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Saint Joseph

The Feast of Saint Joseph, also referred to as the Solemnity of Saint Joseph, commemorates the life of Joseph. He was the earthly father of Jesus and the husband of Mary. After Jesus’ birth at Bethlehem in Judaea, where the Holy Family received the Magi, an angel warned Joseph and Mary about the impending violence against the child by King Herod the Great of Judaea, whereupon they fled to Egypt. There the angel again appeared to Joseph, informing him of Herod’s death and instructing him to return to the Holy Land.

Saint Joseph is venerated differently in various countries. In Sicily, Italy, Saint Joseph is regarded by many as their patron saint. According to legend, Saint Joseph interceded to relieve a famine in Sicily during the Middle Ages. There was a severe drought at the time, and the people prayed for their patron saint to bring them rain. They promised that if God answered their prayers through Joseph’s intercession, they would prepare a large feast to honor him. The rain did come, and the people of Sicily prepared a large banquet for their patron saint.

In the Philippines, some families maintain the ritual of holding a banquet for the Holy Family. The Novena to Saint Joseph is also recited at a nearby temporary altar.

St. Joseph is the patron of the universal church in Roman Catholicism, and his life is recorded in the Gospels, particularly Matthew and Luke.

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Revelation 22:20

Verse:

“He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.” - Revelation 22:20

A Prayer For Godly Grace

How I thank and praise You for the everlasting life that You have given to me by Your wonderful grace and love. May I grow day by day to be more like You, full of compassion and kindness. Saturate my heart with Your love so that I may love You more with every passing breath, my Jesus.

Thank you for Your Holy Spirit, Who is making me to be more like You Lord Jesus. I want to reflect Your grace and Your beauty in thought, word and deed. I ask that I may devote my time and heart to reflect on all You are and all You have done for me, so that You are magnified more and more in my life, so that the beauty of my Lord Jesus may be seen and reflect in me. In Jesus' name,

Amen.

Source: https://prayer.knowing-jesus.com/prayer/a-prayer-for-godly-grace-1426

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Saint Cyril of Jerusalem

The crises that the Church faces today may seem minor when compared with the threat posed by the Arian heresy, which denied the divinity of Christ and almost overcame Christianity in the fourth century. Cyril was to be caught up in the controversy, accused of Arianism by Saint Jerome, and ultimately vindicated both by the men of his own time and by being declared a Doctor of the Church in 1822.

Raised in Jerusalem and well-educated, especially in the Scriptures, he was ordained a priest by the bishop of Jerusalem and given the task during Lent of catechizing those preparing for Baptism and catechizing the newly baptized during the Easter season. His Catecheses remain valuable as examples of the ritual and theology of the Church in the mid-fourth century.

There are conflicting reports about the circumstances of his becoming bishop of Jerusalem. It is certain that he was validly consecrated by bishops of the province. Since one of them was an Arian, Acacius, it may have been expected that his “cooperation” would follow. Conflict soon rose between Cyril and Acacius, bishop of the rival nearby see of Caesarea. Cyril was summoned to a council, accused of insubordination and of selling Church property to relieve the poor. Probably, however, a theological difference was also involved. He was condemned, driven from Jerusalem, and later vindicated, not without some association with and help from Semi-Arians. Half his episcopate was spent in exile; his first experience was repeated twice. He finally returned to find Jerusalem torn with heresy, schism and strife, and wracked with crime. Even Saint Gregory of Nyssa, who was sent to help, left in despair.

They both went to the Council of Constantinople, where the amended form of the Nicene Creed was promulgated in 381. Cyril accepted the word consubstantial—that is, Christ is of the same substance or nature as the Father. Some said it was an act of repentance, but the bishops of the Council praised him as a champion of orthodoxy against the Arians. Though not friendly with the greatest defender of orthodoxy against the Arians, Cyril may be counted among those whom Athanasius called “brothers, who mean what we mean, and differ only about the word consubstantial.”

Sources:

https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/saint-cyril-of-jerusalem/

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Proverbs 11:13

Verse:

“A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy person keeps a secret.” - Proverbs 11:13

Prayer for Kindness to Others

Dear God, Grant us so much Love and compassion so that we could treat each other with Love and compassion. Bless us with so much wisdom, Love, and brotherhood so that we could think and act kindly. Amen.

Sources:

https://bigbraincoach.com/prayer-for-kindness-and-compassion/

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Saint Patrick

Saint Patrick was a 5th-century Romano-British Christian missionary and Bishop in Ireland. Much of what is known about Saint Patrick comes from the Declaration, which was allegedly written by Patrick himself. It is believed that he was born in Roman Britain in the fourth century, into a wealthy Romano-British family.

According to tradition, Patrick returned to Ireland to convert the pagan Irish to Christianity. The Declaration says that he spent many years evangelising in the northern half of Ireland and converted thousands. Patrick’s efforts were eventually turned into an allegory in which he drove “snakes” out of Ireland, despite the fact that snakes were not known to inhabit the region.
Saint Patrick’s Day, or the Feast of Saint Patrick, is a cultural and religious celebration held on the traditional death date of Saint Patrick (c. 385 – c. 461), the foremost patron saint of Ireland. The day commemorates Saint Patrick and the arrival of Christianity in Ireland, and celebrates the heritage and culture of the Irish in general.

Sources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Patrick%27s_Day

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Luke 6:30

Verse:

“Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back.” - Luke 6:30

Prayer for Kindness to Others

“Dear God, Grant us so much Love and compassion so that we could treat each other with Love and compassion. Bless us with so much wisdom, Love, and brotherhood so that we could think and act kindly. Amen.”

Sources:

https://bigbraincoach.com/prayer-for-kindness-and-compassion/

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Blessed John Amias

Blessed John Amias was a Roman Catholic priest who was martyred in England. There is some doubt about his early life and his real name.

In an account of his life, a widower calling himself “John Amias” entered the English College at Rheims to study for the priesthood on June 22, 1580. He was ordained a priest in Rheims Cathedral on 25 March 1581.

Of his missionary life we know little. Towards the end of 1588 he was seized at the house of a Mr. Murton at Melling in Lancashire and imprisoned in York Castle. Given the 1585 Act making it a capital offence to be a Catholic priest in England the sentence of hanging, drawing and quartering was inevitable. It was carried out outside the city of York on 16 March 1589. Amias was beginning to address the assembled people, and explain that it was for religion, and not treason, that he suffered, but was not allowed to proceed.

Sources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Amias
Ryan, Patrick W.F. "Ven. John Amias." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 1. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1907. 2 Feb. 2013
Stanton, Richard, A Menology of England and Wales, p.119, Burns 7 Oates, Ltd., London, 1892

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James 4:2

Verse:

“You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God.” - James 4:2

Advent Prayer

Come, long-expected Jesus. Excite in me a wonder at the wisdom and power of Your Father and ours. Receive my prayer as part of my service of the Lord who enlists me in God's own work for justice.

Come, long-expected Jesus. Excite in me a hunger for peace: peace in the world, peace in my home, peace in myself.

Come, long-expected Jesus. Excite in me a joy responsive to the Father's joy. I seek His will so I can serve with gladness, singing and love.

Come, long-expected Jesus. Excite in me the joy and love and peace it is right to bring to the manger of my Lord. Raise in me, too, sober reverence for the God who acted there, hearty gratitude for the life begun there, and spirited resolution to serve the Father and Son.

I pray in the name of Jesus Christ, whose advent I hail. Amen.

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Saint Louise de Marillac

Saint Louise de Marillac was born out of wedlock in 1591. Lord of Ferrires (1556-1604), claimed her as his natural daughter yet not his legal heir. Louise grew up amid the affluent society of Paris, but without a stable home life. Nevertheless, she was cared for and received an excellent education at the royal monastery of Poissy.

Around the age of fifteen, Louise felt drawn to the cloistered life but was refused admission. Her spiritual director assured her that God had “other plans” for her. When she was 22, her family convinced her that marriage was the best alternative. Her uncle arranged for her to marry Antoine Le Gras. Louise grew to love Antoine and was an attentive mother to their son. Along with being devoted to her family, Louise was also active in ministry in her parish. She had a leading role in the Ladies of Charity, an organization of wealthy women dedicated to assisting those suffering from poverty and disease.

She vowed not to remarry if her husband died before her. Three years after this experience, Antoine died. In 17th-century France, the charitable care of the poor was completely unorganized. Louise found the help she needed in young, humble country women, who had the energy and the proper attitude to deal with people weighed down by destitution and suffering. She began working with a group of them and saw a need for common life and formation. She co-founded Daughters of Charity with Vincent de Paul.
Louise led the Company of Daughters until her death. Nearing her death, she wrote to her nuns: “Take good care of the service of the poor. Above all, live together in great union and cordiality, loving one another in imitation of the union and life of our Lord. Pray earnestly to the Blessed Virgin, that she might be your only Mother.”

Sources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louise_de_Marillac

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Psalm 33:18

Verse:

“But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love.” - Psalm 33:18

Prayer to Love God above all Things

God, my Father,
may I love You in all things and above all things.
May I reach the joy which You have prepared for me in
Heaven.
Nothing is good that is against Your Will,
and all that is good comes from Your Hand.
Place in my heart a desire to please You
and fill my mind with thoughts of Your Love,
so that I may grow in Your Wisdom and enjoy Your Peace.

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