SECOND WEEK OF ADVENT
SAINTS OF THE DAY – FEAST DAY ~ DECEMBER 10, 2024
FEAST OF OUR LADY OF LORETO
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 Tuesday of the Second Week of Advent!
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 ù 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 from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy” | December 10, 2024 |
Watch “FEAST OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION | POPE FRANCIS | LIVE FROM THE VATICAN | DECEMBER 8, 2024” |
Watch “Holy Mass and Holy Rosary on EWTN on YouTube” | December 10, 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 10, 2024 |
Pray “The Chaplet of Divine Mercy in song”| December 10, 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: Tuesday, December 10, 2024
Reading 1, Isaiah 40:1-11
Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 96:1-2, 3, 10, 11-12, 13
Gospel, Matthew 18:12-14
THE LITURGICAL YEAR IN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/2024/12/03/the-liturgical-year-in-the-catholic-church/
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 ADVENT WREATH: SECOND WEEK PRAYER: The prayer that follows is to be repeated each day of the second week. After the prayer, the oldest child lights the first and second purple candles.
LEADER: O Lord, stir up our hearts that we may prepare for Thy only begotten Son, that through His coming we may be made worthy to serve Thee with pure minds. Through Christ our Lord. ALL: Amen.
(The two candles are allowed to burn during the evening meals of the second week.)
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: FEAST OF OUR LADY OF LORETO; SAINT GREGORY III, POPE; SAINT MILTIADES (SAINT MELCHIADES), POPE AND SAINT EULALIA, VIRGIN AND MARTYR ~ FEAST DAY – DECEMBER 10, 2024: Today, we celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of Loreto; Saint Gregory III, Pope; Saint Miltiades, (St. Melchiades) and Saint Eulalia, Virgin and Martyr. 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 God’s deliverance from impossible causes or situations. Amen🙏
OUR LADY OF LORETO: Our Lady of Loreto is one of many titles associated with the Blessed Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus. This title of Our Blessed Mother Mary is a title associated with the house where Our Blessed Mother Mary was born, the site of the Annunciation, and the dwelling place of the Holy Family. The Blessed Virgin Mary, the daughter of Saints Joachim and Anne, was chosen by God to be the mother of His Son, and this was announced to her by the Archangel Gabriel at the Annunciation. Our Blessed Mother, together with Saint Joseph, welcomed Jesus in a stable in Bethlehem and truly became the Holy Family, a family blessed by God. The tradition and history of the Holy House goes back to Apostolic times. Loreto is the name of a town in Italy and the shrine of the Holy House of Loreto is located along the Adriatic Sea coast of Italy, in a small town located three hours from Rome. The title Our Lady of Loreto refers to the Holy House of Loreto, the house in which Mary was born, and where the Angel Gabriel appeared to her and the Word was made flesh at the Annunciation.
According to tradition, in the 13th century the house was mysteriously moved in one piece from Nazareth in the Holy Land to a final resting place in Loreto, Italy, carried by a band of Angels, a miracle to which the Church attests. The band of angels scooped up the little house from the Holy Land, and transported it first to Tersato, Dalmatia in 1291, then Recanati, Italy in 1294, and finally to Loreto, Italy where it has been for centuries. It was transported to prevent its destruction by Muslims who destroyed the basilica which housed it. It was this translation of the Holy House and the longstanding of the structure Our Lady of Loreto is the patron. A new basilica was built around the Holy House in Italy, known as the Shrine of Our Lady of Loreto, one of the most popular pilgrimage sites in the world. It is the first shrine of international renown dedicated to the Blessed Virgin, and has been known as a Marian center for centuries. This shrine in Loreto is one of the most famous shrines of Our Lady in Europe. Popes have always held the Shrine of Loreto in special esteem, and it is under their direct authority and protection. There is also a statue of Madonna and Child, a replica of an ancient statue of Our Lady which is found within the house, one of the “Black Madonnas.” The original statue made of Cedar from Lebanon was destroyed in a fire in 1921.
The Basilica della Santa Casa, the Basilica of the Holy House, built around the Blessed Virgin Mary’s house is now a shrine where pilgrims from around the world visit and honor our Blessed Mother Mary. Written at the door of the basilica are these words: “The whole world has no place more sacred … For here was the Word made Flesh, and here was born the Virgin Mother.” In 2019, Pope Francis added this feast of Our Lady of Loreto to the universal Roman Calendar and it is celebrated each year in churches around the world. Our Lady of Loreto is the Patroness of aviation; aviators; fliers; pilots; builders; construction workers. Our Lady of Loreto feast day is December 10th.
PRAYER TO OUR LADY OF LORETO: Lord, look kindly upon your people as we joyfully acclaim Our Lady of Loreto as our mother and patron. By her intercession grant that we may remain faithful to our Christian vocation and one day enjoy in heaven the blessed vision of your glory through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Hail Mary, Full of Grace, The Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now, and at the hour of our death. Amen🙏
Our Lady of Loreto ~ Pray for us🙏
SAINT GREGORY III, POPE: Pope Gregory III was the Bishop of Rome from February 11, 731 to his death in 741. Pope Gregory, the son of a Syrian named John, became a priest in Rome. Because of his great love of learning and holiness, he was elected Pope by acclamation on February 11, 731, while accompanying the funeral procession for Gregory II. He went on to rule the Church until 741.
As Pope, the Saint saw to it that the Gospel was preached to the Germanic people and that churches were decorated with sacred images in opposition to the Iconoclasts, who forbade the use of such images. He also convoked two synods in Rome in 731 and incurred the wrath of the Eastern Emperor Leo the Iconoclast.
St. Gregory welcomed St. Boniface when the latter made his third visit to Rome in 737, and he sent the English monk St. Willibald to help him in his missionary work. At the same time, Gregory wrote to people of importance on its behalf.
The Liber Pontificalis (the “Papal Book”) states that Gregory was a man of deep humility and true wisdom. He had a good knowledge of the Sacred Scriptures and heir meaning, and knew the Psalms by heart. He was a polished and successful preacher, skilled in Latin and Greek, and a strict upholder of the Catholic Faith. He was a lover of poverty and of the poor, a protector of widows and orphans, and a friend to monks and nuns. He died on November 28, 741.
PRAYER: Almighty and eternal God, You willed to set St. Gregory over Your entire people and to go before them in word and example. By his intercession keep the pastors of Your Church together with their flocks and guide them in the way of eternal salvation. Amen 🙏
SAINT MILTIADES (SAINT MELCHIADES), POPE: St. Miltiades, also known as Melchiades, was born in Africa and died January 10, 314, Rome, Italy. He was Pope from 311 to 314. Two popes had been exiled by Emperor Maxentius, and for nearly two more years the Church in Rome was steeped in turmoil, making it impossible to choose a Pope. Finally, Miltiades, an African, was elected. He had served as a priest under Marcellinus during the terrible Diocletian persecution. Now, however, he witnessed the effects of a kinder, more generous Roman government. Indeed, the Church would actually be favored with splendid gifts. By 311 the Church began to enjoy a peace resulting from a decree of toleration issued in both the East and the West. Emperor Maxentius ordered the properties of the Church restored. These included the land and buildings that had been confiscated during the reign of Emperor Diocletian. In 312 for the first time since the outbreak of persecution, a Pope was able to preside over the celebration of Easter in full possession of the Church’s holy assets.
Pope Miltiades worked diligently in a difficult time of transition. His edicts included forbidding the Christians to fast on Thursday and Sunday (the days during which the pagans kept their fasts) and directing that the Eucharist plate blessed by the Bishop be carried to the various churches. Constantine, having been proclaimed emperor in Gaul, now marched on Rome. The sign of the cross had been revealed to him in a vision where he was told that “by this sign shalt thou conquer.” Constantine ordered his standards changed, and for the first time in history, the sign of peace was borne by an army. Constantine’s legions defeated Maxentius, and the year 312 ushered in a new era, an era of peace; the Christians were truly set free. During the emperor’s stay in Rome, the famous Lateran palace was given to Pope Miltiades by Fausta, Constantine’s wife. The Lateran served as the papal residence for some four hundred years.
Less than a year later, a schism broke out in North Africa. Headed by a rigorist named Donatus, the faction objected to the policies of the bishop of Carthage, Caecilian. Bypassing the pope, they appealed directly to Constantine to intervene. The emperor, annoyed that he should be called on to settle disputes among the clergy, commissioned Miltiades and three other Gallic Bishops to rectify the matter. The Pope gathered fifteen additional Bishops and held a synod in the great Lateran palace. The decision of this synod was to condemn Donatus and his party and to support the true bishop, Caecilian. The Donatists (as they later became called) appealed again to Constantine, but by the time another council could be called, Pope Miltiades had died. St. Miltiades was an excellent pontiff who guided the Church wisely during a difficult time of changeover. Pope Miltiades was the last pope to be buried in a catacomb in the cemetery of Calixtus.
Saint Miltiades, Pope ~ Pray for us 🙏
SAINT EULALIA, VIRGIN AND MARTYR: St. Eulalia of Merida is Spain’s best known virgin martyr. Veneration of St. Eulalia was already popular with Christians by AD 350. St. Eulalia of Merida was born in Spain in the last decade of the third century. She descended from one of the most prominent families in Spain. She was educated in the Christian religion and was taught the sentiments of perfect piety. From her infancy she distinguished herself by an admirable sweetness of temper, modesty and devotion. She showed a great love of the holy state of virginity, and by her seriousness and her contempt of dress, ornaments diversions and worldly company, she gave early signs of her sincere desire to lead a heavenly life on earth. It is almost universally accepted that she suffered martyrdom for the faith. It is believed that Eulalia, as a twelve-year-old girl, tried to remonstrate with Judge Dacian of Merida for forcing Christians to worship false Gods in accord with the edict of Dioclectian. Even though Dacian was at first amused and tried to flatter her. Eulalia would not deny Christ.
Finally, Dacian ordered that her body be torn by iron hooks. Fire was applied to her wounds to increase her sufferings, and in the process her hair caught fire. She was asphyxiated by the smoke and flames, gaining the crown of martyrdom around the year 304. History says that a white dove seemed to come out of her mouth, and to wing its way upward when the holy martyr expired: at which prodigy the executioners were so much terrified that they fled and left the body. Her relics are kept with great veneration at Oviedo, where she is honored as patroness. Her relics were distributed through Iberia. Bishop Fidelis of Merida rebuilt a basilica in her honor around 560 AD. Her shrine was the most popular in Visigothic Spain. In 780 her body was transferred to Oviedo by King Silo. It lies in a coffin of Arab silver donated by Afonso VI in 1075. In 1639, she was made Patron Saint of Oviedo.
PRAYER: O God, creator of heaven and earth, you generously share with your people the fruits of your creation. Through the intercession of your servant St. Eulalia of Merida, may we in turn share our gifts with others generously. This we ask through Christ our lord. Amen 🙏
SCRIPTURE REFLECTIONS
Bible Readings for today, Tuesday of the Second Week of Advent | USCCB | https://bible.usccb.org/daily-bible-reading
Gospel Reading ~ Matthew 18:12-14
“God does not will that the little ones be lost”
“Jesus said to His disciples: “What is your opinion? If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray, will he not leave the ninety-nine in the hills and go in search of the stray? And if he finds it, amen, I say to you, he rejoices more over it than over the ninety-nine that did not stray. In just the same way, it is not the will of your heavenly Father that one of these little ones be lost.”
In todays Gospel reading, Jesus tells a parable called the parable of the lost sheep. The parable is about a shepherd who notices when one sheep out of a flock of one hundred goes astray, and who is concerned enough about that one sheep to go searching for it, even though it means leaving the ninety nine unattended. The one, and not just the many, matter to this shepherd. The shepherd is an image of Jesus who is always portrayed in the Gospels as engaging not just with crowds but with individuals. In the language of John’s Gospel, he is the good shepherd who knows his own by name. The risen Lord relates to us not just as anonymous members of a group but as individuals. He calls each of us by name. In Matthew’s Gospel the parable is not just an image of how Jesus relates to us, but also an image of how we are called to relate to each other. We are to call each other by name; we are to respect the uniqueness of each other, relating to one another as unique and irreplaceable images of God. Meeting with one person has potentially as much value as meeting with a large group. The parable suggests that one individual is as deserving of our attention as a gathering of many.
According to our Gospel reading, the story of the shepherd who leaves the ninety nine to go in search of the one who has strayed is an image of Jesus’ own ministry – not just His ministry while He worked in Galilee, but His ministry today. The shepherd noticed the one who was lost. The Lord notices the one, the individual. He is interested in us as individuals, not just as members of a larger group. He relates to us as individuals; He calls each of us by name; the one is important to him and not just the many. The Lord calls us into community, but his relationship with us is deeply personal. This Advent we are invited to listen more attentively so that we can hear the Lord call our name.
Our first reading today from the Book of the prophet Isaiah, details the prophecy of the prophet Isaiah from God which was delivered to King Ahaz, the King of Judah about the coming of the Messiah or Saviour of the world, and how this would happen through a woman who has never borne a child, which all would indeed be fulfilled through Mary and her bearing of her Son, Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, more than seven centuries after the prophet Isaiah had spoken of this prophecy before King Ahaz. And we ought to notice the manner with which King Ahaz responded to the words of the prophet Isaiah asking him to ask for a sign from God, as King Ahaz said that he would not ask as he did not want to put God to the test. Those words were met with immediate criticism from Isaiah who said that the King was essentially being a hypocrite as he and the people had long disobeyed the Lord and put the Lord to the test on many occasions, refusing to listen to the words of the Lord and obey His commandments. In fact, by refusing to obey the Lord Who asked King Ahaz to ask for a sign from Him, it was itself a sign of disobedience and even lack of faith in God.
As we reflect on the words of the Sacred Scriptures today, when the Church celebrates the occasion of the Feast of Our Lady of Loreto, the popular Marian pilgrimage site in the city of Loreto in Italy where the Holy House of Nazareth, the very House where Jesus our Lord, Mary His mother and St. Joseph, His foster father had been living in when they were all staying in Nazareth during the younger years of the Lord before He began His ministry. On this day, we rejoice and honour Mary, the Mother of the Holy Family and the patroness of the great Shrine of Loreto and the Holy House of Nazareth, our great patroness and intercessor, the Mother of God and our loving mother as well. We thank her for her constant love and compassionate care for each and every one of us. Our Blessed Mother Mary’s words, ‘I am the handmaid of the Lord, let it be done to me as you have said,’ are the marks of obedience, faith and true humility, as she accepted the great mission and responsibility which she had been entrusted with by God. And for this great faith and obedience, her virtues and great love, this is why we truly venerate and honour Mary above all the other saints, and we truly love her as our own beloved Mother, as our great role model, a guide and someone who has always encouraged us in the journey that each and every one of us undertake in the path towards her Son, our Lord and Saviour. And that is why we also rejoice today, as we rejoice in the great inspiration and hope which Mary, Our Lady of Loreto, has brought upon us all. As we continue to progress through this season of Advent, let us all therefore strive to focus our attention once again on the Lord, putting Him at the centre of our lives and existence. Let us all resist the temptations of sin and evil, and be inspired as always by the great examples and inspiration from the Holy Saints, especially that of Mary, Our Lady of Loreto, the Holy Mother of God, who is also our loving mother. May God in His infinite grace and mercy, grant us His grace as we strive to live our lives more faithfully in God, let us continue to journey towards Him patiently and courageously, doing whatever we can to proclaim His glory by our own exemplary and worthy lives, 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:
My diligent Lord, You seek me out, day and night, never tiring of calling me to return more fully to Yourself. Please help me to fill Your Heart with joy by always responding to Your gentle invitations of love and mercy. 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, Our Lady of Loreto; Saint Gregory III; Saint Miltiades (St. Melchiades) and Saint Eulalia ~ 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, and grace-filled 2nd Week of Advent🙏
Blessings and love always, Philomena💖
Daily Reflections | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/
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