Day 8 – Heavenly Christmas Novena

DAY 8 – MOTHER INVIOLATE, PRAY THAT WE RECEIVE THE VIRTUE OF TEMPERANCE!

SAINTS’ WORDS

“Temperance is a disposition that restrains our desires for things which it is base to desire.” -St. Augustine

“Our body has this defect that, the more it is provided care and comforts, the more needs and desires it finds.” -St. Teresa of Avila

“If you would rise, shun luxury, for luxury lowers and degrades.” -St John Chrysostom

DAY 8 – HEAVENLY CHRISTMAS NOVENA

Let’s give the gift of Heaven and continue building our Holy Alliance!

We are giving full attention to Section One of your Strength & Alliance Field Manual, for now.

Also, remember to pray your daily rosary today, as we ask Our Lady for her intercession that we have the resolve to hang tough and press on throughout these 54 days. These 54 days are about learning and solidifying these very powerful spiritual practices in our lives. Satan does not want you spiritually strong, united and disciplined, so brush off all of the excuses he plants in your head and stand firm.

Continuing on page 28 of your Strength & Alliance Field Journal, record the following:

1. Today’s date
2. Holy Soul who receives today’s Plenary (or Partial) Indulgence
3. Saint you ask to pray with you

On the adjacent page, record the following:

1. Indicate how you are obtaining an indulgence (See four ways below)
2. Indicate whether you are obtaining a Plenary or Partial Indulgence
3. For whom (Comrade) are you praying the Chaplet of Divine Mercy
4. Indicate that you prayed the Chaplet of Divine Mercy

Holy Mother Church has elevated only four activities for which a Plenary (or Partial) Indulgence can be gained on any given day. They are:

1. Spend at least 30 minutes adoring the Blessed Sacrament.
2. Devoutly read Sacred Scripture for at least 30 minutes
3. Devoutly perform the Stations of the Cross (at approved Stations only)
4. Recite the Rosary with members of your family or one of the following: a church, oratory, religious community, or pious association

Conditions required for obtaining a Plenary Indulgence:

• Do the work while in a state of grace
• Receive sacramental Confession within 20 days of the work (Several Plenary Indulgences may be earned per reception.)
• Receive Eucharistic communion (One Plenary Indulgence per reception of the Holy Eucharist.)
• Pray for the pope’s intentions (an Our Father and Hail Mary, or other appropriate prayer, is sufficient)
• Have no attachment to sin (even venial) — i.e., the Christian makes an act of the will to love God and despise sin

For obtaining a Partial Indulgence:

• Do the work while in a state of grace
• Have the general intention of earning an indulgence

If you have not yet ordered your “Strength and Alliance Field Journal,” you can get your journal at RomanCatholicGear.com.

Fr Richard Heilman