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On the 8th day of Christmas, my true love gave to me... Everyone is familiar with this carol. And although by December 26th some people have already thrown their Christmas tree to the curb and taken down their Christmas decorations, there are the reminders that “Remember, Christmas is not just one day.”
Catholics recognize that Christmas is not only on December 25. The secular carol reminds us there are twelve days of Christmas to January 6, the Epiphany. But the Church’s liturgy actually emphasizes the eight days or octave of Christmas. The Church recognizes that the days of the Christmas Octave are repeating the solemnness of Christmas for eight days, concluding on a high note with another solemnity that echoes the solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord.
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December 25 - Roman Sangemino
December 26 - Johnny Vanier
December 27 - Mikaela Young
December 28 - Jocelyn Adams
December 29 - Pete Danho
December 30 - Michael Altenhof
December 31 - Nate Mastronardi
January 1 - Lilli Greff
Bonus Winner's Circle - Nate Mastronardi
Bonus Looser's Circle - Brooke Beaumont
O Jesus, you became a little child for us, having been born of the Virgin Mary, wrapped in swaddling clothes, and laid in a manger, give us the grace to imitate your humility, purity, patience, and charity, so that we may become more pleasing to you. Jesus, be my love!
St. Stephen, first martyrs to shed his blood for Christ, and who pleaded with our Lord for the forgiveness of your persecutors, obtain for us the grace to imitate you and to learn to love our enemies. St. Stephen, pray for us!
St. John, beloved Apostle of Christ, obtain for us a great love for Jesus, a tender devotion to Mary, and courage to remain steadfast in all trials and sufferings of body, mind, and soul. St. John, pray for us!
Holy Innocent Children, in which Herod the Great, king of Judea, orders the execution of all male children two years old and under in the vicinity of Bethlehem. You gave your lives for the Child Jesus. Obtain for us the grace to profess our faith not only with our tongue, but mostly by our lives and through our actions, so that like you we may give praise and glory to God. All you Holy Innocents, pray for us!
St. Thomas, who fell victim to the sword of the wicked in the defense of the Church, obtain for us the grace always to defend the divine rights of the Church and never to be ashamed of our faith. St. Thomas, pray for us!
Grant, we ask, Almighty God, that as the Saviour of the world, who was born on Christmas day, may Himself be to us the giver of immortality. Jesus, be my love!
St. Sylvester, Pope and Confessor, under whose pontificate the Church began to enjoy the great blessing of freedom; obtain for us a great love and devotion to the Divinity of Christ which you defended so eagerly. St. Sylvester, pray for us!
O God, who by the fruitful virginity of the Blessed Virgin Mary has given humanity the reward of eternal salvation; grant, we implore you, that we may experience her intercession for us, through whom we have been made worthy to receive the author of life, Jesus Christ Thy Son our Lord, Who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen.