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For a Wonderful Christmas!
Let’s make a good preparation.
Divine Child Jesus of Bethlehem, be born in my heart!
First week of Advent
The Virgin Mary and St. Joseph set out on a long journey.
The emperor Caesar Augustus, master of the world, orders a universal census of the peoples. Mary and Joseph must go and register in Bethlehem, about 100 miles from Nazareth. The Virgin Mary is about to give birth. Given Her condition, neither She nor Her husband are obliged to undertake this journey. This trip, which is easily made in our modern times, was then a painful challenge. It was the height of winter, the weather was freezing… As obedient souls, Mary and Joseph recognized in the order of the pagan emperor, the Will of God who had decreed that His Son would be born in Bethlehem and they set out without delay.
To please God and to resemble Jesus, to imitate the obedience of Mary and Joseph, I will apply myself this week to obey without murmuring: to my superiors, my employer, my parents, the people I live or work with. I will choose the interests of others over my own.
First week of Advent
The Virgin Mary and St. Joseph set out on a long journey.
The emperor Caesar Augustus, master of the world, orders a universal census of the peoples. Mary and Joseph must go and register in Bethlehem, about 100 miles from Nazareth. The Virgin Mary is about to give birth. Given Her condition, neither She nor Her husband are obliged to undertake this journey. This trip, which is easily made in our modern times, was then a painful challenge. It was the height of winter, the weather was freezing… As obedient souls, Mary and Joseph recognized in the order of the pagan emperor, the Will of God who had decreed that His Son would be born in Bethlehem and they set out without delay.
To please God and to resemble Jesus, to imitate the obedience of Mary and Joseph, I will apply myself this week to obey without murmuring: to my superiors, my employer, my parents, the people I live or work with. I will choose the interests of others over my own.
First week of Advent
The Virgin Mary and St. Joseph set out on a long journey.
The emperor Caesar Augustus, master of the world, orders a universal census of the peoples. Mary and Joseph must go and register in Bethlehem, about 100 miles from Nazareth. The Virgin Mary is about to give birth. Given Her condition, neither She nor Her husband are obliged to undertake this journey. This trip, which is easily made in our modern times, was then a painful challenge. It was the height of winter, the weather was freezing… As obedient souls, Mary and Joseph recognized in the order of the pagan emperor, the Will of God who had decreed that His Son would be born in Bethlehem and they set out without delay.
To please God and to resemble Jesus, to imitate the obedience of Mary and Joseph, I will apply myself this week to obey without murmuring: to my superiors, my employer, my parents, the people I live or work with. I will choose the interests of others over my own.
Second week of Advent
The journey is very difficult.
During the months of December and January, it is very cold in Palestine. It is also the rainy season. The harsh climate, the wind, the impassable roads through the mountains of Judea… everything contributes to the suffering of the Virgin Mary and Saint Joseph. They experience thirst, hunger, cold and extreme fatigue. However, they do not complain, absorbed as they are by the coming of the Child-God. They are not distracted by the frivolities of worldly luxury. What does it matter to them to be deprived of earthly comforts since they possess God Himself!
To please God, to resemble Jesus who will soon be born in the poverty of the grotto, to imitate Mary and Joseph, I will apply myself this week to sacrificing the trifles of the world. I will refrain from seeking consolation or amusement in games and distractions. Instead of wasting my time satisfying my curiosity on the web and social networks, I will meditate on the sufferings and virtues of Mary and Joseph as they prepare to receive their God who makes Himself their Child.
Second week of Advent
The journey is very difficult.
During the months of December and January, it is very cold in Palestine. It is also the rainy season. The harsh climate, the wind, the impassable roads through the mountains of Judea… everything contributes to the suffering of the Virgin Mary and Saint Joseph. They experience thirst, hunger, cold and extreme fatigue. However, they do not complain, absorbed as they are by the coming of the Child-God. They are not distracted by the frivolities of worldly luxury. What does it matter to them to be deprived of earthly comforts since they possess God Himself!
To please God, to resemble Jesus who will soon be born in the poverty of the grotto, to imitate Mary and Joseph, I will apply myself this week to sacrificing the trifles of the world. I will refrain from seeking consolation or amusement in games and distractions. Instead of wasting my time satisfying my curiosity on the web and social networks, I will meditate on the sufferings and virtues of Mary and Joseph as they prepare to receive their God who makes Himself their Child.
Second week of Advent
The journey is very difficult.
During the months of December and January, it is very cold in Palestine. It is also the rainy season. The harsh climate, the wind, the impassable roads through the mountains of Judea… everything contributes to the suffering of the Virgin Mary and Saint Joseph. They experience thirst, hunger, cold and extreme fatigue. However, they do not complain, absorbed as they are by the coming of the Child-God. They are not distracted by the frivolities of worldly luxury. What does it matter to them to be deprived of earthly comforts since they possess God Himself!
To please God, to resemble Jesus who will soon be born in the poverty of the grotto, to imitate Mary and Joseph, I will apply myself this week to sacrificing the trifles of the world. I will refrain from seeking consolation or amusement in games and distractions. Instead of wasting my time satisfying my curiosity on the web and social networks, I will meditate on the sufferings and virtues of Mary and Joseph as they prepare to receive their God who makes Himself their Child.
Third week of Advent
Inhospitality of the people of Bethlehem.
The Virgin Mary and Saint Joseph finally arrive in Bethlehem where they have relatives and friends. They expect to be received with kindness. The census has brought many travelers to the little town, a welcome source of earthly gain. No one wants to receive Mary and Joseph because they are poor. Time is running out because the hour has come for the Virgin to give birth. The holy couple went from one house to another, knocking at every door. Everywhere they are rejected with harshness and contempt. There was no place for them, says the Gospel. God came to His own and His own did not receive Him. Joseph and Mary accept with meekness and humility the mistreatment inflicted on them.
To please God, to resemble Jesus, meek and humble of heart, to imitate Mary and Joseph, I will apply myself this week to accept without revolt the offensive words or gestures. I will ask Jesus, through the intercession of His most holy Mother, to extirpate from my heart the vice of pride, source and root of all evils, and which profoundly wounds the Heart of God.
Third week of Advent
Inhospitality of the people of Bethlehem.
The Virgin Mary and Saint Joseph finally arrive in Bethlehem where they have relatives and friends. They expect to be received with kindness. The census has brought many travelers to the little town, a welcome source of earthly gain. No one wants to receive Mary and Joseph because they are poor. Time is running out because the hour has come for the Virgin to give birth. The holy couple went from one house to another, knocking at every door. Everywhere they are rejected with harshness and contempt. There was no place for them, says the Gospel. God came to His own and His own did not receive Him. Joseph and Mary accept with meekness and humility the mistreatment inflicted on them.
To please God, to resemble Jesus, meek and humble of heart, to imitate Mary and Joseph, I will apply myself this week to accept without revolt the offensive words or gestures. I will ask Jesus, through the intercession of His most holy Mother, to extirpate from my heart the vice of pride, source and root of all evils, and which profoundly wounds the Heart of God.
Third week of Advent
Inhospitality of the people of Bethlehem.
The Virgin Mary and St. Joseph finally arrive in Bethlehem where they have relatives and friends. They expect to be received with kindness. The census has brought many travelers to the little town, a welcome source of earthly gain. No one wants to receive Mary and Joseph because they are poor. Time is running out because the hour has come for the Virgin to give birth. The holy couple went from one house to another, knocking at every door. Everywhere they are rejected with harshness and contempt. There was no place for them, says the Gospel. God came to His own and His own did not receive Him. Joseph and Mary accept with meekness and humility the mistreatment inflicted on them.
To please God, to resemble Jesus, meek and humble of heart, to imitate Mary and Joseph, I will apply myself this week to accept without revolt the offensive words or gestures. I will ask Jesus, through the intercession of His most holy Mother, to extirpate from my heart the vice of pride, source and root of all evils, and which profoundly wounds the Heart of God.
Begins on December 16
Fourth week of Advent
Mary and Joseph await the birth of Jesus in prayer.
After cleaning the grotto with the utmost care, Mary and Joseph recollect themselves in profound prayer. They meditate on the great mystery of God who so loved mankind that He gave them His only Son. The Son of God leaves His heaven to become man, to teach us by His words and His examples the way to Heaven. Jesus comes especially to redeem us from the slavery of sin by His sufferings and death and to open up Heaven to us. Jesus did not set a limit to His love for us. We are on earth to know, love and serve God, so that we may be happy with Him in Heaven for all eternity.
To please God, to be like Jesus, to imitate Mary and Joseph, I will pray a lot this week. In the spare moments, instead of entertaining useless thoughts, I will think of Jesus’ love for me. I will repeat to Him over and over again: “Jesus, I love You. Divine Child Jesus of Bethlehem, be born in my heart!” I will do my best not to offend Him with sin so that at Christmas He will find a clean and welcoming crib in my heart.
Fourth week of Advent
Mary and Joseph await the birth of Jesus in prayer.
After cleaning the grotto with the utmost care, Mary and Joseph recollect themselves in profound prayer. They meditate on the great mystery of God who so loved mankind that He gave them His only Son. The Son of God leaves His heaven to become man, to teach us by His words and His examples the way to Heaven. Jesus comes especially to redeem us from the slavery of sin by His sufferings and death and to open up Heaven to us. Jesus did not set a limit to His love for us. We are on earth to know, love and serve God, so that we may be happy with Him in Heaven for all eternity.
To please God, to be like Jesus, to imitate Mary and Joseph, I will pray a lot this week. In the spare moments, instead of entertaining useless thoughts, I will think of Jesus’ love for me. I will repeat to Him over and over again: “Jesus, I love You. Divine Child Jesus of Bethlehem, be born in my heart!” I will do my best not to offend Him with sin so that at Christmas He will find a clean and welcoming crib in my heart.
Fourth week of Advent
Mary and Joseph await the birth of Jesus in prayer.
After cleaning the grotto with the utmost care, Mary and Joseph recollect themselves in profound prayer. They meditate on the great mystery of God who so loved mankind that He gave them His only Son. The Son of God leaves His heaven to become man, to teach us by His words and His examples the way to Heaven. Jesus comes especially to redeem us from the slavery of sin by His sufferings and death and to open up Heaven to us. Jesus did not set a limit to His love for us. We are on earth to know, love and serve God, so that we may be happy with Him in Heaven for all eternity.
To please God, to be like Jesus, to imitate Mary and Joseph, I will pray a lot this week. In the spare moments, instead of entertaining useless thoughts, I will think of Jesus’ love for me. I will repeat to Him over and over again: “Jesus, I love You. Divine Child Jesus of Bethlehem, be born in my heart!” I will do my best not to offend Him with sin so that at Christmas He will find a clean and welcoming crib in my heart.