Mary’s song of praise – often called the Magnificat – encourages us to echo her words through the example of our lives. May our voices join with hers as we magnify the Lord by what we say and do.
Mass Readings – Wednesday of the 4th Week of Advent
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Here are some of the key themes that we see in the readings for the 4th Sunday of Advent.
1st Reading – Micah 5:2-5a
Psalm – 80:2-3,15-16,18-19
2nd Reading – Hebrews 10:5-10
Gospel – Luke 1:39-45
Mass Readings – 4th Sunday of Advent
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On this feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, may we find strength in this powerful prayer as we follow the counsel of Christ to “ask, seek and knock” for the needs before us.
Mass Readings – Thursday of the 27th Week of the Year
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Our Lady of the Rosary…pray for us!
The sorrow of Mary as she stood faithfully before the Cross of Christ helps us to engage our grief. When we acknowledge our sorrows, we call upon the saving strength of Jesus to pass through our pain into healing joy.
Mass Readings – Our Lady of Sorrows
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Our Lady of Sorrows…pray for us!
Mary’s Magnificat inspires us to acknowledge the blessings of our lives and put them into practice.
Mass Readings – The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
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Here are some of the themes from the readings on this feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
1st Reading – Revelation 11:19a, 12:1-6a, 10ab
Psalm – 45:10-12,16
2nd Reading – 1st Corinthians 15:20-27
Gospel – Luke 1:39-56
Mass Readings – The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
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Our Lady, Queen of Heaven…pray for us!
This feast highlights the unique role that the Blessed Virgin Mary holds in the life of the Church. May we ask her for continued help and guidance as we draw near to her Son.
Mass Readings – Memorial of the BVM, Mother of the Church
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“And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart.” Mary inspires us to follow her example as we reflect on all that has happened in the last year and study these insights in the light of our faith in Christ as we embark on the New Year. Holy Mary, Mother of God…pray for us!
Mass Readings – Mary, Mother of God
The encounter between Mary and Elizabeth offers and example where faith and fellowship intersect. We support each other in so many ways…how can we lift each other up to God today?
Mass Readings – Monday of the 4th Week of Advent
Study: What is going on in my family right now? What dynamics, concerns, and strengths are we facing?
Pray: Call upon God’s grace for your family. Be specific and practical!
Serve: How can we help bless our families right now? What can we do to strengthen and unite together as a holy family?
Mass Readings – The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph
During this holiday season I am amazed – even with all the challenges of COVID-19 – at how many people creatively reorganize their schedules and events to accommodate the many family events that happen during this time of the year. Many people spend long hours on the road, sometimes celebrating Christmas two or three times with different branches of the family tree.
For some people this time of year can be a mixed blessing. The stress of traveling with uncertain weather, compounded with the hectic expectations of the commercial side of the season, can sometimes lead us to view Christmas as an exercise in frustration. This frustration is particularly true when we add the unique issues that are part of our own family.
All of us are part of a family. Some big, others small, some scattered across the globe, others spaced along a couple of city streets. In our extended families there are people we can’t wait to see, and there may even be some who are difficult to get along with for a conversation. Within our families there is usually a mixture of joy and sorrow, peace and discomfort, calm and chaos.
Yet like it or not, God has planted us within these groups of people to help us find our place within the larger world. Our families help define who we are, how we experience life, and what our dreams and hopes are for the future. With all their strengths and weaknesses, our families help us understand the meaning and purpose of our lives.
The fact that we celebrate the family of Jesus helps us realize that God is present within our families, too. The “Holy Family” was not perfect. Hardship and persecution followed them before and after the birth of the baby Jesus. They struggled and suffered like every other family, celebrating the joys and sorrows that accompany us all through life.
The struggles of the Holy Family help us see that the journey of our own families is not an easy one. Yet we can take hope that just as God was present to them, so too will the Lord strengthen us.
The feast of the Holy Family can remind us all that God truly walks with us in our own families. Within the blessings and limitations that exist in our families, we recognize God’s loving touch – shaping our lives and helping us see the “Holy Ones” that God has placed in our midst.
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Archive of Fr. Andrew’s Podcasts
Note: This post was modified from one that was published on December 25, 2017.
Catholic Inspiration – Podcast Archives of Homilies & Talks
Three Great Things 