Day 26 – Heavenly Christmas Novena

DAY 26 – MARY, SINGULAR VESSEL OF DEVOTION, PRAY THAT WE RECEIVE THE FRUIT OF CONTINENCE!

SAINTS’ WORDS

“He who is chaste in flesh should not be proud, for he should know that he owes the gift of continence to another.” -Pope St. Clement I

“I thought that continence was a matter of our own strength, and I knew that I had not the strength: for in my utter foolishness I did not know the word of your Scripture that none can be continent unless you give it.” -St. Augustine

“Great are those two gifts, wisdom and continence: wisdom, forsooth, whereby we are formed in the knowledge of God; continence whereby we are not conformed to this world.” -St. Augustine

CHURCH MILITANT BOOT CAMP BEGINS MONDAY!

Monday (Nov. 28) begins the second half of our 54-day “Heavenly Christmas Novena.” We spent the first half training to become proficient in uniting with the Communion of Saints (Church Militant, Church Suffering & Church Triumphant). We also trained to become the very best in rescuing fallen comrades. From the Warrior Ethos: “I will never leave a fallen comrade.”

Now, Advent is upon us! It’s time to give our very best in preparing for the coming of Our Lord! Advent is our “Catholic New Year.” Let’s make this our time to make a “resolution” to train to become the best version of ourselves that we can possibly be!

TODAY’S ASSIGNMENT

For your assignment today, in preparation for Monday’s start to our Church Militant Boot Camp, I ask that you read pages 125-127 in your “Strength and Alliance Field Journal.” Here you will continue to learn about the very best way to train, order and discipline yourself, both spiritually and physically, for becoming a five-star Warrior Saint.

Page 125 begins with the following …

MIND

All of us are in spiritual darkness, to some degree. Jesus comes as light and truth. When there is a breakthrough of grace, we see everything differently and we have different aspirations. The Divine Life transforms our natural propensity for wealth, pleasure, power, and honor. There is a breakthrough of a new world, God’s life, and a new perspective breaks in. It is amazing to witness a soul who has received this incredible gift. At once, there is an unquenchable thirst to know God more.

We must pray for this amazing breakthrough of grace, but we must also position ourselves in the best place for receiving this gift. That is why this Church Militant Boot Camp has recruits begin by turning to some very powerful devotional books that ask us to reflect upon only a few sentences each day. By beginning with these bite-sized portions of spiritual reading, recruits will begin to notice their hearts being prepared for this breakthrough of grace.

(Continue reading to page 127 in your “Strength and Alliance Field Journal”)

Fr Richard Heilman