Settled in Arkansas

JUST ONE MINUTE

I recently read a book by St. Teresa of Kolkata called Love: A Fruit Always in Season. In the section on Advent, she says, “May Jesus find welcome in the manger of your heart. May it be warmed with love and humility. It is beautiful to see the humility of Christ--humility in the manger and humility in the tabernacle. One thing Jesus asks of me is that I lean upon him; that in him alone I put complete trust; that I surrender myself to him unreservedly.” I find it powerful and fruitful to gaze upon baby Jesus in the nativity scene or in the arms of Mary or Joseph. It truly blows my mind (and my heart) that he is a baby…a baby wholly vulnerable and needy, like any other and every other baby. He first trusted his life to humanity and then invited us to trust in Him for fullness of life.

Reflection: Today spend some time in front of a nativity scene or an image of baby Jesus. What stirs in you? Visit Jesus from as deep a place as you can.

— Deacon Danny Hartnedy

DAVE SAYS

Travel agent for guilt trip

WHAT'S NEW? 

Finding God's mercy

A diocesan shrine dedicated to Divine Mercy at St. Edward Church in Little Rock will be a "place of pilgrimage, adoration and reconciliation." The shrine will open on Corpus Christi Sunday, June 11. Adoration will take place at 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 3 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Reconciliation will be available every day except Monday.

DECEMBER DATEBOOK

12: Our Lady of Guadalupe feast day
19-30: Christmas break for most Catholic schools
23-26: Christmas holiday, diocesan offices closed
24-25: Christmas collection for retired and infirm priests
27-30: Come and See retreat, Subiaco Abbey

QUOTE UNQUOTE

"Social inequalities, forms of slavery and exploitation, family poverty due to the lack of work or poorly paid work are realities that must be listened to in our church communities. They are more or less forms of exploitation  - let us call things by their real name,"

— Pope Francis, Dec. 9