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Holy Spirit & Fire
1 Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. 2 Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for, that she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins. 3 A voice of one calling: “In the wilderness prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God."
Three Kings
1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, 2 “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the East, and have come to worship him.” 3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; 4 and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. 5 They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it is written by the prophet:
Holy Family Sunday
Our Holy Family Novena begins on the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, which is Sunday, December 30, 2018. It continues through Monday, January 7, 2019. God chose to belong to a human family. A family just like yours. A place where virtues can be learned; where respect, forgiveness, and love take root. This is the miracle of Christmas. Celebrate this Christmas Season by joining the Missionaries of the Holy Family in prayer to strengthen your family life. We will be celebrating Mass on each of the nine days.
Virgin Birth
3 The Lord said to Isaiah, “Take your son Shear-Jashub and go out to meet King Ahaz. You will find him at the end of the aqueduct that feeds water into the upper pool, near the road leading to the field where clothes are washed. 4 Tell him to stop worrying. Tell him he doesn’t need to fear the fierce anger of those two burned-out embers, King Rezin of Syria and Pekah son of Remaliah. 5 Yes, the kings of Syria and Israel are plotting against him, saying, 6 ‘We will attack Judah and capture it for ourselves. Then we will install the son of Tabeel as Judah’s king.’
Creation Awaits
18 I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed to us. 19 For all creation awaits with eager expectation for the revelation of the children of God.
Immaculate
26 In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And coming to her, he said, “Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.”
Advent Watch
24 “But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, 25 and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. 26 And then they will see the Son of man coming in clouds with great power and glory. 27 And then he will send out the angels, and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.
Myths about Purgatory
It’s probably safe to say that for most Protestant Christians, there are few doctrines more “Catholic” than Purgatory. Unfortunately, most people’s understanding of Purgatory is fraught with myths and misconceptions. First, here’s how the Catechism of the Catholic Church describes Purgatory:
Purifying Fire
"So that the genuineness of your faith, more precious than gold, which, though perishable, is tested by fire..." (1 Peter 1:7) A commonly misunderstood teaching of the Church concerns Purgatory. Purgatory is not a second chance for damned souls to repent. Instead it is a state of cleansing and purification for souls destined for heaven. Also, Purgatory is not a means to earn our way to heaven, but a gift from God preparing us to see Him face to face. Even though not explicitly referred to by name, the Bible does allude to it, especially in terms of purging fire.
Purgatory in Scripture
Is the Catholic belief in Purgatory in Scripture? Yes. See 2 Samuel 12:13-18: David said to Nathan, "I have sinned against the Lord." And Nathan said to David, "The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die. Nevertheless, because by this deed you have utterly scorned the Lord, the child that is born to you shall die."