Mother of Jesus, according to the Christian New Testament
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Pray the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Holy Rosary today with this beautiful guided rosary. Featuring a calm spoken female voice, soft ambient relaxing music, and extended music for personal meditation and intentions. Perfect for daily Catholic prayer, these Sorrowful Mysteries (traditionally prayed on Fridays and Tuesdays) focus on Christ's Passion and Death, helping you grow in sorrow for sin, patience in suffering, and deeper faith. Join in united prayer with the Blessed Virgin Mary as she intercedes for your intentions. Experience spiritual peace and connect with the Communion of Saints through this guided rosary meditation. May this rosary become a faithful companion in your daily prayer life. Be part of the universal Church's communal prayer and feel the solidarity of the saints. For more guided rosaries, relaxing prayer music, and Catholic devotionals: Subscribe for daily updates! Additional prayer tools: https://www.rosarywristband.com #HolyRosary #SorrowfulMysteries #RosaryToday #CatholicPrayer #GuidedRosary #RelaxingRosary #VisualRosary #FemaleVoiceRosary #AmbientMusicPrayer !!! SUPPORT OUR SAINTLY SOUNDS GREGORIAN CHANT CHANNEL !!! Catholic Prayers sung in Latin using actual prayer lyrics https://youtube.com/@sonisancti?si=k-ybNdVGdo_dFTEt Link to Gregorian Chant Prayer playlist: https://youtu.be/OVQfBVpJxVg?si=dZw92ColnO9Wv5As !!! SUPPORT OUR COMMUNION OF SAINTS CHANNEL !!! Spoken Rosary & music featuring a MALE VOICE https://youtube.com/@rosarycompanion?si=J4-MKOKo3mnxwpIS Have you joined our Membership? Starting at only $1.99 a month, you can directly help this channel grow: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLXCEpdy0etQAdEHB1z-oTg/join Or consider a donation through PayPal to help us continue creating quality content: https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?business=CHerrera720037%40gmail.com&cmd=_donations¤cy_code=USD&item_name=Donation+to+The+Communion+of+Saints&return=https%3A%2F%2Frosarywristband.com%2Fhome All music in this video is licensed thru Epidemic Sound Publishing. Blessings, Chris - The Communion of Saints Email: chris@rosarywristband.com Simply, easy and quick rosary prayers for everyday recitation and reflection. This collection of Catholic rosary videos in english serve as a daily devotion and feature calm background music and nature soundscapes. Choose from audio only or follow along video with all mysteries: Joyful, Sorrowful, Glorious and Luminous. Listen before sleep or any time for renewed focus and peace. "United in Prayer" Visit rosarywristband.com for comfortable one decade rosaries. #Rosary #SorrowfulMysteries #CatholicMeditation #TuesdayRosary #todayrosary #todayrosaryinenglish #dailyrosaryinenglish
Pray the Holy Rosary today with the Luminous Mysteries (traditionally prayed on Thursdays). Join us for a beautiful rosary featuring a calm spoken female voice and soft ambient relaxing music to deepen your meditation. This guided Luminous Mysteries Rosary focuses on key moments from Jesus' public ministry: The Baptism in the Jordan The Wedding at Cana The Proclamation of the Kingdom The Transfiguration The Institution of the Eucharist Experience the fruits of these mysteries, including openness to the Holy Spirit, gratitude for Mary's intercession, and deeper adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. United in prayer with the Communion of Saints, let the Blessed Virgin Mary carry your intentions to her Son. Perfect for daily Catholic prayer, relaxation, stress relief, or extended meditation with peaceful background music. May this Rosary prayer become a cherished part of your spiritual life. For more prayer resources, visit www.rosarywristband.com #HolyRosary #LuminousMysteries #ThursdayRosary #Rosary2026 #CatholicPrayer #GuidedRosary #FemaleVoiceRosary #RelaxingRosary #PrayTheRosary !!! SUPPORT OUR SAINTLY SOUNDS GREGORIAN CHANT CHANNEL !!! Catholic Prayers sung in Latin using actual prayer lyrics https://youtube.com/@sonisancti?si=k-ybNdVGdo_dFTEt Link to Gregorian Chant Prayer playlist: https://youtu.be/OVQfBVpJxVg?si=dZw92ColnO9Wv5As !!! SUPPORT OUR COMMUNION OF SAINTS CHANNEL !!! Spoken Rosary & music featuring a MALE VOICE https://youtube.com/@rosarycompanion?si=J4-MKOKo3mnxwpIS Have you joined our Membership? Starting at only $1.99 a month, you can directly help this channel grow: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLXCEpdy0etQAdEHB1z-oTg/join Or consider a donation through PayPal to help us continue creating quality content: https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?business=CHerrera720037%40gmail.com&cmd=_donations¤cy_code=USD&item_name=Donation+to+The+Communion+of+Saints&return=https%3A%2F%2Frosarywristband.com%2Fhome All music in this video is licensed thru Epidemic Sound Publishing. Blessings, Chris - The Communion of Saints Email: chris@rosarywristband.com Simply, easy and quick rosary prayers for everyday recitation and reflection. This collection of Catholic rosary videos in english serve as a daily devotion and feature calm background music and nature soundscapes. Choose from audio only or follow along video with all mysteries: Joyful, Sorrowful, Glorious and Luminous. Listen before sleep or any time for renewed focus and peace. "United in Prayer" Visit rosarywristband.com for comfortable one decade rosaries. #Rosary #JoyfulMysteries #CatholicMeditation #MondayRosary #todayrosary #todayrosaryinenglish #dailyrosaryinenglish
When God created Adam and Eve, he also created the family by uniting them in marriage. When Our Lord came down from heaven, He did so in the context of the family, specifically the Holy Family consisting of Himself along with St. Joseph and the Blessed Virgin Mary. It is easy to conceive that it was within the Holy Family that Christ learned the practice of prayer. The Gospel of St. Luke testifies to the fact that, as a family, they visited the Temple to pray. And so we, too, can use the prayer life of the Holy Family as a model for how we ought to pray united as a family.
Pray the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Holy Rosary today with this beautiful guided rosary. Featuring a calm spoken female voice, soft ambient relaxing music, and extended music for personal meditation and intentions. Perfect for daily Catholic prayer, these Sorrowful Mysteries (traditionally prayed on Tuesdays and Fridays) focus on Christ's Passion and Death, helping you grow in sorrow for sin, patience in suffering, and deeper faith. Join in united prayer with the Blessed Virgin Mary as she intercedes for your intentions. Experience spiritual peace and connect with the Communion of Saints through this guided rosary meditation. May this rosary become a faithful companion in your daily prayer life. Be part of the universal Church's communal prayer and feel the solidarity of the saints. For more guided rosaries, relaxing prayer music, and Catholic devotionals: Subscribe for daily updates! Additional prayer tools: https://www.rosarywristband.com #HolyRosary #SorrowfulMysteries #RosaryToday #CatholicPrayer #GuidedRosary #RelaxingRosary #VisualRosary #FemaleVoiceRosary #AmbientMusicPrayer !!! SUPPORT OUR SAINTLY SOUNDS GREGORIAN CHANT CHANNEL !!! Catholic Prayers sung in Latin using actual prayer lyrics https://youtube.com/@sonisancti?si=k-ybNdVGdo_dFTEt Link to Gregorian Chant Prayer playlist: https://youtu.be/OVQfBVpJxVg?si=dZw92ColnO9Wv5As !!! SUPPORT OUR COMMUNION OF SAINTS CHANNEL !!! Spoken Rosary & music featuring a MALE VOICE https://youtube.com/@rosarycompanion?si=J4-MKOKo3mnxwpIS Have you joined our Membership? Starting at only $1.99 a month, you can directly help this channel grow: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLXCEpdy0etQAdEHB1z-oTg/join Or consider a donation through PayPal to help us continue creating quality content: https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?business=CHerrera720037%40gmail.com&cmd=_donations¤cy_code=USD&item_name=Donation+to+The+Communion+of+Saints&return=https%3A%2F%2Frosarywristband.com%2Fhome All music in this video is licensed thru Epidemic Sound Publishing. Blessings, Chris - The Communion of Saints Email: chris@rosarywristband.com Simply, easy and quick rosary prayers for everyday recitation and reflection. This collection of Catholic rosary videos in english serve as a daily devotion and feature calm background music and nature soundscapes. Choose from audio only or follow along video with all mysteries: Joyful, Sorrowful, Glorious and Luminous. Listen before sleep or any time for renewed focus and peace. "United in Prayer" Visit rosarywristband.com for comfortable one decade rosaries. #Rosary #SorrowfulMysteries #CatholicMeditation #TuesdayRosary #todayrosary #todayrosaryinenglish #dailyrosaryinenglish
Pray the Joyful Mysteries of the Holy Rosary today with this beautiful rosary guided by a calm female voice and soft ambient music. Perfect for Monday rosary prayer (Joyful Mysteries are traditionally prayed on Mondays and Saturdays). Join in united prayer as we meditate on the Incarnation and early life of Jesus: The Annunciation (Fruit: Humility) The Visitation (Fruit: Love of Neighbor) The Nativity (Fruit: Poverty of Spirit) The Presentation (Fruit: Purity) The Finding in the Temple (Fruit: Obedience) This peaceful rosary features extended relaxing background music for deeper meditation and reflection. Let the Blessed Virgin Mary intercede for your intentions as you connect with the Communion of Saints in this timeless Catholic devotion. May this daily rosary become a cherished part of your prayer life. For more prayer tools, visit www.rosarywristband.com !!! SUPPORT OUR SAINTLY SOUNDS GREGORIAN CHANT CHANNEL !!! Catholic Prayers sung in Latin using actual prayer lyrics https://youtube.com/@sonisancti?si=k-ybNdVGdo_dFTEt Link to Gregorian Chant Prayer playlist: https://youtu.be/OVQfBVpJxVg?si=dZw92ColnO9Wv5As !!! SUPPORT OUR COMMUNION OF SAINTS CHANNEL !!! Spoken Rosary & music featuring a MALE VOICE https://youtube.com/@rosarycompanion?si=J4-MKOKo3mnxwpIS Have you joined our Membership? Starting at only $1.99 a month, you can directly help this channel grow: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLXCEpdy0etQAdEHB1z-oTg/join Or consider a donation through PayPal to help us continue creating quality content: https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?business=CHerrera720037%40gmail.com&cmd=_donations¤cy_code=USD&item_name=Donation+to+The+Communion+of+Saints&return=https%3A%2F%2Frosarywristband.com%2Fhome Blessings, Chris - The Communion of Saints Email: chris@rosarywristband.com Simply, easy and quick rosary prayers for everyday recitation and reflection. This collection of Catholic rosary videos in english serve as a daily devotion and feature calm background music and nature soundscapes. Choose from audio only or follow along video with all mysteries: Joyful, Sorrowful, Glorious and Luminous. Listen before sleep or any time for renewed focus and peace. "United in Prayer" Visit rosarywristband.com for comfortable one decade rosaries. All music in this video is licensed thru Epidemic Sound Publishing. #Rosary #JoyfulMysteries #CatholicMeditation #MondayRosary #todayrosary #todayrosaryinenglish #dailyrosaryinenglish
The Blessed Virgin Mary's visit to her cousin Elizabeth was a work of mercy and so much more! Fr. Chris Alar, MIC, discusses the many facets of this event and what it means for our faith. Become a Marian Helper!Discover more about the Catholic faith on Divine Mercy Plus!
Father Ron Rolheiser's new book Insane for the Light: A Spirituality for Our Wisdom Years, which is about how to grow old well and be fruitful, first giving your life away and then your death so as to be a blessing. That's a recipe for joy. We also talked about mysticism, St. John of the Cross, and some miraculous experiences in real people's lives that reveal God abiding and deep love, mercy, and patience with us all; that is truly the Good News of the Lord. I really, really enjoyed this book, and this conversation. Father Ron grew up in on a farm on Cactus Lake, Saskatchawan, on the Canadian prairie. He joined the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate in 1966 and was ordained to the priesthood in 1972; he has many degrees in theology and philosophy including a doctorate from the University of Louvain in 1983. He started writing a column, In Exile, over forty years ago, and has also written (by my count) sixteen books. He has been Provincial Superior of his order, worked in its administration in Rome for six years, and taught theology in a number of august institutions. He still goes home to Cactus Lake, especially for Christmas. We recorded this episode on December 9, 2025, the Feast of Our Lady of Gudalupe, and Juan Diego, and also the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This will be our Christmas episode too and the last episode of 2025 and the first of the new liturgical year, so in keeping with our tradition I will play some Christmas Carols from Josh and Margot of the Great Space Coaster band with whom I was singing these carols last week. Merry Christmas, Happy New Year. God bless you! Father Ron Rolheiser's website, which includes his books and his column. Father Ron's new book, Insane for the Light (2025), at Penguin and at Amazon. Josh and Margot's Christmas Carols on Soundcloud. Related Almost Good Catholics episodes: Joseph Pearce on Almost Good Catholics, episode 10: What about Hell? CS Lewis and Theology of the Afterlife. Fr Chris Alar on Almost Good Catholics, episode 61: Master Craftsman, Broken Tools: Why God Works Through Us, Hears Intercessory Prayers, and Grants Divine Mercy Colleen Dulle on Almost Good Catholics, episode 107: Struck Down, Not Destroyed: Keeping the Faith as a Vatican Reporter And our discussion about Our Lady of Guadalupe on Almost Good Catholics: Joseph González and Monique González on Almost Good Catholics, episode 74: Our Lady of Guadalupe and Aztec True Myth: How the Flower World Bloomed into History in 1531 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network
End your day with calm and grace through this peaceful night prayer. In this follow-along bedtime prayer, we entrust ourselves to God's care, give thanks for the blessings of the day, and ask for restful sleep under the protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary.Let this be a gentle companion as you quiet your mind and heart before sleep.Subscribe to RosaryMinded for daily prayers, Rosaries, and spiritual comfort.#EveningPrayer #BedtimePrayer #RosaryMinded #NightPrayer #CatholicPrayer #PeacefulPrayer
Octave Day of Christmas: Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God
The post Gospel-Homily for Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God (2026) appeared first on St. Clement Eucharistic Shrine.
January First is the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, a Holy Day of Obligation for Catholics (meaning that Mass attendance is required), also observed by some Protestants (Anglicans & Lutherans) as a related feast. On this day, the Church proclaims Mary as Theotokos (God-bearer), affirming that the Son she conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit is truly God and truly man. The Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary is thus a liturgical celebration observed on January 1st and marks the octave of Christmas, celebrating her divine motherhood. Bishop Robert Barron books available at https://amzn.to/44W7nwN Breathe Bible Audio CD available at https://amzn.to/3CPRa4x Saint of the Day podcast with M. Roberts at https://ourcatholicradio.org/programs/saint-day Gospel of Luke available at https://amzn.to/3M6sTId ENJOY Ad-Free content, Bonus episodes, and Extra materials when joining our growing community on https://patreon.com/markvinet SUPPORT this channel by purchasing any product on Amazon using this FREE entry LINK https://amzn.to/3POlrUD (Amazon gives us credit at NO extra charge to you). Mark Vinet's HISTORY OF NORTH AMERICA podcast: www.parthenonpodcast.com/history-of-north-america Mark's TIMELINE video channel: https://youtube.com/c/TIMELINE_MarkVinet Website: https://markvinet.com/podcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mark.vinet.9 Twitter: https://twitter.com/HistoricalJesu Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/denarynovels Mark's books: https://amzn.to/3k8qrGM Audio credits: Breathe Bible podcast (LifeAudio Podcast Network, Salem Web Network); Bishop Barron’s Sunday Sermons-Herod and Joseph, 25dec2019 (Word on Fire Catholic Ministries); Saint of the Day with Mike Roberts-January 1 Solemnity Of The Blessed Virgin Mary, Jan. 1, 2024 (Covenant Network). Saint of the Day podcast: The Flight into Egypt of the Holy Family (26dec2023), Greek Orthodox Deacon Jerome Atherholt and Ancient Faith Radio. The Saint of the Day podcast (S1E319 St. Joseph 19mar2023). Saint of the Day with Mike Roberts: Solemnity Of Saint Joseph (episode e324, 19mar2024). Audio excerpts reproduced under the Fair Use (Fair Dealings) Legal Doctrine for purposes such as criticism, comment, teaching, education, scholarship, research and news reporting. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
End your day with calm and grace through this peaceful night prayer. In this follow-along bedtime prayer, we entrust ourselves to God's care, give thanks for the blessings of the day, and ask for restful sleep under the protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary.Let this be a gentle companion as you quiet your mind and heart before sleep.Subscribe to RosaryMinded for daily prayers, Rosaries, and spiritual comfort.#EveningPrayer #BedtimePrayer #RosaryMinded #NightPrayer #CatholicPrayer #PeacefulPrayer
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Read OnlineThe shepherds went in haste to Bethlehem and found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known the message that had been told them about this child. All who heard it were amazed by what had been told them by the shepherds. And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart. Luke 2:16–19 At the birth of Christ, the Blessed Mother's Immaculate Heart was full of love and grace, so full that it overflowed in superabundance. Her human heart could not contain all that consumed it. Seeing her Child, having Saint Joseph near, and being accompanied by God's creatures within that sacred cave near Bethlehem was all that she needed for her complete fulfillment. But God gave her even more.As that holy night unfolded, an angel of the Lord appeared to the poor shepherds tending their flocks in the fields. The angel announced “good news of great joy that will be for all the people” (Luke 2:10). The angel went on to declare, “Today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Messiah and Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger” (Luke 2:11–12). Then, a multitude of heavenly hosts appeared, glorifying God with their song of praise.Such an experience compelled these lowly shepherds to immediately seek out this newborn Messiah. When they found Him, they revealed to our Blessed Mother and Saint Joseph what the angel had said to them, and “Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart” (Luke 2:19). It is this Immaculate Heart and the motherhood of the Blessed Virgin Mary that we celebrate today.Because Mary's Immaculate Heart was overflowing with love and grace, these humble shepherds gave her the opportunity to share that love and grace. While they blessed her and Saint Joseph by their presence and adoration, she blessed them even more by being an instrument and mediatrix of God's love through her newborn Son.Mary was not only the mother of the flesh of her Son, but the mother of the Person Who is the Son of God. For this reason, the Church, in Her wisdom, has ascribed to her the title, “Mother of God.” Jesus was her Son, and Jesus is God. Therefore, she is rightly honored as the Mother of God.As the Mother of God, Mary's Immaculate Heart continues to overflow with love and grace. Just as she did with the shepherds on that first Christmas night, her heart continues to pour forth all that it contains upon us, her spiritual sons and daughters. The extent to which we are members of Christ's Body, the Church, is the extent to which the Blessed Mother's motherhood is active in our lives, just as it was in the life of her Son and as it touched the lives of the shepherds. Reflect today on this glorious title given to Jesus' mother—the Mother of God. As you do, ponder the role she plays in your life and in the life of the entire Church. By giving birth to the Messiah, the Son of God, she gave birth to the Church, becoming mother and mediatrix to us all. Seek her intercession, mediation, and motherhood, knowing that doing so not only honors her Son, but also cooperates with His divine plan of salvation. Most glorious Mother of God, your Immaculate Heart is overflowing with love and the fullness of grace. Your love for all of God's children compels you to share that grace with all who come to you and your divine Son. Please count me among your children and lavish upon me all that is contained in your pondering heart of pure love and grace. Mother of God, pray for us. Jesus, I trust in You.Image via Adobe StockSource of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2025 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.
Friends of the Rosary,Today, December 31, on the last day of the year, the Bible presents the beginning of the Gospel of John (1:1-18), proclaiming that because the Word became flesh and dwells among us, every moment is a new start.In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came to be through him, and without him nothing came to be. What came to be through him was life, and this life was the light of the human race; the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.Also today, on the Seventh Day of Christmas, the Church celebrates the Optional Memorial of St. Sylvester I, Pope and Confessor (died 335 A.D.). He ruled the Church during the reign of Constantine when the Arian heresy and the Donatist schism had provoked great discord. He convoked the first Ecumenical Council of Nicaea.In addition, we honor St. Catherine Labouré (1806-1876). a member of the Daughters of Charity to whom the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared three times in 1830 in Paris and commissioned the Miraculous Medal to spread devotion to it.Ave MariaCome, Holy Spirit, come!To Jesus through Mary!Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.Please give us the grace to respond with joy!+ Mikel Amigot w/ María Blanca | RosaryNetwork.com, New YorkEnhance your faith with the new Holy Rosary University app:Apple iOS | New! Android Google Play• December 31, 2025, Today's Rosary on YouTube | Daily broadcast at 7:30 pm ET
End your day with calm and grace through this peaceful night prayer. In this follow-along bedtime prayer, we entrust ourselves to God's care, give thanks for the blessings of the day, and ask for restful sleep under the protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary.Let this be a gentle companion as you quiet your mind and heart before sleep.Subscribe to RosaryMinded for daily prayers, Rosaries, and spiritual comfort.#EveningPrayer #BedtimePrayer #RosaryMinded #NightPrayer #CatholicPrayer #PeacefulPrayer
End your day with calm and grace through this peaceful night prayer. In this follow-along bedtime prayer, we entrust ourselves to God's care, give thanks for the blessings of the day, and ask for restful sleep under the protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary.Let this be a gentle companion as you quiet your mind and heart before sleep.Subscribe to RosaryMinded for daily prayers, Rosaries, and spiritual comfort.#EveningPrayer #BedtimePrayer #RosaryMinded #NightPrayer #CatholicPrayer #PeacefulPrayer
It's because of her that all this has happened! Will you also say “yes!”?
It's because of her that all this has happened! Will you say “yes” too?
End your day with calm and grace through this peaceful night prayer. In this follow-along bedtime prayer, we entrust ourselves to God's care, give thanks for the blessings of the day, and ask for restful sleep under the protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary.Let this be a gentle companion as you quiet your mind and heart before sleep.Subscribe to RosaryMinded for daily prayers, Rosaries, and spiritual comfort.#EveningPrayer #BedtimePrayer #RosaryMinded #NightPrayer #CatholicPrayer #PeacefulPrayer
End your day with calm and grace through this peaceful night prayer. In this follow-along bedtime prayer, we entrust ourselves to God's care, give thanks for the blessings of the day, and ask for restful sleep under the protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary.Let this be a gentle companion as you quiet your mind and heart before sleep.Subscribe to RosaryMinded for daily prayers, Rosaries, and spiritual comfort.#EveningPrayer #BedtimePrayer #RosaryMinded #NightPrayer #CatholicPrayer #PeacefulPrayer
End your day with calm and grace through this peaceful night prayer. In this follow-along bedtime prayer, we entrust ourselves to God's care, give thanks for the blessings of the day, and ask for restful sleep under the protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary.Let this be a gentle companion as you quiet your mind and heart before sleep.Subscribe to RosaryMinded for daily prayers, Rosaries, and spiritual comfort.#EveningPrayer #BedtimePrayer #RosaryMinded #NightPrayer #CatholicPrayer #PeacefulPrayer
As this holy Christmas day comes to a close, end your evening with a moment of calm and grace. In this peaceful night prayer, we entrust ourselves to the loving care of God and give thanks for the gift of Christ born among us.Together, we ask for restful sleep under the gentle protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary on this sacred night.Let this prayer be a quiet companion as you settle your heart, reflect on the blessings of Christmas, and rest in God's peace.#EveningPrayer #NightPrayer #CatholicPrayer #ChristmasPrayer #PeacefulPrayerSubscribe for daily prayers, Rosaries, and spiritual comfort.
End your day with calm and grace through this peaceful night prayer. In this follow-along bedtime prayer, we entrust ourselves to God's care, give thanks for the blessings of the day, and ask for restful sleep under the protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary.Let this be a gentle companion as you quiet your mind and heart before sleep.Subscribe to RosaryMinded for daily prayers, Rosaries, and spiritual comfort.#EveningPrayer #BedtimePrayer #RosaryMinded #NightPrayer #CatholicPrayer #PeacefulPrayer
Read OnlineWhile they were there, the time came for her to have her child, and she gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. Luke 2:6–7 (Gospel from Mass During the Night)A loving mother and father who experience the birth of their first child receive insight into the sacredness and beauty of this scene. Though great mystery surrounds Jesus' conception within the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary, she was truly His mother, and He was truly her Son. Saint Joseph, knowing he was not this Child's biological father, made a profound act of faith by accepting that fatherly responsibility, as instructed in a dream by an angel of the Lord. Because of his faith and God-given mission, Joseph's commitment to being the father of the Son of God was one that only a most loving and devoted father would make. As we celebrate Christmas Day, we are reminded of the humility with which our Lord chose to enter the world. Jesus was born in a place where animals dwelt because Mary and Joseph were away from their home to register for the Roman census. At first glance, one might conclude that the physical environment, most likely a cave, was unfortunate. However, we can be certain that this humble and poor setting was part of God's divine plan, adding to the glory of that night. Christ, in His humility, chose this setting to reveal to us the true greatness of love.The poverty and humility of the cave and the manger—a feeding trough for animals—helped point to the sacredness of Jesus' birth. No glamor, no fancy or comfortable setting, only love. Pure love. The love in the heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the devotion of Saint Joseph, and the Incarnate presence of the Son of God were everything needed to make that night glorious.One lesson we can learn from the Nativity of the Lord is that the beauty, peacefulness, and contentment of our lives are not dependent upon how much money or how many material possessions we have, but rather on the purity of our love. The Holy Family's hearts were perfectly fulfilled, not because of their surroundings, but because of their intimate union with God in the person of Jesus Christ.The presence of the Son of God in that place of poverty sheds light on the true riches we crave. The true treasures we seek are found not in wealth, comfort, or possessions, but in the love and grace of God. The Holy Family's witness reveals to us that when we place our hearts in God's hands, we will be filled with all we need. Reflect today on that most sacred, simple, and humble scene. As you do, try to imagine how humanly fulfilling that experience was for the Holy Family. Jesus was wrapped tightly in swaddling clothing, and He was adored with the greatest affection of His mother and foster father. Mary and Joseph's hearts contained all that was necessary for profound gratitude and fulfillment. If you struggle with being fulfilled, learn a lesson from the Holy Family and seek to imitate Mary and Joseph so that your love for our Incarnate Lord fills you with all you need. My Incarnate Lord, Your divine nature, united to Your human nature, transformed that humble cave near Bethlehem into a tabernacle filled with the most powerful bonds of pure love. Please draw me into that sacred scene and help me to share in the love in the Immaculate Heart of Your mother, as well as the human devotion of Your foster father, Joseph. May I find contentment and total fulfillment in life by seeing You and loving You in every way that You come to me. Jesus, I trust in You.Image: Gerard van Honthorst, Public domain, via Wikimedia CommonsSource of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2025 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.
Rachel Mastrogiacomo sits down with John-Henry Westen to share her story of surviving Satanic ritual abuse at the hands of a Catholic priest—during the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.Rachel reveals how total consecration to the Blessed Virgin Mary in her youth became the decisive grace that shattered the psychological and spiritual domination she endured. She details a journey of unspeakable horror transformed through redemptive suffering, the Eucharist, and the maternal protection of the Immaculate Heart.HELP SUPPORT WORK LIKE THIS: https://give.lifesitenews.com/?utm_source=CH25_videoU.S. residents! Create a will with LifeSiteNews: https://www.mylegacywill.com/lifesitenews ****PROTECT Your Wealth with gold, silver, and precious metals: https://sjp.stjosephpartners.com/lifesitenews +++SHOP ALL YOUR FUN AND FAVORITE LIFESITE MERCH! https://shop.lifesitenews.com/ ****Download the all-new LSNTV App now, available on iPhone and Android!LSNTV Apple Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/lsntv/id6469105564 LSNTV Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.lifesitenews.app +++Connect with John-Henry Westen and all of LifeSiteNews on social media:LifeSite: https://linktr.ee/lifesitenewsJohn-Henry Westen: https://linktr.ee/jhwesten Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On this episode of the National Crawford Roundtable podcast the guys discuss the true meaning of Christmas.
End your day with calm and grace through this peaceful night prayer. In this follow-along bedtime prayer, we entrust ourselves to God's care, give thanks for the blessings of the day, and ask for restful sleep under the protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary.Let this be a gentle companion as you quiet your mind and heart before sleep.Subscribe to RosaryMinded for daily prayers, Rosaries, and spiritual comfort.#EveningPrayer #BedtimePrayer #RosaryMinded #NightPrayer #CatholicPrayer #PeacefulPrayer
Send us a textWhy does the Blessed Virgin Mary keep appearing — across centuries, cultures, and continents?From Fatima and Lourdes to Akita, Kibeho, Aokpe, and Champion, Heaven repeats the same call again and again.In this episode of Catholic Minute, Ken and Janelle explore why Mary appears in times of crisis — and what Heaven is asking of us today.Support the showSupport this show and get all future episodes by email atwww.kenandjanelle.com
End your day with calm and grace through this peaceful night prayer. In this follow-along bedtime prayer, we entrust ourselves to God's care, give thanks for the blessings of the day, and ask for restful sleep under the protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary.Let this be a gentle companion as you quiet your mind and heart before sleep.Subscribe to RosaryMinded for daily prayers, Rosaries, and spiritual comfort.#EveningPrayer #BedtimePrayer #RosaryMinded #NightPrayer #CatholicPrayer #PeacefulPrayer
Last week, Warren Kids presented "It All Happened in the Country " during the service! It can be found on our YouTube page HERE. This week, Pastor Kenny shares a message from Luke 1 about the Mary, the mother of Jesus, and how her example of faith can be a blueprint for our lives.
Read OnlineWhen they came on the eighth day to circumcise the child, they were going to call him Zechariah after his father, but his mother said in reply, “No. He will be called John.” But they answered her, “There is no one among your relatives who has this name.” So they made signs, asking his father what he wished him to be called. He asked for a tablet and wrote, “John is his name,” and all were amazed. Luke 1:59–63At the time of John the Baptist's birth, it was customary for family, neighbors, and others within the community to gather for a child's circumcision on the eighth day. According to Genesis 17:1–14, when God appeared to Abraham and established a covenant with him and his descendants, circumcision was instituted as the external sign of this covenant for every male child on the eighth day. Over time, it also became customary to name the child as part of the ceremony.The naming of a child in Jewish tradition was significant. A child's name connected him to his family and continued the family lineage. It was a way of honoring the family member whose name the child was given. Customarily, the firstborn male was named after his father or another significant relative. That's why the family and friends who gathered for John's naming and circumcision were surprised when he was not named Zechariah after his father and even more surprised when he was given the name John, a name that no other relative had.The inclusion of this story in the Gospel narrative indicates that John's name and its departure from Jewish custom hold special significance. Giving him a name that no other family member had was God's way of indicating that John's family, identity, and mission extended beyond his blood relatives. The name John means “God is gracious” or “God has been gracious.” Hence, John's name points beyond his life to God, the Source of grace. His mission was universal, preparing the way of the Lord for all people. Through John, the gateway of God's grace and mercy is proclaimed, and Jesus, the source of grace and salvation, enters. As we reflect on John the Baptist and his unique identity, we should also ponder our own identity in Christ. While family is the first and most important community where we come to know God and learn to love, God also calls us to an identity that transcends our biological family. We receive our most important identity through baptism. Just as circumcision was the sign of the Old Covenant, baptism is the sacrament that initiates us into the New Covenant in Christ.Through baptism, we take on a new identity and become members of the one, eternal family of God. All who are in a state of grace are brothers and sisters in Christ, with God as our Father and the Blessed Virgin Mary as our spiritual mother.Reflect today on your identity in Christ. In many cultures, it is customary to receive a new name at baptism, symbolizing this new identity. Ponder the identity given to you through baptism, the identity that defines who you truly are. Embrace this identity with all your heart.My Lord and God, in You and You alone do I find my true identity. Through my baptism, I have entered into Your family of grace and become a child of Your Father in Heaven. Please help me to fully embrace this Christian identity and dignity, always living as the child of God I am called to be. Jesus, I trust in You.Image: Wolfgang Sauber, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia CommonsSource of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2025 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.
The readings for this homily: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/122225.cfmFather Daniel Klimek, MIC confronts a growing indifference toward the Blessed Virgin Mary—even among Catholics—and reminds us that authentic Christianity is always Marian. The words of the Magnificat are not poetic exaggeration; they are divinely inspired truth: “From now on will all ages call me blessed.” (Lk 1:48; NABRE). Reverence for Mary is not optional sentiment—it is a biblical directive.Mary's song echoes the praise of Miriam in the Old Testament, yet now the liberation announced is not political, but eternal. Through the womb of the Virgin, Christ enters the world. She becomes the Ark of the New Covenant, bearing not the law written on stone, but the Word made flesh. To diminish her role is to misunderstand the Incarnation itself.Father Daniel warns that indifference toward Mary is one of the most subtle spiritual dangers of our time. When Marian devotion is reduced to a “personal spirituality,” something essential is lost. From the Cross, Jesus entrusted His Mother to the beloved disciple—and in him, to every Christian: “Behold, your mother” (Jn 19:27; NABRE). This was not symbolic poetry; it was a sacred investiture.To honor Mary never detracts from Christ. As the saints affirm, devotion to the Mother always leads more deeply to the Son. The Immaculate Heart is inseparably united to the Sacred Heart. When we receive Mary into our spiritual life, as St. John did, our faith becomes more profound, more biblical, and more fully Catholic.Mary is not an accessory to the Gospel. She is at its heart. To receive her is to receive one of Christ's final gifts from the Cross—a Mother who intercedes, protects, and leads us unfailingly to Him. ★ Support this podcast ★
End your day with calm and grace through this peaceful night prayer. In this follow-along bedtime prayer, we entrust ourselves to God's care, give thanks for the blessings of the day, and ask for restful sleep under the protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary.Let this be a gentle companion as you quiet your mind and heart before sleep.Subscribe to RosaryMinded for daily prayers, Rosaries, and spiritual comfort.#EveningPrayer #BedtimePrayer #RosaryMinded #NightPrayer #CatholicPrayer #PeacefulPrayer
End your day with calm and grace through this peaceful night prayer. In this follow-along bedtime prayer, we entrust ourselves to God's care, give thanks for the blessings of the day, and ask for restful sleep under the protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary.Let this be a gentle companion as you quiet your mind and heart before sleep.Subscribe to RosaryMinded for daily prayers, Rosaries, and spiritual comfort.#EveningPrayer #BedtimePrayer #RosaryMinded #NightPrayer #CatholicPrayer #PeacefulPrayer
End your day with calm and grace through this peaceful night prayer. In this follow-along bedtime prayer, we entrust ourselves to God's care, give thanks for the blessings of the day, and ask for restful sleep under the protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary.Let this be a gentle companion as you quiet your mind and heart before sleep.Subscribe to RosaryMinded for daily prayers, Rosaries, and spiritual comfort.#EveningPrayer #BedtimePrayer #RosaryMinded #NightPrayer #CatholicPrayer #PeacefulPrayer
Read OnlineIn the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin's name was Mary. And coming to her, he said, “Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.” But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.” Luke 1:26–29The phrase “full of grace” is a translation of the Greek word kecharitomene. It can be translated more literally as “having been graced” or “you who have been fully graced.” The tense of the word indicates that Mary has been graced by God in a unique and ongoing way, implying that this grace was not a one-time event but something encompassing her entire being and continuing to have effect.What was the Blessed Virgin Mary's response to this amazing greeting? She pondered the archangel's greeting with humility and initially responded with silence and in awe. Gabriel, aware of Mary's humility in her silence, says, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God…” Gabriel then goes on to tell her she will conceive the Son of God within her womb.Given her immaculate nature and the fullness of grace within her soul, Mary immediately obeyed the archangel's command and did not give into fear. Yet her “greatly troubled” heart led her to ongoing pondering and contemplation of all that was said to her.As we draw closer to the Solemnity of Christmas, we are invited to share in the Blessed Mother's contemplation of the mystery of the Incarnation. We can be certain that as Gabriel departed from her, her prayerful pondering did not cease. The ongoing fullness of grace within her soul led her to the deepest contemplation of this divine mystery that was humanly possible. Her mind would have penetrated the words spoken to her and perceived the mystery of the Incarnation taking place within her womb in ways that even she could not explain. With the fullness of grace came the fullness of infused knowledge, which is beyond human articulation.In our lives, we often fail to humbly ponder the profound reality of the Incarnation. We must have a “troubled heart” in the sense of remaining in awe of what God has done for us by taking on our human nature. We must allow Mary's pondering to become our own so that we enter more deeply into the great mystery we celebrate.As we prepare for the celebration of Christmas, reflect upon Mary's pondering mind and heart. Though we will never engage in her depth of contemplative prayer, she is our model. We must accept every divine mystery revealed to us with faith and then grapple with each mystery on a deeper level that can only be accomplished by contemplative prayer. Those who attain this depth of prayer are drawn exceptionally close to God Who uses them to continue the effect of the Incarnation by spiritually giving birth to Christ in their lives. Immaculate Mother of God, you were called “full of grace” by the Archangel Gabriel. You humbly listened to all that was spoken to you and accepted it with faith, surrender, and humility. Please pray for me, that I will imitate your pondering Immaculate Heart so that I will be better prepared for the great Solemnity of Christmas Day. Mother Mary, pray for me. Jesus, I trust in You.Image: Fra Angelico, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia CommonsSource of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2025 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.
Welcome to the podcast of Saint Patrick's Anglican Church in Lexington, KY. We meet Sundays at 4:30 p.m. at 200 Colony Blvd., Lexington, KY 40502. This podcast contains sermons and teaching for spiritual formation. Explore our church at www.saintpatrickschurch.org
Welcome to the podcast of Saint Patrick's Anglican Church in Lexington, KY. We meet Sundays at 4:30 p.m. at 200 Colony Blvd., Lexington, KY 40502. This podcast contains sermons and teaching for spiritual formation. Explore our church at www.saintpatrickschurch.org
Welcome to the podcast of Saint Patrick's Anglican Church in Lexington, KY. We meet Sundays at 4:30 p.m. at 200 Colony Blvd., Lexington, KY 40502. This podcast contains sermons and teaching for spiritual formation. Explore our church at www.saintpatrickschurch.org
Read OnlineBut the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall name him John. And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord.” Luke 1:13–15Unlike Saint Joseph and the Blessed Virgin Mary, Zechariah doubted the angel of the Lord's revelation. Our Blessed Mother encountered the Archangel Gabriel at the Annunciation and responded, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38). An angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, and when Joseph awoke, “he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him” (Matthew 1:24).Today, we are given a similar scene to ponder. Zechariah and Elizabeth are identified as being “righteous in the eyes of God, observing all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blamelessly” (Luke 1:6). In other words, Zechariah was a holy man of God. While he was standing at the altar of incense located in the Holy Place, just outside the veil of the Holy of Holies, the Archangel Gabriel appeared to him to announce that his wife had conceived a child in her old age. Gabriel further reveals, “He will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother's womb, and he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God” (Luke 1:15–16).Given Zechariah's personal holiness and the extraordinary revelation he received from Gabriel, he should have believed what Gabriel said without hesitation. When he failed to do so, Gabriel said to him, “I am Gabriel, who stand before God. I was sent to speak to you and to announce to you this good news. But now you will be speechless and unable to talk until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words…” (Luke 1:19–20).This chastisement was clearly for Zechariah's benefit. Despite his lack of faith, God wanted him to participate in His divine plan of salvation. The chastisement was not a punishment in a punitive way. It was meant to instill greater faith in him, and it accomplished its purpose.Most of us are more like Zechariah than we are like our Blessed Mother and Saint Joseph. Despite our best intentions and attempts to remain faithful to God's will, we stumble. When that happens, we must see any consequences as a gift of love from God. Chastisements come in many forms. They are meant to wake us up to a greater obedience to God's will. Reflect today on any ways that your sins have resulted in consequences. It takes deep humility to admit our sins and take responsibility for their effects. Though it is easy to be angry, to point the finger elsewhere, and to justify our actions, doing so is a rejection of God's loving chastisement meant for our good. Strive to imitate Zecharaiah by humbly changing when your sin results in consequences so that God can bring good into your life, even from a lack of faith and obedience to His will.Most merciful Lord, You chastise those whom You love so as to redirect them to Your holy will. When I sin, please help me to accept the consequences with humility and as a motivation to turn back to You in fidelity and love. Please make me holy in imitation of Zechariah, Saint Joseph, and our Blessed Mother. Jesus, I trust in You.Image: William Blake, CC0, via Wikimedia CommonsSource of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2025 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.
The Liturgical Year is a multi-volume work written between 1841 and 1875, by Dom Prosper Gueranger, abbot of the French Benedictine abbey of Solesmes. It is a rich theological reflection on the various feasts and seasons of the Church's liturgical cycle. Please consider donating to help keep this podcast going by going to buymeacoffee.com/catholicdailybrief Also, if you enjoy these episodes, please give a five star rating and share the podcast with your friends and family
During the Octave before Christmas, the Church deepens her faith in the coming Messiah by praying the famous “O Antiphons”. But what are they? “O”, not to worry — Cale will explain! Plus: in our Q&A segment, have you ever wondered how the State of Maryland got its name? Does it have something to do with the Blessed Virgin Mary? Well…kinda! It’s an incredible true story. Tune in to find out!
The readings for this homily: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/121625.cfmIn today's homily, Fr. David Gunter, MIC, draws us into the prophetic urgency of Zephaniah and the hope that follows divine correction. Speaking to a time of widespread apostasy and moral confusion, the prophet confronts a people seduced by false worship and corrupt leadership. Yet Zephaniah does not end with judgment. He announces restoration.Scripture reminds us that God never abandons His people:“But I will leave within you the meek and humble.The remnant of Israel will trust in the name of the Lord.” (Zeph 3:12).Throughout salvation history, the Lord preserves a faithful remnant — not the proud or powerful, but those supple to grace. Saint Paul echoes this truth when recalling Elijah's despair: “So also at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace” (Rom 11:5). Advent places this message squarely before us. The birth of Christ sets the restoration of humanity in motion — for Israel and the Gentiles alike.Father Gunter challenges us to recognize that we are living in a new season of preparation, one that calls for silence, repentance, and humility rather than distraction and noise. Those who recognized the Messiah — Anna, Simeon, Joseph, Elizabeth, and above all the Blessed Virgin Mary — were humble souls formed by prayer and trust. The same humility is required of us today. As the psalmist declares, “God alone is my rock and salvation… my refuge is in God” (Ps 62:7a & 8c). This Advent, the question is not whether God is offering grace — He is — but whether we are prepared to receive it. Through Confession, prayer, and fidelity, let us become the remnant ready for Christ to be born anew in our hearts.Advent places this message squarely before us. The birth of Christ sets the restoration of humanity in motion — for Israel and the Gentiles alike. ★ Support this podcast ★
On this episode of Walk Humbly, hear Bishop Burbidge call to the faithful to prayer for the victims of the recent tragic shootings in Australia and Rhode Island. Tune in to also hear him comment on the presidential message on the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and the other news out of Australia: the country's total social media ban for children under the age of 16. With gratitude to the faithful, Bishop also shares some impact data from the diocesan Week of Service last month. Please pray for Bishop Paul Loverde as he celebrates 60 years of the priesthood on December 18! Enroll in the latest course on Porta Fidei — The Heart of Prayer with Mary Stanford. And hear Bishop Burbidge's answer to this listener question: "Do you have any advice for making the most of the Christmas season, and does he make New Years resolutions?" Walk Humbly welcomes listener questions for Bishop Burbidge. Call or text (703) 778-9100 anytime with your question. Connect with Walk Humbly and Bishop Burbidge by texting WALKHUMBLY to 84576 for occasional alerts and updates.
Father Matt reminds us that God never stops speaking — but too often, we are the ones who stop listening. Not because God is unclear, but because we already have our own plans, expectations, and conclusions. At the root of this resistance is a deeper struggle: We do not want to submit to God's authority or His will.In today's reflection, Fr. Matt discusses the prophecy of Balaam in the Book of Numbers. Balaam, a pagan soothsayer, is compelled to proclaim the truth: “A star shall advance from Jacob, and a scepter shall rise from Israel.” Though Balaam himself was far from holy, God still spoke through him, showing that divine truth is not limited by the weakness of the messenger. That prophecy finds its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ — the true King, whose authority extends not just over Israel, but over all nations.The same King enters Jerusalem humbly, riding on a donkey, praised by children, and rejected by leaders who refuse to listen. Their question — “By what authority are you doing these things?” — is not born of curiosity, but of hardened hearts. They hear the words, but they are willfully deaf to their meaning.Father Matt challenges us to examine our own hearts. Are we listening for God's voice, or only for what confirms what we already want? Like the Blessed Virgin Mary, true blessing comes when we say, “Let it be done to me according to your word.” God speaks in Scripture, in the poor, in His Church, in prayer, and in the Eucharist — but He will not force our ears open.God speaks. The question remains: will we listen? ★ Support this podcast ★
In Revelation 12, Scripture presents a woman “clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars” (Rev 12:1). As Fr. Chris explains, this image points unmistakably to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Her heavenly glory reveals the one chosen by God to bear Christ, the King who “is to rule all the nations” (Rev 12:5). Yet confusion arises when the passage speaks of her crying out in pain. These are not physical labor pains from the birth of Jesus. According to the Church's tradition, Mary's true labor pains were spiritual—suffered at the foot of the Cross, when she gave birth to the Church itself (cf. Jn 19:26–27).This mystery comes alive in the apparition of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Standing before the sun, upon the moon, and clothed with stars, Mary reveals that she is not a goddess but a mother who leads souls to the one true God. Her image spoke directly to the Aztec world, proclaiming that human sacrifice was over. No longer would hearts and blood be offered to false gods. Instead, God Himself would offer His own Heart and Blood to feed His people in the Holy Eucharist. “I am the living bread that came down from heaven” (Jn 6:51).Mary's message still resounds today. She unites what was divided, drawing every people and culture into communion with Christ. As Mother of the Church, she continues her mission: to bring us always to her Son, Jesus, truly present in the Eucharist.To deepen your understanding of the Eucharist and the other Sacraments, explore Understanding the Sacraments at ShopMercy.org. ★ Support this podcast ★
Read OnlineThen the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus.” Luke 1:30–31Of all the saints throughout the ages, none has proved to be as powerful an evangelist as the Mother of God. While on Earth, she lived a mostly hidden life, demonstrating the perfection of virtue to those closest to her. As a young mother, she cared daily for the needs of her divine Son, constantly pondering the mystery of His Incarnation as it unfolded before her eyes. Her love for her Son, lived out during Jesus' earthly life, overflowed from her Immaculate Heart and continues to do so today.After being assumed body and soul into Heaven, her work did not cease. As Queen of Heaven and Earth, she continues to intercede for her spiritual children, mediating the grace we need to grow in holiness. Throughout history, many Marian apparitions have been reported. While numerous reports have not been formally approved, some have, including the apparition of Our Lady of Guadalupe in 1531 to Saint Juan Diego.Following the Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire in 1521 by Hernán Cortés, the capital was rebuilt into what became Mexico City. Despite the cruelty some Spanish settlers inflicted on the Indigenous people, the Catholic Church, through missionaries and leaders, including Bishop Juan de Zumárraga, sought to protect their rights and dignity while evangelizing them. Many of the Indigenous were understandably suspicious of the missionaries, yet some converted, including a man named Cuauhtlatoatzin, who took the Christian name Juan Diego after his baptism, and his wife, who took the name María Lucía.On December 9, 1531, while walking to Mass and catechism class, Juan Diego passed Tepeyac Hill, where the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to him. She spoke to him in his native language, revealed herself as the Mother of God, and asked for a chapel to be built in her honor on that very spot. When Juan took the message to Bishop Zumárraga, the bishop asked for a sign.On December 12, Juan's uncle fell seriously ill. While hurrying to find a priest for the Last Rites, Juan took a different route to avoid delaying his journey, but the Mother of God appeared again. She assured him that his uncle was already healed and provided the promised sign for the bishop. She instructed Juan to pick roses blooming unseasonably on the hill; when he brought them to the bishop in his tilma, an image of the Virgin, just as Juan had seen her, appeared on his cloak. Juan Diego's tilma now hangs in the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, in Mexico City, fulfilling the Blessed Mother's request.While the miraculous image was awe-inspiring, what followed was even more astounding. Over the next decade, millions of Indigenous people embraced the Christian faith, marking one of the most remarkable mass conversions in Church history—all due to the Blessed Mother's evangelization and intervention. Her love for the Indigenous people and her desire for their salvation brought her to them personally, confirming the truth of the Gospel preached by the Church.As we honor Our Lady of Guadalupe, reflect today on the tender love of the Mother of God. She deeply desired the salvation of the Indigenous people, just as she desires the salvation of all. Pray for her intercession so that millions more around the world may hear and accept God's saving message. Most loving Virgin of Guadalupe, as you looked down from Heaven upon the struggles and suffering of the conquered people of the Aztec Empire, your Immaculate Heart overflowed with compassion for them. As a result, you went to them personally to share the saving message of Your Son. Please pray for me, for the Americas, and for all your children, that we all will be guided to Your Son and come to know His gift of salvation. Our Lady of Guadalupe, pray for us. Jesus, I trust in You.Main Image- Image via WikimediaFeatured Image - First Miracle of Our Lady of Guadalupe by Lawrence OP, license CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.Source of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2025 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.
Homily from the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This feast day of the Immaculate Conception is not just a privilege for Mary: it's a prophecy for us. The Feast of the Immaculate Conception reveals God's plan to conquer sin not just by repairing what is broken, but by preparing a path where grace triumphs first. This Advent we are invited to enter into the "Sacrament of the Present Moment", where God offers real, life-changing grace in each moment we choose to be present to Him. Mary's unique "yes" reminds us to stop waiting and to respond to God's already-given grace with a wholehearted and immediate "yes". Mass Readings from December 8, 2025: Genesis 3:9-15, 20 Psalm 98:1-4Ephesians 1:3-6, 11-12 Luke 1:26-38
The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary by Ms. Joan Watson. Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary Solemnity, Holy Day of Obligation First Reading: Genesis 3: 9-15, 20 Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 98: 1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4 Second Reading: Ephesians 1: 3-6, 11-12 Alleluia: Luke 1: 28 Gospel: Luke 1: 26-38 Learn more about the Mass at www.stpaulcenter.com Bible Across America is a new FREE Scripture study initiative that brings Catholics together to read and study God's Word from the heart of the Church. Join Dr. Shane Owens—Associate Professor of Theology at Franciscan University—together with Fr. Boniface Hicks, Alex Jones, Katie McGrady, and Heather Khym for our Advent Bible Across America study. Sign up to join the movement today at www.stpaulcenter.com/america