May the Saints Feast Days for the month of December inspire you to grow closer to Christ Jesus.
December 3: St. Francis Xavier 1506-1562
“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 8: Immaculate Conception (Dogma: Pope Pius IX, Dec. 8, 1854)
The Immaculate Conception declares that Mary, whose conception was brought about the normal way, was conceived without original sin or its stain. Mary was preserved from these defects by God’s grace. She was in a state of sanctifying grace from the first moment of her existence.
(Catholic Answers)
“Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you.” (Luke 1:28).
December 12: Our Lady of Guadalupe (Apparition: December 12, 1531)
Mary’s appearance to Juan Diego as one of his people is a powerful reminder that Mary—and the God who sent her—accepts all peoples. In the context of the sometimes rude and cruel treatment of the Indians by the Spaniards, the apparition was a rebuke to the Spaniards and an event of vast significance for the indigenous population. While a number of them had converted before this incident, they now came in droves. According to a contemporary chronicler, nine million Indians became Catholic in a very short time.
(Franciscan Media)
Mother of Mercy, Teacher of hidden and silent sacrifice, to you, who come to meet us sinners, we dedicate on this day all our being and all our love. We also dedicate to you our life, our work, our joys, our infirmities and our sorrows. Grant peace, justice and prosperity to our peoples; for we entrust to your care all that we have and all that we are, our Lady and Mother. We wish to be entirely yours and to walk with you along the way of complete faithfulness to Jesus Christ in His Church; hold us always with your loving hand.
– Prayer of St. John Paul II, Mexico City, January 1979.
December 14: St. John of the Cross 1542-1591
“See that you are not suddenly saddened by the adversities of this world, for you do not know the good they bring, being ordained in the judgments of God for the everlasting joy of the elect.”
St. John of the Cross
December 21: St. Peter Canisius 1521-1597
“All faithful Christians should rejoice that their Creator and Lord has taken on human flesh and begun His reign over the hearts of men, not only as God, but also as the Son of Man among the children of men.”
St. Peter Canisius
December 25: The Nativity of the Lord
The liturgical season of Christmas begins with the vigil Masses on Christmas Eve and concludes on the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord. During this season, we celebrate the birth of Christ into our world and into our hearts, and reflect on the gift of salvation that is born with him…including the fact that he was born to die for us. (USCCB)
USCCB
“The angel said to the shepherds: You have nothing to fear! I come to proclaim good news to you – tidings of great joy to be shared by the whole people. This day, in David’s city, a Savior has been born to you, the Messiah and Lord.”
(Lk 2:10-11)
December 26: St. Stephen (Died ~ 34 AD)
“Stephen, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked to the sky above and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at God’s right hand… As Stephen was being stoned he could be heard praying “Lord Jesus receive my spirit. Lord do not hold this sin against them”.
(Acts 8:55, 59-60)
December 27: The Holy Family
“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)
Lord, I offer myself to You this day, and I offer to 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.
– Catholic Daily Reflections
December 28: Holy Innocents – The Patron Saints of Babies
“Once Herod realized that he had been deceived by the astrologers, he became furious. He ordered the massacre of all the boys two years old and under, in Bethlehem and its surroundings… A cry was heard in Ramah, sobbing and loud lamentation: Rachel bewailing her children; no comfort for her, since they are no more.”
(Mat 2:16, 18)
Lord God, I thank you today for the gift of my life, and for the lives of all my brothers and sisters. I know there is nothing that destroys more life than abortion, yet I rejoice that You have conquered death by the Resurrection of Your Son. I am ready to do my part in ending abortion. I commit myself to always defend life until all my brothers and sisters are protected, and our nation once again becomes a nation with liberty and justice not just for some, but for all, through Christ our Lord. Amen!
– EWTN
