A Novena to the Immaculate Conception – Day 8


O God,
who by the Immaculate Conception
of the Blessed Virgin Mary,
did prepare a worthy dwelling place for Your Son,
we beseech You that,
as by the foreseen death of this, Your Son,
You did preserve Her from all stain,
so too You would permit us,
purified through Her intercession,
to come unto You.
Through the same Lord Jesus Christ,
Your Son, who lives and reigns with You
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, world without end.

Amen.

O Most gracious Virgin Mary,
beloved Mother of Jesus Christ, our Redeemer,
intercede with him for us
that we be granted the favor which we petition
for so earnestly in this novena…

(State your intention here…)

O Mother of the Word Incarnate,
we feel animated with confidence
that your prayers in our behalf
will be graciously heard before the throne of God.
O Glorious Mother of God,
in memory of your joyous Immaculate Conception,
hear our prayers and obtain for us our petitions.

O Mary of the Immaculate Conception,
Mother of Christ,
you had influence with your Divine Son while upon this earth;
you have the same influence now in heaven.
Pray for us
and obtain for us from him
the granting of my petition if it be the Divine Will.

Amen.

 

For the complete 9 day novena visit the Discerning Hearts:

The Immaculate Conception Novena page

 

A Guided Meditiation – “And their eyes were opened” – reflection from Msgr. John Esseff

Msgr. Esseff leads the listener through a special Advent guided mediation based on the Scripture from Matthew.

Gospel mt 9:27-31

As Jesus passed by, two blind men followed him, crying out,
“Son of David, have pity on us!”
When he entered the house,
the blind men approached him and Jesus said to them,
“Do you believe that I can do this?”
“Yes, Lord,” they said to him.
Then he touched their eyes and said,
“Let it be done for you according to your faith.”
And their eyes were opened.
Jesus warned them sternly,
“See that no one knows about this.”
But they went out and spread word of him through all that land.

Second Sunday of Advent – Sunday, Sunday, Sunday with Mark Hart

Mark-Hart-3

The Sunday, Sunday, Sunday Podcast is a reflection on the upcoming Sunday Mass readings presented by LifeTeen.com and hosted by Mark Hart.

Sunday Readings from the USCCB

Reading 1 Is 40:1-5, 9-11

Responsorial Psalm ps 85:9-10, 11-12, 13-14

Reading 2  2 pt 3:8-14

Gospel Mk 1:1-8

The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ the Son of God.

As it is written in Isaiah the prophet:
Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of you;
he will prepare your way.
A voice of one crying out in the desert:
“Prepare the way of the Lord,
make straight his paths.”

John the Baptist appeared in the desert
proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
People of the whole Judean countryside
and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem
were going out to him
and were being baptized by him in the Jordan River
as they acknowledged their sins.
John was clothed in camel’s hair,
with a leather belt around his waist.
He fed on locusts and wild honey.
And this is what he proclaimed:
“One mightier than I is coming after me.
I am not worthy to stoop and loosen the thongs of his sandals.
I have baptized you with water;
he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States, second typical edition, Copyright © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine;

 

STSG1 – An Overview of the Synoptic Gospels Part 1 – Seeking Truth with Sharon Doran – Discerning Hearts

Episode 1 – Seeking Truth with Sharon Doran – The Synoptic Gospels: An Overview Part 1

Sharon Doran serves as the teaching director of “Seeking Truth.” An experienced Bible Study teacher, Sharon has a passion for scripture that will motivate and challenge you to immerse yourself in God’s Word and apply His message to your every day life.

Episode 1 –

From the beginning of time, God planned to send his son, Jesus, to be the savior of the world. The story of Jesus is the story of the Synoptic Gospels: Matthew, Mark and Luke.

 Gospel-WritersIn this 2 part overview lecture, Sharon gives a dynamic teaching that outlines God’s plan of salvation, beginning with the fall in the Garden of Eden and culminating with the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

  But just hearing the story is not enough.

 As Sharon tells us, the Church exists to evangelize and we are called to spread the Gospel message to a culture in desperate need of a savior. 

 

“Seeking Truth” is an in depth Catholic Bible Study, commissioned by the Archdiocese of Omaha in response to John Paul II’s call to the New Evangelization as well as Pope Benedict XVI’s exhortation for all Catholics to study scripture. To learn more go to:www.seekingtruth.net

A Novena to the Immaculate Conception – Day 7


O God,
who by the Immaculate Conception
of the Blessed Virgin Mary,
did prepare a worthy dwelling place for Your Son,
we beseech You that,
as by the foreseen death of this, Your Son,
You did preserve Her from all stain,
so too You would permit us,
purified through Her intercession,
to come unto You.
Through the same Lord Jesus Christ,
Your Son, who lives and reigns with You
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, world without end.

Amen.

Glorious and immortal Queen of Heaven,
we profess our firm belief in your Immaculate Conception
preordained for you in the merits of your Divine Son.
We rejoice with you in your Immaculate Conception.
To the one ever-reigning God,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
three in one Person,
one in nature,
we offer thanks for your blessed Immaculate Conception.
O Mother of the Word mad Flesh,
listen to our petition as we ask
this special grace during this novena…

(State your intention here…)

O Mary of the Immaculate Conception,
Mother of Christ,
you had influence with your Divine Son while upon this earth;
you have the same influence now in heaven.
Pray for us
and obtain for us from him
the granting of my petition if it be the Divine Will.

Amen.

For the complete 9 day novena visit the Discerning Hearts:

The Immaculate Conception Novena page

 

STSG2 – An Overview of the Synoptic Gospels Part 2 – Seeking Truth with Sharon Doran

Episode 2 – Seeking Truth with Sharon Doran – The Synoptic Gospels: An Overview Part 2

Sharon Doran serves as the teaching director of “Seeking Truth.” An experienced Bible Study teacher, Sharon has a passion for scripture that will motivate and challenge you to immerse yourself in God’s Word and apply His message to your every day life.

Episode 2 –

From the beginning of time, God planned to send his son, Jesus, to be the savior of the world. The story of Jesus is the story of the Synoptic Gospels: Matthew, Mark and Luke.

Garden-of-Eden In this 2 part overview lecture, Sharon gives a dynamic teaching that outlines God’s plan of salvation, beginning with the fall in the Garden of Eden and culminating with the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

  But just hearing the story is not enough.

 As Sharon tells us, the Church exists to evangelize and we are called to spread the Gospel message to a culture in desperate need of a savior. 

 

“Seeking Truth” is an in depth Catholic Bible Study, commissioned by the Archdiocese of Omaha in response to John Paul II’s call to the New Evangelization as well as Pope Benedict XVI’s exhortation for all Catholics to study scripture. To learn more go to:www.seekingtruth.net

STSG3 – Preparation for the Coming of the Messiah (PART 1) – Seeking Truth with Sharon Doran

Episode 3 – Seeking Truth with Sharon Doran – Preparation for  the Coming of the Messiah (PART 1) 

Sharon Doran serves as the teaching director of “Seeking Truth.” An experienced Bible Study teacher, Sharon has a passion for scripture that will motivate and challenge you to immerse yourself in God’s Word and apply His message to your every day life.

Episode 3 –

This 2 part lecture is a “must listen to” as Sharon gives us the Biblical basis for the perpetual … (more info)virginity of Mary as well as for her Immaculate Conception. Drawing from both Old and New Testament scripture, Sharon shows us how Mary was filled with grace from the moment of her conception and remained sinless throughout her entire life.

We also learn that through the power of the Holy Spirit, Mary becomes Theotokos, God-Bearer, and is the Ark of the New Covenant. Like the Ark of the Old Covenant, Mary is not meant to be touched, and she remains perpetually virgin. 

John-the-Baptist-1

 But wait! There’s more! Sharon also reveals to us the amazing fulfillment of Old Testament Messianic Prophecies through the birth of John the Baptist. 

You won’t want to miss this foundational lecture.

 

“Seeking Truth” is an in depth Catholic Bible Study, commissioned by the Archdiocese of Omaha in response to John Paul II’s call to the New Evangelization as well as Pope Benedict XVI’s exhortation for all Catholics to study scripture. To learn more go to:www.seekingtruth.net

STSG4 – Preparation for the Coming of the Messiah (PART 2) – Seeking Truth with Sharon Doran

Episode 4- Seeking Truth with Sharon Doran – Preparation for  the Coming of the Messiah (PART 2) 

Sharon Doran serves as the teaching director of “Seeking Truth.” An experienced Bible Study teacher, Sharon has a passion for scripture that will motivate and challenge you to immerse yourself in God’s Word and apply His message to your every day life.

Episode 4 –

This 2 part lecture is a “must listen to” as Sharon gives us the Biblical basis for the perpetual … (more info)virginity of Mary as well as for her Immaculate Conception. Drawing from both Old and New Testament scripture, Sharon shows us how Mary was filled with grace head-crushingfrom the moment of her conception and remained sinless throughout her entire life.

We also learn that through the power of the Holy Spirit, Mary becomes Theotokos, God-Bearer, and is the Ark of the New Covenant. Like the Ark of the Old Covenant, Mary is not meant to be touched, and she remains perpetually virgin. 

 But wait! There’s more! Sharon also reveals to us the amazing fulfillment of Old Testament Messianic Prophecies through the birth of John the Baptist. 

You won’t want to miss this foundational lecture.

 

“Seeking Truth” is an in depth Catholic Bible Study, commissioned by the Archdiocese of Omaha in response to John Paul II’s call to the New Evangelization as well as Pope Benedict XVI’s exhortation for all Catholics to study scripture. To learn more go to:www.seekingtruth.net

STSG5 – The Birth of Jesus (PART 1) – Seeking Truth with Sharon Doran

Episode 5- Seeking Truth with Sharon Doran – The Birth of Jesus (PART 1)

Sharon Doran serves as the teaching director of “Seeking Truth.” An experienced Bible Study teacher, Sharon has a passion for scripture that will motivate and challenge you to immerse yourself in God’s Word and apply His message to your every day life.

Episode 5 –

TTree-of-Jesse-iconhe story of Israel is the story of Jesus. On this 2 part lecture,  Sharon weaves a beautiful tapestry of the history of the nation of Israel.

The fabric of this history is revealed in the genealogy of Jesus, a family tree ripe with great leaders and scandalous sinners.

This story is a stream that flows through the times of the patriarchs, the wandering in the desert, the era of the Judges, the reign of David and Solomon, the division of the Hebrew kingdom and the exile into Babylon.

This story is punctuated with the voices of the prophets who announce with astonishing accuracy the coming of Messiah.

This story is culminated in the most unlikely of places: the virginal womb of a young Jewish woman.

“Seeking Truth” is an in depth Catholic Bible Study, commissioned by the Archdiocese of Omaha in response to John Paul II’s call to the New Evangelization as well as Pope Benedict XVI’s exhortation for all Catholics to study scripture. To learn more go to:www.seekingtruth.net

STSG6 – The Birth of Jesus (PART 2) – Seeking Truth with Sharon Doran

Episode 6- Seeking Truth with Sharon Doran – The Birth of Jesus (PART 2)

Sharon Doran serves as the teaching director of “Seeking Truth.” An experienced Bible Study teacher, Sharon has a passion for scripture that will motivate and challenge you to immerse yourself in God’s Word and apply His message to your every day life.

Episode 6 –

The story of Israel is the story of Jesus. On this 2 part lecture, Sharon weaves a beautiful tapestry of the history of the nation of Israel. The fabric of this history is revealed in the genealogy of Jesus, a family tree ripe with great leaders and scandalous sinners. St.-Joseph-10This story is a stream that flows through the times of the patriarchs, the wandering in the desert, the era of the Judges, the reign of David and Solomon, the division of the Hebrew kingdom and the exile into Babylon. This story is punctuated with the voices of the prophets who announce with astonishing accuracy the coming of Messiah. This story is culminated in the most unlikely of places: the virginal womb of a young Jewish woman.

“Seeking Truth” is an in depth Catholic Bible Study, commissioned by the Archdiocese of Omaha in response to John Paul II’s call to the New Evangelization as well as Pope Benedict XVI’s exhortation for all Catholics to study scripture. To learn more go to:www.seekingtruth.net