Pilgrim Year of Preparation- December 2018

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2 - Advent Begins

Hanukkah Begins

Pray for our Jewish brothers and sisters

3 – Feast of St. Francis Xavier, S.J.

One of the patrons of WYD Madrid (2011) and patron of missionaries and foreign missions

7 – Pearl Harbor Day

Commemorating the lives lost when the United States was drawn into World War II in 1941; on this day, pray for harmony among all nations.

8 – Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception

Patronal Feast Day of the United States of America, celebrating Mary’s conception free from original sin.

9 – Feast of St. Juan Diego

Received the vision of Our Lady of Guadalupe; patron of WYD Panama (2019) and indigenous peoples; beatified (1990) and canonized (2002) by St. John Paul II.

12 – Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe

Patroness of the Americas, celebrating the extraordinary vision of the Blessed Virgin Mary given to St. Juan Diego in 1531 in Mexico.

16 – Gaudete Sunday

Third Sunday of Advent; the rose candle is lit as a sign of joyful expectation of Christ’s coming.

17– Pope Francis' Birthday

Wish our Holy Father a happy birthday with your prayers.

20 – St. John Paul II institutes World Youth Day

On this day in 1985, in an address to the College of Cardinals in Rome, St. John Paul II reflected on the recent gatherings of young people (on Palm Sunday in 1984 and 1985) and declared: “The Lord blessed those meetings in an extraordinary way so that, for years to come, we shall establish a World Youth Day…”

24 – Christmas Eve

Pray for the coming of Christ into the world.

25 – Christmas Day

Merry Christmas! Celebrate Christ’s birth with great joy today. “For a child is born to us, a son is given to us; upon his shoulder dominion rests. They name him Wonder-Counselor, God-Hero, Father-Forever, Prince of Peace” (Is. 9:5) 

Anniversary of Pope Francis' Baptism

Read some of His Holiness' thoughts on his baptism, as well as the priest that baptized him.

26 – Feast of St. Stephen

First martyr for the faith (Acts 7) and patron of deacons; in the Greek Orthodox tradition, St. Stephen is the patron saint for young adults.

27 – Feast of the Holy Family

Celebrating the Holy Family of Mary, Joseph, and Jesus of Nazareth; pray for your family today, and for all families around the world.

31 – New Year’s Eve

On this day, pray in thanksgiving for all that God has given to you in 2018, and pray for openness to what the Lord has in store for 2019. We pray also for all pilgrims celebrating World Youth Day next month stateside or those en route to Panama.