LET US PRAY
“In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit”
O God, come to my assistance;
O Lord, make haste to help me.
(Psalm 69)
CLICK ON THE RECORDING ABOVE TO LISTEN TO PSALM 146
1 Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord, my soul.
2 I will praise the Lord all my life;
I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.
3 Do not put your trust in princes,
in human beings, who cannot save.
4 When their spirit departs, they return to the ground;
on that very day their plans come to nothing.
5 Blessed are those whose help is the God of Jacob,
whose hope is in the Lord their God.
6 He is the Maker of heaven and earth,
the sea, and everything in them—
he remains faithful forever.
7 He upholds the cause of the oppressed
and gives food to the hungry.
The Lord sets prisoners free,
8 the Lord gives sight to the blind,
the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down,
the Lord loves the righteous.
9 The Lord watches over the foreigner
and sustains the fatherless and the widow,
but he frustrates the ways of the wicked.
10 The Lord reigns forever,
your God, O Zion, for all generations.
Praise the Lord.
DAY ONE: A PREFACE TO THIS CONSECRATION JOURNEY
REFLECTION
“WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO PRAISE THE LORD?”
“For the Lord is great, and greatly to be praised”
(Psalm 96).
According to Bishop Barron, who’s birthday is today, Nov. 19, 2024:
“The danger in contemporary secularism makes us forget about prayer, the Mass, the Saints, the Sacraments and we wonder why we are so afraid. Why are our lives so chaotic? We let the Christ in us fall asleep! [When] we wake up Christ, [we] recover the Spiritual life in all of its’ richness.”
(Bishop Barron on the Spiritual Life from his online Sunday Sermons on YouTube)
MUSING II: “O COME ALL YE FAITHFUL, JOYFUL AND TRIUMPHANT”
RECOVERING “PRAISE”
AS WE ENTER JUBILEE 2025
ON RENEWING ADORATION THIS CHRISTMAS
As we approach the opening of the Jubilee 2025 doors on December 24, 2024 by His Holiness, Pope Francis, we invite all who visit this Christmas Countdown Novena, an opportunity to take more time the next 12 Days to revisit concrete ways of approaching how better to praise & adore God, who comes to us as “Emmanuel”: the baby Jesus, Prince of Peace.
A CONSECRATION “WARM-UP”
CREATIVE VISUAL MEDITATION
“OH COME, ALL YE FAITHFUL. JOYFUL AND TRIUMPHANT.
OH COME, YE, OH COME YE TO BETHLEHEM”
DIORAMA: Below is a replica of the St. Francis Nativity scene from 800 years ago.
Take out your Rosary beads and take a moment to pray the 3rd Joyful Mystery … thinking about the Holy Family before this empty stable as they walk toward it from Nazareth.1 Imagine St. Joseph and Our Lady. Imagine Jesus waiting for His crib before He enters the world. What are the Shepherds doing? If they had a GPS and a cell phone, where would the 3 Wise Men be at this point in the greatest story ever told?
RHP Creative Writing Challenge:
“Write about the world before the birth of the baby Jesus.”
IMAGINED BY TRAVESSA DA SENRA HOUSE PRESS, PORTO, PORTUGAL
MUSING III: REDISCOVER THE GOOD NEWS THIS CHRISTMAS
“COME AND BEHOLD HIM, BORN THE KING OF ANGELS”
What is the Good News of our times?
When Dr. Blythe Kaufman called a few weeks ago, she reminded us that she will celebrate her 10th year of the Patiently Waiting campaign, in which she asks children and families to create a sign to post on their window that says “Patiently Waiting” during advent.
She then asks that on Christmas Day, all the children write on a new sign:
Christ is born.
Have you watched our vintage RHP video about that initiative? Take a moment to listen to Amelia (8 years old in this video) and Blythe from 2022 in which she talks about the Radio Maria USA, Christmas Cards; then Blythe interviews Amelia about her interest in being part of this “patiently waiting” initiative. Listen to her response.
TOPIC FOR PARENTS AND CHILDREN BEFORE BED:
Q1: “What changes in our hearts when the baby Jesus is placed in the manger?”
Q2: How does that moment in history resonate in your heart, and how can you bring that image of the Holy Family to your imagination in your home with even more vividness this Christmas?
Write your answers in your Christmas Countdown journal. Or, share here.
MUSING IV: BACK TO THE CONSECRATION CAMINO
“Oh come let us adore Him.
Oh come let us adore Him.
Oh come let us adore Him.
Christ the Lord.”
Song of praise #1 for Christmas Day can now be practiced with others.
“O Come All Ye Faithful”
Wikipedia notes that: “In 1841, the English Catholic priest Frederick Oakeley translated the hymn into English as "O Come All Ye Faithful", which became widespread in English-speaking countries.”
See the professional recording by Frank Sinatra
Finally, listen to the Latin version of this song here:
APPENDIX | OPTIONAL EXTENDED LEARNING ON THE PSALMS
101 - A DEFINITION OF “PRAISE”
WHAT IS PRAISE?
According to the Oxford English Dictionary, “praise” is a verb that means to “express one's respect and gratitude toward (a deity), especially in song”. For example: “we praise God for past blessings”.
The word “praise” is derived from Middle English (also in the sense ‘set a price on, attach value to’): from Old French preisier ‘to prize, praise’, from late Latin pretiare, from Latin pretium ‘price’.
Synonyms of the word include the following list. How many can you define by heart? We added “Glorify” and will fill in the blanks shortly.
worship -
glorify - acknowledge and reveal the majesty and splendour of (God) by one's actions:
honor
exalt
adore
pay tribute to
pay homage to
give thanks to
venerate
reverence
hallow
bless;
archaic magnify;
rare laud.
What is our Christmas Countdown Goal? — How “To Rediscover Praise”!
Our little thought experiment we hope will help you approach the “why” of this Christmas Countdown Novena and Consecration Journey.
Among many other goals that might be discussed in the chat, is this need to position our hearts so they might “rightly” praise God as we approach Christmas and enter into the Jubilee 2025 year on December 24, 2024.
How can we show God right praise?
This is the question Bishop Barron often asks in his videos.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY BISHOP BARRON | THE CATHOLICISM SERIES
As an idea, and since today is Bishop Barron’s birthday, why not take a moment to study the first 4-5 minutes of this video (if not watch all of it):
Amelia: I watched this video many times when I was five and six years old. I love this episode. Sometimes I couldn’t go to sleep without watching this video. I would sneak it under the pillow, and it helped me understand more about the life of Jesus. Also, I thought Bishop Barron was so funny, so I started to watch his daily Mass from March 2020 to Pentecost.
THIS CHRISTMAS: Godparents can help Godchildren to rediscover the beauty of their Catholic Faith through music, video, or the elements of the Holy Mass. They can also help by knowing these things intimately themselves and as instructed by 1 Peter 13-16:
Do not fear what they fear, and do not be intimidated, 15
but in your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord.
Always be ready to make your defence to anyone
who demands from you an account of the hope that is in you; 16
yet do it with gentleness and reverence.
Keep your conscience clear, so that,
when you are maligned, those who abuse you for
your good conduct in Christ may be put to shame.
Many of us know people who only go to Christmas Mass, the only Mass of the year for nostalgic reasons, and while this is a great start, it is a reality that in their hearts, there is no longer room for Christ to dwell in their hearts for the rest of the year. Why? Fr. Anthony has often taught us that when we see the complexity of hearts, known only to God who knows what is in their hearts, it is best to turn to ourselves and pray.
Many of us will be presented with souls who require an even greater understanding of the Truth of the Faith. Watch the following video by Hyperdulia Media to hear a story of how testimony can be transformative -- allowing you to share the hope in you and answer "why" you might go to Mass at all. REVISITING PRAISE IN THE HOLY SACRIFICE OF THE MASS
SINGING THE GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
“ALLELUIA”
Let’s try singing praise to God with the Gospel Acclamation for Friday, as an example. Sing along with the CANTOR PRACTICE video and learn the melody when we sing praise to God: “Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia”.
Do you sing the Alleluia at the Mass? or do you shy away from singing it?
If you do, this Christmas, we challenge you to learn the Alleluia and try to sing it after the Pastor / choir with all your heart.
To sing from the heart gives praise and glory to God.
From where in the Gospel does the “Gloria” come?
Again, learn the “Hosanna in the Highest” and sing with your children, your Godchildren, and teach them the elements of the Mass.
FÁTIMA AND THE ANGELIC HOSTS:
“My God, I believe, I adore, I hope and I love thee.”
When The Angel of Portugal appeared in Valinhos in 1916 in a beautiful grove that can be visited to this day, 5 KM pilgrimage from the Cova da Iria in Fátima, the Angel taught this simple prayer of praise to the children, starting with this phrase:
“My God,
I believe,
I adore,
I hope and
I love thee.”
IN YOUR CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN PRAYER JOURNAL
reflect on the words above. How do these words demonstrate praise to God? Explain.
Listen to Padre Nuno and Fr. David Michael Moses teach the Meu Deus here:
BONUS MUSIC LESSON
So, let's take a moment to recap.
In your own words, how would you DEFINE the word "PRAISE"?
- What does it mean to you now that you have explored these various activities?
While we could come up with dissertations on this topic, let's start with a concrete form first to impact our action -- and to bring forth a concretization of the definition of praise in our lives this Christmas.
To end this post, for those who have the time to explore the importance of the theology of music at Christmas: we invite you to realize how we can praise God like the angels -- for as the Mystical Body of Christ we are a royal priesthood, a holy nation of praise that "lifts" our hearts to God.
Here is a 2024 Jubilee 2025 Challenge for the end of this Consecration Journey
- We invite you and your families to learn to sing a Christmas Carol in Latin by ear! Let's start with "Adeste, fidéles"BONUS MUSING
PRAISE GOD BY LEARNING TO SING
“Adéste, fidéles”
LEARN BY EAR WHEN YOU CLICK BELOW
Here are the words:
1. Adéste, fidéles, laéti, triumphántes:
Veníte, veníte in Béthleem:
Nátum vidéte Régem angelórum.
Veníte, adorémus. Veníte, adorémus.
Veníte, adorémus Dóminum.
OR
READ THE SCORE
DOWNLOAD A PDF SAMPLE BELOW
PRAISE GOD WITH SONG
STEP 1: BREAK UP THE SYLLABLES!
Since our podcast is read in 28 countries, we'll pick songs in Latin so anyone around the world can learn this music.
Singing in Latin is not impossible! Like any language, you must learn the syllabic segments, where to put the emphasis, and then the basic sound.
NOTE: We must remember that none of us will ever know how Latin sounded 2000 years ago, so if we can apply an English accent to most of the Latin, we are closer to pronouncing the words to give God praise. With YouTube and many online options, this task becomes as easy as taking the time to spend on the music. If you wanted to learn a pop song, you would do the same thing. You wouldn't know the words at first, but after multiple listens, your brain will pick up on the Latin words.
The Psalms were sung prayers and in many ways can be seen as a way of praying with the heart -- for to sing well is actually to pray with your heart.
(This truth is perhaps why we feel moved by a great performance -- there is something about listening to someone sing, not only with conviction, but with having internalized the music to make it expressive through their own voice.)
To pray with song has been lost in many ways in this performance culture that believes we must be professional musicians to sing at Mass. God doesn't need anything but Our Love, AND we can love Him by learning the music!
Like any art, time and practice will get us to a place where we can truly say, "He who sings well (to praise God) prays twice."
Learning any piece of music requires:
1) knowledge of the pitches of the notes (you must memorize the pitches, and there is no way around this)
2) knowledge of the rhythm of the notes (the length of time you hold the notes).
This is harder because many people will begin at a tempo (below the quarter note is set to 90) but then it is easy to slow down.
No problem. Grab this handy metronome which will allow you to practice singing at the same rhythm after you have learned the notes first. https://www.metronomeonline.com/
WHY STUDY THE MUSIC BEFORE MASS?
No musician, even ones who are advanced, practices a song from beginning to end perfectly.
Professional Musicians study the music, looking at the arc of the phrases, the structure of the composition as a whole, and learning the sentences piece by piece. Many professionals also who record have a sound engineer change the pitches (not everyone sings perfectly in pitch) and we know that many singers in real time actually struggle to sing. Thus, with that in mind, we all can battle the Spirit of the World by becoming children of God who can SING HIS PRAISES like the angels.
Below is the rest of the score for "Adeste Fideles": 
BELOW IS THE CONSECRATION POSTER FROM 2023
This year we have simplified the prayers for the first 12 days
NIGHT PRAYER
STEP 1:
Pray the De Profundis for the Rest of November. See the De Profundis post for Day 2
STEP 2: INVOKE THE HOLY SPIRIT
Sing praise to God by invoking the Holy Spirit every day of this Consecration Journey
“Veni Creátor Spíritus”
STEP 3: PRAY THE HOLY ROSARY EVERY DAY of the CONSECRATION
Our Lady said:
“I want the devotees of my Rosary to have the grace and blessing of my Son during their life, at their death, and after their death, and that they be freed from all kinds of slavery and that they be kings, that they have the crown on their heads, the sceptre in their hands and eternal glory.” (40th Rose, St. Louis Marie de Montfort)
BEGINNER: 
STEP 1: PRAY THE PENDANT PRAYERS OF THE ROSARY2
“The Meu Deus” & “Sanctissima Trindade”
“Come Holy Spirit”
“The Apostles’ Creed”
1 Our Father
3 Hail Marys for the Theological Virtues of Faith, Hope and Love
1 Glory Be
(Add the Miraculous Medal prayer and Fátima Prayer if desired.)
STEP 2: READ THE MEDITATION for the MYSTERIES
HAVE YOU EVER TAUGHT ANYONE YOU KNOW HOW TO PRAY A DECADE OF THE ROSARY?
IF you have never prayed the Rosary before, you can learn the decade Rosary with Fr. Peter Turrone, IMC, Pastor at Holy Rosary Parish in Toronto, Canada.
In this video, Fr. Peter walks you through all the prayers of the Rosary as prayed on Radio Maria USA by Amelia who joins him in this prayer lesson."PRAY THE DECADE"
READ THE SCRIPTURAL MEDITATION
- Our Father
- 10 Hail Marys
- Glory Be
- Miraculous Medal Prayer
- Fátima PrayerIf you have mastered the prayer format, you can use the second video to pray along and insert your own intentions:ADVANCED: After Day 12, we invite you to PRAY 5 DECADES OF THE ROSARY; if you already pray the Rosary every day, please continue to PRAY 5 DECADES and if possible pray in CHORUS with others and/or start a public rosary.
- PENDANT PRAYERS + DECADE PRAYERS w/ MEDITATIONS ON SCRIPTURE (SEE BELOW AS EXAMPLE)
CONCLUDING PRAYERS (See Fr. Peter's video above)COMING SOON: THE LUMINOUS MYSTERIES
Link to the 1st Decade of the Luminous Mysteries on YouTube on 21 November 2024 with FR. DAVID MICHAEL MOSES
Subscribe here to follow new posts for this Consecration Journey:
FOOTNOTES
Need help? Well, why not transport yourself to the ancient world in which some scholars argue mirrored the sentiment in the tragedies of ancient Greece, i.e., identifying a sense of hopelessness in the world, especially as depicted below on the left side of the painting of “the Annunciation” painted by Blessed Fra Angelico.
Now, look at the bright painting of Our Lady with the Angel Gabriel and pray the Avé Maria: “Hail, Full of Grace, the Lord is with thee”. Now, contrast that image with the Philosopher With Macedonia and Persia (Courtesy of Museo Civico Archeologico di Bologna) by a painter in Pompeii and what is this conversation all about? Is there hope in the world at this time? What can Pompeii look forward to in 79 AD? Could the people in this picture imagine what would happen there? Or could they imagine the Cathedral to the Rosary built by Blessed Bartolo Longo and the hope that the Rosary would bring to this part of the world after the tragic eruption?
LED BY AMELIA & FR. DAVID MICHAEL MOSES, FOUNDER OF PILGRIM ROSARY
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