Repent! And Believe the Gospel!

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 Image: Prodigal Son, Eugene Bernand


Don't know if I will keep this up or not, but have the impulse this morning to post artistic images of repentance and conversion here for the remainder of Lent.  This is either a one-off or first in a series! 

Happy Epiphany, Transferred

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Image: The Adoration of the Magi, polyptych panel 1, Magdalen College School
Shamelessly pinched from here

The Infant looks upon these holy pilgrims with a joyful countenance, and thus shows that He accepts these first-fruits of His Redemption. The divine Mother is also silent, but welcomes them wth her smiling looks, and thanks them for the homage done to her Son. They adore Him also in silence, and acknowledge Him for their Saviour and their God, offering Him gifts of Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh.

Yes, my Infant Jesus, the more humbled and poor I behold Thee, the more dost Thou inflame me with Thy love.  

O Jesus, my Infant King! I also adore Thee, and offer Thee my miserable heart. Accept it and change it. Make it wholly Thine own, so that it may love nothing but Thee. My sweet Saviour, save me, and let my eternal happiness be to love Thee always and without reserve. O Mary, most holy Virgin, I hope for this grace from thee.

~ From a meditation on Epiphany by St. Alphonsus Liguori 

Read more: I found both the image and the meditation through Father V on X

Happy Epiphany!

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Image: portion of a mosaic in the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception 


So: in the US, where the Solemnity of Epiphany is transferred to Sunday, is today the 13th day of Christmas?  



 

Merry Christmas, Day 12!

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Image: Adoration of the Magi by Gyula Benczúr, 1911
Shamelessly pinched from J.R.'s Art Page


A little late today, but made it! Tom Hoopes asks: Do we lack what the wise men have
 

Merry Christmas, Day 11!

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 Image: Nativity – Alcina Nolley,
shamelessly pinched from #globalnativity on twiX, submission from St. Lucia

100 Nativity sets on display at the Vatican.

I got curious about John Paul II's first Christmas Urbi et Orbi. What would he tell the whole world about Christmas his first chance? It's worth reading the whole brief thing, because he of course does not start here, but this is the main message.

I address therefore all the various communities: the peoples, the nations, the regimes, the political, economic, social and cultural system, and I say:

— Accept the great truth concerning man;

— Accept the full truth concerning man that was uttered on Christmas Night;

— Accept this dimension of man that was opened for all human beings on this Holy Night;

— Accept the mystery in which every human being lives since Christ was born;

— Respect this mystery;

— Allow this mystery to act in every human being.

— Allow him to develop in the outward conditions of his earthly existence.

Humanity's power resides in this mystery. The power that permeates everything that is human. Do not make it hard for that power to exercise its influence. Do not destroy its influence. Everything that is human grows from this power; without this power it perishes; without this power it falls to ruin.

Merry Christmas, Day 10!

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Image: Above the Manger, Ladislav Záborský, Slovakia
Shamelessly pinched from this twiX post.

Did I mention this earlier in the 12 Days? It's the 800th anniversary of St. Francis creating the first nativity at Greccio, and therefore there is a plenary indulgence to be earned from visiting a Franciscan worship site and contemplating the creche there between now and Candlemas. 




Merry 9th Day of Christmas!

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 Image: Rembrandt van Rijn, Landscape with the Rest on the Flight into Egypt

This is the night of the Most Gentle One: let no one be cruel. This is the night of the Humble One: let no one be proud. Today the Bountiful impoverished Himself for our sake: so, rich one, invite the poor to your table. — Nativity Sermon, St. Isaac of Syria