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Midnight Mass
Solemnity of the Nativity of Our Lord
24 December 2009
Saint Peter's Basilica
Homily of His Holiness Benedict XVI
Urbi et Orbi Message of His Holiness Benedict XVI
25 December 2009
Saint Peter's Square
Showing posts with label Christmas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Christmas. Show all posts
Friday, December 25, 2009
The Proclamation of the Birth of Christ
Today, the twenty–fifth day of December,
unknown ages from the time when God created the heavens and the earth
and then formed man and woman in his own image.
Several thousand years after the flood,
when God made the rainbow shine forth
as a sign of the covenant.
Twenty–one centuries from the time of Abraham and Sarah;
thirteen centuries after Moses led the people of Israel
out of Egypt.
Eleven hundred years from the time of Ruth and the Judges;
one thousand years from the anointing of David as king;
in the sixty–fifth week according to the prophecy of Daniel.
In the one hundred and ninety–fourth Olympiad;
the seven hundred and fifty–second year from the foundation
of the city of Rome.
The forty–second year of the reign of Octavian Augustus;
the whole world being at peace,
Jesus Christ, eternal God and Son of the eternal Father,
desiring to sanctify the world by his most merciful coming,
being conceived by the Holy Spirit,
and nine months having passed since his conception,
was born in Bethlehem of Judea of the Virgin Mary.
Today is the nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ according to the flesh.
unknown ages from the time when God created the heavens and the earth
and then formed man and woman in his own image.
Several thousand years after the flood,
when God made the rainbow shine forth
as a sign of the covenant.
Twenty–one centuries from the time of Abraham and Sarah;
thirteen centuries after Moses led the people of Israel
out of Egypt.
Eleven hundred years from the time of Ruth and the Judges;
one thousand years from the anointing of David as king;
in the sixty–fifth week according to the prophecy of Daniel.
In the one hundred and ninety–fourth Olympiad;
the seven hundred and fifty–second year from the foundation
of the city of Rome.
The forty–second year of the reign of Octavian Augustus;
the whole world being at peace,
Jesus Christ, eternal God and Son of the eternal Father,
desiring to sanctify the world by his most merciful coming,
being conceived by the Holy Spirit,
and nine months having passed since his conception,
was born in Bethlehem of Judea of the Virgin Mary.
Today is the nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ according to the flesh.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
One Last Chance
For the last time this year…
I wish you all a very Merry Christmas!
As we celebrate the Baptism of the Lord, let us recall how much God loved us and how his example of humility is our call each day of our lives.
I wish you all a very Merry Christmas!
As we celebrate the Baptism of the Lord, let us recall how much God loved us and how his example of humility is our call each day of our lives.
Thursday, December 25, 2008
God-made-man
As I prayed Christmas Eve before our manger scene, I began to contemplate the idea of "God-made-man". I had meditated on this before and am still trying to wrap my brain around the whole idea. The Holy Trinity has existed since the beginning of time. The second person, with one woman's "fiat", suddenly becomes contained in a single embryo within her womb. God is suddenly brought down to one of the most insignificant and vulnerable states.
Angelus Domini, nunciavit Mariae et concepit de Spiritu Sancto.
The Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary and she conceived of the Holy Spirit.
Out of love God became man. He permitted Himself to be made vulnerable so that we would no longer be vulnerable. He continues this gift of Himself in the Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist. The Divine Presence we receive this Blessed Day at Mass is the same Divine Presence in the manger at Bethlehem two millennia ago.
Let us welcome Him and give Him all praise, honour, glory, and devotion!
Hark! The herald angels sing,
"Glory to the newborn King;
Peace on earth, and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled!"
Joyful, all ye nations rise,
Join the triumph of the skies;
With th'angelic host proclaim,
"Christ is born in Bethlehem!"
Hark! The herald angels sing,
"Glory to the newborn King!"
We are United in the Hearts of Jesus and Mary!
Angelus Domini, nunciavit Mariae et concepit de Spiritu Sancto.
The Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary and she conceived of the Holy Spirit.
Out of love God became man. He permitted Himself to be made vulnerable so that we would no longer be vulnerable. He continues this gift of Himself in the Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist. The Divine Presence we receive this Blessed Day at Mass is the same Divine Presence in the manger at Bethlehem two millennia ago.
Let us welcome Him and give Him all praise, honour, glory, and devotion!
Hark! The herald angels sing,
"Glory to the newborn King;
Peace on earth, and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled!"
Joyful, all ye nations rise,
Join the triumph of the skies;
With th'angelic host proclaim,
"Christ is born in Bethlehem!"
Hark! The herald angels sing,
"Glory to the newborn King!"
We are United in the Hearts of Jesus and Mary!
The Proclamation of the Birth of Christ
Today, the twenty-fifth day of December,
unknown ages from the time when God created the heavens and the earth and then formed man and woman in his own image.
Several thousand years after the flood,
when God made the rainbow shine forth as a sign of the covenant.
Twenty-one centuries from the time of Abraham and Sarah;
thirteen centuries after Moses led the people of Israel out of Egypt.
Eleven hundred years from the time of Ruth and the Judges;
one thousand years from the anointing of David as king;
in the sixty-fifth week according to the prophecy of Daniel.
In the one hundred and ninety-fourth Olympiad;
the seven hundred and fifty-second year from the foundation of the city of Rome.
The forty-second year of the reign of Octavian Augustus;
the whole world being at peace,
Jesus Christ, eternal God and Son of the eternal Father,
desiring to sanctify the world by his most merciful coming,
being conceived by the Holy Spirit and nine months having passed since his conception,
was born in Bethlehem of Judea of the Virgin Mary.
Today is the nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ according to the flesh.
unknown ages from the time when God created the heavens and the earth and then formed man and woman in his own image.
Several thousand years after the flood,
when God made the rainbow shine forth as a sign of the covenant.
Twenty-one centuries from the time of Abraham and Sarah;
thirteen centuries after Moses led the people of Israel out of Egypt.
Eleven hundred years from the time of Ruth and the Judges;
one thousand years from the anointing of David as king;
in the sixty-fifth week according to the prophecy of Daniel.
In the one hundred and ninety-fourth Olympiad;
the seven hundred and fifty-second year from the foundation of the city of Rome.
The forty-second year of the reign of Octavian Augustus;
the whole world being at peace,
Jesus Christ, eternal God and Son of the eternal Father,
desiring to sanctify the world by his most merciful coming,
being conceived by the Holy Spirit and nine months having passed since his conception,
was born in Bethlehem of Judea of the Virgin Mary.
Today is the nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ according to the flesh.
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Your Cross
Christmas is almost upon us. We are now in those dreadful last days before Christmas when all stores and commercial outlets should be avoided for fear of last minute crowds shopping for those last few items on their list. You hear too often, "X number of shopping days 'til Christmas!" Everyone has ideas running frantically through their heads of the best Christmas ever: the perfect food, the family that gets along, the ideal presents for everyone.
Woah! Wait a minute! Hold the phone! If that is your gauge for a good Christmas, you will fail. I guarantee. Something, or everything will always go wrong. Isn't it all about our relationship with Christ? Do not let panic overtake you as you have your worries, concerns, scruples, pains, and sorrows in the days leading up to Christmas. Christ will take care of it all. Life does not stop when Advent and the Christmas season begins. Someone will fight on Christmas. Someone will die on Christmas. Someone will not make it home for Christmas. Someone will be alone for Christmas.
Take the time to fly to prayer in the coming days. If you are continually focused on Him, you will grow closer to Him in the ways He decides. You will be able to handle anything that comes your way. Only then will you be able to have your best Christmas ever.
YOUR CROSS
The everlasting God has in His wisdom foreseen from eternity, the cross He now presents to you as a gift from His innermost heart. This cross He now sends you He has considered with His all-knowing eyes, understood with His divine mind, tested with His wise justice, warmed with loving arms and weighed with His own hands to see that it not be one ounce too heavy for you. He has blessed it with His grace, perfumed it with His consolation, and taken one last glance at you and your courage - has sent it to you from heaven, a special greeting from God to you, an alms of the all merciful love of God.
-St. Frances de Sales
We are United in the Hearts of Jesus and Mary!
Woah! Wait a minute! Hold the phone! If that is your gauge for a good Christmas, you will fail. I guarantee. Something, or everything will always go wrong. Isn't it all about our relationship with Christ? Do not let panic overtake you as you have your worries, concerns, scruples, pains, and sorrows in the days leading up to Christmas. Christ will take care of it all. Life does not stop when Advent and the Christmas season begins. Someone will fight on Christmas. Someone will die on Christmas. Someone will not make it home for Christmas. Someone will be alone for Christmas.
Take the time to fly to prayer in the coming days. If you are continually focused on Him, you will grow closer to Him in the ways He decides. You will be able to handle anything that comes your way. Only then will you be able to have your best Christmas ever.
YOUR CROSS
The everlasting God has in His wisdom foreseen from eternity, the cross He now presents to you as a gift from His innermost heart. This cross He now sends you He has considered with His all-knowing eyes, understood with His divine mind, tested with His wise justice, warmed with loving arms and weighed with His own hands to see that it not be one ounce too heavy for you. He has blessed it with His grace, perfumed it with His consolation, and taken one last glance at you and your courage - has sent it to you from heaven, a special greeting from God to you, an alms of the all merciful love of God.
-St. Frances de Sales
We are United in the Hearts of Jesus and Mary!
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