Second Week of Advent – 2018

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Advent has a twofold character, for it is a time of preparation for the Solemnities of Christmas, in which the First Coming of the Son of God to humanity is remembered, and likewise a time when, by remembrance of this, minds and hearts are led to look forward to Christ’s Second Coming at the end of time. For these two reasons, Advent is a period of devout and expectant delight.

The Second Week of Advent Prayer focus is Prayer of Preparation

 

 

[/cmsmasters_text][/cmsmasters_column][/cmsmasters_row][cmsmasters_row data_padding_bottom=”50″ data_padding_top=”0″ data_bg_color=”#f5f5f5″ data_color=”default” data_bot_style=”default” data_top_style=”default” data_merge=”true” data_no_margin=”true” data_width=”boxed”][cmsmasters_column data_width=”1/1″][cmsmasters_heading type=”h2″ tablet_check=”true” font_weight=”normal” font_style=”normal” text_align=”center” color=”#9b42f4″ bg_color=”#f5f5f5″ margin_top=”20″ margin_bottom=”20″ animation_delay=”0″]Advent Calendar Scripture, Feasts, Prayers and Actions from USCCB and St Bernadette Ministries[/cmsmasters_heading][/cmsmasters_column][/cmsmasters_row][cmsmasters_row data_padding_bottom=”50″ data_padding_top=”0″ data_color=”default” data_bot_style=”default” data_top_style=”default” data_width=”boxed”][cmsmasters_column data_width=”1/2″][cmsmasters_image align=”none” animation_delay=”0″]10319|https://www.stbnc.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Two-Purple-candles-4.jpg|full[/cmsmasters_image][/cmsmasters_column][cmsmasters_column data_width=”1/2″][cmsmasters_text animation_delay=”0″]

December 9, 2018 – Second Sunday of Advent

On this Second Sunday of Advent, light the second violet candle on your Advent wreath and consider donating to a special collection for retired religious today.

 

 

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Gospel                                                                                                                                                                                                 LK 3:1-6
In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was tetrarch of Galilee,and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis,  and Lysanias was tetrarch of Abilene, during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the desert. John went throughout the whole region of the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah:
A voice of one crying out in the desert:
“Prepare the way of the Lord,
make straight his paths.
Every valley shall be filled
and every mountain and hill shall be made low.
The winding roads shall be made straight,
and the rough ways made smooth,
and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.”

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December 10, 2018 – Monday in Second Week of Advent

“The Lord promises refreshment and freedom to all the oppressed of our world, but he needs us to fulfill his promise. He needs our eyes to see the needs of our brothers and sisters.” (Pope Francis, July 6, 2018).

Send an email or call Martha’s Ministry Food Pantry and ask them what they need.

 

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Praying with Sacred Scripture

How do we pray with Sacred Scripture?
Spiritual reading of Sacred Scripture, especially the Gospels, is an important form of meditation. This spiritual reading is traditionally called lectio divina or divine reading. Lectio divina is prayer over the Scriptures.

 

 

Today’s Readings

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Praying with Sacred Scripture

The first element of this type of prayer is reading (lectio): you take a short passage from the Bible, preferably a Gospel passage and read it carefully, perhaps three or more times. Let it really soak-in.

 

 

Today’s Readings

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December 11, 2018 – Tuesday of the Second Week of Advent

“Jesus, Mary, and Joseph themselves were refugees in Egypt . . . the Holy Family has become a figure with whom Christian migrants and refugees throughout the ages can identify, giving them hope and courage in hard times.” (USCCB, Strangers No Longer, no. 26)

Send an email or call the Migrant Ministry and ask them what they need.

 

[/cmsmasters_text][cmsmasters_button button_link=”https://www.stbnc.net/migrant-ministry/” button_target=”self” button_text_align=”center” button_font_size=”18″ button_line_height=”40″ button_font_weight=”bold” button_font_style=”normal” button_border_style=”solid” button_bg_color=”#9b42f4″ button_text_color=”#ffffff” button_border_color=”#9b42f4″ button_bg_color_h=”#ffffff” button_text_color_h=”#9b42f4″ button_border_color_h=”#9b42f4″ animation_delay=”0″]Migrant Ministry[/cmsmasters_button][/cmsmasters_column][/cmsmasters_row][cmsmasters_row data_width=”boxed” data_top_style=”default” data_bot_style=”default” data_color=”default” data_bg_color=”#f5f5f5″ data_padding_top=”0″ data_padding_bottom=”50″][cmsmasters_column data_width=”2/3″][cmsmasters_text animation_delay=”0″]

December 12, 2018 – Wednesday in Second Week of Advent

Dec 12 – On her feast day, pray to Our Lady of Guadalupe, that she may “help us never see others as burdens,” especially migrants to our country and communities.

Come, learn and celebrate the Feast with fellow parishioners of St. Bernadette.

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Praying with Sacred Scripture

The second element is meditation (meditatio). By using your imagination enter into the Biblical scene in order to “see” the setting, the people, and the unfolding action. It is through this meditation that you encounter the text and discover its meaning for your life.

 

 

Today’s Readings

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Praying with Sacred Scripture

The next element is prayer (oratio) or your personal response to the text: asking for graces, offering praise or thanksgiving, seeking healing or forgiveness. In this prayerful engagement with the text, you open yourself up to the possibility of contemplation.

 

 

Today’s Readings

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December 13, 2018 – Thursday of the Second Week of Advent

Today is the Memorial of St. Lucy, whose name means “light.”

Think about how you can bring the light of Christ to newcomers  in your community.

 

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December 14, 2018 – Friday in Second Week of Advent

St. John of the Cross, whom we honor today, was known for his deep spirituality and compassion. Reflect today on what more you can do to prepare spiritually for Christmas in these last 10 days of Advent.

Send an email or call the Adoration Ministry and ask them what they need.

 

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Praying with Sacred Scripture

Contemplation (contemplatio) is a gaze turned toward Christ and the things of God. By God’s action of grace, you may be raised above meditation to a state of seeing or experiencing the text as mystery and reality. In contemplation, you come into an experiential contact with the One behind and beyond the text.

 

 

Today’s Readings

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Today’s Readings

 

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December 15, 2018 – Saturday of the First Week of Advent

How much do you know about the plights refugees face today?

Use this guide from Pope Francis’s Share the Journey Campaign to find out more.

 

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