December 3rd is the first day of Advent.

Advent

The liturgical seasons of the Catholic church are beautifully arranged,  allowing us time to prepare for Christmas. The word Advent is derived from ad+venire;  its Latin meaning is “to come, ” “to come towards.” That is the state of mind we should all be preparing for. We, as Christians, are to renew our desire for the Lord at a deeper level. We prepare our spirits and our hearts to humbly receive special graces during the Advent season. Advent is referred to as “Little Lent.” We are preparing for the arrival of Jesus in our hearts. The best way to prepare during Lent is to give of ourselves.

Helping Others

Every Saturday our parish generously distributes food to over 300 families. This is done on a volunteer basis. The service is  from 9:00 a.m. until 12 noon.  If you are able and willing to participate in this compassionate outreach, it is a perfect way to start Advent.

If you are brave enough, you can stand outside an abortion clinic and pray the rosary. My son-in-law Russ tricked me into doing this. He called me and asked if I wanted to attend a Catholic Bible study with him. To me that’s a no brainer, a family member and Bible study? I was in. He gave me an address and told me to meet him there. I got a little suspicious when he told me to park at the 99 Cent Store parking lot. The address was not right, so I parked where instructed. Russ then told me to meet him across the way on Tustin Street. This street  in Orange is a major artery, with six lanes to cross. Suddenly I see Russ waving to get my attention. He was standing in front of the Planned Parenthood clinic, and our Bible study was to pray the rosary at the entrance. Despite my uncomfortable reaction, I did enjoy the experience.

Visit Prisoners

Every jail inmate has a family, and I can speak from experience that many of these inmates do not get visitors. This past weekend my sister Norma sacrificed her work to make a trip out to see her son Mario. My sister also arranged for two of her grandsons to visit Mario as well. This was not an easy task; she had to go through a lot of red tape to get the boys’ clearance. They needed a copy of their original birth certificates plus a notarized letter from their mother giving them permission for the visit. Her granddaughter Bella also came, but she was not given approval because her application was not turned in on time.

I know that my sister sheds many tears for her son, but she kept all her emotions to herself.  As a family they had a wonderful visit, but as a mother she can’t help but worry about Mario’s future. She cries when she speaks of him. My sister is so strong, I know that she will one day see her son succeed. These are the promises of God for those who love Him.

I, too, plan to visit Mario before Christmas. The joy you bring to an incarcerated individual lasts a lifetime, not only for them but for you as well.

The Holy Spirit is ever present during our visits. Our conversations are filled with the love of Christ. Our deep connection through God causes us to remember those who are less fortunate. Yes, there are many at this particular prison that have a life sentence. We need to pray for our relatives who are in prison and, if you cannot visit, write to them. A written letter will be something that they will read over and over again. Bring joy to them by letting them know you care. Tell them that God is not done with them yet, and that He has a perfect plan for their lives once they get out. But mostly pray, pray, pray for them.

Christmas Overload

This time of year brings great joy to the spirits of many. We are transformed into busy people. Since Thanksgiving was so late this year, I decided to put up Christmas. Every room of our home is filled with Christmas cheer! I started in mid-November by putting up the Mexican tree, and the following day I decorated the kids’ tree.

Since discovering that hoarding might become a problem, I no longer purchase Christmas ornaments. I had accumulated so many ornaments that I had to purchase more trees, hence all the themes. The Holy Land tree is one of my favorites. All the olive wood, hand-cut ornaments bring me great memories of all the years I traveled to the Middle East. I hope one day soon I can return. Our cat Prudie has stationed herself in the manger. She loves to be one of the animals in the Nativity and, in a special way, she is guarding the Christ child.

I wanted our home to be filled with joy when Norma and her family arrived, so as she was visiting Mario I decorated the upstairs bathroom and bedroom.

My Cat Prudie

We are not sure exactly how old Prudie is, but we know that she is over 20 years old. We are very careful not to let her outside without supervision. Last Monday night she got out. Neither Mike nor I had any idea that she was outside. It was not until the following morning while I was proofreading my Blog that I heard her crying. She was cold and very hungry. The following day as Mike was raking up the leaves from under the tree, a fig fell off the tree and hit him on the head. As he looked up he made eye contact with a rat. He chased the rat across the garden, but the dirty rodent  got away. Prudie must have gotten wind of this, because the following morning she caught the rat and left it for Mike. It was an early Christmas present.

My Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father, I pray for all of us to draw closer to You during Advent. Open our hearts to be yielded to Your calling. Lord, I pray for the lonely, broken-hearted, and all who have not come to the knowledge of who You are. Pray for all those in prison, that they may they feel Your holy presence during this most joyful season. Amen.

A large part of my heritage (46%)  is Indigenous Americas-Mexico. My father was born in Phoenix, Arizona, so somewhere in the back roads of history my ancestors were part of Thanksgiving. I am also 46% Spanish, which links me to the Conquistadores who first came to Florida.

The First Thanksgiving

In elementary school I learned about the indigenous people and the Pilgrims getting together to celebrate the first Thanksgiving. The historic images were always the same; an Indian chief presenting a feast to the Pilgrims, and the Puritan women serving the meal. They all sat down and enjoyed a wonderful bounty. But is this what really happened? Or is this where fake news originated?

Yes, back in 1621 the Puritans, the English Protestants/Separatists, who wanted to break away from the stronghold of  King James I and the practices of the Roman Catholic Church, came to a New World seeking religious freedom. They came across on the Mayflower and landed on the cold shores of Plymouth, Massachusetts.

Little did they know that the Wampanoag Natives had inhabited the land thousands of years before their arrival. Fifty -six years before the Pilgrims’ arrival, the Spaniards  landed in Florida. Since it was the feast day of St. Augustine, they named the colony after the saint and built an altar to thank God for their safe journey. The Timucua Indians watched as the Spaniards celebrated Mass.

The Native Americans were invited to feast with the new settlers. The Timucua tribe may have brought wild game, squash and seafood, while the Spaniards may have cooked up some cocido, a Spanish traditional stew made with pork and vegetables. So in many ways this too was a great day of Thanksgiving.

Aside from being the oldest city in the United States, St. Augustine was the site of  the first Mass celebrated in America. Equally important, the first mission to American Indians originated in St. Augustine. Since I’m half  Spanish, my ancestors were part of that first Thanksgiving.

Abraham Lincoln

Can you imagine the stress level of this wonderful President? Abraham Lincoln was doing everything in his power to heal a broken nation. The Civil War was raging, and all the fighting was taking its toll. President Lincoln was distraught about the division in our nation and wanted to bring back unity in our country.

Sarah Josepha Hale, an American editor and writer, wrote to President Abraham Lincoln petitioning him to make Thanksgiving a legal holiday.  Through her urging, in 1863 President Lincoln declared the last Thursday in November as Thanksgiving Day, making it a national holiday.  In 1941 President Franklin Delano Roosevelt changed  the date to the fourth Thursday in November to boost the economy and to kick off Christmas shopping.

Thank the good Lord for President Lincoln, whose recognition of Thanksgiving was credited to his great stewardship.

Thanksgiving Etiquette

If you are hosting Thanksgiving, you must display love. There is no place better than in your home to share the love of God. Your guests must feel welcomed as soon as they walk into the door. Love has no rules or boundaries, it does not hold on to past family events that did not go well. Love is the antidote to hate. So if you are holding on to hurt feelings from times past, you need to recognize it.

Many times our own selfish behaviors keep us from seeing the truth. If you have had a falling out with a family member, God has given you special graces to forgive. If you cannot forgive, then you are suffering from a hardened heart. There is nothing worse than a person who is set in their ways. They’re difficult because they feel that everyone around them should recognize their pain. News flash! No one cares! Because you have set your beliefs above everyone else’s feelings,  they recognize that you are the problem.

Parents

Nothing saddens parents more than siblings who are at odds with one another. All grown children must take into consideration that as parents age, life must become easier, not more challenging. Unfortunately that is not the case in many families. As grown adults it is not becoming to throw fits and uninvite family because you’re upset with another sibling.  This is an example of gross, unacceptable behavior from the host from Hell.

Alcohol

There is a reason why alcohol is referred to as spirits. When some people have over indulged in alcohol, their personalities change. Some are affected in negative ways. The Devil or spirits gain control of their minds, and we all know what happens next. Insults are hurled at guests and an out-of-control spirit takes hold of them. At this stage the best thing to do is leave, or, if  they’re  guests, ask them to leave. Nothing is worse than an inebriated  guest who  takes the joy out of  Thanksgiving.

Political  Etiquette

If your guest did not agree with who you supported in the last election, get over it. I did, and had to wait patiently for four years for a change. In our home we are all equally yoked when it comes to this matter. But we have in the past invited guests who  do not agree as we do. We keep it civil and never engage in a politically heated discussion. My husband Mike makes sure of this.

Passing the Baton

Over a Chinese dinner, my son Mikos and his wife Jenny suggested that they should take over hosting Thanksgiving.  Before I could open my mouth, Mike said yes! As I took a bite of the pork fried rice, I was not completely in agreement with this hasty decision. I kept my thoughts to myself because, after all, Mike does all the cooking. My job is setting the table and cleanup. The following morning I came to my senses. No! I want to host Thanksgiving, remembering that I had just purchased new cloth Thanksgiving napkins.

The Change

Mike cooks the turkey along with about seven side dishes, so I suggested that he make the turkey, dressing, and creamed corn. Jenny and Mikos’ responsibilities are ham, potatoes, sweet potatoes, salad, green beans and mac and cheese. Sonja is always in charge of desserts.

My Prayer

Lord, I thank You that we as a family have always shared a peaceful Thanksgiving meal. I pray for all families who are in the midst of strife and division. Lord, bring peace to Your table of plenty. Amen.

Thinking about this past election, one thing for which I am so grateful: no more ads. That in itself is a blessing.

Latino Vote

Apparently I was not the only Latino who voted for Trump. According to a CBSNews/YouGov poll, 46% of registered Latinos voted for him as well. Fifty three percent of  Latino voters favored Trump’s plan of mass deportation. Seventy six percent of Latinos believe that the crisis at the border was one of the main reasons. According to the Pew Research Center an estimated 36.2 million Latinos were eligible to vote this year. This number has increased from 32.3 million in 2020. The majority of us stand for faith, family and hope.

Faith

To me it was a priority to vote for a candidate who protected my faith.  Our God given-rights must be protected. We live in a free democracy and should always be allowed to express our love for God. Our values have been shaken with the distorted information about protecting the unborn. Because the Democrats took a radical stance on abortions as their main platform, it did not go well. They need to reexamine their inaccurate information and not use this as a platform in the future. Now they need to reboot their liberal thinking to reach the masses.

For me, a God-fearing Christian, it would he a heinous act to see a puppy being drowned. I would do anything to save it. I know very well that those on the left would do the same.  But under these circumstances, when it comes to the subject of saving an unborn baby, it’s a different story. You can give a new title to soften the meaning and gain constituents, but abortion is the killing of an innocent life. Although  they changed the name to Women’s Reproductive Rights, it does not dismiss the fact that an innocent child is being sacrificed.

Family

It is up to us as parents and grandparents to guide our children. They not only need parental guidance but spiritual guidance as well. In this cruel world we cannot make it without God. As a catechism teacher I have witnessed the positive difference in my students. I do not know their backgrounds, or if they are being raised by a single parent. All I know is that someone is taking the responsibility to nurture them to become better human beings. The Orange County Diocese requirement to complete this program is two years,

The Retreat

This weekend we hosted a day-long retreat. We played a game where some of the students were asked to do things outside their comfort zone. I have two Brians in my group, and they are both on the introverted side. It was an amazing transition as one Brian had to get in the middle of the group and pretend he was surfing, while the other Brian had to do a silly dance. Much to my surprise they were opening up and expressing themselves without fear.

I am so proud of my grandson Lucas  for enduing the eight-hour retreat. During the hour and a half break I walked around the baseball field while he socialized with other students in the youth room.

Adoration

Adoration was an integral  part of the retreat. I made sure that all of my students genuflected before the altar. Later I explained to them that bending one knee to the floor is showing reverence.  For an hour we listened to beautiful praise music while we were before the Blessed Sacrament. It was a holy experience for some of the students. I say some because others have not yet reached that level in their spiritual journey.