Monday, December 26, 2011
The Visit of the Shepherds
Dear Friends,
When the angels went away from them to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go, then, to Bethlehem to see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” So they went in haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known the message that had been told them about this child. All who heard it were amazed by what had been told them by the shepherds. And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart. Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, just as it had been told to them. (Passage from the Gospel of St. Luke 2:15-20)
The Great Feast of Christmas is passed but the season of Christmas will last until the coming of the Magi in January. The Church also celebrates the Octave of Christmas, which will end on January 1, 2012. The Octave means that it is Christmas all this week.
I wish to thank all those who sent me Christmas cards and I thank those who put money in their cards. I am always short of money to pay the electricity and heating for the little Shrine of Our Lady of Prince Edward Island. It costs more than $500 dollars just to pay the heating for one month. I thank you again for all the help you have given me. Lastly I wish to mention that I still have the Book of Remembrance and a good number of people sent names during the last weeks. I offer two Masses a week for a full year for all those written in the book. It only costs $15.00 to have one of your loved one entered in this book.
(Below you will find the message of Our Lord and Redeemer given to Father Melvin. Jesus spoke to him these words:)
“I bless you all who celebrated My great Feast yesterday. Many churches were filled Christmas Eve for the wonderful celebration and many came to Mass the following morning.
I wish to remind you all that the special grace of awakening has gone out to the world and it will touch many, many people in the months to come. Please pray that the people will open their hearts to this great gift and be converted so they can come and follow Me. It will also touch those who have faith in Me so that they be renewed totally. I bless you all.”
Father Melvin