Christmas Eve

Merry Christmas Eve turtles! I hope that everyone is able to be with family and friends this holiday season. Know that I will be praying for all of you and am relying on you to pray for me as well!

Let's take a moment to talk about Christmas Eve, a very Holy Day that is easy to miss as we prepare for Christmas Day.

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First, we have a lot to pray for:

According to the Infancy Traditions about Jesus, Mary and Joseph were traveling far from home to participate in the census... please pray today for all travelers.

Upon entering Bethlehem there was no place for them to stay, so they had to stay in a manger (or a cave)... please pray today for the homeless and also for immigrants.

Mary goes into labor and gives birth to our savior (I spoke about the Incarnation a few weeks ago, please see that post)... please pray today for all mothers, especially teenage mothers and mothers who will give birth this coming year.

Shepherds hear Angels proclaiming the coming of the Lord and they come to the manger to see Jesus... please pray today for all laborers, especially those without work this Christmas Season.

There is so much to remember and pray for on this very holy day!

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In popular Catholicism it is often believed that the Virgin Mother petitions the release of many souls from purgatory on Christmas Eve. Of course, this is a popular belief, we don't think that Purgatory is a length of time with a release date, but if you know of anyone who has died this year, Christmas Eve is still a wonderful time to remember them!

For those interested in learning more... I believe this belief has been re-popularized by the revelations of the Virgin Mother to the Medjugorje Visionaries. You'll have to do some research on your own!

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For the last seven years I have been part of a group who gathers to pray at noon on Christmas Eve. During our prayer time together we hold all of these intentions, as well as those who could not be with us, up to the Virgin Mother through the Rosary. I encourage all of you to pray the Joyful Mysteries tonight alone or with your families as a way to celebrate this holy feast.

When I was little I liked Christmas Eve (conveniently also my mother's birthday) because we could use it to go to Mass early and have more time to open presents on Christmas Day... I now know that it is so much more.

Peace turtles!