Today’s Topics:

1) Gospel – Mt 10:17-22 – Jesus said to His disciples: “Beware of men, for they will hand you over to courts and scourge you in their synagogues, and you will be led before governors and kings for my sake as a witness before them and the pagans. When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say. You will be given at that moment what you are to say. For it will not be you who speak but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. Brother will hand over brother to death, and the father his child; children will rise up against parents and have them put to death. You will be hated by all because of my name, but whoever endures to the end will be saved.”

Feast of Saint Stephen, First Martyr Saint Stephen, pray for us!

Bishop Sheen quote of the day

2) President-elect Trump: “With a stroke of my pen on day one, we are going to stop the transgender lunacy.”  “And I will sign executive orders to end child sexual mutilation, get transgenders out of the military, out of our elementary schools, middle schools and high schools”
Trump At AmFest Promises To End ‘Transgender Lunacy’ On Day One

3) President-elect Trump gave his first rally-style speech since winning the presidency on Sunday morning, where he said the U.S. should think about taking full control of the Panama Canal and that he was reconsidering his position on banning TikTok. Trump spoke at AmericaFest, hosted by Turning Point USA
4 highlights from Trump’s speech at AmericaFest 2024 – Deseret News

4) What is the Christmas Octave?
What is the Christmas octave? | Catholic News Agency

Today’s Topics:

1) Gospel – Mt 2:13-18 – When Herod realized that he had been deceived by the magi, he became furious. He ordered the massacre of all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had ascertained from the magi.

Feast of the Holy Innocents, Martyrs
Holy Innocents, pray for us!

Bishop Sheen quote of the day

2) Praying for the souls this Christmas
https://spiritdaily.org/blog/news/praying-for-the-souls-this-christmas

3) America’s Catholic Bishops made back all $3 billion in sex abuse settlements by trafficking illegal immigrants at taxpayer expense
https://stream.org/americas-catholic-bishops-made-back-all-3-billion-sex-abuse-settlements-by-trafficking-illegal-immigrants-at-taxpayer-expense/

4) Update with Church Militant on news as it relates to the Church & Culture

Today’s Topics:

1) Gospel – Lk 1:67-79 – Zechariah his father, filled with the Holy Spirit, prophesied, saying:

“Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; for He has come to His people and set them free. He has raised up for us a mighty Savior, born of the house of his servant David. Through His prophets He promised of old that He would save us from our enemies, from the hands of all who hate us. He promised to show mercy to our fathers and to remember His holy covenant  This was the oath He swore to our father Abraham: to set us free from the hand of our enemies, free to worship Him without fear, holy and righteous in His Sight all the days of our life.  You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare His way, to give His people knowledge of salvation by the forgiveness of their sins. In the tender compassion of our God the dawn from on high shall break upon us, to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, and to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

Bishop Sheen quote of the day

2) Hero of the Year – We are now down to the final four: FBI whistleblower Marcus Allen, Cardinal Raymond Burke, Kansas City Chiefs kicker, Harrison Butker, and Vice President-elect, JD Vance, and another true Catholic hero NOT being considered, Bishop Joseph Strickland – Who will be CatholicVote’s 2024 Hero of the Year? You decide! VOTE NOW 3) Pope Benedict XV called for a Christmas truce during WWI http://www.churchpop.com/2014/12/25/pope-christmas-truce/ 4) The candy cane’s secret: Unveiling the Christian meaning behind this ancient Christmas treat https://www.churchpop.com/the-candy-canes-secret-unveiling-the-christian-meaning-behind-the-ancient-christmas-treat/

Today’s Topics:

1, 2, 3, 4) Father Charles Murr joins Terry

Gospel – Lk 1:57-66 – When the time arrived for Elizabeth to have her child she gave birth to a son. Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy toward her, and they rejoiced with her. When they came on the eighth day to circumcise the child, they were going to call him Zechariah after his father, but his mother said in reply, “No. He will be called John.” But they answered her, “There is no one among your relatives who has this name.” So they made signs, asking his father what he wished him to be called. He asked for a tablet and wrote, “John is his name,” and all were amazed. Immediately his mouth was opened, his tongue freed, and he spoke blessing God. Then fear came upon all their neighbors, and all these matters were discussed throughout the hill country of Judea. All who heard these things took them to heart, saying, “What, then, will this child be? For surely the hand of the Lord was with him.”

Memorial of Saint John of Kanty, Priest
Saint John, pray for us!

Bishop Sheen quote of the day

Today’s Topics:

1) Gospel – Lk 1:5-25 – In the days of Herod, King of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah of the priestly division of Abijah; his wife was from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. Both were righteous in the eyes of God, observing all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blamelessly. But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren and both were advanced in years.

Once when he was serving as priest in his division’s turn before God, according to the practice of the priestly service, he was chosen by lot to enter the sanctuary of the Lord to burn incense. Then, when the whole assembly of the people was praying outside at the hour of the incense offering, the angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right of the altar of incense. Zechariah was troubled by what he saw, and fear came upon him.

But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall name him John. And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He will drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb, and he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. He will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah to turn the hearts of fathers toward children and the disobedient to the understanding of the righteous, to prepare a people fit for the Lord.”

Then Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.” And the angel said to him in reply, “I am Gabriel, who stand before God. I was sent to speak to you and to announce to you this good news. But now you will be speechless and unable to talk until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled at their proper time.” Meanwhile the people were waiting for Zechariah and were amazed that he stayed so long in the sanctuary. But when he came out, he was unable to speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary. He was gesturing to them but remained mute. Then, when his days of ministry were completed, he went home.

After this time his wife Elizabeth conceived, and she went into seclusion for five months, saying, “So has the Lord done for me at a time when he has seen fit to take away my disgrace before others.”

Bishop Sheen quote of the day

2, 3, 4) Cardinal Müller: “A Church that no longer believes in Jesus the Christ is no longer the Church of Jesus Christ”
https://www.lifesitenews.com/blogs/cardinal-muller-a-church-that-no-longer-believes-in-jesus-the-christ-is-no-longer-his-church/

Today’s Topics:

1) Gospel – Mt 1:18-25 – This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about. When His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found with Child through the Holy Spirit. Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man, yet unwilling to expose her to shame, decided to divorce her quietly. Such was his intention when, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the Holy Spirit that this Child has been conceived in her. She will bear a Son and you are to name Him Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet:

Behold, the virgin shall be with Child and bear a Son, and they shall name Him Emmanuel, which means “God is with us.” When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his wife into his home. He had no relations with her until she bore a Son, and he named Him Jesus.

Bishop Sheen quote of the day

2, 3, 4) Cardinal Müller: “A Church that no longer believes in Jesus the Christ is no longer the Church of Jesus Christ” https://www.lifesitenews.com/blogs/cardinal-muller-a-church-that-no-longer-believes-in-jesus-the-christ-is-no-longer-his-church/

Today’s Topics:

1) Gospel – Mt 1:1-17 – The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham.

Abraham became the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers.  Judah became the father of Perez and Zerah, whose mother was Tamar.  Perez became the father of Hezron, Hezron the father of Ram, Ram the father of Amminadab.  Amminadab became the father of Nahshon, Nahshon the father of Salmon, Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab.  Boaz became the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth.  Obed became the father of Jesse, Jesse the father of David the king.

David became the father of Solomon, whose mother had been the wife of Uriah.  Solomon became the father of Rehoboam, Rehoboam the father of Abijah, Abijah the father of Asaph.  Asaph became the father of Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, Joram the father of Uzziah.  Uzziah became the father of Jotham, Jotham the father of Ahaz, Ahaz the father of Hezekiah.  Hezekiah became the father of Manasseh, Manasseh the father of Amos, Amos the father of Josiah. Josiah became the father of Jechoniah and his brothers at the time of the Babylonian exile.

After the Babylonian exile, Jechoniah became the father of Shealtiel, Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel, Zerubbabel the father of Abiud.  Abiud became the father of Eliakim, Eliakim the father of Azor, Azor the father of Zadok.  Zadok became the father of Achim, Achim the father of Eliud, Eliud the father of Eleazar.  Eleazar became the father of Matthan, Matthan the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary.  Of her was born Jesus who is called the Christ.

Thus the total number of generations from Abraham to David is fourteen generations; from David to the Babylonian exile, fourteen generations; from the Babylonian exile to the Christ, fourteen generations.

Bishop Sheen quote of the day

2, 3, 4) Cardinal Müller: “A Church that no longer believes in Jesus the Christ is no longer the Church of Jesus Christ” https://www.lifesitenews.com/blogs/cardinal-muller-a-church-that-no-longer-believes-in-jesus-the-christ-is-no-longer-his-church/

Today’s Topics:

1, 2, 3, 4) Father Charles Murr joins Terry

Gospel – Mt 21:23-27 – When Jesus had come into the temple area, the chief priests and the elders of the people approached Him as He was teaching and said, “By what authority are You doing these things?  And who gave You this authority?”  Jesus said to them in reply, “I shall ask you one question, and if you answer it for Me, then I shall tell you by what authority I do these things.  Where was John’s baptism from? Was it of heavenly or of human origin?”  They discussed this among themselves and said, “If we say ‘Of heavenly origin,’ He will say to us, ‘Then why did you not believe him?’  But if we say, ‘Of human origin,’ we fear the crowd, for they all regard John as a prophet.”  So they said to Jesus in reply, “We do not know.”  He Himself said to them, “Neither shall I tell you by what authority I do these things.”

Bishop Sheen quote of the day

Today’s Topics:

1) Gospel – Mt 11:16-19 – Jesus said to the crowds: “To what shall I compare this generation? It is like children who sit in marketplaces and call to one another, ‘We played the flute for you, but you did not dance, we sang a dirge but you did not mourn.’ For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they said, ‘He is possessed by a demon.’ The Son of Man came eating and drinking and they said, ‘Look, He is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ But wisdom is vindicated by her works.”

Memorial of Saint Lucy, Virgin and Martyr
Saint Lucy, pray for us!

Bishop Sheen quote of the day

2) AI chatbots are causing a disconnect from reality https://www.tfp.org/ai-chatbots-are-causing-a-disconnect-from-reality/ 3) Syrian Archbishop: “This is the end of the great history of Christians in Aleppo” https://catholicvote.org/syrian-archbishop-this-is-the-end-of-the-great-history-of-christians-in-aleppo/ 4) The importance of evangelization, and how to do it

Today’s Topics:

1) Gospel – Lk 1:39-47 – Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice and said, “Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.”

And Mary said: “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.”Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe
Our Lady of Guadalupe, pray for us!

Bishop Sheen quote of the day

2) Young men converting to Orthodox Christianity, but, this story is complex https://religionunplugged.com/news/crossroads-podcast-why-young-men-are-joining-masculine-orthodox-christianity 3) Notre Dame: Where all unite around Our Lady https://www.tfp.org/notre-dame-where-all-unite-around-our-lady/ 4) Why Christian chivalry still lives: A review of the maxims of Christian chivalry https://www.tfp.org/why-christian-chivalry-still-lives-a-review-of-the-maxims-of-christian-chivalry-by-kenelm-digby/

Today's Topics: 1) Gospel - Mt 11:28-30 - Jesus said to the crowds: "Come to Me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For My yoke is easy, and My burden light." Memorial of Saint Damasus I, Pope Saint Damasus, pray for us! Bishop Sheen quote of the day 2) US lawmakers back Covid/Chinese lab-leak theory after 2-year probe https://www.newsmax.com/politics/covid-china-wuhan/2024/12/03/id/1190144/ 3) How miracles and faith will help us persevere through these dark times https://www.tfp.org/prince-bertrand-how-miracles-and-faith-will-help-us-persevere-through-these-dark-times 4) Our Lady’s birth and the triumph of her reign