Month: November 2018
December 8: The Feast of the Immaculate Conception
Also known as the “Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception”, this Feast occurs each year on December 8th as Catholics celebrate the Immaculate Conception nine months before the Feast of the Nativity of Mary.
Though many people may believe this Feast refers to Mary’s Immaculate Conception of Jesus, this holy day of obligation actually refers to the conception of the Virgin Mary in the womb of her mother, Saint Anne.
Catholicism teaches us that all humans are born with original sin with the exception of Mary since she was kept “immaculate” from the moment of her conception. To recognize this feast, each year the Pope lays a wreath at the foot of the statue of the Madonna, located in the Piazza Miganelli in Rome.
December 9: St. Juan Diego & December 12: Our Lady of Guadalupe
Our Lady of Guadalupe is also known as the “Patroness of the Americas” for her love for all the Western world, and her foreshadowing of the exploration and explosion of Catholicism that would take place in the New World.
She first appeared to visionary St. Juan Diego on December 9, 1531 at Tepeyac Hill in Mexico. Juan Diego tried to tell the Archbishop what he had seen but he did not believe him. On December 11th, Juan Diego’s uncle fell ill, and on December 12th he was cured, and the image of the Virgin Mary again appeared before Juan Diego but this time in front of the Archbishop. Her image appeared in his cloak, or the Tilma, which can still be seen at the Basilica.
Many pilgrims visit the Shrine of Guadalupe each year, you can learn more about our departures to Mexico City here.
December 25: Christmas, the Nativity of Our Lord
Christmas is without a doubt the most well-known Catholic Holy Day of Obligation, next to Easter. Every year on December 25th, Catholics worship the Nativity of the Lord, focusing on the newborn baby Jesus, the day when God became human. In preparation for Christmas, Catholics observe the season of Advent, the time we wait for our Lord to be born. Advent begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas, as Churches light one candle each Sunday on an Advent wreath. There are three purple candles and one pink candle which is lit on the third Sunday. All the decorations and Feasts that Catholics practice this time of year are to culminate at this time, to rejoice in the celebration of Jesus’ birth, and the coming of Our Lord.
Let’s remember to always give thanks to God. Here are some of our favorite Bible Verses reminding us of the importance of expressing gratitude and always be thankful.
1 Thessalonians 5:18
Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
Philippians 4:6-7
Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Colossians 3:16-17
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
Psalm 107:8-9
Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for His wonderful works to humankind. For He satisfies the thirsty, and the hungry He fills with good things.
2 Corinthians 9:11-12
You will be enriched in every way for your great generosity, which will produce thanksgiving to God through us; for the rendering of this ministry not only supplies the needs of the saints but also overflows with many thanksgivings to God.
1 Timothy 4:4-5
For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected, provided it is received with thanksgiving; for it is sanctified by God’s word and by prayer.
1 Chronicles 16:34
Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever.
Psalm 100:4
Enter His gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise. Give thanks to Him, bless His name.
Wishing you all a blessed Thanksgiving filled with warmth, love, faith, food, and family. God Bless!
The small village of Oberammergau, in Bavaria – Germany, is home to the world-famous Passion Play. For over four (4) centuries, the people of this special town have upheld the tradition to put on the play every ten (10) years.
The tradition began in 1633 after the villagers vowed that if God spared them from the bubonic plague raving Europe – they would host a play depicting the life of Jesus every ten (10) years from then on after. In keeping with their vow, the first production took place in 1634 and has continued every ten (10) years since, with a few exceptions.
The play follows Jesus’ final moments, from the last Supper to His Crucifixion. The play was written by Othmar Weis, J.S. Daisenberger, Otto Huber, Christian Stuckl, Eugen Papst, Marcus Zwink, Ingird H Shafer, various villagers, and Rochus Dedler, who also wrote the music, and has gone through various revisions over the years to become more accepted by both the Catholic church, and people of all nations. In 1922, the Catholic church gave the play a Missio Canonica designation, recognizing the beliefs of the Catholic Church are being taught.
The whole production is made up of over 2,000 people including, 500 children, a 70-piece orchestra, a 120-member chorus, technicians, artists, seamstresses, and more – all of whom are Oberammergau residents. In order to take part in the Play, you must either be born and raised there or have spent at least 20 years of your life there. As preparations are well underway for 2020, the 2010 performance saw 102 performances take place between May and October, with an attendance of more than half a million people. The open-air theatre has gone through many renovations and can now accommodate an audience of over 4,700 people. The village expects 450,000 people to witness the 42nd production in 2020.
Records show that in 1930, the Play ran for seven (7) hours – from 8 am to 5p m! More recently, the play has taken place in the afternoon and evening, with a meal break during an extended intermission. The 2020 production will run from May 16th to October 4th, with playtimes changing to align with the daylight.
- From May 16th to August 16th: Part I will run from 2:30 PM – 5:00 PM, Intermission, and Part II running from 8:00 PM – 10:30 PM.
- From August 17th – October 4th: Part I will run from 1:30 PM – 4:00 PM, Intermission, and Part II running from 7:00 PM – 9:30 PM.
Experience the “Passion” like you never had before by visiting this magnificent and historical village on one of 206 Tours many Pilgrimages stopping in Oberammergau in 2022 (The Oberammergau Passion Play 2020 performances were postponed in March 2020 due to concerns about the Coronavirus). Space is filling up very quickly, with many dates already Sold Out!
For a full list, visit: 206 Tours Oberammergau 2020
Follow on Facebook for updates on our many Oberammergau departures.
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As the nation pauses this Sunday to observe Veteran’s Day, we collectively take time to appreciate the service and sacrifice of each and every American Veteran. Each year, on November 11th, we express gratitude for all military veterans of the United States Armed Forces. Similar to our neighbors overseas who celebrate “Armistice Day” and “Remembrance Day” marking the anniversary of the end of World War I on November 11, 1918.
Let us pray for all our Veterans who so selflessly dedicated their lives to protecting our country and our people.
A Prayer for Veterans
We ask for blessings on all those who have served their country in the armed forces.
We ask for healing for the veterans who have been wounded, in body and soul, in conflicts around the globe.
We pray especially for the young men and women, in the thousands, who are coming home from Iraq and Afghanistan with injured bodies and traumatized spirits. Bring solace to them, O Lord. May we pray for them when they cannot pray.
Have mercy on all our veterans from World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan. Bring peace to their hearts and peace to the regions they fought in.
Bless all the soldiers who served in non-combative posts. May their calling to serve continue in their lives in many positive ways.
Give us all here present today creative vision to see a world that, growing weary with fighting, moves to affirming the life of every human being and so moves beyond war.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Jesus, I trust in You!
*Source: DivineMercy.org
Like prayer, a Pilgrimage is another special way to honor Veterans. Many Catholics from all over the world make their way to France on a Pilgrimage to Normandy, where they pay their respects to the soldiers who fought there on June 6, 1944, infamously known as “D-Day”.
While in Normandy, Pilgrims visit the beaches where the Allied Forces landed to successfully invade Germany-occupied France, and relieve them from Nazi control. The American soldiers were stationed at Utah Beach Landings (where Teddy Roosevelt came ashore leading the first assault wave) and Omaha Beach (a four-mile long stretch where as many as 2,400 Americans died in one day). Overall, the landings at Normandy were a success due to the heroic efforts of the 34,000 troops securing the area for the Allies and bringing World War II to an end.
Pilgrims come to these coastal beaches to see the beach, the cliffs, the bunkers, the bomb craters, and solemnly pray for all who fought, and died, in this very spot. The Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial is the second most visited cemetery in the world, behind Arlington. The cemetery sits on a bluff overlooking Omaha Beach and is the final resting place of more than 9,000 American soldiers. This grand Memorial, complete with a Chapel, Reflecting Pool, and Visitor Center sits on American soil, granted to the US as a special, perpetual concession by France.
A short distance from Caen, is Saint Mere Eglise Church, which is now also a memorial to an American paratrooper, John Steele, who was caught on this church steeple the night of June 6, 1944 – where his parachute still hangs. The Airborne Museum exhibits the very heart of the 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions who contribute so much to the victory in Normandy.
June of 2019 will mark the 75th Anniversary of D-Day. As thousands of Pilgrims journey to Normandy to pay respects to loved ones, some may return as Veterans to the very place where they valiantly fought. What makes this Jubilee Anniversary even more “Special” is it will be the last Jubilee Anniversary privileged with the presence of WWII soldiers, as sadly, they will not make the 100th Anniversary. Attendance to the Jubilee Anniversaries include Presidents and Dignitaries throughout the world.
In addition to World War II Veterans, we remember all US Veterans today – those still with us, and those faithful departed.
We pray to always appreciate them with the sincere gratitude and respect they so deserve and to make it a priority to pay respects to them through means like prayer and pilgrimages.
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