The Christmas Novena

About 45 years ago, my pen pal's Mom taught me this Christmas novena. Through the years, it has been a comfort to me.

I have had my petitions answered so many times that I now pray this daily and extra times when I find I'm in need. I don't believe He uses a calendar to separate our prayers. I also feel strongly that you don't have to be a Catholic to pray it and gain strength from it. We as Christians are all united in this advent season by the birth of our savior.

Starting today and 15 times a day until Christmas day, say this prayer:

"Hail and blessed be the hour and the moment in which the son of God was born of the most pure virgin Mary at midnight in Bethlehem in the piercing cold. In that hour vouchsafe O my God to hear my prayer and grant my desire thru the merits of our Savior, Jesus Christ, and of His Blessed Mother. Amen."

Also please pray the rosary on the 30th for world peace.

Wishing you a blessed and beautiful Advent Season. Hugs & blessings, Mickie Ferrante

Just as my eyes were welling up because my family had deserted me in the midst of putting up "stuff" that I am only going to have to take down in 30 days or so... I had overcome my inner-Scrooge and taken the stroll down memory lane but was left alone there by my family, missing my Dad, feeling overwhelmed with the to-do list, etc. That's when God gave me a "Kiss" and made it all better....

Best cure for the Christmas decorating, too much nostalgia, too much to do, family fighting, bah humbug blues? A dark chocolate Hershey’s kiss from last year found in the bottom of a stocking.
A sweet reminder that I am loved and under all the traditions, decorations, differences, disagreements and crazy nonsense is a sweet simple gift; sometimes forgotten but always there when you need to find it.

-- Krista Carty

WARNING: Advent virus

This was worth re-posting from last year. (Thanks Anne Mistretta!)

Be on the alert for symptoms of inner Hope, Peace, Joy and Love. The hearts of a great many have already been exposed to this virus and it is possible that people everywhere could come down with it in epidemic proportions. This could pose a serious threat to what has, up to now, been a fairly stable condition of conflict in the world.

Some signs and symptoms of The Advent Virus:
• A tendency to think and act spontaneously rather than on fears from past experiences.
• An unmistakable ability to enjoy each moment.
• A loss of interest in judging other people.
• A loss of interest in interpreting the actions of others.
• A loss of interest in conflict.
• A loss of the ability to worry. (This is a very serious symptom.)
• Frequent, overwhelming episodes of appreciation.
• Contented feelings of connectedness with others and nature.
• Frequent attacks of smiling.
• An increasing tendency to let things happen rather than make them happen.
• An increased susceptibility to the love extended by others as well as the uncontrollable urge to extend it.

Please send this warning out to all your friends. This virus can and has affected many systems. Some systems have been completely cleaned out because of it. You have been warned!

Here we are again.

Somehow there was already a purple candle aglow on the advent wreath at church today.

This doesn't bother me the way the Christmas music before Thanksgiving bothers me. The way the ceaseless Black Friday news and the quickly-filling December calendar make me edgy. But still.

But still.

But still...

BE still.

As I focused on that candle and tried to calm my mind, I had to wrestle with the noise and the nonsense that this time of year dishes out a'plenty. And knowing me, and knowing the world, I will be working on that daily from now until 2012.

Yet I know, that by doing the work, I'm going to find patches of sweetness and moments of quiet that would otherwise have passed me by.

That's one job I don't mind putting on my to-do list.

Welcome back to Advent all! Meg