The wise will seek HIM
BY KATIE YODER Catholic News Agency
A light, quiet sound of prayer Creating a sacred time and space to listen to God speak to you
Solemnity of Mary, World Day of Peace celebrated on same day
Keep in mind • Select a place with minimal distractions • Place important books: Bible, prayer book and journal • Place a crucifix, icons, and/or statues of patron saint(s) • Holy Water • Select preferred sacramentals (rosary, chaplet, prayer cards)
J an. 1 marks more than the start of a new year — it is also the solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, and the World Day of Peace. The two celebrations are connected because, as St. Paul VI wrote in 1974, Mary is the queen of peace. “In the revised ordering of the Christmas pe- riod it seems to us that the attention of all should be directed towards the restored solemnity of Mary the holy Mother of God,” he wrote in his encyclical Marialis Cultus. “This celebration, placed on Jan. 1 in conformity with the ancient indication of the liturgy of the city of Rome, is meant to commemorate the part played by Mary in this mystery of salvation.” He added: “It is likewise a fitting occasion for renewing adoration of the newborn Prince of Peace, for listening once more to the glad tid-
ings of the angels (cf. Lk 2:14), and for imploring from God, through the Queen of Peace, the su- preme gift of peace. “It is for this reason that, in the happy con- currence of the Octave of Christmas and the first day of the year, we have instituted the World Day of Peace.” The solemnity of Mary as the Mother of God concludes the octave of Christmas, or the eight days following Christ’s birth. While her ti- tle as “Mother of God” dates back to the third or fourth century, the Greek term “Theotokos” (“The God-bearer”) first became Catholic doc- trine at the Council of Ephesus in 431. This year, the solemnity falls on a Wednes- day. At the same time, the Catholic Church also recognizes Jan. 1 as the World Day of Peace, a tradition first celebrated by St. Paul VI in 1968.
T he Catechism of the Catholic Church states that prayer is a “relationship between God and man in Christ" (CCC 2564). It is a time to disconnect from distractions and a place to connect with God. Retreat, a time to withdraw from the ordinary and place oneself in a state of solitude for meditation. Loyola Press offers a daily three-minute online retreat as an op- portunity to for quiet time to reflect on Scripture. These are short retreats that you can take at any given time of the day. The retreat is available on their webpage or their app. Dedicate, set aside a space at home for personal or family prayer. This does not have to be a complex setting but an intentional space for
prayer. See the sidebar at the right for items to consider when creating your sacred space. Silence, the suppression of noise and an invitation to listen to God. Bishop Daniel Flores’ in his homily at the Holy Hour for Vocations on Nov. 3 said, “It is a whisper. God will not shout. He does not compete with the noise of the world, but if you hear God whisper, that is louder than the world can shout at you.” Bishop said it is im- portant to create a space for prayer and to have an open heart to God. Share your home’s sacred space on so- cial media using the hashtags #Domes- ticChurchRGV #CatholicRGV.
Statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary at Immaculate Conception Cathedral in Brownsville. (Photo by Rick Treviño)
RECIPE
The feast of St. Nicholas is celebrated on Dec. 6. Florence Berger’s cookbook, “Cooking for Christ,” shares the recipe for the Speculatius, a spice cookie from the Netherlands. This treat is used in gift exchanges on St. Nick’s feast. Spice Cookies
Sources: Loyola Press, CathoicSprouts
Directions 1. Cream the butter, lard and sugar. 2. Add sour cream alternately with sifted dry ingredients. 3. Stir in the nuts. 4. Knead the dough into rolls. 5. Wrap the rolls in wax paper and chill them in the refrig- erator overnight. 6. Roll the dough very thin and cut into shapes. 7. Bake in oven at 375 degrees for 10 to 15 minutes. 8. Chill. Ready to serve. Enjoy!
Ingredients • 1 cup butter • 4 tsp. cinnamon • 1 cup lard • 1/2 tsp. nutmeg • 2 cups brown sugar • 1/2 tsp. cloves • 1/2 cup sour cream • 4-1/2 cups sifted flour • 1/2 tsp. baking soda • 1/2 cup chopped nuts
Advent calendar 2024 “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” (Luke 1:38)
Advent season in 2024 is exactly 24 days. Let’s take this opportunity to read about the reason for the season. The challenge is to read the life of Jesus through the Gospel of Luke by reading a chapter each day.
Scan QR Code to download calendar.
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DIOCESE OF BROWNSVILLE
THE VALLEY CATHOLIC
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