Jan 1: Mary, Mother of God and New Year

Jan 1: Mary, Mother of God: Stories and Illustrations

 From the Collection of Fr. Tony Kadavil and Others

1: Smiling child and his mother: There is a beautiful little story about a long, tedious train journey, made one Christmas day by some elderly residents of a nursing home who were on their way to a vacation spot.  At one station, a young mother with a small child entered the train.  The child smiled at all the grim faces around him and began moving from one lap to another talking, shouting with joy and chatting with everyone.    Instantly, the grim and silent atmosphere in the train was changed to one of joy and happiness.  Today we remember with joy and gratitude, how Mary and her Divine Son Jesus transformed a hopeless, joyless and sinful world into a place of joy and happiness. 

Dec 28-Jan 2: Christmas Season

Dec 28 Monday (Feast of the Holy Innocents, Martyrs): https://www.franciscanmedia.org/holy-innocents/   Mt 2:13-18: 13 Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there till I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.”

December 28, Monday, Holy Innocents

1 John 1:5 - 2:2 / Matthew 2:13-18

We have been redeemed: Jesus’ blood purifies us.

Advent, December 23, Wednesday

 

Malachi 3: 1-4, 23-24; Luke 1: 5-25

I will send my messenger; “He will prepare the way for me.”

Holy Family - Dec 27

 Introduction by the Celebrant
(Liturgical Prayers of the day are included at the end)

A. In The House Of The Father

It may come as a real surprise to us to hear Jesus ask Mary and Joseph: "Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I had to be where my Father is?" Even Joseph and Mary had still to learn and to grow in their faith. Like the Holy Family, our families and each of us have also to grow in the faith. Perhaps it is through painful trials like the one of Mary and Joseph that our faith may become mature. We too are asked: Did you not know...?

Holy Family - Dec 27 - Short Reflection

Christmas - Liturgical Prayers

Greeting (See Second Reading)
    In our own time God has spoken to us
    through his own Son,
    the radiant light of God's glory
    through whom he made everything.
    May this Son, Jesus the Lord, be with you.
    R/ And also with you.

Advent: Dec 21-24

 Dec 21 Monday (St. Peter Canisius, Priest, Doctor of the Church) https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/saint-peter-canisius : Visitation of the BVM: http://cpbcomaha.org/2020/05/visitation-of-the-blessed-virgin-mary/ Lk 1:39-45: 39 In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a city of Judah, 40 and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 41 And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, …45 USCCB video reflections http://www.usccb.org/bible/reflections/index.cfm

Advent, 22nd December, Tuesday

 1 Samuel 1: 24-28; Luke 1: 46-56 

Hannah takes Samuel to the Temple; Hannah dedicated Samuel to God. 

Samuel’s birth bears a similarity to Jesus’ birth. He too was born of a mother whose situation was such that people thought she couldn’t bear children. But Samuel’s mother, Hannah, had great faith in God. She prayed that God would give her a son, and God heard her prayer. Samuel grew up to give Israel leadership at a time when she needed it most.