#octaveofchristmas

[monk1019]

Let the heavens be glad and earth rejoice; let the sea and what fills it resound. The Lord comes, he comes to rule the earth. Ps 96:11; 13 #wordstoliveby #octaveofchristmas #newyearseve #southfloridasunrise #happytoseethesun https://www.instagram.com/p/CJdklXLBVe2/?igshid=6gzovxke8ckq

[anastpaul]

One Minute Reflection – 26 December – The Memorial of St Stephen the First Martyr and the Second Day in the Octave of Christmas

“When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say;   for what you to say will be given to you in that hour;   for it not you who speak, but the Spirit of your father speaking through you.” …Matthew 10:19-20

REFLECTION – “Yesterday, we celebrated, the birth in time of our eternal King.   Today, we celebrate the triumphant suffering, of his soldier.   Yesterday our king, clothed in His robe of flesh, left  His place in the virgin’s womb and graciously visited the world.   Today His soldier, leaves the tabernacle of his body and goes triumphantly to heaven.”…from a sermon by Saint Fulgentius of Ruspe (460-533)

PRAYER – O God, the teacher and ruler of all that minister unto Thee, who did adorn the first beginnings of thy Church both with the ministrations of Thy blessed Deacon Stephen and with the precious blood of his martyrdom:   grant, we beseech Thee, that we, in the hour of our departure, obtaining Thy pardon, may be followers of his example and assisted by his prayers. Amen. – Milanese Sacramentary

(via AnaStpaul – Breathing Catholic)

[piouscatholic]

#OctaveofChristmasDay2

#FeastoftheHolyFamily

Sunday in the #OctaveofChristmas

He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them; and his mother kept all these things in her heart.

And Jesus advanced in wisdom and age and favor before God and man. [Luke 2:51-52] (Year C)

On this, the Sunday within the Octave of Christmas, we honor the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph.

In honoring them, we also honor all families, big or small.

And in honoring all families, we honor the family of God, the Church.

But most especially, we focus in on the hidden, day-to-day life of the Holy Family of Nazareth.

What was it like to live day in and day out in the household of St. Joseph?

What was it like to have Jesus for a son, Mary as a wife and mother, and Joseph as a father and husband?

Their home would have certainly been a sacred place and a dwelling of true peace and unity.

But it would have also been so much more.

The family home of Jesus, Mary and Joseph would have been, in numerous ways, just like any other home.

They would have related together, talked, had fun, disagreed, worked, eaten, dealt with problems, and encountered everything else that makes up daily family life.

Of course, the virtues of Jesus and Mary were perfect, and St. Joseph was a truly “just man.” Therefore, the overriding characteristic of their home would have been love.

But with that said, their family would not have been exempt from daily toil, hurt and challenges that face most families.

For example, they would have encountered the death of loved ones, St. Joseph most likely passed away prior to Jesus’ public ministry.

They would have encountered misunderstanding and gossip from others.

Our Blessed Mother, for example, was found with child out of wedlock.

This would have been a topic of discussion among many acquaintances for sure.

They would have had to fulfill all daily chores, earn a living, put food on the table, attend gatherings of family and friends and the like.

They would have lived normal family life in every way.

This is significant because it reveals God’s love for family life.

The Father allowed His Divine Son to live this life and, as a result, elevated family life to a place within the Trinity.

The holiness of the Holy Family reveals to us that every family is invited to share in God’s divine life and to encounter ordinary daily life with grace and virtue.

Reflect, today, upon your own family life.

Some families are strong in virtue, some struggle with basic communication.

Some are faithful day in and day out, some are broken and deeply wounded.

No matter the case, know that God wants to enter more deeply into your family life just as it is right now.

He desires to give you #strength and #virtue to live as the Holy Family.

Surrender yourself and your family, this day, and invite the Triune God to make your family a holy family.

Lord, I do offer myself to You this day and in doing so I offer You my family.

I offer every relationship, be it good or difficult, and I offer every challenge we face.

Please come and sanctify my family, making it holy in imitation of your family in Nazareth.

Jesus, I trust in You.

#MyCatholicLife

[apostleshop]

Christmas Chicken Caprese

Great News has been shared on https://apostleshop.com/christmas-chicken-caprese/

Christmas Chicken Caprese

Copyright 2018 Karen Ullo. All rights reserved.

It’s Friday … but not meatless! Here in the Octave of Christmas, we’re celebrating the birth of the Savior, and that includes meat for the feast. Tomatoes and basil bring the colors of Christmas to the table in this delicious entrée version of a traditional Caprese salad.

Christmas Chicken Caprese

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts 2 oz. olive oil 1 oz. balsamic vinegar ~1 T honey ¼ t salt ¼ t black pepper ½ t Italian seasoning 4 large leaves basil, chopped 8 slices of a large tomato 4 slices fresh mozzarella cheese

Make sure to get fresh mozzarella, which is usually packaged as a sphere with water in the case. It’s wetter and more crumbly than the kind you would shred to put on a pizza.

Lay the chicken breasts between two layers of cling wrap. Use a meat mallet to pound them until they are no more than about ¼ inch thick, thin enough to fold easily and cook evenly. Oil a baking dish and lay the chicken flat inside.

Combine oil, vinegar, honey, salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Baste both sides of the chicken. On each breast, lay 2 thin slices of tomato, one slice of cheese, and one chopped basil leaf. Fold each breast over this filling and use a toothpick to secure it in place, so that it creates a sandwich around the caprese. Bake at 375 for about 20 minutes. Cooking time may vary according to the size and thickness of the breasts.

Serve immediately with a caprese salad, if desired.

Chicken Caprese: a festive dinner for the #OctaveofChristmas Click To Tweet

Merry Christmas! Enjoy!

Copyright 2018 Karen Ullo

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[monk1019]

God promises to forgive you as you forgive others. He also forgets what he forgives... Let’s imitate God’s way of forgiving. John Waiss #wordstoliveby #octaveofchristmas #endofyearreflection #fullmoonnight #forgivenessheals (at Hollywood, Florida) https://www.instagram.com/p/CJa-dZSBVzd/?igshid=5ebxwu3qzf4u

[monk1019]

True Christian faith means entrusting your whole life to God. Alan Schreck #wordstoliveby #octaveofchristmas #feastoftheholyinnocents #poinsettiaseason #walkbyfaith (at St. Francis Friary, Syracuse, New York) https://www.instagram.com/p/CJVs1ZYB13k/?igshid=1byckgcqbcbjf

[monk1019]

Rejoice, O hearts that seek the Lord! Look to the Lord in his strength; constantly seek his face. Ps 105:3 #wordstoliveby #octaveofchristmas #feastoftheholyfamily #bestronginthelord #blurryberries (at St. Francis Friary, Syracuse, New York) https://www.instagram.com/p/CJTGkFjBQde/?igshid=1inq1ijbip8qj

[monk1019]

In these last days, God has spoken to us through his Son, whom he made heir of all things and through whom he created the universe... and who sustains all things by his mighty word. Heb 1:1-3 #wordstoliveby #octaveofchristmas #christisthereasonfortheseason (at Blue Mountain Lake, New York) https://www.instagram.com/p/CJQsOP4hNGr/?igshid=1txlp5gcrtcbk

[anastpaul]

Quote/s of the Day – 26 December – The Memorial of St Stephen the First Martyr and the Second Day in the Octave of Christmas

“The deep bond which links Christ to His first martyr Stephen, is divine Charity – the very Love which impelled the Son of God to empty Himself and make Himself obedient unto death on a Cross …It is always necessary to notice this distinctive feature of Christian martyrdom, it is exclusively an act of love for God and for man, including persecutors.”

Pope Benedict XVI – 26 December 2007

” …Like his Master, St Stephen died forgiving his persecutors and thus makes us realise that the entry into the world of the Son of God gives rise to a new civilisation, the civilisation of love that does not yield to evil and violence and pulls down the barriers between men and women, making them brothers and sisters in the great family of God’s children.”

Pope Benedict XVI – 26 December 2009

(via AnaStpaul – Breathing Catholic)

[monk1019]

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. Jn 1:5 #wordstoliveby #octaveofchristmas #birdofparadise (at Bradenton, Florida) https://www.instagram.com/p/B6vLmVPpF2E/?igshid=uar8itn6m6ao