Bambinelli / Gaudete Sunday

    

This weekend is not only GAUDETE SUNDAY but also Bambinelli Sunday when the Pope blesses the Baby Jesus figurines brought by the children of Rome to be blessed by the Successor of Saint Peter.  Began by Pope John Paul the Great, parishes around the world now invite the wee people to make a connection with the nativity set at home and the local church where they worship each weekend.  More than mere decoration, the Christmas Creche was created by Saint Francis of Assisi to make the Christmas celebration what it is supposed to be, a RELIGIOUS EVENT.

God our Father,
you loved us so much
you sent us your only Son,
Jesus,
born of the Virgin Mary,
to save us and lead us back to
you.

We pray that, with your blessing,
these images of Jesus might
be
a sign of your presence and love
in our homes.

Good
Father,
give your blessing
to all who gather with us this
Christmas,
family and friends.

Open our hearts,
that we might
receive Jesus in joy,
do always what he asks of us
and see him in those
who need our love.

We ask this in the name of Jesus,
your beloved Son,
who came to give peace to the world.
You who live and reign forever and
ever.

Amen

BTW, thank for all the prayers for my Mom while she is hospitalized.
She is doing better and although she still needs two major surgeries either before or after the New Year, her trust in Divine Providence is truly inspiring.

prayer request for mother

    

Please keep my mom (LIZ TRIGILIO) in prayer.  I took her to Lourdes in November, 2008.  She has been in the hospital since last Wednesday when her blood pressure became dangerously high (severe acute hypertension).  She also needs operations on her heart and on her back (lower spine) once she is well enough for surgery.  Mom will be 78 next February. A widow since 1998, my mother buried three of her four children before my dad died. Both of them took exemplary care of my brother Michael during his short life of 26 years battling Muscular Dystrophy followed by my father's battle with leukemia. He died six months after my younger brother Joseph was killed by an underage drunk driver who never spent one day in jail nor one dime in fines.

Thanksgiving was a very quiet day as she was too weak and too ill to leave the house or even to get out of bed.  Deo volente, she will be discharged before this weekend and be on the road to recovery soon.  The Discalced Cloistered Carmelites in Erie need her as she is sort of an extern in that she helps out as one of the sacristans and as a gal-Friday doing shopping and driving the nuns to doctor appointments now and then. My brother Mark and I appreciate your kindness in offering any prayers you can for our dear and beloved mother. Being 300+ miles away (from my parish to her home) makes it difficult but the Good Lord and His Holy Mother have blessed us with the help of some very good friends and family members.

   If anyone would like to send a get well card, please address it to:
LIZ TRIGILIO
c/o CARMELITE MONASTERY
510 EAST GORE RD
ERIE, PA  16509-3799