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    Who better to deliver her divine Son's message of everlasting life in a time when so many were turning away from Him and His true Church than His Own Blessed Mother? For she was immaculately conceived as we acknowledge in the Dogma of the Immaculate Conception, so celebrated on December 8, and thus given a higher mission than even the angels in order to appear to the unlikeliest of messengers on the Tepeyac Hill just north of Mexico City where, from there the fruits of her apparition turned an entire continent and more in the New World while in the Old World a revolution of Apostasy was underway. That was on December 12, 1531. Fast forward 481 years and we have arrived at the date 12-12-12. It is a date that will not come again for another thousand years...if Our Lord has not returned before then.
Just as Our Lady came to debunk pagan superstition, so also today with all the flap about the Mayan Calendar that "the world is going to end on the winter solstice this year" we need to assure you that only God the Father knows the day or the hour, but it's always wise to have your lamps lit for we know not when the Bridegroom cometh. What also makes this year so significant is that, just as in the time of Luther and  Henry VIII, so also today under the likes of anti-pope Josef Ratzinger and Butcher of Benghazi Barack Hussein Obama the world is in revolt against God led by the apostates. With the re-election by George Soros of Obama we can see his Chicago-style mob dragging the United States to Marxism. Few realize that Modernist Rome is doing the same thing in moving toward a New One World Order. Guess the secret word and you could nominate a reprobate from the past to praise with revisionist thinking totally with the approval of the chief Hegelian in the Vatican who has always shared the same philosophy as the  Campaigner-in-Chief and Karl Marx. As far as Groucho? He was just a dirty old man whose on-air licentiousness dulled senses to usher in the outright outrageous obscenities we see today everywhere and getting worse, much, much worse. The latest blasphemy in the war against Christianity, while the MSM tolerates and protects false religions, is a painting above left that just surfaced from four years ago depicting Obama as the crucified Messiah replete with a crown of thorns and all, but the artist Michael D'Antuono, a fallen-away Catholic, claims he never intended the similarity,  even though he titled the painting "The Truth". Talk about a contradiction, but then that's the way the devil does things. We're sure the artist didn't intend any likeness of his 'savior' to the true Savior! Not! What a lie! Puhlease, we didn't just fall off the turnip truck! But today's society has such itching ears it will believe anything. It is the imagery of the "One" that the media has pushed on the masses. Oh, satan must really love how they're carrying out his agenda so well. Remember Jesus warned us of these abominations in the Gospel of St. Matthew 24: 23-25: "Then if any man shall say to you: Lo here is Christ, or there, do not believe him. For there shall arise false Christs and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders, insomuch as to deceive (if possible) even the elect. Behold I have told it to you, beforehand."
 Yes, Our Lord did tell us and we haven't listened. Now, countless souls are in jeopardy from womb to the tomb and few there are left to protect them as human sacrifice reaches epic proportion through abortion recognized as legal murder practically everywhere. His Excellency Bishop Mark Pivarunas, CMRI weighs in on this problem which is definitely a spiritual problem and encourages the faithful to stay the course and intensify their prayer life in making amends for ever more urgent is how many souls are headed for hell because they accept such unjust laws and because they have abandoned God for the world, the flesh and the devil. We see it everywhere and that is why this Advent is so important in not only preparing for the Messias on December 25, but to prepare our souls and condition our carnal inclinations so that we can stand strong in this time of the Great Apostasy and formation of the New World Order when the persecution against true Catholicism intensifies...and it surely will.
 To also help you be prepared and to tune up your disciple talents, we heartily encourage Dr. Thomas A. Droleskey's thorough YouTube video series Living in the Shadow of the Cross that we list here for it is important to watch them in the proper order as Tom so entertainingly lays out a practical blueprint for Traditional Catholics to follow, which will also, we hope and pray, help others to receive the grace to flee false churches and return to the True Faith before it's too late.
In addition, Griff Ruby has just filed twenty more YouTube Video Lectures, Twenty through Forty. For the first nineteen parts, see Ecclesiology for Sedevacantists
 
12-12-12 also is the half-way point of Advent and time for each to refocus and examine if each has something they can improve on. To help focus and gain inspiration, we have devoted this Advent edition to almost entirely devotion and reflection with a healthy dose of the thought-provoking, soul-poking Revelations and Prophesies to St. Bridget of Sweden as we continue with fourteen new chapters from Book Four as you'll see below. December could truly be called the "Month of Novenas" for we have the Novena in Preparation for the Immaculate Conception, begun on November 29 and a day later the short Christmas Novena Prayer said throughout Advent and one each should memorize in order to pray it at least 15 times a day. On December 4 we begin the Novena for Our Lady of Guadalupe and on December 16, the day of Las Posadas we begin the Nine Day Novena leading to Christmas with the Seven O Antiphons.
We have included them for each day below to help you stay focused on the purpose of the season and not be distracted by all the glitter. That is why we concentrate on devotion in this Advent edition. You'll have plenty of time and opportunity and even better deals shopping for loved ones and friends during Christmastide, leading to the real day of gift-giving: The Epiphany.
Speaking of gift-giving, as many know both Cyndi and I are having sight problems as our eyes grow weaker - mine the onset of Macular Degeneration - a casualty of getting older and so many years on the computer. Thus reading, especially Sacred Scripture, is getting more difficult than ever. That is why we have benefited so from having the entire Old and New Testament Douay-Rheims Bible on audio as well as a video format where you can see the written Word of God in large type. Believe us, it's been a tremendous addition and inspiration for us where we can hear the Holy Word while working at the computer or listening on an MP player. We understand it even works on Ipods, Ipads, smartphones, what-have-you in this age of instant technology. That is why we would like to share this aid with our benefactors.
   
Therefore, we would like to offer to anyone who makes a $100.00 donation to SANCTUS/DailyCatholic a gift of the MP4 audio visual of Thomas a Kempis' entire inspiring "Imitation of Christ." For those donating $250.00 or more they'll receive the same plus the MP4 audio visual of the entire Old and New Testament Douay-Rheims Bible. For those donating $500.00 or more we will gift both of the above MP4 audio visual titles plus the acclaimed "Confessions" by the holy Doctor of the Church St. Augustine. Just let us know your e-mail and it will be sent to you after you have made a donation of $100., $250. or $500. to SANCTUS/DailyCatholic. With times tight, you might not have that much, but if you make a pledge of $10. a month on the St. Simon Level or higher for a year, you qualify for the "Imitation of Christ" immediately. If you make a pledge of $25. a month on the St. Matthew Level or higher for a year you qualify for both the "Imitation" and the "Douay-Rheims Bible", and if you make a pledge for $50. a month on the St. Bartholomew Level or higher for a year, you qualify immediately for both of those MP4's and St. Augustine's "Confessions". We are presently working on more gifts for higher donations, but for now we feel these are reasonable that many can contribute to and not hurt their budgets. Just notify us of your pledge level so we can activate your gift.
 And still speaking of gifts, you know we have to ask for financial help to keep this apostolate going as we remind you of every Catholic's duty, according to the Commandments of the Church - to assist those who strive to carry out the work Christ asks of His disciples to "Feed My lambs...feed My sheep" (St. John 21: 15-17). It is most difficult to do so without the necessary funds to maintain this site and non-profit organization. Contrary to what some may think, no one at SANCTUS/DailyCatholic takes a salary of any kind.  This is a labor of love, but as Jesus says in St. Luke 10: 7,"a laborer is worthy of his hire" even if he's not hired for a salary. Purveyors, Contractors, and Bill Collectors do not deal in faith, hope and charity, but rather in cold hard facts: pay up or else! That is why we turn to those who are nourished with the truths and traditions of holy Mother Church for you are our only source of income to keep this apostolate going, to bring these truths to more souls for the salvation of souls. So while you're preparing for the Nativity of Child Jesus during Advent, we ask you to please remember SANCTUS/DailyCatholic as well - both in your prayers and through a year-end "God Bless Us Everyone" donation of whatever you can afford. What should be most clear, especially in light of the terrible destruction left in the path of Hurricane Sandy, you can't take it with you. Store up treasures in Heaven by being generous with your temporal treasures. As Jesus says, "as long as you did it to one of these My least brethren, you did it to Me" (St. Matthew 25: 40).
 
We are indeed the least of His brethren and desperately need your help. To repeat, we're truly serious. If more souls do not donate we can't continue with the status quo you've enjoyed for nearly two decades. It's discouraging because the response has been so disappointing, merely reinforcing the apathy that is out there and the hardened hearts. Contracts are due for renewal and we need your help to keep the DailyCatholic on line. As mentioned in our last edition, we are still researching the option of possibly becoming a subscription based publication if we don't raise enough to pay our due bills. We make a final plea below and beg you to help.
Thank you and God bless during this time of preparation for Christ's arrival.
Michael Cain, editor
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Just in case you missed the urgency of our plea above, and as much as we hate to beg, we have no choice. If you have benefited in anyway from what we have published, we humbly ask your help to keep this publication on line. We know that so many of our readers are unable to assist at a true traditional Latin Mass because of where they live and use the daily liturgy we publish to gain the efficacious graces possible through their prayers at home. We remain the only publication in the world to provide such and are grateful to God that we can provide such nourishment for souls. We urgently ask if you can contribute anything in these tight times, we would be so appreciative for the coffers are truly bare. Think of all the untold millions being thrown into this election. If you've contributed to a campaign, can't you spare a crumb for this apostolate to convert apostates? If you are still in the category of the lukewarm, then you will pass over this plea and move on to the next thing that tickles your fancy. But if you truly want to commit, we offer you the opportunity below to put that commitment into action for the good of saving souls. If you have not donated before, isn't it only right and proper to donate now? Whatever you can afford will be greatly appreciated. Just click the button below or send a check/money order to the address below. We are a bonafide non-profit 501c(3) religious association and all donations are tax-deductible. Whatever you would have contributed toward a bloated political campaigns or thrown away in the conciliar collection plates that only goes to covering up the sins of its presbyters and false primates while destroying all semblence of Catholicism, why not earmark it for SANCTUS/DailyCatholic? After all, shouldn't we all take St. Paul's strong counsel in 2 Thessalonians 2: 14 to heart and "stand firm, and hold the traditions which you have learned"?
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First Week of Advent
 Behold the name of the Lord cometh from afar, and all the earth is full of His glory. (Isaias 30: 27)
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In the aftermath of the elections, His Excellency Bishop Mark Pivarunas, CMRI files his Letter from the November Adsum in which he points out that in the bigger scope of things, even if the election had gone another way, it still would not have solved anything for the solution does not lie with politicians or secular authorities. No, because it is a spiritual problem, and the only answers that can be found will be found with God, but we need to help Him by being faithful to our prayer life and making sacrifices as Our Lady asks if we are to effect in anyway the hearts and souls of those who have been inundated with sins that cry to Heaven for vengeance and are the lost sheep for the apostate church of Vatican 2 has abdicated any authority and left the masses as prey to the world, the flesh and the devil. In this time of Advent His Excellency's counsel is so timely for we have so little time to prepare and so much to prepare for and We need to Amend. Amen!
  
John Gregory has provided Father Leo George Haydock's cogent comprehensive Catholic Commentary on the Douay-Rheims version of the New Testament. The First Sunday of Advent, the very first day of the new Liturgical Year begins the one-year cycle anew picking up with the apocalyptic warning Christ echoed in the Last Sunday of Pentecost's Gospel and Epistle. With the world, especially America ignoring the Scriptures of "not rioting and drunknenness," "not in chambering and impurities, not in contention and envy" should we follow the PC police and policies or Christ? That is a no-brainer to those who take their Faith seriously. Have we not seen the signs? There have been signs and we fail to see what they mean as the rest of the world goes merrily on its way toward perdition. Today's Gospel and Epistle forewarns us and yet so many opt to be politically correct rather than Christ-correct! Unless we "put on Christ" in all we do, we had better be prepared to put on an asbestos suit for we're going to need it when "the powers of Heaven shall be moved" and many will realize it's too late. For those who have clothed themselves in the armor of Faith and grace, there will be nothing to fear for "the kingdom of God is at hand" as indicated in the Haydock Commentary, Don't say we weren't warned
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Saint Francis Xavier was not born a saint. He had to work at it for in the dangerous days of the Reformation, as young Spanish gentleman, he was making a name for himself as a professor of philosophy at the University of Paris. He was aspiring, apparently, to a high dignity, until Saint Ignatius of Loyola decided to undertake the spiritual conquest of this ardent ...more
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  Chapter Eleven of the revelations and prophesies of the holy mystic St. Bridget of Sweden, she is visited by Saint Agnes whose words of praise and blessing to the glorious Virgin Mary herself are inspiring as Agnes shows Bridget how she implores the Blessed Mother for her, in reminding Mary of the good lord and the poor little woman whom the lord granted good things to because of her loyalty, charity and sacrifice. Our Lady replies with the metaphor that souls are well protected by the angels who number ten-fold to every human and they prepare a great banquet in Heaven, here represented by a mountain, where the the souls are the delicious morsels prepared in the cooking pot which represents the world and the fire and ashes heating it are those friends of the world. Because they will be discarded, but those souls who are meant for the heavenly banquet will be preserved if thoroughly prepared in love to be presented to the Lord of Hosts, King of Kings. Angels are your best insurance
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  St. Peter, Archbishop of Ravenna in Italy, who died about the year 450, won the title of Chrysologus, "golden worded", not only for his eloquence, but because his words were good, true, and of priceless
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 There is also a commemoration of Saint Barbara who was brought up by a pagan father, Dioscorus. With the intention of protecting her beauty, he kept her jealously secluded in a lonely but very luxurious tower which he built for that purpose; for in his own way he loved her. In her forced solitude, this very gifted young ...More
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  Today is the feast of the first Doctor of the Church in the liturgical year to be so honored. He is Saint Peter Chrysologus who was born at the turn of the 5th Century in Italy and, like his predecessor colleagues in the great academy of Doctors, strove with his every breath and magnificent oratory skills to uphold and preserve the Sacred Fidei Depositum. He had no fear in taking on the deceiving Monophysite heresy that, in the aftermath of the Arian heresy, threatened to wrent the Church asunder once more, but he confronted the chief heretic Eutyches himself and won the day. So great was St. Peter Chrysologus' eloquence in conveying the Faith in all its beauty and simplicity that he is remembered, even though less than 200 of his sermons have survived the annals of history, as Doctor of Homilies
 Today we begin the nine-day Novena leading to the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe next Wednesday. Her miraculous Image on the tilma is the Gospel in picture form. She is the Immaculate Conception, as the Apocalypse describes, "a woman clothed in the sun, with the moon at her feet." Those who saw it realized immediately she is greater than the sun, moon, stars which they had worshipped as gods. For people today in what is called the "New Age" she is also a sign not to worship the "forces" of nature. But she herself is not a goddess. She has her hands folded in prayer, her eyes looking down to humility. To whom is she praying? The clue is in the brooch under her neck. It has a small cross. But she is not only praying to God, she has God within her to the peoples of the Americas. You can see the compassion in the face of the Blessed Virgin. Hearing her tender message and gazing on this picture lesson of Catholicism, it is easy to understand that the Mother of Jesus is our Mother also! See Novena to Our Lady of Guadalupe
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Saint Nicholas, Archbishop of Myra in Asia Minor, was born at Parara, a city of Lycia in the same province sometime either late in the third century or early in the fourth. In his youth he made a pilgrimage to Egypt and Palestine; shortly after his return he became Bishop of Myra Later, he was cast into prison during the ...More
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In Book Four, Chapter Thirteen of the Revelations and Prophesies of the holy mystic St. Bridget of Sweden, Christ speaks to the bride as to which tears are acceptable to God and which are not, and about what kind of alms should be requested or given to the poor for the sake of departed souls, and she hears the advice Jesus imparts that we should all emulate in touching souls and following St. Paul's words in 2 Timothy 4: 2,5 "Preach the word: be instant in season, out of season: reprove, entreat, rebuke in all patience and doctrine...But be thou vigilant, labor in all things, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill thy ministry. Be sober." This essentially is Our Lord's counsel and exhortation to the bride in Persevere with vigilance
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Though there is a commemoration for the Vigil of the Immaculate Conception, this day is dedicated to Saint Ambrose, a doctor or teacher of the Church, who was Archbishop of Milan from A.D. 374 to his death in 397. By his steadfastness he deserved well of God's people. Gentleness, meekness, humility, and obedience made him yield to every one in indifferent matters, but in those of duty he was inflexible. His writings have contributed many hymns and ...More
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The Holy Doctor of the Church Saint Ambrose was the first to migrate from the north, the Rhineland area of Trier and settled in Milan, Italy where he cast away a lucrative career as a lawyer and politician to accept the people's acclaim as their Bishop. He ruled in holiness and justice and was responsible for converting and nurturing Saint Augustine among thousands of converts. Together they fought vigorously against the Arian heresy towards the end of the 4th century. Unlike the pansy conciliar 'bishops' of today, and, sadly, the slow-to-respond true bishops within the Traditional movement of holy Mother Church, Ambrose stood strong against the heretics and even the emperor for he was not ashamed of proclaiming Christ's truths nor was he afraid of offending anyone if they offended God. What we need today are men with the backbone of St. Ambrose to stand against the usurpers, to cry out "You are false shepherds, begone! Bring back the true Faith to the starving, depleted, scattered flocks." He was a unifier. Is there anyone who will step forward and truly unite Catholics once more against the heresies so rampant today? This pagan-born soul who became St. Ambrose, known by many as Converter of Saints
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"I will put enmities between thee and the woman." In these words the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary was announced to our first parents. It was to be the reversal of the friendship with the serpent contracted by Eve, when she listened to his voice and fell under his power. The second Eve was never to be under the power of the devil the enmity between them was to admit of no possible exception. This involved the grace of being conceived immaculate. Mary's Immaculate Conception was the foundation of all her graces. The absence of any stain or spot of sin distinguished her from all the rest of mankind. It distinguished her from the holiest of the Saints, since they, one and all, were sinners. Her perfect sinlessness was the source of all her glory and all her majesty; it was this which opened the door to the unlimited graces that she received from God; it was this that qualified her for her divine maternity and raise her to her throne as Queen of Heaven.
"O Queen conceived without original sin,
pray for us who have recourse to thee."
This feast was established for the universal Church by Pope Pius IX when He proclaimed that from all eternity, the Triune ...More
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 The Haydock Commentary from Father George Leo Haydock found in many Douay-Rheims Bibles and provided to us by John Gregory, illustrates on this Double of the First Class Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary how from all eternity God had chosen the most pure daugher of Anne and Joachim as the Immaculate Ark of the Covenant. This confirmation comes directly from God via His Archangel Gabriel in the Gospel of St. Luke and is all the more stunning since Mary is truly a virgin, at the time of her conception through her Assumption she remains forever ever virgin, ever pure, ever Immaculate as we see in the commentary for this Holyday, From All Eternity
From all Eternity
It is a sad fact that the most apostate council in the history of the Church closed on the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Perhaps it is also a signal that Our Lady had had enough of the heresy promulgated in the various documents and the revolution that the council promulgated. While we commisserate the 47 years since its conclusion, we should remember that December 8 is a very special day in the United States - a Holy Day of Obligation - in which Americans honor the Patroness of our country - the Mother of God, immaculately conceived in St. Anne's womb. A reminder: Catholics everywhere are to do all in their power to avoid servile work (save for necessary duties such as a job, etc.) and to not shop on this day. For those who cannot attend a Traditional Mass, we  encourage you to pray the Proper of the Holy Mass to the left at home with your family as well as the Holy Rosary. If you think fulfilling your obligation will be fulfilled by attending a novus ordo service, you are gravely mistaken and might as well attend the protestant service down the street, which, as most know, will thankfully be closed anyway. So honor Our Lady and her Divine Son by worthily praying at home unless you can attend the true Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Pray that the counterfeit church of conciliarism will soon collapse since it is not of God and cannot last as Jesus defines in St. Matthew 7: 13-20. Let us pray that souls will be given the grace to truly see this "mystery of iniquity" satan has worked and which St. Paul warned us of in 2 Thessalonians 2. Pray they'll return to the true Immemorial Mass of All Ages with its salvific sanctifying graces manifested in the Traditional Liturgy. For a reminder of what Vatican 2 has wrought, see The Great Apostasy
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Second Week of Advent
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Today is the traditional observance of Our Lady of Loreto where she lived in Nazareth for Mary's Immaculate Conception was the foundation of all her graces. The absence of any stain or spot of sin distinguished her from all the rest of mankind. It distinguished her from the holiest of the Saints, since they, one and all, were sinners. Her perfect
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In Book Four, Chapter Fourteen of the Revelations and Prophesies of the holy mystic St. Bridget of Sweden, Jesus imparts to the bride the comforting words to quell her fear, telling her not to be afraid of what she has seen and heard, because it comes from the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity, as He illustrates how the devil can be symbolized by a snake and a lion, the consolation of the Holy Ghost as symbolized by a tongue, and Christ shows how to resist the devil by thrusting divine charity at the fangs of the serpent and the sharp teeth of a lion. The adversary will flee out of fear of having their teeth shattered, something we can hope and pray for so that they will no longer be able to devour. Keeping our tonque silent or moving in prayer and praise is the best way of How to silence satan
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 The absence of any stain or spot of sin distinguished her from all the rest of mankind. It distinguished her from the holiest of the Saints, since they, one and all, were sinners. Her perfect sinlessness was the source of all her glory and all her majesty; it was this which opened the door to the unlimited
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In Book Four, Chapter Fifteen of the Prophesies and Revelations of the holy mystic St. Bridget of Sweden, Christ speaks to the bride about why the good suffer in this life while the bad prosper, and how God shows her through a parable that He sometimes promises temporal goods but that these should be taken to mean spiritual goods. He explains why God has not predicted every single event to happen at particular times, although all times and seasons are known to Him and that He makes these things known as He sees fit through carnal measures so that man can better understand the heavenly treasures that await those who understand, are patient and willing to suffer whatever He deigns out of love for Him. God has a method to His 'madness'
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 Perhaps the United States and Mexico, and all of Central and South America would not be in the clutches of corruption and communism today had things been different in the 1870's and 1880's had America not have collaborated with establishing the Statue of Liberty, a definitive symbol of the French Revolution. But then things would have been quite different had Martin Luther, Henry VIII and the French Revolution never have succeeded in the destruction they wrought as well. What would have been the outcome of such possibilities? Perhaps as God ordained.  Perhaps had they realized that Christ established one Church and no other or branches, they would have erected a massive statue in New York Harbor to Our Lady of the Americas: Our Lady of Guadalupe to symbolize the message Heaven was sending: to follow the humble example of Juan Diego. "Unless you become as a little child, you cannot enter the kingdom of Heaven." Think of what might have been: Peace and harmony throughout the western hemisphere because of fidelity to the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church in establishing the Social Kingship of Jesus and the Queenship of the Immaculate Virgin Mary. God tried. He sent His only-begotten Son to free those trapped in Abraham's bosom; then when His new "chosen people" turned from Him, He sent His Own Mother to the New World. Still we have not learned. Thus we have been left to our own miserable fallen human natures which has brought out the worst in men with turmoil everywhere; drug cartels rule the roost in Mexico; immorality reigns supreme in the U.S. while the sickle and hammer suffocates almost all of Sud America. This is not God's ordaining will, but rather His permitting will. He permits the "operation of error to believe a lie" so that man will decide his own fate. We've done this to ourselves, but it is never too late to turn back to God, to repent and amend our lives as Dr. Thomas A. Droleskey implores in his two-piece essay in honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe
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In Book Four, Chapter Sixteen of the Prophesies and Revelations of the holy mystic St. Bridget of Sweden, the Blessed Virgin Mary tells the daughter how the devil often cunningly leads one and another of God's servants beneath the veil of devotion in order to cause them distress, and to which people indulgences are granted. It regards a tax collector to whom St. Bridget provided hospitality and the Blessed Mother cautions her of the cunningness of the devil. Mary uses the simile of a goose to magnificently illustrate how the Church is constituted and a hen to symbolize God, where He only protects those eggs who seek His warmth as she explains which people deserve to be called God's little chickens. God wants His chickens to come Home to roost
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The second Eve was never to be under the power of the devil the enmity between them was to admit of no possible exception. This involved the grace of being conceived immaculate. Mary's Immaculate Conception was the foundation of all her graces. The absence of any stain or spot of sin
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In Book Four, Chapter Seventeen of the Prophesies and Revelations of the holy mystic St. Bridget of Sweden, Saint Agnes returns to impart an excellent instruction to the daughter on the merits of living in a good and praiseworthy fashion, and the vital importance of avoiding a bad life that would be displeasing to God. A carriage symbolizes here fortitude and patience; its four wheels symbolize these four virtues: the complete surrender of everything for God's sake, humility, loving God wisely, and restraining the flesh discerningly. Certain other things are also added about members of religious orders. Wheels are round for a reason
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"I will put enmities between thee and the woman." In these words the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary was announced to our first parents. It was to be the reversal of the friendship with the serpent contracted by Eve, when she listened to his voice and fell under his
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In Book Four, Chapter Eighteen of the Prophesies and Revelations of the holy mystic St. Bridget of Sweden, she lavishes the Blessed Virgin Mary with praise and then Our Lady relates the symbolism of St. John the Baptist as obedience, St. Peter as faithfulness and St Paul as patience. The Blessed Mother instructs that her words are not meant only for Bridget but for all her children as God so wishes to build a foundation for the stool, so to speak, is held up by the legs of these holy virtues personified by said saints. In this way God's holy and immaculate Ark of the Covenant grants Bridget, bride of Christ, many graces as well as many other good things both from herself and from the apostles and saints. Pegging the three pegs
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Third Week of Advent
Before Me there was no God formed, and after Me there shall be none; for every knee shall be bowed to Me, and every tongue shall confess Me. (Isaias 43: 10; 44: 24)
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The Church urges us to gladness in the middle of this time of expectation and penitence: the coming of Jesus approaches more and more. This Sunday is called "Gaudete" (Rejoice) from the first word of the Introit. The whole of this Mass is filled with the sentiments of joy with which the Church wishes our souls to be filled at the approach of the Savior. St. John, the holy precursor, announces to the Jews the coming of the Savior. "The Savior," he says to them, "lives already among us, though unknown. He will soon appear openly." Now is the time for fervent prayers and for imploring Jesus to remain with us by His mercy. Let us joyfully prepare the way for Him by repentance and penitence and by a worthy reception of the Sacraments.
The Roman Emperor Constantine had erected a Basilica on the hill of the Vatican, on the very spot where St. Peter was martyred and where his body rests. It is there that the Mass of the Third Sunday of Advent was always celebrated in Rome.
Truly we should rejoice in the Lord: Gaudete in Domino. This is introduced in the Introit and carried throughout today's Mass, especially the Epistle where St. Paul tells the Philippians, "The Lord is nigh, rejoice in the Lord." We pray this day that our faith and hope in Jesus Christ our Lord, always increase! Like St. John, Precursor of
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 In the midst of Advent we take time to rejoice as we say several times during the holy Sacrifice of the Mass Gaudete; something that gives us hope just as it inflamed the hearts of those hearing St. John the Baptist to repent for the Lord was nigh. The Haydock Commentary for the Third Sunday of Advent, provided by John Gregory, expresses joy for all in both the Epistle where St. Paul speaks of the attributes of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass with Repentant Prayer, Adoration, Petition and Thanksgiving in preparation for the Lord and in the gospel of St. John, his namesake the Baptist, when grilled by the Jews, confounds them by not identifying Who the Lord is by name, but by the Old Testament prophecies and when interrogated as to who the Baptist is he answers with what Isaias foretold as "the voice of one crying in the wilderness" in The Voice of the Precursor
In fully observing the holy Season of Advent, we begin during Ember Week the "O Antiphons", a tradition long observed by holy Mother Church since the eighth century. Said in the Office for the day, they are derived from various titles of Christ and scripturally based short prayers said from the 17th through the 23rd of December by which the Church expresses her deep longing for the coming of the Messiah. In addition, we present the expanded special additional prayers each day, counting down to the Nativity of our Savior of the Christmas Novena Prayer to be said in conjunction with the Christmas Novena Prayer "Hail and blessed be the hour... to obtain favors if one's requests are in accordance with God's will. It is believed that whoever recites the prayer below with a pious heart 15 times a day from November 30th to December 25th, will obtain whatever is asked. For these prayers in preparation for the Nativity of Our Lord, see O Antiphons
  O God and Savior of our souls, sweet Infant Jesus, Whom the angels and shepherds adored in the stable of Bethlehem on that holy night when Thou wert born of the Virgin Mary. We offer Thee our profound adoration and our most earnest thanksgiving for having become man for our redemption and salvation. Grant that we may apply all our powers in fulfill Thy gracious designs, that we may become perfectly renewed in heart, and inflamed with Thy holy love. Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be
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Truly we should rejoice in the Lord: Gaudete in Domino. This is introduced in the Introit and carried throughout today's Mass, especially the Epistle where St. Paul tells the Philippians, "The Lord is nigh, rejoice in the Lord." We pray this day that our faith and hope in Jesus Christ our Lord, always increase! Like St.
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 The "O Antiphons" were first put into use by Holy Mother Church in the eighth and ninth centuries. Said in the Office for the day, they are derived from various titles of Christ and scripturally based short prayers said from the 17th through the 23rd of December by which the Church expresses her deep longing for the coming of the Messiah.
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In Book Four, Chapter Nineteen of the Revelations and Prophesies of the holy mystic St. Bridget of Sweden, she venerates the Mother of God with the highest praise of Our Lady's virtue and beauty, and the Blessed Virgin Mary's answer confirms St. Bridget's praise, calling to mind the source of all beauty comes from true Beauty, God Himself, and then Mary's divine Son affirms both the bride and His Immaculate Mother's words and makes a magnificent comparison to Mary as a goldsmith crafting the most beautiful object possible. All that glitters is gold
 O WISDOM,Who came from the mouth of the Most High, reaching from end to end and ordering all things mightily and sweetly: COME, and teach us the way of prudence. Amen.
  O Merciful Redeemer, Who didst vouchsafe to remain in the chaste cloister of Mary's womb, hidden and unknown, though Thou wast the Eternal Word, and the Wisdom of the Father. O Grant that we may learn from Thee to love solitude and silence, and escape the evils that are found in the tumult and distractions of the world; grant us greater purity of mind and heart; grant that we may glorify Thee, and edify others by our purity and modesty. Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be
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Truly we should rejoice in the Lord: Gaudete in Domino. This is introduced in the Introit and carried throughout today's Mass, especially the Epistle where St. Paul tells the Philippians, "The Lord is nigh, rejoice in the Lord." We pray this day that our faith and hope in Jesus Christ our Lord, always increase! Like St.
...More
The "O Antiphons" were first put into use by Holy Mother Church in the eighth and ninth centuries. Said in the Office for the day, they are derived from various titles of Christ and scripturally based short prayers said from the 17th through the 23rd of December by which the Church expresses her deep longing for the coming of the Messiah.
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In Book Four, Chapter Twenty of the Prophesies and Revelations of the holy mystic St. Bridget of Sweden, the pure lamb of a saint Saint Agnes returns yet again with a lesson to the daughter about not relapsing into old habits, but also cautions on not taking on such a schedule of austerity and prayer life that it would become a burden for satan works to dishearten even the most devout souls in bidding them to despair. St. Agnes compares God to an eagle Who can see from a perspective we cannot and He can detect and protect us from the dangers that lurk in our path from the deadly serpent to the sharp spikes of the world, the flesh and the devil. God will protect us as an eagle protects her young. And we must trust Him to swoop in and do what is right for us according to His divine Will. Keep an eagle-eye out for the devil's wiles
 O LORD AND RULER of the House of Israel, Who appeared to Moses in the flame of the burning bush and gave him the law on Sinai: COME, and redeem us with outstretched arms. Amen
 O Infant God, Who, from the moment of Thy conception in holy Mary's womb, didst offer Thyself to Thine Eternal Father for the salvation of our souls. O vouchsafe, to give us a lively sense of the one thing necessary, so that we may labor zealously for others, and work out our own salvation in fear and trembling, yet with confidence in Thy love. Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be
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On the Wednesday of Ember Week in Advent, the Mystery of the Annunciation is commemorated by many Churches. The Mass is sung early in the morning. That Mass is sometimes called the Golden Mass, Rorate Mass or Messias Mass. On that occasion the Church is illuminated as a token that the world was still in darkness when the Light of the
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The "O Antiphons" were first put into use by Holy Mother Church in the eighth and ninth centuries. Said in the Office for the day, they are derived from various titles of Christ and scripturally based short prayers said from the 17th through the 23rd of December by which the Church expresses her deep longing for the coming of the Messiah.
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In Book Four, Chapter Twenty-one of the Prophesies and Revelations of the holy mystic St. Bridget of Sweden, the bride's words to God concern His virtue and splendor. In response the Blessed Virgin Mary provides a consoling answer to the daughter how God's good servants should not stop preaching and admonishing people, whether the people convert or not; the Virgin shows this by means of a comparison that He will reward those who proclaim His name and word to all they meet, which justifies traditional apostolates to continue extolling the truths and traditions of holy Mother Church and exposing the charlatans of the counterfeit church of conciliarism. Never stop preaching the truth
O ROOT OF JESSE, that stands for an ensign of the people, before whom the kings keep silence and unto Whom the Gentiles shall make supplication: COME, to deliver us and tarry not. Amen
 O Sweetest Jesus, Who didst go up to Bethlehem in the womb of Mary, to obey the command of Caesar, who had ordered all his subjects to be enrolled. O grant us grace to obey with alacrity the most arduous commands from those who hold Thy place over us. Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be
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Truly we should rejoice in the Lord: Gaudete in Domino. This is introduced in the Introit and carried throughout today's Mass, especially the Epistle where St. Paul tells the Philippians, "The Lord is nigh, rejoice in the Lord." We pray this day that our faith and hope in Jesus Christ our Lord, always increase! Like St.
...More
The "O Antiphons" were first put into use by Holy Mother Church in the eighth and ninth centuries. Said in the Office for the day, they are derived from various titles of Christ and scripturally based short prayers said from the 17th through the 23rd of December by which the Church expresses her deep longing for the coming of the Messiah.
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In Book Four, Chapter Twenty-two of the Prophesies and Revelations of the holy mystic St. Bridget of Sweden, Christ conjectures how, if it were possible for God to regret, which it is not, He would regret creating man for the ungrateful human has sought to forge his own path regardless of God's will. Jesus laments how human malice in modern times surpasses the cunning of the devil, and about how people are now quicker to sin than the devil is to tempt, and he provides the sentence pronounced against such people, and how God's friends should labor with courage and haste in their preaching; also, He shares how He imparts the infusion of knowledge in God's friends. He also indicates that even in Bridget's time the Holy See was not vigilant and the light of truth growing dimmer until today we see it is totally eclipsed. Thank God that God's merciful
 O KEY OF DAVID and Sceptre of the House of Israel, Who opens and no man shuts, Who shuts and no man opens: COME, and bring forth the captive from his prison, he who sits in darkness and in the shadow of death. Amen.
 O Most Adorable Jesus, Who, upon Thine arrival at Bethlehem, wast rejected by all men. O grant us to follow Thine example in sufferings and contempt, that we may welcome Thee joyfully into our hearts, when Thou seekest an entrance there, either by holy inspirations or by Thy Divine Sacraments. Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be
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Saint Thomas, called Didymus, that is "the twin," was probably a Galilean of lowly condition and a fisherman. He was chosen to be one of the apostles in the year 31, as can be determined from the mention of his name in the catalogue of the apostles in St. Matthew. He is reputed to have been slow of understanding and little acquainted with secular
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The "O Antiphons" were first put into use by Holy Mother Church in the eighth and ninth centuries. Said in the Office for the day, they are derived from various titles of Christ and scripturally based short prayers said from the 17th through the 23rd of December by which the Church expresses her deep longing for the coming of the Messiah.
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In Book Four, Chapter Twenty-three of the Prophesies and Revelations of the holy mystic St. Bridget of Sweden, she hears the holy St. John the Evangelist conversing with the glorious Blessed Virgin Mary about a mere sinful hypocrite, and then Our Lady's answer to the beloved disciple before she addresses Bridget regarding a certain Cistercian priest's characteristics as she describes the devil's deceptions toward this man who had been in apostasy for 18 years, and what happened to him. Our Lady describes how the good spirit is recognized by seven signs and the bad spirit can also be discerned by as many contrasting signs. Seven Up: Good; Seven Down: Bad
 O DAWN OF THE EAST, brightness of light eternal, and Sun of Justice: COME, and enlighten those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death. Amen.
 O Divine Infant, Who, when excluded from Bethlehem, didst inspire Thy holy Mother to retire to a poor and wretched stable, in which obscure and humble place it was Thy will to be born, in order to confound our pride, and to teach us humility. O grant that henceforward, conforming ourselves to Thy will, we may renounce all pomp and pride, and become truly meek and humble of heart. Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be
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This pioneering educator and missionary Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini, better known to all her followers as Mother Cabrini is one of our most modern saints and yet the first American citizen to be canonized a saint. She was canonized by Pope Pius XII on June 7, 1947, only 30 years after her death in Chicago, Illinois in 1917. On November 13, 1950 the Holy Father
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The "O Antiphons" were first put into use by Holy Mother Church in the eighth and ninth centuries. Said in the Office for the day, they are derived from various titles of Christ and scripturally based short prayers said from the 17th through the 23rd of December by which the Church expresses her deep longing for the coming of the Messiah.
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In Book Four, Chapter Twenty-four of the Prophesies and Revelations of the holy mystic St. Bridget of Sweden, the Blessed Virgin Mary speaks to her daughter on the proper way God's servants should behave toward impatient people, as Our Lady likens pride to the process of brewing beer or making wine in a vat which boils and steams, then foams up to release the heat. Patient souls will wait it out and recognize what is happening without raising a stink, whereas impatient ones will react impulsively because they do not understand God's impeccable still for preparing spirits and souls. Why Patience is a Virtue
 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. Amen.
 O Divine Word, Who for the love of us, Thy poor creatures, wast pleased to be born under the most lowly roof to be wrapped in the meanest swaddling-bands, and to be laid in a vile manger, amongst beasts, and to suffer a thousand evils. O grant that we also may renounce all worldly vanities, and embrace poverty of spirit, and mortification of the flesh, so necessary for our perfection. Grant that we may be thoroughly detached from creatures, and poor in all things save in Thy love and Thy grace. Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be
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Fourth Week of Advent
Drop down dew, ye heavens, from above, and let the clouds rain the just: let the earth be opened and bud forth a Savior. (Isaias 45: 8)
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Whereas the Church during the whole year offers her prayers to God the Father in union with Jesus Christ, during Advent she addresses herself directly to the Word, and not to the Word Incarnate, as is shown by today's Collect. Only on the Second Sunday does she entreat God the Father to prepare our hearts for the coming of His Son; but she asks this of God without laying stress on the mediation of Christ. The Liturgy reminds
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The "O Antiphons" were first put into use by Holy Mother Church in the eighth and ninth centuries. Said in the Office for the day, they are derived from various titles of Christ and scripturally based short prayers said from the 17th through the 23rd of December by which the Church expresses her deep longing for the coming of the Messiah.
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 This special feature is provided by John Gregory with the Haydock Commentary found at the bottom of each page of the Douay-Rheims Bible. With the type so small in most bibles, we publish it here in larger type in conjunction with the Epistle and Gospel for the Sunday Mass with the cogent comprehensive Catholic Commentary penned by Father George Leo Haydock on the Douay-Rheims version of the New Testament. The commentary for the Fourth Sunday of Advent lays out the expectations of the great Light in the darkness Who will redeem man as has been foretold with the immediate precursor of the Messias being St. John the Baptist proclaiming the Lord by being the Voice of one crying in the wilderness in fulfilling the prophecy of Isaias that "all flesh shall see salvation" by alerting the world to pray and repent, to "make straight His paths." A manifestation that God depends on man for cooperation in abiding by His holy will as can be seen in this Sunday's Commentary "Make Straight His Paths"
 O EMMANUEL, God with us, our King and Lawgiver, the expected of the nations and their Savior: COME, to save us, O Lord our God. Amen.
 O Divine Savior, O King of peace, Who wast pleased to make Thine appearance amongst us when the whole world was in peace. O vouchsafe to send us Thy peace, so that all our powers being brought into subjection to Thee, Thou mayest at the approaching solemnity, be born anew into our souls. Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be
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Station for Christmas Eve is at St. Mary Major in Rome with a Privileged Vigil of the First Class. It was only when Our Lord's nativity was celebrated with increasing solemnity that a special Mass was said on this vigil. The actual solemnity of December 25, instead of consisting of two Masses, one of the vigil and the other of the feast, with a third inserted in
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 When Mary, the mother of Jesus, was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child, of the Holy Ghost. Whereupon Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing publicly to expose her, was minded to put her away privately. But while he thought on these things, behold the angel of the Lord appeared to him in his sleep, saying: Joseph, son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost
 O Divine Savior, O King of immortal glory, Who, in Thy great mercy, didst come into the world to redeem us and to make us holy. O grant that, denying all ungodliness and love of this world, we may live soberly in ourselves, justly toward our neighbor, and piously before Thee, that so we may be happy with Thee for all eternity. Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be
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