Third Sunday in Advent

As the deer thirsts for the source of living water 

so my soul for you, Lord. I fly away to you, and I arrive.    Based on Psalm 21:2

Benzieger Brothers, Einseideln

Feast of Our Lady of Guadelupe, December 12

Immaculate Conception after Murillo

Dopter

Translation of the Holy House of Loreto: Feast Day, December 10

Flemish engraving by Lodewyk Joseph Fruytiers hand-colored Amsterdam, circa late 1700's

LINKS:

Holy House of Loreto

A touching story

VIRGIN CONCEIVED WITHOUT SIN

Deign to accept that I publish your praises.  
Felix

The Immaculate Conception: Solemnity, December 8

Immaculate Mary

Breval

For additional images that celebrate this great Mystery visit

small album ~ Virgin Mary, Love's Pure Light

Vigil of the Feast of the Immaculate Conception

FLOWERS OF THE EARTH

I breathed the fragrance of their virtue, and drew them to myself 

to form the heart of my Mother.

Bouasse Lebel 103

2nd Sunday in Advent

As the deer longs for streams of living water

so my soul longs for you, O God.

~ Psalm 42

Saint Nicholas Day, December 6th

St. Nicholas, Bishop of Myra Greek (270 –  346) Because his relics were translated to Bari in southern Italy in 1087, he is also known as St. Nicolas of Bari. His holy relics poured healing myrrh, and even today, fragrant myrrh  streams through many of his icons.

Sermon by St. Augustine for the
Feast of St. Nicholas

Under the sweet influence of her radiance,

 the lilies of innocence grow and the flowers of other virtues. 

Bouasse Lebel 632

First Friday

My God, receive me into your Divine Heart.

Bouasse Lebel

St. John of Damascus, Doctor of the Church: Memorial, December 4

The Icon of Three Hands
St. John Damascene was the great defender of icons. Because of his defense of the holy images and because of his great ability as a writer, the order was given by the iconoclasts that his right hand be cut off at the wrist. St. John asked for the severed hand and prayed before the icon known as the Hodegetria or She Who Shows the Way. Asking fervently that his hand might be restored, he fell asleep exhausted.  Virgin Mary came to him in a dream; when awoke his hand was miraculously restored with only a red line showing.  In gratitude, St. John composed the hymn "In thee, O Full of Grace, all creation rejoices" The icon before which St. John prayed exists to this day on Mount Athos in the Hilander Monastery. It is called Tricherousa, or Panagia "Of  Three Hands" due to the silver hand which St. John placed on the icon as a testament to the above miracle.  See: The Icon of the Three Hands Additional links: small album ~ Doctors of the Church

• The Image Doctor -  Doctor of the Church
•  John Damascene: The Incarnation Reveals the Goodness and Wisdom, the Justice and Might 
• Saint John of Damascus, Priest, Religious, Doctor of the Church 
• Peering Through the Windows 
• St. John of Damascus
• St. John of Damascus
• Full of Grace and Truth
• Righteous St. John of Damascus 
• Icons are Dynamic Love Letters between God and Man

Works:
Apologia Against Those Who Decry Holy Images)

 

Mary, Queen of Lilies

More brilliant than the roses, more pure than the lilys,

your heavenly fragrance has touched the heart of God.

Saintin 372

untitled painting [Virgin in prayer]

Untitled engraving [garden enclosed]

Ven. Leon DuPont, Apostle of the Holy Face: December 1st.

Ven. Leon DuPont, Apostle of the Holy Face Dec.1

Small album ~ The Holy Face 

HOLY FACE OF OUR SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST
Exact copy of the Image of the Holy Face conserved in the Basilica of St. Peter in Rome. Bouasse Lebel 667 

The Feast Day of the Holy Face is observed on Shrove Tuesday, a movable feast celebrated next on Tuesday, February 12, 2013

DECEMBER: Devotion, The Immaculate Conception

The Advent Season -  Christmas and the beginning of Christmastide
 Feast Days:
1. Ven. Leon DuPont, Apostle of the Holy Face Dec.1
4. St. John Damascene: (M) Dec. 4
6. St. Nicholas (M) Dec. 6
8. Immaculate Conception (S) Dec. 8
10. Translation of the Holy House of Loreto, Dec. 10
12. Our Lady of Guadalupe (M) Dec. 12
14. St. John of the Cross (M) Dec. 14
24. Christmas Eve
25. Christmas (S) Dec. 25
27. St. John, Apostle & Evangelist (F) Dec. 27
31. Vigil of Mary, Mother of God (S)

Advent Dates for 2015

• December 6 - Second Sunday of Advent
• December 13 - Third Sunday of Advent
• December 20 - Fourth Sunday of Advent

25 -  Christmas - Holy Day of Obligation

Small Albums ~ through December 23:

• Most Holy Virgin
• Virgin Mary, Love's Pure Light 
• As the Deer Yearns for the Living Water 

Small albums for Christmastide (Feast of the Nativity until Baptism of the Lord)

• Christus Natus Est
• Petit Jésus
• Come Let us Adore Him!
• Mass of the Dawn
• Gloria in Excelsis Deo
• Music for the Feast of Christmas
• Post Card Album

The End of the Voyage

It is night. We are gaining the port...

We touch it: ALLELUIA!
(It is hard to see, but the Savior is holding the little dove)

By it we will be saved.

hand colored np

First Sunday in Advent

Come!

The Redeemer of the World

Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal: Feast Day, November 27

Miraculous Medal

Letaille

Thanksgiving Day (U.S.A.) Thursday, November 26th, 2015

 

Let us consecrate to the Lord

All we have received from Him

Mother of Divine Providence

Bouasse Lebel 49 

Courage, Courage We will get there.

on verso

The Sheep of Heaven

Happy are those who aspire to heaven.

Bouasse Lebel

The Myrrh-streaming Icon of the Iveron Mother of God: Feast Day, November 11/24

Rejoice, Keeper of the Portal most gracious,
who dost open to the faithful the doors of Paradise
(Akathist refrain)

Jesus, Joy of Angels

Christ the King, Solemnity: November 22, 2015

Christ Blessing His Creation

Vigil of Feast of Christ the King, Nov. 21, 2015

HEAVEN

Plentitude of Light.  
Perfect fullness.
The Lord God will be their light.
And all things will be clearly disclosed to them,

Come, blessed of my Father. These crowns belong to you. 

Faith, Hope, Love, Chastity, Sweetness, Humility,   

Lejeune, Paris

Come, ye blessed of my Father, 

inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the beginning.

Based on Matt. 25:34 

JESUS OUR REFUGE

The path that leads to life is narrow and difficult,
but whatever it costs me there will I go.

St. Elisabeth of Hungary: Memorial, November 17

"Remember always that you are made by the hands of God, and act accordingly."
~ St. Elisabeth of Hungary

Story of
St. Elisabeth of Hungary

Hungarian Cinnamon Bread 
From Catholic Cuisine