Saints' Feast Days – December

• Saint Nicholas of Myra December 6^th
• Saint Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin December11^th
• Our Lady of Guadalupe December 12^th
• Divine Infant Jesus December 25^th
• Saint Stephen, Deacon & Martyr December 26^th
• Saint John, Apostle and Evangelist (Fourth Gospel) December 27^th
• The Holy Family December 30^th

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Background:

St Nicholas was Bishop of Myra, Turkey. He was a very devout man, maintaining a rigorous routine of prayer and fasting. He performed numerous miracles during his lifetime earning himself the name of Wonder Worker. He had a reputation for giving gifts including, secretly putting coins in stranger's shoes overnight, thus, his connection to Santa Claus. His Feast Day is 6th December.

Intercessory Prayer:

St Nicholas,
an all-praised and all-honoured wonder worker, Saint of Christ, man of
God, man of love, faithful servant, pillar of the Church, star that
illumines and enlightens the whole world. You were a righteous man that
flourished and from whom ever-flowed the grace of God.

St Nicholas,
we glorify and magnify you as the hope of all Christians, speedy helper,
fervent intercessor, good shepherd, a fountain of miracles, a defender
of the faithful, a most wise teacher, a feeder of the hungry, provider
of the naked, healer of the sick, liberator of prisoners, gentle tutor
of children, support of the aged, abundant riches of the poor and needy.

St Nicholas,
hearken unto us who pray to you and seek your protection. Mediate on our
behalf with the Most High, and obtain all that we need for the salvation
of our souls.

Share your request…

but, may the will of our Almighty Father be done.

Keep us, we humbly ask, from all oppression through your mediation with
the All-Merciful God and your fervent intercession and protection.

St Nicholas, as a watchful and good shepherd, protect us from enemies
and pestilence, earthquakes and famine, flood and fire, the sword and
invasions, and, in all our misfortunes and afflictions, give us a
helping hand to open the doors of God's compassion; for we are unworthy
to look upon the height of Heaven because of the multitude of our sins.

St Nicholas, we bend the knees of our broken and humble heart to our
Maker, and ask your fatherly intercession lest we perish with our sins.
Deliver us from all evil. Direct our minds and strengthen our hearts.
Graciously help us to live a peaceful life and see the good things in
the land of the living, glorifying the Father, and the Son, and the Holy
Spirit, now and forever. Amen.

… St Nicholas of Myra, Pray for Us …

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Background:

The Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to St. Juan (1474-1548) and asked him to tell the Bishop of Mexico she desired a shrine to manifest her love for all people. Our Lady left a miraculous portrait of herself on his tilma, which is preserved to this day.

When she appeared to St Juan Diego, Her face was that of a mestizo (mixed race) woman and her clothes were full of symbols of the indigenous culture.

Following the example of Jesus, Mary is close to her children.

She accompanies them on their way, as a solicitous mother and shares the joys and hopes, sufferings and anxieties of the people of God, who are called to form part of all the peoples of the earth…

The appearance of the image of the Virgin on the tilma of Juan Diego was a prophetic sign of an embrace, Mary's embrace…

-Pope Francis 2014

Intercessory Prayer:

You who were chosen by Our Lady of Guadalupe as an instrument to share your Christianity is one of love, compassion, understanding, values, sacrifices, repentance of our sins, appreciation and respect for God's creation, and most of all  one of humility and obedience.

You whom we know is now in the Kingdom of the Lord and close to our Mother.

Be our angel and protect us, stay with us as we struggle in this modern life often not knowing where to set our priorities.

Help us to pray to our God to obtain the gifts of the Holy Spirit and use them for the good of humanity and the good of our Church, through the Heart of Our Lady of Guadalupe to the Heart of Jesus. Amen.

… St Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin, Pray for Us …

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Background:

The image of the Blessed Virgin Mary on the tilma of St. Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin (December 9) is kept, miraculously preserved, in the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Patroness of the Americas, in Mexico City. It is an object of great devotion.

I am truly your merciful Mother, yours and all the people who live united in this land and of all the other people of different ancestries, my lovers, who love me, those who seek me, those who trust in me. Here I will hear their weeping, their complaints and heal all their sorrows, hardships and sufferings.

-Our Lady of Guadalupe

Intercessory Prayer:

Dear mother, we love you. We thank you for your promise to help us in our need. We trust in your love that dries our tears and comforts us. Teach us to find our peace in your son, Jesus, and bless us every day of our lives.

Help us to build a shrine in our hearts. Make it as beautiful as the one built for you on the mount of Tepeyac. A shrine full of trust, hope, and love of Jesus growing stronger each day.

Mary, you have chosen to remain with us by giving us your most wonderful and holy self-image on Juan Diego's cloak. May we feel your loving presence as we look upon your face. Like Juan, give us the courage to bring your message of hope to everyone.

You are our mother and our inspiration. Hear our prayers and answer us.
Amen.

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Background:

The Spanish are jubilant and celebratory throughout Christmastide. There is much celebration but also adoration before the Baby Jesus, El Santo Nino (the Holy Child). At Holy Mass, from Christmas Eve to Epiphany, the Infant King is taken from the crib and brought to the altar for the faithful to worship. Each person kisses the Divine Infant, not only in celebration of His birth, but also with wonder before the King who reigns above all. Saint Teresa of Avila pointed towards the mystery of the Incarnation, where God, the greatest of all beings, became a tiny child. And she stressed the subsequent importance that we, the faithful, relate to Him, as children, through the honouring of the child within ourselves and in our communities. (see Mk. 10:13-16)

O Little Infant Jesus, my only treasure, I abandon myself to Your
every wish. I seek no other joy than that of calling forth Your sweet
smile. Grant me the graces and the virtues of Your Holy Childhood, so
that on the day of my birth into Heaven the angels and saints may
recognize me as Your little spouse.

-Prayer of St. Therese of Lisieux to the Divine Child Jesus

Intercessory Prayer:

Holy Infant Jesus,
I love you with all my heart.
Keep it pure and burning with God's love.

Though miserable I may be, through your Love and Mercy,
I want you to be happy within me.

Console all those who suffer, protect all those who are in harm's way.
Give us the strength to ward off the enemy.

Grant us the patience to bear the Cross.

Ever increase in us our faith, hope and love in You, so that as we
journey through this life, we may serve and glorify you in all that we do.

…Santo Niño, bless and have mercy on us…

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Background:

Stephen's name means "crown," and he was the first disciple of Jesus to receive the martyr's crown. Stephen was a deacon in the early Christian Church. God Worked many miracles through St. Stephen and he spoke with such wisdom and grace that many of his hearers become followers of Jesus. The enemies of the Church of Jesus dragged St. Stephen outside the city of Jerusalem and stoned him to death. The saint prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!" Then he fell to his knees and begged God not to punish his enemies for killing him. His Feast Day is 26^th December.

 …Like his Master, St Stephen died

forgiving his persecutors
and thus makes us realise that the entry

into the world of the Son of God

gives rise to a new civilisation,
the civilisation of love

that does not yield to evil
and violence and pulls down the barriers
between men and women,

making them brothers and sisters
in the great family of God's children.

-Pope Benedict XVI – 26 December 2009

Intercessory Prayer:

Saint Stephen, whom I have chosen as my special patron, pray for me that I, too, may one day glorify the Blessed Trinity in heaven. Obtain for me your lively faith, that I may consider all persons, things, and events in the light of almighty God.

Pray, that I may be generous in making sacrifices of temporal things to promote my eternal interests, as you so wisely did. Set me on fire with a love for Jesus, that I may thirst for His sacraments and burn with zeal for the spread of His kingdom.

By your powerful intercession, help me in the performance of my duties to God, myself and all the world. Win for me the virtue of purity and a great confidence in the Blessed Virgin. Protect me this day, and every day of my life. Keep me from mortal sin. Obtain for me the grace of a happy death. Amen.

… St Stephen, Pray for Us…

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Saint John’s Portrait of Jesus:

The four Gospels are neither histories of the life of Christ nor biographies. They are portraits of the person and work of the long-promised Messiah, Israel’s King and the world’s Saviour. As portraits, they present four different poses of one unique personality.

John by the Holy Spirit presents Christ as God. He focuses the spotlight on Christ as God, but like the other evangelists, he does not separate Him from His full-(his)character as King, Servant and Man (John 1:19- 2:50).

The four Gospels narrate, largely, the same things, but with some differences. Thus all four writers present the one and same Person: the God-Man, Servant of the Lord, King of Israel, humanity’s Redeemer.

John places special emphasis on the Deity of Jesus. His Gospel consists mostly of Jesus’ lectures and conversations. He discusses things Jesus said rather than things He did (John 1:1-18).

Chaplet Prayers:

On the Medal Pray:

O Glorious Apostle, who, on account of thy virginal purity, wast so beloved by Jesus as to deserve to lay thy head upon his Divine breast and to be left, in his place, as son to His most holy mother. I beg thee to inflame me with a most ardent love towards Jesus and Mary.  Obtain for me from our Lord that I, too, with a heart purified from earthly affections, may be made worthy to be ever united to Jesus as a faithful disciple, and to Mary as a devoted son, both here on Earth and eternally in Heaven. Amen.

On the First Bead of each set, Pray the Our Father.

On the Second Bead of each set, Pray the Hail Mary.

On the Third Bead of each set, Pray the Glory Be.

On the Crucifix Pray:

John, the Apostle and Evangelist, virgin chosen of the Lord, you were loved by the Lord above the others. Jesus Christ, dying on the cross, entrusted His Virgin Mother to you. God our Father, You have revealed the mysteries of Your word through John the Apostle.  By prayer and reflection may we come to understand the wisdom he taught. We ask this through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.

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Background:

Jesus Christ did not wish to be born into a wealthy family nor did he choose parents who were illustrious for their learning. He was content with their piety. Following his example, let us rejoice not in the brilliance of our family, but in its good examples and edifying behaviour, and that it is a true school of religion where we learn to fear God and to serve him.

The Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph is celebrated on the Sunday within Octave of Nativity or if no Sunday December 30^th.

Intercessory Prayer:

Pope Francis' Prayer for Families

Jesus, Mary and Joseph,
in you we contemplate the splendour of true love; to you we turn with trust.

Holy Family of Nazareth,
grant that our families too may be places of communion and prayer,
authentic schools of the Gospel and small domestic churches.

Holy Family of Nazareth,
may families never again experience violence, rejection and division;
may all who have been hurt or scandalized find ready comfort and healing

Holy Family of Nazareth,
make us once more mindful of the sacredness and inviolability of the
family, and its beauty in God's plan.

Jesus, Mary and Joseph,
Graciously hear our prayer.

Amen.