HAPPY THIRD WEEK OF ADVENT: GAUDETE SUNDAY

Here is a great reflection for today's Mass readings.  I have the daily Mass readings at the bottom of my page here and if you click on reflection you will find a small reflection from myCatholic.com.  I am not sure if everyday the reflection comes from Presentation Ministries but today's does.
Enjoy:

One Bread, One Body - Reflection for December 12, 2010

MIRACLE WHIP

"Those whom the Lord has ransomed will return and enter Zion singing, crowned with everlasting joy." –Isaiah 35:10

The chosen people's return to the promised land took not one miracle but many miracles perfectly ordered and timed. They needed the desert to be turned into an oasis, their hands and knees strengthened, their hearts freed from fear, their eyes opened, and their ears cleared (Is 35:1-5). They needed to be able to jump like stags and to sing like birds (see Is 35:6).

You also may need an almost incomprehensible array of miracles to return to your first love (Rv 2:4), to the Church, to your spouse and family, to your ministry and work, or to a life of faith, hope, and love. The Lord wants to give you these miracles as your Christmas presents. He will give you the gifts of repentance, forgiveness, conversion, life in the Spirit, healing, deliverance, evangelization, ministry, etc. He wills to do more than you can ever ask for or imagine (Eph 3:20). Jesus promises: "The blind recover their sight, cripples walk, lepers are cured, the deaf hear, dead men are raised to life, and the poor have the good news preached to them. Blest is the man who finds no stumbling block in Me" (Mt 11:5-6). "Those who stumble and fall are the disbelievers in God's word" (1 Pt 2:8).

Don't believe what you see, how you feel, or what others may say. Believe God's word. Receive the miracles of Christmas.

PRAYER:	Father, on this Gaudete Sunday, may I obey Your command to rejoice in Your Son always (Phil 4:4).
PROMISE:	"Be patient, therefore, my brothers, until the coming of the Lord." –Jas 5:7
PRAISE:	Praise Jesus, "the Resurrection and the Life" (Jn 11:25), Whose life gives life to all who would receive it.

http://www.mycatholic.com/reflections/2010-346.html

Saint Nicholas Day

Saint Nicholas is who I am talking about. A patron saint.  Maybe called Santa Claus in some countries but I am not talking about Mr. HO HO HO.

We have all heard of the name Saint Nicholas. I love the old song "Jolly Old Saint Nicholas."  His feast day, St. Nicholas Day, is December 6, during the beautiful season of Advent.  In many places around the world he comes visiting children to see if they have been good. Usually he comes in the night and finds carrots and hay for his horse or donkey along with lists children have made for him to let him know what gifts they would like. He will leave small treats  in shoes or stockings that are left out, which is where hanging stockings by the fireplace came from.  Usually he may leave gifts, fruits or nuts.

All over the world he has a different appearance.

In places that St. Nicholas is a well-known saint, Christmas is not the primary day of gift giving but St. Nicholas Day instead.

He was born in the third century in the village of Patara. This is  on the southern coast of Turkey but at that time it was Greek.
His parents raised him to be a devout Christian. Sadly, they died  while Nicholas was a young boy. Nicholas wanted very much to obey Jesus' words to "sell what you own and give the money to the poor," He would give all he had to assist the needy, the sick, and the suffering. He dedicated his life to being a servant of God.  He was made Bishop of Myra while still a young man. Saint Nicholas became known all around for being very  generous to the those in need.  He had  a very great love for children and a great  concern for sailors and ships.

Saint Nicholas suffered very much for his faith. He  was exiled and actually spent time in prison. After Nicholas was freed, Nicholas attended the Council of Nicaea in AD 325, a very important council in history. Nicholas died December 6,  343AD  in Myra and was buried in his cathedral church.  In his grave a very unique relic formed which is called manna. . This liquid substance, was said to have healing powers. Because of this there was devotion to Nicholas.  His feast day is December 6, the day of his death.

There are many legends built around Saint Nicholas. One such story is about a man who had three daughters. He was very poor and in those times a father needed a good dowry (something of value) to ensure his daughters got good husbands. This man didn't have a very good dowry, though, very mysteriously three seperate times there would be a bag of gold appear at their home. It it said the bags were thrown throught the window and ended up in the girls shoes, thus Saint Nicholas provided the needed dowry.

There are many other stories about Saint Nicholas, some are legends and some are real.  More than 2,000 churches have been named after him. There were many St. Nicholas chapels built in many seaports.

At our home, on the night before December 6. I like to surprise my family with little chocolate treats found in their shoes, that are set by the fireplace. It is just a little way we remember who the real Saint Nicholas is.

I like some of the old stories of Santa Claus. They can be fun but I really enjoy remembering every year what a christian Saint Nicholas was. It makes this time of year special. When we remember the important events around this season it just gives it such a magical, beautiful feel.

There is so much about Saint Nicholas, I can't tell it all. There are some very good websites that tell so much about him. I recommend checking out a couple of them if you haven't already.

http://www.stnicholascenter.org/Brix?pageID=38

http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=371

http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11063b.htm

Clipart courtesy of:

 http://download-free-pictures.com/holiday/st-saint-nicholas.html

Advent is next

I know alot people believe that after Thanksgiving comes the Christmas season but as a Catholic Christian for me the next season is Advent.  Advent means coming.  It reminds us we are waiting for our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Christmas is a different season. That is why so many people years ago did not put their tree up until Christmas Eve because that is when Christmas started. Today, unfortunately, we end the season as soon as we get our gifts instead of beginning it. That isn't what Christmas is to be about.

The word for Christmas in late Old English is Cristes Maesse, the Mass of Christ.  In Dutch it is Kerstmis, in Latin Dies Natalis, whence comes the French Noël, and Italian Il natale; in German Weihnachtsfest.  

 In the early Church the feast was celebrated along with the Epiphany. But already in A.D. 200 St. Clement of Alexandria (150-215) refers to a special feast on May 20, and the Latin Church began observing it on December 25. The privilege of priests offering three Masses on Christmas Day goes back to a custom originally practiced by a pope who, about the fourth century, celebrated a midnight Mass in the Liberian Basilica (where traditionally the manger of Bethlehem is preserved), a second in the Church of St. Anastasia, whose feast falls on December 25, and a third at the Vatican Basilica. (http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/03724b.htm)
So, soon we will be starting our wonderful season of Advent as we prepare for Christmas and I hope to find some wonderful ways to express this season to myself, my family and in my blog.