I just want to take a minute to thank all of you who comment on our blog. I do appreciate it. I wish I had the time to answer all of you but it is beyond me. God bless all of you and may He grant you all His blessings in the coming Year!
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NEW YEAR'S EVE, and midnight drawing near! Open the window and listen to the bells ringing, solemn and joyous, over town and country. Why are they ringing? Night is the time for sleep and rest. Why do they quiver in their lofty towers and bespeak attention when men are weary? Quick, quick, the Old Year is dying. Let us fall on our knees and let us burden its speeding away with fervent prayer for pardon, acts of loving contrition, loving acts of thanksgiving. We have received much from God graces, helps, and comfort. We have offended often, falling from frailty, from passion, from sinful habit. Come, let us, weak children, make all right with our Heavenly Father. Let us come close to Him and believe in His mercy and love. For this is why the bells ring out to-night as the Old Year goes by, that with sorrow and gratitude we may wipe away our errors and our sins. "Be merciful, Lord, to me a sinner"; is the burden of our song. Midnight strikes, and still the bells ring on. Why do they not cease with the Old Year ? No, they may not cease yet; they have done but half their task. Ring out a joyous peal ; the New Year is coming, a gift fresh from the hand of God, like a parchment rolled, unsullied, unmarked by good or bad. The bells promise this New Year to me my tenth, twentieth, thirtieth, sixtieth mark the "my" word. But how much will be mine? I am living now, and have seen the Old Year out, but shall I be here at the close of the New? Shall I see the whole parchment unrolled and make my marks upon it as I did last year good, bad, indifferent, poor, like a careless child's copy? I can get no certain answer to this question. No one on earth can tell me how much of the New Year is to be mine. The doctor may say my heart is sound and my constitution good, but these will not keep me from fever, contagion, or accident. What must I do, then ? Bring home to myself this truth of uncertainty, and let it teach me to be wary in my doings and heedful of my steps. The midnight hour with the merry bells ringing is a time for reflection. I see myself standing and listening to the sound, reaching out my hand to my Creator and taking from Him time in drops, as it were; lifting up my face to Heaven and expecting the hours and the days as they become due. What a hold God has on me ! What if I should reach out my hand in vain ? What if I lift up my face and receive no light? He is Lord and Master, and the moments are His. Blessed be His Name for ever. But the bells ring hope into my soul, and joy in the present, and trust in the future. What is best is given always what is best for me. And He Who did not fail me in the past will not fail me in the future. I will take, therefore, from His hand a long life or a short one; joy or sorrow, ease or pain. And I will welcome each as a gift from One Who loves and Who knows. And I will stand up firm and brave to meet the unknown New Year, for I know He will not try me beyond my strength ; He will not give me a "stone when I ask for bread" nor a "serpent when I ask for fish." Now I want all you children to make one resolution at the beginning of this year. But first of all I will tell you a story. Perhaps you know it. Never mind; read it again. One day, when St. Edmund, Archbishop of Canterbury, was a boy, he was walking alone in a meadow thinking of God and holy things. He loved to go about alone and to think. As he strolled along the fresh green grass, he met a Child of most wonderful beauty. The Child called him by his name, and He spoke as if He was one of his familiar companions. Edmund was astonished. He had never seen the Boy before, or certainly he would not have forgotten such a face. "Do you know Me?" said the Child. "Why, I am with you all day long, always by your side. Look at My forehead, and read what is written there." Edmund read : "JESUS or NAZARETH, KING OF THE JEWS." "That is My Name," the Divine Boy continued. "And because I love you so dearly, I would have you write upon your forehead every night before you go to sleep these letters I.N.R.I. I will protect you, and keep you from a sudden and unprovided death. And I will protect not only you, but all those who do in like manner." Ever afterwards Edmund signed his forehead with the holy letters, and hundreds of children have followed his example. I would like you to have that practice for your own and never forget it, no matter how tired you may be. It only takes a second or two. "I.N.R.I." as you say, "Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews, preserve me from a sudden and unprovided death." I know some one who traces the letters three times over for her three brothers, for fear they should forget the act of devotion they used to do together in the nursery. I don t think Our Lord could disown a child who always wrote those words upon his forehead every night before going to sleep. This is my one resolution. It isn't asking very much, but it will test your faith and your love and your perseverance. Try it ; be faithful, and I promise you that it will make a difference in your lives. Saints and Festivals - A Cycle of the Year for Young People, Imprimatur 1913 The instruction below is a very good one. This book is a treasure. A tradition that we started years ago because of this is to make a Sign of the Cross over our beds before retiring and saying, "Begone Satan, in the Name of Jesus Christ!" INSTRUCTION ON NEW YEAR'S DAY. Why is this day so called? BECAUSE the secular year begins with this day, as the ecclesiastical year begins with the first Sunday in Advent. What should we do on this day? An offering of the new year should be made to God, asking His grace that we may spend the year in a holy manner, for the welfare of the soul. Why do we wish each other a "happy new year?" Because to do so is an act of Christian love; but this wish should come from the heart, and not merely from worldly politeness, otherwise we would be like the heathens, (Matt. v. 47.) and receive no other reward than they. What festival of the Church is celebrated to-day ? The festival of the Circumcision of our Lord, who, for love of us, voluntarily subjected Himself to the painful law of the Old Covenant, that we might be freed from the same. What was the Circumcision? It was an external sign of the Old Law, by which the people of that day were numbered among the chosen people of God, as now they become, by baptism, members of the Church of Christ. What is the signification of Circumcision in the moral or spiritual sense? It signifies the mortification of the senses, of evil desires, and inclinations. This must be practiced by Christians now, since they have promised it in baptism which would be useless to them without the practice of mortification; just as little as the Jew by exterior Circumcision is a true Jew, just so little is the baptized a true Christian without a virtuous life. Beg of Christ, therefore, to-day, to give you the grace of the true Circumcision of heart. PRAYER. I thank Thee, O Lord Jesus, because Thou hast shed Thy blood for me in Circumcision, and beg Thee that by Thy precious blood I may receive the grace to circumcise my heart and all my senses, so that I may lead a life of mortification in this world, and attain eternal joys in the next. Amen. [The Introit of the Mass is the same as is said in the third Mass on Christmas."] PRAYER OF THE CHURCH. O God, who, by the fruitful virginity of blessed Mary, hast bestowed upon mankind the rewards of eternal salvation; grant, we beseech Thee, that 'we may feel the benefit of her intercession for us, through whom we have deserved to receive the author of life, our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who livest and reignest etc. [The Epistle is the same as is said in the first Mass on Christmas.] GOSPEL. (Luke ii. 21 .) AT that time, after eight days were accomplished that the child should be circumcised, his name was called Jesus, which was called by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. Why did Jesus submit to Circumcision'? That He might show His great love for us, which caused Him even at the very beginning of His life, to shed His blood to cleanse us thereby from all our sins. Furthermore to teach us obedience to the commandments of God and His Church, since He voluntarily subjected Himself to the Jewish law, although He was not in the least bound by it, which ordered that every male child should be circumcised on the eighth day after its birth. (Lev. ?ii. 3) Why was He named Jesus'? Because Jesus means Redeemer and Saviour, and He had come to redeem and save the world. (Matt. i. 21.) This is the holiest, most venerable, and most powerful name by which we can be saved. What power has this name ? The greatest power, for it repels all attacks of the evil Spirit, as Jesus Himself says. (Mark xvi. 17.) And so great is the efficacy of this most holy name that even those who are not righteous, can by it expel devils. (Matt. vii. 23.) It has power to cure physical pains and evils, as when used by the apostles, (Acts. iii. 3-7.) and Christ promised that the faithful by using it could do the same. (Mark xvi. 17.^ St. Bernard calls the name of Jesus a "Medicine;" and St. Chrysostom says, "This name cures all ills; it gives succor in all the ailments of the soul, in temptations, in faint-heartedness , in sorrow, and in all evil desires, &c." "Let him who cannot excite contrition in his heart for the sins he has committed, think of the loving, meek, and suffering Jesus, invoke His holy name with fervor and confidence, and he will feel his heart touched and made better," says St. Lawrence Justinian. It overcomes and dispels the temptations of the enemy: "When we fight against Satan in the name of Jesus," says the martyr St. Justin, "Jesus fights for us, in us, and with us, and the enemies must flee as soon as they hear the name of Jesus." It secures us help and blessings in all corporal and spiritual necessities, because nothing is impossible to him who asks in the name of Jesus, whatever tends to his salvationwill be given him. (John xiv. 15.) Therefore it is useful above all things, to invoke this holy name in all dangers of body and soul, in doubts, in temptations, especially in temptations against holy chastity, and still more so when one has fallen into sin, from which he desires to be delivered; for this name is like oil (Cant. i. 2.) which cures, nourishes, and illumines. How must this name be pronounced to experience its power? With lively faith, with steadfast, unshaken confidence, with deepest reverence and devotion, for in the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those that are in heaven, on earth, and under the earth. (Philipp.ii. 10.) What wickedness, then, is theirs who habitually pronounce this name carelessly and irreverently, upon every occasion! Such a habit is certainly diabolical; for the damned and the devils constantly abuse God and His holy name. Why does this name so seldom manifest its power in our days? Because Christian faith is daily becoming weaker, and confidence less, while perfect submission to the will of God is wanting. When faith grows stronger among people, and confidence greater, then will the power of this most sacred name manifest itself in more wonderful and consoling aspects. PRAYER TO JESUS IN DIFFICULTIES. O Jesus! Consolation of the afflicted! Thy name is indeed poured out like oil; for Thou dost illumine those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death; Thou dost disperse the blindness of the soul and dost cure its ills; Thou givest food and' drink to those who hunger and thirst after justice. Be also, O Jesus! my Saviour, the physician of my soul, the healer of its wounds. O Jesus! Succor of those who are in need, be my protector in temptations! O Jesus! Father of the poor, do Thou nourish me! O Jesus ! Joy of the angels, do Thou comfort me ! O Jesus! my only hope and refuge, be my helper in the hour of death, for there is given us no other name beneath the sun by which we may be saved, but Thy most blessed name Jesus ! EXHORTATION. St. Paul says: All whatsoever you do in word or in work, all things do ye in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. (Coloss. iii. 17.) We should, therefore, follow the example of the saints, and continually say, at least in our hearts: "For love of Thee, O Jesus, I rise; for love of Thee I lie down; for love of Thee I eat, drink, and enjoy myself; for love of Thee I work, speak, or am silent." Thus we will accustom ourselves to do all in the name of Jesus, by which everything is easily or at least meritoriously accomplished. PRAYER TO BE SAID ON NEW YEAR'S DAY. O God, Heavenly Father of Mercy, God of all Consolation! we thank Thee that from our birth to this day, Thou hast so well preserved us, and hast protected us in so many dangers; we beseech Thee, through the merits of Thy beloved Son, and by His sacred blood which He shed for us on this day in His circumcision, to forgive all the sins which, during the past year, we have committed against Thy commandments, by which we have aroused Thy indignation and wrath against ourselves. Preserve us in the coming year from all sins, and misfortunes of body and soul. Grant that from this day to the end of our lives, all our senses, thoughts, words, and works, which we here dedicate to Thee for all time, may be directed in accordance with Thy will, and that we may finally die in the true Catholic faith, and enjoy with Thee in Thy kingdom a joyful new year, that shall know no end. Amen. If you would like to print this post you can find it here.
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