Dear Crusaders,

Advent is the beginning of the Church year. During Advent we think about Our Lord being born in the stable at Bethlehem. We prepare to celebrate His birth. We should have great desires that Christmas come soon. Uniting ourselves with the prophets and holy people of the early history of the world. We unite our prayers with theirs so that Our Lord will come.
 

The world was in darkness before Jesus was born. Not a physical darkness but a spiritual darkness. Very few people knew the true God. Most worshipped devils under various forms. The prophets tried to keep the minds of the Israelites on the true God and on the Messiah to come. Messiah is a Hebrew word. The Greek word is Christus. It means The Anointed One. You can see the similarity between the word Christ and the word Chrism. Chrism is the holy oil that you were anointed with after your baptism, and again at your Confirmation. Our Lord is the expected Messiah, the Anointed One. Priests, Kings and Prophets are especially anointed. Our Lord is King, he is prophet and he is priest. He is especially the Anointed One.
 

His coming at Bethlehem enabled Him to start the Catholic Church through which we have Mass and the Sacraments. These give us grace and enable Our Lord to come into our souls. His coming into our souls is the second coming of Our Lord Jesus Christ. He comes to all who receive Him and makes them Holy. To be holy is to be like God. Holiness prepares us for Our Lord’s third coming which will be at the end of the world. Then he will come to do justice to all men. Sinners who deserve the wrath of God and eternal punishment in Hell will be terrified at this coming. They will see that God is being merciful to them and not punishing them as much as they deserve. The Holy people will be given blessings from Our Lord. They will see that he is rewarding them more than they deserve. They will be very happy.
 

The only good way to prepare for the Third coming of Our Lord is to take part in the second coming. We must be determined to become holy. We must sacrifice everything that hinders us from being good. Anything that prevents us from loving God with our whole heart. Pray and do penance during Advent. You should try to make more sacrifices then usual this month. These will help you to have a holy and happy Christmas.
 

May God bless you,
Fr. MacDonald
 

The intention for December is The Sisters of Our Lady CoRedemptrix. Our beloved Sr. Marie Liesse who gives usgood advice in every Deus Vult is the superior of these sisters. Sr. Marie Joseph is her faithful helper. As we pray for them we should pray that many girls decide to join them. O Lord, give us many holy religious vocations.