Daily Gracelines ADVENTure Day 26

December 27
Day 26: Daily Gracelines: ADVENTure with Mary
Theme: The third Sunday of Advent is all about JOY.  The third week of Advent begins on Guadete Sunday.  We are reminded of His birth and coming, and we await rejoicing!
Grace: I pray for the grace of joy as I await my Lord!  Regardless of what happens this week, I will rejoice in God.

Reflection: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him may not perish but may have eternal life.” -John 3:16

Challenge: As you have journeyed with Mary through Advent into the Christmas season, ponder how God has worked in your life, drawing you closer to Himself through the joys and challenges of your time of preparation. Make note of the many ways you are grateful for the gift of faith and belief in Christ.

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St. John Paul II — “Christmas is the Feast Day of Man”

When I came back to the Faith in 1981, one Scripture passage became the rudder of my spiritual life. It is Ephesians 1: 3-4. Through the years, this passage has spoken to me in many ways and has sustained me through many trials.

Verse 4 , however, is particularly relevant for this time of the year, and was echoed by St. John Paul II in a Christmas reflection. It states this, “God chose us in him before the world began to be holy and blameless in his sight, to be full of love.” Those first five words tell us something about ourselves that is amazing and astounding — each one of us was distinctively and individually chosen by God to have life. Read the rest…

Daily Gracelines ADVENTure Day 25

December 26
Day 25: Daily Gracelines: ADVENTure with Mary
Theme: The third Sunday of Advent is all about JOY.  The third week of Advent begins on Guadete Sunday.  We are reminded of His birth and coming, and we await rejoicing!
Grace: I pray for the grace of joy as I await my Lord!  Regardless of what happens this week, I will rejoice in God.

Reflection: “Mankind is a great, an immense family…This is proved by what we feel in our hearts at Christmas.”
– Pope John XXIII

Challenge: How can you love your family better during this Christmas season? How can you love better your extended family, the family of God as well?

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Daily Gracelines ADVENTure Day 24

December 25
Day 24: Daily Gracelines: ADVENTure with Mary
Theme: The third Sunday of Advent is all about JOY.  The third week of Advent begins on Guadete Sunday.  We are reminded of His birth and coming, and we await rejoicing!
Grace: I pray for the grace of joy as I await my Lord!  Regardless of what happens this week, I will rejoice in God.

Reflection:
O holy night! The stars are brightly shining,
It is the night of our dear Saviour’s birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining,
Till He appear’d and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.

Fall on your knees! O hear the angel voices!
O night divine, O night when Christ was born;
O night divine, O night, O night Divine.

Led by the light of Faith serenely beaming,
With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand.
So led by light of a star sweetly gleaming,
Here come the wise men from the Orient land.
The King of Kings lay thus in lowly manger;
In all our trials born to be our friend.

He knows our need, to our weaknesses no stranger,
Behold your King! Before Him lowly bend!
Behold your King, Before Him lowly bend!

Truly He taught us to love one another;
His law is love and His gospel is peace.
Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother;
And in His name all oppression shall cease.
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
Let all within us praise His holy name.

Christ is the Lord! O praise His Name forever,
His power and glory evermore proclaim.
His power and glory evermore proclaim.
– O Holy Night by John Sullivan

Challenge: Ponder the holy moment of Christ’s birth when the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us. What does it mean to you this year? How will you carry Jesus Christ anew in your heart throughout 2019?

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Daily Gracelines ADVENTure Day 23

December 24
Day 23: Daily Gracelines: ADVENTure with Mary
Theme: The third Sunday of Advent is all about JOY.  The third week of Advent begins on Guadete Sunday.  We are reminded of His birth and coming, and we await rejoicing!
Grace: I pray for the grace of joy as I await my Lord!  Regardless of what happens this week, I will rejoice in God.

Reflection: “O Jesus, I ask only for peace — peace and, above all, love that is without measure or limits.” – St. Therese of Lisieux

Challenge: This reflection from St. Therese reminds us that “perfect love casts out fear.” Our Lady was the perfect example of perfect love. Ask her to show you where you need to love more? Who do you need to forgive so that you might experience fully the peace of Christ on Christmas day?

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Daily Gracelines ADVENTure Day 22

December 23
Day 22: Daily Gracelines: ADVENTure with Mary
Theme: The third Sunday of Advent is all about JOY.  The third week of Advent begins on Guadete Sunday.  We are reminded of His birth and coming, and we await rejoicing!
Grace: I pray for the grace of joy as I await my Lord!  Regardless of what happens this week, I will rejoice in God.

Reflection: “Mother of mercy and of hope obtain for the men and women of the third millennium the precious gift of peace; peace in hearts and families, in communities and among peoples; peace above all for those Nations where people fight and die every day.

Obtain that every human being of every race and culture may encounter and accept Jesus, who came down to earth in the mystery of Christmas to give ‘His’ peace to us.

O Mary, Queen of Peace, give us Christ, the world’s true Peace!”
– St. John Paul II

Challenge: Where do you need more peace in your life? Ask the Child Jesus to grant you the precious gift of His peace this Christmas.

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Daily Gracelines ADVENTure Day 21

December 22
Day 21: Daily Gracelines: ADVENTure with Mary
Theme: The third Sunday of Advent is all about JOY.  The third week of Advent begins on Guadete Sunday.  We are reminded of His birth and coming, and we await rejoicing!
Grace: I pray for the grace of joy as I await my Lord!  Regardless of what happens this week, I will rejoice in God.

Reflection: “With Christ joy is constantly born anew.” – Pope Francis

Challenge: What can you do to today to prepare your heart more deeply to receive the joy of the Child Jesus on Christmas Day?

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Daily Gracelines ADVENTure Day 20

December 21
Day 20: Daily Gracelines: ADVENTure with Mary
Theme: The third Sunday of Advent is all about JOY.  The third week of Advent begins on Guadete Sunday.  We are reminded of His birth and coming, and we await rejoicing!
Grace: I pray for the grace of joy as I await my Lord!  Regardless of what happens this week, I will rejoice in God.

Reflection: “One filled with Joy preaches without preaching.” -St. Teresa of Calcutta

Challenge:  What is the underlying meaning of this quote? Do you believe that you are truly filled with joy based on your interactions and encounters with others? Do you “preach without preaching”? Today, ask our Lord to open your heart to a greater outpouring of joy, and await His lovely gift.

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Daily Gracelines ADVENTure Day 19

December 20
Day 19: Daily Gracelines: ADVENTure with Mary
Theme: The third Sunday of Advent is all about JOY.  The third week of Advent begins on Guadete Sunday.  We are reminded of His birth and coming, and we await rejoicing!
Grace: I pray for the grace of joy as I await my Lord!  Regardless of what happens this week, I will rejoice in God.

Reflection: “The soul of the one who serves God always swims in joy, always keeps holiday, and is always in the mood for singing.” – St. John of the Cross

Challenge:  Are you swimming in joy and rejoicing this week? If not, place it at the foot of the cross and give God any discouragement you are experiencing.  Surely, He will transform it!

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Daily Gracelines ADVENTure Day 18

December 19
Day 18: Daily Gracelines: ADVENTure with Mary
Theme: The third Sunday of Advent is all about JOY.  The third week of Advent begins on Guadete Sunday.  We are reminded of His birth and coming, and we await rejoicing!
Grace: I pray for the grace of joy as I await my Lord!  Regardless of what happens this week, I will rejoice in God.

Reflection: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” – Galatians 5:22-23

Challenge:  What fruits are you struggling with this Advent?  How is our Lord calling you to grow deeper in these virtues? Ask Mother to storm heaven with prayers for you today!

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