Happy New Year!!!

Guy Lombardo and Auld Lang Syne courtesy of New Year's Eve 1957 and Clairol

St Stephen's Day

Happy St Stephen's Day!!!

Merry Christmas

I heard the bells on Christmas Day
Their old, familiar carols play,

and wild and sweet

The words repeat

Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

And thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom

Had rolled along

The unbroken song

Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

Till ringing, singing on its way,
The world revolved from night to day,

A voice, a chime,

A chant sublime

Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

Then from each black, accursed mouth
The cannon thundered in the South,

And with the sound

The carols drowned

Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

It was as if an earthquake rent
The hearth-stones of a continent,

And made forlorn

The households born

Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

And in despair I bowed my head;
"There is no peace on earth," I said;

"For hate is strong,

And mocks the song

Of peace on earth, good-will to men!"

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
"God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;

The Wrong shall fail,

The Right prevail,

With peace on earth, good-will to men.

Christmas is Coming

Santa Claus is Coming to Town

The latest on Santas location  from Norad:


http://www.noradsanta.org/en/track.html

Saint Louis Catholic: It Needs to Be Said, and Repeated

Love this post from St Louis Catholic. 

Saint Louis Catholic: It Needs to Be Said, and Repeated

How about this prayer by Pope Leo XIII:

Prayer for the Pope

O Lord, we are the millions of believers, humbly kneeling at Thy feet and begging Thee to preserve, defend and save the Sovereign Pontiff for many years. He is the Father of the great fellowship of souls and our Father as well. On this day, as on every other day, he is praying for us also, and is offering unto Thee with holy fervor the sacred Victim of love and peace.
Wherefore, O Lord, turn Thyself toward us with eyes of pity; for we are now, as it were, forgetful of ourselves, and are praying above all for him. Do Thou unite our prayers with his and receive them into the bosom of Thine infinite mercy, as a sweet savor of active and fruitful charity, whereby the children are united in the Church to their Father. All that he asks of Thee this day, we too ask it of Thee in unison with him.
Whether he weeps or rejoices, whether he hopes or offers himself as a victim of charity for his people, we desire to be united with him; nay more, we desire that the cry of our hearts should be made one with his. Of Thy great mercy grant, O Lord, that not one of us may be far from his mind and his heart in the hour that he prays and offers unto Thee the Sacrifice of Thy blessed Son. At the moment when our venerable High Priest, holding in His hands the very Body of Jesus Christ, shall say to the people over the Chalice of benediction these words: "The peace of the Lord be with you always," grant, O Lord, that Thy sweet peace may come down upon our hearts and upon all the nations with new and manifest power. Amen.

Twenty Six

Twenty Six lives taken.  So much grief and sadness.  How does a person respond?  There are no words that can really comfort.  Nothing can bring back the much loved family member or friend.  To read more about the victims, visit (CNN link) here.

This idea comes from NBC news correspondent Ann Curry.  She suggests twenty six acts of kindness in memory of the twenty six victoms. 

Come Lord Jesus

My Soul Magnifies the Lord

My soul doth magnify the Lord. 47 And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.

48 Because he hath regarded the humility of his handmaid; for behold from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. 49 Because he that is mighty, hath done great things to me; and holy is his name. 50 And his mercy is from generation unto generations, to them that fear him. 51 He hath shewed might in his arm: he hath scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart. 52 He hath put down the mighty from their seat, and hath exalted the humble. 53 He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away. 54 He hath received Israel his servant, being mindful of his mercy: 55 As he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his seed for ever.

The End of the World as We Know It

No, I'm not talking about the upcoming jump off the financial cliff. 

We are just about a week into Advent.  We are looking towards the coming of the Christ -in Christmas as a babe and in a broader sense.  Christ will come again and it will be the end of this world.  You (and maybe I) might be there when Jesus comes as the triumphant King.  More likely, the end of this life will be in death.  It is simply the end of this life.  As a Catholic, I believe there are four things that I should keep in the back of my mind - the last four things.  These are Death, Judgement, Heaven, and Hell.  All of us will die.  All of us will face a judgement.  Will we see heaven or will we see hell?  Each moment on this earth affords us a choice. 

Use this time of Advent well - prepare yourself to meet the King.   Audio Sancto has some beautiful sermons on the last four things and specifically for Advent.

St Nicholas

 Yes, Virginia, there really was a St Nicholas.   Today is his feast day.  You can read more about St Nick here.  Very cool site, with lots of actvities.

Advent Reading

So, I usually pick a good devotional book to read during Advent.  I am currently reading Come Lord Jesus- Meditations on the Art of Waiting by Mother Mary Frances, P.C.C.  Mother Mary Frances is a favorite author of mine.  She was the Mother Abbess of the Poore Clare community in Roswell, New Mexico.  I've read A Right to be Merry - an excellent book if you are discerning a vocation.

How do you prepare during Advent?

Royal News

Perhaps you have heard that The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are expecting a baby.  Royal congratulations are in order .  Huzzah!!!!!

Come, Emmanuel