Celtic Woman: "Auld Lang Syne"

As this blessed year draws to a close, I offer this version of Celtic Woman presenting "Auld Lang Syne":

 

Anniversary Blessings to Debbie and Josh!!!

Anniversary greetings to niece Debbie and her husband Josh Kyle, whose wedding anniversary is today!!! May this day and each day of the upcoming year be filled with the Lord's choicest blessings!!!

Anniversary Blessings to Mark and Becky!!!

Anniversary greetings to brother Mark and his wife Becky, whose wedding anniversary is today!!! May this day and each day of the upcoming year be filled with the Lord's choicest blessings!!!

Anniversary Blessings, Joe and Erin!!!

Anniversary greetings to son Joseph and his wife Erin, whose wedding anniversary is today!!! May this day, and each day of the upcoming year, be filled with the Lord's choicest blessings!!!

The Dutch Tenors: "The First Noel"

As our Christmas celebration continues, I offer this version of The Dutch Tenors presenting "The First Noel":

 

Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Today the Church celebrates the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. The assigned readings are Sirach 3:2-6, 12-14 (OR Genesis 15:1-6; 21:1-3); Colossians 3:12-21 (OR Hebrews 11:8, 11-12, 17-19 ); and Luke 2:22-40. The Responsorial Psalm is from Psalm 128 (Psalm 128:1-5).

For one version of the Responsorial Psalm set to music, please visit:

YouTube: Responsorial Psalm: Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph "PSALM 128"

The Gospel reading is as follows:

When the days were completed for their purification according to the law of Moses, They took him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, just as it is written in the law of the Lord, "Every male that opens the womb shall be consecrated to the Lord," and to offer the sacrifice of "a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons," in accordance with the dictate in the law of the Lord.

Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon.This man was righteous and devout, awaiting the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Christ of the Lord. He came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to perform the custom of the law in regard to him, He took him into his arms and blessed God, saying: "Now, Master, you may let your servant go in peace, according to your word, for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you prepared in sight of all the peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and glory for your people Israel." The child's father and mother were amazed at what was said about him; and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, "Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted -and you yourself a sword will pierce - so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed. '

There was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived seven years with her husband after her marriage, and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple, but worshiped night and day with fasting and prayer. And coming forward at that very time, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem. 

When they had fulfilled all the prescriptions of the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him.

Reflections related to these readings:

Oblates of St. Francis de Sales: Salesian Sunday Reflections: Feast of the Holy Family December 31, 2023

Oblates of St. Francis de Sales: Sundays Salesian: Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph (December 31, 2023)

Community in Mission: A Homily for the Feast of the Holy Family (30 DEC 23)

Benedictine College: This Sunday, a Brief Take on the Long Waits God Commands for Your Family (28 DEC 23)

Word on Fire: Confronting the Powers That Be (Cycle B * Holy Family * Christmas Time)

Aleteia: The Holy Family came to live in our problems, says Pope (31 DEC 23)

Thank You, Lord

Thank you, Lord for the many blessings You have bestowed on us in 2023, whether we are/were aware of them or not.

Daniel Esparza on Keeping New Year's Resolutions

"As a new year is in the horizon, it is common practice to make resolutions to improve our lives and move closer to our goals. From a Catholic perspective, the act of making resolutions can be seen as a spiritual journey toward self-improvement and a deeper connection with our faith.

"Let's explore three workable tips to help you keep your New Year's resolutions, emphasizing how this commitment can help build stable relationships and foster dependability."

In a recent commentary, writer/scholar Daniel Esparza reflected on these opportunities in any New Year's resolution we may be making.

To access Mr. Esparza's complete post, please visit: 

Aleteia: Daniel Esparza: New Year's resolutions: Building stability and dependability (27 DEC 23)

Reflection Starter from Pope Francis

"God has saved us by living among us. He lived in a family, an everyday life. He did not avoid difficulties, but rather chose a family 'experienced in suffering,' as if to tell our families: 'You are not alone!'" - Pope Francis

Keith and Kristyn Getty: "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing"

As this blessed week comes to a close and as we continue our Christmas celebration, I offer this version of the Keith & Kristyn Getty:presenting "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing":

 

Thank You, Lord

Thank you, lord, for the gift of laughter.

The Gift of the Eucharist

We are in the midst of a National Eucharistic Revival, which began on June 19, 2022, the Feast of Corpus Christi, and will culminate with our nation's first National Eucharistic Congress in nearly 40 years taking place in Indianapolis, Indiana, from July 17 to 21, 2024. All Catholics should look to take part in some way in this beautiful celebration as we join in honoring Christ’s great gift of the Eucharist to the Church, giving thanks for the gentle way it enables us to grow closer to His loving heart.

In his address to young people in Bologna, Italy, in 1997, John Paul II said, "The Eucharist is the secret of my day. It gives strength and meaning to all my activities of service to the Church and to the whole world. . . . Let Jesus present in the Blessed Sacrament speak to your hearts. It is He who is the true answer of life that you seek. He stays here with us: He is God with us. Seek Him without tiring, welcome Him without reserve, love Him without interruption: today, tomorrow, forever!"

These words exemplify the fire of love the Eucharist can kindle in our hearts when we open ourselves to its transformative power. We see this fire in all the great saints throughout history, as well as in the many humble and faithful Catholics in the world today, people who treasure every opportunity to draw close to Christ in the Eucharist. It is always amazing to see the solace that reception of the Eucharist can bring to people of faith when they are facing the most trying situations in life. This is truly one of the great proofs of the power of this Sacrament. History is filled with stories of Eucharistic miracles, but we are also called to see the spiritual miracles at work in the Eucharist on a daily basis.

In the Gospel of John, we read about how Christ responded to Thomas' doubts about the Resurrection by allowing him to see and touch the wounds of the Crucifixion. But then Jesus says to Thomas, "Have you believed because you have seen Me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe." We see here that, although Christ does provide amazing proofs of the miraculous in the Gospels and throughout history, He prizes the faith of those who believe without experiencing such occurrences. Perhaps this is why the most important gift He left to the world manifests itself in a way that engages our faith rather than simply revealing its miraculous nature in a visible way at every sacrifice of the Mass.

In establishing the Eucharist, Christ called us to exercise our faith in His power to perform miracles even when we don't clearly see how this is happening. The Eucharist is the starting point for understanding His hand at work in the world. Christ has made it clear to us that the Eucharistic sacrifice of the Mass entails a miraculous transformation of bread and wine into His body and blood, but believing in this relies on our faith.

So, we are left with the question Christ posed to His disciples after He first presented this profound mystery that would take place in the Eucharist. Some followers recoiled at that point, and Christ turned to the disciples and asked, "Will you also go away?"

To this question, we must always be prepared to join with Simon Peter in answering, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life."

This essay is a recent "Light One Candle" column by Father Ed Dougherty, M.M., The Christophers' Board of Directors ; it is one of a series of weekly columns that deal with a variety of topics and current events.

Background information:

The Christophers

Reflection Starter from Mother Teresa

"It is Christmas every time you let God love others through you . . . yes, it is Christmas every time you smile at your brother and offer him your hand." - Saint Teresa of Calcutta (Mother Teresa)

Giuseppe Valentini: Sinfonia for the Holy Night

As we continue our Christmas celebration, I offer this version of Giuseppe Valentini's Sinfonia for the Holy Night as presented by:the Capitol Chamber Artists:

 

Thank You, Lord

Thank you, Lord, for the blessing of new hope given through the birth of Jesus - hope that exists despite evil often seeming overwhelming.

Matthew Becklo on Lessons from Augustine's Confessions

"It is appropriate to begin a piece on Augustine's Confessions with a confession: I am only now - 15 years after my own reversion to the Catholic faith and several years into working professionally in bookish ministry - reading it cover to cover. I must have read portions of it in college, but likely just the bare minimum to get by in class. I tried picking it up a few years after my reversion, but found it too dense to see it through. And over the years, I read so many of its passages and heard it discussed so often that - as often happens with the classics - I felt as though I had read it already.

"I hadn't. And reading the text in full for the first time, what has bowled me over is just how relevant Augustine's journey is, even in the high formal style of the Sheed translation. . . ."

In a recent commentary, writer Matthew Becklo reflected on some of the lessons one can learn from St. Augustine's Confessions, including the truth that prayer works; God writes straight with crooked lines; and the life of the mind is good, helpful, and perfectly compatible with Christianity.

To access his complete post, please visit:

Aleteia: Matthew Becklo: 10 Contemporary lessons from Augustine's Confessions (29 DEC 23)

Reflection Starter from St. Thomas Becker

"Wait the end with joy. It is the end which characterizes everything and which tests a man's expectations." - Saint Thomas Becket, whose memory the Church celebrates today (29 December)