FIRST WEEK OF ADVENT
SAINTS OF THE DAY – FEAST DAY ~ DECEMBER 2, 2024
NOVENA TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION Novena Starts November 29 – December 7th. Traditionally prayed in preparation for the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception on December 8th [Novena link below]
SAINT ANDREW’S CHRISTMAS NOVENA
[The Saint Andrew’s Christmas Novena prayer below is traditionally prayed 15 times a day from November 30, the Feast of Saint Andrew, through Christmas Eve.]
THE LITURGICAL YEAR IN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH [Please see link to this article below]
THE SAINTS: WHO ARE THEY AND HOW ARE THEY CANONISED? [Please see link to the article below]
PURGATORY: WHAT IS PURGATORY? [Please see link to this article below]
THE HOLY ROSARY: WHAT IS THE HOLY ROSARY AND WHY DO WE PRAY THE HOLY ROSARY? [Please see link to this article below]
Greetings and blessings, beloved family, and Happy Monday of the First Week of Advent!
On this special day, please let us keep our beloved precious granddaughter, Princess Celine; our beloved brother Prince Opiepe in our thoughts and prayers in the celebration of Mass as they celebrate their birthdays today and we also remember Mr. & Mrs. Gabriel and Grace Oko Opiepe as they celebrate their first wedding anniversary today!
On this Feast day, through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary and the Saints, we pray for God’s grace and mercy and for the safety and well-being of our children and for peace in our family and the whole world and we continue to remember the souls of the faithful departed and the souls in Purgatory. Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May their gentle souls and souls of all the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in perfect peace with our Lord Jesus Christ… Amen 🙏 ✝️🕯✝️🕯✝️🕯
“Blessed are those who have died in the Lord; let them rest from their abors for their good deeds go with them.” ~ Rev 14:13
PRAYER FOR THE DEAD: In your hands, O Lord, we humbly entrust our brothers and sisters. In this life, you embraced them with your tender love; deliver them now from every evil, and bid them eternal rest. The old order has passed away: welcome them into paradise, where there will be no sorrow, no weeping or pain, but fullness of peace and joy with your Son and the Holy Spirit forever and ever. Amen🙏
Watch “Holy Mass and Holy Rosary on EWTN on YouTube” | December 2, 2024 |
Watch “Holy Mass from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy” | December 2, 2024 |
Pray “Holy Rosary for Peace with Pope Francis” | LIVE Basilica of St. Mary Major | October 6, 2024 |
Pray “Holy Rosary Novena From Lourdes” | December 2, 2024 |
Pray “The Chaplet of Divine Mercy in song”| December 2, 2024 |
Pray “Holy Rosary ALL 20 Mysteries VIRTUAL🌹JOYFUL🌹LUMINOUS🌹SORROWFUL🌹GLORIOUS” oùn YouTube |
Memorare Chaplet | Prayer in Difficult Times (Powerful Prayer) |
Today’s Bible Readings: Monday, December 2, 2024
Reading 1, Isaiah 2:1-5
Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 122:1-2, 3-4, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9
Gospel, Matthew 8:5-11
THE HOLY ROSARY: WHAT IS THE HOLY ROSARY AND WHY DO WE PRAY THE HOLY ROSARY? | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/2024/11/21/the-holy-rosary-what-is-the-holy-rosary-and-why-do-we-pray-the-holy-rosary/
THE SAINTS: WHO ARE THEY AND HOW ARE THEY CANONISED? | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/2024/11/01/the-saints-who-are-they-and-how-are-they-canonised/
PURGATORY: WHAT IS PURGATORY? | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/2024/11/15/purgatory-and-limbo/
THE LITURGICAL YEAR IN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH |
ADVENT PRAYER – FIRST WEEK: The following prayer should be repeated each day during the first week. After the prayer, the family’s youngest child lights the first purple candle. (Family members can also take turns lighting and blowing out the candles on each night.)
LEADER: O Lord, stir up Thy might, we beg Thee, and come, That by Thy protection we may deserve to be rescued from the threatening dangers of our sins and saved by Thy deliverance. Through Christ our Lord. ALL: Amen🙏
(The candle is allowed to burn during evening meals for the first week.)
NOVENA TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION Novena starts November 29 – December 7th. Traditionally prayed in preparation for the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception on December 8th | https://mycatholic.life/catholic-prayers/novena-to-the-blessed-virgin-mary-the-immaculate-conception/
NOVENA TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION: INTRODUCTORY PRAYER: O God, who by the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, did prepare a worthy dwelling place for Your Son, we beseech You that, as by the foreseen death of this, Your Son, You did preserve her from all stain, so too You would permit us, purified through her intercession, to come unto You. Through the same Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, world without end. Amen 🙏
INTERCESSORY PRAYER ~ DAY FOUR: O Mary, Mother of God, endowed in your glorious Immaculate Conception with the fullness of grace; unique among women in that you are both mother and virgin; Mother of Christ and Virgin of Christ, we ask you to look down with a tender heart from your throne and listen to our prayers as we earnestly ask that you obtain for us the favor for which we now plead.
(State your personal intention here.)
O Mary of the Immaculate Conception, Mother of Christ, you had influence with your Divine Son while upon this earth; you have the same influence now in Heaven. Pray for us and obtain for us from Him the granting of my petition if it be the Divine Will. Amen.🙏
SAINT ANDREW PRAYER: Beginning on the Feast of St. Andrew (November 30th), the following beautiful prayer is traditionally recited fifteen times a day until Christmas. This is a very meditative prayer that helps us increase our awareness of the real focus of Christmas and helps us prepare ourselves spiritually for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
“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, [here mention your request] through the merits of Our Saviour Jesus Christ, and of His blessed Mother. Amen.”🙏
SAINTS OF THE DAY: MEMORIAL OF SAINT SILVERIUS, POPE AND MARTYR AND SAINT BIBIANA, VIRGIN AND MARTYR – FEAST DAY ~ DECEMBER 2ND: Today, we celebrate the Memorial of Saint Silverius, Pope and Martyr and Saint Bibiana, Virgin and Martyr. Through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary and all the Saints on this feast day, may they continue to intercede for us. Amen 🙏🏽
SAINT SILVERIUS, POPE AND MARTYR: St. Silverius was pope for a very short time in 546-7 A.D. But his brief pontificate made him a martyr for the truth, which he defended at the cost of his life. St. Silverius was a subdeacon when, on the death of St. Agapetus, he was chosen Pope in 536. Shortly after the election, the victorious Belisarius, general of the Emperor Justinian, waging war against the Goths, appeared before the gates of Rome. At the persuasion of Pope Silverius, the senate and people admitted him into the city. The Empress Theodora, who favored the sect of the Acephali or Ultra-Eutychians, endeavored to draw the Pope into connivance with her party, but the Sovereign Pontiff could not be deceived though he foresaw that his resistance would cost him life. The Empress now entered into an intrigue with Vigilius, Archdeacon of the Roman Church, promising him the papacy if he would condemn the Council of Chalcedon. Ti this he basely agreed.
Hereupon, the Archdeacon was sent to Rome with a letter for Belisarius, commanding him to drive out St. Silverius and to contrive the election of Vigilius. After some hesitation, and, like Pilate, shifting the responsibility, the general decided to obey. Being lured into the hands of his enemies, St. Silverius was conducted to Patara in Lycia, and Vigilius became Pope. When Justinian, the Emperor, learned the true state of affairs, he gave orders that St. Silverius should be sent back to Rome. His enemies intercepted him on the road and Vigilius had him taken to the island of Palmaria. He died there a short time afterward, in 537. St. Silverius died in exile at the isle of Ponza, for refusing the empress Theodora’s demand to reinstate the heresiarch Anthimos in the see of Constantinople. His body was brought back to Rome and laid in the Vatican basilica. Ironically, the death of St. Silverius was no benefit whatever to the heretics, for once Vigilius had actually become Pope he gave up all dalliance with them.
PRAYER: Almighty God, help us to bear worldly adversities with an unconquerable spirit. For You did not let St. Silverius, Your Pope and Martyr, be terrified by threats or conquered by pains. Amen 🙏
SAINT BIBIANA, VIRGIN AND MARTYR: St. Bibiana, also known as Vibiana or Viviana (d. 363), was born in Rome, the daughter of Christian parents who were martyred in the persecutions of Roman Emperor Julian the Apostate. In the year 363, Julian the Apostate made Apronianus Governor of Rome. St. Bibiana suffered in the persecution started by him. A legend states that Bibiana’s parents, Flavian and Dafrosa, were devout Christians as well. Her father, Flavian who was a former Roman prefect was severely beaten, had his face burned with a hot iron and sent to live in exile as a slave, but died from his wounds. Her mother, Dafrosa was beheaded shortly after. St. Bibiana and Demetria, her sister, were forced to remain in their house after all their possessions had been taken from them. They were imprisoned in their family home in utter poverty and hunger. They were offered reward if only they would renounce Jesus, but the sisters, strong in faith and prayer, said they would rather die. For five months the two sisters fasted and prayed.
Finding that they did not die from lack of food, the Roman governor summoned them. When they appeared in court, Demetria died on the spot at the feet of the tyrant after confessing her faith and the judge handed St. Bibiana and was given to the guardianship of a pagan woman named Rufina who tried to force her into prostitution. This woman tried to tempt Bibiana to be unfaithful to Christ, she in vain endeavored to defile her virginity. St. Bibiana refused and resolutely maintained her faith in Christ. She used blows as well as persuasion, but all her efforts were in vain, the Christian virgin remained faithful. For this she was beaten, tied to a pillar, and cruelly scourged to death with whips that were loaded with lead. St. Bibiana endured her torments with joy, and eventually died under the blows inflicted by the hands of the executioner. Her body was discarded and left out in the open to be eaten by wild dogs. The animals, however, would not touch her. After two days a priest named John discovered her body, took the body at night and buried it with a chapel built over the tomb for her veneration. St. Bibiana is one of the three virgin martyrs particularly venerated in Rome, the other two being St. Cecilia and St. Agnes. She’s the Patron Saint of the Diocese of Los Angeles, California; epilepsy; epileptics; hangovers; headaches; insanity; mental illness; mentally ill people; single laywomen; torture victims. St. Bibiana’s feast day is December 2nd.
PRAYER: Lord God, You showered heavenly gifts on St. Bibiana. Help us to imitate her virtues during our earthly life and enjoy eternal happiness with her in heaven. Amen 🙏
SCRIPTURE REFLECTIONS:
Bible Readings for today, Monday of the First Week of Advent | USCCB | https://bible.usccb.org/daily-bible-reading
Gospel Reading ~ Matthew 8:5-11
“Many will come from the east and the west into the Kingdom of heaven”
“When Jesus entered Capernaum, a centurion approached him and appealed to him, saying, “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, suffering dreadfully.” He said to him, “I will come and cure him.” The centurion said in reply, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof; only say the word and my servant will be healed. For I too am a man subject to authority, with soldiers subject to me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come here,’ and he comes; and to my slave, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, “Amen, I say to you, in no one in Israel have I found such faith. I say to you, many will come from the east and the west, and will recline with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob at the banquet in the Kingdom of heaven.”
In today’s Gospel reading, there is an interaction between Jesus and a Centurion, a soldier, an officer in the Roman army who had charge of one hundred men. The words spoken by the Centurion have made their way into our Mass in a slightly altered version, ‘Sir I am not worthy to have you under my roof; just say the word and my servant will be healed’. In the Gospel reading, the Centurion, an officer, was very aware of the power of his own word when addressed to his soldiers. ‘I say to one, “Go”, and he goes; and to another, “Come here”, and he comes’. The Centurion concluded that if his word is powerful, the word of Jesus must be much more powerful, powerful enough to heal his servant at a distance, so that Jesus, a Jew, would not have to enter the home of a pagan centurion. The centurion displayed a deep faith in the healing power of Jesus’ word. According to the Gospel reading, Jesus was ‘amazed’ at this pagan’s faith, saying, ‘In no one in Israel have I found such faith’. Not only was Jesus amazed at this man’s faith, but the church was amazed at it too, that is why a version of his words has made its way into the text of the Mass. His words become our words as we prepare to receive the Lord in Holy Communion. The deepest faith can be found in the most unexpected of people, including among those who are outsiders to the community of faith, as the Centurion was in Jesus’ time and place. As Jesus says in John’s gospel, ‘the Spirit/wind blows where it chooses’. The Gospel reading invites us to be amazed, as Jesus was, at the unexpected ways that the Spirit moves in the lives of others.
In the Gospel reading, Jesus speaks of people journeying from east and west to take their places at the feast in the kingdom of heaven. In Advent, we all hear the call to go on a journey towards the Lord, not a geographical journey, but a spiritual journey. During Advent, we strive to become more present to the Lord, to grow in our relationship with Him, as we prepare to celebrate the great feast of the Lord’s presence to us, the feast of Emmanuel, God-with-us. The Roman Centurion in the Gospel reading went on his own journey towards Jesus, on behalf of his paralyzed servant. In response to the Centurion’s journey, Jesus expresses a willingness to go on a journey to the house of the Centurion. However, in deference to Jesus, the Centurion would not allow him to make such a journey in person, and, so, Jesus made that journey by means of His word. The word Jesus spoke healed the Centurion’s servant. In Advent, as we journey towards the Lord, we discover that the Lord journeys towards us through His word. Advent is a season when we try to listen more carefully to the Lord’s word and allow it to touch us and shape us.
In our first reading today from the Book of the prophet Isaiah, we heard of the words of assurances of the Lord to His people in the kingdom of Judah, the southern half of the once glorious and mighty kingdom of God’s people during the days of King David and King Solomon. At that time, as I have also mentioned in the First Sunday of Advent homily yesterday, the people of God had fallen into a dire strait, falling deeper and deeper into their sinful ways, and falling into temptations one after another, siding with the false gods and pagan idols instead of obeying and following the Law and commandments of the Lord, their God and Master. They have been harassed and under threat by their many neighbours and enemies, just as their northern brethren had been conquered and exiled decades prior by the Assyrians. That was why the Lord gave His assurance and promises to them through His servant, the prophet Isaiah, to encourage and to strengthen them in faith, to remind them that despite everything which they had done, in disobeying the Law and the commandments, and in refusing to love Him as they should have done, the Lord has always been patient and kind to His people, and He would forgive them their sins and embrace them with His generous love and compassion once again if only they would turn away from their sinful and wicked ways, and listening once again to the words that the Lord their God had spoken to them, all the love which He has poured out on them, calling on all of them to return to Him. The reading speaks about Hope, listening to the words of the Lord telling the people about how He would restore the glory of Zion, of Jerusalem and His people, restoring the grace and blessings to them all, after they had been bought down low. He would gather all of His beloved ones to Himself, and at the same time, purify them and all Jerusalem from all the taints and corruptions of sin and evil. And that is what we are all also called to do during this time and period of Advent, to cast away all the corruptions and wickedness from our hearts and minds. We are all called to come back to our Lord and Father, our Creator and Master with contrite and sorrowful hearts, regretting our sins and corruptions, our faults and mistakes.
As we reflect on the words of the Sacred Scriptures today, we are all reminded of the need for each and every one of us as Christians, as God’s holy and beloved people to continue to keep up our faith in Him, to trust Him in all things and to overcome our doubts and fears, putting our Hope ever on Him, Our Lord and Saviour, as we enter and continue to progress through this blessed time and season of Advent, the time of preparation for the joyful celebration of Christmas. And that is why we should use this time and opportunity given to us to reflect and to grow ever stronger in our faith and hope in God, so that amidst our darkened world by sin and evil, the light and truth of God may pierce through this veil of darkness and bring hope back into our hearts. The words that the army Centurion had spoken are the same as what we ourselves mention at every moment shortly before we are to receive the Lord Himself in the Holy Eucharist. As the celebrant presents to us the Lord Himself truly present in His Most Precious Body and Blood with the words, ‘This is the Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world. Blessed are those who are called to the supper of the Lamb., and we respond with, ‘Lord, I am not worthy that You should enter under my roof, but only say the word, and my soul shall be healed.’ This is a reminder for us of the great faith of the army Centurion, and our own strong profession of faith in the Lord, that although we may not see Him directly in the form that the army Centurion and the disciples had seen, but we truly believe in Him, and uphold the faith we have in His Real Presence in the Holy Eucharist. That is why, today we are all reminded that we must continue to have faith and hope in the Lord, entrusting ourselves to His Providence, love and care at all times. We are reminded that we must not easily give up our faith in Him even if we encounter challenges, trials, hardships and difficulties in our journey, path and life. All of us must always hold this strong and enduring faith in the Lord, just as the Lord Himself has always been patient in loving and caring for us, in wanting us all to come back to Him with repentance and sorrow for our many sins and faults. May the Lord our most loving and compassionate God continue to help and guide us through this blessed season of Advent so that we may make good use of this time and season of Advent to prepare ourselves to be ever more worthy to celebrate the true joy of Christmas, and be inspirations, role models and examples in how we live out our faith, glorifying God by our lives and showing others what it truly means to be Christians, as our Lord’s followers and disciples. May God in His infinite grace and mercy, grant us His grace and bless us all at all times and may the Lord continue to guide us in our journey of faith and life. May He empower each one of us to live ever more faithfully in our every efforts and deeds, and endeavours, now and always. Amen 🙏
DEVOTION OF THE MONTH OF DECEMBER:*
MONTH OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION: The month of December is dedicated to the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Chosen before time to be the Mother of God Incarnate, Jesus Christ, God created Mary perfect and full of grace, preserving her from the stain of Original Sin. Mary Immaculate is the most beautiful fruit of the work of redemption accomplished by her Son, thereby making her the perfect model of holiness for all Christians.
https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/overviews/months/10_1.cfm
THE POPE’S MONTHLY INTENTIONS FOR 2024: FOR THE MONTH OF DECEMBER – FOR PILGRIMS OF HOPE: We pray that this Jubilee Year strengthen our faith, helping us to recognize the Risen Christ in our daily lives, and that it may transform us into pilgrims of Christian hope.
https://www.usccb.org/prayers/popes-monthly-intentions-2024
PRAYER FOR PEACE ~ POPE FRANCIS:
Lord God of peace, hear our prayer!
Prayers for Peace | https://mycatholic.life/catholic-prayers/prayers-for-peace/
PRAYER INTENTIONS: Through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary and all the Saints during this special season of Advent, we humbly pray for God’s grace and mercy as we prepare for the coming of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Praying for hope, faith, love, joy and peace in our world today, as we face these incredibly challenging times. We pray for our children and children all over the world, we pray for their health, safety and well-being, we particularly pray for those who have no one to care for them and those who are terminally ill, we pray for God’s Divine healing upon them. We pray for all parents, all mothers, wives, those going through challenges in their marriages, Victims of verbal and spousal abuse, and we pray for peace, love and unity in our families and our world. Every life is a gift. We pray for God’s deliverance from impossible causes or situations. For all widows and widowers. And we continue to pray for our Holy Father, Pope Francis, the Bishops, the Clergy, and all those who preach the Gospel. We pray for Vocation to the Priesthood and Religious life. We particularly pray for all Youths and all Seminarians. For the Church, for persecuted Christians, for all the innocent who suffer violence due to political or religious unrest, for the conversion of sinners and Christians all over the world. Amen 🙏
Let us pray:
All-powerful Father, I entrust to You my life and every situation in my life that needs Your power and control. Please bring order and harmony to my life and to the lives of those around me. May all Your children learn to more fully entrust themselves to You as their loving God. Jesus, I trust in You ~ Amen 🙏
Save Us, Savior of the World. Most Sacred Heart of Jesus and Most Precious Blood of Jesus, Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe….have mercy on us. Our Blessed Mother Mary; Saint Silverius, Pope and Martyr and Saint Bibiana, Virgin and Martyr ~ Pray for us🙏
Thanking God for the gift of this day and praying for justice, peace, love and unity in our families and our world and for God’s Divine Mercy and Grace upon us all. Have a blessed, safe, grace-filled and fruitful 1st Week of Advent 🙏
Blessings and love always, Philomena💖
Daily Reflections | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/
Foundation | https://gliopiepehe.org
Sir G.L.I Opiepe’s Health and Education Foundation |