Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
December 8 fell on a Sunday. The celebration of the Second Sunday of Advent is prioritized; thus, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary will be celebrated today, instead.
Already took a leave from work to attend the Mass (although, our company arranged for a Mass to be celebrated in our office) since I also arranged for an early Christmas lunch with Titas Josie and Norma.
When I arrived at Sto. Niño de Paz Greenbelt Chapel, the rosary already started. So, left my rosaries at the table for it to be blessed after the Mass.
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| Catholic Woodworker Rosaries |
I prayed the Precious Blood chaplet instead. Will use one of the rosaries which I will have blessed today when I pray the rosary alone.
The Mass presider is Fr. Godwin. What we are celebrating today is not Mary, but her Son, Jesus. Jesus and Mary is the second Adam and Eve. Mary would be the vessel of God the Son; thus, she was conceived without any sin.
Mary reminds us...
- The call to be holy. Sin makes us believe we can live away from God. She chose to remain in God.
- Our need to receive the grace of God--remain as His children. God's grace makes us humble.
- To be hospitable before the Lord. Mary being the handmaid of the Lord, she remains hospitable--not only in her womb but also in her heart.
For his closing, God favors Mary because of her heart. She has a loving heart. She has a lowly heart. She has a listening heart.
On the way to Olive Garden where we would be having our early Christmas lunch, I was giving a blessed Miraculous Medal to security guards, salespeople, etc. But first, I have to ask if they are Catholic because the medals are already sacramentals, and I don't want it thrown away by people from different religious sects.
The Miraculous Medal which I made into a necklace with it as the pendant, is "taped" to a card with the words:
The Virgin Mary said to St. Catherine Laboure:
“Have a medal struck upon this model. Those who wear it will receive great graces, especially if they wear it around the neck. Those who repeat this prayer with devotion will be, in a special manner, under the protection of the Mother of God. Graces will be abundantly bestowed upon those who have confidence.”
O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.
The last statement is "Pray the rosary daily". This (praying the rosary) has nothing to do with the apparition on the miraculous medal; but, it is recommended to pray the short prayer of the medal after the Fatima prayer at the end of each decade of the rosary. Besides, praying the rosary create miracles.
I was the first to arrive. Followed by Tita Norma. And finally, Tita Josie.
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| Olive Garden |
Every entree ordered comes with a never-ending first course of soup, salad and bread sticks (not to be shared). So, we decided to order three entrees, namely: Shrimp Alfredo, Chicken Parmigiana, and Roasted Herb Chicken.
We took our picture by the big Christmas tree of the mall before parting ways. Tita Norma went to Greenbelt chapel to do confession. Accompanied Tita Josie to withdraw from an ATM and seen her off at the taxi stand--she has a 3PM party in her neighborhood to attend to.
Passed by The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf for a double chocolate ice-blended and earn a stamp. I just need one more stamp to claim another of their Christmas promo item. While sipping my frappuccino, looking for the branches of Conti's Bakeshop and Restaurant. They no longer have a branch at Greenbelt 2 as the building has been torn down to build a new one. Good thing I checked before One Ayala, a new mall, wherein I saw a Conti's branch but I think they only sell cakes and pastries there. Decided to still go to this branch wherein I was able to meet their manager handling Makati and Taguig branches. She said she can take my pre-order but would have to deposit payment to said branch's account. To avoid the hassle, I decided to go to their Century City Mall branch.
I was able to place my pre-order, paid for it so that I just need to pick up the food on the 24th of December around 10 AM.
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