Christmas is our celebration of the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Thus, it is too important to celebrate with a single day. As Catholics, we celebrate Christmas as a season that begins on Christmas day and continues until we celebrate the Baptism of the Lord (which falls on January 8th this year). There are …
The Liturgy of the Eucharist – “My Sacrifice and Yours” As we transition from the offertory to the Eucharistic Prayer, the priest says, “Pray my brothers and sisters,, that my sacrifice and yours, may be acceptable to God, the almighty Father.” Of course, there is no greater sacrifice than that of Jesus willingly sacrificing his …
The Nativity of the Lord (Mass During the Night)Isaiah 9:1-6Titus 2:11-14Luke 2:1-14December 25, 2023 We come today to celebrate something very special and we do so with “abundant joy and great rejoicing.” We come into church from a world with darkness and gloom. How many shootings have there been this year? How much senseless violence? …
We are about to start a very busy weekend in the Church. This Sunday (December 24th) is the Fourth Sunday of Advent. Then Christmas arrives on Monday. That means there will be the normal Sunday Masses. Then, at 4 pm in the afternoon we start our Christmas Eve Masses. (Please be aware that some parishes …
The Liturgy of the Eucharist – The Offertory Part 3 When the gifts of bread and wine have been placed on the altar, water is used twice. The first is as the priest or deacon pours wine into the chalice followed by a drop of water while silently saying “By the mystery of this water …
As we approach Christmas, there are specific readings for daily Masses on the final eight days before Christmas. The gospel readings focus on the events just before the birth of Jesus including the announcements of the pending births of John the Baptist and Jesus. It begins on December 17th (which was a Sunday this year, …
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In our present season of Advent, we are called to reflect on our readiness for the Second Coming of Jesus. This means we need to make a thorough examination of conscience. The color violent is a color that symbolizes penance and sorrow for our sins. We need to recognize our sins and ask God to …
Continue reading ‘Gaudete Sunday! 3rd Sunday of Advent, Year B’ »
The Liturgy of the Eucharist – The Offertory Part 2 After the gifts of bread and wine have been brought to the altar, the priest holds up first the bread and then the wine and says (silently if music is being played), “Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation, for through your goodness we …
Antisemitism has been a problem for a long time. It is hostility and/or prejudice against Jews. With the present fighting between Israel and Hamas, the news reports that antisemitism is rising across the world. The increase is likely a reaction to the military action by Israel in the Gaza strip. The U.N. currently reports that …
2nd Sunday of Advent, Year BIsaiah 40:1-5, 9-11Psalm 85:9-10, 11-12, 13-14 (8)2 Peter 3:8-14Mark 1:1-8 December 10, 2023 Isaiah the prophet speaks of a voice that cries out. Today’s gospel speaks of a voice crying out in the desert. Isaiah prophesizes at a time when the nation of Israel had been defeated and many of …
