Because today is the first day of Advent, it is also the first day of the new liturgical year.

The liturgical year is provided by the Church to organize worship of the holy mysteries of God. The calendar begins with our preparation for our Lord's first Advent or coming. The calendar continues with the celebration of His first Advent at Christmas, Christ's earthly ministry including His Passion and Resurrection, His Ascension, and Pentecost when the Holy Spirit was poured out upon the Church. Finally, the year concludes with our anticipation of His second Advent.

During this year the readings will be taken from Cycle B which means that the primary Gospel readings will be taken from the Gospel according to St. Mark.

Novena to the Immaculate Conception
Novena Dates: November 30 to December 8
Feast of The Immaculate Conception: December 8

Immaculate Virgin Mary, you were pleasing in the sight of God from the first moment of your conception in the womb of your mother, St. Anne. You were chosen to the Mother of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I believe the teaching of Holy Mother the Church, that in the first instant of your conception, by the singular grace and privilege of Almighty God, in virtue of the merits of Jesus Christ, Savior of the human race and your beloved Son, you were preserved for all stain of original sin. I thank God for this wonderful privilege and grace He bestowed upon you as I honor your Immaculate Conception.

Look graciously upon me as I implore this special favor: (Mention your request).

Virgin Immaculate, Mother of God and my Mother, from your throne in heaven turn your eyes of pity upon me. Filled with confidence in your goodness and power, I beg you to help me in this journey of life, which is so full of dangers for my soul. I entrust myself entirely to you, that I may never be the slave of the devil through sin, but may always live a humble and pure life. I consecrate myself to you forever, for my only desire is to love your Divine Son Jesus.

Mary, since none of your devout servants has ever perished, may I, too, be saved. Amen.

Prayer

Father, You prepared the Virgin Mary to be the worthy Mother of Your Son. You made it possible for her to share beforehand in the salvation Your Son, Jesus Christ, would bring by His death, and kept her without sin from the first moment of her conception. Give us the grace by her prayers ever to live in Your presence without sin. We ask this through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

Sunday's Readings: Isaiah 63:16b-17, 19b; 64:2-7 Psalm 80:2-3, 15-16, 18-19 1 Corinthians 1:3-9 Mark 13:33-37

Here are a few commentaries on these readings:

• St. Charles Borromeo Lectionary Site (PDF)



• Advent Reminds us-You Snooze You Lose from The Crossroads Initiative

RealCatholic TV was formed in early 2008 by lay Catholics faithful to the Magisterium of the Catholic Church with extensive experience in commercial broadcast television.

RealCatholic TV offers solid Catholic programming including, daily news, daily political commentary, daily features on saints and history as well as regular episodes on morality, movie reviews, entertainment, apologetics, and much more.

The site provides content through a video player that allows users to view, send, and download content regardless of their computing platform with no plug-ins required. All viewers have free access to home page content – daily news and commentary (current events and politics) from the Catholic perspective, messages directly from Catholic bishops to the faithful, program previews, and more.

RealCatholicTV.com has the support of various bishops in the U.S. including Archbishop Charles Joseph Chaput of Denver, CO, Bishop David R. Choby of Nashville, TN, and Bishop Robert Francis Vasa of Baker, OR, as well as Bishops around the world such as Bishop Athanasius Schneider of Karaganda, Kazakhstan, all who are all making appearances on Real Catholic TV this month.

RealCatholic TV aims to provide everyone with means to increase their personal holiness through catechesis and evangelization about the truth of the Christian faith. Their aim is to convert non-Catholics to the faith, and strengthen the faith of existing Catholics.

The site provides a good deal of material for free, but the $10.00 a month membership charge is well worth it for the extra programming that is available.

From Catholic Culture.

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The season of Advent begins on November 30th.

The word "advent," from the Latin adventus (Greek parousia), means "coming" or "arrival" and the season of Advent is focused on the "coming" of Jesus as Messiah (Christ or King). Our worship, scripture readings, and prayers not only prepare us spiritually for Christmas (his first coming), but also for his eventual second coming. This is why the Scripture readings during Advent include both Old Testament prophecies predicting the Messiah and New Testament passages concerning Jesus' second coming as Judge of all people. Also, passages about John the Baptist, the one preparing the way for the Messiah, are read. Since Advent looks forward to Christ's birth and Incarnation, it is an appropriate way to begin the Church Year.

The liturgical color for Advent is violet (except for the Third Week of Advent, often called Gaudete Sunday, in which rose may be used), and the season is somewhat penitential, similar to Lent, although not so explicit and emphatic. The character of worship during Advent is more solemn, quiet, and less festive than during other times of the year. In the Catholic Church, for example, the Gloria in Excelsis is not used. The use of violet reflects the general themes of Advent: penitence (generally expressed more in terms of expectant hope) and royalty. Some prominent feasts fall within the Season of Advent, including the Feast of the Immaculate Conception and the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

Secular culture and many non-Catholic churches celebrate the day of Christmas, but take it outside of the context of Advent and Christmastide. However, Christmas is not meant to be an isolated day, but a festival of the Incarnation in the midst of the Church year. Christmas is only properly understood after having the preparation provided by Advent. In the midst of the secular excesses leading up to Christmas, Advent provides a welcome solace and an opportunity to continually re-orient ourselves to God's will as we expectantly wait for the true meaning of Christmas: the Incarnation of God the Son.

From ChurchYear.Net

The month of November is dedicated to the Souls in Purgatory. This excerpt from the Catechism touches on the teaching of Purgatory in light of the teaching on the effects of sin and the merit of indulgences.

1478   An indulgence is obtained through the Church who, by virtue of the power of binding and loosing granted her by Christ Jesus, intervenes in favor of individual Christians and opens for them the treasury of the merits of Christ and the saints to obtain from the Father of mercies the remission of the temporal punishments due for their sins. Thus the Church does not want simply to come to the aid of these Christians, but also to spur them to works of devotion, penance, and charity.

1479   Since the faithful departed now being purified are also members of the same communion of saints, one way we can help them is to obtain indulgences for them, so that the temporal punishments due for their sins may be remitted.

Catechism of the Catholic Church

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The season of Advent begins on November 30th and continues until Christmas mass on December 24th.

Advent is a time of waiting, conversion and of hope:

• waiting-memory of the first, humble coming of the Lord in our mortal flesh; waiting-supplication for his final, glorious coming as Lord of History and universal Judge;


• conversion, to which the Liturgy at this time often refers quoting the prophets, especially John the Baptist, "Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" (Mt 3,2);


• joyful hope that the salvation already accomplished by Christ (cf. Rm 8, 24-25) and the reality of grace in the world, will mature and reach their fullness, thereby granting us what is promised by faith, and "we shall become like him for we shall see him as he really is" (John 3,2).

Popular piety is particularly sensitive to Advent, especially when seen as the memory of the preparation for the coming of the Messiah. The Christian people are deeply conscious of the long period of expectation that preceded the birth of our Savior. The faithful know that God sustained Israel's hope in the coming of the Messiah by the prophets.

Popular piety is not unaware of this extraordinary event. Indeed, it is awestruck at the prospect of the God of glory taking flesh in the womb of the humble and lowly Virgin Mary. The faithful are particularly sensitive to the difficulties faced by the Virgin Mary during her pregnancy, and are deeply moved by the fact that there was no room at the inn for Joseph and Mary, just as she was about to give birth to the Christ child (cf Lk 2,7).

Various expressions of popular piety connected with Advent have emerged throughout the centuries. These have sustained the faith of the people, and from one generation to the next, they have conserved many valuable aspects of the liturgical season of Advent.

From the Directory on Popular Piety and the Liturgy (96-7)

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Sunday's Readings: Ezekiel 34:11-12, 15-17 Psalm 23:1-3, 5-6 1 Corinthians 15:20-26, 28 Matthew 25:31-46

Here are a few commentaries on these readings:

• Pontifical Household preacher, Capuchin Father Raniero Cantalamessa (PDF)


• St. Charles Borromeo Lectionary Site (PDF)


• When the End Comes (Also available to be heard as an MP3) from St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology


• Last Judgment and Sins of Omission from The Crossroads Initiative

The last Sunday in the liturgical year is devoted to worshiping our Lord as the King of Kings. This year the Solemnity of Christ the King is celebrated on November 23rd.

The earliest Christians identified Jesus with the predicted Messiah of the Jews. The Jewish word "messiah," and the Greek word "Christ," both mean "anointed one," and came to refer to the expected king who would deliver Israel from the hands of the Romans. Christians believe that Jesus is this expected Messiah. Unlike the messiah most Jews expected, Jesus came to free all people, Jew and Gentile, and he did not come to free them from the Romans, but from sin and death. Thus the king of the Jews, and of the cosmos, does not rule over a kingdom of this world.

Christians have long celebrated Jesus as Christ, and his reign as King is celebrated to some degree in Advent (when Christians wait for his second coming in glory), Christmas (when "born this day is the King of the Jews"), Holy Week (when Christ is the Crucified King), Easter (when Jesus is resurrected in power and glory), and the Ascension (when Jesus returns to the glory he had with the Father before the world was created). However, Pius XI wanted to specifically commemorate Christ as king, and instituted the feast in the Western calendar in 1925.

In the 21st century many Western Christians, Catholic and Protestant, celebrate Christ the King Sunday, including Anglicans and Lutherans. Unfortunately, in some mainline Protestant churches, "king" language is not popular, and the feast is downplayed. However, in a chaotic and unjust world that seems to scorn any kind of authority, many Christians proudly celebrate Christ the King Sunday, where the loving and merciful - and just - king of the universe is praised

From ChurchYear.Net

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In March of 1915, Father Joseph Skelly, C.M. established the Central Association of the Miraculous Medal. The purpose of The Central Association was to propagate and increase devotion to Mary Immaculate by encouraging devotion to Mary under her title of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal. Today, The Central Association of the Miraculous Medal has four purposes: To render honor to Mary Immaculate and to encourage the use of her Miraculous Medal with prayers and devotions to her under the title of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal. To support the education and formation of men for the priesthood and brotherhood in the seminaries of the Congregation of the Mission. To support the aged and infirm Vincentians of the Eastern Province of the Congregation, the parent body of The Central Association of the Miraculous Medal. To support the apostolic works of the Eastern Province on behalf of the poor. From the Web site.

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Novena Dates: November 19-26, Feast Day November 27

O Immaculate Virgin Mary,
Mother of Our Lord Jesus and our Mother, penetrated with the most lively confidence in your all-powerful and never-failing intercession, manifested so often through the Miraculous Medal, we your loving and trustful children implore you to obtain for us the graces and favors we ask during this novena,
if they be beneficial to our immortal souls, and the souls for whom we pray.

(Here form your petition)

You know, O Mary, how often our souls have been the sanctuaries of your Son who hates iniquity. Obtain for us then a deep hatred of sin and that purity of heart which will attach us to God alone so that our every thought, word and deed may tend to His greater glory.

Obtain for us also a spirit of prayer and self-denial that we may recover by penance what we have lost by sin and at length attain to that blessed abode where you are the Queen of angels and of men.

Amen.

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The month of November is dedicated to the Souls in Purgatory. This excerpt from the Catechism touches on the teaching of Purgatory in light of the teaching on the effects of sin and the merit of indulgences.

1472   To understand this doctrine and practice of the Church [indulgences], it is necessary to understand that sin has a double consequence. Grave sin deprives us of communion with God and therefore makes us incapable of eternal life, the privation of which is called the "eternal punishment" of sin. On the other hand every sin, even venial, entails an unhealthy attachment to creatures, which must be purified either here on earth, or after death in the state called Purgatory. This purification frees one from what is called the "temporal punishment" of sin. These two punishments must not be conceived of as a kind of vengeance inflicted by God from without, but as following from the very nature of sin. A conversion which proceeds from a fervent charity can attain the complete purification of the sinner in such a way that no punishment would remain.

1473   The forgiveness of sin and restoration of communion with God entail the remission of the eternal punishment of sin, but temporal punishment of sin remains. While patiently bearing sufferings and trials of all kinds and, when the day comes, serenely facing death, the Christian must strive to accept this temporal punishment of sin as a grace. He should strive by works of mercy and charity, as well as by prayer and the various practices of penance, to put off completely the "old man" and to put on the "new man."

Catechism of the Catholic Church

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Sunday's Readings: Proverbs 31:10-13, 19-20, 30-31 Psalm 128:1-5 1 Thessalonians 5:1-6 Matthew 25:14-30

Here are a few commentaries on these readings:

• The Age of the Woman from Pontifical Household preacher, Capuchin Father Raniero Cantalamessa


• St. Charles Borromeo Lectionary Site (PDF)


• Settling Accounts (Also available to be heard as an MP3) from St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology


• Parable of the Talents from The Crossroads Initiative

The November and December minister schedule has been posted. To view the PDF schedule click here.

Novena to Christ the King
Novena Dates: November 14-22  Feast: November 23

Recite One Our Father, One Hail Mary and One Glory Be per day followed by the Novena Prayer:

O Lord our God, You alone are the Most Holy King and Ruler of all nations. We pray to You, Lord, in the great expectation of receiving from You, O Divine King, mercy, peace, justice and all good things. Protect, O Lord our King, our families and the land of our birth. Guard us we pray Most Faithful One. Protect us from our enemies and from Your Just Judgment Forgive us, O Sovereign King, our sins against you. Jesus, You are a King of Mercy. We have deserved Your Just Judgment Have mercy on us, Lord, and forgive us. We trust in Your Great Mercy. O most awe-inspiring King, we bow before You and pray;
May Your Reign, Your Kingdom, be recognized on earth.

Amen.

Sunday's Readings: Ezekiel 47:1-2, 8-9,12 Psalm 46:2-3,5-6,8-9 1 Corinthians 3:9-11, 16-17 John 2:13-22

Here are a few commentaries on these readings:

• Pontifical Household preacher, Capuchin Father Raniero Cantalamessa (PDF)


• St. Charles Borromeo Lectionary Site (PDF)


• Body Building (Also available to be heard as an MP3) from St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology


• Who Needs Churches? - Dedication of St. John Lateran from The Crossroads Initiative

One More Soul (OMS) is a non-profit organization dedicated to spreading the truth about the blessings of children and the harms of contraception. Their website is a large part of their efforts to disseminate information and thus contains many resources. Of special note is their directory of NFP only, pro-life doctors. Also, their database of online publications includes English pamphlets, Spanish resources, booklets, and PowerPoint presentations, all available to view and download. This is an excellent pro-life resource well worth an extended visit. From Catholic Culture.

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The month of November is dedicated to the Souls in Purgatory. This excerpt from the Catechism discusses the teaching of the Church on a final purification for all those who die in God's grace yet are not cleansed of all that cannot enter into the presence of God.

1030   All who die in God's grace and friendship, but still imperfectly purified, are indeed assured of their eternal salvation; but after death they undergo purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven.

1031   The Church gives the name Purgatory to this final purification of the elect, which is entirely different from the punishment of the damned. The Church formulated her doctrine of faith on Purgatory especially at the Councils of Florence and Trent. the tradition of the Church, by reference to certain texts of Scripture, speaks of a cleansing fire:

As for certain lesser faults, we must believe that, before the Final Judgment, there is a purifying fire. He who is truth says that whoever utters blasphemy against the Holy Spirit will be pardoned neither in this age nor in the age to come. From this sentence we understand that certain offenses can be forgiven in this age, but certain others in the age to come.

1032   This teaching is also based on the practice of prayer for the dead, already mentioned in Sacred Scripture: "Therefore Judas Maccabeus] made atonement for the dead, that they might be delivered from their sin." From the beginning the Church has honored the memory of the dead and offered prayers in suffrage for them, above all the Eucharistic sacrifice, so that, thus purified, they may attain the beatific vision of God. The Church also commends almsgiving, indulgences, and works of penance undertaken on behalf of the dead:

Let us help and commemorate them. If Job's sons were purified by their father's sacrifice, why would we doubt that our offerings for the dead bring them some consolation? Let us not hesitate to help those who have died and to offer our prayers for them.

Catechism of the Catholic Church

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Our Blessed Mother is Patroness of the United States. On this Election Day, we offer up to her our prayers for this great nation of ours.

O Most Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Mercy, at this most critical time, we entrust the United States of America to your loving care. Most Holy Mother, we beg you to reclaim this land for the glory of your Son. Overwhelmed with the burden of the sins of our nation, we cry to you from the depths of our hearts and seek refuge in your motherly protection. Look down with mercy upon us and touch the hearts of our people. Open our minds to the great worth of human life and to the responsibilities that accompany human freedom.

Free us from the falsehoods that lead to the evil of abortion and threaten the sanctity of family life. Grant our country the wisdom to proclaim that God's law is the foundation on which this nation was founded, and that He alone is the True Source of our cherished rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

O Merciful Mother, give us the courage to reject the culture of death and the strength to build a new Culture of Life.

From EWTN.

The month of November is dedicated to the Souls in Purgatory. This section continues information on devotion to the Holy Souls which began last week.

In matters relating to doctrine, the following are to be avoided:

• the invocation of the dead in practices involving divination;


• the interpretation or attribution of imaginary effects to dreams relating to the dead, which often arises from fear;


• any suggestion of a belief in reincarnation;


• the danger of denying the immortality of the soul or of detaching death from the resurrection, so as to make the Christian religion seem like a religion of the dead;


• the application of spacio-temporal categories to the dead.

"Hiding death and its signs" is widespread in contemporary society and prone to the difficulties arising from doctrinal and pastoral error.

Doctors, nurses, and relatives frequently believe that they have a duty to hide the fact of imminent death from the sick who, because of increasing hospitalization, almost always die outside of the home.

It has been frequently said that the great cities of the living have no place for the dead: buildings containing tiny flats cannot house a space in which to hold a vigil for the dead; traffic congestion prevents funeral corteges because they block the traffic; cemeteries, which once surrounded the local church and were truly "holy ground" and indicated the link between Christ and the dead, are now located at some distance outside of the towns and cities, since urban planning no longer includes the provision of cemeteries.

Modern society refuses to accept the "visibility of death", and hence tries to conceal its presence. In some places, recourse is even made to conserving the bodies of the dead by chemical means in an effort to prolong the appearance of life.

The Christian, who must be conscious of and familiar with the idea of death, cannot interiorly accept the phenomenon of the "intolerance of the dead", which deprives the dead of all acceptance in the city of the living. Neither can he refuse to acknowledge the signs of death, especially when intolerance and rejection encourage a flight from reality, or a materialist cosmology, devoid of hope and alien to belief in the death and resurrection of Christ.

The Christian is obliged to oppose all forms of "commercialization of the dead", which exploit the emotions of the faithful in pursuit of unbridled and shameful commercial profit.

From the Directory on Popular Piety and the Liturgy (258-9)

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The month of November is dedicated to the Souls in Purgatory. The Feast of All Souls is celebrated on November 2.

As with the Liturgy, popular piety pays particular attention to the memory of the dead and carefully raises up to God prayers in suffrage for them.

In matters relating to the "memorial of the dead", great pastoral prudence and tact must always be employed in addressing the relationship between Liturgy and popular piety, both in its doctrinal aspect and in harmonizing the liturgical actions and pious exercises.

It is always necessary to ensure that popular piety is inspired by the principles of the Christian faith. Thus, they should be made aware of the paschal meaning of the death undergone by those who have received Baptism and who have been incorporated into the mystery of the death and resurrection of Christ (cf. Rm 6,3-10); the immortality of the soul (cf Lk 23, 43); the communion of Saints, through which "union with those who are still on their pilgrim journey with the faithful who repose in Christ is not in the least broken, but strengthened by a communion of spiritual goods, as constantly taught by the Church":"our prayer for them is capable not only of helping them, but also of making their intercession for us effective"; the resurrection of the body; the glorious coming of Christ, who will "judge the living and the dead"; the reward given to each according to his deeds; life eternal.

Deeply rooted cultural elements connoting particular anthropological concepts are to be found among the customs and usages connected with the "cult of the dead" among some peoples. These often spring from a desire to prolong family and social links with the departed. Great caution must be used in examining and evaluating these customs. Care should be taken to ensure that they are not contrary to the Gospel. Likewise, care should be taken to ensure that they cannot be interpreted as pagan residues.

From the Directory on Popular Piety and the Litury (256-7)

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Sunday's Readings: Exodus 22:20-26 Psalm 18:2-4, 47, 51 1 Thessalonians 1:5-10 Matthew 22:34-40

Here are a few commentaries on these readings:

• St. Charles Borromeo Lectionary Site (PDF)


• All Souls (Also available to be heard as an MP3) from St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology


• All Souls, Purgatory and Prayers for the Dead from The Crossroads Initiative

For me, prayer is a surge of the heart; it is a simple look turned toward heaven, it is a cry of recognition and of love, embracing both trial and joy. - St. Thérèrse of Liseaux

The Holy Father's prayer intentions for November are:

General: That the testimony of love offered by the Saints, may fortify Christians in their service to God and neighbor, imitating Christ who came not to be served but to serve. catechists and pastoral workers engaged in the service of the Word of God transmit with courage the truth of the faith in communion with the entire Church.

Mission: That Christian communities in Asia, contemplating the face of Christ, may find the most suitable way to announce Him in full fidelity to the Gospel to the peoples of that vast continent so rich in culture and ancient forms of spirituality.