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Shepherds of Christ |
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Dec
ember 24, 2012 - Christmas Eve
December 25th Holy Spirit Novena
Scripture selection is Day 4 Period II.The Novena Rosary Mysteries
for December 25th are Glorious.
Merry Christmas!
to you and your family —
Happy Birthday Jesus!
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December 24, 2012
Christmas
Isaiah 9: 1-6
The people that walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
on the inhabitants of a country
in shadow dark as death
light has blazed forth.
You have enlarged the nation,
you have increased its joy;
they rejoice before you
as people rejoice at harvest time,
as they exult
when they are dividing the spoils.
For the yoke that weighed on it,
the bar across its shoulders,
the rod of its oppressor,
these you have broken
as on the day of Midian.
For all the footgear
clanking over the ground
and all the clothing rolled in blood,
will be burnt, will be food for the flames.For a son has been born for us,
a son has been given to us,
and dominion has been laid
on his shoulders;
and this is the name he has been given,
‘Wonder–Counsellor, Mighty–God,
Eternal–Father, Prince–of–Peace’
to extend his dominion
in boundless peace,
over the throne of David
and over his kingdom
to make it secure and sustain it
in fair judgement and integrity.
From this time onwards and for ever,
the jealous love of Yahweh Sabaoth
will do this.
Psalm 96: 1-3, 11-13
Sing a new song to Yahweh!
Sing to Yahweh, all the earth!
Sing to Yahweh, bless his name!Proclaim his salvation day after day,
declare his glory among the nations,
his marvels to every people!Let the heavens rejoice and earth be glad!
Let the sea thunder, and all it holds!
Let the countryside exult, and all that is in it,
and all the trees of the forest cry out for joy,at Yahweh’s approach, for he is coming,
coming to judge the earth;
he will judge the world with saving justice,
and the nations with constancy.
Titus 2: 11-14
You see, God's grace has been revealed to save the whole human race; it has taught us that we should give up everything contrary to true religion and all our worldly passions; we must be self-restrained and live upright and religious lives in this present world, waiting in hope for the blessing which will come with the appearing of the glory of our great God and Saviour Christ Jesus. He offered himself for us in order to ransom us from all our faults and to purify a people to be his very own and eager to do good
Luke 2: 1-14
Now it happened that at this time Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be made of the whole inhabited world. This census—the first—took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria, and everyone went to be registered, each to his own town. So Joseph set out from the town of Nazareth in Galilee for Judaea, to David’s town called Bethlehem, since he was of David’s House and line, in order to be registered together with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. Now it happened that, while they were there, the time came for her to have her child, and she gave birth to a son, her first–born. She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger because there was no room for them in the living–space. In the countryside close by there were shepherds out in the fields keeping guard over their sheep during the watches of the night. An angel of the Lord stood over them and the glory of the Lord shone round them. They were terrified, but the angel said, ‘Do not be afraid. Look, I bring you news of great joy, a joy to be shared by the whole people. Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. And here is a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.’ And all at once with the angel there was a great throng of the hosts of heaven, praising God with the words:
Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace for those he favours.
Christmas
December 25, 2009
HOMILY
– On Christmas night the local minister’s wife collapsed on the couch and said to her husband “I am really exhausted.” He said “You’re exhausted! How about me? I had two Christmas Eve services and three services this morning to do; that’s five sermons. Why are you so tired?” She replied: “I had to listen to all of them, dear!” (from The Joyful Noiseletter, Dec. 2000)I would like to offer a few suggestions for Christmas gifts: To one who has hurt you: forgiveness. To someone who drives you crazy: tolerance and patience. To a friend: your heart. To a customer: service. To all: charity. To every child: good example. To yourself: respect. (adapted from
Chicken Soup for the Soul, Christmas Treasury, pg 63)It’s instinctive for us to come together on this feast of our Lord’s birth. It helps us to get to the heart of what all our other celebrations are all about and, in this gift giving season, to thank God for the greatest gift any of us could receive, the gift of God’s love shown to us in the coming of Jesus into our lives.
If I tried to put into words the wonder of the mystery we celebrate, I would fail because the mystery of God’s love and the gift of Jesus to us is beyond what words can describe. That’s one reason we come to Mass every week – to try, in whatever little way we can, to grasp the awesomeness of the coming of our Savior to us. Because stories seem to touch us at a deeper level than other words, we often resort to telling stories at this time.
So my story takes place on Christmas day way out west in California. (story can be found in A World of Stories for Preachers and Teachers by William J. Bausch, pg 458) This Christmas day occurred a few years ago on a Sunday. A family, mother, father and three children, 10, 6 and an infant one year old were traveling from St. Francisco along the California coast to Los Angeles. They lived in Los Angeles and had been visiting family members in San Francisco. It happened that Dennis, the father, had to be at work on Monday morning and that’s why they were on the road going home on Christmas day. Mom tells the story. When it got later in the afternoon, we looked for a restaurant and felt lucky to find one that was open on Christmas. There were just a few people in the restaurant when we all came in. We got settled at a table and ordered. Suddenly our one year old, Christopher, started getting very excited. He let out a few joyful squeals and started pounding on his metal high chair with his fat little hands. His eyes were wide open and his toothless mouth opened into a big grin. Mom continues on: I started looking around to see what was exciting Christopher and half way to the door sat the object of his excitement, a bum with grimy, dirty clothes, needing a shave, worn out baggy pants and shoes and the appearance that maybe he had had a couple too many beers. I found him repulsive but there he was, waving across the room at Christopher, shouting “hi there big fella.” Suddenly he started playing: “Peek a boo” and “Patty cake.” Christopher really enjoyed all the attention while the rest of us were totally embarrassed. The few other people in the restaurant looked annoyed. We finished dinner in record time as all this was going on and Dennis went to pay the bill. I gathered Christopher in my arms and headed toward the door – but I had to pass the old man and prayed I could get by him without incident. Christopher, however, had his eyes riveted on his new best friend and when I got near the old man Christopher almost jumped out of my arms with his arms outstretched. For just a split second, I noticed the man’s eyes, beseeching me to let him hold Christopher. I handed him to the man and he held Christopher so gently. The man’s eyes were closed and there were a few tears on his cheeks as he cradled and rocked Christopher in his arms for a few moments. Christopher didn’t want to leave, but the man gave him back to me. He said “God bless you, Ma’am. You’ve just made my Christmas. Take good care of him.” A little choked up, I said I would and left him saying to myself “God forgive me.”
A little baby comes to us tonight with his arms outstretched to embrace us in our sad state, with our tattered lives, our tattered hurts, our tattered relationships and our tattered sins. He embraces us by taking on our human flesh; he embraces us in accepting poverty and suffering to save us; he embraces us by giving himself to us in the sacrament of the Eucharist.
If we are here tonight knowing we have been embraced by Christ’s love, and if, like the rag-tag shepherds that we are, we are here rejoicing and praising God for his love, then we have captured the mystery of Christmas: God-with-us, Emmanuel, has loved us greatly. May you experience the peace, love, comfort and joy of God’s embrace this day and throughout this Christmas season. Amen.
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God's Blue Book 9
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From Blue Book 9
December 7, 1995
Joyful Mysteries
The Angel Gabriel Comes to Mary
Today is the eve of the Immaculate Conception. Mary was sinless. She conceived the Child Jesus. It makes sense that God would come into a virgin that was without sin.
Eve was the first mother of the living. She sinned and now Mary conceives of the Child Jesus. She is the spiritual Mother of all the living.
The angel said, "...'Rejoice, you who enjoy God's favour! The Lord is with you.'" (Lk. 1:28)
The angel asked Mary to be the Mother of God and Mary complied. She always did the Father's will. "...'The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will cover you with its shadow. And so the child will be holy and will be called Son of God." (Lk. 1:35) "Mary said, "You see before you the Lord's servant, let it happen to me as you have said.' And the angel left her." (Lk. 1:38)
The Father created us and has such a plan for each one of our lives. It is in living according to the way the Father wants us to live that we will be happy.
Mary wants us to make reparation to her heart:
During her appearance in July, Our Lady, in answer to Lucy's plea, promised that in October she would work a great miracle so that all might believe and know who she was. Again, the Mother of God told the children to sacrifice themselves for sinners and to say many times, especially when making a sacrifice, this prayer: "O my Jesus, I offer this for love of Thee, for the conversion of poor sinners, and in reparation for all the sins committed against the Immaculate Heart of Mary."24
We tell Mary we are sorry for the disrespectful way some treat her. We tell her we love her.
Hail Mary, full of grace. She is full of grace, for she carried within her the Child Jesus.
The Child Jesus was conceived in the womb of Mary, and His Heart was formed within her womb.
Let us ask our Mother Mary to help us.
The Visitation
Mary went to visit her cousin, Elizabeth, who had also conceived a child in her old age.
"...'Of all women you are the most blessed, and blessed is the fruit of your womb." (Luke 1:42) This was the greeting that Elizabeth gave to Mary when Mary came to visit her.
The child within the womb of Elizabeth jumped for joy at the presence of the Almighty God and the Virgin Mary.
Who are we that God loves us so much that He came to this earth, walked the earth, suffered, and died that we would share in His life?
We are human persons. He is a Divine Person. It is through Baptism that He allows us to share in His divine life.
We are the children of God. Mary is our Mother and we have a most loving Father.
Let us forever be thankful for the visits that God gives to us through His grace.
Mary carried the Child Jesus, the Son of God, within her womb. He gives Himself to us in the Holy Eucharist. He comes to us. He is as present in us in the Holy Eucharist as He was in Mary's womb.
Mary wants us to come to her heart. She will take us to the Heart of her Son. Jesus loves us so much.
How pure and tender is the heart of Mary. How loving, how kind she is. Dwelling in her heart, we will become more pure, more tender, more loving, and more kind. We have a mother when we are born, Mary is the Mother of our spiritual life.
The Child Jesus Is Born in Bethlehem
Dear Jesus, how tenderly we love You and thank You for coming to this earth and for giving us a sharing in Your divine life.
Jesus waits for us to come and to tell Him of our love.
We cannot imagine the beauty of our own soul when we are in the state of grace!
He looks at us and He sees the good in us. Let us always look at our brothers and see the good in them.
Think of the little baby hands and feet of Jesus in the crib. Now think of how Jesus loves us that He allowed them to hammer nails into His hands and feet.
Let us get rid of any hatred that we have toward any of our brothers.
Let us fill our hearts with such love that when we interact with others, we are loving to them.
Jesus is waiting to be so close to us. Many times, we have moments all alone. In these special moments, Jesus would like us to tell Him how much we love Him.
Song: What Child Is This
The shepherds came and they watched the Child Jesus as He lay in the manger. This is the Almighty God, the Savior of the World.
The Presentation of Jesus in the Temple
The Child Jesus was taken to the Temple and presented to the Father.
The old man, Simeon, was waiting to see the Child Jesus and he prophesied of the sufferings to come.
Let us pray to the Blessed Virgin and ask her to help us in everything that we do, for she is our best prayer partner. In uniting with her tender heart, we will become closer to the Father, to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. She has a pure heart. Her heart is immaculate.
Whenever we are worried, or whenever we do not feel good inside, let us pray for the grace to tell Jesus how much we love Him. We must not waste valuable moments by giving into the thoughts that trouble our hearts.
Satan tries to keep souls away from God. Mary will take us to the Heart of Christ if we pray to her.
From the prophesy of Simeon, Mary knew of the sufferings to come. From this time on, there was a constant ache in her heart.
We are being asked to pray the rosary everyday.
It is up to us to pray from our hearts, not to just say words. We must pray with our whole heart, our whole soul, and our whole being.
Lord Jesus, little Jesus that was held in the arms of the Virgin Mary, watch over us in every breath that we take.
Jesus wants us to go to our beloved Mother for love and protection.
The Finding in the Temple
When He was a little baby, the Child Jesus was taken up to the Temple. The Child Jesus was also taken up to the Temple when He was twelve years old.
Not much is known about the young life of Jesus. This was the Almighty God Who came to this earth and walked the earth as a little boy. It is important in our daily lives to live our lives and be rooted in God.
Mary and Joseph went ahead and the Child Jesus was left behind. When Mary and Joseph realized this, they returned to Jerusalem with their hearts sorrowing in search of the Child Jesus.
They found Him among the doctors and He was teaching them. They were astonished at His wisdom and His answers.
Let us ask the Child Jesus for all of those things that we hold dear to our hearts, for the Child Jesus will help us.
Mary's heart was torn under the cross for she knew of how many of her precious children would lose their souls for their willfulness and their sins.
Let us pray for this world today, for the sufferings and pain, and for the little lost children of the Virgin Mary.
We are the lights that shine in the dark world.
Let us light up the earth with the fire of God's love.
Hail Mary...
December 11, 1995
I
T IS THROUGH MARY THAT WE RECEIVE CHRIST"...it will bruise your head and you will strike its heel." (Gn. 3:15)
R. The Virgin Mary crushed the head of Satan. Man was in bondage from the sin of Adam. It was through Mary, who conceived of Jesus in her womb, that man was restored to new life.
Gn. 3:15
"I shall put enmity
between you and the woman,
and between your offspring and hers;
it will bruise your head
and you will strike its heel."R. The seed is planted by the priest in the people, for Christ is administering to the people through the priest.
The Word of God should be loved. We are the body of Christ. He loves His body so much. Do we love Him? He is the Head of the body.
A
BOUT THE MAGNIFICATWritten at 6:45 a.m. at All Saints:
R. I had such an experience and was overwhelmed by the love of Jesus. I cried.
Written later at 8:30 a.m. at Mass:
R. Fr. Carter spoke about the Magnificat today in the Gospel. It made me cry. This is exactly how I have felt - so little, like a speck, but under the cross at Holy Cross-Immaculata Catholic Church on December 15, I was not little. He had raised me to such heights in Him. It was as if I was elevated in the corner of His burning Heart, and I was existing in Him and being in Him!
I cried hardest at the Consecration - I am so aware of heaven and what is going on, filled with deep, deep emotion at the miracle taking place as I unite myself in this sacrifice with Him. I die more and more to myself and unite to Him. Such emotion, for it is in the Mass I am being more deeply one in Him, dying to myself and uniting to Him.
After Mass, I was surrounded by His love, joined in His embrace as at Holy Cross-Immaculata Catholic Church under the cross. I do not care who is there - I am lost in Him. He and heaven are all that exist to me. He and His Heart - I did not feel sorrow. I felt His embrace as if He pressed me to Himself. It was as if I felt the thorns surrounding His Heart press into me. Now my heart really hurts. My heart hurts so badly right now.
I feel the thorns that surround His Heart. I will forever feel these thorns when I look on His Heart surrounded by thorns. The thorns press into His most adorable Heart. They press for the neglect and indifferences shown to Him, especially in His sacrament of greatest love, the Eucharist.
Jesus: How the Mass is rushed and treated with such irreverence. I give to you these mystical experiences during the Mass to carry this message of irreverence during the Mass to the world. I want you to instruct all on the meaning of the Mass, teach all to love the Mass, teach all about Jesus in the Eucharist. Circulate the Second Blue Book to nuns and priests. You will continue to suffer great agony in your heart. My Heart was pierced with a lance and blood and water poured out, you experience such sufferings in your heart. These sufferings are of great joy to you, for it is through the Mass many will receive abundant graces. I beg for reverence during the Mass, I beg for deepest love of God shown in the Mass. I beg for reparation for the sins of men and reparation for the blasphemies against My Mother's heart.
R. I am so weak. I am wiped out. I know many agonies and many joys in the Mass. I know His deep love and the excruciating pain He suffered. I know what it is to be embraced by His love and feel the thorns pressed against my heart. I know the Almighty God in such a way I cannot even write here.
After Communion, I felt embraced, deeply, by the presence of God and satisfied, but I felt pain in my heart.
I remember Christmas 1993, the pain was so excruciating. It started at church, and I went home and wanted to scream or express it in some way. I went to my room before my big Sacred Heart picture that was with me when I wrote, and the pain was unbearable. I will never forget it. It is from these experiences I intimately know my beloved Lord.
I feel it is Jesus and I. I can share with Mary too. How she knows His Heart. I can't really share the deep, deep place I have been with anyone. Jesus knows I remember the intimate times with Him in Mary's House at the Center - so many wonderful experiences with my Divine Lover as He revealed the deep insights into His life, His love, His sufferings, and Mary revealed the insights and intimacies between her and her Son. She revealed her suffering and so much more. I now am experiencing deep insight into them here at Holy Cross-Immaculata Catholic Church, especially under the cross and at the 12th station. This is how it was this morning before the tabernacle. I was embraced, as I was here, to a small degree with His divine love. I am wiped out now.
Mary, as I meditate on the mysteries of the rosary, you, who dwell in His Heart and know His Heart, share what you know of God with me that I may love Him and share in His love.
L
OVE HIM QUIETLYR. I can communicate with others far better sometimes by not talking. That is how it is with Jesus. This chit-chat is not what is in my heart at all. I just talk to not be silent. With Jesus, I am just silent. I just want His presence. I have to learn to be quiet with others. I am just talking because I am nervous, and I am not saying anything that is in my heart and soul.
In my heart and soul is love, rooted so deeply in the love of Jesus. I have to learn to quit talking. I am not even saying what is going on in my soul.
Gift of love: St. Paul said, "Though I command languages both human and angelic-if I speak without love, I am no more than a gong booming or a cymbal clashing." (1 Co. 13:1)
My heart is so much deeper than words. To speak is to take away what is in my heart, for what is in my heart is so deep.
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Rita Ring |
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Mass Book,
by Rita Ring: Many of the entries in the Priestly Newsletter
Volume II from a spiritual journal came from this book.
These entries |
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Rosary Meditations
for Parents and Children,
by Rita Ring, Short Meditations for both
parents and children to be used when
praying the |
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God's Blue Book I by Rita Ring. Open Anywhere — This book will change your life. These are beautiful love letters to us from Jesus. A million books have been printed and circulated. Jesus loves us so much — He wants a personal relationship with us — He wants us to go to the Eucharist and be with Him before the tabernacle. $10 |
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God's Blue Book II by Rita Ring. Letters from Jesus about His on fire love — Jesus wants this great intimacy with us — On fire love — Personal love letters from Jesus about the love of His Heart — A book on surrender Fr. Carter said! $10 |
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God's Blue Book III by Rita Ring. Fr. Carter's favorite book — It is about loving and forgiving each other — Being pure in heart — A book for unity in family, community, in life!! $10 |
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God's Blue Book IV by Rita Ring. This book is about the love Jesus has for Mary and Mary has for Jesus and Jesus and Mary have for us — It is truly the Love of the Two Hearts. Mary appeared every day at the Holy Spirit Center — Fr. Carter was there. Mary's first apparition July 5, 1994. $5 |
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God's Blue Book V by Rita Ring. Jesus wants to be the bridegroom of our soul — He is our beloved — Jesus tells us about pure love — how we are to be pure of heart and love God and love others. It is a must, to hear about love from Jesus — Jesus is love — $5 |
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God's Blue Book 6A by Rita Ring. Rosaries from Their Hearts during apparitions. Jesus and Mary appeared every day and I received rosaries from Them and They were transcribed from a tape. Also messages of love from Jesus on days of January, 1995 — About Baptism — writings from Fr. Carter and the Scriptures. $10 |
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God's Blue Book 6B by Rita Ring. Jesus and Mary appeared every day in February, 1995 — So beautiful — transcribed from a tape — the Stations, 7 Sorrows, prayers in the Prayer Manual, the Holy Spirit Novena Book and the Song Book. Pure love — loving and forgiving — a book about Jesus' love, baptism, grace and Fr. Carter's Newsletter. $10 |
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Rosaries from the Hearts of Jesus and Mary Book 1. Mary appeared in Clearwater December 17, 1996 in rainbow color and these rosaries left the printer the same day from Apparitions of Jesus and Mary — transcribed from a tape. $10 |
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Rosaries from the Hearts of Jesus and Mary Book 2. This is a book of so many rosaries - transcribed from a tape. So many beautiful rosaries. pages $12 |
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Short Rosary Meditations for the Elderly, Ill and Homebound. This book is so important with pictures they can open it and lay it on their laps and pray the rosary. $10 |
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Messages From Jesus
$ 10.00 plus postage |
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Messages for the Elderly, Ill and Homebound. This is a big book of loving messages for nursing home people and homebound from Jesus and Mary — Their lives are so important — united to the Mass offering up their suffering, their lives for the souls of this earth. $10 |
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Daily Messages from Heaven. First book of Daily Messages. $10 |
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Color the Lives of Jesus and Mary. Volumes 1 through 7. Coloring books and meditations for grade school children and others on the mysteries of the rosary - really good. $5 each. |
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Coloring the Lives of Jesus and Mary Books 6 and 7
Mysteries of Light
$ 5.00 each plus postageColor the Lives of Jesus and Mary. Volumes 6 through 7. Coloring books and meditations for grade school children and others on the mysteries of the rosary - really good. $5 each.
God's Blue Book I on CD, Disk #1
God's Blue Book I, Disk #1 Read by author: Rita Ring. Discerned by: Fr. Edward J. Carter S.J.
$ 10.00 plus postage
