CATHOLIC FAITH AT HOME RESOURCES
FOR ST. THOMAS MORE PARISHIONERS
DEC. 19
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Wokeism vs. ‘Living Joy’
with Author Chris Stefanick
The joy that Our Lord offers us
isn’t some passing emotion.
Today's mantra is for everyone to
“believe in themselves”
and that
“they can accomplish anything they set their minds to,”
Stefanick said.
And yet, “We’ve never been more miserable.”
Because the emptiness of accepted worldviews
have supplanted the hopeful Christian message
for many people.
“If we’re a cosmic accident”
or
no more than “self-aware sludge,”
“then there’s no meaning in life.”
The joy that comes with the meaningful
— and truly “edifying” —
message of the Gospel
is too great a gift to be hidden beneath a bushel basket.
Especially in a time like ours,
when so many are mired in misery and depression.
Click below to watch Chris Stefanick's short video:
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What are the Three Holy Oils?
Scroll down to find the answer!
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Fr. Mike Schmitz
on Times Square Billboard in NYC!!!
will appear on the billboard from
Dec. 19, 2021 to Jan. 9, 2022
(on 7th Ave. and 48th St. in New York City).
Click below to see a preview!
Click on the link below to listen to his Bible in a Year Podcasts:
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* ADVENT AT HOME * BOOKLET
JUST FOR
ST. THOMAS MORE FAMILIES
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At Mass, after praying the Lord’s Prayer, we hear
“. . . as we await the blessed hope and the coming of our
Savior, Jesus Christ.”
During Advent, we wait in joy, hope and anticipation
for the coming wonderful experiences:
* Feast of Christmas *
* Coming of Christ into our lives in new ways *
* Return of Christ in glory at the end of time *
We wait in anticipation to celebrate God’s love
that was so great He sent his Son down to the world
- to save us.
Far from empty, this is a "time hope-filled" with God’s promises to us.
STM is offering celebrations of our faith for Advent
– so you can make the most of this SPECIAL time
in a SPECIAL way with your highest priority - your family!!
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Join Us - Jan. 16th for
the 3rd Chosen Watch Party
PARISH DINING HALL
AFTER 10:00 MASS, Jan. 16th
FREE DONUTS AND COFFEE!
Note: Feel free to bring a soft cushion to sit on.
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OR...Choose another day to watch with a party!!
In Person: Wednesday, Jan. 19, 7:00 pm
- OR -
Online: Wednesday, Jan. 19, at 7:00 pm
Register at the Faith Formation Website link below:
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Mark your calendars now!
Saturday, April 2nd, 2022
Fifth Third Arena, University of Cincinnati Campus
2700 O'Varsity Way, Cincinnati, OH 45221
Evil Prevails
When Good Men Do Nothing
HEADLINE SPEAKERS
Jim Caviezel Actor
Raymond Arroyo Reporter & Commentator
Bishop John C. Iffert of Covington
Luke Fickell College Football Coach
TICKETS ON SALE NOW!
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Click below for more information:
Group Ticket Orders Over 20: email info@CatholicSpeakers.com
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BEACONS OF LIGHT - UPDATES!
Final Families of Parishes
on Beacons of Light Website
They heard and adjusted! From public comments came numerous changes for a stronger arrangement of Families of Parishes to enable growth in the archdiocese for decades!
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7 Amazing Books Every Catholic Should Read
Christmas Gift Ideas!
Word on Fire’s Brandon Vogt
joins Ryan Scheel, Fr. Rich Pagano, and Ryan DellaCrosse
to discuss seven books all Catholics should read...
and some honorable mentions.
7 Amazing Books
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Early Christian Writings – Various Church Fathers
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Confessions – St. Augustine
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Summa of the Summa – Peter Kreeft
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Orthodoxy – G.K. Chesterton
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Lord of the Rings – J.R.R. Tolkien
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To Know Christ Jesus by Frank Sheed
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Catholicism: A Journey to the Heart of the Faith by Bishop Robert Barron
The Guys' “Honorable Mentions”
- True Devotion to Mary – St. Louis De Montfort
- Story of a Soul – Saint Therese
- Jesus of Nazareth – Pope Benedict XVI
- Interior Castle – St. Teresa of Avila
- Dark Night of the Soul – St. John of the Cross
- The Imitation of Christ – Thomas A’ Kempis
- Uniformity with God’s Will – St. Alphonso Liguori
Click below to hear their discussion about these amazing books:
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GOSPEL READING REFLECTION
For December 19, 2021
4th Sunday of Advent, Year C
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THE WORD BECAME FLESH
“Blessed are you among women,
and blessed is the fruit of your womb.
And how does this happen to me,
that the mother of my Lord should come to me?"
- Our Lady and the angel Gabriel had just concluded their wonderful dialogue in which the angel said, “Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus,” and Mary replied, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.”
- Gabriel had announced, “Behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren; for nothing will be impossible for God.”
- This is the context in which Mary “traveled to the hill country in haste.”
- Why “in haste”? Mary was very young and young persons get excited about good things that are coming. Some reasons Mary wanted to see Elizabeth as quickly as possible could have been:
- To confirm that Elizabeth really was pregnant, that what the angel said about Elizabeth and Mary herself was true
- If true, to be with her “partner” in this divine plan of salvation that God was beginning in a new way
- Because Elizabeth was advanced in years, to serve her cousin, who would find her daily tasks harder each day and need help once her baby was born.
- Our response to Mary’s haste could be requests from God like the following:
- Lord, please give me incredibly good things also!
- Lord, let me see with my own eyes that your promises are true!
- Lord, let me be with brothers and sisters who also belong to you and who are carrying out your plans!
- Lord, let me find joy in serving others in their need!
- We now know enough about the bond between a mother and her unborn child and between an unborn child and the outside world, to know that
- The unborn six-month-old John heard Mary’s greeting
- The unborn John heard and felt his mother’s joyful response
- If his mother, Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, why could John also not be filled to his capacity? So he leapt with joy—along with, or because of, or as the cause of, his mother’s joy.
- How blessed are we!
- How blessed are we if we can be the source of another’s joy
- How blessed are we if we can share in the joy of another
- In causing, sharing in, and receiving joy, we are in the Trinitarian image of God in his inner relations of generation, reciprocal love, and inspiration
- Filled with the Holy Spirit, Elizabeth “knew” that Mary was pregnant, that Mary’s child was Elizabeth’s “Lord,” and so, that Mary was incredibly blessed. In fact, Mary was blessed two-fold.
- She was blessed objectively, because of her Child and because she was chosen to be the mother of that Child.
- She was blessed subjectively, because she believed that what God told her would come true.
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ANSWER TO QUIZ
The Church uses three holy oils:
the oil of the sick,
the oil of the catechumens
and the holy chrism oil.
The first two are blessed, and the bishop consecrates the third (usually) during the annual Chrism Mass. Each has a distinctive purpose in the Church.
Pure olive oil, the oil of the sick, is applied during the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick. Ideally celebrated with the community during Mass, this sacrament can be administered at any time and place.
The priest lays hands on the sick or elderly person, says special prayers and anoints the person, tracing a cross with the oil on the forehead and hands.
Prior to Baptism, both adults and infants are anointed with the oil of the catechumens, which is also pure olive oil.
For adults, this occurs during a special initiation ceremony separate from Baptism, as part of beginning the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) process.
Most often occurring during Mass, prior to holy Communion, the priest or deacon anoints the catechumens, then prays that God will instill wisdom for discernment and strength to avoid evil during both their inquiry into the Catholic faith and their preparation for a life with Christ.
Similarly, an infant is anointed, but usually during the Baptism event, before the Sacrament of Baptism is conferred through the waters of baptism.
This anointing helps the child to also ward off evil,
avoid temptation and possess the faith necessary to carry the cross of Christ throughout life.
The third oil, holy chrism oil, is olive oil mixed with balsam and symbolizes strength and the “aroma of Christ” (2 Cor 2:15). Anointing with chrism oil signifies the gift of the Holy Spirit; thus it is used to consecrate someone or something to God’s service.
Each year we witness young people confirmed with holy chrism oil at Confirmation - and adults at the Easter Vigil. The bishop traces the Sign of the Cross with chrism oil on the forehead and says,
“[Name], be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
After Baptism with water, chrism oil is traced on the crown of the child’s head, marking him as a Christian, before receiving the white garment that signifies his new life in Christ.
Adults who are baptized, but not immediately confirmed, are also anointed on the head.
Holy chrism oil is used as well during a priest's ordination (Sacrament of Holy Orders) and bishop's consecration.
It is also used when consecrating a church and blessing an altar and the vessels used at Mass.
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DOES THIS ALL SOUND SO GREAT YOU WISH THERE WAS MORE?
THERE IS!
Click the link below to find more
STM FAITH FORMATION ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS
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A PRAYER TO BABY JESUS IN THE MANGER |
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O Divine Redeemer,
Jesus Christ,
prostrate before your crib,
I believe you are the
God of infinite Majesty,
even though I see you here
as a helpless babe.
I humbly adore and thank you for having so humbled yourself for my salvation as to will to be born in a stable. I thank you for all you wish to suffer for me in Bethlehem, for your poverty and humility, for your nakedness, tears, cold and sufferings.
Would that I could show you that tenderness which your Virgin Mother had toward you, and love you as she did. Would that I could praise you with the joy of the angels, that I could kneel before you with the faith of St. Joseph, the simplicity of the shepherds.
Uniting myself with these first adorers at the crib, I offer you the homage of my heart, and I beg that you would be born
spiritually in my soul.
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