Dear Fellow Parish Bulletin Reps: December is dedicated to the Immaculate Conception, which is ordinarily celebrated on December 8, but since it falls on a Sunday, the feast has been transferred to December 9. The Holy Father’s Intentions for the Month of December, 2019: For a life of ‘prayer’: We pray that our personal relationship with Jesus Christ be nourished by the Word of God and a life of prayer. Feasts during the month of December: Francis Xavier (12/3), Nicholas (12/6), Ambrose (12/7), Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary (12/9), Our Lady of Loreto (12/10), Our Lady of Guadalupe (12/12), Lucy (12/13), John of the Cross (12/14), Peter Canisius (12/21), Christmas (12/25), Stephen (12/26), John (12/27), Holy Innocents (12/28), Holy Family (12/29), “In the natural order she preceded her Divine Child, Our Lord, but in the divine order Jesus, the Divine Son, arose before her, and she received from Him all grace, all purity, and all beautiful.” ~ St. Padre Pio.
Christmas is a Christian feast. In Advent we should prepare for the coming of the Christ Child. The best person we can turn to for help during Advent is Mary, Christ’s and our Mother. She awaited the day of His birth with more eagerness than any other human being. Her preparation was complete in every respect. “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given: He is the ‘Prince of Peace’. Let us welcome Him!” ~ Pope Francis. “Stay very close to the crib of this most beautiful Child.” At Our Lady of Grace monastery, Padre Pio had the crib with Baby Jesus placed where he could see it from the confessional and would often look at it throughout the day. On December 24, 1922, Lucia Iandanza, one of the residents of San Giovanni Rotondo, was to witness a Christmas Eve like none before. She prayed the Rosary, as Padre Pio came down the stairs that led to the sacristy, Lucia saw that he was holding a baby in his arms. It was not the little statue that was used each year at the Christmas Mass. It was a real baby, very much alive. It was the real Infant Jesus. A halo of light encircled the Infant and Padre Pio’s face was shining with a beautiful radiance. Padre Pio asked Lucia what she had seen. “I saw you holding the Baby Jesus surrounded by a halo of light”, she replied. “Lucia, you must never tell anyone what you saw. Do you understand? Never!” It was always Padre Pio’s desire to keep the many graces that God had given him hidden from others.
“The Immaculate Conception is the first step in our salvation. Through this singular and unique gift Mary received a profusion of Divine Grace, and through her cooperation she became worthy of absorbing infinitely more.” ~ St. Padre Pio.
Pope Francis Celebrates Our Lady of Guadalupe – “Mary, ‘teacher of the gospel’, walked and sang on our Continent and thus, the Guadalupana is not only remembered as indigenous, Spanish Hispanic or African-American. She is simply Latin American: Mother of a fertile and generous land in which everyone, in one way or another, can be found playing a leading role in the building of the holy Temple of the Family of God. Latin American son or daughter, brother or sister, without fear, sing and walk, as your Mother did.” ~ Pope Francis. Join us at Our Lady of Guadalupe Celebration, Saturday, December 7, 2019, 9 AM – 3 PM, St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church, 91 East Main Street, Norwalk, OH 44857. See their website for the calendar of events. Mass is @ 1 PM.
May we respectfully request that you continue your active support of our monthly Padre Pio Prayer Group gatherings by inserting the following invitation in your parish bulletin: “Join our Padre Pio Prayer Group (PPPG-CK) each 2nd Saturday (12/14/19) monthly for the 8 AM Mass, Rosary, Discussion, Adoration @ Christ the King Church, 4100 Harvest Lane, Toledo, OH 43623. Invite everyone to pray the rosary daily, as requested by Our Lady of the Rosary @ Fatima, and exemplified by St. Padre Pio. Access ‘www.pppg.org‘ for info. Contact Magdalena Skiles (419.356.4208) or email: ‘magdalena@magdalenaskiles.com.
