The month of December is dedicated to the Immaculate Conception, which is celebrated on December 8. The first 24 days of December fall during the liturgical season known as Advent.
BENEDICT XVI'S PRAYER INTENTIONS FOR DECEMBER VATICAN CITY, 30 NOV 2012 (VIS) - Pope Benedict's general prayer intention for December is: "That migrants throughout the world may be welcomed with generosity and authentic love, especially by Christian communities".
His mission intention is: "That Christ may reveal Himself to all humanity with the light that shines forth from Bethlehem and is reflected in the face of His Church". For more information check (“Vatican Information Service Blog” (VIS))
Today is first Saturday of the month and December 7 is St. Ambrose Memorial and at the same time First Friday of Months. Every one of us called to holiness and I believe if we see everyday, week, month, season, and year our church guiding us to holiness via diverse channels of grace. We are now in the season of Advent. As we all know Advent is the time of preparation for the coming of Christ at Christmas and also the starting of the liturgical year in the Roman Catholic Church.
Highlights of the Month of December
"Awaken! Remember that God comes! Not yesterday, not tomorrow, but today, now! The one true God, "the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob", is not a God who is there in Heaven, unconcerned with us and our history, but he is the-God-who-comes. (Pope Benedict XVI, Celebration of First Vespers of Advent, Vatican Basilica, December 2006)
- Monday, December 03, 2012 St. Francis Xavier, Priest (Memorial)
- Thursday, December 06, 2012 St. Nicholas, Bishop (Optional Memorial)
- Friday, December 07, 2012 St. Ambrose, Bishop, Doctor of the Church (Memorial)
- Saturday, December 08, 2012 The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Solemnity)
O God, who by the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin prepared a worthy dwelling for your Son, grant, we pray, that, as you preserved her from every stain by virtue of the Death of your Son, which you foresaw, so, through her intercession, we, too, may be cleansed and admitted to your presence. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
Almighty and merciful God, may no earthly undertaking hinder those who set out in haste to meet your Son, but may our learning of heaven wisdom grain us admittance to his company. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. (Readings on USCCB website)
- Wednesday, December 12, 2012 Our Lady of Guadalupe (Feast)
- Thursday, December 13, 2012 St. Lucy, Virgin, Martyr (Memorial)
- Friday, December 14, 2012 St. John of the Cross, Priest, Doctor of the Church (Memorial)
- Sunday, December 16, 2012 The Third Sunday of Advent
"Prepare ye the way of the Lord: Make straight in the wilderness His paths; Every valley shall be exalted; Every mountain and hill shall be made low; And the crooked shall be made straight; And the rough ways plain" (Is. 40:3, 4).
Pour forth, we beseech you, O Lord, your grace into our hearts, that we, to whom the Incarnation of Christ your Son was made known by the message of an Angel, may by his Passion and Cross be brought to the glory of his Resurrection. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. (Readings on USCCB website)
+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.
- Wednesday, December 26, 2012 St. Stephen, First Martyr (Feast)
- Friday, December 28, 2012 The Holy Innocents, Martyrs (Feast)
- Sunday, December 30, 2012 The Holy Family (Feast)
Today I want to add one important stream of Grace in addition of "Sacred Heart of Jesus” and “Immaculate Heart of Mary”, Advent reflection found in Jesuits of the Missouri Province website. I suggest every one to bookmark Advent Examen A 7-Day prayer Cycle or by changing home page of the browser you are using to EWTN Advent calendar let’s reflect on coming of Our Lord.
Reading and reflection of the Month of December:
- Advent Examen A 7-day Prayer Cycle daily reflection prepare for nativity of our Lord.
- AD DIEM ILLUM LAETISSIMUM ENCYCLICAL OF POPE PIUS XON THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTIONTO THE PATRIARCHS, PRIMATES, ARCHBISHOPS,BISHOPS, AND OTHER ORDINARIESIN PEACE AND COMMUNION WITH THE APOSTOLIC SEE.
Have a Blessed Advent and Christmas!
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