Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Optional Memorial of St. Gertrude the Great - Vigil for All Nascent Life



O God, who prepared a delightful dwelling-place for yourself in the heart of the Virgin Saint Gertrude, graciously bring light, through her intercession, to the darkness of our hearts that we may joyfully experience you present and at work within us.  Through our Lord.

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St. Gertrude, virgin, was born on January 6, 1256 at Eisleben in Saxony. At the age of five, she was placed in the care of the Benedictine nuns at Rodalsdorf and later became a nun in the same monastery, of which she was elected Abbess in 1251. The following year she was obliged to take charge of the monastery at Helfta, to which she moved with her nuns.

St. Gertrude had enjoyed a good education. She wrote and composed in Latin, and was versed in Sacred Literature. The life of this saint, though not replete with stirring events and striking actions, was one of great mental activity.

It was the mystic life of the cloister, a life hidden with Christ in God. She was characterized by great devotion to the Sacred Humanity of Our Lord in His Passion and in the Blessed Eucharist, and by a tender love for the Blessed Virgin. She died in 1302.

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Solemn Vigil for All Nascent Human Life, 27 November 2010


To mark the beginning of Advent and preparations for Christmas, the Holy Father has invited all dioceses, parishes, religious communities, movements and associations throughout the world to join him in a Solemn Vigil for All Nascent Human Life.

This will be celebrated on first vespers for the First Sunday of Advent. The vigil is to thank God for the Incarnation of his Son and for the gift of Life, and to ask for the Lord's protection over every human being called into existence.

Pope Benedict XVI will celebrate the Vigil for All Nascent Human Life at Saint Peter's Basilica in Rome on the evening of November 27, 2010.

In the Ottawa Archdiocese, this prayer service will be held at Notre Dame Cathedral Basilica on Saturday evening, November 27 at 7PM.

All are invited and welcome to attend.






2 comments:

  1. Merci, Monseigneur, pour toute la peine que vous vous donnez de nous préparer ce "pain quotidien" si substantiel! Merci pour cette ouverture aux événements de notre Église, tant au plan diocésain qu'universel.

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  2. I also thank you Grace for these blogs. I find the information on the feast days very informative and useful for prayer and meditation. It is also useful to keep up with the diocesan church. I've become a daily reader

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