MONDAY, DECEMBER 14
Saint John of the Cross

“In the evening of your life, you will be examined on love.” This famous phrase is by Saint John of the Cross, whom the Church celebrates today. At the age of 20, John donned the Carmelite habit in Medina and obtained permission to live according to the Rule without mitigations, at a time when life in the Order had become very relaxed. Ordained a priest in 1567, he met Saint Teresa of Jesus, who involved him in her work of reforming Carmel. He was also confessor-governor of the Monastery of the Incarnation in Avila and had to endure the unjust accusations of other Carmelites opposed to the reform, which cost him eight months of imprisonment in the convent of Toledo. He endured these and other misfortunes as saints know how to do. As death drew near, he asked his fellow brothers, who were reading him the prayers for the dying, for something more “cheerful”: he asked for a few verses from the Song of Songs, the hymn to love (which he knew well). Thus he went to meet Love. He died between December 13 and 14, 1591, in Ubeda; he was 49 years old.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16
Beginning of the Christmas novena

The Christmas novena is a very significant moment in the life of our parishes and families. It is a much-loved popular celebration that best prepares us for the birth of Jesus. It is celebrated during the nine days preceding the solemnity of Christmas, from December 16 to 24.
The Novena aims to awaken an attitude of deep faith in the believer: learning to adore him in spirit and truth. The spiritual attitude is that of one who awaits a great joy: the demonstration of God’s infinite love for humanity. Let us live these days separating us from Christmas as a time of thanksgiving and adoration of the Almighty, who has made himself knowable, Savior of every person, as a time of invocation and preparation, so that humanity may not fail to welcome the Word of God, who became man in the virginal womb of Mary. As we invoke his coming, let us allow ourselves to be flooded by God’s tenderness.

For further reading:
• Novenas to the Immaculate Conception and Holy Christmas
• Novena to Holy Christmas

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 18
Beginning of the novena to the Holy Family

«As in the nativity scene, the gaze of faith enables us to embrace together the divine Child and the people beside him: his Most Holy Mother and Joseph, his foster father. What light shines forth from this “group icon” of Holy Christmas! Light of mercy and salvation for the whole world, light of truth for every person, for the human family and for individual families. How beautiful it is for married couples to see themselves reflected in the Virgin Mary and her spouse Joseph! How comforting for parents, especially if they have a small child! How enlightening for engaged couples as they work on their life plans!
Gathering around the Bethlehem grotto to contemplate the Holy Family there allows us to savor in a special way the gift of family intimacy, and urges us to offer human warmth and concrete solidarity in those situations, unfortunately numerous, where, for various reasons, peace is lacking, harmony is lacking, in a word, “family” is lacking.» Let us prepare for the feast of the Holy Family by meditating each day on these words of Saint John Paul II. Let us entrust our families and all the families of the world to the Holy Family.

For further reading:
• The Holy Family of Jesus
• Pray, pray, pray

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 19
Beginning of the novena to Blessed Mattia Nazzarei

A member of a noble family from Matelica (Macerata), in 1270 Mattia asked to enter the Poor Clare monastery in her city. Endowed with outstanding virtues, especially charity and prudence, by 1273 she was already abbess of the monastery. She was a courageous and prudent woman, so much so that she overcame the many disputes that arose over the admission of new sisters. Known during her lifetime as the “mother of charity,” Blessed Mattia was, like all the saints, very sensitive to the misfortunes of others. Many miracles occurred at her funeral, shortly after her death, when her body was publicly displayed in the church. Even eighteen days after her burial, her body continued to exude fresh blood and, remaining incorrupt, gave off a sweet fragrance. The exudations of blood continued over the centuries, as did miraculous healings. When the coffin was reopened in 1758, what had happened in 1536 occurred again: the repeatedly folded linen cloth wrapped around the Blessed’s body was soaked with fresh blood, as attested by the doctors as well as by the entire population. The phenomenon continues to this day. Let us pray with confidence, asking Blessed Mattia’s intercession for the graces dearest to our hearts.

For further reading:
• Blessed Mattia Nazzarei of Matelica. Prayers and biographical notes