In the Beginning In the advent of crossword puzzles, the first one ever in print

appeared on the last Sunday of Advent in 1913. With Christmas in mind, the editor of the New York World’s “Fun” section wanted to give readers something new.

Crossword clues can inform or befuddle. The Gospel of John proclaims that “In the beginning was the Word…and the Word was God.” When the Word became flesh, people had a lot more to puzzle out.

Crosswords often have a central theme. Some play around with categories, such as things that come in three’s, for instance. Biblical Pharisees proved clueless when it came to the threefold connection of Baptism, water, and the Holy Spirit. During December, a single passage from the Gospel of Luke gets repeated at three Masses, like the same crossword clue appearing repeatedly so that we have to think about it more broadly.

In the repeated Gospel reading, the angel Gabriel appears to Mary, announcing that God has chosen her to become the Mother of Jesus. As we celebrate the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary (December 8), the angel proclaims that Mary had already found favor with God. She was conceived without Original sin. The Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe (December 12) commemorates a series of Marian apparitions to Saint Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin and the miraculous imprint of Mary’s image on his cloak. The angel Gabriel’s assurance that nothing is impossible for God stands out.

On the Fourth Sunday of Advent (December 20), we realize that the greeting “Hail, full of grace!” went well beyond a simple “Hello!” A humble virgin could only puzzle over what the angel’s greeting meant. Mary listened and then went back to square one, asking how she could give birth absent intimacy with a man. Assured of the power of the Holy Spirit, she answered, “May it be done to me according to your word.”

One crossword puzzle on an Advent Sunday became the start of something big. Even bigger, across the miles coast to coast, up and down, your Advent gift to Heart of the Nation will spread the Word of God.

Faith As Close As Your TV

Monthly Bulletin December 2020

Fr. Mark PayneChaplain

New! TV MassesBirmingham, AL

WBMA ch. 58 (ABC) 6:00 a.m.

Charlotte, NC WCCB ch. 18 (CW)

7:00 a.m.Fresno, CA

KFRE ch. 59.1 (CW) 7:00 a.m.

Paducah, KY /Cape Girardeau, MO WDKA ch. 49 (My49)

9:00 a.m.Portland, OR(New Time)

KRCW ch. 32 (CW) 7:30 a.m.

Holy Day Masses Mass will be online all day at

www.HeartoftheNation.org onDec. 8 (Immaculate Conception),Dec. 25 (Christmas), andJan. 1, 2021 (Mary, the Holy Mother of God).

CHRISTMAS TV MASSESLos Angeles: KDOC ch. 56 at 9 a.m.

Other Christmas TV Masseswill be announced by e-mail and listed at www.HeartoftheNation.org.

Advent offers a blessed time for spiritual restoration as we prepare to celebrate Christmas once again. In an Advent Gospel reading, John the Baptist proclaims a baptism of repentance—an invitation to get ready to welcome the Lord anew.

In the old painting, John stands under guard with his hands folded in prayer and his eyes gazing heavenward. He had proclaimed the One who existed before and became visible in time, like the hidden Nativity picture later revealed.

Baptism enables us to start with a spiritually clean canvas and a palette of graces. Our Savior sees the vibrancy in us. He values and blesses us with faith to color what we say and do. Sin adds a layer that might

seem glossy at first but discolors the masterpieces that God intends us to be.

Despite the varnish, paint had flaked from a valuable piece of art. Woodworm had weakened slats used to mount the artist’s canvas, yet it seemed that more was behind a loss of paint that had once adhered beautifully. At times, we weaken and fail to adhere to our faith.

As a step toward art

restoration, an x-ray revealed what lay beneath paint and darkened varnish. A sketch shows a stable and Jesus in a manger. Other figures appear to be an angel kneeling and wisemen bearing gifts.

White metallic paint used to renew the canvas likely covered the sketched lines, making them visible on the x-ray along with halos of gold. Advent invites renewal as we picture our true, unvarnished selves and God’s plan for our salvation.

No signature appears on the centuries-old painting, and the artist remains humbly unknown. During Advent, we treasure the humility of our Savior and seek to frame our lives in His likeness.

Fr. Tony ScannellChaplain

In this season of sending joyful greetings in cards and letters, Scripture tells of the Old Testament prophet Isaiah, sent by God “to bring glad tidings to the poor, to heal the brokenhearted” (Isaiah 61).

Isaiah previously had a vision of the Lord wondering whom to send as a messenger. “Here I am,” Isaiah responded. “Send me!” With that, Isaiah pledged to help.

Your gift or pledge during the Season of Sharing fund drive will bring glad tidings to viewers of Heart of the Nation’s Sunday Mass and recipients of free Catholic publications. “Please send an Advent offering if you can,” said Fr. Mark Payne, chaplain. “In this holy season, your generosity will share the Lord’s love.”

Unveiling an Advent PictureBeneath the yellowed varnish lay vibrant colors in a Medieval painting of John

the Baptist. Beneath the painting lay another picture altogether. What began as restoration of a 400-year-old masterpiece led to the discovery of a Nativity scene hidden underneath and inlaid with gold. Announcement of the exciting discovery came just before Christmas last year.

“Thank you for

inspiring me to be

interested in church

again. The priests

are exceptional, and

I learn something

every Sunday.”~Julia

“Today was the

second time I

attended online Mass.

I cannot tell you how

thankful I am to have

found you!”~Mary

“Your Sunday Mass

has been a great

source of comfort.

We look forward

to participating in

the broadcast every

week.”~Blake

An Advent PrayerLord, our Savior,

In this time of preparation, I come to You in prayer For hope renewed in the light Of love You came to share.

Though this season’s in a world Unlike I knew before, I trust that You will answer With compassion outpoured.

On this Advent journey Toward celebration of Your birth, May I find through faith in You The gift of peace on Earth.

Amen.

An Advent Image Miraculously, an image of Mary appeared on the cloak of

a 16th-century Aztec peasant. The portrait on his garment followed a series of apparitions to Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin, a convert to Catholicism.

In the first apparition, Mary said that she wanted a chapel built on the hill in Mexico where Juan Diego saw her. Unable to convince the local bishop, Juan Diego asked the Virgin to send someone illustrious. She sent him to try again. Next, the bishop wanted a sign. Rather than returning to the hill with that latest report, Juan Diego went in search of a priest to minister to a very sick uncle. Mary met Juan Diego on the way.

“Listen and understand….Is it not I, your Mother, who is here?”

(Mary to Saint Juan Diego, quoted in the Catholic Liturgy of the Hours)

Assuring him that his uncle had recovered, Mary told Juan Diego to gather flowers on the hill. There, he found roses of a type unknown in Mexico but miraculously growing in the winter ground. When Juan Diego let the roses that he had carried in his cloak fall at the feet of the bishop, an image of Mary became visible on the peasant’s attire.

Mary also appeared to Juan Diego’s uncle and may have described herself in the Aztec language as crushing the serpent. The phrase sounded like Guadalupe. For centuries, the unfaded image of Our Lady of Guadalupe has endured on the organic fabric of a cloak not expected to last one tenth that long. The expectant Mother stands in front of the sun and upon the moon. Close examination has revealed that the stars on her blue mantle aligned with those in the sky. Reflections in her eyes show witnesses to the image’s appearance.

Catholics celebrate the Memorial of Saint Juan Diego on December 9, the date of the first apparition to him. The Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, on December 12, recalls the expectant Mother’s love, the awaited birth of our Savior, and the hope that the Nativity of the Lord continues to bring into the world.

Vessel for the Word Made FleshFrom the moment of conception in her mother’s womb,

Mary’s soul remained free from Original sin. Pope Pius IX proclaimed the Immaculate Conception as an infallible teaching in the Catholic faith. Theologians sometimes call Mary the Ark of the New Covenant, a pure vessel that carried God within her.

The original ark, a storage chest, carried tablets inscribed with the Ten Commandments. That ancient ark disappeared in the Babylonian destruction of Jerusalem in 587 B.C., but Mary and the Lord she carried remain forever.

On Christmas EveHoly Child, I adore Thee, Newborn Savior to behold, From heaven, crossing Earth’s threshold, Born to bring hope to the world.

Holy Child, I exult in Thee, My heart gladdened that You came, Fulfilling joyous news proclaimed For all who call upon Your name.

Holy Child, I pray to Thee, Who on a glorious night Lay in humble yet wondrous sight Of shepherds shown heaven’s delight.

Holy Child, I give to Thee More than praise and gratitude, Joining with heaven’s multitude In overflowing love for You.

Amen.

With gratitude, Heart of the Nation welcomes new members to the Circle of the Heart monthly giving club. As a member, you will be included in prayers placed before the altar for every Sunday TV Mass. To join, please mark the box on your donation reply card, and indicate the amount of your pledge. (If you need to change or cancel your pledge, just contact Heart of the Nation.) Thank you!

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