December 3 - St Frances Xavier (1506-1552), patron of Foreign Missions. One of first Jesuits. Missionary in India 1541-1549, Japan 1549-1551 Died upon arrival in China in 1552.

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December 6 - DEDICATION OF HOLY SPIRIT CHURCH [Solemnity at Holy Spirit Church only] Each year we celebrate the anniversary of the dedication of our parish church as a solemn feast day.

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December 7 - Saint Ambrose (340 - 397), Patron of Candlemakers. Bishop and Doctor of the Church. At age 34 while serving as Governor of Liguria and Aemilia he was acclaimed Bishop of Milan by a child. He was accepted by both Catholics and Arians resolving a conflict on the choice of a new bishop. He was a Catechumen, not yet baptized, at the time. So he immediately received Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, and 3 sets of Holy Orders. He studied diligently under the priest Simplicanus to learn the Faith. He became a leading figure in the fight against the Arian heresy and eradicated it from Milan. He is especially remember for the conversion of Saint Augustine.

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December 8 - THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY [Solemnity] Holy Day of Obligation - “In the first instance of her conception, by a singular privilege and grace granted by God, in view of the merits of Jesus Christ, the Saviour of the human race, was preserved exempt from all stain of original sin …” [Pope Pius IX, Ineffabilis Deus, 1854]

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December 12 OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE [Feast] Patroness of Americas, Mexico, & the Diocese of Orange, In an Apparition to Saint Juan Diego in1531 left a miraculous image on his cloak. It is now the most popular Marian shrine in world

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December 13 Saint Lucy (died 304) Patroness of Blind She rejected marriage proposal of nobleman because of vow of virginity. He denounced her as Christian, tortured and she was beheaded.

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December 14 Saint John of the Cross (1542-1591) Priest and Doctor of the Church. A great mystic, best known for his writing of the Dark night of Soul. He worked with Saint Theresa of Avila to reform Carmelites - Discalced Carmelites.

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December 25 THE NATIVITY OF THE LORD [Solemnity] Holy Day of Obligation - This starts the Christmas season which formerly extended 12 days through the Solemnity of the EPIPHANY on January 6. In the new calendar the season extends through the Feast of THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD, which is usually the second Sunday in January.

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December 26 - SAINT STEPHEN [Feast], Deacon and Protomartyr, died 35 AD; Patron of Stonemasons. See Acts of the Apostles 6-7.

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December 27- SAINT JOHN EVANGELIST [Feast] Patron of Asia Minor Beloved Disciple, Guardian of Mary, Wrote 4th Gospel, 3 Epistles, and Revelation, Boiled in oil and exiled to Patmos, died in Ephesus.

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December 28 - THE HOLY INNOCENTS [Feast] Patron of Choir Boys, First to shed blood for Christ; therefore early recognized as martyrs [Matthew 2:16-18]. On this day we also remember the millions of babies killed before birth each year, and pray for God’s forgiveness and mercy for those who kill them and for our society which allows them to do so.

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