Be Holy, Be Happy!

Thursday, December 24, 2009

Christmas Novena 2009 - Last Day

December 24

O You that sits upon the cherubim, God of hosts come, show Your face, and we shall be saved. (Pause, Reflect, Pray: Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be and/or Pro Sanctity Prayer)

"Now there were shepherds in that region living in the fields and keeping the night watch over their flock."

I wonder why God chose the shepherds as the ones to visit first his newborn son.  Hey seemed to be an unusual choice for the ones who might come to adore.  They were used to miracles of nature in seeing the daily life and death of their sheep, but nothing like this in nature had ever happened before.  I imagine they were frightened when they saw and heard the angels.  Would they have even known what an angel was when they saw the angel?  They knew something unusual was happening but it was unlike anything else they or anyone had ever experienced.  In the most ordinary event of human life, the most unusual event takes place.  In the birth of a baby, God is born for us.  It is beyond what any of us could have hoped for and I am filled with wonder each time I think of it.  In the flesh and blood, in the joy and messiness of a baby, God is born for us!  Every day, Lord, you are hidden beneath the surface of daily life. 

Dear Jesus, I pray for the grace to see the unusual in the ordinary, to see the presence of the divine in what is so very human. 
Msgr. Andrew Vaccari, National Pro Sanctity Spiritual Advisor      

 


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Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Christmas Novena Day Eight

December 23

O EMMANUEL, God with us, our King and Lawgiver, the expected of the nations and their Savior: Come to save us, O Lord our God.

((Pause, Reflect, Pray: Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be and/or Pro Sanctity Prayer)

Isaiah 7:14; 33:22. Symbols: tablets of stone, Chalice and Host.

 

O Emmanuel

God with us

Who are we that God is with us

We have waited long

Now the time is near

O Emmanuel

Come and save us

We are a weak people

Alone we can do nothing

Temptation surrounds us

O Emmanuel

The time is near to save us

 Come now into our hearts

O Emmanuel come

 

Anne Zugelder


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Christmas Novena Day Seven

December 22

O KING OF THE GENTILES and their desired One, the Cornerstone that makes both one: Come, and deliver man, whom You formed out of the dust of the earth.

(Pause, Reflect, Pray: Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be and/or Pro Sanctity Prayer)

Psalm 2:7-8, Ephesians 2:14-20. Symbols, Crown, scepter.

 

O King of the Nations

You are the fulfillment of our desires

From dust you made us

Filled us with the breath of life

O King of the Nations save us

In our weakness we cannot

Reign in our hearts

So that we can live in your joy

O King of the Nations

Come quickly

Anne Zugelder


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Sunday, December 20, 2009

Thought for the day ... G. Giaquinta

God who lowers Himself to the point of our poverty; the poverty of human maternity through the Madonna; the poverty of a cave, the poverty of announcement to poor shepherds, the poverty of a baby who does not know how to speak. This is the mystery of salvation (G. Giaquinta, Openness 1976).


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Christmas Novena Sixth Day

December 21

O DAWN OF THE EAST, brightness of the light eternal, and Sun of Justice: Come, and enlighten them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death.

(Pause, Reflect, Pray: Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be and/or Pro Sanctity Prayer)

Psalm 19:6-7   Symbol: rising sun.

 

O Radiant Dawn

Shine brightly in our lives

Open our hearts to your Love

Dispel the darkness of night

O Radiant Dawn

Awaken all the earth

Make us ready to welcome the Dawn

Bring us to your manager

O Radiant Dawn

 


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Saturday, December 19, 2009

Christmas Novena Day Five

December 20

O KEY OF DAVID, and Scepter of the House of Israel, who opens and no man shuts, who shuts and no man opens: Come, and bring forth the captive from his prison, he who sits in darkness and in the shadow of death.

 

(Pause, Reflect, Pray: Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be and/or Pro Sanctity Prayer)

Isaiah 22:22   Symbols: key; broken chains

 

O Key of David

Put your key in my lock

Open wide the door of my heart

Fill me with your grace

O key of David

Set me free from the darkness

Fill the darkness with your light

Never close the door

O Key of David come

 


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Venerable Pope John Paul II!

December 19, 2009: Karol Wojtyla, better known as John Paul II. Today it was approved that he will now be become "Venerable," and his cause permits the presenting of a first miracle in order to progress to beatification -- which, in the case of John Paul, could come as soon as next year.

Let us pray in thanksgiving!!


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Christmas Novena

December 19

O ROOT OF JESSE, who stands for an ensign of the people, before whom kings shall keep silence and unto whom the Gentiles shall make supplication: Come to deliver us, and tarry not.

(Pause, Reflect, Pray: Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be and/or Pro Sanctity Prayer)

Isaiah 11:1-3, 10   Symbol: vine or plant in flower, especially a rose.

 

O Root of Jesse

You are our sign

Raised up before all upon the cross

All stand silent seeking your aid

O Root of Jesse

The mighty fall at your feet

Come deliver us from sorrow

Kings are silent in your majestic presence

O Root of Jesse come

Do not delay

Help us in our time of need

Anne Zugelder

 


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Thursday, December 17, 2009

Christmas Novena Day Three

December 18

O LORD AND RULER of the House of Israel, who appeared to Moses in the flame of the burning bush and gave him the law on Sinai: Come, and redeem us with outstretched arm.

 

(Pause, Reflect, Pray: Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be and/or Pro Sanctity Prayer)

Exodus 3:2, 20:1  Symbols: burning bush, stone tablets .

 

O Lord Redeemer

Take my outstretched hand

Moses walked on holy ground

Fan the flames of holiness in my heart

Give me the courage to obey

On Mount Sinai Moses received your decrees

O Lord gives me strength to follow

Help me to conquer my will

To overcome my fears

And climb Mt Sinai as Moses did

O Lord I wait in hope

Take my outstretched hand

By Anne Zugelder, AO

 


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Christmas Novena Day Two

December 17
O WISDOM, who came from the mouth of the Most High, reaching from end to end and ordering all things mightily and sweetly: Come, and teach us the way of prudence. (Pause, Reflect, Pray: Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be and/or Pro Sanctity Prayer)Sirach 24:2; Wisdom 8:1 Symbols: oil lamp, open book.

Today a lovely mom with her new born came to visit me for some spiritual advice. Oh what a joy to receive her and share with her! I was Elizabeth and she was Mary as sure as it was true. What touched me deeply was that she and her husband were not young and this child was the new child in an already large family. The tiny bundle in her arms had not been expected but I could see with my own eyes that she was received without reserve. Oh the joy on the mother's face was as full of wonder and exhilaration as if it was her
first child.

During the sharing of our hearts, it seemed that the movement in our souls danced with joy and deep faith at the presence of the Lord in our midst. We knew another Woman was with us in spirit. Blessed were we that the Mother of our Lord, was praying and interceding for both of us that we might know the true greatness of her Son, Jesus in becoming a child, vulnerable and small,to show us the tremendous love the Father has for all children and each one in such a particular way!

Oh Mary, thank you for your YES, and for opening the doors to us so that we might receive the pure and true joy your Son, Jesus, who has ordered all things mightily and sweetly. Amen.


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Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Christmas Novena 2009

December 16-24, 2009
CHRISTMAS NOVENA!
Pro Sanctity Prayer Intention: That all may receive their gift of holiness

December 16
O Shepherd that ruled Israel, You who led Joseph like a sheep, come to guide and comfort us.

First Reflection: The heart of the church is Christ and it was precisely Mary who carried him for nine months in her womb and then maternally guiding him for the rest of his life until the cross…from that moment on she then stands with the Church, image of the Church for her other children. She continues to guide us all as she guided her first born. How could she do differently? She is after all our Mother.

(Pause, Reflect, Pray: Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be and/or Pro Sanctity Prayer)


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