May the Saints & Feast Days for the month of December inspire you to grow closer to Christ Jesus. The month of December is dedicated to the Immaculate Conception.
December 3: St. Francis Xavier 1506-1562
St. Francis met St. Ignatius of Loyola at the University of Paris in 1525. He was enrolled as one of the first of seven Jesuits and became a priest in 1537. He was an extraordinary missionary and began his journeys in 1540. His missions included western India, Japan,and several islands in the far east. It was said that on some days he baptized so many people, that at night, he could not raise his arms from fatigue. St. Francis performed many miracles during his preaching which included healing the sick and raising the dead.
He died at the start of a mission to China. He was buried in a shallow grave and his body covered with quicklime. But when he was exhumed three months later it was found fresh and incorrupt. St. Francis Xavier was proclaimed patron of foreign missions and of all missionary works by Pope St. Pius X.
Prayer:
“O most sacred Heart of Jesus, pour down Thy blessings abundantly upon Thy Church; give perseverance to the just, convert sinners, enlighten unbelievers, bless our parents, friends, and benefactors; assist the dying, free the souls in purgatory, and extend over all hearts the sweet empire of Thy love.”
(Traditionally attributed to St. Francis Xavier and widely included in Sacred Heart prayer books.)
“Prayer is powerful! It fills the earth with mercy, it makes the Divine clemency pass from generation to generation, right along the course of the centuries. Wonderful works have been achieved through prayer”. – St. Francis Xavier
December 9: Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Normally the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception is celebrated on December 8. But because this year December 8 is the Second Sunday of Advent,the Immaculate Conception will be moved to Monday December 9. The USCCB has stated that this year it is not a Holy of Day of Obligation.
Blessed Pope Pius IX proclaimed the dogma of the Immaculate Conception of Mary on December 8, 1854. In this declaration he stated “The most Blessed Virgin Mary was, from the first moment of her conception, by a singular grace and privilege of almighty God and by virtue of the merits of Jesus Christ, Saviour of the human race, preserved immune from all stain of original sin.”
Four years after this dogma was declared, Mary confirmed the truth of this doctrine when she appeared to St. Bernadette at Lourdes. She introduced herself with the title “I am the Immaculate Conception”.
The first reading for today’s feast day is the account in Genesis of the result of the fall of Adam and Eve. The early church fathers saw Mary as the new Eve, stating “The knot of Eve’s disobedience was untied by the obedience of Mary; what the virgin Eve bound by her unbelief, the Virgin Mary loosened by her faith.” A popular devotion to the Blessed Mother is a novena to Mary, Undoer of Knots which can be found at this link: Mary Undoer of Knots NOVENA PRAYERS.
“O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.” – Miraculous Medal
December 12: Our Lady of Guadalupe
In the winter of 1531, St. Juan Diego heard unusual music and a woman’s voice calling his name from Tepeyac Hill, near Mexico City. He climbed the hill and encountered a young woman, appearing to be of his own people in physical appearance and dress. The woman identified herself as the Virgin Mary and told Juan Diego to ask the bishop of Mexico City to build a church to assist in the conversion of the nation and be a source of consolation to the people. The bishop was skeptical and on Juan’s second visit requested he ask Our Lady for a sign.
When Juan returned to the hill, Mary gave him a sign. Miraculously, roses appeared on the hill in the middle of winter, and Juan gathered them in his tilma. He returned to the bishop and when Juan released the tilma, allowing the flowers to fall to the floor, it was revealed that a miraculous image of Our Lady had imprinted itself on his tilma. Exhaustive studies have been made of this tilma. No paint was used for the image and its composition is a mystery, the cactus fiber tilma should have disintegrated in 20 years and 500 years later it is still in excellent condition, and the pupils in Our Lady’s eyes reflect the people who were present at the first unveiling of the image.
The bishop immediately fell to his knees and came to believe in Juan Diego’s message. A church was built on the spot of the apparition, as Mary had requested, and 8 million people converted to Catholicism over the next 10 years, upon hearing of or viewing the miraculous image of Our Lady. ,
“Let not your heart be disturbed… Am I not here, who is your Mother? Are you not under my protection? Am I not your health? Are you not happily within my fold? What else do you wish for? Do not grieve nor be disturbed by anything.” – Our Lady of Guadalupe
December 14: St. John of the Cross 1542-1591
St. John of the Cross was born of a poor family that could not give him training in a trade, so he became the servant of the sick in the hospital of Medina. In 1563 he offered himself as a lay brother to the Carmelite friars, who, however, perceiving his unusual talents, had him ordained a priest. St. Teresa of Avila asked him to help her in the reform of the Carmelite Order. This reform caused him many sufferings and trials. But his sufferings only deepened his interior peace and devout longing for heaven.
St. John had a great devotion to our Lord’s passion, and died of a very painful disease while embracing the crucifex.
St. John was a great contemplative and spiritual writer. He was proclaimed Doctor of the Church by Pope Pius XI on August 24, 1926. He is the patron of contemplative life, mystical theology, mystics, and Spanish poets. Some of his most famous works include Ascent of Mount Carmel , Dark Night of the Soul and A Spiritual Canticle of the Soul.
“In the inner stillness where meditation leads, the Spirit secretly anoints the soul and heals our deepest wounds.” -Saint John of the Cross
December 25: Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord
On this day the Church celebrates the Birth of Jesus Christ. The Christmas season begins on December 24 with the first Vespers, and ends on the feast of the Baptism of Christ, Sunday January 12. Throughout Advent the Church prepares for the coming of the Savior. Today we celebrate that “The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us”. The Son of God became man to give us a share in the divine life which is eternally His in the Blessed Trinity.
One of the traditional practices in our country is the Christmas tree. The Christmas tree originated in 1605 at Strasbourg, Germany. Later it was introduced into France and England in 1840. It symbolizes the great family tree of Christ which through David and Jesse has its roots in Abraham, the father of the chosen people. It is adorned with lights so we can recall that Christ is the Light of the world, enlightening those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death.
“And the angel said to the shepherds, “Be not afraid; for behold I bring you good news of great joy, which will come to all the people; for to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord “”. – Luke 2:10-11
December 26: Feast of St. Stephen (Died ~ 34 AD)
Stephen was a member of the first group of seven deacons, whom the Apostles appointed to help with their administrative tasks. He was “filled with faith and with the Holy Spirit,” and as a witness for Christ he confronted his opponents with courage, fulfilling the promise made by Jesus “But say whatever will be given to you … for it will not be you who are speaking but the Holy Spirit” (Mk 13:11). Acts 6:10 tells us “But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he spoke.”
St.Stephen, stoned in Jerusalem two years after the death of Christ is the first martyr. The account in the Acts of the Apostles relating his arrest and the accusations brought against him emphasize the parallel with our Savior’s trial; he was stoned outside the city wall and died, like his Master, praying for forgiveness for his executioners.
“Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” – Acts 7:60
December 27: Feast of St. John the Apostle –
The Feast day Jesus appeared to St. Margaret Mary in 1673
St. John was the son of Zebedee and Salome and brother to St. James the Greater, both of whom were fishermen. The two were called by Jesus to be disciples as they were mending their nets by the Sea of Galilee.
St. John was present with Peter and James at the Transfiguration of Christ, allowed to rest on Our Savior’s bosom at the Last Supper, and was the only one of the Apostles who did not forsake Jesus Christ in the hour of His Passion and Death.
St. John remained for a long time in Jerusalem, but that his later years were spent at Ephesus, whence he founded many churches in Asia Minor. St. John wrote his Gospel after the other Evangelists, and also wrote three Epistles, and Revelations. He was brought to Rome and, according to tradition, was cast into a cauldron of boiling oil by order of Emperor Domitian and was miraculously preserved unhurt. He was later exiled to the Island of Patmos and afterwards returned to Ephesus.
In his old age he continued to visit the churches of Asia. St. Jerome relates that when age and weakness grew upon him so that he was no longer able to preach to the people, he would be carried to the assembly of the faithful by his disciples, and say to the faithful: “My dear children, love one another.”
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only Begotten Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” – John 3:16
December 28: The Feast of the Holy Family
Devotion to the Holy Family is a relatively recent development, and grew in popularity in the 17th century. Several religious congregations have been founded under this title. In 1893 Pope Leo XIII approved the feast to be celebrated regionally, as a way to counter the breakdown of the family unit. On October 26, 1921 Pope Benedict XV inserted the Feast of the Holy Family into the Universal Calendar. His goal was to restore the true spirit of family life, with the Holy Family as the model.
Christ showed His devotion to His mother and foster father by submitting Himself, with infinite humility, to the duty of obedience towards them. St Bernard of Clairvaux said in this regard, ‘God, to whom angels submit themselves and who principalities and powers obey, was subject to Mary; and not only to Mary but Joseph also for Mary’s sake. God obeyed a human creature; this is humility without precedent.”
The gospel passage below demonstrates God’s love and respect for the family, through the obedience of Jesus to Mary and Joseph.
“He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them; and His mother kept all these things in her heart.” – Luke 2:50-51