9th Day of Advent
21st day of the Lunar Month
Saint of the Day:
Daniel the Stylite (d. 493)
St. Daniel the Stylite was influenced by a meeting he had with St. Simeon (the most famous Stylite) when he was still a student at monastery. He lived in a monastery until he was forty-two years old; St Simeon passed away and Daniel felt called to follow in the footsteps of his mentor. Daniel lived on pillars for the next thirty-three years, but had little peace and quiet, as many came to him for advice and wisdom. At the age of eighty, before he passed away, Daniel left his teachings to his followers which emphasized love and charity as the most important virtues of the Christian life.
Ikon from : http://www.serfes.org/images/StDanieltheStylite.jpg
More about St. Daniel http://www.serfes.org/spiritual/september2002.htm
Marian Meditation of the Day:
Verse
Within her is a spirit that is
intelligent, holy,
unique, manifold,
subtle, mobile,
clear and undefined.
-- WIs 7:22
Reflection
How good Mary is!
How beautiful she is!
How worthy she is of all respect!
-- St. John Eudes
Prayer
O Mary, you are all-beautiful, and there is no stain of sin in you.
Grant that I may praise you as you deserve – both by my words and by my actions
Amen.
Catholic News of the Day
Newsweek has a special section this week called "Holy Family Values" that focuses on the Advent season, the Nativity and how these events affected Christian culture.
The article Holy Family Values discusses (with great respect for the Traditional view and beliefs of Christianity) how Jewish social and cultural customs (mores, taboos and restrictions) became part of the Christian culture; it also discusses how this "Christian culture" affected the development of Western Civilisation. The most interesting part of this article however is the way in which it emphasizes the revolutionary nature of Jesus' message that family is important - not just the "biological" or "nuclear" family, which was important in Jewish culture - but rather the entire family of man. Just as in Jesus' day certain prominent religious leaders (think of the Saducees, "Scribes" and Pharisees that you meet in the Gospel stories) liked to use religion to further their socio-political goals, today we have leaders who claim to follow Christ while acting like the Saducees.
The article Nativity of the Jews looks at the intersection of Jewish and Christian faith. It asks what the differences are between the two faiths by looking at the differences in the way each faith was "born".
The very interesting Whitewashing Jesus asks the important question "How white was Jesus?". Throughout history, many pictures of Jesus of Nazareth, called Christ have been made... but in very few of them does he look like a first-century Palestinian Jew. What's with that?
A video put together by Jan Grarup puts together photos she took in Dafur with Happy Xmas - War is Over by John Lennon and Yoko Ono.
My interest in historical sites and landmarks was piqued by the article A Sacred Mission which talks about Endangered Religious sites in America... and why preserving former houses of worship is difficult. (and what we as Americans can do about it!)
Today in Iran, David Duke, former KKK Grand Wizard, is giving a speech at a "Holocaust Conference". Lemme guess... Elie Wiesel isn't going to speak...
Scientists have found the skeleton of a Plesiosaur in Antarctica.
Some biologists are learning more about the squirrels that inhabit our cities.
Another intersting article that was sent to me... nothing to do with religion really... or Advent... just some good ol' maths... I include it here so that persons interested in math and science can become conversant in faith matters and vice-versa.
Today the Vatican issued an update on the archaeological exploration of what is assumed to be St. Paul's tomb.
Remember to Pray the Rosary for Peace!
In lieu of my usual closing graphic, I ask you to go to:
http://bagnewsnotes.typepad.com/bagnews/2006/12/from_years_end_.html
http://denver.rockymountainnews.com/news/finalSalute/pdf/FinalWhole10mb.PDF
Please pray for the soldiers and their families.
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