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ALWAYS CHRISTMAS EVE

12/25/2024

The following is a short Christmas poem written by Servant of God, Father Solanus Casey, O.F.M. Cap., reflecting on making one's heart a crib for the Eucharistic Lord.

With love and with Christmas blessings to all
Comes the Infant once more to free us from sorrow
Whose love and Whose power and Whose gentleness call
To each heart and each soul for a manger tomorrow.

Whose love and Whose power and Whose wonders proclaim
Him the Son of the Virgin as promised of yore.
O, may He estrange us from sin with its shame!
And reign in our hearts as His crib evermore!

--"Always Christmas Eve - Holy Communion Daily", c. 1930

(Only in Eternity will it be known what each communion received or missed will have meant to our souls.)

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PILGRIMAGE TO BETHLEHEM

12/11/2024

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As you "prepare the way of the Lord, and make straight His paths" on your pilgrimage to Bethlehem this Advent, consider returning to a deeply spiritual approach by taking on some of these external and spiritual practices.

EXTERNAL PRACTICES:

Keep your feet very still, whether sitting or standing, to honor the Holy Family's journey to Bethlehem.
Take less at meals one day to honor the poverty of the Holy Family.
Don't wear an extra coat or sweater; offer up the cold to honor the cold of the stable at Bethlehem.
Practice humility by not speaking of yourself to honor the silence of Mary.
At each hour of the day, recollect yourself by saying "Come, Lord Jesus!"

SPIRITUAL PRACTICES:

Make a special sacrifice of all your duties throughout one day to honor the shepherds who first adored Christ.
Visit the Blessed Sacrament to honor Mary and Joseph's vigil by the cradle of Jesus.
Say an extra Rosary contemplating the Joyful Mysteries.
Read the Collect from the Mass of the past Sunday of Advent.
Make an effort to go to Mass and receive Holy Communion during the week, to honor the Wise Men who sought out Christ.
Make a point to always say "Merry Christmas" -- never "Happy Holidays" or "Season's Greetings," to be courageous and take a stand for Christ.
Send Christmas cards that picture the Nativity, not candy canes and puppy dogs.

TAGS: Reflection

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ALWAYS CHRISTMAS EVE

PILGRIMAGE TO BETHLEHEM

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