The Christmas Novena

It's time to pray the Christmas novena! Join your prayers and love with those of everyone else in the Pray More Novenas community, starting December 16. What intentions will you pray for? This is a good time of year to pray for unity in our country and families; for gratitude for all that we have; and for guidance as the new year begins. 

What else happened this week? Well, it was the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception. Last weekend I had some time to visit the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, which has so many beautiful Marian images, and here is a picture I took in the crypt church.

The little grotto in the crypt always gets me. "I am the Immaculate Conception." Can you imagine hearing those words?

The Blessed Mother crowned as Queen of Heaven and earth, as seen in a mosaic at the National Basilica of the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.

And today is the feast day of Saint Juan Diego, the Mexican peasant to whom the Blessed Mother appeared on Tepeyac Hill in Mexico City, and who we now know as Our Lady of Guadalupe. "La Guadalupana," as she is also called, is my favorite Marian apparition and the closest to my heart. Her feast day is coming up on December 12. She is the patroness of the Americas and the reason for the entire conversion of the people of Mexico over about two years. And to us she says, "Am I not here, I who am your mother?"

Advent dinner!

I took my own advice and hosted an Advent dinner last Saturday night. It was extra special: I actually had my friends help me decorate my tree (with seven people, that doesn't take long!) and we lit the Advent candles. I also found a couple of lovely prayers, one for blessing the tree and one simply for welcoming Advent. Then we had a delicious pot roast dinner and talked all night. It was so nice!

What I loved about that evening was how simple it was, but also how centered it was around celebrating the Advent celebration, which elevated the whole evening and gave it real meaning. I had two of my friends read the prayers out loud for everyone at the beginning of the evening, and it set a tone for the rest of the night. I am grateful for the fact that I have friends and people I can do this sort of meaningful stuff with - it's much more fun (and powerful) to pray with others. And it makes me feel grounded.

The prayers came from the December Give Us This Day, which I am reading daily as part of my Advent journey. I do find that it, and the other little things I am doing (like the Pray More Novenas retreat) are genuinely helping me to stay focused and look inward. There is definitely a change in my daily outlook - more hopeful, maybe? Peaceful?

How is your Advent going?

I made it on the radio!

Guys, really exciting stuff. My segment with Relevant Radio's Morning Air program was a smashing success, not to mention WAY FUN, and my original Advent article, which started this whole thing, now has 344 shares on Facebook (and counting). Hot dog!!

Here's the link. My portion runs from about 44:41 to 51:47:

http://relevantradio.streamguys.us/MA%20Archive/MA20161128a.mp3

As my portion ended and Cyrus, the producer, came back on the line, he said, "You rock!" and I said, "That was so fun! And I want to come back on!" We have promised to keep in touch, so - you may just yet hear me again on the golden airwaves!

I hope everyone's Advent is off to a wonderful start!