Open Up Your Hearts

♥ Rejoice in the Lord always ! I say it again : Rejoice ! ♥
~ Philippians 4:4 ~

The Lord longs to dwell among us so he can renew our hearts with his love. Let us open our hearts and rejoice. The liturgy of Advent, filled with constant allusions to the joyful expectation of the Messiah, helps us to understand the fullness of the value and meaning of the mystery of Christmas. It is not just about commemorating the historical event, which occurred some 2000 years ago in a little village of Judea. Instead, we must understand that our whole life should be an "advent," in vigilant expectation of Christ's final coming. To prepare our hearts to welcome the Lord who, as we say in the Creed, will come one day to judge the living and the dead, we must learn to recognize his presence in the events of daily life. Advent is then a period of intense training that directs us decisively to the One who has already come, who will come and who continuously comes. All my best wishes for the coming celebration of Christmas.♥

Merry Christmas !

Christmas Thoughts and Prayers

Christmas Thoughts and Prayers . . . .

It’s sharing your gifts, not purchasing gifts ----
It’s not wrapping presents, its being present
and wrapping your arms around the ones you love ----
It’s not getting Christmas cards out on time,
It’s sending any card, anytime, at the right time ----
It’s not having the biggest and best Christmas light display,
It’s displaying the Christ light that comes from your heart ----
It’s not Santa coming down the chimney,
It’s Jesus coming down from heaven,
and giving us the gift of eternal life.
May the forgiving spirit of Him to whom we dedicate this season prevail again on earth.
May hunger disappear and terrorists cease their senseless acts.
May people live in freedom, worshiping as they see fit, loving others.
May the sanctity of the home be ever preserved.
May peace, everlasting peace, reign supreme.♥

Wonderful Counselor

♥ The Ten Wonders of Christmas ♥

Almost over 365 names are found in the Bible referring to Jesus Christ, but none is lovelier than the one in Isaiah 9:6 ---- ". . . . His name, And he will be called
Wonderful . . . . "

First, there is the wonder of His birth.
Second, there is the wonder of His condensation.
Third, is the wonder of His character.
Fourth, is the wonder of His person.
Fifth, is the wonder of His words.
Sixth, is the wonder of His works.
Seventh, is the wonder of His death.
Eight, is the wonder of His resurrection.
Ninth, is the wonder of His coming.
Tenth, is the wonder of His saving power.

"A hollowed day has dawned upon us. Come, you nations, worship the Lord, for today a great light has shown upon upon the earth."♥

Greatest Gift

A child is born to us . . . . We welcome you with joy, Almighty Lord of heaven and earth, who out of Love became a Child. We welcome you with gratitude, new Light rising in the night of the world. We welcome you as our brother, the "Prince of Peace." Fill us with your gifts, you who did not hesitate to begin human life like us. Night of Joy and Peace. Venite, adoremus !♥

Free Will

♥ The Light of Faith ♥
~ Matthew 15:21-28 ~

Faith is illuminative, not operative, it does not force obedience, though it increases responsibility, it brightens guilt, it does not prevent sin, the will is the source of action.

Dear Jesus,
help me to spread your fragrance wherever I go.
Flood my soul with your spirit and life.
Penetrate and possess my whole being so utterly
that my life may only be a radiance of yours.
Shine through me and be so in me that every soul I come in contact with
may feel your presence in my soul.

Let them look up and see no longer me, but only Jesus!
Stay with me and then I will begin to shine as you shine,
so to shine as to be a light to others.

The light, O Jesus, will be all from you ---- none of it will be mine.
It will be you, shining on others through me.
Let me thus praise you in the way which you love best,
by shining on those around me.
Let me preach you without preaching, not by words but by example,
by the catching force, the sympathetic influence of what I do,
the evident fullness of the love my heart bears for you. Amen. ♥

~ Cardinal Newman ~
(Blessed John Henry Cardinal Newman)

New Dawn

May today there be peace within.
May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be.
May you not forget the infinite possibilities that you are born of faith.
May you use those gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you.
May you be content knowing you are a child of God.
Let this presence settle in your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, and praise love.
It is there for each and everyone.<3 

~ St. Theresa's Prayer

 ~

Shower of Grace

♥ BLESSING. May those blessings flow through you to inspire the souls of everyone you meet . . . . flying kisses.♥