AirMaria.com

Ave Maria!
This is a great explanation of how the dating of Christmas is based on the date of the Incarnation in Mary’s womb and the birth of John the Baptist not on some acquiescence to paganism as is so often claimed.
From Locuta Est:
-

As we approach the Solemnity of the Nativity of our Lord, periodicals both secular and religious attempt the task of explaining the dating of Christmas. It never ceases to amaze me how even when theories have been sufficiently debunked they continue to persist in popular myth. The myth is that placing the birth of Jesus on December 25 was a Christian response to a pagan Roman festival honoring the “unconquered sun god.”

In his book The Spirit of the Liturgy, Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger argues against the thesis of the pagan festival. “The claim used to be made that December 25 developed in opposition to the Mithras myth, or as a Christian response to the cult of the unconquered sun promoted by Roman emperors in the third century in their efforts to establish a new imperial religion. However, these old theories can no longer be sustained. The decisive factor was the connection of creation and Cross, of creation and Christ’s conception” (Ratzinger, 108).

via Roma locuta est: The Dating of Christmas.

   Send article as PDF   

Homily #101225s ( 18min) Play – On this day when we celebrate the birth of our dear Savior, Fr. Dominic preaches the Gospel message of the coming of Christ that is so well put in the broadest historical sense by St John the Evangelist. Father focuses on the mysterious truth of this coming. Mysterious because the most glorious all-mighty God comes to us as such a humble baby, laid in a manger, but nevertheless the stupendous truth that captures the eminent mercy and love or our God. This mercy and love is so fitting to God’s greatness that it silences all objections to this mystery.
Ave Maria!
Mass: Nativity of the Lord (Day) – Solemnity – Form: OF
Readings:
1st: isa 52:7-10
Resp: psa 98:1, 2-3, 3-4, 5-6
2nd: heb 1:1-6
Gsp: joh 1:1-18

Audio (MP3)

+++

   Send article as PDF   

Homily #101225 ( 15min) Play – In the Gospel for the Midnight Mass for Christmas we have the appearance of the angels to the shepherds in Bethlehem who announced to them the coming of Christ the Lord as a little babe laid in a manger:

And the Angel said to them: Fear not; for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy, that shall be to all the people: for this day is born to you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord, in the city of David. And this shall be a sign unto you: you shall find the Infant wrapped in swaddling clothes, and laid in a manger. And suddenly there was with the Angel a multitude of the heavenly army, praising God and saying: Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men of good will.

Fr. Angelo preaches on how Our Lord comes in a lowly manner and announces himself first to the lowliest, the shepherds.

Ave Maria!
Mass: The Nativity of Our Lord – First Mass at Midnight – Form: EF, Dominus Dixit
Readings:
1st: tit 2:11-15
Gsp: luk 2:1-14

Audio (MP3)

+++

   Send article as PDF   

Ave Maria! Merry Christmas

1. Once in royal David’s city

Stood a lowly cattle shed,

Where a mother laid her Baby

In a manger for His bed:

Mary was that mother mild,

Jesus Christ her little Child.

2. He came down to earth from heaven,

Who is God and Lord of all,

And His shelter was a stable,

And His cradle was a stall;

With the poor, and mean, and lowly,

Lived on earth our Savior holy.

3. And through all His wondrous childhood

He would honor and obey,

Love and watch the lowly maiden,

In whose gentle arms He lay:

Christian children all must be

Mild, obedient, good as He.

4. For he is our childhood’s pattern;1

Day by day, like us He grew;

He was little, weak and helpless,

Tears and smiles like us He knew;

And He feeleth for our sadness,

And He shareth in our gladness.

5. And our eyes at last shall see Him,

Through His own redeeming love;

For that Child so dear and gentle

Is our Lord in heaven above,

And He leads His children on

To the place where He is gone.

6. Not in that poor lowly stable,

With the oxen standing by,

We shall see Him; but in heaven,

Set at God’s right hand on high;

Where like stars His children crowned

All in white shall wait around.

   Send article as PDF   

Homily #101223 ( 06min) Play – On this Eve of Christmas Eve the Gospel recounts the birth of John the Baptist. Fr. Dominic preaches on the quiet role of John the Baptist who will not be heard for another thirty years but does a quiet preparation much like Our Lady and much like how we should prepare for the coming of Christ in our own lives.
Ave Maria!
Mass: Weekdays of Advent – Dec 23 – – Form: OF
Readings:
1st: mal 3:5-4, 23-24
Resp: psa 25:4-5, 8-9, 10, 14
Gsp: luk 1:57-66

Audio (MP3)

+++

   Send article as PDF   

Homily #101128 ( 10min) Play – Fr Dominic preaches on the opening of Advent when we prepare for the coming of Our Lord when He is born at Bethlehem on Christmas Day. Father focuses on the Marian dimension of this season when we should renew our consecration to Mary so that we can prepare all the better, gaining graces, overcoming bad habits.
Ave Maria!
Mass: 1st Sunday of Advent – Form: OF
Readings:
1st: isa 2:1-5
Resp: psa 122:1-2, 3-4, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9
2nd: rom 13:11-14
Gsp: mat 24:37-44

Audio (MP3)

+++

   Send article as PDF   

This was originally posted on MaryVictrix on Holy Thursday, April 1st and was meant to be the first part of the post just below.

Immaculate Music #28 – Christmas in Bloomington, In  ( 04min) >>> Play

Ave Maria!

Well today  is the last day of Christmas decorations at our friaries in the Franciscans of the Immaculate. Yes, we are slow to take them down, but since we are a Marian order, we extend the Christmas season to the last feastday in the Joyful Mysteries which is  today, the Feast of the Presentation. Anyways, here is a beautiful video of the Christmas lights and decorations at our friary in Bloomington, IN. You will also get a good view of their new altar and sanctuary refurbishment. The music is by the Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate.

Ave Maria!

+++

   Send article as PDF   

Marycast #116 ( 10min) Play – In anticipation of Christmas Dr. Miravalle gives some reflections on the Mystery of Our Lady’s visitation to Elizabeth and encourages us to bring Christ to others as she did.  He also encourages us to give Jesus three particular gifts for Christmas.  He goes on to list and explain these gifts.

To ask questions regarding Mary, email Dr Mark Miravalle: marycast@airmaria.com

Ave Maria!

Audio (MP3)

+++

   Send article as PDF   

Homily #100103 ( 13min) Play – Epiphany of Our Lord marks the second part of Christmas which is the manifestation of Christ to the whole world as an introduction to His public ministry as an adult. Fr Angelo explains who the Magi were and why God lead them with the star first to King Herod in Jerusalem and only then to Bethlehem and the Christ Child. He contrasts the response of the Magi to that of Herod when they receive the message of the coming of the Messiah.
Ave Maria! Mass readings
1: Isa 60:1-6
R: Ps 72:1-2,7-8,10-13
2: Eph 3:2-3,5-6
G: Mt 2:1-12

Audio (MP3)

+++

   Send article as PDF   

Homily #100101 ( 16min) Play – Solemnity of the Mother of God. Mary’s Divine Maternity is key to the beauty and wonder of this holy season of Christmas because it highlights the fact that Jesus is true God and true man, two natures united, yet remaining distinct, in one Divine Person. As such Mary is truely the Mother of God. Father explains how this central truth of the Incarnation has fought ancient paganism and pantheism and how it will be the main means to fight the modern forms of these errors, which Father calls Techno-Pantheism.
Ave Maria! Mass readings
1: Num 6:22-27
R: Ps 67:2-3,5-6,8
2: Gal 4:4-7
G: Lk 2:16-21

Audio (MP3)

+++

   Send article as PDF   

Homily #091230 ( 05min) Play – Anna the Prophetess calls attention to the Child Jesus in the Temple in Jerusalem. Fr. Bonaventure exhorts us to be open to the Messiah and point Him out to others as Anna did.
Ave Maria! Mass readings
1: 1 Jn 2:12-17
R: Ps 96:7-10
G: Lk 2:36-40

Audio (MP3)

+++

   Send article as PDF   

One Minute Meditation

It is only the Child lying in the manger who pos­sesses the true secret of life. For this reason he asks us to welcome him, to make room for him within us, in our hearts, in our homes, in our cities, and in our societies. The words of John’s Prologue echo in our minds and hearts: “To all who received him … he gave power’ to become children of God” (1: 12).

Let us endeavor to be among those who welcome him. Before him one cannot remain indifferent. We too, dear friends, must continuously take sides. What will our response be? With what attitude will we welcome him? The simplicity of the shepherds and the seeking of the Magi who scrutinized the signs of God by means of the star come to our help. The docility of Mary and the wise prudence of Joseph serve as an example to us …

The love that Jesus, born in Bethlehem, brought into the world binds to himself in a lasting relation­ship of friendship and brotherhood all who welcome him. Saint John of the Cross says: “In giving us all, that is, his Son, in him God has now said all. Fix your eyes on him alone … and you will find in addition more than you ask and desire.”

Pope Benedict XVI

   Send article as PDF   

Homily #091224 ( 04min) Play – On the Vigil of Christmas (Christmas Eve) Father gives the account of the arrival of the Holy Family in Bethlehem. He notes how they are poor, chaste, docile to the will of God and full of charity. Let us imitate them and contemplate these great events.
Ave Maria! Vigil of the Nativity of Our Lord – Mass: EF, Hodie Scietis – Readings: 1st: rom 1:1-6 – Gsp: mat 1:18-21

Audio (MP3)

+++

   Send article as PDF   

MaryCast Specials #65 ( 10min) Play – Dr. Miravalle goes through scripture leading to the Nativity of Christ and how important a role Mary played and what this means in regard to preparing for Christmas, both for own and for loved ones,  and even for our whole society.

To ask questions regarding Mary, email Dr Mark Miravalle: marycast@airmaria.com

Ave Maria!

Audio (MP3)

+++

   Send article as PDF