At long last, on the eve of Christmas eve, we address Christ as Emmanuel—as God-with-us. In this one word are fulfilled the many promises of the Old Testament as well as of our heart. For Christ is the desire of everlasting hills and the fulfillment of our every desire too. Emmanuel is near, God is present, He is here.

As He comes to us anew this Christmas, the Church prays once more for mercy for God’s “unworthy servants.” It is this mercy which will cause Him to establish His dwelling among us as well. How beautiful that the Church addresses Emmanuel on the same day She asks Him to establish His dwelling among us! This of course first happened in the womb of Mary, then in the manger of Bethlehem, then in the Church and the Eucharist.

We have continued access to His dwelling today. In every Catholic Church we find Him waiting, eagerly and patiently waiting for you and for me to visit Him in the silence of the tabernacle. And yet we, unworthy and ungrateful servants that we are, so often neglect Him! We allow Him to stay there alone!

Perhaps today, and on Christmas, the best “present” we can give to the One Whose birthday we celebrate, is to visit Him in the Blessed Sacrament and to spend some time with Him. He made a long journey to be with us, but it will take very little time and effort for us to return the favor, and to return love for love. Jesus is God-with-us. May we always be with Him.

Reflection Questions

• Do you visit Christ in the tabernacle or in adoration often?
• Would you commit to a daily visit to the Blessed Sacrament this Christmas season?

The Cristeros Rule of Life

As Cristeros, we dedicate ourselves to a a life of true devotion to Jesus through Mary, particularly in the form of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Our Lady of Guadalupe, Pray for Us.

We begin our days with a Morning Offering dedicating our day:

O Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer you my prayers, works, joys and sufferings of this day, in union with the holy sacrifice of the Mass throughout the world, for the remission of my sins, for the intentions of my family and friends, and in particular for the intentions of the Holy Father. Amen.

At a high or low point during the day, we pray to the Holy Spirit, handing over our accomplishments or sufferings:

Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of thy faithful, and enkindle in us the fire of thy love, send forth thy spirit and we shall be created, and though shall renew the face of the earth. Amen.

At some point each day, on our own or with our family or friends, we pray to our Mother Mary in the form of Guadalupe, giving all that we have and are to Jesus through Mary by reciting one of the following:

• A daily Rosary, focusing on the Fruits of the Mystery.
• The Hail Holy Queen

Every night before we go to sleep, by ourselves or with our wife, we pray a nightly examine using the ACTS formula:

• Adoration: We adore you and Christ and we bless You, because by Your Holy Cross, You have redeemed the world.
• Contrition: Ask God for forgiveness for all the times you have sinned or fallen short that day,
• Thanksgiving: Thank God for all the gifts he has given you that day, including the grace for those moments you have acted virtuously and towards the Good.
• Supplication: We ask God for his blessings that night and the next day, either with particular requests or in general, and end with a prayer dedicating ourselves to Him through Our Lady of Guadalupe: All that we have and all that we are, we give to your hands Jesus, through the heart of Mary, your blessed mother. Amen. Our Lady of Gudalupe, Pray For us.