Lisa Hendey
This incredibly busy season of the year can feel daunting for all of us. So much to do, so little time! Personally, I feel the pressure of social engagements, gifts to be extended, and the general calendar-filling that accompanies December. To be sure, it is all wonderful stuff. But I feel so very busy.
On the professional front, as we race to “beat the clock” to take a short Christmas reprieve from work, it crunches all that would normally be done over the course of month into a few short weeks. At the same time, I am (literally, it feels) fighting a book deadline. Most of these December days, it feels as though there is simply not enough of me to go around.
One remedy for the December daze I’ve been feeling is the two Marian feast days we celebrated this week. Both early, pre-dawn Mass opportunities did wonders for my attitude. “Mary’s got this,” I told myself. And she does. Today, I’ve been prayerfully reading her words to St. Juan Diego. Spoken to him so many years ago, Mary’s loving words are balm for my stressed-out heart, a caress for my soul. She is here, my Mother. What else could I need?
“Hear and let it penetrate your hearts, my dear little ones. Let nothing discourage you, nothing depress you; let nothing alter your heart or your countenance. Do not fear vexation, anxiety or pain. Am I not here, your Mother? Are you not in the folds of my mantle, in the crossing of my arms? Is there anything else that you need?”
I’m grateful to my friend John Clem, O.F.S. for this week’s Sweet Tweets:
- Papal Tweet: “Let us learn from the Virgin Mary how to be bolder in obeying the word of God.” (Pope Francis, December 8th)
- Video: The Beauty of the Immaculate Conception reflected through images (Rome Reports) ow.ly/FvkJJ
- Video: Our Lady and me (USCCB) ow.ly/FzyFL
- Pope decrees sainthood causes of 8 women, including founder Sisters of Immaculate Conception ow.ly/FzwVB
- Solemnity of Immaculate Conception: What the Immaculate Conception Means (Fr. Steve Grunow -Word On Fire) ow.ly/Fxh6k
- Advent Reflections with Fr. Robert Barron – How Can We Fully Enter into Advent ow.ly/FFwJh
- 6 Lessons from John of the Cross to Advent Pilgrims (Billy Kangas – Patheos) ow.ly/FuJZV
- Celebrating the Year of Consecrated Life: 5 different congregations in Ireland share their call to their vocation ow.ly/FJ1v7
- International Chain of Prayer for the Year of Consecrated Life (Rome Reports) ow.ly/FzPDJ
- Pope Francis urges world towards nuclear disarmament (Vatican Radio) ow.ly/FB4Q3
- Jordanian Prince hails progress at Christian-Muslim summit (Vatican Radio) ow.ly/FB7rY
- St. Juan Diego’s Miraculous Proof | Word On Fire ow.ly/FB5wi
- Vatican briefing: Stop the threat of Cyberbullying (Vatican Radio) ow.ly/FB6L2
- ‘Festival of Lights’ backs Iraqi Christians facing ISIS threat | Crux ow.ly/FtJyt
- It’s a dog’s afterlife: Pope Francis hints that animals go to heaven (The Guardian – UK) ow.ly/Fz0Dm
- Vatican asks for wide input on 2015 synod, not based on doctrine | National Catholic Reporter ow.ly/FByYj
- Little Sisters of the Poor press conference in Denver after presenting case in Federal Court Dec. 8th (CNA) ow.ly/FzqyK
- God’s Existence and The Argument from Desire (Father Robert Barron – Word On Fire) ow.ly/Fu5EI
- National Day of Prayer for families and against pornography – Dec. 9th | iPadre Catholic Podcasting ow.ly/FBJmp
- NEW Digital Slums: Cyberslums where online abusers prowl need pastoral care, say speakers (CNS) ow.ly/FDTJq
- The Angels of Advent (Fr. Dwight Longenecker – Patheos) ow.ly/FBI6N
- Vatican at risk as Islamic State smuggles dirty bomb into Europe (Catholic Online) ow.ly/FD7lz
- Pope: no conservative or liberal families, family is family! (Vatican Radio) ow.ly/FGdct
- Pope calls for more ‘integration’ of divorced Catholics, gays (CNS) ow.ly/FDe3p
- Pope Francis: Demotion of Burke not ‘punishment’ | Crux ow.ly/FuFjC
- Prayers need for Florida: Happy Holidays from the Satanic Temple! – Aleteia ow.ly/FBQYV
- Why Does Advent Matter? (Father Robert Barron – Word On Fire) ow.ly/Fs1CI
- Torture Report Quotes from Religious Leaders – National Religious Campaign Against Torture ow.ly/FDVfz
- Torture is a Moral Issue: a study guide (USCCB) ow.ly/FGVPs
- #LightforLima vigils pray for climate pact | National Catholic Reporter ow.ly/FDVpu
- Report: Retired pope wanted to be known as “Father Benedict” (Deacon Greg Kandra – Patheos) ow.ly/FxFmt
- 2015 World Day of Peace Message: “No Longer Slaves, but Brothers and Sisters.” (News.va) ow.ly/FFq8F
- 3rd Sunday of Advent is ‘Bambinelli Sunday‘ Teachings kids what Christmas is all about (Rome Reports) ow.ly/FHRex
- Photo: LIVE Nativity in front of the US Supreme Court Dec. 11th (Faith & Action) ow.ly/i/7Ul1r
- Horseback riders make pilgrimage to Our Lady of Guadalupe shrine (CNS) ow.ly/FL8Ln
- Vatican releases pope’s Christmas season schedule – Celebrating the REAL Epiphany on Jan. 6th (CNS) ow.ly/FHN9Z
- NEWS UPDATE: Philippines Typhoon Hagupit Relief Work Begins (Catholic Relief Services) ow.ly/FLfhP
- Congress gets personal as support surges for disabilities act :: Catholic News Agency (CNA) ow.ly/FLpWi
- Peace and Good; Through The Year with Francis of Assisi (Fr. Pat McCloskey, O.F.M. – Franciscan Media) ow.ly/FJdCb
- Meet Fr. Joshua Johnson, the Rapping Priest (Catholic Extension / ChurchPOP) ow.ly/Fvk2t
- Don’t Just Do Something, Stand There! A Brief Consideration of the Importance of Experience (ADW) ow.ly/FLxLr
- 3 Easy Ways to Share Your Faith when Hosting “Holiday” Parties (Lisa Hendey – Patheos) ow.ly/FLyhk
- Privacy and Wearable Devices – News Updates – (Faith and Safety – USCCB) ow.ly/FxOSA
- The 20 Best Religious Songs for Advent | ChurchPOP ow.ly/Ft9qP
- The Illustrated Monk: Brother Andre Can’t Leave His Tattoos Behind But Can Pursue Sanctity – Aleteia ow.ly/FDwLq
- Mistletoe Mishap: Mistletoe-bearing restaurant drone draws blood (Gigacom) ow.ly/FD5rT
- The Saint Who Punched a Heretic – Brandon Vogt ow.ly/FtcSr
- St. Boniface and the Christmas Tree | Catholic Answers ow.ly/FLj6V
- Inside America’s most beautiful churches (USCatholic.org) ow.ly/FFJDb
- Lourdes Premiers December 16th on PBS (Sacred Journeys) ow.ly/FLvZm
- Satire: Images that Perfectly Describe Our Faith (EpicPew) ow.ly/FLlVM
- It’s a “Piano Guys” Christmas! Listen to Their Holiday Album | ChurchPOP ow.ly/FqBDo
- World’s Largest CHRISTmas Store + Silent Night Chapel: Bronner’s in Frankenmuth, Michigan ow.ly/FLKXU
- A Prayer for the Internet from the 1946 Roman Ritual? Sure, and its wonderful. « Archdiocese of Washington ow.ly/FLLaX
John Clem, O.F.S is the Director and Media Minister at Catholic Web Services (http://catholicws.com/). John is a professed member of the Secular Franciscan Order, and loves to share his talents in faith, technology, and journalism in service to the church. John also writes a blog entitled Call To Holiness (http://www.calltoholiness.
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In