In Christ, Joseph

Dear Reader:

The Church makes the months of December and January days of joy and expectation. It fits in with the Church’s spiritual care for her children. For us, therefore, we have the joyful preparation for Christmas—with a celebration that we look forward to with Midnight with its Christmas caroling and hymns.

State and federal authorities estimated Tuesday that it will cost at least $3 billion to clear debris from 19,000 homes and businesses destroyed by three California wildfires last month. MORE

Saint Damasus I, (born c. 304, Rome—died Dec. 11, 384, Rome; feast day December 11), pope from Oct. 1, 366, to Dec. 11, 384. During his rule the primacy of the Roman see was asserted. MORE

California’s economy doesn’t feel cool when it comes to tax collections.

Surging income and sales tax collections pushed California’s government revenues to $44.97 billion in the current fiscal year through November, up $2.29 billion in a year, according to the State Controller’s Office. MORE

Excessive employment-related lawsuits and ubiquitous PAGA claims in particular continue to plague both large and small employers in California  — the Los Angeles Times published a piece on this shortly after California was crowned top “Judicial Hellhole.” Read the full report here.

MOSCOW — A court in Ukraine has ruled that officials in the country violated the law by revealing, during the 2016 presidential election in the United States, details of suspected illegal payments to Paul Manafort. MORE

St. Lucy, Italian Santa Lucia, (died 304, Syracuse, Sicily; feast day December 13), virgin and martyr who was one of the earliest Christian saints to achieve popularity, having a widespread following before the 5th century. She is the patron saint of the city of Syracuse (Sicily) and of virgins. Because of various traditions associating her name with light, she came to be thought of as the patron of sight and was depicted by medieval artists carrying a dish containing her eyes. MORE

GOD NEVER ABANDONS US. WE ABANDON HIM. 

The pontiff observed that the phrase, “lead us not into temptation,” is problematic, and is calling to replace those words with “abandon us not when in temptation.” MORE

The feast in honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe goes back to the 16th century. Chronicles of that period tell us the story.

A poor Indian named Cuauhtlatohuac was baptized and given the name Juan Diego. He was a 57-year-old widower, and lived in a small village near Mexico City. On Saturday morning December 9, 1531, he was on his way to a nearby barrio to attend Mass in honor of Our Lady. MORE & AUDIO

Stephanie Clifford, the adult-movie star professionally known as Stormy Daniels, was ordered to pay $292,000 in attorney fees and $1,000 in sanctions to Donald Trump after she unsuccessfully sued the president for defamation. MORE

My thanks to Traditio Fathers for giving CMRI the credibility they deserve.

Bishop Mark Pivarunis of the Congregation of Mary, Immaculate Queen, Suffers a Heart Attack, but Is “Doing Well.”

From: The TRADITIO Fathers

Nearly 200,000 customers remained without power Monday after Winter Storm Diego unleashed its wrath on the Southeast over the weekend, killing at least three people in North Carolina, another in Tennessee and stranding drivers for hours on a Virginia interstate. MORE