Dear St. Genesius, Patron of Performers and Martyr of the Stage,
You made your living entertaining kings for a handsome price.
It was through your performance that you were inspired to action and your ministry, brief though it was, began.
Intercede for us, that we, too, may be inspired by the work we do, that we may in turn inspire others, and that we may be paid handsomely for our efforts.
Amen.
Follow with 9 Hail Marys.
Dear St. Nicholas, kindly Bishop of Myra,
You delivered bags of gold to three poor maidens so that they may be married.
I, too, wish to be married, forever joined to the coming Savior Jesus Christ.
However, in our fallen world, I must also give to Caesar what is Caesar’s.
Please intercede on my behalf as you did for those three maidens and provide for me the financial assistance I so desperately require.
Amen.
Follow with 12 Hail Marys.
December 14th
Say a rosary using the Mysteries of Advent
The First Mystery: The Annunciation
The angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the Virgin’s name was Mary. And coming to her, he said, “Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you.”…The the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a Son, and you shall name Him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give Him the throne of David his father, and He will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.” (Luke 1:26-28, 30-33)
The Second Mystery: The Fiat
Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?” And the Angel said to her in reply, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will over shadow you. Therefore the Child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God…for nothing is impossible for God.” Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” (Luke 1:34-35, 37-38)
The Third Mystery: The Visitation
When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice and said, “Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.” (Luke 1:41-45)
The Fourth Mystery: The Journey to Bethlehem
In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augstus that the world should be enrolled…So all went…each from his own town. And Joseph too went up from Galilee from the town of Nazareth to Judea, to the city of David that is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. (Luke 2:1, 3-5)
The Fifth Mystery: The Child is Born
The angel of the Lord appeared to [the shepherds] and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were struck with great fear. The angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all people. For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is the Messiah and Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find an infant lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying:
“Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom His favor rests.” (Luke 2:9-14)
December 15th
O Wisdom. You came forth from the mouth of the Most High and reaching from beginning to end, You ordered all things mightily and sweetly. Come and teach us the way of prudence!
Say before 7 Hail Marys
December 16th
O Lord and Ruler of the house of Israel, You appeared to Moses in the burning bush and on Mount Sinai gave him Your Law. Come and with outstretched arm redeem us!
Say before 7 Hail Marys
December 17th
O Root of Jesse, You stand for an ensign of mankind; before You kings shall keep silence, and to You all nations shall have recourse. Come, save us and do not delay!
Say before 7 Hail Marys
December 18th
O Key of David, and Sceptre of the House of Israel, You open and no man closes; You close and no man opens. Come and deliver him from the chains of prison who sits in darkness and in the shadow of death!
Say before 7 Hail Marys
December 19th
O Rising Dawn, Radiance of the Light eternal and Sun of Justice; come and enlighten those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death!
Say before 7 Hail Marys
December 20th
O King of Nations and Desired of All, You are the cornerstone that binds two into one. Come, and save poor man whom You fashioned out of clay!
Say before 7 Hail Marys
December 21st
O Emmanuel, God with us, our King and Lawgiver, the Expected of nations and their Saviour; come and save us , O Lord our God!
Say before 7 Hail Marys
December 22nd
Repeat the rosary from Day 1 of the novena.
Due to the first blizzard of the season, Stephen will not be performing tonight at Adoremus Books. We have chosen not to reschedule this event.
Instead we have begun planning a talk on “God’s Love and the Love of the Family” for Valentine’s Day. I am sorry for the inconvenience.
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