Saint Simon’s Day.
Daily Devotions
·
Unite
in the work of the Porters of St.
Joseph by joining them in fasting: Today's Fast: Catholic
Politicians & Leaders
·
Offering to
the sacred heart of Jesus
·
Rosary.
[1]
Paone, Anthony J., S.J. My Daily Bread, Confraternity of the Precious Blood.
[3]Goffine’s
Devout Instructions, 1896.
Easy Living (1937) is a screwball comedy about wealth, misunderstanding, and love. Its Catholic lessons highlight humility, the dangers of materialism, and the providence of truth and charity.
🎬 Film Summary
- Director/Writer: Mitchell Leisen, screenplay by Preston Sturges
- Stars: Jean Arthur (Mary Smith), Edward Arnold (J.B. Ball), Ray Milland (John Ball Jr.)
- Plot:
- J.B. Ball, a wealthy banker, throws his wife’s extravagant sable coat off their penthouse roof in frustration at her spending.
- The coat lands on Mary Smith, a poor stenographer. Ball tells her to keep it, but the gift sparks gossip that she is his mistress.
- Mary loses her job but gains sudden notoriety. A hotelier gives her a luxury suite, hoping to curry favor with Ball.
- At an automat, Mary meets John Ball Jr., who is working incognito. They fall in love.
- Misunderstandings about Mary’s supposed influence cause chaos in the stock market, nearly bankrupting J.B.
- Eventually, truth is revealed, John Jr. is reconciled with his father, and he proposes to Mary.
✝️ Catholic Lessons & Reflections
Though not written as a religious film, Easy Living offers moral insights that resonate with Catholic teaching:
1. Humility vs. Pride
- J.B. Ball’s pride in wealth and control leads to chaos. His son’s humility—working anonymously—shows the dignity of honest labor.
- Catholic lesson: Humility grounds us in truth; pride distorts relationships and society.
2. Materialism and Vanity
- Jenny Ball’s obsession with luxury coats symbolizes the emptiness of materialism.
- Mary, though poor, becomes entangled in false appearances of wealth.
- Catholic lesson: Vanity and consumerism enslave; simplicity frees the soul.
3. Truth vs. Gossip
- Gossip about Mary’s supposed affair spreads rapidly, damaging reputations and destabilizing markets.
- Catholic lesson: Bearing false witness is destructive; truth restores justice and peace.
4. Providence and Charity
- The “accidental” gift of the coat changes Mary’s life, ultimately leading her to love and stability.
- Catholic lesson: God’s providence works through unexpected events; charity (Mary’s kindness to John Jr.) bears fruit.
5. Family Reconciliation
- The strained father-son relationship is healed when John Jr. proves his worth and integrity.
- Catholic lesson: Honor thy father and mother, but also seek reconciliation through virtue and love.
📖 Key Takeaway
Easy Living dramatizes how wealth without virtue breeds chaos, while humility, honesty, and charity restore order and love. For Catholic reflection, the film can be read as a parable: worldly riches fade, but truth and love endure.
