December Feature:
God is With Us!
“Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and his name shall be called Emmanuel (which means, God with us)” [Matthew 1:23]
Why did He do it? Why did God become one of us? St. Athanasius gives a startling answer to that question: "For the Son of God became man so that we might become God." In other words, the transforming effect of God’s grace made available to us through Jesus Christ literally makes us more divine, more like God. Understanding this expands our understanding of salvation.
Jesus became one of us to save us from something, our sin, but also to save us for something, participating in divine life! What a gift!
FORMED Resources for December
See what is new on FORMED to help you Prepare the Way of the Lord.
December Recommendations for Parishioners:
Using FORMED with the Liturgical Calendar
4th: 2ND SUNDAY OF ADVENT
Program: Discipleship Group: Advent, Session 2: Trust in God8th: IMMACULATE CONCEPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY
Program: Symbolon: Knowing the Faith, Session 9: Mary and the Saints
Audio: Mary: Handmaid of the Lord
11th: 3RD SUNDAY OF ADVENT
Program: Discipleship Groups: Advent, Session 3: Watch & Pray
12th: OUR LADY OF GUADELUPE
Program: Catholicism, Session 4: Our Tainted Nature’s Solitary Boast
Programa: Catolicismo, Sesión 4: La Solitaria Presunción de Nuestra Naturaleza Caída
Movie: Guadalupe: The Miracle and Message
Película: Guadalupe: El Milagro ye el Mensaje
14th: ST. JOHN OF THE CROSS
Book: Deep Conversion, Deep Prayer
18th: 4TH SUNDAY OF ADVENT
Program: Discipleship Group: Advent, Session 4: The Gift
25th: SOLEMNITY OF THE NATIVITY OF THE LORD (CHRISTMAS)
Program: Catholicism, Session 1: Amazed and Afraid
Movie: The Story of the Nativity
Audio: The True Meaning of Christmas
27th: ST. JOHN THE APOSTLE
Program: Catholicism, Session 2: Happy are We
Programa: Catolicismo, Sesión 2: Somos Bienaventurados
Audio: Searching the Scriptures: The Gospel of John
28th: FEAST OF THE HOLY INNOCENTS
Program: Catholicism, Session 6: A Body Both Suffering and Glorious
Programa: Catolicismo, Sesión 6: Un Cuerpo Doliente y Glorioso
31st: FEAST OF THE HOLY FAMILY
Movie: Joseph of Nazareth
Book: Be a Man!
Libro: ¡Sé Hombre!
"What I love about the Catholic Church is its vision of the human person. This is beautifully portrayed in the new program FORGIVEN. The Church sees the human person as having incredible potential...that we could actually 'attain to the perfection of charity' [CCC 1700] with the help of God's Grace. In other words, we are saints in the making. That is what inspires me to grow in my relationship with God and to make use of all the tools the Church gives me to become holy...especially Reconciliation!"