The above rosary belonged to my mother, it is 51 yrs. old. My daughter inspired this post with an article she sent this morning. You will find this very inspiring as I did. Pew Sitter

It has been a busy Christmas season. so busy that I haven't left the house for the past three days trying to rest. In the Catholic Church, the season isn't over until after the Epiphany which is on January 6th.

As I said briefly in an earlier post, I attended a 5PM vigil on Christmas Eve that was to count as a Christmas Mass. The Midnight Mass was at 10PM. Confusing isn't it? In what I call, the real Church of 43yrs. ago, Midnight Mass began at the stroke of 12PM. Entire families came with their children. As a child I went with my family and would sometimes fall asleep. In my Junior and Senior years in school I was one of the angels on the altar who made all these graceful arm movements to "O' Holy Night". It was indeed a beautiful tribute to the birth of the Christ Child. The years passed and my husband and I brought our children to Church with us but it wasn't the same anymore.

I still attend Mass of course but it is with a different perspective. I go to be present at the Sacrifice of the Mass (Calvary made present) and to receive the Eucharist. I take note of the abuses be they big ones or small ones. The Church was crowded with people filling all the pews and some standing. Christmas songs filled the air before Mass began which was acceptable but then, they started singing a very lively "Jingle Bells". I found myself "dashing through the snow". Some may disagree but another song that is not correct with Church teaching is "Mary Did You Know?" Of course she knew, the angel Gabriel told her he was the Son of God. Reminds me of a priest telling me that Jesus didn't know he was God. I sum it all up to many people including priests probably never believed. I will end with Peter's words,

John 6

69 And Simon Peter answered him: Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.

Wishing you all a happy Christmas with family and friends. If you are Catholic, your top priority should be to get to Mass and receive the Eucharist. Go to Confession first and receive worthily. I attended Mass last evening and the Church was "packed"almost beyond its capacity .. everyone received communion, me too. I prayed that we , as One Body recognized the Body of Christ.

So again I wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

As usual, I have some catching up to do. The month has been very busy with preparations for Christmas both secular and spiritual. On December 12, the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe was celebrated. The church was filled with Spanish speaking people and a re-enactment of the apparition was presented. In July 1994, my late husband and I flew to Mexico City as pilgrims to visit the site of the apparition and view the "tilma". The above picture is of the image that my husband bought for me while we were there. The link below will give insight into what took place on the hill of Tepeyac.

Our Lady of Guadalupe

O Come O Come Emmanuel

Today ends the short Season of Advent.

I have some catching up to do with actually posting what is going on in the Catholic Church in my area. So far so good. Could it be that things are happening because the faithful are stepping up and speaking out? I believe so. As all Catholics should know, December the 8th is the feast day of the Immaculate Conception. I have put a link so that those who have an interest, be you Catholic or Non, can enlighten or re-enlighten themselves to the truth of the doctrine. Immaculate Conception

I attended the 8:00AM Mass that morning, all the children were there from 1st to 6th grade and as I watched the children I thought of

Luke 18 verse 17

Amen, I say to you: Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a child, shall not enter into it

After so many years of searching for the True Church, albeit slow, it is coming back. The Sign of Peace that we offer to our brothers and sisters in Christ is good but has gotten somewhat out of hand with people crossing aisles to shake hands, waving etc. Many people like this gesture and it will remain but be somewhat subdued. Since this immediately precedes the Consecration. Pope Benedict XVI is going to move this ritual to a more appropiate part of the Mass.

My two grandsons serve as altar boys at our local parish and, yes, there is still an occasional girl altar boy. That somehow doesn't fit does it? I hadn't heard the hymn "Holy God We Praise Thy Name" it seems like in at least "umpteen" million years but at the Immaculate Conception Mass the recessional hymn was sang. Music was played on a piano which doesn't do it justice. Fr. K told the boys that he was going to move the organ back into the Church.

There are many of us out there but, unfortunately, not everyone uses a computer to get the word out. There is something we can all do, we can be a witness to the faith by giving good example no matter where we find ourselves. Don't hide the Light that is in us, let it shine.

Pope Benedict XVI - St. Patrick's Cathedral Recessional Hymn

Lyrics to Holy God We Praise Thy Name

Holy God, we praise Thy Name;
Lord of all, we bow before Thee!
All on earth Thy scepter claim,
All in heaven above adore Thee;
Infinite Thy vast domain,
Everlasting is Thy reign.

Hark! the loud celestial hymn
Angel choirs above are raising,
Cherubim and seraphim,
In unceasing chorus praising;
Fill the heavens with sweet accord:
Holy, holy, holy, Lord.

Lo! the apostolic train
Join the sacred Name to hallow;
Prophets swell the loud refrain,
And the white-robed martyrs follow;
And from morn to set of sun,
Through the Church the song goes on.

Holy Father, Holy Son,
Holy Spirit, Three we name Thee;
While in essence only One,
Undivided God we claim Thee;
And adoring bend the knee,
While we own the mystery.

They Are Always Anonymous

The following comment was left on my I Will Make Everything New blog. I thought it appropiate to post it here too.

2 Comments

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Anonymous said...

If you are proclaiming to the world that you are Catholic, then you are proclaiming that Jesus Christ is the Author of confusion, an idol worshiper and a liar. Catholicism spits in the face of Christ. It is a man made, creation manipulating, idol worshiping work of the flesh and of Satan. Those who you promote are the modern day Pharisees, controlling and dominating their followers with lies, even to the point of making Mary co-redemtrix. If you die in your Catholic faith you will be cast out into outer darkness and spend your eternity in the lake of fire. I am of no denomination. Schisms are to be avoided at ALL COSTS and spoken out against. I warn you in the power of the resurrection of Christ Jesus The Messiah to REPENT from your idolatry and return unto the Living God. Make reconciliation with The One I sent into the world to die for your sins and also do not leave out the one I placed in your life from birth, not your birth; for that one is the reason I have allowed you to remain even unto this day. Repent and return unto your first love and study to show yourself approved unto God. The interpretation of My Holy Word comes from My Holy Spirit and if He does not dwell in you, you have no place in me. I'm calling out to you Ruth, do not ignore my call.

December 3, 2008 2:33 PM

Ruth said...

Yes I am proclaiming that I am a Catholic and what's more I am claiming that I am in the faith that Our Savior, Jesus Christ established back when He walked the earth with His apostles telling them to preach to all nations and to tell them to observe ALL the commands I give you, yes there are many things He told us we couldn't do if we wanted to enter His kingdom. Also the most horrible to people is that Catholics (real ones that is) accept that He meant we had to look upon the breaking of the bread as receiving the actual body of Jesus. His disciples walked away then as many (including you) have walked away because it is a hard saying. My being accosted by you makes me happy as it confirms my faith even more Never would I attack you or anyone else. Go on persecute us, no slave is greater than the Master. I welcome your attack and thank you. Don't you think that the Mother of Our Savior should be honored? I bore 4 children and I certainly don't put Her equal to me or any mother. She bore the Savior of the World. Common sense should tell you what honor she deserves. Anonymous tells me nothing about your name but I know that you are from Elkins, West Virginia. You spoke my name as I have it on my site but what shall I call you Joe, Bob or what?

December 3, 2008 4:08 PM