December 6
Day 5: Daily Gracelines: ADVENTure with Mary
Theme: Advent is a time of hope, filled with waiting and preparing for the coming of the Savior. Mary, the Mother of God, hopes in Him, placing all of herself at His disposal, awaiting His perfect arrival.
Grace: I pray for the grace of hope during this holy Advent season, anticipating with joy His will and surrendering to His timing.
Reflection: "Mary remained with her [Elizabeth] about three months and then returned to her home." - Luke 1:56
Challenge: Can you imagine how special it was for Elizabeth to have Mary stay with her for those three months? Picture their time together: how much hope do you think that He poured into their souls during such a precious time in their lives? What a joy! Who is God calling you to spend some extra time with this Advent season? Who needs you right now?
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In a moving tribute to the sanctity of life, a popular TV anchor announced that even though her unborn daughter has been diagnosed with a fatal condition, she will carry the child for as long as God wills.
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A new study on young adults who leave the Catholic Church has found that youth stop identifying as Catholic at a median age of 13 for reasons ranging from disbelief to dissatisfaction with Church teaching.
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Activists determined to strip any trace of Christianity from the public square ran into a brick wall in the town of Newaygo, Michigan where residents are rallying around a display of the three wise men that has sat atop a public elementary school for decades.\
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December 5
Day 4: Daily Gracelines: ADVENTure with Mary
Theme: Advent is a time of hope, filled with waiting and preparing for the coming of the Savior. Mary, the Mother of God, hopes in Him, placing all of herself at His disposal, awaiting His perfect arrival.
Grace: I pray for the grace of hope during this holy Advent season, anticipating with joy His will and surrendering to His timing.
Reflection: “Jesus Christ, after having given us all He could give, that is to say, the merit of his toils, His sufferings, and His bitter death; after having given us His Adorable Body and Blood to be the Food of our souls, willed also to give us the most precious thing He had left, which was His holy Mother.” - St. John Vianney
Challenge: What amazing love Jesus had for His Mother, and what incredible love He had for us that He would GIVE us His Mother! How can we imitate Christ's love for Mary today? What does this teach us about hope?
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A young mother of three, who is battling leukemia while pregnant with twins, was in desperate need of a bone-marrow donor but unable to find a perfect match. After launching an impassioned plea for help, thousands of people responded and a perfect match was finally found – just in time for Christmas.
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December 4
Day 3: Daily Gracelines: ADVENTure with Mary
Theme: Advent is a time of hope, filled with waiting and preparing for the coming of the Savior. Mary, the Mother of God, hopes in Him, placing all of herself at His disposal, awaiting His perfect arrival.
Grace: I pray for the grace of hope during this holy Advent season, anticipating with joy His will and surrendering to His timing.
Reflection: "In the interim just as the Mother of Jesus, glorified in body and soul in heaven, is the image and beginning of the Church as it is to be perfected is the world to come, so too does she shine forth on earth, until the day of the Lord shall come, as a sign of sure hope and solace to the people of God during its sojourn on earth."
Challenge: How is God calling you to shine forth during this Advent season? What hope and solace can you provide to His people as they journey over the next few weeks?
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Traditions surrounding Saint Nicholas, Bishop of Myra and “the real Santa Claus,” whose feast day is December 6, recall his legendary love for God, children, and the poor. Here are some ways to honor the memory of this ancient gift-giver, offsetting the commercialization of Christmas and re-centering the season’s true spirit on Jesus.
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“I am sure that God keeps no one waiting unless He sees that it is good for him.” – C.S. Lewis
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December 3
Day 2: Daily Gracelines: ADVENTure with Mary
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