CATHOLIC FAITH AT HOME RESOURCES

for our STELLA MARIS

Family of Parishes

including:

St. Thomas More, St. Bernadette,

St. Mary & St. Peter

November 19

WHAT IS THE ORIGIN OF THANKSGIVING?

British writer and Catholic philosopher

G.K. Chesterton is quoted as saying:

“The worst moment for an atheist is when he is really

thankful and has no one to thank.”

Today, football games and dining room tables filled with food

tend to overshadow the real meaning of Thanksgiving

for American citizens, even Catholic ones.

Thanksgiving has been on the liturgical calendar

for the United States as an optional memorial since 1970.

Scripture is filled with words of praise and thanksgiving

to God for all He has done for His people.

Even the readings for Thanksgiving Day Mass

reflect this theme of showing gratitude to God,

particularly the Gospel story of the 10 lepers

whom Jesus cured of their disease,

and the one Samaritan who returned to thank Him.

So, though it may not be a liturgical feast,

the Church has certainly embraced the holiday

as a natural part of the faith life.

What is the origin of this holiday?

The Puritans who came to Plymouth in 1620 almost didn’t survive.

Half the settlers died the first winter.

They were saved by a Native American named Squanto,

who taught them how to hunt and fish and grow corn.

But here’s what is really interesting: 

Squanto was a Roman Catholic.

Click the link below to read more:

CATHOLIC ORIGINS OF THANKSGIVING

ARCHBISHOP'S RESPONSE TO ISSUE 1

Archbishop Schnurr has released a video statement

 on the outcome of the vote on Issue 1. 

He encourages us to continue to support women,

children and families through prayer,

personal accompaniment, material assistance,

and with radical solidarity for the dignity of all.

Click below to watch his statement:

POST ELECTION MESSAGE FROM OUR ARCHBISHOP

Click below to find ways you can help:

WAYS YOU CAN HELP

WHAT HAPPENS AFTER DEATH?

We all have questions about purgatory.

Watch this episode as Dr. Michael Barber and

Chris Stefanick discuss the purification

that happens after death.

Click below to watch this discussion:

WHAT IS PURGATORY?

REDISCOVER ADVENT

WITH

"HERE AM I"!

Our culture specializes in overstimulation and empty productivity.

 Once again, our Faith proposes a revolutionary

game-changer: Advent. 

We get 4 weeks of waiting and preparation

to receive the revelation of our Lord made flesh! 

Sometimes we start Advent with good, solid intentions,

but…In the end, we fill that time with extra shopping and checklists.

 We rush into Christmas with the same frantic busyness

that dominates the rest of our lives.

This year, let’s live Advent the way the Church intended it!

Click the link below to discover "HERE AM I"

a four week Advent program:

HERE AM I!

NOVENA PRAYER

ADVENT

START NOVEMBER 24

1st SUNDAY OF ADVENT: DECEMBER 3

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O Lord Jesus Christ, who for our sake descended from

the throne of glory to this world of pain and sorrow;

who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,

born of the Virgin Mary, and was made man;

Make our hearts a fit habitation for you.

Beautify and fill us with all spiritual graces,

and possess us wholly by your power.

Give us grace to prepare for your coming with deep humility,

to receive you with burning love,

and to hold fast to you with a firm faith;

that we may never leave nor forsake you.

Who lives and reigns, world without end.

Amen!

SPECIAL PRAYERS

GIVE THANKS TO GOD FOR OUR SEMINARIANS!!

It has been a special year at MTSM so far,

with 100 seminarians from seven sending dioceses

making up the largest class in 45 years!

This year, God willing, 17 men from MTSM

will be ordained to the priesthood,

finalizing their education and lifelong

commitment to providing the sacraments

to you and your families and becoming

shepherds of your parishes and communities for years to come.

For Peace in the Middle East

Lord Jesus Christ,

Thank you for your love and guidance in all our lives each day. You give us the grace to live in your love in peace. Lord, on this day, we lift our hearts and minds to all those who suffer because of violent conflicts in the world. We think of those families whose hearts ache because of war. Those who are forced to leave their homes and their families due to brute force and destruction. Those who cannot sleep, eat, or live happily because of warfare and fighting all around them. We offer our prayers for the children, families, the young and the old, the sick, and the abandoned who do not have resources, food, and shelter for daily living. We pray for mothers, fathers, grandparents, and all those deeply concerned for their family members and friends.

Lord, help us to offer our time, our sacrifices, and our deepest prayers at each moment for those affected by war. We pray that we can model after you, Lord Jesus, as one who offered yourself for the sake of others and for their welfare. We pray for our enemies the same way you did when you gave your life for the salvation of the world.

At this moment, Lord, we pray for those who suffer greatly at the hands of those who cause ruination to others and to the world. We pray for the conversion of their hearts. We understand conversion is possible for everyone who is alive, and we pray for peace in their hearts to turn to you and away from the brutality of war. We lift our prayers for those who protect others from violence and who stand for justice through service.

Jesus, we love you above all, and we trust you with every aspect of our lives. Help us to entrust you more both in this present moment and for the future of the world as we pray for peace. Most of all, help us to continue our prayers at each moment through the intercession of your Mother Mary and all the angels and saints.

We ask this in the Name of Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

 Amen.

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Click the link below for several prayers for Israel

and also a list of the names of the hostages!!

PRAYERS FOR ISRAEL AND HOSTAGES NAMES

NATIONAL EUCHARISTIC REVIVAL

NEW WEEKLY INFO

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The Wonders of the Mass

Wonders of the Mass is a Vietnamese Eucharistic Youth Movement

video series to help members and all young people

grow in their love for the Eucharist

through a deeper understanding of the Mass.

Every Monday, they dive into an aspect of the Mass

to EXPLORE its meaning, UNDERSTAND its purpose,

and share ideas on how we can LIVE the Mass

when we leave the Mass.

By the end of 2023, there will be 52 new insights

into the Mass that will help you more fully

participate in, love, and appreciate this

special encounter with Jesus in the Eucharist! 

Click the link below to enjoy this series:

WONDERS OF THE MASS

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Dare to Believe: The Eucharist

This short feature film offers a daring look

into the realm of spirituality where

the mystical meets the material.

What if everything the Catholic Church proclaimed

about the Holy Eucharist was actually true?

Would it have the power to change your life?

“Dare to Believe” it would! 

Click below to watch the film, "Dare to Believe":

DARE TO BELIEVE VIDEO



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In the Streets

Another major moment in the Revival:

National Eucharistic Pilgrimage

one of the largest Eucharistic pilgrimages in history!

We will process with our Eucharistic Lord on 4 routes,

departing from our nation's north, south, east, and west edges.

These branches will meet in Indianapolis in July 2024

for the National Eucharistic Congress.

To see the four routes, and intercessor for each, click below:

NATIONAL EUCHARISTIC PILGRIMAGE ROUTES

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If you see a link on your device's screen that says,

"View entire message”,

please click that link to continue seeing the entire newsletter.

REGISTRATION INFO FOR THE CONGRESS

WILL YOU BE THERE, TOO?

You can join us!

July, 2024

for the 10th National Eucharistic Congress.

Directly experience the fruits of your intercession and

see its impact around the country.

Click the link below to REGISTER:

REGISTRATION FOR 10TH

NATIONAL EUCHARISTIC CONFERENCE

QUIZ! FOR THE WEEK

What is an Advent Wreath?

 

Scroll down to find the answer!

HUMOR

HIGHLIGHT

Lord Help Me

Dear Heavenly Father,

So far, today, I've done all right.

I haven't gossiped or lost my temper.

I haven't been greedy, grumpy, nasty, or self centered.

I'm really happy about that so far.

But in a few minutes I'm going to be getting out of bed

and then I'm going to need a lot of help.

Thank you!

Amen

GOSPEL READING REFLECTION

For November 19, 2023

THE THIRTY-THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

Gospel:  Mt. 25:14-30 

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CHILDREN OF GOD

• Women and men who fear God and act accordingly are to be praised and are blessed. They are each entrusted with some talents, abilities, potentialities. They employ them and bear some fruit. And they receive a reward: They share in their master’s joy when he calls them to account.

• Some people are given enormous talents and advantages. Others, seemingly, receive much less. Still others appear to be given disadvantages. But everyone has scope to do some good in the time of his or her life.

• The master in the parable calls the servant who did nothing with the talent entrusted to him wicked and lazy and punishes him by taking away what he had been given and by having him thrown “into the darkness outside, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.”

• This is why we need to give an account of ourselves often. We can ask, what gifts (advantages and disadvantages) has God given me? We must also ask, what good have I done with them?



• This is why it is good to pray: Lord, may I bear fruit.

SCOTT HAHN'S

MASS READINGS REFLECTION

Click the link below to hear Scott Hahn reflect on

the 33rd SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME:

" SETTLING ACCOUNTS"

33rd SUNDAY REFLECTION BY DR. HAHN

ANSWER TO QUIZ

The Advent Wreath is a longstanding tradition

in our Catholic Faith, dating back

to at least the 17th century.

Since circles have no beginning and no end,

the circular shape of the Advent wreath

symbolizes eternal life in Christ.

The wreath holds four candles,

which are lit one-by-one over the four

weeks of the Advent season.

Generally, three are violet (purple)

and one is rose-colored, each representing 1,000 years.

Added together, the four candles symbolize the

4,000 years that humanity waited for the Savior.

Violet is a liturgical color symbolizing

penance, sacrifice, and prayer.

During the first, second, and fourth weeks of Advent,

we light violet candles as a reminder of the

preparation of heart and mind

undertaken during this season.

The Third Sunday of Advent is called Gaudete (Rejoice) Sunday.

On this day, we celebrate that our wait is almost over.

Since rose is the liturgical color used to signify joy,

we light the rose candle on the Third Sunday of Advent

as we rejoice in anticipation of the coming of the Messiah.

Click the link below to discover all you need

to know about Advent Wreaths:

ADVENT WREATHS 101



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BOOK

RECOMMENDATION

We need to be armed for battle!



At all times, and especially during these crazy times in this vale of tears,

we need to lay our foundation in Christ Jesus.

Spiritual reading helps us build and strengthen that foundation.

Order through your favorite book dealer.

This week's recommendation is:

THE ADVENT OF CHRIST



By

Edward Sri

Perhaps the Christmas story has become almost too familiar.

A virgin giving birth.

A child laid in a manger.

Shepherds greeted by angels.

The Christmas story has become so familiar that the 

profound, even shocking, nature of the

incarnation might be overlooked.

But what if we had never heard the story before?

What if we were hearing it for the first time, like the first-century Jews?

These events certainly would not be taken for granted—

they would signal something new:

the dawning of the long-awaited Messiah.

Containing an entry for each day of Advent

and continuing through the Christmas season,

Dr. Edward Sri will help you to discover spiritual treasures

in the Gospels and gain a new understanding of the coming of Christ.

We pray you will be excited to embark on purposeful

spiritual reading as a way to build a more prayer-filled,

Christ centered life.