OUR LADY OF FATIMA  CATHOLIC CHURCH

Advent Sunday (which is always the Sunday nearest to the feast of Saint Andrew) including the three or four weeks up to Christmas Eve is named by the Church the season of Advent. During it she desires that we, her children should practice fasting, works of penance, meditation, recollection and prayer, in order to prepare ourselves for celebrating worthily the COMING (adventum) OF THE SON OF GOD IN THE FLESH, to promote His spiritual advent within our own souls, and to teach ourselves to look forward with hope and joy to His second advent, when He shall come again to judge mankind.

Families who would not dream of eating their Thanksgiving turkey weeks in advance or celebrating their children's birthdays before the date, or anniversaries,or having their 4th of July picnic in June, give no thought to the fact- We should wait for Christmas to celebrate Christmas! The most glorious and wonderful of all Birthdays! Christmas the Birthday of Jesus Christ our Savior, the King of Kings!

Advent is the season of joyful expectation, of holy anticipation, in quiet union with Mary and Saint Joseph in - intense longing for Baby Jesus. In this all but Catholic society which surrounds us, it is difficult to keep one’s heart and home empurpled with Advent penance; to keep the tree fresh outside the door. Television, and public places blare Christmas carols, let us refrain from singing carols until Christmas Eve, then to join with the angels heralding His birth, and the tender lullabies of His Virgin Mother. We see our neighbors trees shimmering with ornaments weeks before Christmas. Their houses glistening with lights, let us, with the Prophets of old await in darkness for the “LIGHT OF THE WORLD”! Then in honor of His coming , our hearts will be glowing within us, and our Christmas will be truly bright, because we have prepared for Him!

0 Infant Savior, many times in life we have prepared for guests about to enter our beloved household. Some guests were important, but not nearly as important as the heavenly Visitor for Whom we now prepare our hearts.

The prophets of old longed for Thy coming into their world. We long for Thy return to our modern world. If Advent means the coming of Christ, there is nothing we need so badly today as an advent -- another coming of thyself and Thy principles into our pagan times. Only then will we breathe in a Christian atmosphere in which joy replaces sorrow, peace replaces war and disturbance, in which love casts out darkness.

0 Mary, my Mother, be my model this holy season. Christ was alive within thee during the first advent. We want Him to be more alive within us than ever during this, our advent. May we not merely possess our precious Catholic faith -- rather, may it take complete possession of us, so that whatever we do or say, it will be the Christ Child that inspires us.

We resolve to make our Christmas a holy day with Christ instead of a holiday without Him.

We resolve to observe Christmas as the birthday of Christ, not merely as a day to give and receive merchandise; to help at least one poor family in honor of the Holy Family of Bethlehem.

We promise to remember that the real symbols of Christmas are the star, the stable and the crib, not Santa and his reindeer. Finally, we promise every day to give glory to God in the highest and to work and pray for peace on earth among men of good will. Amen.

On the first Sunday, after the family has gathered for the blessing of the wreath, the father begins:

Father: Our help is in the name of the Lord. All: Who made heaven and earth.

Father: O God, by Whose word all things are sanctified, pour forth Thy blessings upon this wreath, and grant that we who use it may prepare our hearts for the coming of Christ, and may receive from Thee abundant graces, through Christ our Lord.

All: Amen. ( Father sprinkles wreath with holy water.)

During this first week, let us recall the longings of the Patriarchs and Prophets, the holy souls of those four thousand years before the coming of the Messiah. With what intense yearning they desired but a glimpse of that blessed Light of the World Who now gives Himself daily, in the fulness of His Love, to all who will receive Him. Yet on each Christmas Day He comes with a special plenitude of grace to the hearts who have prepared for Him. Not one precious moment of this Advent shall we willfully let slip away, for our time of preparation is so short! Let us warm our cold hearts in the furnace of Love issuing from the Sacred Heart of the unborn Infant reposing in His Immaculate Tabernacle... His Mother will assist us in being attentive to the whisperings of His grace, asking for this or that little sacrifice or act of fidelity.

0 Jesus, living in Mary, come and live in Thy servants; in the spirit of Thy holiness, in the fulness of Thy might, in the truth of Thy virtues, in the perfection of Thy ways, in the communion of Thy mysteries. Subdue every hostile power, in Thy Spirit, for the glory of the Father. Amen.

Father & People: Rejoice, 0 daughter of Sion, and be jubilantly glad, 0 daughter of Israel. Behold, thy Lord comes, and in His day a great light shall arise; the mountains shall drop down sweetness and the hills shall flow with milk and honey, for the Great Prophet shall come and He shall renew Jerusalem. (R. Brev.)

Behold, thy God comes, the Man of the House of David, to sit upon the throne; and you shall see and your heart shall rejoice. (R. Brev.)

Father: Stir up Thy might, we beg Thee, O Lord, and come, so that we may escape through Thy protection and be saved by Thy help from the dangers that threaten us because of our sins, Who livest and reignest forever and ever. All: Amen.

During this week, through a new outpouring of grace, we behold the STAR arise in our hearts. It is our Mother Mary, who points the way to her Divine Son Jesus. The rays of light that issue from this bright Star are the virtues that shine forth with such resplendence from her Immaculate Heart. The golden rays of her humble obedience, the silver rays of her immaculate purity, the azure rays of her self-effacement furnish us with abundant matter for meditation and imitation. Let us endeavor to keep our eyes faithfully fixed upon this celestial Star in order to reproduce her virtues in our daily lives; striving to think, speak and act as Mary would. And when we find ourselves in any difficulty, let us "Look to the STAR and call upon Mary..."

0 Mary, sweet Star of the Sea, shine upon the horizon of my soul and dispel the darkness of self-seeking, that I may prepare with thee for the new birth of the Divine Child in my heart, that I may contemplate His beauty and lovingly embrace Him.

Father & People: Behold, the Lord, our Protector, comes, the Holy One of Israel, having on His head the regal crown, and He shall rule from sea to sea and from the river to the ends of the earth. (Apoc. xiv. 14; Ps. lxxi. 8.)

Behold, the Lord comes, and He will not lie; should He tarry, await Him, for He shall assuredly come and shall not delay. (R. Brev.)

Father: O Lord, stir up our hearts that we may prepare for Thy only begotten Son, that through His coming we may be made worthy to serve Thee with pure minds, through Christ our Lord. All: Amen. (Two purple candles are lit)

All: Hail and blessed be the hour and moment, in which the Son of God was born of the most pure Blessed Virgin Mary, At midnight, in Bethlehem, in piercing cold. In that hour vouchsafe, O my God ! to hear my prayer and grant my desires, through the merits of our Savior Jesus Christ, and His Blessed Mother. Amen.

This week let us concentrate especially upon preparing a crown for our Divine Little King. We will make it of the finest gold: the love of our heart; and the precious diamonds and jewels will be our little sacrifices... Diamonds for acts of self denial; rubies for humiliations and contradictions cheerfully accepted; emeralds for prompt obedience. Love will be swift to find many other gems almost imperceptible, and known only to Jesus. Let us also not forget to work constantly by the light of our heavenly Star.

0 Holy Child Jesus, Thou alone art my King. To Thee I subject myself in life and in death. I beseech Thee to erect Thy throne of grace in my heart and reign in it without the least hindrance,for Thou, Holy Infant, art the Lord of my heart for all eternity.

Father & People:The Lord shall come down as rain upon the fleece, and in His days shall justice spring up and abundance of peace; and all kings of the earth shall adore Him, all nations serve Him. (Ps. lxxi. 6, 7, 11.)

A Child is born to us, and He shall be called the Mighty God; He shall sit upon the throne of David, His father, and shall rule; for the government is upon His shoulders. (Isa. ix. 6.)

Father: O Lord, we beg Thee, incline Thine ear to our prayers and enlighten the darkness of our minds by the grace of Thy visitation, through Christ our Lord. All: Amen. (Three candles, two purple and the pink one are lit.)

All: Hail and blessed be the hour and moment, in which the Son of God was born of the most pure Blessed Virgin Mary, At midnight, in Bethlehem, in piercing cold. In that hour vouchsafe, O my God ! to hear my prayer and grant my desires, through the merits of our Savior Jesus Christ, and His Blessed Mother. Amen.

Out of her rich treasury the Church draws the O Anthems, the sublime expression of the Advent spirit. One of them is chanted each day from Dec. 17 to 23 inclusive at Vespers immediately before and after the Magnificat. They praise the coming Savior in symbolic language taken from the Old Testament, especially from Ecclesiasticus and the Apocalypse. Just when their use originated is uncertain; they date back at least a thousand years and perhaps even to the sixth century.

(December 17) 0 Wisdom, Who came forth from the mouth of the Most High, reaching from end to end, arranging all things with might and sweetness, come and teach us the way of prudence.

(December 18) 0 Lord and Leader of the house of Israel, Who appeared to Moses in the flame of the burning bush and gave him the Law of Sinai, come and redeem us with Thy out-stretched arms.

(December 19) 0 Root of Jesse, Who stands for an ensign for the people, before Whom kings shall keep silence and to Whom the nations will make their supplications, come to deliver us and delay not!

(December 20) 0 Key of David and Scepter of the House of Israel, Who opens and no one closes, Who closes and no one opens, Come and bring forth from the prison the captive who is sitting in darkness and in the shadow of death.

(December 21) 0 Dawn, the Brightness of eternal light and the Sun of Justice, come and enlighten those sitting in darkness and in the shadow of death.

(December 22) 0 King of nations and He Whom they longed for, the Cornerstone which makes both one, come and save man whom Thou didst form out of the dust of the earth.

(December 23) 0 Emmanuel, God with us, King and Lawgiver, the Expected of the nations and their Savior, come to save us, O Lord our God.

With our eyes on the Star, we begin our journey. We will have need of a great store of patience to support the fatigues and trials which will be encountered on the way. In company with the holy Magi, may our hearts be filled with longing to look upon our newborn Savior, and may our souls send many sighs of desire to Him. Let us keep in mind that the desert is an arid place, so we must strive to be on the alert to lessen the hardships of our fellow travelers by acts of kindness and charity. In doing so, we will also add new jewels to the crown we are preparing for our Infant King.

We can also in spirit accompany Our Lady and St. Joseph as they make the final preparations and set off on their journey to Bethlehem. What a comfort to realize, as Christmas approaches and we see how poor is the little manger of our heart, that the love and desires of Mary's Immaculate Heart, so pleasing to her Lord, may also be ours for the asking.

Sweet Mother Mary, how grateful I am for the invitation to accompany thee in the weary journey to Bethlehem. Please allow me to share in thy communings with the Hidden God thou bearest, Who deigns to dwell also in my heart.

Holy Father Saint Joseph, silent Sacristan of God's Treasures, I beg thy help in these last days of Advent to prepare a resting place for the Divine Child when He comes to me on Christmas morning.

Father & People: Bethlehem, city of the most high God, out of thee shall go forth the Ruler of Israel, and His proceeding is from the beginning, even from the days of eternity; and He shall be exalted in the midst of the whole earth, and peace shall hold sway in the day of His coming. (Mich. v, 2.)

Our forerunner Jesus, the Lamb undefiled, has entered the Holy of Holies for us, having become a High Priest forever according to the order of Melchisedech. He is the King of Justice having neither beginning of days nor end of life. (Heb. vi. 20.)

Father: O Lord, stir up Thy power, we pray Thee, and come; and with Thy great might help us, that with the help of Thy grace, Thy merciful forgiveness may hasten what our sins impede, through Christ our Lord. All: Amen. (All four candles are lit)

All: Hail and blessed be the hour and moment, in which the Son of God was born of the most pure Blessed Virgin Mary, At midnight, in Bethlehem, in piercing cold. In that hour vouchsafe, O my God ! to hear my prayer and grant my desires, through the merits of our Savior Jesus Christ, and His Blessed Mother. Amen.

The following directions show you how to build a spiritual crib in your heart for Christ. Use it to put Christ into your Christmas in a real living way.

Start on December 1. Read the thought indicated about Christ's first crib. Practice it during the day. Do this daily during December and make your heart a worthy crib for Christ on Christmas Day.

Dec. 1 -- THE STABLE Frequently during the day offer your heart to the little Infant Jesus. Ask Him to make it His home. --Sweet Jesus, take my heart and make it meek and pure.

Dec. 2 -- THE ROOF See that the roof of the stable is in good condition, so that the Infant Jesus is protected from rain and snow. This you will do by carefully avoiding every uncharitable remark. -- Jesus, teach me to love my neighbor as myself.

Dec. 3 -- CREVICES Carefully stop every crevice in the walls of the stable, so that the wind and cold may not enter there. Guard your senses against temptations. Guard especially, your ears against sinful conversations. --Jesus, help me to keep temptations out of my heart.

Dec. 4 -- COBWEBS Clean the cobwebs from your spiritual crib. Diligently remove from your heart every inordinate desire of being praised. Renew this intention at least three times today --My Jesus I want to please Thee in all I do today.

Dec. 5 -- FENCE Build a fence about the crib of your heart by keeping a strict watch over your eyes, especially at prayer --Sweet Jesus, I long to see Thee.

Dec. 6 -- MANGER Fix the best and warmest corner of your heart for the manger of Jesus. You will do so by abstaining from what you like most in the line of food, comfort and amusement. --Mary, use these sacrifices to prepare my heart for Jesus in Holy Communion.

Dec. 7 -- HAY Supply the manger of your heart with hay, by overcoming all feelings of pride, anger or envy. --Jesus, teach me to know and correct my greatest sins.

Dec. 8 -- SOFT STRAW Also provide your manger with soft straw by performing little acts of mortification; for instance, bear the cold without complaints; or sit and stand erect. --Dear Jesus, Who suffered so much for me, let me suffer for love of Thee.

Dec. 9 -- SWADDLING CLOTHES Prepare these for the Divine Infant by folding your hands when you pray, and by praying slowly and thoughtfully. -- Jesus, let me love Thee more and more.

Dec. 10 -- BLANKETS Provide the manger of your heart with soft, warm blankets. Avoid harsh and angry words; be kind and gentle to all. --Jesus, help me to be meek and humble like Thee. Dec. 11 -- FUEL Bring fuel to the crib of Jesus. Give up your own will; obey your superiors cheerfully and promptly. --Jesus, let me do Thy will in all things.

Dec. 12 -- WATER Bring fresh, clean water to the crib. Avoid every untruthful word and every deceitful act. -- Dearest Mary, obtain for me true contrition for my sins.

Dec. 13 -- PROVISIONS Bring a supply of food to the crib. Deprive yourself of some food at meal time; or a cigarette or candy, especially when you feel like smoking or eating. --Jesus, be my strength and nourishment.

Dec. 14 -- LIGHT See that the crib has sufficient light. Be neat and orderly about your person; keep everything in its place in your room. --Jesus, be the life and light of my soul.

Dec. 15 -- FIRE Take care to have the crib of your heart warmed by a cozy fire. Be grateful to God for the love He has shown us in becoming man; behave with grateful respect towards your parents and relatives. -- Jesus, how can I return Thy love; how can I show my gratitude to Thee?

Dec. 16 -- THE OX Lead the ox to the crib. Obey cheerfully without making excuses and without asking "why". --,I will obey for love of Thee, Jesus.

Dec. 17 -- THE DONKEY Bring the donkey to the crib. Offer to the Divine Infant your bodily strength; use it in the service of others. -- Jesus, accept my service of love; I offer it for those who do not love Thee.

Dec. 18 -- GIFTS Gather some presents for the Divine Infant and His Blessed Mother. Give alms for the poor and say an extra decade of the Rosary. -- Come, Jesus, to accept my gifts and to take possession of my heart. Dec. 19 -- LAMBS Strive to bring some little lambs, meek and patient. So not murmur or complain. -- Jesus, meek and humble of heart, make my heart like Thine.

Dec. 20 -- SHEPHERDS Invite the shepherds to pay homage to our new born King. Imitate their watchfulness; stress in your speech and thoughts the idea that Christmas is important because Jesus will be born again in you. --Jesus, teach me to love Thee above all things.

Dec. 21 -- THE KEY Provide the stable with a key to keep out thieves. Exclude from your heart every sinful thought, every rash judgment. -- Dear Jesus, close my heart to all that hurts Thee.

Dec. 22 -- ANGELS Invite the angels to adore God with you. Cheerfully obey the inspirations of your guardian angel and of your conscience. --Holy Guardian Angel, never let me forget that you are with me always.

Dec. 23 -- ST. JOSEPH Accompany Saint Joseph from door to door. Learn from him silently and patiently to bear refusals and disappointments. Open wide your heart and beg him to enter with the Blessed Virgin Mary. -- Saint Joseph, help me to prepare for a worthy Christmas Communion.

Dec. 24 -- THE BLESSED VIRGIN Go meet your Blessed Mother. Lead her to the manger of your heart and beg her to lay the Divine Infant in it. Shorten your chats and telephone conversations and spend more time today thinking of Jesus and Mary and Joseph. --Come, dear Jesus. Come, my heart longs for Thee.

Its first use is accredited to St. Francis of Assisi at Greccio in Italy in 1223. The saint asked one of his friends whom he loved with special affection to prepare the crib so all could see how Christ was born at Bethlehem in lowly poverty; how He was bedded in the manger of hay between an ox and an ass.

The joyful day approached. The Franciscan friars were called to meet at Greccio. Peasants living nearby prepared candles and torches to brighten the night. The crib was made ready and hay was brought to line it. The ox and the ass were led to the spot. Crowds drew near rejoicing, and their voices resounded through the fields and the woods. The saint stood before the crib, his heart filled with joy, and there at midnight a Solemn Mass was sung.

Since the time of St. Francis the Christmas crib has become a familiar sight in Christian lands all over the world.

Only a few hours now separate us from the "new birth" of the Son of God. In humble gratitude, let us put all the love of our hearts into our spiritual exercises, in preparation for our Christmas Communion.

I kneel at the door of the empty stable and offer Thee my heart, 0 my little Jesus! I have tried to make room for Thee; I have made my poor little preparations with Thy Blessed Mother; I have taken long journeys to get to Thee; but my body is not fit to be Thy temple and my heart is treacherous and faithless. I am ashamed to have so poor a shelter to offer Thee. If it were not that Thou didst ask for it, I dare not offer it. Oh ! Thou Who didst not refuse the manger-bed, come to my heart, look at the contrition and the humiliation and the aching longing to be what Thou dost want, and forget the faithlessness and the failures and the weakness.

Come, my little King, incarnate for me, come and save me: if l were not a sinner I should not need a Savior.

0 Divine Redeemer Jesus Christ, prostrate before Thy crib, I believe that Thou art the God of infinite majesty, even though I see Thee as a helpless babe. Humbly I adore and thank Thee for having so humbled Thyself for my salvation as to will to be born in a stable. I thank Thee for all Thou didst wish to suffer for me in Bethlehem, for Thy poverty and humility, for Thy nakedness, tears, cold and sufferings.

Would that I could show Thee that tenderness which Thy Virgin Mother had toward Thee, and love Thee as she loved Thee. Would that I could praise Thee with the joy of the angels; that I could kneel before Thee with the faith of Saint Joseph; the simplicity of the shepherds. Uniting myself with these first worshippers at the crib, I offer Thee the homage of my heart and I beg that Thou wouldst be born spiritually in my soul. Give me, I pray Thee, the virtues of Thy blessed Nativity. Fill me with that spirit of renunciation, of poverty, of humility, which prompted Thee to assume the weakness of our nature, and to be born amid destitution and suffering. Grant that from this day forward I may in all things seek Thy greater glory, and may enjoy that peace promised to men of good will. Who livest and reignest, world without end.

Amen.

Come to me 0 Divine Savior, vouchsafe to be born in my heart. Grant that, taught by Thine example, and assisted by Thy grace, I may be poor in spirit and humble of heart. Keep me chaste and obedient. I wish to live but for Thee, and to do all things purely for love of Thee. 0 Mary, my Advocate and Mother, obtain by thy prayers forgiveness of my past offences and holy perseverance unto death. St. Joseph, do thou also pray for me, that I may become daily more pleasing to Jesus.

Amen.

We draw near the crib to offer our newborn Savior the birthday gift He most desires: our hearts, our lives of consecration, and let us offer them through the hands of those who were first privileged to kneel in the presence of the Word made flesh. Through Mary, we may offer our adoration; through St. Joseph, our reparation; through the holy Angels, our thanksgiving; and through the shepherds, our petitions.

Dearest little Jesus, I kneel here at Thy holy crib to learn the lessons of Bethlehem: humility, prayer, simplicity, and the acceptance of poverty and suffering with patience, love and gentleness. Christmas Angels, shepherds of Bethlehem, Holy Magi Kings, pray for me! Mary and Joseph, teach me how to love the Child in the manger! Amen.

Remember, 0 most gracious Virgin Mary of Guadalupe, that in thy celestial apparitions on the mount of Tepeyac, thou didst promise to show thy compassion and pity towards all who, loving and trusting thee, seek thy help and call upon thee in their necessities and afflictions. Thou didst promise to hearken to our supplications, to dry our tears and to give us consolation and relief. Never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thy intercession) either for the common welfare, or in personal anxieties, was left unaided.

Inspired with this confidence, we fly unto thee, 0 Mary, ever Virgin Mother of the True God! Though grieving under the weight of our sins, we come to prostrate ourselves in thy august presence, certain that thou wilt deign to fulfill thy merciful promises. We are full of hope that, standing beneath thy shadow and protection, nothing will trouble or afflict us, nor need we fear illness, or misfortune, or any other sorrow. Thou hast desired to remain with us through thy admirable image, thou who art our Mother, our health and our life. Placing ourselves beneath thy maternal gaze and having recourse to thee in all our necessities we need do nothing more. 0 Holy Mother of God, despise not our petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer us. Amen.

"Hail, 0 Virgin of Guadalupe, Empress of America! Keep forever under thy powerful patronage the purity and integrity of our holy faith on the entire American continent." (Pope Pius XII)

0 most Holy Virgin Mary, Mother of God, I (mention name) although most unworthy of being thy servant, yet moved by thy wonderful mercy and by the desire to serve thee, consecrate myself to thy Immaculate Heart, and, choose thee today, in the presence of my Guardian Angel and the whole heavenly court, for my especial Lady, Advocate and Mother, under the title of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the name given to the heavenly Image left us as a pledge of thy motherly kindness. I firmly resolve that I will love and serve thee always, and do whatever I can to induce others to love and serve thee. I pray thee, Mother of God, and my most kind and amiable Mother, that thou wilt receive me into the number of thy servants for thy child and servant forever. Assist me in all my thoughts, words and actions at every moment of my life, that every step and breath may be directed to the greater glory of God; and through thy most powerful intercession obtain for me that I may never more offend my beloved Jesus, that I may glorify Him in this life and that I may also love thee, and enjoy thee, in the company of the Blessed Trinity through eternity in holy Paradise.

In order to live this consecration as another Juan Diego, I promise to renew it frequently, especially on - the twelfth day of each month; and mindful of thy messages to us at Lourdes and Fatima, I will strive to lead a life of prayer and sacrifice, of fidelity to thy Rosary and of reparation to thy Immaculate Heart. Amen.

The Roman Ritual is the book of blessings for various objects. The feast of the Epiphany is very rich in special blessings that day. One of which is the blessing for chalk. The chalk is used to write the lettering below over all the doors of one’s house. The figures refer to the year hence the year 2000 is split to read as follows:

Ble + ss, O Lord God, this creature of chalk: that it may be for the health of the human race; and grant that through the intercession of thy most Holy Name, that whoever may use it, or write in their doors the names of Gaspar, Melchior and Baltassar thy Saints, may by their intercession and merits receive health of body, and strength of soul. Through Christ, Our Lord. Amen.

 

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