December 9
“Mary is the attentive Virgin, who receives the word of God with faith, that faith which in her case was the gateway and path to divine motherhood, for, as St. Augustine realized, “Blessed Mary by believing conceived Him [Jesus] whom believing she brought forth.”
-Pope Paul VI
December 8
“The exhortation to be watchful resounds many times in the liturgy, especially in Advent, a season of preparation not only for Christmas, but also for Christ’s definitive and glorious coming at the end of time. It therefore has a distinctly eschatological meaning and invites the believer to spend every day and every moment in the presence of the One ‘who is and who was and who is come’ (Revelation 1:4), to whom the future of the world and of man belongs. This is Christian hope!”
-Pope St. John Paul II
December 7
“In Advent we await an event which occurs in history and at the same time transcends it… The exhortation that rings out in today’s liturgy: ‘Let us go joyfully to meet the Lord’ spreads to all countries, to all continents, among every people and nation.” -Pope St. John Paul II
December 6
“… But let us not think of that advent only whereby the Son of man has ‘come to seek and to save that which was lost,’ but also of that other by which He will come again and will take us to Himself.”
-Bernard of Clairvaux
VV writes: “I’m a catholic school teacher and found out that some of my colleagues experienced yoga, Nia and QiGong. I informed them that this is new age and you can’t call up the demonic in the name of Jesus and make it okay. The truth needs to be told. Your thoughts?”
In November 2024, St. Vincent Parish in Wildwood, Florida hosted an Advent retreat with Jonnette Benkovic Williams as their speaker. Many volunteers and staff members worked together to make this retreat a success. A special thank you goes out to Pastor Fr. Kenny, new parish Director of Faith Formation Maria Luz, and Nancy Elhajj (Regional Coordinator with Women of Grace).
December 5
“It is fitting, my brethren, that we should celebrate this season of Advent with all possible devotion, rejoicing in so great a consolation, marveling at so great a condescension, inflamed with love by so great a manifestation of charity…”
December 4
“This time of Advent is a time for hope. These great horizons of our Christian vocation, this unity of life built on the presence of God our Father, can and ought to be a daily reality. Ask our Lady, along with me, to make it come true.”
-St. Josemaría Escrivá
Although it’s true that the use of a wreath decorated with lit candles dates back to pre-Christian Germanic people, it has been used by Christians since the Middle Ages as part of their spiritual preparation for Christmas.
December 3
“Try to imagine how she [Our Lady] spent these months, waiting for her Son to be born. And our Lady, Holy Mary, will make of you alter Christus, ipse Christus: another Christ, Christ himself!”
-St. Josemaría Escrivá
