As the final month of the year unfolds, December invites us into a period of profound spiritual preparation and celebration. Here at the Divine Mercy Shrine, we embrace the quiet anticipation of Advent, the brilliance of Christmas, and the deep significance of Mary and Joseph’s Fiat (yes) to God’s Divine Will.

The month of December is traditionally dedicated to the Immaculate Conception, and most of it is spent in the season of Advent.

· Liturgical Colour: The colour purple is used, symbolising penance, anticipation, and preparation for the coming of Christ.

· The O Antiphons (December 17–23): As we draw closer to Christmas during the Christmas Novena, we pray the ancient “O Antiphons.” These beautiful titles for the Messiah reflect the rich prophecies of the Old Testament and heighten our collective anticipation for Jesus as the fulfillment of all hope.

· Immaculate Heart College Christmas Carols 6pm

· Raffle Draw 11am, 21st December at the Divine Mercy Shrine. Good luck everyone!

The Blessed Virgin Mary holds a central place in the devotion of December, guiding us with Her grace and example.

• December 8: Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception

The dogma of the Immaculate Conception states that the Virgin Mary was conceived without original sin. This doctrine is one of the four Marian dogmas of the Catholic Church and was defined by Pope Pius IX in 1854 through the papal bull Ineffabilis Deus. It emphasizes that Mary was granted this grace by God in view of the merits of Jesus Christ, ensuring her purity from the moment of her conception.

This dogma was confirmed by Our Lady Herself in her approved apparitions to St Bernadette at Lourdes, France in 1858.

This feast highlights Mary’s unique and essential role in the plan of redemption.

• December 12: Our Lady of Guadalupe We honour Our Lady of Guadalupe, commemorating the Virgin Mary’s sacred appearance to Saint Juan Diego in Mexico in 1531. Her image remains a powerful sign of God’s love and mercy for all peoples.
• December 18: Feast of the Expectation of the Blessed Mother Mary – In countries such as Spain, Portugal, Italy, and Poland this feast has been celebrated since its inception in the seventh century. It focuses intently on Mary’s final days of pregnancy. It is a moment of profound spiritual solidarity with Her as She, filled with the Holy Spirit, awaits the glorious birth of the Christ Child.

The heart of the month is the Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord (Christmas Day) on December 25th—a Holy Day of Obligation.

This day marks the beginning of the Christmas season, celebrated with white or gold vestments, symbolizing pure joy. The season lasts until the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord in January.

The Fiat and the Holy Family

The entire drama of our salvation hinges on the fiat—the “let it be done”—of Our Lady. With that Fiat, the Eternal Son of God was conceived through the Holy Spirit in the Immaculate womb of the Blessed Virgin.

Both Mary and Joseph were totally surrendered to the Will of God. This is lesson for us of trust in Divine Mercy.

In the Holy Family—Jesus, Mary, and Joseph—we see an earthly representation of the Holy Trinity: the Father’s Will (Joseph’s obedience), the Son (Jesus), and the Spouse of the Holy Spirit (Mary).

Embrace the Peace

We must remember the true meaning of Christmas: the birth of Our Savior, Jesus Christ. In these times of uncertainty in the world, the message of the Nativity is one of profound peace. Let us embrace the quiet, transformative peace of Christmas, holding onto the hope found in His birth.

Spiritual Preparation: Luisa Piccarreta’s Christmas Novena

For a deeper spiritual preparation, we encourage you to join us in praying the Christmas Novena written by the Servant of God Luisa Piccarreta, which begins on December 16th.

This novena focuses on the Nine Excesses of Love in the Incarnation, a powerful spiritual journey where we join the Blessed Mother in preparing the stable of our own hearts.

St. Annibale Maria Di Francia said of this Novena:

“…I also tell you that in reading the nine Exercises of Christmas… one remains astounded at the immense Love and the immense suffering of Our Blessed Lord Jesus Christ for love of us, and for the salvation of souls. I have never read in any other book on this topic a Revelation so touching and penetrating!” (Feb. 14, 1927)

Jesus Himself spoke to Luisa (V25 – 12.16.28) about the power of these exercises:

“You Must Know that My Word is Creation, and in narrating to you the Nine Excesses of My Love in the Incarnation, I not only Renewed My Love which I had in Incarnating Myself, but I Created New Love in order to invest the creatures and conquer them to give themselves to Me.”

Praying for all this Christmas time, in the Name of Jesus, under the Mantle of Mary and through the intercession of the Servant of God Luisa Piccarreta.

We warmly invite you and your family to join us in celebrating the birth of our Lord.

Celebration Time Location

• Christmas Eve 5:00 pm St Catherine’s, Fraser St, Gingin
• Christmas Eve 7:00 pm Divine Mercy Shrine, 34 Santa Gertrudis Drive, Lower Chittering
• Christmas Day 7:30 am St Anne’s, 6549 Great Northern Hwy, Bindoon
• Christmas Day 9:30 am Divine Mercy Shrine, 34 Santa Gertrudis Drive, Lower Chittering

✨ Feasts within the Octave of Christmas (Dec 25 – Jan 1)

The eight days following Christmas Day are celebrated as the Octave of Christmas, featuring several crucial feasts:

• December 26: Feast of Saint Stephen, the First Martyr
• December 27: Feast of Saint John, Apostle and Evangelist
• December 28: Feast of the Holy Innocents
• December 29/30 or Sunday after Christmas: Feast of the Holy Family

We celebrate Jesus, Mary, and Joseph as the model of a Christian home, focusing on love, sacrifice, and obedience.

🕯️ Other Significant Memorials

We remember the faithful throughout the month:

• December 3 St. Francis Xavier, Priest and missionary
• December 6 St. Nicholas of Myra, Bishop
• December 7 St. Ambrose, Bishop and Doctor of the Church
• December 13 St. Lucy, Virgin and Martyr
• December 14 St. John of the Cross, Priest and Doctor of the Church
• December 31 St. Sylvester I, Pope

May the peace and joy of the Divine Infant fill your hearts this Christmas! We look forward to celebrating this holy season with you.