CATHOLIC FAITH AT HOME RESOURCES

For Our Family of Parishes

St. Thomas More, St. Bernadette, St. Mary's, St. Peter's

December 4

SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT

DECEMBER 4

One of the best ways to begin the season of Advent is

in prayer, quietly attentive

to the coming of Our Lord, Jesus Christ.

It's a season that focuses

not only on the first coming of Christ in Bethlehem,

but also the second coming at the end of time.

In this spirit, the Church offers

the following prayer at Advent's beginning,

looking forward to the day

we present to the Lord

the fruits of our life.

Grant your faithful,

we pray, almighty God,

the resolve to run forth to meet Your Christ

with righteous deeds at His coming, so that,

gathered at His right hand,

they may be worthy to possess the heavenly Kingdom.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, our Son,

who lives and reigns with You

in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.

Click on the titles of the links below

to discover ways you can observe this special season.

REJOICE! AN ADVENT PILGRIMAGE

Pilgrimage into the Heart of Scripture for Year A

with this prayer resource that offers

daily reflections on the Sunday mass readings

to help you enter more deeply into the Advent season.

Together with the weekly videos,

this journal helps you grow your

understanding and appreciation

for the incredible gift of Christ's Incarnation.

THE TRUE MEANING OF CHRISTMAS

Do you love Christmas traditions

but don’t know where they come from?

Tune in for Dr. Michael Patrick Barber’s Advent reflections

and learn the meaning behind your favorite Christmas pastimes.

BISHOP BARRON'S FREE ADVENT BOOKLET

The Word Became Flesh: Reflections for Advent and Christmas.

BEHOLD: GUIDED ADVENT JOURNAL

* NEW *

Sr. Miriam James Heidland, SOLT

—author of the bestselling book Restore—

will walk with you

as you explore familial wounds

with help from Jesus, Mary, and Joseph.

FEATURES

• Stunning original art by Josiah Henley of Heart of IESV
• Free weekly companion videos with Sr. Miriam
• Free downloadable discussion guide

FREE Shipping + 5x7 Print with code BEHOLDPRINT*

JOURNEY TO CHRISTMAS

This unique series is designed to give you

a spiritually-rich Christmas season,

helping you prepare and keep your focus on Christ.

FEATURES

• Daily devotional email 
• Spiritual guidance video 
• Written reflections each Sunday
• Access to an exclusive Catholic Facebook community
• Mid-week video check-ins 

CHRIS STEFANICK'S AS WE FORGIVE THEM

'As We Forgive Those' is a 4-part video series

to serve as a guide through the Advent season

FREE!

NEW!

ADVENT EXAMEN

Liturgically, one year is coming to an end

and another approaches, offering another

powerful opportunity to recommit ourselves to the narrow way.

To help you do just that, the Advent Examen

from the Avila Foundation is written to be a redemptive way

to enter into the new liturgical year

with greater clarity and a fuller sense of peace and purpose.

NEW!!

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW

ABOUT ADVENT WREATHS

The Catholic tradition of the Advent wreath

is near and dear to many hearts!

Why do we have Advent wreaths?

Where does the tradition come from?



How do you start your own? 

NEW!

ADVENT AT HOME: FIVE PRACTICES

Brad Bursa offers reflections and ideas

to help us celebrate Advent at home!

ADVENT GUIDE FROM THE CATHOLIC TELEGRAPH

When was the last time you had a

truly unforgettable Christmas?

To have a truly unforgettable Christmas you have to prepare for it!

"The Ultimate Guide to Advent"

is

FREE, beautiful and filled with stories that will

inspire you and

fill you with wonder.

A new issue comes out each Sunday during Advent.

Click the link below to get ADVENT WEEK ONE on PDF!

ADVENT GUIDE WEEK ONE

ADVENT REFLECTIONS ON FORMED.ORG

Enter more deeply into

the Sunday Mass readings

through reflections with

Drs. James Prothro & Israel McGrew.

Abide in the Word of God this Advent

by immersing yourself in it, thus preparing your heart for Christ's coming.

Follow along with your Bible this Sunday:

-First Reading: Isaiah 11:1-10

- Psalm 72

- Second Reading: Romans 15:4-13

- Gospel: Matthew 3:1-12

Click below to watch the video on the SECOND Sunday of Advent readings:

ADVENT WEEK TWO ON FORMED.ORG



The Advent of

“Christmas in Bethlehem” 

Sunday, December 4, 2022

3:00 pm – 7:00 pm

Our Lady of the Holy Spirit Center

5440 Moeller Ave, Norwood, OH, 45212

Step back in time!

·   Experience life in the time of Jesus

·   See how bread was made in Jesus’ day

·   Smell and taste the spices of ancient Bethlehem

·   Enjoy food, drink, and sweets

·   Pet live animals in the courtyard

·   Check out the kids’ crafts area

·   Come to story time with St. Nicholas

·   Vote on your favorite Christian-themed Gingerbread Creation

·   Take a family photo in Bethlehem

·   Listen to the children’s choir in the chapel

·   Join a procession with Mary & Joseph to the manger

·   Sing some carols

·   Watch the star lighting on the tower and much more….

FREE entry for the entire family!

But REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. 

And there is a cost for food and crafts.

Click the link below to register for:

CHRISTMAS IN BETHLEHEM

GOD IS INVITING YOU ON PILGRIMAGE

In this new Rejoice Program,

Fr. Mark Toups invites us

to encounter John the Baptist

and his profound love of God in a special way.

John the Baptist exemplifies three things

that allow us to enter fully into the

Advent season and the Christian life:

being present to the present moment,

surrendering our expectations to God,

and giving the Lord permission to do what he wants to do in your life.

Click the link below to watch Fr. Toups' message:

GOD IS INVITING YOU!

ADVENT PRAYER FOR PEACE

Lord, in a season when every heart should be happy and light,

many of us are struggling with the heaviness of life—

burdens that steal the joy right out of our stockings.

Tragedy arrives as innocent victims suffer,

and an inner voice whispers,

“Be afraid!”

We need your peace, Jesus.

We confess that our hearts are too often filled

with wonder of a different kind:

wondering when the bills will be paid,

when the terror will stop,

when rest will come.

Will it ever?

Is the message still true?

In a world where worry, not peace, prevails,

stir up that good news again.

This Advent, make it real in our hearts.

Never have we needed Your joy and peace more than now.

Thank You for the gift of Jesus, our Immanuel, the Word made flesh.

We not only need Your peace and joy; Lord, we crave it.

You’ve promised rest for the weary, victory for the battle-scarred,

peace for the anxious, and acceptance for the broken-hearted

—not just at Advent, but every day of every year.

Your name is still called

“Wonderful,”

“Counselor,”

“The Mighty God,”

“The Everlasting Father,”

and “The Prince of Peace.”

We know that peace on earth can only come

when hearts find peace with You.

You are still our Joy.

You are still our Peace.

You are no longer a babe in the manger.

You are Lord of lords and King of kings.

And we still celebrate You as Lord

—this Christmas and always.

Amen.



PRAYER PARTNER NIGHT OF INTERCESSION

Join us on Thursday, December 15th 5:00 PM

for the first of many opportunities

to connect with

fellow Prayer Partners

and intercede together for the success of the Revival. 

Click the link below to SIGN UP:

PRAYER PARTNER NIGHT OF INTERCESSION 

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

IS THE MASS A SACRIFICE?

The Protestant reformers rejected the

understanding of the Mass as a sacrifice.

Dr. Brant Pitre walks us through the debate

and how the Church clarified that

the Mass truly is a sacrifice.

Click the link below to watch the video:

IS THE MASS A SACRIFICE?

QUIZ! FOR THE WEEK

WHAT IS A RORATE MASS?

Scroll down to find the answer!

Acts 2:38

An elderly woman had just returned

to her home from an evening of religious service when she was startled by an intruder.

As she caught the man in the act of robbing her home of its valuables,

she yelled, "Stop - Acts 2:38!"

(..turn from your sin...)

The burglar stopped dead in his tracks.

The woman calmly called the police and explained what she had done.

As the officer cuffed the man to take him in, he asked the burglar,

"Why did you just stand there? All the old lady did was yell a scripture to you."



"Scripture?" replied the burglar, "She said she had an AXE and two 38's!"

GOSPEL READING REFLECTION

For December 4, 2022

SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT

Year A -  Mt 3:1-12

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Repent, for the Kingdom of God is at hand.

"John the Baptist appeared, preaching in the desert of Judea

and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!"

It was of him that the prophet Isaiah had spoken when he said:

A voice of one crying out in the desert,

Prepare the way of the Lord,

make straight his paths."

• St. John the Baptist, a true prophet,

offered people “a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins”

to prepare them “see the salvation of God.”

Jesus Christ’s very name means anointed savior.

• “All flesh,” every soul, will see Christ at his or her Particular Judgment at the moment of death. And the entire human race from the first man to the last person will behold Christ together at the Final Judgment.

• Unfortunately, some souls reject “the salvation of God.”

• We don’t want to be one of them, hence the need to prepare ourselves again and again.

ANSWER TO QUIZ

It’s cold and frosty before the dawn breaks.

Even though the sun won’t be up for some time,

you roll out of bed and dress in church-going clothes

before making the drive to your parish.

The church looks totally dark,

but when you walk in, hundreds of tiny, ardent flames

are blazing on the altar and in the pews.

The warm sparks throw hushed, rosy hues

against the shadowed walls.

Mass begins, still in the semi-dark of candlelight.

Although it is Advent, altar and celebrant

are clothed in shining white vesture.

The readings speak of a Savior who will be born of a Virgin.

This is a taste of the Rorate Mass—

a special Mass celebrated in honor of the Blessed Mother

on an Advent Saturday.

The Rorate tradition began around the 13th century

during a surge of devotion to her.

The white vestments honor her sinlessness and virginity,

and the readings are taken from prophecies of the Savior’s birth.

Named for the first word of its entrance hymn,

the Mass is prayed as morning dawns,

symbolizing the coming of the

Christ Child’s light at Christmas.

ST. THOMAS MORE WEBSITE LINKS

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Faith Formation Activities & Events for every Month & Season

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RECOMMENDATION

We need to be armed for battle!

At all times, and especially during these crazy times in this vale of tears,

we need to lay our foundation in Christ Jesus.

Spiritual reading helps us build and strengthen that foundation.

This week's recommendation is:

Rejoice!

Advent Meditations with Mary

by Fr. Mark Toups

You don’t change your life for an idea. You change your life for a person.

Rejoice! offers more than insights and information about Mary’s life―it offers an opportunity for you to encounter Mary in the quiet of your heart.

Each day, in a few short pages, Fr. Toups provides aids to help guide your prayer:

• A word - Focus on a single word each day to draw out the details, the specifics of who Our Lady is.

• A reflection - Learn more about Mary, the culture in which she was raised, and the world in which she lived.

• A Psalm - Each day, you’re given a Psalm to pray (just as Mary herself would have prayed) to help you enter into prayer.

• A reading - In reading Scripture, you find the Word of God, bringing you closer to Mary, who carried the Word in her body.

• A prompt - Space is provided each day to journal. Record how the Lord is speaking to you this Advent.

We pray you will be excited to embark on purposeful

spiritual reading as a way to build a more prayer-filled,

Christ centered life.