DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS FOR DECEMBER  2007.

+Thoughts for the Month of The Nativity of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ+

O Lord Jesus Christ! Make me worthy to understand the profound mystery of Thy Holy Incarnation, which Thou hast worked for our sake and for our salvation. Truly there is nothing so great and wonderful as this, that Thou,my God, Who art the Creator of all things, shouldst become a creature, so that we should become like God. Thou hast humbled Thyself and made Thyself small that we might become mighty. Thou hast taken the form of a servant, so that Thou mightest confer upon us a royal and divine beauty.  [Blessed Angela of Foligno : 1248 – 1309]
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Sense: Behold in Jesus of Nazareth a man.
Intellect: Behold a man endowed with supernatural powers.
Faith: Behold The Word made flesh.

(Cardinal Manning)
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Bishop Anthony writes: The words of Blessed Angela remind us in part of the prayer during the Offertory at Mass when wine and water are co-mingled in the Chalice: “..grant that by the mystery of this water and wine,we may be made co-heirs of His Divinity, Who vouchsafed to share our humanity.”
Jesus came that we might one day enjoy the fulfillment of our humanity in Heaven. The mystery of the Nativity was but the opening scene. Many of my own congregation will recall my annual words during Advent – The Crib leads on to the Cross. Christ’s birth in a cave, the gift of myrrh and then the Holy Family’s flight into Egypt point to the suffering to come, yes, even as we rejoice at His Coming! Jesus shared our humanity and taught us how to live and to love, yet the Nativity leads us on to Calvary. It is Our Lord’s Death and Resurrection which make us, if we truly believe in Him, co-heirs of His Divinity. He suffered and died to bring us Home to God. This Christmasstide many throughout the world are suffering: those in pain, those who are lonely or fearful; those who mourn. Let us remember all God’s suffering children at one of our own Christmass Masses. Our destiny is elsewhere! Let us thank our dear Redeemer for his Birth which brings us joy.Let us indeed rejoice and be merry for He wants us to.
Let us thank Him above all that He,the Creator chose,for our sakes,to become a creature like us,except for sin, and that He, our suffering God-Man, offered Himself to the Father for our salvation.

 
Let us pray: O God, Who didst appoint Thine only-begotten Son to be the Saviour of mankind, and didst command that He should be called JESUS: grant us this grace, that we may enjoy at last in Heaven the vision of Him Whose Nativity and Holy Name we venerate on earth. Through the same Our Lord Jesus Christ, God living and reigning with Thee and the Holy Ghost unto ages of ages. Amen

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And a passing thought

The One Who is seated on the Throne of Heaven is laid in a stable    (St.John Chrysostom)
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ADORABLE  JESUS, TRUE GOD AND TRUE MAN, HAVE MERCY UPON US!
IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY, PURE VIRGIN AND MOTHER, BE OUR SALVATION!
MOST HOLY SAINTS AND ANGELS, PRAY FOR US AND PROTECT US ALWAYS!
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