December: The Month of the Immaculate Conception

By Scott P. Richert, About.com GuideDecember 1, 2011

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Read about where true Christians differ from those who are not.

During Advent, as we prepare for the birth of Christ, we also celebrate one of the great feasts of the Catholic Church. TheSolemnity of the Immaculate Conception (December 8) is not only a celebration of the Blessed Virgin Mary but a foretaste of our own redemption. It is such an important feast that the Church has declared the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception a Holy Day of Obligation.

In keeping the Blessed Virgin free from the stain of sin from the moment of her conception, God presents us with a glorious example of what mankind was meant to be. Mary is truly the second Eve, because, like Eve, she entered the world without sin. Unlike Eve, she remained sinless throughout her life--a life that she dedicated fully to the will of God. The Eastern Fathers of the Church referred to her as "without stain" (a phrase that appears frequently in the Eastern liturgies and hymns to Mary); in Latin, that phrase is immaculatus: "immaculate."

The Immaculate Conception was not, as many people believe, a precondition for Christ's act of redemption but the result of it. Standing outside of time, God knew that Mary would humbly submit herself to His will, and in His love for this perfect servant, He applied to her at the moment of her conception the redemption, won by Christ, that all Christians receive at theirBaptism.

It is appropriate, then, that the Church has long declared the month in which the Blessed Virgin gave birth to the Savior of the world as the Month of the Immaculate Conception.  

Where do we go from here - Cardinal Suenens

Cardinal Suenens

Month Commemoration - Night Office and Mass Introduction - Fr. Nivard

Where do I go from here?

----- Forwarded Message -----

From: Nivard McGlynn

Sent: Friday, 13 July 2012, 10:28

Subject: Where do I go from here?

Introduction to this morning's Mass. 13 July 2012

Words from this popular hymn were quoted by Cardinal Suenens in his talk.

His talk was read at the Office of Readings early this morning.

Today we celebrate the monthly Mass and Office for brethren, relatives, benefactors and friends

who died in the course of the past month.

Cardinal Suenens, The Listener 25 July  74 p. 111"Where do we go from here? " adapted.

He was asked many questions on radio and TV but he was never asked the question “What is the meaning of life after death?”But this question was asked in the popular song, 'Where do I go from here?' Deep in our hearts this question means” How do you see life today?” The future is the key to the present.

     If there is no Ressurection I refuse to love and be loved. True love means a love that will last forever. The human heart cannot be deceived in this.

The future is a light for life and for the present time. This is what we essentially need to know. The question was put to a philosopher, when he was dying, “What do you feel now?” His answer was “An immense curiosity”.  I hope my answer will be at that moment, “An immense confidence in God’s love”.

 Father, lead me on my way. Grant me abiding faith and peace of mind and I won't ask 'Where do I go from here?' through your son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Listen to You Tube: jim reeves where do i go from here

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A1zMg0GZ3tY 

The words below...

Where do we go from here,

a talk by Cardinal Suenens

(The Listener, 25 July ’74, p.111)

Journalists, have asked me, over the years, a lot of questions, somet1mes very tricky. What do you think about the pill, abortion, population problems, Women's Liberation? Never before have I been asked this very serious question: 'What is the meaning of life after death?' But this is what everybody should ask, in the depth of his own conscience, because this question means, finally: 'How do you see life today?' The future is not only the future; it is the key to the present. I have to make an option, a choice

If nothing was to be expected after death, for me life would have lost sense and meaning. I cannot understand either suffering or love if I cannot see both in the light of eternity. Suffering cannot be without meaning. Suffering cannot be just nonsense. Let us imagine a child in the womb of his mother. Let us suppose, for a moment that that unborn child should become conscious before birth. What a chaos of impressions that child would have! It would all see so meaningless. But all that apparent nonsense receives a meaning the day the little child is born, and sees the sunlight. Then it appears clearly that every of his growing in the womb of his mother was a noviciate for life, preparation for the future.

In the light of eternity, meaning the new life after death, I cannot yet explain everything, but at least I feel the meaning, the orientation of all that. If life here on earth is a preparation then I come out of darkness and see a ray of sunshine in all that happens to me. In the same way I cannot understand love, real love, true, deep love, without the perspective of eternity. I refuse to love and to be loved only for a short time. True love involves, in the heart of each of us, that love will last for ever. Every song of lave will have some way of expressing that. ‘I will love you always.' The human heart cannot be deceived in this.

That future is a light for life and present time, and this should be enough for us: this is what we essentially need to know. But, of course, we wish to have at least a glimpse of that future, and to get some idea about where we go from here. The question was put to a philosopher, when he was dying: 'What do you feel new?' His answer was: ‘An immense curiosity.’ I hope my answer will be that time: ‘An immense confidence in God’s love.’

Lyrics to Where do I go from Here

by Jim Reeves

Where do I go from here?

What fate is drawing near?

Touch my heart

And guide my lips in prayer.

Through the grace of God alone

I'll cast aside these fears I've known

And lift myself from

The depths of deep dispair.

Lead me through the darkness

And through each gloomy day.

Take my hand, oh, precious Lord

And help me on my way.

Month Commemoration of the Dead

 Mass 20 June 2012-06-20

Month - Commemoration of the Dead

The Night Office for this day of Commemoration of the Dead, the Reading was from St. Bernard. Thoughts wandered back to the Reading from the Refectory. It was about St. John Fisher. Vincent Nichols Introduction ended with these words,
“We are told that on the morning of his execution 22^nd July 1539, he was awakened by the prison officer at 5.00am and told that his execution was to be at 10.00am. He promptly asked to be allowed to sleep a few more hours!

Herein lies his true greatness: peace before God and witin himself. May his example continue to inspire us today.” (+ Vincent Nichols November 2011)

His mother stood by the Cross

Sermons of St Bernard

The martyrdom of the Virgin Mary, implicit in Simeon's prophecy, is put before us in the story of our Lord's passion. That venerable old man, Simeon, said of the infant Jesus: 'This child is set for a sign that will be contradicted' ; and to Mary: ‘A sword will pierce your soul.' Blessed Mother, a sword did pierce your soul. For no sword could penetrate your Son's flesh without piercing your soul. After your own son Jesus gave up his life–he was yours in a special sense though he belongs to all–the cruel lance, which opened his side and would not spare him in death though it could do him no injury, could not touch his soul. But it pierced your soul. His soul was no longer there, but yours could not be set free, and it was pierced by a sword of sorrow. We rightly speak of you as more than a martyr, for the anguish of mind you suffered exceeded all bodily pain.

'Mother, behold your son.' These words were more painful than a sword thrust for they pierced your soul and touched the quick where soul is divided from spirit.

What an exchange! John was given to you in place of Jesus, a disciple in place of the Master, a son of Zebedee in place of the Son of God, a mere man in place of the true God. These words must have pierced your loving soul, since just to recall them breaks our hearts, hard and stony though they be.

Do not marvel, brethren, that Mary is said to have endured martyrdom in her soul. Only he will marvel who forgets what Paul said of the Gentiles, that among their worst vices was that they were without compassion. Not so with Mary! May it never be so with those who venerate her .

Someone may say: 'Did she not know in advance that her Son would die?' Without a doubt. 'Did she not have sure hope in his immediate resurrection?' Full confidence indeed. 'Did she then grieve when he was crucified?' Intensely. Who are you, brother, and what sort of judgment is yours that you marvel at the grief of Mary any more than that the Son of Mary should suffer? Could he die bodily and she not share his death in her heart? Charity it was that moved him to suffer death, charity greater than that of any man before or since: charity too moved Mary, the like of which no mother has ever known.