This Holy Night....

Como, Italy [December 24, 1993]

"Recollect yourselves with me, in silence and expectation. Forget every other preoccupation, and enter into the quiet of prayer. Live together with me this precious moment which precedes the birth of my divine Child.
This is the night of love and of light.
This is the night of reconciliation and of peace.
This is the holy night.

Share in the joy of your heavenly Mother, who feels that the moment of her virginal motherhood has now come.
For me, it is as though everything that surrounds me is far away: the fatigue of the journey to Bethlehem; the noise of the crowded caravan; the anxious search to find a place to spend the night; the sad surprise before each door as it is closed; the trusting confidence before a poor little cave which opens itself to us.
The gentle and loving assistance of my most chaste spouse, Joseph, surrounds me like a caress. It is he who seeks to make the place more hospitable; who prepares the crib in a warmer manger; who looks about for a shield against the rigor of the cold; who stays close to me and joins in my great prayer; who sees the heavens open; who contemplates in wonder the prodigy, hears the song of the angels and is conscious of the peace which comes down from heaven; who opens the door to the poor and the little ones and graciously accepts the simple gifts of the shepherds.
As for myself, I am absorbed in a profound rapture: the face of the Father is revealed to me, and I contemplate the divine mystery of His merciful love; the Word, who has taken human form in my virginal womb, becomes present in my motherly arms as a newborn Babe, and I cover Him with kisses and tears; the Holy Spirit looks with pleasure on the fruit [of His overshadowing].
Beloved children, live with me in this profound rapture throughout this holy night.
It is Love which is born into a world consumed with hatred. It is Light which dawns upon the long season of deep darkness. It is the awaited Reconciliation between a lost humanity and its Lord who loves and redeems it. It is Peace which comes down from heaven upon all men of goodwill.
Enter with me into the mystery of this holy night. For the great trial has now arrived for all. Violence and the fire of hatred are bringing death to the world. A deep darkness enwraps this humanity, which no longer sees light. The pact of the Covenant is again broken by men who have openly rebelled against their God. And wars, rebellions and destruction fill your journey with tears and blood. For you, the time of the great trial has come.
And so, once again, I invite you to let yourselves be carried by me into the mystery of this holy night. And then, like Joseph, exert yourselves earnestly to open up the souls and hearts of men to receive Jesus in his second coming. And do not allow yourselves to be taken up with vain and useless preoccupations, but keep watch with me in prayer and in the expectation of His now closely approaching return in glory."-To the Priests, Our Lady's Beloved Sons, MMP (2009);Interior locutions to Fr. Stefano Gobbi, MMP (1973-97). #508, pp.793-94.

"In this brilliant night which illuminates the joy of the Holy Trinity, Jesus, the gentle little child of the hour, will change the darkness of my soul into torrents of light."
--St. Therese of Lisieux

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My Purity and Yours....

Udine Italy, February 14, 1985 [after recitation of the Rosary]

"I am the Mother of Purity. I am the ever Virgin Mother. I am Immaculate Whiteness, the Splendor of Heaven, which reflects the light of the Most Holy Trinity upon the world, the dawn which puts and end to night, the Mother of Grace who drives away every sin from you, the Medicine of Paradise which, like soothing balm, closes up all your wounds.
I am the all-beautiful Mother: tota pulchra, tota pulchra!
I have been pure in body, not only through having always kept it intact from the slightest sin of impurity, but also because the Lord has willed to make His divine masterpiece shine forth in it in a marvelous way. My body, which, through its function of motherhood, had to be opened at the moment of the gift of the Son and to break the enchantment of its integrity, through a singular privilege remained intact. Thus I was able to give you my Son, while the virginal wrapping, by means of which even at the moment of my gift of motherhood I remained ever a virgin, remained intact:
Virgin before birth, because that which took place in me was solely the work of the Holy Spirit;
Virgin during birth, because that which was accomplished at that moment was the working of the Most Holy spirit--en-wrapped by the light of God and of his secret, before Him alone took place the miraculous birth of my divine Son;
Virgin after birth, because nothing ever disturbed the inviolate charm of my most pure body, called to guard my immaculate soul, so that in the person of your heavenly Mother there should be able to shine out, in a perfect way, the most holy splendor of the Divine Trinity.
Defend this privilege of mine, which is denied by many today in a facile and banal manner; defend it always."
--To the Priests-Our Lady's Beloved Sons, MMP (2009); Interior locutions to Fr. Stefano Gobbi, MMP (1973-97). #305, pp.428-30.

December 23

There has been born to you a Savior, Who is Christ, the Lord. Lk. 2:11

Reflection: From the beginning of time, prophets announced that the Messiah of the Lord would come. "Messiah," or "Christ" means "Anointed One."
On Christmas, this prophecy was fulfilled in a surprising way, because the angels did not simply announce that Jesus was the Messiah of the Lord. They said the newborn child was Messiah AND Lord.
Prayer: Fill us, Lord, with the wonder of God joining our human family and raising our dignity beyond our imagination.
--Pro-life Reflections for Every Day (2009); Fr. Frank Pavone, Priests for Life.

The Offensive Christ

A world in need of conversion...

"Moved by profound concern for the destiny of every man and woman...a great prayer for life is urgently needed, a prayer which will rise up throughout the world.
Through special initiatives and through daily prayer, may an impassioned plea rise to God, the Creator and lover of life, from every Christian community, from every group and association, from every family and from the heart of every believer: Jesus himself has shown us by his own example that prayer and fasting are the first and most effective weapons against the forces of evil (cf. Mt. 4:1-11). As he taught his disciples, some demons cannot be driven out except in this way (cf. Mk 9:29). Let us therefore discover anew the humility and the courage to pray and fast so that the power from on high will break down the walls of lies and deceit: the walls which conceal from the sight of so many of our brothers and sisters the evil of practices and laws which are hostile to life. May this same power turn their hearts to resolutions and goals inspired by the civilization of life and love" [John Paul II, The Gospel of Life, #100]

December 22

He did not spare His own Son...How then can He fail also to give us everything else...? [Romans, 8:32].
Reflection: The song "Grown up Christmas List" speaks of a list for a world in need. This list includes, "no more lives torn apart, that wars may never start...that right would always win."
Christmas is a time for wishing boldly for good things. Let us write our Christmas list with confidence.
Prayer: Father, increase our longing that every life may be safe from the violence of abortion and euthanasia, and from the ravages of poverty, crime, and war.
--Pro-life Reflections for Every Day (2009); Fr. Frank Pavone, Priests for Life
www.priestsforlife.org