Our Hearts Are Restless

I've got a post on Epiphany and traditions over at O Night Divine !

Enjoy the Christmas theme for a few weeks, while I work on getting my Rome travel theme up and running!  It's Christmas until February 2!  (Well, it probably won't be Christmas on here that long, but it is for the 12 Days at least.)  New year, new theme, I hope.

The twenty-fifth day of December. In the five thousand one hundred and ninety-ninth year of the creation of the world from the time when God in the beginning created the heavens and the earth; the two thousand nine hundred and fifty-seventh year after the flood; the two thousand and fifteenth year from the birth of Abraham; the one thousand five hundred and tenth year from Moses and the going forth of the people of Israel from Egypt; the one thousand and thirty-second year from David's being anointed king; in the sixty-fifth week according to the prophecy of Daniel; in the one hundred and ninety-fourth Olympiad; the seven hundred and fifty-second year from the foundation of the city of Rome; the forty second year of the reign of Octavian Augustus; the whole world being at peace, in the sixth age of the world, Jesus Christ the eternal God and Son of the eternal Father, desiring to sanctify the world by his most merciful coming, being conceived by the Holy Spirit, and nine months hav...

Well, Christmas is coming, and all I can think about is the approaching end of the year and the big things that await me in the next.  Irritatingly enough, all I seem to be able to do today is think about decisions I've made and regret, or issues that I've handled badly.  Things keep popping up to remind me.  And last night, I had nightmares about my study abroad semester that's coming up in February.  This is a problem!  Christmas Eve is only a few hours away, and all I can manage to do is curl up in a little miserable ball.  (Granted, I think hormones are helping with this.) Something has to change.  I need to stop looking ahead and behind, and focus on NOW.  That sounds a bit cheesy, but it is exactly what needs to happen.  What is in the past is done, over, forgotten, sealed and burnt.  Consequences may remain, but those are their own challenges and remain in the future.  What is in the future needs to be planned and organized, but that can wait. Eternity touches time i...

Let folly praise that fancy loves, I praise and love that Child Whose heart no thought, whose tongue no word, whose hand no deed defiled. I praise Him most, I love Him best, all praise and love is His; While Him I love, in Him I love, and cannot live amiss. Love’s sweetest mark, laud’s highest theme, man’s most desired light, To love Him life, to leave Him death, to live in Him delight. He mine by gift, I His by debt, thus to each other due; First friend He was, best friend He is, all times will try Him true. Though young, yet wise; though small, yet strong; though man, yet God He is: As wise, He knows; as strong, He can; as God, He loves to bless. His knowledge rules, His strength defends, His love doth cherish all; His birth our joy, His life our light, His death our end of thrall. Alas! He weeps, He sighs, He pants, yet do His angels sing; Out of His tears, His sighs and throbs, doth bud a joyful spring. Almighty Babe, whose tender arms can force all foes to fly, Correct my faults, ...

Happy Fourth Sunday of Advent! We're almost there!!!  Veni, Emmanuel! Don't forget your Christmas novena!

Have a Blessed Gaudete Sunday! Don't forget your Christmas novena!

I'd like to ask for prayers, specifically to Fulton Sheen, for my roommate and her family.  Ann's mother has been fighting a battle with cancer, and that battle seems to be nearing its end.  Right now Ann is trying to get through finals quickly and get home to her family.  Please pray for her, her mother, and all of the family. Eternal Father, You alone grant us every blessing in Heaven and on earth, through the redemptive mission of Your Divine Son, Jesus Christ, and by the working of the Holy Spirit. If it be according to Your Will, glorify Your servant, Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, by granting the favor I now request through his prayerful intercession (mention your request here) I make this prayer confidently through Jesus Christ, Our Lord.  Amen.

  Happy Second Sunday of Advent! Don't forget your Christmas novena!

My family always celebrated the feast of St. Nicholas by following the old custom of putting one's shoes outside the door before one went to bed.  We children would write out our Christmas wish list as a letter to St. Nicholas, fold it up and put it in our shoes.  In the morning, there was always an ornament for the Christmas tree, a bag of chocolate coins, and a candy cane!  St. Nicholas had come again to take our list and give us a few goodies to prepare for Christmas! Here is a poem I found that tells a few of the miraculous stories of St. Nicholas. Ballad of Santa Clause ~ Henry van Dyke Among the earliest saints of old, before the first Hegira, I find the one whose name we hold, St. Nicholas of Myra: The best-beloved name, I guess, in sacred nomenclature,— The patron-saint of helpfulness, and friendship, and good-nature. A bishop and a preacher too, a famous theologian, He stood against the Arian crew and fought them like a Trojan: But when a poor man told his need and begged ...

This is a little dorky, but I am really really looking forward to tomorrow being the Feast of St. Nicholas.  I'll have two major papers done, and I have St. Nicholas Day gifts from my family and Kevin's mom waiting for when they're done.  I feel like a little kid right now! Christmas caroling in the rotunda of the Library last night!  There are little evidences of Advent and Christmas all over campus, from the tree in the dorm to the Secret Santa presents, to the beautiful Nativity scene at the Library.   [caption id="attachment_1255" align="aligncenter" width="652"] The guys sang "Misty Mountains" after the caroling. It sounded quite epic with the acoustics in the library rotunda.[/caption]

Happy First Sunday of Advent! Don't forget your Christmas novena! [caption id="attachment_1250" align="aligncenter" width="391"] I put up the outdoor Nativity scene last night, before I left for college. It's my job every year, and one that I love. Only Mary, Joseph, the shepherd boy (he needs a name...) and the donkey are there at the moment. The Child and the Angel will appear as soon as I get home from the First Mass of Christmas.[/caption]