MEMORIAL OF SAINT CHAEREMON, BISHOP AND COMPANIONS, MARTYRS AND SAINT ISCHYRION, MARTYR IN ALEXANDRIA, HOLY MARTYRS

FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT (YEAR C)

SAINTS OF THE DAY – FEAST DAY ~ DECEMBER 22, 2024

CHRISTMAS NOVENA AND THE “O ANTIPHONS” OF ADVENT

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]

CHRISTMAS NOVENA AND THE “O ANTIPHONS” OF ADVENT – DECEMBER 16 – 24: This Christmas Novena starts on December 16th [Christmas Novena Link Below]

THE “O ANTIPHONS” OF ADVENT
The “O Antiphons” are prayed for 7 days in preparation for Christmas: December 17–23.

Greetings and blessings, beloved family and Happy Saturday of the Fourth Week of Advent!

On this Special 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 22, 2024 |

Watch “Holy Mass from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy” | December 22, 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 22, 2024 |

Pray “The Chaplet of Divine Mercy in song”| December 22, 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: Fourth Sunday of Advent (Year C) | December 22, 2024
Reading 1, Micah 5:1-4
Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 80:2-3, 15-16, 18-19
Reading 2, Hebrews 10:5-10
Gospel, Luke 1:39-45

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/

CHRISTMAS NOVENA: DECEMBER 16 – 24: Pray the Christmas Novena for 9 consecutive days starting today, December 16th. This novena is prayed in conjunction with the “O Antiphons,” of Advent shown below.

(CHRISTMAS NOVENA PRAYERS – Pray More Novenas – Novena Prayers & Catholic Devotion
https://www.praymorenovenas.com/christmas-novena)

(How to pray the ‘Christmas Novena’ that’s been said for 300 years | Catholic News Agency ~ https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253090/how-to-pray-the-300-year-old-christmas-novena)

(Holy Christmas novena, here’s a YouTube link ~ https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLE9MVQgdDD0PoX0Hnyl4SIeHQVE1I1jqJ)

The link below is Magnificat Novena to the Holy Child Jesus, December 16 -24
(Novena to the Holy Child Jesus ~ https://editionsmagnificat.com/flipbooks/en/christmas-novena/index.html)

FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT: Today is the fourth and final Sunday of Advent, the last Sunday of our preparation for Christmas, the anniversary of Christ’s birth. This fourth Sunday of Advent gives us the opportunity to prepare our hearts in faithful waiting, to celebrate the birth of Jesus, and ready ourselves for His second coming. On which occasion we focus ourselves on the aspect and theme of Faith and Love, the last one among the themes of Hope, Peace, Joy and Faith & Love that we reflect upon each Sundays in this time and season of Advent. It’s a beautiful chance to reflect on the ways prophecy has been fulfilled and to ponder what the future (promised to us through prophecies) will bring.

On this Sunday we focus on the Faith and Love of God which has been manifested to us in His Son, incarnate in the flesh, to become the perfect manifestation of His love in our midst. Yes, Our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, Whose coming into this world we celebrate this Christmas, is the One Who showed us all what God’s love is all about, love that is always ever enduring, love that never ceases, ever generous and which He has always lavished on each and every one of us, His precious and beloved ones. And this emphasis on the theme of Love at the very last Sunday of Advent also has its significance as Love is also the most important one amongst the all the Christian virtues and values, the most important of all the fruits of the Holy Spirit and the manifestation of all that is good from God. Without Love then there can be neither Hope, nor Peace, nor Joy. True Hope, Peace and Joy have been shown and given to us most generously by the Lord Himself through His Beloved Son, Whom He sent into our midst, because God so loved the world that He gave us His only Begotten Son, so that all those who believe in Him may not perish but has eternal life, and that was what St. John wrote in his Gospel in the famous quote from the third chapter of the Gospel of St. John, verse sixteen. It is thanks to God’s Love, that all of us have Hope, the Hope for eternal Peace and true Joy. As we prepare our hearts for the celebration of Jesus’ arrival as a gift to all humanity, let’s stir up in our hearts and homes a sense of anticipation. May God’s spirit transform the days leading up to Christmas into a time of holy anticipation; preparing our hearts, as we faithfully await the chance to celebrate the arrival of our king.

FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT MEANING AND SYMBOLISM: The word “Advent” comes from the Latin word adventus, which means “coming.” The tradition for the fourth Sunday of Advent includes lighting the fourth candle that is a symbol of faith / love. This fourth Sunday of Advent we read, pray, and reflect on the hope God’s plan gives us (foretold by the prophets and fulfilled by the life and death of Christ), and we meditate on the promise of Christ’s coming glory-filled return. As we light the fourth advent candle, may God’s spirit prepare our heart to receive Jesus as our king. May God’s grace abound in our life in this season of holy anticipation. This week, we pause to remember who God is and what He has done for us. When our lives are hurried, we only have the chance to focus on our to-do lists. Making space in our schedules for prayer and meditation helps us to better see God at work in our lives and in our world.

A PRAYER FOR FAITH ON THE FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT: Father, prepare our hearts to celebrate your birth joyfully! We thank you for faithfully doing what you promised long ago when you sent your Son to earth so that we might have the chance to become part of your family. Let the promise of your second coming inspire us to live with hope and purpose. As we wait for your plan to unfold, give us the patience we need. Remind us of the peace we can access when we take time to still ourselves before you and remember that you are God. We thank you that you are both sovereign and gracious. Help us to find rest in the midst of what feels like chaos in our world. Amen🙏

THE ADVENT WREATH: FOURTH WEEK PRAYER: The prayer that follows is to be repeated each day of the fourth week. After the prayer, the father lights all four candles.

LEADER: O Lord, stir up Thy power, we pray Thee, and come; and with great might help us, that with the help of Thy Grace, Thy merciful forgiveness may hasten what our sins impede. Through Christ our Lord. ALL: Amen.

(The four candles are allowed to burn during the evening meals of the fourth week.)

After the fourth week, the penitential season of Advent is over and the time to rejoice is at hand. The Advent wreath is transformed into a Christmas wreath. Ribbon and candles are replaced with red ribbon and long red or white tapers (to be lighted at breakfast on Christmas morning) and, if desired, other festive decorations can be added.

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.”🙏

CHRISTMAS NOVENA AND THE “O ANTIPHONS” OF ADVENT: Today is the seventh day of the Christmas Novena and the sixth of the O Antiphons, O Rex Gentium (O King of the Nations). “A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and to return” (Luke 19:12). This nobleman is Christ, the Son of God, King of all nations. His kingdom is over all men and over all things, both material and spiritual. He has everything in His hand as God and man. But another, Satan, has broken into His kingdom and has made himself master of many of Christ’s subjects. In the old dispensation only a small part of humanity, the chosen people, remained faithful to the almighty King.

Christ, the Son of God, came into this “far country” in order to become man and, by means of humility, obedience, and poverty, to cast out the usurper who had taken His subjects. He came to reassert His dominion over all those who had left Him, both Jews and Gentiles.

DECEMBER 22: 6TH O ANTIPHON – O REX GENTIUM (O KING OF THE NATIONS)

6th O Antiphon Symbols: Crown and Scepter

Come, and deliver man, whom You formed out of the dust of the earth. O King of the Gentiles and their desired One, the Cornerstone that makes both one; Come, and deliver man, whom You formed out of the dust of the earth.

The crown and scepter signify Christ’s universal kingship. As we sing in the sixth O Antiphon, Christ is not only the King of the Jewish nation, but the “Desired One of all,” the cornerstone which unites both Jew and Gentile. Recommended Readings: Apocalypse (Revelation)15:1-4

CHRISTMAS NOVENA: DECEMBER 16 – 24: Pray the Christmas Novena for 9 consecutive days from December 16 -24th. This novena is prayed in conjunction with the “O Antiphons,” of Advent shown below.

The link below is Magnificat Novena to the Holy Child Jesus, December 16 -24
(Novena to the Holy Child Jesus
https://editionsmagnificat.com/flipbooks/en/christmas-novena/index.html)

CHRISTMAS NOVENA ~ DAY SEVEN

OPENING PRAYER (for each day): Hail, and blessed be the hour and moment At which the Son of God was born of a most pure Virgin At a stable at midnight in Bethlehem In the piercing cold At that hour vouchsafe, I beseech Thee, To hear my prayers and grant my desires (Mention your intentions here) Through Jesus Christ and His most Blessed Mother. Amen🙏

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. O Lord, Word of God, You, whose glory is complete, came to us in perfect humility as a child in the womb. Your love for us and Your humility is unsurpassed and brings us to our knees in prayer and worship. Your incarnation forever changed the world. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen🙏

O Lord, infant Jesus, move us to forgive others as you forgive us! Your Divine Mercy is unending! We pray for Your Divine Mercy on us and that we may participate in Your mercy by forgiving others this Christmas. We also pray for these intentions… (State your intentions here). May Your Holy Will be done in my life and with these intentions. We pray that the work of salvation that Your first coming began will reach fulfillment in each of us.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen 🙏

DAY SEVEN: December 22: Scripture reading: Luke 1:46–55

Consideration: In the Magnificat, Mary draws on the Old Testament prophecies and exults in praise of God. Mary’s Son is destined to fulfill God’s promises to his people. Mary rejoices in the deliverance of God’s people and in his care for the poor and destitute of society. Her song bears another hymn that runs like a golden thread through the readings and antiphons. The expected Messiah will be the Lord of the Gentiles as well as of the Jews. We pray in today’s antiphon, “Come, king of all nations.” Christ is the peacemaker, the bond of unity among all peoples.

Antiphon: O king of all nations, the one for whom they have been yearning, the cornerstone who unites all of them in perfect union, come now, and rescue poor humanity, which from dust you have fashioned. (cf. Jer 10:7; Hg 2:8; Is 28:16, Gen 2:7, Eph 2:14)

Magnificat

Intercessions: Wonderful, Counselor, Prince of Peace! In your great love for us you were born of the Virgin Mary; — may her prayers for us be our joy and consolation at all times. Mary has given birth to the Savior, splendor of the rising sun; — bring those who have died into your light through the intercession of Mary your Mother. The angels proclaim a mystery today while shepherds hurry to a cave. Mary has given birth to a child in a cold, bare stable; — we are ready to warm you, holy child, with our hearts. Let us honor you by our lives and deeds, singing glory to God in the highest and peace to all people of goodwill. Christ, Emmanuel, Mary cared for you in joy and Joseph provided for all the needs of his family; — help families to love one another and bond them together in love. Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you! Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb; — truly blessed is she who bore the Son of God, and blessed too are those who hear the word of God — and keep it.

December 22: O King of the Gentiles, yea, and desire thereof! O Corner-stone, that makest of two one, come to save man, whom Thou hast made out of the dust of the earth! O King of the Nations (O Rex Gentium) O King of all the nations, the only joy of every human heart; O Keystone of the mighty arch of man, come and save the creature you fashioned from the dust. Recite one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and one Glory be.

CLOSING PRAYER (To be said after the intercessions each day of the novena): Let us pray. Come to live among us, Lord, so that we may always receive your forgiveness and mercy. Jesus our king, clothed in a robe of flesh, give us love, wisdom, and understanding at your birth. Reveal to us the mystery of your life, then send us forth to reveal your Word over all the earth. You who live and reign with God the Father in the unity of the Holy Spirit, world without end. Amen 🙏

THE “O ANTIPHONS” OF ADVENT
The “O Antiphons” are prayed for 7 days in preparation for Christmas: December 17–23. For those familiar with the Liturgy of the Hours, these are the antiphons used with the Magnificat each day. They are based on Isaiah’s prophecies and reveal the different titles given to the Messiah.

O Sapientia (O Wisdom) Isaiah 11:2–3; 28:29
O Adonai (O Lord) Isaiah 11:4–5; 33:22
O Radix Jesse (O Root of Jesse) Isaiah 1:1; 11:10
O Clavis David (O Key of David) Isaiah 9:6; 22:22
O Oriens (O Rising Sun) Isaiah 9:1
O Rex Gentium (O King of the Nations) Isaiah 9:5; 2:4
O Emmanuel (God with us) Isaiah 7:14

The “O Antiphons” link below:
http://stannesepiscopal.net/o-antiphons/

Since each antiphon is short, it is helpful to spend time reading it each day, pondering it and praying it meditatively throughout the day as a way to make immediate spiritual preparation for Christmas.

SCRIPTURE REFLECTIONS:

Bible Readings for today, Fourth Sunday of Advent (Year C) | USCCB | https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/

Gospel Reading ~ Luke 1:39–45

“And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?”

“Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.”

In today’s Gospel reading, Mary visited her cousin Elizabeth when both of them were pregnant, Mary with the Holy Child and Saviour in her womb, while Elizabeth was bearing St. John the Baptist, the Herald of the Saviour in her. Mary brings the Lord to Elizabeth. She does so in a very physical way. She is carrying the child Jesus in her womb. Elizabeth is very aware just how privileged she is to be receiving such a visit. She asks, ‘Why should I be honoured with a visit from the mother of my Lord?’ She recognizes Mary, her cousin, as the mother of the Lord, whom she is carrying in her womb. Elizabeth’s unborn child, John the Baptist also recognizes that the Lord is visiting through Mary. Elizabeth declares, ‘For the moment your greeting reached my ears, the child in my womb leapt for joy’. In bringing the Lord to Elizabeth, Mary brought joy both to Elizabeth and to the child in her womb. Mary shows us what is at the heart of our baptismal calling. Like her, we are all called to bring the Lord to one another and, in so doing so, to bring joy to others. It is not only Ministers of the Eucharist who bring the Lord to others, although they do so in a special way, bringing Jesus as the Bread of Life. We can all bring the Lord to others by the quality of our presence to them..Mary’s visit to Elizabeth was an act of loving service. She visited her older cousin whom she knew to be pregnant. Even though Mary herself was pregnant, she set out on an arduous journey from Nazareth south to a town in the hill country of Judea. She wanted to be present to Elizabeth in a loving and supportive way. Whenever we are present to others in the same loving and supportive way, we are bringing the Lord to them. The equivalent of Mary’s visit to Elizabeth is always happening among us. At Christmas, we celebrate the greatest visitation of all, God visiting all of us through His Son, Jesus.

When we go on a journey to visit someone, we leave sooner or later. According to Luke’s Gospel, Mary remained with Elizabeth about three months and then returned to her home. However, when God visited us through his Son, God stayed. God remained with us through his Son, now our risen Lord. The risen Lord visits us every day of our lives. In the words of the Book of Revelation, He stands at the door of our lives and knocks. According to today’s second reading, Jesus says to God, ‘God, here I am’. As risen Lord, He says to each one of us every day of our lives, ‘Here I am’. Even if we have not been very present to Him in the past, He continues to say, ‘Here I am’. He continues to visit us, to seek us out. One of the ways He visits us is through those people who are present to us in the way that Mary was present to Elizabeth. Whenever any of us is present to someone in the way Mary was present to Elizabeth, God’s visitation of His people through Jesus takes flesh through us. The Word becomes flesh through us. So often, the risen Lord’s good work happens through the ordinary transaction of human contact and care. The interaction and exchanges of Mary and Elizabeth shows the great joy and happiness that they had shown, representing all the joy and happiness that all of us should have in God as well because of everything that He had done for us, His beloved ones. God has never stopped loving us, and He has always fulfilled His promises, and He watched over every one of us and listened to the plight of the needy. The miraculous occasions of the pregnancy of both Mary and Elizabeth were the confirmation of this great love that God has for all of us. As Christmas is fast approaching, today’s Gospel reading reminds us that even more important than the presents we give and receive is the quality of our presence to one another. The way Mary and Elizabeth were present to each other can be an inspiration to us all this Christmas.

In our first reading this Sunday from the Book of the prophet Micah, God spoke to His people, the Israelites of the coming of His salvation from the land of Judah, at Bethlehem Ephrata, a small town where David once hailed from before he became the King of all Israel. It was from that city that the Saviour would also be born at, and everything indeed came true several centuries after the Lord had promised it to the people through the prophet Micah. The Lord would send His Son to this world to manifest His love, not through great and loud rejoicing, acclamation or proclamations, but rather through a small, little and vulnerable Child, born in a stable at Bethlehem over two millennia ago, the Holy Child that would be the Saviour of all mankind. By making Himself small and vulnerable, He has shown us just how much He desire to love all of us. He wants to embrace us so much that He willingly took up our human nature and existence, being incarnate in the flesh, Love Himself manifested in the Christ-Child, being shown to all of us, that God truly cared for all of us, and He has never abandoned us to the darkness and sin.

Our second reading from the Epistle to the Hebrews spoke of the Lord’s purpose of coming into this world. The author of this Epistle spoke of the sacrifice and offering which Christ Our Lord and Saviour has offered on our behalf, as the one perfect sacrificial offering that is the only one worthy enough for the atonement of all of our many sins, faults and wickedness, to redeem us from all of those. And even more importantly, Christ obeyed His Father’s will perfectly, that He as the new Man, the new Adam, as contrasted to the old and first Adam, rejected the temptations of disobedience and sin, of any worldly comforts and pleasures which we have often fallen to and embraced, instead of God’s love, truth and mercy. According to the second reading, the author also spoke of the obedience of Christ and His sacrifice which has overridden the original interpretation of the commandments and Law of God as practiced by the Jewish people and their ancestors, which required them to offer sin offerings and sacrifices regularly at the Temple, for the one ultimate Sacrifice of Our Lord on His Cross is all that is sufficient to redeem all of us, all mankind past, present and future from our innumerable sins, something that no animal offerings or blood can offer us. That is because Christ, out of His Love for His heavenly Father and for each and every one of us, being the manifestation of God’s Love in our midst have offered His own Most Precious Blood, the Blood of the Lamb of God, and at the same time acting as our One and Eternal High Priest, offering all these, His broken Precious Body and outpoured Precious Blood for the salvation of all. Through this perfect act of selfless and ultimate love, obedience and faith, Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour, the incarnate Son of God has opened for us the path to eternal life and to full reconciliation with God, our loving Father and Creator. None of this would have been possible without the Love of God, the love that He has always had for us, ever enduring even despite our frequent disobedience and rebellions against Him.

As we reflect on the words of the Sacred Scripture on this last Sunday of Advent, we are all reminded that Christmas is truly all about Love, the Love that God has never ceased to show us all, and which He has manifested to us through His Son, and reaffirmed fully at the moment of the Passion of the Lord, the time when He offered His life in exchange for ours, laying down His life for us all sinners, showing the greatest and most generous love. That is why as we all prepare ourselves for the celebrations and joyful occasion of Christmas season and time, let us all remind ourselves constantly that everything that we are rejoicing for, all of these are only possible thanks to the most generous and selfless love from God. It means that we should also show this love in our Christmas celebrations and festivities, remembering to share the joy we have to one another, to everyone around us especially to those who are suffering and enduring challenges and difficulties, and also all those who may not be so fortunate and blessed, and may not be able to rejoice much this coming Christmas season. We must remember everyone around us, all those who are in need of our love and attention, our help and care so that we may indeed be able to share the joy and blessings that God has given us most generously. May God in His infinite grace and mercies, grant us His grace and may all of us grow ever stronger in our love for both God and for one another just as God Himself has loved us all and shown us how we can love everyone around us, now and always. Amen 🙏🏽

SAINTS OF THE DAY: MEMORIAL OF SAINT CHAEREMON, BISHOP AND COMPANIONS, MARTYRS AND SAINT ISCHYRION, MARTYR IN ALEXANDRIA, HOLY MARTYRS – FEAST DAY ~ DECEMBER 22TH: Today, we celebrate the Memorial of Saint Chaeremon, Bishop and Companions, Marytrs and Saint Ischyrion, Martyr in Alexandria, Holy Martyrs. The third century was marked by Roman persecutions of the Church. Today’s saints were martyred during the reign of Emperor Decius. They lived in Egypt. In the year 247 St. Dionysius was chosen Bishop of Alexandria. Soon afterward, the people of Alexandria, incited by a pagan prophet and given further impetus by an edict of the Emperor Decius, began a fierce persecution of all Christians. St. Dionysius was himself hunted and escaped only through the aid and insistence of a wedding party of pagans. In his letter to Fabian, the Bishop of Antioch, St. Dionysius of Alexandria speaks of Christians who suffered martyrdom under the Emperor Decius. St. Dionysius wrote an account of this persecution to Fabian, Bishop of Antioch. In it he states that many Christians fled into desert and there perished from the elements and died in a variety of ways: from hunger, thirst, and over-exposure to extreme weather, or from wild beasts and wild men and criminals. Naturally, if the Christians tried to return to civilization, they were killed. The young, healthy Christians were captured and sold into slavery.

In his letter, St. Dionysius especially mentions SAINT CHAEREMON, Bishop of Nilopolis, who was very old when the persecution became extreme. St. Chaeremon, the elderly bishop and a companion took refuge in the mountains of Arabia. They were never seen again, nor were their bodies ever found. Although a search was made in the mountains of Arabia by the Christians, nothing was ever again heard or seen of either of them after 250. The bishop and his companions are listed as martyrs.

In the same letter St. Dionysius also mentions the name of SAINT ISCHYRION, the procurator of a magistrate of Egypt. St. Ischyrion worked for an official in one of Egypt’s cities, it may have been Alexandria. His employer, the Egyptian official ordered him to sacrifice to the gods. Ischyrion refused so steadfastly because this was against the first commandment, neither abuse nor threats could make him change his mind. The official was angry and insulted. The enraged magistrate then had St. Ischyrion mutilated and impaled. He was eventually killed. A great many other martyrs are included here who gave their lives for Jesus at this time in Egypt.

REFLECTION: Today, there are still many people who suffer for their faith in Jesus. Let us pray for them, that they will have the courage they need to be faithful to the Gospel.

PRAYER: Loving God, You not only sent Your Son into the world to save us, but You also had Him call us to a life in this world lived in Your presence. Through the intercession of Your servants St. Ischyrion, St Chaeremon and companion martyrs, grant us the grace to respond with joy. This we ask this through Christ our Lord. 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 most glorious Lord, You grace me beyond imagination. Too often, I fail to experience the gratitude and the wonder and awe that should result. Please help me to first see the countless blessings of Your grace and presence in my life. And as I see them, please fill me with the Holy Spirit so that I, too, may continually sing Your worthy praises. 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 Chaeremon and Companions and Saint Ischyrion, Holy Martyrs ~ 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.
We pray for the safety and well-being of all those traveling during this season of Christmas. Have a blessed, safe, and grace-filled 4th Sunday of Advent and week 🙏🏽

Blessings and  love always, Philomena💖

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