THE OCTAVE OF CHRISTMAS
SAINTS OF THE DAY: FEAST DAY ~ DECEMBER 30, 2024
Greetings and blessings, beloved family and Happy Monday, the Sixth Day in the Octave of Christmas!
On this Special Feast day, through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary and the Saints, we humbly pray for all families and for the safety and well-being of all children, we pray for the souls of all the faithful departed, particularly all those persecuted and killed for the faith, and for all the innocent who suffer violence due to political or religious unrest. 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. 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 | December 30, 2024 | EWTN on YouTube |
Watch “Holy Mass from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy” | December 30, 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 30, 2024 |
Pray “The Chaplet of Divine Mercy in song”| December 30, 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: Sixth day in the Octave of Christmas | Monday, December 30, 2024
Reading 1, First John 2:12-17
Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 96:7-8, 8-9, 10
Gospel, Luke 2:36-40
OPENING OF THE HOLY DOORS SCHEDULES
- On Christmas Eve, Pope Francis opened the First Holy Door at St. Peter’s Basilica.
- On Christmas Day, Pope Francis delivered his Urbi et Orbi message to the people of the city of Rome and the world from the central loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica at noon.
- On 26 December, for the first time in the Jubilee tradition, Pope Francis opened a fifth sacred portal in a Roman prison, a gesture of hope that shows his ongoing closeness to detainees.
- On Sunday, 29 December, the Pope opens the Holy Door of his cathedral, Saint John Lateran, which on 9 November this year celebrated the 1700th anniversary of its dedication.
- Then, on 1 January 2025, the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, the Holy Door of the Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major will be opened.
- Lastly, Sunday, 5 January 2025, will mark the opening of the Holy Door of the Papal Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls.
These last three Holy Doors will be closed on Sunday, 28 December 2025.
SAINTS OF THE DAY: MEMORIAL OF SAINT ANYSIUS, BISHOP OF THESSALONICA; SAINT SABINUS, BISHOP OF SPOLETO AND HIS COMPANIONS, MARYTRS AND SAINT ANYSIA OF SALONIKA, VIRGIN AND MARTYR ~ FEAST DAY ~ DECEMBER 30TH: Today is the sixth day in the octave of Christmas and we celebrate the Memorial of Saint Anysius, Bishop of Thessalonica and Saint Sabinus, Bishop of Spoleto and his Companions, Martyrs and Saint Anysia of Salonika, Virgin and Martyr.
SAINT ANYSIUS, BISHOP OF THESSALONICA: He was Bishop successor of St. Ascholius in the see of Salonika, in Greece. Saint Anysius became Bishop of Thessalonica upon the death of Ascholius in 383 to 407. He was a friend of St. Ambrose and on this occasion of his appointment as Bishop, St. Ambrose wrote to the new Bishop and expressed his hope that since Anysius was a dedicated disciple of Ascholius he might prove to be “another Elisha to Elijah.”
Pope St. Damasus also appointed this saintly Bishop the patriarchal vicar of Illyricum and he was confirmed in his power by Sts. Siricius and Innocent I. He was a loyal defender of Saint John Chrysostom. When St. John Chrysostom was being harassed by the authorities, St. Ansius came strongly to his defense. St. Anysius was one of the sixteen Macedonian bishops to appeal to Pope Innocent in 404 on St. John’s behalf. In 404, St. Anysius called upon Pope Innocent I to review the case whereby St. John had been exiled from his See, and he was joined in this by fifteen other Bishops of Macedonia. In return he received a letter from St. John thanking him for his efforts on his behalf. St. Anysius was a dedicated shepherd who inspired his people by his life and teachings. Both St. Innocent I and St. Leo the Great had high praise for his virtues. He died about 407.
PRAYER: God, Light and Shepherd of souls, You established St. Anysius as Bishop in Your Church to feed Your flock by his word and form it by his example. Help us through his intercession to keep the Faith he taught by his word and follow the way he showed by his example. Amen🙏
SAINT SABINUS, BISHOP OF SPOLETO AND HIS COMPANIONS, MARYTRS: Saint Sabinus of Spoleto (died c. 303) was a bishop in the Christian church who resisted the Diocletianic Persecution and was martyred. According to legend, Venustian, governor of Etruria and Umbria, had Sabinus and his deacons arrested in Assisi. Diocletian’s order required all Christians to sacrifice to the gods or be put to death, with their estates seized for the state. Venustian mocked Sabinus’s faith, accusing him of leading the people to the worship of a dead man. When Sabinus said that Christ rose on the third day, Venustian invited him to do the same thing. He had Sabinus’s hands cut off. The deacons were in great fear, but Sabinus encouraged them to hold to their faith, and they died after being torn apart by iron hooks. In prison after the martyrdom of his deacons, he was tended by a woman named Serena. While in prison, he healed a man born blind. Venustian heard of the cure and sought a cure for his own eyes from Sabinus. Sabinus healed the governor and converted him to Christianity. Venustian then sheltered Sabinus. Maximianus Herculius, hearing of this, ordered the the tribune Lucius to address the matter. Lucius had Venustian, his wife, and his two sons beheaded at Assisi, and he had Sabinus beaten to death at Spoleto. Saint Sabinus was beaten so cruelly that on December 7, 303, he expired under the blows. The charitable widow, Serena, after seeing to his honorable burial near the city, was also crowned with martyrdom. A basilica was later built at the site of the bishop’s tomb, and a number of monasteries in Italy were consecrated under his illustrious name. Patron Saints of Fermo, Ivrea and Spoleto all in Italy.
Reflection: How powerfully do the martyrs cry out to us by their example, exhorting us to detach from a false and wicked world!
Saint Sabinus of Spoleto and His Companions, Marytrs ~ Pray for us 🙏
SAINT ANYSIA OF SALONIKA, VIRGIN AND MARTYR: St. Anysia of Salonika (d. c. 298 A.D.), also known as St. Anysia of Thessalonica, was born to wealthy and pious Christian parents near Thessalonica, Greece. After the death of her parents, while she was still a young lady, Anysia dedicated her life completely to Christ. She made private vows of chastity and poverty, spent her days in fasting and prayer, and gave her wealth to the poor. She lived under the persecutions of the Roman Emperor Maximian, who declared that anyone who met a Christian could kill them without trial. One Sunday while on her way to church, St. Anysia was harassed by a Roman soldier. In one account he attempted to force her to make sacrifice to the pagan sun god. St. Anysia refused, declared her commitment to Christ, and spat in the soldier’s face. Enraged, the soldier ran her through with his sword, winning St. Anysia the crowns of virginity and martyrdom. Her feast day is December 30.
Saint Anysia of Salonika, Virgin and Martyr ~ Pray for us 🙏
SCRIPTURE REFLECTIONS:
Bible Readings for today, The Sixth Day in the Octave of Christmas | USCCB | https://bible.usccb.org/daily-bible-reading
Gospel Reading ~ 2:36-40
“She spoke about the child to all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem”
“There was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived seven years with her husband after her marriage, and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple, but worshiped night and day with fasting and prayer. And coming forward at that very time, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem. When they had fulfilled all the prescriptions of the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him.”
Today’s Gospel reading gives an account of the time and moment when the Child Jesus was presented and offered at the Temple and House of God in Jerusalem, according to the Jewish laws and customs. At that time, the eldest child of the household and family of the Israelites ought to be dedicated and offered to God, about eight days after they were born. This was a sign of the renewal of God’s great Covenant, His love and enduring providence for all of His beloved people. Then, at that time, just as Mary and St. Joseph were at the Temple of God, two people came up to them and began to prophesy from God, giving thanks that they had managed to see the Saviour Himself appearing before them in the flesh. They were the old man Simeon and the prophetess Anna. Anna is an 84 year old widow, who was constantly in the temple fasting and praying. It is said of Anna that she never left the Temple. She lived in the Temple, serving God night and day with fasting and prayer. She was at home in God’s house; prayer came natural to her. She needed and wanted to be in prayerful communion with God. We could speak of her as a contemplative. When she saw the child Jesus, she broke into the prayer of praise, and spoke about the child to all who were waiting for God’s deliverance. Both Anna and Simeon spoke of the many good things that the Lord God would do for His people through the Holy Child, and they also showed the first premonition of the kind of suffering and hardships which the Lord would eventually have to endure, and how that event would bring great sorrow and pain for Mary, His Mother. Yet, that was what the Lord had to go through in carrying out and completing His mission in this world, that is to bear the punishment and consequences for our many sins and wickedness, to bring forth into our midst the assurance of God’s salvation and grace, His forgiveness and ever enduring patience and love. And we are reminded of all these today in particular during this glorious and joyful season of Christmas so that we can continue to remember the true reason for our Christmas rejoicing and festivities.
According to the Gospel, Anna served God night and day with fasting and prayer. Normally when we hear the term ‘serving God’ we think instinctively of various forms of good works. Today’s Gospel reading suggests that prayer and fasting are also forms of service to God. We may not always think of prayer as an act of serving God. Today’s Gospel reading suggests that to pray is to serve God. Anna spent her time in the Temple praying, and yet she was as much a servant of God as those who served God by doing all kinds of good works. Mary who sat at the Jesus’ feet and listened to His word was serving Him as much as Martha was. To pray is to serve the Lord, because when we pray we give the Lord our time, our focus, our attention; we give Him ourselves.
In our first reading today from the Epistle of St. John the Apostle is the exhortation that the Apostle made to the members of all the faithful, addressed particularly to more senior members of the faithful, the fathers and parents who were supposed to bring up their children in the Christian faith, as well as the young men, those from the younger generation who have received the faith and its teachings from the Apostles and also from the guidance of their elders and seniors in their community. St. John exhorted all of them to put their faith in the Lord and in His salvation, in everything that He has done for our sake and overcoming all of the bondage for our sins and evils, all the things which had kept us tied and prevented from seeking God and His love and grace. St. John also warned the faithful to be vigilant and to be wary of sin and all of its tempting allures, all the things that can lead us into downfall and destruction. He mentioned that if one loves the world and all the things that are in the world, then they will not have the love of God the Father in them. Essentially, it is not possible for one to be able to truly love the Lord and to love the world and all of its riches and temptations all at once. That is why St. John exhorted all the faithful so that they would not fall into this temptation and ended up on the wrong path in life, as if they are not careful, it is easy for them to end up falling ever deeper into the slippery slope of sin. This same reminder also applies to us all as well, and we should truly heed these reminders for our own good. The Apostle also spoke of the fleeting and impermanent nature of the world against the permanence of God’s love and grace. This is a reality check for all of us especially if we reflect on all the things we often desire and want to pursue in our daily lives in this world. We must be aware that none of those things of the world that we seek, be it glory, fame, riches and wealth, material possessions, popularity and other forms of worldly parameters and things can truly satisfy us and none of them will also last and endure forever. All of them can be gone and disappear in mere moments, and none of us can bring them with us beyond this mortal life and existence we have on earth. The only thing that is truly everlasting is God’s Love and grace, His providence and salvation.
Our first reading reminds us that while the faithful people of God have received the truth from the Church and the Lord’s servants, and received the Sacraments of Initiation, this does not mean that they are immune or cannot be affected by the temptations of the world and sin. On the contrary, the devil and all of his allies and forces are even more likely to try to strike at all of us the faithful people of God, trying desperately to lead us away from the Lord and from His salvation, so that we will share their fate of destruction and damnation in hell. This is why Satan and all of his forces are always arrayed all the time against the faithful and the Church of God, and time does not pass without the faithful experiencing some form of spiritual attacks and hardships, definitely orchestrated by all those seeking to mislead and destroy us all. This had happened even as early as the earliest moments in the Church, and hence leading to St. John to write this exhortation to the faithful and the Church, and all these still happen even up to this very day.
As we reflect on the words of the Sacred Scriptures today, as we continue to celebrate this joyous season of Christmas, we are reminded to focus our lives and our attention on the Lord our God alone, through the salvation which He has shown and promised all of us, in His beloved Son, Our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, Whom He has sent into our midst so that by His incarnation and coming into this world, He might show unto us the sure path to eternal life and grace, which He has brought unto us through His coming, making it clear to us that God has always loved us, all these while, and each and every one of us have been blessed by His coming, His Presence in our midst, and His ever enduring love. We are called to emulate the Saints and Holy men and women, particularly those we celebrate today. Let us all hence do our best to be good and committed, holy and exemplary Christians at all times. Let us inspire one another and keep each other strong in our commitments to the Lord amidst the many challenges and trials found in this world today. This is why we are constantly being reminded that our lives are greater than just our own desires and ambitions. Our lives and existence in this world are all about serving and following the Lord, and walking in His path, and we should always keep this in mind lest we end up being distracted and swayed away from the path towards righteousness and salvation in God. This Christmas, we are exhorted and reminded to stay on our course and path towards the Lord, and not to lose our path and focus in life. May the Lord continue to help and guide us in our way, and may He empower each and every one of us to live ever more worthily and allow us to commit ourselves ever more to His path. The Lord and His love for us is and has always and will be so great that He has done everything for our sake, to help and rescue us from the depths of our predicament, from the darkness of our sins and troubles, from the snares of the devil and the threats of all those seeking our ruin and destruction. And because of this love all of us can now truly rejoice and be filled with hope, the hope for God’s salvation and the promise of eternal life and true happiness with Him. We should continue to put our faith in God and not easily allow ourselves to be distracted by the many temptations present all around us, all of which can lead us astray into the path towards our downfall. We should always trust in the Lord and distance ourselves from the excesses of worldly desires and pleasures, especially during this time of Christmas. Let us all celebrate Christmas with proper understanding of its importance and significance to all of us, becoming the good role models for one another in how we put Christ at the heart and centre of all our festivities and rejoicing in this time and season. And at the same time, let us not be ignorant of and forget about the sufferings and trials that those who are around us may be facing in their lives. Some of us may also not be able to celebrate Christmas due to various difficulties and reasons, and all of us are therefore called and reminded to share our joy with one another. Let us all be the faithful and worthy bearers of the Light of Christ and His salvation to everyone, and may our Christmas joy be truly rooted and centred in Christ, as always. May God in His infinite grace and mercy, grant us the grace to be true to our faith and may He bless our every good efforts and endeavours, all for His greater glory, now and always, through this Christmas season and beyond. 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 the Saints, on this feast day, we humbly pray for all families, We pray for peace, love and unity in our families and our world today, as we face these incredibly challenging times. We pray for God’s deliverance from impossible causes or situations. We pray for the safety and well-being of all those traveling during this season of Christmas. We pray for the sick and dying, especially sick children, those who are mentally and physically illness, strokes, heart diseases, and those suffering from cancers and other terminal diseases. We pray for an end to wars, political and religious unrest. We pray for the souls in Purgatory and the repose of the souls of the faithful departed and we pray for all widows and widowers. We pray for torture victims, the poor, the needy and the most vulnerable in our communities and around the world. We pray for all parents and children, for peace, love, justice and unity in our marriages, our families and our world. And we continue to pray for our Holy Father, Pope Francis, the Bishops, the Clergy, for vocations to the priesthood and religious life, for the Church, for persecuted christians, for the conversion of sinners, and Christians all over the world… Amen🙏
Let us pray:
Lord, I thank You for the powerful witness of the prophetess Anna. May her lifelong devotion to You, a life of continual prayer and sacrifice, be a model and inspiration for me and for all who follow You. I pray that You daily reveal to me the unique way in which I am called to live out my vocation to total dedication to You. Jesus, I trust in You ~ Amen 🙏
Our Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Our Blessed Mother Mary; Saint Joseph and Saint Anysius and Saint Sabinus & his Companions, Martyrs and Saint Anysia of Salonika, Virgin and Martyr ~ Pray for us 🙏
Please find below links to the websites for Daily Reflections, Foundation and interesting topics and articles about our Catholic faith and doctrines:
DAILY REFLECTIONS | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/
FOUNDATION | https://gliopiepehe.org
SIR G.L.I OPIEPE’S HEALTH AND EDUCATION FOUNDATION | https://youtu.be/gB31nuOFx0A?si=mSoZs-wiByhGsY
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/
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. Journey mercies for all those traveling during this Christmas season. Wishing all of us a most blessed, safe and grace-filled Christmas Season and New Year! Amen🙏
Blessings and love always, Philomena💖
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