St. Andrew Christmas Novena

The St. Andrew Christmas Novena begins tomorrow, November 30. Lena over at Joy-filled Family designed a beautiful holy card to assist in praying this novena 15 times a day. We used her holy card last year (I printed and laminated it), and it helps make praying this novena from November 30 through December 24 doable.

Update: Emmanuel Books has this lovely holy card available for download on their website.

Adoration of the Shepherds by Gerard Van Honthorst

Hail and blessed be the hour and moment in which the Son of God was born of the most pure 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 Saviour Jesus Christ, and of His Blessed Mother.

Amen.

Imprimatur

+Michael Augustine, Archbishop of New York

New York, February 6, 1897

Happy Thanksgiving!

A friend asked elsewhere, "What are we most grateful for this year?"

I didn't have to think twice. I am grateful that my husband survived his massive heart attack. I am thankful for daily Mass and a holy, kind, and patient new pastor, Fr. S. Finally, I am thankful to be expecting another baby.

I hope that everyone has a happy and safe Thanksgiving. God bless you and your families!

Detachment

The other day, I called my friend, Elena. I was crying about something silly (it's what happens when I am pregnant), and she told me, "Christine, you need to learn to detach." She went on to tell me a story about St. Teresa of Avila and detachment. A little later, I was looking for a quote on something else, and I stumbled on these quotes from Catholic Tradition about detachment. I am posting them here for easy reference.

"Give me ten truly detached men. and I will convert the world with them."
- St. Philip Neri 

"Love consists not in feeling great things but in having great detachment and in suffering for the Beloved."
-St. John of the Cross 

"If you purify your soul of attachment to and desire for things, you will understand them spiritually. If you deny your appetite for them, you will enjoy their truth, understanding what is certain in them."
- St. John of the Cross 

"We must have a real living determination to reach holiness. I will be a saint means I will despoil myself of all that is not God; I will strip my heart of all created things; I will live in poverty and detachment; I will renounce my will, my inclinations, my whims and fancies, and make myself a willing slave to the will of God."
- Bl. Mother Teresa

I am thankful to have a friend who keeps me grounded and offers sound advice.

St. Teresa of Avila, pray for us!